By Kez.
This is a hard question to answer - mostly because, much as I'd like to, I don't know Walt personally. It's also a question I generally don't want to answer, because I'd hate it if thinking about it led me to believe that the answer was 'no'. Despite this, I'll try to look at the question objectively.
Since Walt died in 1966, there have been numerous movies with changing styles, storylines and animators: humorous, in an almost sketchy animated style like Robin Hood and The Aristocats; perfectly-animated fairy tales such as The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast which are reminiscent of classic movies like Cinderella; the adventure movies such as The Rescuers Down Under which at times seemed more like an action film than a piece of Disney animation; dramatic flicks like The Hunchback of Notre Dame which despite heartwarming scenes and moments of hilarity had a generally sombre feel; beautifully animated, moving films like Pocahontas and Tarzan and some all-out laugh fests, such as Hercules and the most recent Emperor's New Groove. Sometimes a style lasts for several consecutive films (think the distinctive style of the 1970s) but, particularly with the films of the '90s and current day, styles can also change dramatically from year to year - The Hunchback followed by Hercules, for example, which in turn was followed by Mulan, which had another completely different style of its own). Because of this fact, there is not one defining style whih can be contrasted to the styles used when Walt was alive, so it is difficult to determine whether he would approve of today's animated films. But although none of the Disney films today are the same as Pinocchio or Peter Pan, they give audiences the same feeling - one which can only be described as 'Disney Magic'. Which means that a couple of things are certain: being an innovator, Walt Disney would approve of the way in which hhis company is remaining dynamic, remaining current - in fact, two steps ahead of 'current' - and moving into the future. And he woudl most definitely approve of the smiles and the wonderful memories that Diney films, parks and products give their audience - perhaps now more than they ever have before.
Walt once stated that he disliked making sequels out of any of his films. Yet today nearly ever contemporary Disney flick, and many of the classic ones, are gaining a direct-to-video follow-up. Would Walt, then, disapprove of these? The obvious answer seems to be 'yes'. However, it's hard to say. After all, Walt was nothing if not adaptable - he had to be. Maybe today, in a different society with differing circumstances - for example, an increase in competition from companies such as DreamWorks - he would view sequels as being a positive thing, rather than a negative one.
What about Fantasia/2000? This was the recognition of his dream - not only is there a second Fantasia film, and perhaps more planned, but audiences are finally acclaiming the original version in a way they should have done in 1940.
Some have suggested that Walt would disapprove of computer animation in films such as Beauty and the Beast, Hercules and Mulan. My answer to them? Above all else, Walt was an innovator. He embraced telecision while many were still cautious of it (so yes, he would enjoy kicking back and watching the Disney Channel, the same as everyone else) and if he could have added computer animatino to a film in, say, 1940, it is my opinion that he would have. After all, the man created the first cartoon with sound, the first with colour, the first large-scale themed amusement park, and the first full-length animated movie. He wasn't afraid of change, and he would recognise the computer as just another animation tool with infinite possibilities, in the same way the people at the Disney studios in modern day have done. (And I know he would be proud to add 'the first fully computer-animated film' - 1995's Toy Story - to the innovations listed here earlier.)
So overall, what's the answer? Well, today Disney films both classic and modern are acclaimed, and have been viewed at least once by most children - and adults - worldwide. With the growth of more parks and the chain of Disney Stores, Disney magic is more accessible than ever, almost the whole world over. Walt himself is currently being honoured even more than usual, with his impending 100th birthday being celebrated by millions at Walt Disney World for an entire year. There are countless Disney characters to love (or love to hate, in the case of the villains, but we have 'never lost sight of one thing ... that it all started with a mouse' (Walt Disney).
My opinion? Walt would definitely approve.
