Are any Disney images public domain?

Are Disney images truly considered public domain, or do they still retain some form of copyright protection? It's a common misconception that since Disney has been around for so long, their characters and imagery have fallen into the public domain. However, the reality is that Disney is known for vigorously protecting their intellectual property, and many of their creations are still under copyright. So, the question remains: can you freely use Disney images without fear of legal repercussions, or do you need to tread carefully and seek permission first?