A Look at the New Exhibits Coming to “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” at Disneyland
It’s an exciting time at Disneyland Resort right now! The resort is celebrating its 70th anniversary with all kinds of festivities, attraction updates, and more.
Updated Sleeping Beauty Castle Banners – 70th Celebration
There is even a brand new attraction coming that’s all about Walt Disney himself. And, Disney just shared a lot more information about what you can expect inside!
New Walt Disney Exhibits on Main Street
Disney shared that some all-new gallery experiences will open at the Main Street Opera House on July 17th, which is the official 70th anniversary of Disneyland Park! These exhibits will honor Walt Disney and his lasting impact at Disneyland Resort.
Photo: Disney
These exhibits will culminate with the new attraction, “Walt Disney — A Magical Life“, where you will step into Walt’s office to hear his words of wisdom and see Walt Disney as an animatronic.
“Evolution of a Dream”
When you enter the Main Street Opera house lobby, you will see the “Evolution of a Dream” exhibit. This exhibit features pieces that show how Disneyland grew from an idea in Walt’s head to a revolutionary theme park.
Photo: Disney
Walt Disney Imagineering and the Walt Disney Archives have curated relics and memorabilia from the early stages of Disneyland. These include things like pencil drawings and concept artwork of preliminary plans, and some of the site plans shown here have actually never been shown in public before!
Photo: Disney
You will also see banners representing the lands of Disneyland hanging from above. Beneath them are images and storyboards showing both the past and the present, from their concept are to what they look like now.
Photo: Disney
And, you can find treasures and merchandise from the earliest days of the park! There is a display of Mickey ears through the years and a case of Disney watches that shows a small glimpse at fashion trends from the past 70 years with some added pixie dust.
Photo: Disney
Artifacts on Display from The Walt Disney Family Museum
Moving through the Opera House, you will find a selection of pieces from The Walt Disney Family Museum. The museum loaned more than 30 artifacts for display and some of them have never been publicly exhibited at Disneyland before.
There is also an area dedicated to Walt’s private apartment in Disneyland. This apartment was located above the Town Square Fire Station on Main Street and was used by Walt and his family!
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The display has original furniture and décor from the apartment, including two rocking chairs, two dining chairs, a table, and a cranberry-colored lamp.
You can also take a closer look at some of Walt’s awards and humanitarian accolades that have been loaned by The Walt Disney Family Museum, including Walt’s 1955 Emmy award for the Walt Disney’s Disneyland television series, his Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded by President Johnson in 1964, and the Walt Disney Commemorative Medal presented to Lillian Disney by President Nixon in 1969.
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You can even see his plaque from the Racing Pigeon Association in recognition of the greatest contribution to the sport of racing pigeons!
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History of Audio-Animatronics Technology in Walt’s Time
There is also an exhibit showcasing the history of Audio-Animatronics storytelling that features original and replica figures dating back to Walt Disney Imagineering’s earliest development of the technology!
These figures were first formally introduced to Disneyland in 1963 when Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room opened with hundreds of talking birds, singing flowers and chanting tikis. There are two animated birds included in this exhibit!
Photo: Disney
The exhibit also features a doll from the original run of “it’s a small world” at the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair, animatronics from Pirates of the Caribbean, and more. The portraits along the wall provide a closer look at Walt’s passion for working alongside Disney Imagineers and breaking technological boundaries.
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There is also a video you can watch called “Memories of Walt” in this exhibit where the people who worked alongside Walt Disney, and those inspired by his vision, share personal stories and reflections. It allows you to get a rare glimpse into Walt’s character and the man behind the magic.
Photo: Disney
This is a great tribute to see before you go into the theater to see the first-ever Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt in the attraction “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.”
A Tribute to Disneyland Past, Present, and Future
After you do the attraction, you will exit the theater and see a tribute to Disneyland cast members who have brought the magic to life for 70 years! There are historical images on the walls the showcase cast members working through the years.
Then, on the other side of the exit lobby, you will see a large mural that pays tribute to Disneyland history, including entertainment and attractions.
Photo: Disney
The exit gallery culminates in a peek at the future of Disneyland Resort. Disney shares that with plans for new attractions and guest experiences underway, Walt’s legacy and his belief that Disneyland will never truly be complete is alive and well.
Photo: Disney
These exhibits and the attraction in the Main Street Opera house give visitors at Disneyland a better look at Walt Disney and his story. They illustrate how one man has tirelessly pursued his dream to create a place that has brought happiness to so many people!
Stay tuned for more Disneyland news and updates!
