Given Walt's beginnings in animation, TV and film, it's only fitting that the Disney-MGM Studios has become the gateway to 100 Years of Magic. owering over Hollywood Boulevard is the unforgettable centerpiece of the celebration - a 120-foot Sorcerer Mickey hat, ever a symbol of Disney magic, created especially for this colossal occasion.

Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade

All the resident stars at the Disney-MGM Studios create a celebrity cavalcade worthy of a red-carpet event in the new 'Disney Stars and Motor Cars parade'.

“We bring the stars to you,” said producer Tax Marosi. The luminaries – Aladdin and Jasmine, Luke Skywalker, Rolie Polie Olie, Miss Piggy, Mary Poppins, Mickey Mouse and more – all are on hand for a Hollywood celebration honoring Walt Disney’s 43-year career in motion pictures. More than a dozen stars ride in customized cars, many of them vintage models. The Aladdin car is outfitted to look like the Genie, the Toy Story car is in the shape of Andy’s bed. The final car, a 1929 Cadillac, will carry Mickey, Minnie and friends.

Walt Disney, wno got his start in motion pictures, is honored in a pre-show that pays homage to his pioneering creativity. Commentators along the parade route will share Walt wisdom as the parade makes its way through the park.

 

One Man's Dream

And, for the first time ever, cherished memorabilia from the Disney archives will be open to viewing by the general public at ‘One Man’s Dream,’ a multi-media tribute to Walt Disney, the man.

Walt Disney was one of the great visionaries of the 20th century, and a new attraction at the Disney-MGM Studios pays tribute to his work.

Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream showcases Disney’s career in an emotional journey that starts with Disney’s birth in 1901 and ends with the company’s vision for the future. As guests enter the corridor leading to the Lights! Camera! Action! Theater, a gallery will house a collection of exhibits that includes Disney artifacts – animation art, sketches, paintings, storyboards, models, costumes and sets. Many come straight from the Walt Disney Archives and are on display for the first time ever. Included in the display will be Walt’s working office from the Walt Disney Studios and a re-creation of the Project X Florida room where Walt Disney World Resort was first envisioned.

“When we were researching the attraction, we found that many of our guests under the age of 15 did not know Walt Disney was a real person,” said Roger Holzberg from Walt Disney Imagineering. “They thought it was just a company name.”

Throughout the gallery, scenic pieces and props create an experiential trip through each era of Disney’s life, beginning with a brief look at Disney’s early years, from his birth in Chicago and his formative years in Marceline, MO., a period that was crucial to his development as an artist and storyteller. Throughout, colorful cards highlight significant dates in the story. And in one of the attraction’s most exciting features, Walt Disney himself talks about the most meaningful and emotional moments of his life through a rare collection of audio tapes from the early 1960s, many heard publicly for the first time.

The attraction ends with a short film of Walt Disney’s life that explores the extraordinary hardships he overcame to achieve what he did in his lifetime. “He is an individual, not an icon,” said Holzberg. “This tells the story of Walt the man, and we hope that guests will be moved by the scope of his imagination, what he accomplished, and what he inspired.”

“It’s important to note that ‘One Man’s Dream’ is in no way a retrospective,” said Holzberg. “Walt always said he had one foot in the past and one foot in the future. We want to inspire the young creative minds of today to help invent the future.”

Items in the collection, many dating to the early years of Disney, include:

Walt Disney’s office desk, chair and cabinet 1954

Special Effects Oscar from “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”

“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” animated feature-film props circa 1939-40

“Pinocchio” film props circa 1941

Sleeping Beauty castle model

Mickey Mouse Club guitar

Peter Pan’s Flight attraction model

Tree of Life model from Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The memorabilia, more than 400 items in all, also include Mickey Mouse Club ears from the original television show; the mask, sword and hat from the television program “Zorro,” and other items from Walt Disney’s complete working office.

Disney Timeline -

1901: Birth of Walt Disney
1923: Walt Disney leaves Kansas City to start the Walt Disney Company
1928: The debut of Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willie
1937: Release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
1950: First live-action film, Treasure Island
1954: First television series, Disneyland
1955: Opening of Disneyland
1955: Launch of Mickey Mouse Club
1966: Death of Walt Disney
1971: Opening of Walt Disney World Resort
1982: Opening of Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort
1983: Opening of Tokyo Disneyland
1984: Michael Eisner joins the company
1989: Opening of the Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World Resort
1992: Opening of Disneyland Paris
1998: Opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort
2001: Disney’s California Adventure opens
2001: 100 Years of Magic

 

Interactive Kiosks

Tucked beneath the giant Sorcerer Mickey hat, these kiosks invite the curious to explore events in Disney history. Interactive screens let you discover the stories behind some of your favorite Disney attractions. And show you the Disney connection to many of the filmmaking techniques you still see in theaters today.

Recommend this page to a friend

Discuss this at the message boards.

 

Disney World - The Online Guide is not affiliated with, maintained by, or in any way officially connected with the Walt Disney Company.

Walt Disney World & it's theme parks, resorts, attractions & area names are trademarks of The Walt Disney Company. All information contained in Disney World - The Online Guide, including prices, dates, times, availability, is subject to change & not official. Joanne will not be held liable for any information (valid or invalid) presented on any page in this site, and will not be held responsible for anything that happens as a result of following advice or information on this site, and does not represent the Walt Disney Company in any manner.

© text, photos, background images, artwork are all copyright Disney World - The Online Guide 1998/1999/2000/2001. Text and/or photos & artwork may not be used in any way, shape, or form without permission from Joanne.