A Look Inside The Disney 100 Exhibition In Chicago
Image Source: D23
The Disney 100 exhibition is a traveling exhibit that showcases Disney's 100 years. It has two shows happening at once, one in Europe, and the other in the United States. It will tour the globe through 2028. It is currently in Chicago, and naturally, I had to go. It has items from the very early days of the company, when Walt Disney had his ideas come to life in his garage, all the way up until now. It is sure to delight any Disney fan.
It was divided up into various sections. This was the perfect way to walk you through the company's 100 years. It started with the early days of Disney which showcased Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Steamboat Willie, and even a pre-Disney property, Alice's Fishy Story. One thing I found interesting about this section, was that Walt Disney lost the rights to Oswald, and he didn't find out until he tried to make a second season. It then went through the early animated Disney films, such as Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. One of the earlier films showcased was Pinocchio, and we were able to see a creepy wooden Pinocchio that would be used for reference. It continued and showcased the various films throughout the years. Storyboards, concept art, various sketches, and interactive experiences were all there to help tell the story of Disney. There were even props from some of the live-action films. In this case, it was The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.
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Image Source: CultureSlate
The exhibition mainly focused on the animated films that made it a household name, but there were small sections for Star Wars and Marvel, both of which featured props from the movies. My favorite prop was the Skywalker lightsaber that Daisy Ridley used in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. These were located in the section titled The Spirit Of Adventure and Discovery, which also featured some other live-action props, like a giant submarine that was used for the 1954 film, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. This submarine was massive and was used as a special effects prop for the film, which was pretty cool. There was also a section for music and had some sample tracks to listen to. In the end, it showcased the two North American parks, Disney World and Disneyland. It even had vehicles from some of the rides.
There were plenty of photo opportunities including one with Walt and Mickey at the very end, and interactive displays, where you can learn more about what you just saw. One of my favorites was two puzzles in one of the last sections. The first one was similar to pinball, where you have to guide a ball through a maze, and after, the compass Jack Sparrow used in the Pirates Of The Caribbean movies was able to be seen. The other involved moving a dial around and getting three shapes in a row. This revealed an engraved piece of wood from National Treasure: Book Of Secrets.
There was also a section regarding conservation and animals. I had no idea Walt Disney was so interested in animal conservation. He was also the reason the US was able to have close ties with South America. Their cultures were later showcased in Disney properties.
Image Source: CultureSlate
The Disney 100 exhibition is a must-see for anyone a fan of Disney. While it focuses more on animated films, there are some sections of Star Wars, Marvel, and various live-action films sprinkled in. It was interesting to see where Disney started. It showcases the best of Disney, so it's not surprising that there are no references to past controversies. Both kids and adults alike will have a great time. If it comes to a city near you, I highly recommend it and promise you won't be disappointed.
The Disney 100 Exhibition in Chicago is happening now through January. Tickets can be purchased here.
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