Inside One Man’s Dream at Hollywood Studios
An impoverished boy born in the quiet, uneventful Marceline would normally dream of long summer days playing catch in his backyard before he was called into dinner. Born in Marceline and raised in the quiet little town, Walt Disney had bigger dreams than even Marceline could hold. One Man’s Dream tells us all about that.
His dreams of becoming an artist were too big for the small town, and with a belly full of home cooked meals and a head filled with childhood memories, he left Marceline to pursue his dream.
One Man’s Dream
Walt’s journey from boyhood to the most famous man on the planet didn’t happen overnight. He faced many successes that garnered him successes as huge as Academy Awards, but his failures were just as notable.
Facing bankruptcy and having to break the news to his brother, Walt boarded a train to California from a failed business pitch in New York City with his wife, also known as the journey in which Mickey Mouse was created. Walt’s story and continued legacy is told in One Man’s Dream at Hollywood Studios- check out the highlights right here!
Milestones
Credit: Maria Salerno
Walt’s career is measured in milestones in this walk-through exhibit. From Mickey’s birth to Walt’s first major animation success, these are the milestone highlights from the exhibit!
Credit: Maria Salerno
Credit: Maria Salerno
Credit: Maria Salerno
Walt Disney
Before we get to ‘today’, the exhibit takes us through a series of black-and-white photos of Walt. Pictured shooting a live promo on ABC, Walt is shown holding his 4 most beloved original character creations.
Credit: Maria Salerno
Driven by a passion for forward progress, it makes sense that Walt had an affinity for NASA and the exhilarating space race that was happening in the prime of the building of his Theme Parks.
Credit: Maria Salerno
Did you know that Walt Disney had his own miniature steam train in his backyard? Well, he did His mini personal train cars can be seen in this photo in One Man’s Dream, and also in-person at Wilderness Lodge!
Credit: Maria Salerno
The Disney Parks
It’s fitting that the majority of the exhibit is focused on the building and lasting successes of the Theme Parks…because you are a Theme Park guest after all! In all honesty, I always walk straight to the dioramas when I’m visiting One Man’s Dream because they’re absolutely my favorite part!
Credit: Maria Salerno
A scale model of the originally conceived Sleeping Beauty Castle stands proudly at the beginning of the diorama section. There isn’t a better way to kick it off!
Credit: Maria Salerno
Credit: Maria Salerno
We all know Disneyland is separated into themed lands, but back when it was just a storyboard concept, this scale model of The Jungle Cruise gave Adventureland its identity!
Closer to home, models of The Tower of Terror, Spaceship Earth, and Cinderella Castle are displayed under shining lights.
Credit: Maria Salerno
Credit: Maria Salerno
The Disney Parks of the Future
Credit: Maria Salerno
The Disney Parks will never stop expanding. Walt made that clear, and the dioramas and photos placed throughout One Man’s Dream prove it! The international Disney Parks are featured in a spider web of photos and facts detailing the forward-thinking and progress that went into making them a reality.
Credit: Maria Salerno
The best part of One Man’s Dream is the rotating scale model in the last room. Before Toy Story Land opened, a fantastic, miniature version of the Land was displayed in an adorably detailed diorama- and now we’re being treated to a glimpse of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge!
Credit: Maria Salerno
If you’ve seen the rendering, we want to know if you’re as excited for the opening as we are! Leave us a comment below and let us know.
Credit: Maria Salerno
Ready to take your favorite Disney content wherever you go? Check out The Making Magic Podcast, covering all things Disney, hosted by myself and Greg Antonelle by clicking here, or over on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/making-magic/id1449862561?mt=2&i=1000427864780
Are you planning to book a Disney vacation for you and your family? I’d love to help! I am a proud MickeyTravels Authorized Vacation Planner (Platinum Level) specializing in all Disney destinations. From hotel to FastPass+ reservations, I will help with each and every aspect of your trip. And the best part about my services is that they are completely FREE!You can find me over on Facebook, or contact me directly at msalerno@mickeytravels.com, or 800-308-6257. I can’t wait to start planning your dream Disney vacation!
