Disneyland will use a series of new exhibits to help reintroduce Walt Disney to the latest generation of fans who often associate the name Disney with an entertainment company, movie studio and theme park rather than the man who founded them all.
Four new special exhibits in the Main Street Opera House will accompany the new “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” when the audio-animatronic show debuts on July 17 as part of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration at the Anaheim theme park.
ALSO SEE: Disneyland’s biggest decade ever is about to end — and the next could be even bigger
Disneyland’s Evolution
The first exhibit called “The Evolution of a Dream” will walk visitors through the early stages of Disneyland with some never-before-seen concept art tracking how Walt’s dream became a reality.
The all-new gallery experience curated by Walt Disney Imagineering and the Walt Disney Archives will include images, art, artifacts, relics and memorabilia.
ALSO SEE: Take a seat in Walt Disney’s office for an animatronic chat about the creation of Disneyland
The exhibit will be arranged by Disneyland’s earliest themed lands with displays dedicated to Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland, Tomorrowland and New Orleans Square.
The new Disneyland evolution exhibit replaces the previous Disney100 gallery exhibit.
Audio-Animatronics Technology
An exhibit on Imagineering’s audio-animatronic technology will trace the history of the robotic storytelling tool from the little mechanical bird that inspired the Enchanted Tiki Room to the latest advancements used to power the world’s first animatronic figure of Walt Disney himself.
The exhibit will explore the inner workings of animatronic figures from the earliest concepts to today’s advancements.
Animatronic figures from the Enchanted Tiki Room, Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean will be part of the display.
ALSO SEE: Disneyland had a nightmare start in 1955, but ‘Walt’s Folly’ quickly won over fans
Walt Disney Family Museum
Disneyland will collaborate with the Walt Disney Family Museum to recreate Walt’s private apartment above the Main Street Fire Station.
The San Francisco museum is loaning more than 30 artifacts to the exhibit housed inside the Main Street Opera House art studio space that will include the original rocking chair, lamp and table from Walt’s fire station apartment.
The original furnishings from Walt’s private apartment have never been publicly exhibited at Disneyland.
ALSO SEE: Lifelike Walt Disney animatronic looks ‘stellar’ and ‘accurate’ his grandkids say
The items on loan from the museum will also include Walt’s 1955 Emmy award for the “Walt Disney’s Disneyland” TV show, 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.
The U.S. Capitol model that has long been a fixture of the Opera House lobby will be stored at the Disney Archives during the 70th anniversary exhibit, according to MiceChat.
Upcoming Projects
Imagineering will transform the Main Street Opera House exit lobby into a preview showcase of upcoming projects at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
The lineup of new attractions includes the Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab attractions in Avengers Campus, Coco boat ride in Pixar Pier, Avatar destination experience in Hollywood Land and a Mandalorian makeover of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
ALSO SEE: Disneyland re-creates Walt Disney with most lifelike animatronic ever
The new exhibits in the Main Street Opera House will help set up the “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” audio-animatronic show that will be taking over the theater starting on July 17.
The new $5 million show featuring the world’s first audio-animatronic figure of Walt Disney has been in development for seven years at Imagineering.
ALSO SEE: Disneyland 70th anniversary timeline from 1955 to today
“Walt Disney — A Magical Life” will initially run solo at the Main Street Opera House before playing in rotation with “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.”
The Main Street Opera House now features a marquee with two titles for “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” and “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.”