disney 100 tour review

I Went To The Disney100 Exhibition (My Honest Review!)

I recently went to the Disney100 Exhibition in London and I’m here to give you my honest review. Not only will I cover key information about the exhibition (and how to get there!) but I’ll show each room in detail!

If you’re a Disney fan, you’ve probably heard that it’s the company’s 100-year anniversary in 2023.

So, along with the Disney100 Concert, there’s a Disney100 Exhibition coming to town!

I went to the exhibition in London, but it’s also heading to Chicago, Philadelphia, and around the globe in the next 5 years.

The exhibition boasts 10 themed galleries that cover 100 years of Disney magic.

From original scripts to concept art, costumes, and even REAL ride vehicles, there’s a lot to cover.

If you’re wondering whether the Disney100 Exhibition is worth your cash, this in-depth review should cover everything you need to know.

All pictures and videos are taken by me and should give you a great idea of what to expect during your visit.

Important Information About Disney100: The Exhibition

Location : ExCel Centre, London

Nearest tube : Customs House (Elizabeth Line)

Cost : £21-£33 for adults (depending on the day of your visit)

Opening times :

• Monday to Thursday: 10am – 6pm (final session)
• Friday to Sunday: 9am to 7pm (final session)
• Sessions are run every 30 minutes for 2 session each hour

Number of total rooms : 10

How Long Do I Need for the Disney100 Exhibition?

The official guidance advises you to set aside around 50 minutes to an hour to explore all 10 rooms.

When I visited, I spent around 1.5 hours exploring the entire exhibition (including the interactive sections).

I think if you’re visiting for the first time, leave 2 hours to be safe as this will give you a chance to take photos.

What Can I Expect from the Disney100 Exhibition?

Disney100: The Exhibition is designed to take you through a series of themed rooms that celebrate 100 years of the Walt Disney Company.

These rooms will take you on a journey that covers the Walt Disney Company from its inception to the present day.

As you walk through, you’ll learn about everything from Oswald the Rabbit to the Parks and Animatronic production.

We’re talking movie memorabilia, costumes, ride vehicles (really!), and more.

So, there’s a little bit of everything.

If you want Disney’s official rundown of the exhibition, here you go:

“Disney100: The Exhibition invites guests to step into ten magnificent and imaginatively themed galleries, where moving stories, unique interactive installations, and behind-the-scenes glimpses will take them on a journey through 100 years of The Walt Disney Company.”

Just be warned that there are no character meet and greets here.

There ARE plenty of great photo opportunities which I’ll get into soon.

But don’t arrive thinking you’ll meet the princesses (or Mickey!).

My Review of the Disney100 Exhibition

The first thing I’ll say is that I had an awesome time at the Disney100 Exhibition in London.

For starters, I’m a bona fide Disney lover and seeing 250+ rare artefacts was an incredible experience.

But I also found that there was an excellent mix of interactive exhibits, park-related information, and movie magic.

I have a soft spot for the stuff about the theme parks, but I’ll get to that!

I’ll organize this review into my overall opinion before I dive into each of the separate sections of the exhibit.

I’ll also cover the entry system and how efficient (or inefficient!) this was.

My overall opinion is that this exhibition is 100% worth booking if you’re a Disney fan.

It’s packed with unique information about Walt Disney’s life, Marvel movies, Star Wars, Pixar (and way more!).

Fashionistas and music lovers out there will even spot genuine sheet music and costumes from popular movies and rides.

I wouldn’t say it’s an absolute must-visit exhibition if you have no interest in Disney (as it just won’t feel as nostalgic.

But even the staunchest Disney-hater will appreciate how much work has gone into this thing.

Now let’s dig a little deeper.

The Disney100 Exhibition Section by Section

Before I run through each section, the themed rooms you’ll find at the Disney100 Exhibition are:

1 : Where It All Began

2 : Where Do the Stories Come From?

3 : The Illusion of Life

4 : The Spirit of Adventure and Discovery

5 : Magic of Sound and Music

6 : The World Around Us

7 : Innoventions

8 : Your Disney World

9 : The Wonder of Disney

10 : The Next 100 Years

So, let’s look at each of these galleries in detail.

The first thing you’ll do before hitting the actual exhibition is get your ticket checked.

You’ll then get your picture taken and head into a room with a short video that explains what the exhibition is all about.

***You can buy the picture later if you like, but we gave it a miss!

Once you’ve seen this video, you’ll be taken through to a magical room that looks like it’s filled with stars.

Here, you’ll watch a short video about the history of the Walt Disney Company and get an adorable intro from Walt and Mickey .

I imagine this was made with the help of AI as Walt comes to life, but don’t take my word for it.

When you’ve watched this video, you’ll pass into the main section of the first gallery.

1: Where It All Began

This part of the exhibition is designed to run you through Walt’s very early days.

You can expect to find information about the Alice comedies, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and Mickey and Minnie .

That’s right, you’ll learn all about the origins of Minnie Mouse here (and get to see some early sketches!).

This room isn’t super interactive. However, you’ll find some Mickey and Minnie shorts along with several information boards.

I’d try to move through the room slightly and turn back on yourself.

I say this because there was a big traffic jam coming out of the video room where everyone tried to read the first things at the same time.

So, just head over to the Oswald section and double-back – trust me!

This room is quite small and you should be able to get it done in about 5 minutes before moving on.

2: Where Do the Stories Come From?

This was one of my favorite rooms in the exhibit and covers the inspiration behind Disney’s most famous stories.

That includes:

• Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
• The Princess and the Frog
• Sleeping Beauty
• Alice in Wonderland
• Mary Poppins
• Lady and the Tramp
• Winnie the Pooh
• Beauty and the Beast

For most of these films, you’ll find costume memorabilia, props, concept drawings, and a few photo spots.

You’ll 100% want to stop to take a shot with the Fairy Godmother!

I particularly liked the Sleeping Beauty storybook (that reflects on the wall for easy viewing!) and a Mary Poppins carousel horse.

Plus, the concept art you’ll find in this section is truly amazing.

You’ll even see the original Snow White bodice that was used for the live action picture-mapping.

Oh, and did I mention Cinderella’s crystal slipper from the Cinderella 2015 live action movie? Swoon.

I’d take your time in this section as there are an incredible number of props to check out.

Once you’re done, you can move into the next section.

3: The Illusion of Life

This part of the Disney100 Exhibition is all about showing you how characters come to life.

From concept designs to costumes, this was probably my second-favorite section of the entire thing.

There are several great photo opportunities here, but you’ll want to head to the center of the room first.

This is where you’ll find an interactive screen with turning knobs that cover important characters from concept to end-point.

That includes Moana, Captain Hook, Tinkerbell, and even Mickey Mouse himself!

You’ll be able to read into their story, who they were based on, and how their characters were finalized.

It’s definitely worth 10 minutes of your time, and there were several interactive screens available.

If you walk around the outside of the gallery, you’ll find the Animator’s Model Shop.

Here, you’ll see molded versions of some of your favorite Disney characters before they were put on-screen!

If you keep moving around, you’ll find concept art of Cruella de Vil AND Emma Stone’s amazing Cruella dress.

I mean, just look at it.

As you keep walking, you’ll read about Olaf’s character design (and get to listen to Josh Gad’s voice-over experience).

Just past this is the concept art for The Little Mermaid and Halle Bailey’s gorgeous costume from the 2023 live action remake.

That’s the end of this gallery where you’ll then step into room 4.

4: Spirit, Adventure, and Discovery

This is the gallery that all adventure fans have been waiting for – it’s basically the action film gallery!

To start with, you’ll see props and costumes from Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise.

Then, you’ll get a few stunning concept drawings of Moana, Peter Pan, and Lilo and Stitch.

If you’re a fan of the Disney+ release Peter Pan and Wendy, you’ll also spot a couple of props on display.

And then you hit the Star Wars and Marvel sections (which are super popular photo spots, just FYI).

Here you’ll spot a pog, a stormtrooper costume, and an adorable BB8 recreation.

After you see these artefacts, you’ll find a line of Marvel helmets and Black Widow’s costume from the recent movie.

There’s a small section about Walt Disney’s obsession with progress and the future, but it takes just a minute to read.

5: Magic of Sound and Music

If you’re a fan of Disney’s wonderful music, then this is the gallery you’ll want to spend a bit of time in.

You’ll find sheet music, more concept art, and several different listening pods.

My favorite one was listening to Elsa’s from around the world singing Let It Go in their own languages!

However, the “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” language pod was a close second!

If you keep moving around, you’ll see a section on special effects and sound production.

There are several sound pods that dive into how sounds in early Disney films were created. For example, how the dragonfly Ermentrude was “voiced” with buzzing.

I won’t give it away, but it’s well worth working through each pod as most people seemed to bypass this section. Don’t – it’s worth checking out!

As you work around the back of this gallery, you’ll have a chance to listen to some of Disney’s best tunes.

From “Yo Ho Yo Ho” to the “Star Wars Theme”, you could easily spend half an hour with headphones on here.

6: The World Around Us

This is probably the smallest gallery in the entire exhibition.

There’s a large, almost-tunnel-like section that shows how Disney’s animals were inspired by wildlife.

It also covers Disney’s nature documentaries and how these are created.

I’ll be honest and say I largely walked through this section and moved on. But if your kids are particularly interested in animals, it’s worth spending 5 minutes in.

7: Innoventions

If you’re interested in HOW Disney movies are produced, then you’ll adore this gallery.

It’s covered with information about multiplane cameras, animatronics, and bringing concept art to life.

You can play around with an animatronic hand if you want.

But the highlight here for me was seeing how the multiplane cameras were used in early flicks like Bambi.

They essentially involve layering different painted sets behind each other to create moving depth in a static image.

It’s awesome .

You’ll also be able to map your movements onto a version of Rocket from Guardians of the Galaxy!

8: Your Disney World

This was my absolute FAVORITE part of the Disney100 Exhibition as it’s all about the theme parks.

It showcases painted concept pieces and even lets you sit in real ride vehicles from the Disney parks.

Just be warned that you can’t jump onto the Peter Pan’s Flight vehicle – sorry!

Aside from the information on the walls, you’ll find another interactive map screen that dives into each park around the world.

It’ll show you how they were created, unique rides, and the dates they opened. Try to spend some time here if you can, as it’s well worth it.

9: The Wonder of Disney

Just past the ride vehicles you’ll find an interactive section where you can “wave” to Mickey and Minnie.

I’d say this was a great stopping point for kids, but isn’t an absolute must if there’s a queue.

The rest of this gallery was about showing Disney merchandise, parks, and movies throughout the years.

That sounds quite vague, but the gallery is essentially split into decades.

These separate decades show exactly how the magic of Disney changed over time.

It’s a short gallery and you can easily walk through it in 5 minutes or so before heading into the final section.

10: The Next 100 Years

The final room is a star-filled room that shows clips of Disney’s best works across a mirrored space.

It’s not so much a gallery as it is an immersive room. You can stand in here for as long as you like, as the effect is honestly quite magical.

But there’s honestly not much to actually SEE – it’s just to round off the exhibition with a bang.

There is a photo opportunity just before you leave where you can take a photo with Mickey. If there aren’t tons of people waiting, try to grab a quick shot before heading to the gift shop.

Gift Shop and Exit

The final thing you’ll do is be led through the exit route.

You’ll be able to buy photos here that you took earlier and kids can get some coloring or tracing done.

The gift shop is loaded with Disney100 Merch, and you can also buy any of the posters you saw for each gallery.

They were reasonably priced at £12, so the posters are a great souvenir choice if you’re on a budget.

Otherwise, you can expect shirts, hoodies, toys, Top Trumps, and similar souvenirs.

Just after the gift shop, you’ll find a couple of final photo spots with Goofy and the characters from Encanto .

I obviously took advantage of both!

After this, you’ll be led through to the exit which comes out right by the attraction’s entrance.

AND THAT’S ALL!

How to Get to the Disney100 Exhibition

If you’re traveling into London, I recommend hopping on the Elizabeth Line and going to Customs House.

It’s right by the ExCel Centre and leads you almost straight through to the exhibition.

From the tube station, you’ll head up the escalators, turn left, and walk straight past Starbucks.

You’ll then keep walking until you hit the Entrance sign for the Disney100 Exhibition.

It’s all clearly signposted and it’s only a 2 or 3 minute walk from the station – it’s easy to find!

Is Disney100: The Exhibition good for kids?

I’d say that young kids will probably struggle with the exhibition.

There’s enough light and sound to keep them occupied, but there’s a lot of stopping and reading.

Any kids 5 and up should be absolutely fine, but you might want to proceed with caution if you have toddlers.

Can I bring a bag?

You can, but it needs to be smaller than an A4 piece of paper.

If you absolutely need to bring a bigger bag, there are lockers onsite where you can pay to store your stuff.

But honestly, I’d try and bring a smaller bag.

Are service dogs allowed at the exhibition?

Yes, they are but they need to be registered.

If you require accessibility assistance, you’ll need to email [email protected] before arriving.

Can I purchase a ticket on the day?

You can purchase a Disney100 ticket on the day, but I honestly don’t recommend it.

Getting a ticket would depend entirely on session availability for that day, and the exhibition has been super popular.

If you want to attend on the day, I recommend going on a weekday outside of any school holidays.

This should get you in when there are fewer crowds.

Do I need to print my ticket for Disney100: The Exhibition?

No, you can just show the relevant QR code on your phone.

I’m pretty sure almost everyone had a digital ticket when I attended, but you can always print it if you’re nervous.

There you have it: my in-depth review of the Disney100 Exhibition in London!

If you have any questions about the experience, I’d be happy to answer them. Have you been to the exhibition? What did you think?

Grace is the creator, editor, and sole writer for Pixie Dust and Passports - a blog that's ALL about Disney! She's made it her life's mission to visit the Disney parks as much as possible and loves trying new snacks, grabbing the latest spirit jerseys, and rocking Loungefly bags. Oh, and she also holds a BA in History from UCL, which makes her a research and deep-dive enthusiast into all things Imagineering.

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Inside the Magic of Disney100: The Exhibition

Walt Disney was born in a two-story house in the Hermosa neighborhood of Chicago in 1901. He founded the animation studio that would become The Walt Disney Company a few decades later. After a century, the Walt Disney Archives brought the magic back to Walt’s birthplace with Disney100: The Exhibition .

Related: Disney Legend Shares Touching Moment With Mickey and Minnie

Two versions of Disney100: The Exhibition will tour North America and internationally for five years. After kicking off its United States tour at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the traveling exhibit made its way to Chicago, Illinois. Naturally, the Inside the Magic team had to check it out.

The museum takes up 15,000 square feet at the Exhibition Hub Art Center in the Bucktown neighborhood. It contains artifacts from before Walt created Mickey Mouse through films as recent as The Little Mermaid  (2023) . There’s something for every Disney fan , full of Disney Park, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and music nostalgia that calls out to the child in all of us.

Planning Your Visit to Disney100: The Exhibition

Advance tickets are highly recommended for Disney100: The Exhibition. Timed admission tickets start at $30 per adult and $25 per child and reach as high as $40 per adult and $30 per child. An extra $20 guarantees a VIP lanyard, exclusive pin, photo-op, and priority entry. For another $5, VIP guests receive all those benefits plus admission at any time on their selected day.

Related: Disney Legend Bob Gurr Rides Disneyland Park Omnibus at L.A. Pride Parade

Unlike a visit to Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort , guests without the VIP flex ticket must enter during their timed admission window. Early entry may be permitted but isn’t guaranteed. Guests should plan for around two hours, and, of course, the souvenir shop at the end.

Coat check costs two dollars per guest. Parking is free, and the venue is disability accessible. If you’re early for your reservation, pass the time at the snack bar with some chips and a drink.

Can’t make it to the Windy City? Disney100: The Exhibition will open at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, in May 2024.

Related: Disneyland Brings Back Iconic Piece of Disney Park History

For international Disney fans, Disney100: The Exhibition is currently in London, United Kingdom, after its grand opening in Berlin, Germany. The exhibit hasn’t announced its next worldwide tour stop.

The Artifacts Tell the Story

The Disney family had something special. Walt and Roy Disney , co-animators, and Imagineers created stories and theme parks that became irreplaceable parts of pop culture.

Through ten immersive galleries, Disney100: The Exhibition takes guests on a journey from Walt’s early days as an artist, losing the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and creating Mickey Mouse. One of the oldest artifacts, shown below, is the legal contract for Alice Comedies. It’s now considered the founding document of The Walt Disney Company.

Disney CEO Bob Iger shares his perspective throughout each gallery but opens Disney100: The Exhibition with this:

“There are few companies that have both a legendary past as well as a limitless future. Walt founded this company grounded in the spirit of creativity and innovation, which continues to define Disney 100 years later, allowing us to keep moving forward to meet the future without ever losing sight of who we are and where it all started.  ‘Disney100: The Exhibition’ showcases more than 250 of Disney’s ‘Crown Jewels,’ including rarely seen artwork and artifacts, costumes and props, and other memorabilia from the Walt Disney Archives. Using innovative and immersive technology, we invite guests to step into their favorite stories throughout the 10 galleries of the approximately 15,000-square-foot exhibit. A century of creativity, innovation, and determiniation created The Walt Disney Company we know today—the most enduring and beloved name in entertainment. But Disney is more than that—it’s a global cultural institution that has captured the world’s imagination, entertained billions of people, and earned affection and appreciation across continents and cultures. 

And today, we are proud to carry forth Walt’s vision of delighting fans and families of all ages by pairing unrivaled storytelling with innovative immersive experiences in a way that only Disney can.  As Walt once said, ‘No adventure is either improbable or impossible.’ This exhibition is a testament to that. Today and always, we embody Walt’s spirit of boundless creativity in everything that we do. And we’re grateful to you, the generations of fans all around the globe who have invited our stories and characters into their lives. Thank you.”

Your journey will begin with a photo-op and a short movie explaining the thought behind the traveling exhibition. At the end, you can purchase the professional photo edited onto multiple Disney-inspired backgrounds.

Each visitor creates their own experience. Fourteen interactive displays allow guests of all ages to test early animation tricks, create sound effects, and more.

Should You Visit Disney100: The Exhibition?

Many of Disney100: The Exhibition’s “crown jewels” have previously never left the Walt Disney Archives. Check out concept art for Peter Pan or the Mickey Mouse plush Walt Disney held on Disneyland Resort’s opening day. Come face to face with puppets from Star Wars  or drawings by Disney Legend and original animator Ub Iwerks.

Disney100: The Exhibition looks not just to the past but to the future. Displays hint at developing animatronic technology and movies in the works, like Pirates of the Caribbean 6 . 

Though it might be difficult for little ones to focus, this traveling museum is a perfect afternoon adventure for fans of The Walt Disney Company and its creations.

Disney100: The Exhibition runs at the Hub Art Center in Chicago until January 28, 2024. Tickets are available here .

What part of Disney100: The Exhibition excites you the most? Share your thoughts with Inside the Magic in the comments! 

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Taking the Mickey? The Disney centenary exhibition that glosses over controversy

The Walt Disney Company is celebrating its 100th birthday with a museum show. You’ll see a hologram of its founder and a Sleeping Beauty book that comes to life – but is it an exercise in Walt-washing?

H ow do you celebrate the centenary of the second biggest media company on the planet? This October marks 100 years since Walt Disney founded his eponymous film studio and began producing silent shorts known as the Alice Comedies. Though the mouse who needs no introduction was not created until 1928, Disney is capitalising on the anniversary of the far less recognisable Alice with a concert, a merchandise collection and an ambiguous-sounding “multi-sensory friendship experience” for over-18s. The jewel in Prince Charming’s crown, however, is a touring exhibition which opened in Philadelphia in February, came to Munich in April and is arriving at the Excel in London in the October, with tickets going on sale on 18 July.

Disney100: The Exhibition is made up of 10 galleries, organised not chronologically but thematically: in one you can learn about music, and another is all about theme parks. Guests can see hundreds of props and costumes as well as play with interactive installations – press this button to hear Moana sing in Hebrew! Pull this lever to play a different underwater Disney scene!

How exactly do you summarise everything the company has done in a century? When Disney archivist Becky Cline began working on the exhibition five years ago, she knew exactly where to start: resurrecting Walt.

“I always had this dream of having Walt Disney host the exhibition,” says Cline, who has worked for Disney for 34 years. Keen to have Walt himself greet punters and undeterred by his 56 years dead, Cline worked with visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic to create “something that had not been done before”: Disney MagicStage.

Half-hologram, half a strange sort of layered cinema screen, 3D Walt appears lifesize before exhibition-goers in a cloud of fairy dust. Regrettably, this isn’t the level of tech seen when Kanye West arranged for Kim Kardashian to have a holographic visit from her dead father, and the “ooh” factor is missing as Walt tells visitors, “There’s a lot of satisfaction in developing ideas into reality.” His speech is a combination of two historical audio recordings and his body is made from AI-enhanced footage from the 1960s. When Cline saw the results for the first time: “I got goosebumps.”

Outside the exhibition hall, however, the Walt Disney Company is having a bumpy birthday. In February, chief executive Bob Iger announced 7,000 layoffs after a net loss of 2.4 million subscribers to streaming platform Disney+. In May, Disney paused production on various shows due to writers’ strikes. Last Thursday, on the eve of the actors’ strike, Iger described it as “disturbing”, remarks which Fran Drescher, president of actors’ union Sag-Aftra, described as “repugnant and tone deaf”. Disney is also suing Florida governor Ron DeSantis, who is trying to seize control of the company’s self-governing district near Orlando after former Disney executive Bob Chapek criticised the governor’s anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that Disney100: The Exhibition is aggressively apolitical. According to exhibition producer Christoph Scholz, it took a while to convince Disney that Bavaria’s minister-president, Markus Söder, who enjoys posting pictures of his Star Trek mugs on Instagram and once dressed up as Shrek , should give a speech at the launch in Munich. Disney eventually relented and Söder got down on one knee when he met Minnie Mouse.

German celebrities and members of the official Disney fanclub were present when the Munich exhibition opened in April. A silver confetti cannon exploded over Mickey and Minnie mascots who wore special silver and purple centenary outfits. Fan Sarie Moscato said she paid about $120 (£95) to attend the opening – the 31-year-old from California dressed as Snow White for the occasion, donning a blue puff-sleeved top, yellow floral skirt and red headband (plus socks featuring characters from 1970’s The Aristocats). She admitted that she had no idea what to expect inside the exhibition, but was certain that it would be worth the journey and the price.

After meeting half-holographic Walt, guests are ushered into a theatre-themed room dedicated to the founder’s first years in showbusiness. The history ends here, however, as fans pass through to exhibition rooms with loose themes such as The Illusion of Life and The Spirit of Adventure and Discovery. It’s thrilling to see the titular bedknob from 1971’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks, but perhaps less so to see a clock that animators used as a reference when drawing 1940’s Pinocchio.

Still, familiarity breeds excitability. Grown men in suits queue to have their picture taken next to a looming Goofy statue, and I am charmed by an unassuming leather wallet in a small glass case. It’s the very same one that foley artists twisted to create the sound of the Seven Dwarfs’ squeaking shoes in 1937’s Snow White.

There’s also some novel interactive tech: the standout is a book that comes to life as you flick through it, playing Sleeping Beauty’s story on a corresponding screen. Yet after an hour’s exploration, the answer to the question “How do you summarise everything that Disney has done in a century?” seems to be, “You don’t.”

In San Francisco, the Walt Disney Family Museum has been open since 2009. The permanent exhibition doesn’t shy away from Disney’s murky history: an entire section is dedicated to the 1941 Disney animators’ strike and Walt’s angry reaction (he fired numerous employees). The museum even touches upon Walt’s anti-communist testimony at the House Un-American Activities Committee; the first biographer to get complete access to the Disney archives found that Walt was a ferocious anti-communist who frequently humiliated employees. In contrast, Cline says in her speech at Munich that Disney100 is “a look at how Walt created his own special magic”. It starts to feel like Walt-washing.

I ask Cline to explain the contrast between San Francisco’s museum and the exhibition. “Well, the Walt Disney Family Museum is a non-affiliated group,” she says. The non-profit museum was originally founded by Walt’s daughter Diane and Cline says it’s “a single subject thing” that tells Walt’s story. “We’re trying to tell not just Walt’s own story, but the history of the company since his passing,” she adds. “We are focusing on his philosophies more than anything.” These philosophies include a love of nature, storytelling and music.

Is it right for the exhibition to shy away from Disney’s dark past? Disney+ deftly acknowledges the company’s history of racism, adding a content warning before films such as Dumbo and The Jungle Book. “This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now,” the disclaimer reads. “Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together.”

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Nowhere is this harmful impact acknowledged in the Disney100 exhibition. “We didn’t consciously decide not to include anything controversial,” Cline says. “It’s a general story of Disney and we don’t get specific in any area. We don’t talk about many, many subjects because there isn’t the room or the ability to do it in this kind of event.” Outside the exhibition, Cline says there are numerous books and documentaries where people can be educated more deeply about Disney history.

Perhaps it wouldn’t make sense to have a gallery entitled All the Times We Were Bigoted, and Disney historian and Cline’s fellow curator Paula Sigman-Lowery argues that “What we’re doing is celebrating” – this is, after all, a birthday event. “I don’t see it as hiding anything,” Sigman-Lowery says. “We’re celebrating the best of [Disney].”

At times, the exhibition is so celebratory that it becomes boring; there’s only so many instances you can point at something and say it’s that thing from that film ! Walt himself knew that engaging stories need baddies and goodies, ups and downs. There is so much odd and fascinating Disney history that it seems a shame to replace it with the red dress worn by Emma Stone in 2021’s Cruella . Why show that when you could play the 1943 anti-Nazi propaganda film Der Fuehrer’s Face , in which Donald Duck works in a German artillery factory?

The answer, Cline says, is that “We had to make sure this exhibition was appropriate for all ages and it was of interest to all cultures” – great care was taken to ensure there were “recognisable” exhibits for every generation. Perhaps this is why there is a healthy dose of Marvel and Star Wars content. But of course there were also unavoidable limitations. Historically, Disney costumes were created by third-party companies who kept them afterwards, meaning not many were saved. That’s probably why the Rock’s costume from 2021’s Jungle Cruise is showcased while there are only a few small photographs of the hilariously creepy Mickey Mouse costumes from the 1930s.

Provided parents can avoid the hand-sized €50 Mickey teddies in the gift shop, families will undoubtedly have few complaints about Disney100: The Exhibition. There isn’t much to learn but there’s plenty to see. Though I don’t manage to catch up with fan Sharie Moscato afterwards, I later see a picture of her pretending to be asleep next to a statue of Dopey – I’m certain she had fun.

The zeros in the Disney100 logo bleed together into an infinity symbol, and Cline ends her Munich speech looking forwards to “the next 100 years”. The exhibition itself ends with props from the new film Peter Pan & Wendy plus a handy poster advertising its debut on Disney+.

The Disney100 exhibition will tour the globe until 2028; hundreds of thousands of people will attend. Inside, they might not learn anything new, but they’ll probably emerge excited for the newest. “Walt Disney once said we are just getting started,” Cline says in her speech. “And he was sure right.”

• Walt Disney Company
• Exhibitions
• Animation in film

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Disney100: The Exhibition

• Museums, Childhood
• ExCeL Centre, Royal Docks
• Until 30 Apr 2024
• 3 out of 5 stars
• Recommended

Time Out says

A slick, superficial celebration of a century of Disney

Produced by the Walt Disney Company, ‘Disney100: The Exhibition’ is very much a Disnified version of Disney history.

You’d expect nothing different from this globetrotting exhibition, which runs at the ExCel Centre until January. It is, after all, billed as a celebration of the family-friendly megacorp in its centenary year, not a dispassionate interrogation of its cultural impact.

Nonetheless, I couldn’t help but get the ick during the opening sequence, in which a twinkly-eyed projection of Walt Disney himself takes centre stage in a room that’s essentially a hagiographic shrine to the company’s founder, which we’re required to stay in for a fixed amount of time (unlike the rest of the exhibition, through which we wander freely). Whether or not old Walt was a nice guy or not is a matter of some considerable debate, but this feels like indoctrination. I mean I don’t think it brainwashed my kids or anything, but it’s a weird note to start on.

That out of the way, it’s a slick, fun-for-all-ages showcase for Disney’s many creations and acquisitions over the years, from cartoons to ‘Star Wars’, theme parks to theme tunes. Each room hits a decent balance between cool props – the real BB8! Cinderella’s glass slipper! – interactive touch screen displays – particularly fun in the music room – and informed written panels that gives adults something to fasten on to. There are, naturally, copious selfie opportunities.

Of course, it totally ignores the spicier episodes in the company’s history (no ‘Song of the South’), and it’s all a bit shallow and unrevelatory – eg if you’re already familiar with ‘Star Wars’ you won’t actually learn very much from the Star Wars room. But it’s nicely presented and each room has its own distinct personality and feels bright and interesting, with enough interactive stuff to suck in kids’ mayfly attention spans for a few minutes at a time. It bills itself as taking about an hour, and we hit that almost dead on, job done. It’s basically a brand advertisement they you have to pay to watch – but what a brand it is.

Dates and times

Thu, 4 Apr 2024 00:00 ExCeL Centre £21-£33

Fri, 5 Apr 2024 00:00 ExCeL Centre £21-£33

Sat, 6 Apr 2024 00:00 ExCeL Centre £21-£33

Sun, 7 Apr 2024 00:00 ExCeL Centre £21-£33

Mon, 8 Apr 2024 00:00 ExCeL Centre £21-£33

Tue, 9 Apr 2024 00:00 ExCeL Centre £21-£33

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 00:00 ExCeL Centre £21-£33

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 00:00 ExCeL Centre £21-£33

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 00:00 ExCeL Centre £21-£33

Sat, 13 Apr 2024 00:00 ExCeL Centre £21-£33

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Disney 100: The Exhibition: Your Guide to this Epic Collection

by Stephanie Shuster | Jan 15, 2024 | WDW Blog

In celebration of 100 years of the Walt Disney Company, fans can visit Disney100: The Exhibition to check out memorabilia, movie props, artifacts, artwork, and more that have been an integral part of the last century for the Walt Disney Company.

Disney100: The Exhibition takes guests through 100 years of Disney history, from Walt’s family and the early days of animation to theme park development and international pop culture phenomena. Guests will see a mix of artifacts, artwork (mostly reproductions), movie props, theme park ephemera, audio installations, video projections, and interactive digital storyboards. Most importantly, this is an exhibition brought to you by Walt Disney Archives, the ultimate authority on Disney history. If you’re a serious fan, this is the one exhibit you won’t want to miss.

What Happens at Disney100: The Exhibition?

Photo by Stephanie Shuster

I’ll admit I wasn’t sure what to expect before attending Disney 100: The Exhibition myself. Was it immersive like teamLab Borderless in Tokyo? Was it more of a show, like Disney Animation Immersive Experience ? Was it a sensory experience like The Strong National Museum of Play ? Or was it a photo-centric selfie spot like Museum of Ice Cream ? No, this is much more akin to a touring exhibition like David Bowie is from the Victoria & Albert Museum.

There is a lot about the exhibition that die-hard fans will love, and it’s Disney so there’s also a balance of fun for the family to explore. But make no mistake; this is an educational experience, not a play-based “Instagram museum.” Here’s what you need to know:

Ten galleries take you through the company’s history in a way centered more on storytelling than timeline. You won’t start in 1923 and wind up in 2023, but instead, each gallery includes things that span company history that share a narrative thread. That means that multigenerational families can visit together and each find something to connect with in every different space. Where It All Began focuses on the early company beginnings, family history, and setting out a company timeline. Where Do the Stories Come From? turns attention to the inspirations behind beloved films like fairytales, short stories, and comic books. The Illusion of Life looks at how animators use color, movement, texture, and other tools to make characters pop off the screen.

In The Spirit of Adventure and Discovery, we see nods to everything from The Nautilus and The Jungle Cruise to armor worn by Storm Troopers and Marvel superheroes. The Magic of Sound and Music is one of the most intriguing galleries, allowing guests to learn about everything from foley artists and re-recording movie music in a myriad of languages. The World Around Us shows us how far Imagineers and animators will go to research their subjects in the natural world.

In Innoventions, there are behind-the-scenes technologies to behold including Audio-Animatronic parts and information on software development that made Pixar movies possible. Your Disney World takes us deep into the world of the theme parks, and The Wonder of Disney shows how we’ve invited Disney into our homes and daily lives with some serious nostalgia like valentines cards, park ticket books, 90’s magazines, and television props.

Gift Shop. Photo by Stephanie Shuster

The final gallery, We Are Just Getting Started , is by far the smallest, offering a glimpse of upcoming films like Peter Pan and Wendy. Fittingly, a 6-minute credits reel (you don’t have to watch it, but it’s impressive to see how many people were involved in creating the exhibit) rolls just like a film, and the exit is through the gift shop, just like a theme park.

Where Can I Get Tickets to Disney100: The Exhibition?

You can find out all the details about the experience here , but if you want to know where and when it’s on, just click each city name below to get ticket info for that location:

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at The Franklin Institute : February 18 – August 27, 2023
• Munich, Germany at Kleine Olympiahalle : April 18 – August 3, 2023
• London, England at London Excel: October 13th, 2023 – Early 2024, returning March 6 to April 30, 2024
• Chicago, Illinois at Exhibition Hub Art Center : November 18, 2023 – Early 2024
• Kansas City, Missouri at Union Station : May 24, 2024

Each venue has its own type of tickets and packages, so costs and inclusions may vary (including things like VIP experiences, evening only tickets or tickets that include admission to other parts of the venue. It’s also worth noting that while the North American and European exhibits are almost the same, there are a few unique items on display on each tour.

Is Disney100: The Exhibition Good for Kids?

Overall, yes, depending on their ages. Here are a few things you should know. 

Will kids get scared? Each kid is different, and there’s not really anything “scary” about the exhibition. If there’s a film or character represented your little one doesn’t like, just move along swiftly until it’s out of sight. But there are some darker spaces, and I did hear one child crying during the intro video because they were scared of the dark. There’s no place where you are “stuck,” so you can just keep swimming to a brighter spot where a new Mickey, mermaid, or Moana distraction awaits.

Will kids get bored? Maybe, depending on their ages. Babes in strollers will be fine because you’re wheeling them around a relatively calm, quiet atmosphere. Small kids may get bored and want to rush through as they bounce between things that interest them (if you want to spend some in-depth time with the Disney history of it all, this might be an occasion to bring another adult along so they can explore the rest of the kid-friendly Franklin Institute while you geek out). Older kids seemed fascinated by their parents, grandparents, and teachers sharing things from their own childhoods. 

Will kids have to sit still and be quiet? No, kids can interact with many pieces of the exhibition, and chatter is fine. But it is a museum, not a playground, so being mindful of other guests trying to learn and explore will be important. If your child thrives with a more energetic experience, Disney Animation Immersive Experience or Disney On Ice may be a better fit!

Will my sensitive kid be okay? Each child is different, but nothing here is overly loud, bright, or dark. However, it’s a lengthy walk, so quick “escapes” for bathroom breaks, snacks or quiet time will be difficult.

Is Disney100: The Exhibition Good for Adults?

Yes, this exhibition was made with major Disney fans (like you and me!) in mind. Adults will get the most out of this experience because it does involve a fair amount of reading, listening to film clips, and generally understanding the impact of art and technology in the Disney parks and beyond. Huge Disney history fans will certainly find something new, and casual fans or folks who don’t know much about Disney but are interested in learning will find lots to enjoy. If you’re attending without kids, plan to spend several hours taking it all in.

Can I See Disney100: The Exhibition at Disney World or Disneyland?

No, this one is only available on tour in select cities across North America and Europe, but you can find a smaller display called  The Disney Gallery Present: Disney 100 Years of Wonder at Disneyland for a limited time. Or, if you like the idea of learning about animation in an incredible show format, check out Cirque du Soleil Drawn to Life at Disney Springs!

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‘Disney100: The Exhibition’ to Bring the Magic of Disney Worldwide

• by Michelle Snow
• September 15, 2022 September 15, 2022

“Disney100: The Exhibition,” which celebrates Disney 100 Years of Wonder, launches a World Tour at Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute in February 2023, with future stops to include Chicago, IL, Kansas City, MO, and Munich, Germany.

About the Exhibit

Created for the 100-year celebration of The Walt Disney Company, “Disney100: The Exhibition” will immerse guests in the beloved stories that have been dazzling guests since 1923, when Walt Disney set his company on a path that would revolutionize the entertainment industry.

Over the past 100 years, Disney has brought its iconic stories and characters to life in new and innovative ways, becoming part of the global culture and creating generations of memories for billions.

“Disney100: The Exhibition” invites guests to step into their favorite stories using innovation and immersive technology throughout ten galleries in the 15,000-square-foot exhibit.

What to Expect

“Disney100: The Exhibition” features ten large, themed galleries with numerous cutting-edge interactive installations, and details were announced during D23 Expo 2022 .

Disney has curated special behind-the-scenes glimpses into the creation of the most popular characters, films, shows, and attraction, from Disneyland to Walt Disney World® Resort and beyond.

The themed galleries, with moving stories, unique interactive installations, and exciting background information, will take visitors on a journey through 100 years of The Walt Disney Company, celebrating the classics from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” to “ Strange World ,” as well as the latest members of the Disney family – Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, and National Geographic.

The Walt Disney Archives will also open its vault of treasures, to showcase hundreds of extraordinary objects, including many of Disney’s “Crown Jewels,” featuring more than 250 rarely seen original artworks and artifacts, costumes and props, and other memorabilia.

“As we prepare to kick off Disney 100 Years of Wonder, we are incredibly excited to bring this fantastic exhibition to life,” said Becky Cline, director, Walt Disney Archives. “We can’t wait for guests to experience their favorite Disney stories, characters, and attractions in new and immersive ways as we celebrate all the wonderful worlds of Disney.”

Oh my gosh! Disney100 the Exhibition looks absolutely incredible. I can’t wait to see it. pic.twitter.com/s4y8ZjO9iX — 🎆MC the Toonster🎆 (@MToonster24) September 10, 2022

The “Disney100: The Exhibition” tour will kick off with a World Premiere at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, PA, on February 18, 2023.

“The Franklin Institute is thrilled to host ‘Disney100: The Exhibition,’ the first major event to mark the global celebration of Disney’s 100 years, allowing fans throughout the Philadelphia region and beyond the very first opportunity to see these crown jewels come to life in beautifully crafted galleries reflecting the creative empire synonymous with imaginative storytelling, innovation, discovery, and wonder,” said Larry Dubinski, President and CEO of The Franklin Institute.

Future U.S. stops include Chicago, IL and Kansas City, MO, but dates and venues have not been listed, yet.

A second version of the exhibition will begin touring outside the U.S., beginning with a European Premiere on April 18, 2023, at the Olympic Hall in Munich, Germany.

More Information

For more information on the exhibit including future date additions, visit Disney100Exhibit.com .

Will you be seeing this exhibit if it travels to a city near you? Let us know in the comments!

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Celebrating Disney100 at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour

Location & Hours

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1313 Disneyland Dr

Anaheim, CA 92802

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This tour is specific to the 100 years of Disney, so make sure to book so you don't miss out! It's a two hour guided tour for $110, which is amazing considering you not just get a VIP tour guide for two hours, but you also get a name badge keepsake, a 100 year pin keepsake, a tour specific sweet treat, an animation studio drawing, a picture in front of the castle, and my favorite part - a reserved section to view the spectacular Magic Happens Parade! At check in, you will receive a name badge with your name on it to wear so they know you are part of the tour. Additionally, you will receive a ear piece and device to make it easy to hear your tour guide as you make your way through both parks! This tour is wheelchair accessible, and they were very accommodating! Also, there's fun to be had when you enter each park. Don't want to ruin the magic, but it definitely made the tour fun! To start the tour, you will actually head on over to Disney California Adventure to hear all about Buena Vista Street which was a first for me and fascinating to hear what inspired Walt in the designs! Then you will make your way to the Animation Studio for your class in the dedicated two rows with an opportunity to ask the animator any questions you have before they let everyone else in. It was fun for first timers and even veterans like myself to draw a Disney 100 specific character who has not been drawn before! We don't talk about who we drew on my tour.Great souvenir that the cast member held on to, so you don't have to carry for the remainder of the tour! Once you have drawn your masterpiece (well, let's hope so anyway), you will head on back to Disneyland to do a tour of Main Street for some fun facts while you make it to the castle. At the castle, you will have a photo taken by a PhotoPass professional so make sure to have your magic band ready for easy scanning for the photos! Have as much fun as you'd like, I know Grogu enjoyed the tour with me. At this point, your VIP tour guide will pass out the tour pin and remind you to make your way to the parade later. When you arrive for the Magic Happens Parade, you will provide your name they check off the list. You will get the tour themed sweet treat and find a seat on the curb or the one small bench area. My visit was a little hot, so they actually offered Disneyland fans - felt like the moms you see in the 1960s with the Disneyland fans! What's amazing with the reserved section is there are PhotoPass photographers who come specifically over to take another photo! Also, the characters and even the Disneyland band came over to entertain. You truly felt like a VIP on this VIP guided tour. If you had to choose between this tour and Walt's Main Street Story, I would say why not both? Be rude not to! Truly an amazing tour and hope many others get to experience the magic of Disney and the beauty created in the last 100 years!

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I Visited Disney100: The Exhibition, And It Stirred A Whole New World Of Disney Fandom Within Me

Disney100: The Exhibition allows you to step inside the mind of Walt Disney, and truly appreciate what goes into 100 years of storytelling.

Disney100: The Exhibition opened earlier this month to much fanfare. For those unfamiliar, the exhibition at London’s ExCel is a huge showcase put together by The Walt Disney Archives and Semmel Exhibitions to celebrate 100 years of Disney stories. I was lucky enough to check it out on the opening weekend, and while We Don’t Talk About Bruno , I can talk a little about my visit to Disney100: The Exhibition – read on for my review.

The ultimate ‘Disney museum’

First things first, make sure you head to the right place for Disney100: The Exhibition . I made the mistake of heading  into the ExCel; the exhibition is actually housed just next to the main building. An exhibition boasting 20,000 square feet of installations requires its very own space, after all. Once I found myself in the correct queue, my Disney journey truly began. As my group and I hummed our favourite Disney tunes in anticipation, we browsed the animators’ notes on the wall – we were already getting peeks behind the scenes, and we hadn’t even set foot in the actual exhibition yet.

Following check in, we came across our first photo opp , with a photographer and green screen. Then, the experience started with a five-minute introductory show, projected on 280-degree screens, and I felt the magic within me already. Even Walt Disney himself – okay, an AI version – made an appearance to welcome us to the exhibit.

With over 250 incredible artefacts , there is plenty to see, from a recreation of the earliest known Disney drawing to official storyboards, and animators’ models to costumes. My favourite was the iconic red dress worn by Emma Stone in Cruella (2021); however, I’m going to put it out there: if my foot was just that bit narrower, my little size 3s could definitely fit in Cinderella’s glass slipper! The angle of the heel looked rather ankle breaking though, so it’s no wonder she stepped out of it at midnight.

Being up close and personal to all the artefacts made us feel a part of the Disney universe : to learn the set secrets displayed to visitors is something so far removed from what a regular filmgoer would experience.

I must highlight in this review that the production values at Disney100: The Exhibition were impressive: from the aforementioned AI Walt Disney to screens that displayed the lifecycle of a sketch to the final product. I also felt it was laid out well; despite there being a clear route to follow, if you veered away, there were still stand-alone displays too. One room towards the end felt like a Disney infinity room, while in another, there was what appeared to be a book flipping through a story by itself – it was only on closer inspection that I realised it was a projection on a solid book. The magic of Disney, eh?

The website states the entire experience takes about an hour; I’ll be honest, while our group did take about this time on our visit, had I been on my own, or had there been fewer visitors around, I would have probably taken a little longer to read the prompts, engage in the interactive elements, and truly soak in the history that was laid in front of me. If you’re setting aside a fair few hours, perhaps your visit to Disney100: The Exhibition could form part of a whole Disney day out in London ?

To me, Disney100: The Exhibition is the ultimate museum of Disney . Unlike the theme parks or shows, you aren’t in the world of Disney; rather, you browse recognisable relics from the Disney universe, learn the story of the creator, and find out how these enchanting stories came to be. It stirred A Whole New World of Disney fandom within me, and as my friend noted “it forces you to appreciate the technical genius behind the final product “. So, there you have it – my review of Disney100: The Exhibition. The exhibition won’t be around forever though, so don’t be one of the  Poor Unfortunate Souls who miss out – secure your tickets today .

Disney100: The Exhibition - London

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Disneyland Offering New Tour to Celebrate Company’s 100th Anniversary

by Melissa Roden · March 22, 2023

We’ve got some exciting news about a brand new tour being offered at Disneyland!  The theme park just took to twitter to share details about a new “Celebrating Disney100 at Disneyland Resort” Guided Tour and we’re excited to pass on the awesome details to you!

During this tour guests will discover the fascinating stories during the century long history of The Walt Disney Company as you’re guided through iconic locations throughout Disneyland Resort. 

You’ll experience Disneyland Resort as a “living story” as you’re regaled with tales of how The Walt Disney Company brought magic to life over the last century with fantastical worlds and heartwarming characters. 

Photo Credit: Walt Disney Archives

Learn from a Disney Animator

On the tour, you’ll have the opportunity to chat with an animator and participate in a unique drawing experience that features special characters in celebration of Disney’s 100th Anniversary.  

Sleeping Beauty Castle

Capture the Magic at Sleeping Beauty Castle

Next stop is Sleeping Beauty Castle which has been decorated for Disney’s 100th Anniversary.  They’ll be time to have your snapshot taken in front of the stunning platinum display. 

Take in the “Magic Happens” Parade

A highlight of the tour is sure to be the “Magic Happens” Parade.  This beloved afternoon extravaganza has been brought back for Disney’s 100th Anniversary Celebration. You’ll get to take in the magic from a reserved viewing area offering wonderful sightlines! 

 “Celebrating Disney100 at Disneyland Resort” Guided Tour Highlights 

• Walking tour through Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure with an official Disneyland Tour Guide. 
• Tour of Buena Vista Street, Animation Academy, Main Street Opera House, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland and Sleeping Beauty Castle
• Participation in a drawing experience at Animation Academy featuring special Disney100 artwork
• A complimentary digital download of your Disney100 snapshot in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. 
• A Disney 100 Celebration Treat
• Reserved viewing for the “Magic Happens” Parade. 
• A specially designed Disney100 commemorative pin. 

Disneyland Mickey Statue

Know Before Your Go

Those considering participation on the “Celebrating Disney100 at Disneyland Resort” Guided Tour will want to make note of the following: 

• A park pass reservation and valid admission for Disneyland Park on the same date of the tour is required for all guests ages 3 and older.  Park reservations are not included for the tour. 
• A credit card must be provided at the time of booking your reservation and will be charged for the total cost of the tour.  Reservations can be made 60 days in advance.  Same day bookings can be made up to 20 minutes before the tour subject to availability. 
• Reservations can be made via the Disneyland app and are non-transferable. 
• Guests are encouraged to check in 15 minutes before your reservation time at the Tour Gardens on Main Street USA.  Each person in the party must be present at check-in. Late arrivals may not be accommodated. 
• Reservations must be cancelled a minimum of 24 hours in advance.  Full price will be charged if guest does not cancel in time or is a “no-show.” 
• Guests under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult (18 years or older.) 

Times and Pricing 

As you can see form the details posted on Disneyland.com, the tour lasts for 120 minutes. The cost of participating is $110 per person plus tax. 

Tours appear to be available to book starting on April 7, 2023.  The times are as follows: 

You can see the tour will be offered daily from 9am – 1pm. Specific times for the tour for April 7th (as an example) are as follows: 

Readers are encouraged to keep following along with MickeyBlog for further Disneyland news and updates. We’ll be coming to you LIVE from the theme parks each and every week. 

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Tags: 100th Anniversary Celebrating Disney100 at Disneyland Resort Disneyland Guided Tour Magic Happens Sleeping Beauty Castle Tour

Melissa Roden

As an agent with MickeyTravels and a Blogger with MickeyBlog I enjoy sharing, tips, tricks and advice to help readers and clients get the most out of your time with Disney. When I'm not helping clients plan their perfect holidays or nab those hard-to-get discounts you can find me enjoying a Dole Whip at Disney World with my daughter! Reach out for a FREE, no obligation quote at 1.800.801.4025 or find me on Facebook !

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Reservations Have OPENED for a New 100th Anniversary Disney Tour!

It’s no secret that there are lots of things to experience during Disney’s 100th Anniversary celebration.

We’ve kept tabs on all the merchandise that’s been released , new park experiences , and everything in between . But if you’re going to be in Disneyland soon, you won’t want to miss your chance to experience a brand NEW Disney-guided tour in honor of the big celebration!

Disney has announced that guests will soon be able to experience the Celebrating Disney100 at the Disneyland Resort guided tour  starting April 7th !

The tour is meant to help guests learn about how the Walt Disney Company has created magic for 100 years.

This new tour will give you lots of exciting and unique opportunities , such as:

• Walking through Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park with an official Disneyland tour guide
• Touring Buena Vista Street, Animation Academy, Main Street Opera House, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, and Sleeping Beauty Castle
• Taking part in a unique drawing experience at Animation Academy that features special characters for Disney100
• A complimentary digital download of your snapshot in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle adorned with dazzling Disney100 celebratory decorations
• A Disney100 Celebration treat
• Reserved viewing for the “Magic Happens” Parad e, on the day of the tour
• A specially designed Disney100 commemorative pin

A Park reservation and ticket for Disneyland Park on the same date of the tour is required and not included in the price of this tour, so keep that in mind. Reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance, but you can check for same-day availability as well.

The tour is priced at $110 based on what we saw.  You can start reserving your spots right now online . Visit the tour website, click “check availability,” and put in the date range you’d like to check for. Then, you’ll be able to see available dates and times.

You can select your date and time and make your reservation!

There’s so much to keep up with during this exciting time, so don’t forget to stay tuned to AllEars!

Check out the new experiences coming to EPCOT for the 100th Anniversary!

Are you planning on checking out this new tour? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

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Disney 100 - The Concert, OVO Hydro, Glasgow review - a slick tour of the Magic Kingdom | reviews, news & interviews

Disney 100 - the concert, ovo hydro, glasgow review - a slick tour of the magic kingdom, this was a breezy and entertaining trip to the house of mouse.

There are a few perils to saying supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, as Janette Manrara discovered on this opening night of Disney’s anniversary arena jaunt. Trying to divide the Glasgow crowd into sections to sing the song, Manrara tripped over who was to sing what, something only notable because the rest of the evening was possessed of an almost overpowering slickness.

Although the opening overture went all the way back to Steamboat Willie, nearly all of the set, which featured a full orchestra, a rotating array of singers supplied from the West End and a likeable, cheerful hostess in Manrara, could be divided into two portions. There was material from the studio’s golden years, such as Charlie Burn giving a tenderly romantic “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes” from Cinderella , and then a heftier selection from the modern renaissance that kicked off with 1989’s The Little Mermaid and runs through to 2021’s Encanto , which inevitably provided ubiquitous pop chart-topper “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”, here as lively and sashaying as you’d hope for.

That formula did mean there was no joy for anyone with a fondness for the company’s less heralded 70s and 80s output, though the odds of anyone there having purchased a ticket in the hope of hearing something from The Black Cauldron seem slim. Instead the evening proceeded through plenty of familiar favourites, in a manner that sometimes veered towards being a conveyor belt, with little room for performers to truly breathe before being shuttled off and someone else ushered on.

This was a problem that affected the evening’s first half more prominently, with sets of songs grouped around themes of dreams and love (the post interval section was dedicated to adventure and friendship). Despite a spirited vocal by Bessy Ewa, the jazzy “Almost There” from The Princess and the Frog never quite swung enough, and there was a flatness to the rocky , Phil Collins penned "You'll Be In My Heart" from Tarzan .

There was also an issue in that material from Star Wars and the Marvel Universe were awkwardly inserted into the mix, as if paying tribute to the corporate hegemony that has seen the mouse acquire other cultural powerhouses. The “Imperial March” and material from the Avengers films did let the Hollywood Sound Orchestra take centre stage, but it felt as uncomfortable as Royal Blood at a pop festival.

A far more convincing display of the orchestra’s skills came when they performed “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” from Fantasia , with both visuals and the score possessing a wickedness, notably on the sudden burst of noise accompanying Mickey Mouse taking an axe to an errant broom. It was there that actual character could take hold rather than simply polished recitation.

This was true of all the evening’s best moments, whether the straightlaced romance of the title track to Beauty and the Beast or a terrifically rhythmic selection from Moana that let Ewa star and a deliciously camp, villainous “Poor Unfortunate Souls” from The Little Mermaid , with Earl Carpenter hamming it up tremendously as the sea witch Ursula. By the time Lion King ’s “Circle of Life” provided a powerhouse finale, and “Hakuna Matata” a joyful encore, complete with balloons thrown to the audience, it felt like there really was a little magic in the air. Just a touch, though.

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The BEST in Disney and More!

Disney 100: The Exhibition starts a World Tour in 2023.

Today at  D23 Expo: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event  in Anaheim, CA, exciting new details and stops were announced for the upcoming world premiere of  Disney100: The Exhibition . Created for the 100-year celebration of The Walt Disney Company, the exhibition will immerse guests in the beloved stories that have been dazzling guests since 1923, when Walt Disney set his company on a path that would revolutionize the entertainment industry.

The world premiere of the exhibit opens February 18, 2023, at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, PA, with Chicago, IL, and Kansas City, MO, set as the next two stops on the North American tour. The international unit of the exhibit will open on April 18, 2023, in Munich, Germany, with more cities to be announced in the coming months.  

The official exhibition poster and trailer were also revealed today. Disney100: The Exhibition Poster Disney100: The Exhibition Trailer “As we prepare to kick off Disney 100 Years of Wonder, we are incredibly excited to bring this fantastic exhibition to life,” said Becky Cline, director, Walt Disney Archives. “We can’t wait for guests to experience their favorite Disney stories, characters, and attractions in new and immersive ways as we celebrate all the wonderful worlds of Disney.”

Related: First Look To The Disney 100 Years Of Wonder Merchandise At D23 Expo!

President and CEO of The Franklin Institute Larry Dubinski added, “The Franklin Institute is thrilled to host Disney100: The Exhibition, the first major event to mark the global celebration of Disney’s 100 years, allowing fans throughout the Philadelphia region and beyond the very first opportunity to see these crown jewels come to life in beautifully crafted galleries reflecting the creative empire synonymous with imaginative storytelling, innovation, discovery, and wonder.”

Over the past 100 years, Disney has brought its iconic stories and characters to life in new and innovative ways, becoming part of the global culture and creating generations of memories for billions. Disney100: The Exhibition invites guests to step into their favorite stories using innovation and immersive technology throughout ten galleries in the 15,000-square-foot exhibit.

Related: Disney 100 Years of Wonder Anniversary Celebration Officially Kicks Off On New Year’s Rockin’ Eve

The Walt Disney Archives opens its vault of treasures, showcasing hundreds of extraordinary objects, including many of Disney’s “Crown Jewels” – more than 250 rarely seen original artworks and artifacts, costumes and props, and other memorabilia. Disney has curated special behind-the-scenes glimpses into the creation of the most popular characters, films, shows, and attractions – from Disneyland to Walt Disney World® Resort and beyond.

The ten magnificent and imaginatively themed galleries, with moving stories, unique interactive installations, and exciting background information, will take visitors on a journey through 100 years of The Walt Disney Company, celebrating the classics from  Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs  to  Strange World , as well as the latest members of the Disney family – Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, and National Geographic. Disney100: The Exhibition Facts : -Ten large, themed galleries with numerous cutting-edge interactive installations covering 15,000 square feet -February 18, 2023: World Premiere at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, launching the U.S. tour -April 18, 2023: European Premiere in Munich -Created and curated by the Walt Disney Archives and Semmel Exhibitions The Franklin Institute is proud to present and play host to the world premiere of Disney100: The Exhibition in the Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion and the Mandell Center. PECO, the premier corporate partner of The Franklin Institute, is the Local Presenting Sponsor of the exhibition About The Franklin Institute Located in the heart of Philadelphia, The Franklin Institute is a renowned and innovative leader in science and technology learning and a dynamic center of activity. As Pennsylvania’s most visited museum, it is dedicated to creating a passion for learning about science by offering access to hands-on science education.  For more information, visit  www.fi.edu . About the Walt Disney Archives For more than 50 years, the Walt Disney Archives has carefully safeguarded the most treasured items from The Walt Disney Company’s history, including original scripts, movie props and costumes, Walt Disney’s correspondence and script notes, theme park artifacts, merchandise, millions of archival photographs, and many of Walt’s personal effects. Founded by Disney Legend Dave Smith in 1970, the Walt Disney Archives is a vital resource for every part of Disney, as well as an important research center for Disney scholars, researchers, and writers. The Archives also shares its countless pieces with Disney fans everywhere through its exhibitions and close association with D23: The Official Disney Fan Club.

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