The Disney Gallery is an attraction and merchandise location at Disneyland in Anaheim,
CaliforniaCalifornia is the most populous state in the United States, and the third largest by area. California is the second most populous sub-national entity in the Americas, behind only São Paulo, Brazil...
. It opened on July 11, 1987 and was closed permanently on August 7, 2007. Located above
Pirates of the CaribbeanPirates of the Caribbean is a multi-billion dollar Walt Disney franchise encompassing a theme park ride, a series of films and spinoff novels as well as numerous video games and other publications...
in
New Orleans SquareNew Orleans Square is a themed land found exclusively at Disneyland, though a similarly themed area can be found within Tokyo Disneyland's Adventureland. Based on 19th century New Orleans, it was the first new land to be added to Disneyland after the park's opening. The land was opened to the...
, the Gallery was a changing exhibition area focused primarily on artwork from
Walt Disney ImagineeringWalt Disney Imagineering was formed by entertainment mogul Walt Disney on December 16, 1952 as WED Enterprises to develop plans for a theme park and to manage Disney's personal assets. It was an independent, private company, owned by Walt Disney himself, but on February 3, 1965, was merged into...
in regards to designing the Disneyland theme park. The Gallery was originally intended to be a private suite for
Walt DisneyWalter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon and philanthropist. Disney is famous for his influence in the field of entertainment during the twentieth century. As the co-founder Walter Elias...
and his brother,
Roy O. DisneyRoy Oliver Disney was, with his younger brother Walt Disney, co-founder of what is now The Walt Disney Company. After Walt died, Roy became the chairman of the company...
. Merchandise relating to the current exhibition was usually available for purchase as well.
The Disney Gallery was relocated in 2009 to the former Bank of Main Street in
Main Street, U.S.A.Main Street, U.S.A. is the first "themed land" inside the entrance of the many Magic Kingdom-style parks run by The Walt Disney Company around the world....
It reopened on October 2, 2009.
The Royal Suite
In the early 1960s, as construction of New Orleans Square was proceeding, Walt Disney decided he needed a bigger entertaining facility for various VIPs that came to the Park. He already had an apartment above the Fire Station on
Main Street, U.S.A.Main Street, U.S.A. is the first "themed land" inside the entrance of the many Magic Kingdom-style parks run by The Walt Disney Company around the world....
, but it was too small to host extensive events. Walt decided to place the suite in New Orleans Square, away from the hustle and bustle of the park.
Walt brought in set designer Dorothea Redmond, famous for the sets in
Gone with the WindGone with the Wind is a 1939 American drama romance film adapted from Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel of the same name and directed by Victor Fleming...
, to help him with the apartment layout. To furnish and decorate the area, Walt left his wife
LillyLillian Marie Bounds Disney was the widow of Walt Disney. She was married to him from 1925 until his death in 1966. She was married to John L. Truyens from 1969 until his death in 1981.-Early years:...
and
Walt Disney StudioWalt Disney Pictures refers to several different entities associated with The Walt Disney Company:Walt Disney Pictures, the film banner, was established as a designation in 1983, prior to which Disney films since 1954 were released under the name of the parent company, then named Walt Disney...
set decorator
Emile KuriEmile Kuri was a Mexican-born American set decorator. He won two Academy Awards and was nominated for six more in the category Best Art Direction....
to collaborate, as they had on other projects (
Club 33Club 33 is a private club located in the heart of the New Orleans Square section of Disneyland. Officially maintained as a secret feature of the theme park, the entrance of the club is located next to the Blue Bayou Restaurant at "33 Royal Street" with the entrance recognizable by an ornate address...
, the Firehouse Apartment, etc.). The project was christened
The Royal Suite, after the street in New Orleans Square (Royal Street) the apartment's entrance is on.
Walt Disney died on December 15, 1966. As a consequence, many projects at Walt Disney Productions were either put on hold or abandoned. The Royal Suite was abandoned at the request of the surviving brother, Roy. He felt that the family could not really enjoy The Royal Suite with Walt gone. The Suite was fairly close to completion at the time of Walt's death, including infrastructure and plumbing.
New tenants
The Insurance Company of North America (INA) took over the location after the Disney apartment was abandoned. They retained Emile Kuri to decorate the space to approximate the look of the Disney apartment. INA renamed the apartment
21 Royal Street, after the apartment's numerical address. It served as a hospitality suite for INA employees and clients during their day at the park.
INA moved out of the suite in 1974 and Disneyland International moved in, using the space as executive offices. DLI helped plan
Tokyo Disneylandis a 115 acre theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, near Tokyo. It was the first Disney park to be built outside of the United States and was opened on April 15, 1983. The park was constructed by Walt Disney Imagineering in the same style as Disneyland in...
with the Oriental Land Company. There was even a large scale model of the park placed in one of the rooms so the Japanese executives could physically see the layout of their new park.
The Gallery
DLI moved out in the mid-1980s when they outgrew their headquarters. The space was left with an uncertain future. At the same time,
ImagineerImagineer may refer to:*Imagineers, the employees of Walt Disney Imagineering.*Imagineering , a now-defunct video game developer from New Jersey.*Imagineer Systems, a UK-based post-production software company....
Tony BaxterTony Wayne Baxter is currently Senior Vice President, Creative Development, Walt Disney Imagineering, and is responsible for overall creative direction for the Disneyland Resort....
was put on a project to improve guest traffic around the
Pirates of the CaribbeanPirates of the Caribbean is a multi-billion dollar Walt Disney franchise encompassing a theme park ride, a series of films and spinoff novels as well as numerous video games and other publications...
attraction. The queue for Pirates would get so long at times that it would block the walkway into New Orleans Square and Bear Country.
Baxter finally decided on the current configuration, with the queue going underneath a themed
footbridgeA footbridge or pedestrian bridge is a bridge designed for pedestrians and in some cases cyclists, animal traffic and horse riders, rather than vehicular traffic. In many developed countries, footbridges are both functional and can be beautiful works of art and sculpture...
, thereby freeing the walkway. He then set his sights on Walt's old Royal Suite, just above the queue. Baxter designed a pair of ornamental staircases that would hug the footbridge and create a unique frame for the building exterior. Baxter had thought that a beautiful place like Walt's suite was going to waste not being seen by park guests.
Baxter asked recently elected Walt Disney Company President and
COOA chief operating officer or chief operations officer is a corporate officer responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the corporation and for operations management...
Frank WellsFrank Wells was an American entertainment businessman.Previously, Wells had worked for Warner Brothers as its Vice President of West Coast in 1969, then in 1973 as President, and in 1977 as Vice Chairman until he left the company in 1982. Disney shareholders Roy E...
what the plans were for the upstairs area. Wells said that
Club 33Club 33 is a private club located in the heart of the New Orleans Square section of Disneyland. Officially maintained as a secret feature of the theme park, the entrance of the club is located next to the Blue Bayou Restaurant at "33 Royal Street" with the entrance recognizable by an ornate address...
was vying for the space in order to add more membership slots. Baxter came to Wells with an idea for an art gallery open to park guests. The Imagineers had always wanted a place to display their artwork for the theme parks, which went largely unseen by the public. The Disney Gallery was born.
The gallery is unique in all of Disneyland because it is the only location in the entire park that is listed as both an attraction and a merchandise location on the park's map. The cast members who work the location are from the Disneyland Merchandise division, but are specially trained to run the gallery as a museum. Cast Members are encouraged to give guests free tours of the gallery, informing visitors of the facility's rich history and the current exhibition.
End of an era
The Gallery closed its doors for good August 7, 2007. The space has been turned into the new Disneyland Dream Suite. Imagineers converted the space into a two-bedroom, two-bath guest suite, using the original 1960s designs created by designer Dorothea Redmond and set decorator Emile Kuri in consultation with Walt Disney. Perhaps to address the concerns of those upset by the Disney Gallery closure, Disney is quick to point out that the Dream Suite will now be used for overnight guests, just as Walt Disney intended. Walt Disney Imagineering Art Director Kim Irvine says that the suite will "be filled with things that might have inspired Walt as he dreamed of Disneyland." Each of the bedrooms will feature a special nighttime lighting effect, activated at the push of a button.
Gallery layout
The Disney Gallery comprises several rooms and antechambers, as it was designed to be living quarters for the Disney family. Each room contains its own set of artwork and usually revolves around a certain theme that pertains to the overall exhibit.
Front Room/Formal Sitting Room
The first room guests walk into is known as the Front Room. This is the introductory room to the exhibit and sets the stage for what lies ahead. Artwork in this room is usually more broad and gets more specific as the guests progress through the room.
As the Royal Suite, this room was known as the Formal Sitting Room. This is where Walt's guests would have spent most of their time, both before and after a meal. The guest entrance from the staircase was originally just another window when the building was first constructed. The balcony with the Pirates of the Caribbean marquee on the front was originally a false balcony and had to be reinforced to accommodate people.
Vestibule
To the left of the front room is the vestibule. This miniature hallway contains two very distinct rooms that are off-limits to guests. Upon entering the vestibule, the door on the right leads to the print room, which is the nerve center for the gallery's Art-on-Demand system. When the gallery opened this room was an administrative office, used for training and other purposes. The room on the left leads to a small office that is used by the current management of the gallery.
The two rooms were originally designed for two very distinct purposes. The manager office was intended to be a men's smoking lounge. Walt Disney was a smoker for most of his life (and actually died from causes related to lung cancer) and planned on having a separate, ventilated room where he and his friends could light up without making anyone else uncomfortable. The print room's intended use is not clearly known, though it is presumed the room was going to be used as a guest room or a room for Walt's grandchildren to play in.
Collector's Room/Informal Sitting Room
The room to the right of the Front Room is known as the Collector's Room. The retail operation of the Gallery is located here. The merchandise changes with the exhibition, but some mainstays of the Gallery have been miniature, matted, vintage attraction posters and books about Disney art and Disney history.
The Art-on-Demand kiosks are also located here, allowing guests to choose a specific picture and have that picture custom printed for them. The system has been popular with longtime guests and offers a less-expensive alternative to lithographs,
gicleeGiclée is an invented name for the process of making fine art prints from a digital source using ink-jet printing. The word "giclée" is derived from the French language word "le gicleur" meaning "nozzle", or more specifically "gicler" meaning "to squirt, spurt, or spray"...
s, and other expensive pieces. The prints come in different sizes, with prices ranging from $15 – $50. Framing for these and other pieces is also available.
This room was originally known as the Informal Sitting Room. Often compared to a modern-day den, the Informal Sitting Room was a place for Walt and his guests to sit and relax before and after dinner. It is likely that the television would have gone in this room. There was also going to be a wet bar (now used as a cash register area), where Walt could have mixed fancy drinks and served appetizers for his guests. Cast Members like to point out the Sub-Zero miniature refrigerator, as it is the same one installed in 1966, and it still works.
Balcony
The Collector's Room is the only way to access the Gallery's expansive balcony. Guests can sit up in the Balcony and people watch as long as they want. In the evening, the Gallery Balcony is used as a hard-ticket seating area for the
Fantasmic!Fantasmic! is a long-running Disney nighttime show at both Disneyland in California and Disney's Hollywood Studios, Florida featuring fireworks, live actors, water effects, several boats, decorated rafts and projections onto large mist screens featuring reworked Disney Animation...
river show. The seat includes an all-you-can-eat dessert buffet with unlimited soft drinks and coffee. The price is very steep and usually coincides with the price of Park admission.
The Balcony holds very distinctive evidence that the Disney brothers were going to share The Royal Suite. Within the
wrought ironthumb|The [[Eiffel tower]] is constructed from [[puddle iron]], a form of wrought ironWrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon content, in comparison to steel, and has fibrous inclusions, known as slag. This is what gives it a "grain" resembling wood, which is visible when it is etched...
of the Balcony's barrier are the initials "WD" and "RD", for "Walt Disney" and "Roy Disney". The initials are so expertly crafted that they do not stand out from the rest of the ironwork.
The balcony is the only area in the entire gallery where Walt Disney actually stood.
Back Hallway/Grand Entrance
Traveling through the Collector's Room, guests will find the Back Hallway. This area was originally used to display collector's lithographs and other framed artwork. Sample Art-on-Demand pieces also hung in this area. Recently, this area has been used as another exhibit room displaying artwork for view.
The Back Hallway was originally the Grand Entrance to the Disney apartment. The door at the rear is connected to the ground floor by a nondescript flight of stairs located in a small courtyard (the Royal Courtyard is currently occupied by an extension of the Pieces of Eight shop). The marker that denotes the address of the apartment still stands. The staircase and back door is considered off-limits to guests.
Blue Room/Formal Dining Room
The room to the right of the Back Hallway is known as the Blue Room. The name came from the color of the wall when the Gallery first opened. This was the largest exhibit area until early 2007, when the room was divided in half. One half was given to Club 33 as storage space which was then turned into Club 33's kitchen. The half that remains as the Gallery is a more intimate space. When the Blue Room was whole, a side balcony on the far side of the room was used as a VIP seating area for Fantasmic! This balcony was off-limits to guests at all times, and was only reserved for special guests of
The Walt Disney CompanyThe Walt Disney Company , often simply known as Disney, is the largest media and entertainment conglomerate in the world, known for its family-friendly products...
.
This room would have been The Royal Suite's Formal Dining Room. Originally rectangular in shape, it would have accommodated a large dining room table that could have probably seated 15 - 20 guests. On the far side of the room was an outline for a doorway that would have led to the Club 33 kitchen. The Royal Suite had no real kitchen, so it was necessary for the Club's chefs to provide all the meals.
Patio
The Patio is the "hub" of the Gallery, with almost every room attached to it. The Patio contains tables and chairs, where guests can bring up food and have a meal away from the bustling crowds of the rest of the Park. A beautiful fountain in the center of the Patio is one of the most-photographed places in Disneyland.
Originally conceived by Lillian Disney, the Patio was a place where Lilly could be outdoors, but away from the Park guests. Lilly also purchased the bronze fountain head sculpture, as well as other antiques located throughout the Gallery. Since she was a lover of plants, Lilly had planters installed wherever possible.
Walt also had a hand in the design of the Patio. There are air conditioning ducts located on the eaves of the roof, surrounding the patio. This was a system that Walt was experimenting with to provide air conditioning outdoors. The ducts in the eaves would provide an
invisibleInvisibility is the state of an object which cannot be seen. An object in this state is said to be Invisible . The term is usually used as a fantasy/science fiction term, where objects are literally made unseeable by magical or technological means; however, its effects can also be seen in the real...
barrier, while the ducts located underneath the eaves would actually regulate the temperature. It was never hooked up and never used.
Green Room/Master Bedroom
To left of the patio, cut off from the rest of the Gallery is the Green Room, named for the same reason as the Blue Room. This is the room that has changed little since the Gallery opened and is now the largest display area.
The room is tucked away from the rest of the Gallery because it was going to be used as the Master Bedroom. Lilly enjoyed her privacy and wanted the bedroom to be essentially off-limits to their guests. A large
bay windowA bay window is a window space projecting outward from the main walls of a building and forming a bay in a room, either square or polygonal in plan. The angles most commonly used on the inside corners of the bay are 90, 135 and 150 degrees. Bay windows are often associated with Victorian architecture...
is located next to the bedroom door (now covered by another display wall) so that Lilly could look out onto her garden patio, even when inside the room. The Master Bedroom also had a bathroom with a marble sink top, a shower alcove, and a toilet; there was no tub. The bathroom space is now used as a merchandise stockroom and is locked at all times.
Exhibition history
Since its opening on July 11, 1987, The Disney Gallery has had changing exhibits to keep things fresh and current. The length of the exhibits ranged from ten years to three months.
The Art of Disneyland (1987 - 1997)
This exhibit opened with the Gallery in 1987. It featured art and scale models of various attractions from the history of Disneyland. Its most famous piece was the original scale model of
Sleeping Beauty CastleSleeping Beauty Castle is the fairy tale structure at the center of Disneyland Park and Hong Kong Disneyland Park. It is based on Neuschwanstein Castle, with some French inspirations ....
in the entrance room. Over the years, art came and went to freshen things up and showcase the newest Disneyland attractions. The last "new" attraction to display concept art was the
Indiana Jones AdventureIndiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye is a dark ride attraction within Adventureland at Disneyland. It opened on March 3, 1995. Based on the Indiana Jones films, guests accompany intrepid archeologist Dr. Indiana Jones on a turbulent high speed adventure through a dangerous lost...
.
During the exhibition, one room was changed to a sub-exhibit called "The Disneyland That Never Was". This area displayed concepts for attractions and shows that never got off the drawing board, such as
Dumbo's CircusDumbo's Circus was a live-action/puppet television series that aired on The Disney Channel, featuring the character of Dumbo from the original film.-Background:...
and
Discovery BayDiscovery Bay is a mixed, primarily residential, development comprising a residential development and private and public recreational facilities in Hong Kong, situated on the north-eastern coast of Lantau Island in the New Territories. The development spans an area of 650 hectares, and includes...
.
Tomorrowland: Imagining the Future 1955 - 1998 (1997 - 2000)
For the Gallery's 10th anniversary, a new exhibit displayed concepts for Disneyland's different interpretations of the future. This exhibit also tied into the 1998 redo of the
TomorrowlandTomorrowland is one of the many themed lands at the five "Magic Kingdom-style" theme parks around the world owned or licensed by The Walt Disney Company. Each version of the land is different and features numerous attractions that depict views of the future...
area. The exhibit was separated into three distinct areas. The first room was a look into the "Atomic Age" Tomorrowland (1955-1966).
Another room displayed the "World on the Move" Tomorrowland (1967-1997). The most famous piece from this room was an accurate scale model of the track for Space Mountain.
The last room displayed art for the then-upcoming "Imagination and Beyond" Tomorrowland (1998-Present). It also displayed art from abandoned concepts for other New Tomorrowland themes like "Tomorrowland 2055" and "Montana Future". In later years, after the New Tomorrowland opened, art was displayed for the redo of the
AutopiaAutopia is a Disneyland attraction, in which patrons steer specially designed cars through an enclosed track. Versions of Autopia exist at Anaheim, California, Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée, France, and at Hong Kong Disneyland on Lantau Island, Hong Kong...
in 2000.
A Brush with Disney: The Art of Herbert Ryman (2000 - 2002)
For the very first time, the Gallery's exhibit focused on one particular Imagineering artist:
Herbert Dickens RymanHerbert "Herbie" Dickens Ryman was a Disney imagineer, and fine art painter. His sister, Lucille Carroll helped fund the Ryman-Carroll Foundation....
. Ryman was responsible for the first detailed overall drawing of Disneyland Park - the drawing
Roy O. DisneyRoy Oliver Disney was, with his younger brother Walt Disney, co-founder of what is now The Walt Disney Company. After Walt died, Roy became the chairman of the company...
used to get monetary backing for the project. Ryman also worked at the animation department, and on Walt's
Florida ProjectThe Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow was a concept developed by Walt Disney near the end of his lifetime. It was his intended purpose for the property purchased near Orlando, Florida that eventually became the Walt Disney World Resort, including Epcot , to be a "community of the...
. This exhibit reflected his life as an artist, both inside and outside of Disney.
One of the exhibit rooms was devoted to the
Ryman-Carroll FoundationRyman Arts is a non-profit fine arts education organization that is based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1990 with just 12 students, the organization provides free art classes in drawing and painting with master teachers to Los Angeles area high school students. As of 2007 the program had...
for Young Artists. This foundation, started by Ryman's sister,
Lucille CarrollGarnett Lucille Ryman Carroll, stage name Jane Starr was an American Broadway actress.-Early life:Carroll was born to Dr. Herbert R. Ryman and Cora Belle Ryman while her father was a medical student at Kansas State Medical College. Dr...
, funds the dreams of young, talented artists. Most of the paintings that were displayed in the room were done by young Ryman-Carroll artists.
100 Mickeys (2002)
To celebrate Walt Disney's 100th birthday, Eric Robison was commissioned by Disneyland to create 100 unique portraits of
Mickey MouseMickey Mouse is a comic animal cartoon character who has become an icon for The Walt Disney Company. Mickey Mouse was created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks and voiced by Walt Disney. The Walt Disney Company celebrates his birth as November 18, 1928 upon the release of Steamboat Willie...
, Walt's most famous creation. Robison was a former Imagineer and a merchandising favorite at Disneyland. All the paintings were done on different media: canvas, cardboard boxes, napkins, and other materials.
This exhibit also marked the debut of the Gallery's art on demand system. Guests could pick a specific painting and have it reprinted on paper or canvas. The system was, and still is, extremely popular, and cost-effective. Disneyland management could even change the pictures being offered to coincide with the next exhibit.
Haunted Mansion Holiday (2002 - 2003)
For the winter season of 2002, the Disney Gallery displayed art from the Park's very popular holiday overlay of the
Haunted MansionThe Haunted Mansion is a complete dark ride attraction located at Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Park in Paris . Each incarnation of the attraction features a ride-through tour of a haunted house in Omnimover vehicles called Doom Buggies,...
, Haunted Mansion Holiday. The exhibit also featured concept art for the original Haunted Mansion, as well as concept art from
Tim BurtonTimothy William "Tim" Burton is an American film director, producer, writer and artist. He is famed for his dark and quirky films, such as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmas, which he co-wrote and produced...
's
The Nightmare Before ChristmasTim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas is a 1993 stop motion fantasy film directed by Henry Selick and produced/co-written by Tim Burton. It tells the story of Jack Skellington, a being from "Halloween Town" who opens a portal to "Christmas Town". Danny Elfman wrote the film score and provided...
, the film which the holiday overlay was based.
A Pirate's Life for Me (2003)
This exhibit showcased concept artwork from the
Pirates of the CaribbeanPirates of the Caribbean is a multi-billion dollar Walt Disney franchise encompassing a theme park ride, a series of films and spinoff novels as well as numerous video games and other publications...
attraction and its many details and stories.
Marc DavisMarc Fraser Davis was a prominent American artist and animator for Walt Disney Studios. He was one of Disney's Nine Old Men, the famed core animators of Disney animated films....
' concept art was all over the Gallery, as were maquettes created by Imagineering master sculptor Blaine Gibson. In fact, several busts of the pirates Gibson created were on display.
In addition to the attraction artwork, one of the rooms showcased exclusive artwork and props from
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black PearlPirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl is a 2003 adventure film, based on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney theme parks...
, the 2003 film that was based on the attraction. Some notable items included both
Elizabeth SwannElizabeth Swann is a fictional character in the Walt Disney Pictures Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise. She appears in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and its two sequels, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End...
and
Captain Jack SparrowCaptain Jack Sparrow is a fictional character from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise who is portrayed by Johnny Depp. He was introduced in the film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl , and appeared in the back-to-back sequels, Dead Man's Chest and At World's End , as well...
's costumes, one of the cursed
AztecThe Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the Late post-Classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Often the term...
gold pieces, and Sparrow's
compassA compass is a navigational instrument for determining direction relative to the Earth's magnetic poles. It consists of a magnetized pointer free to align itself with Earth's magnetic field. The compass greatly improved the safety and efficiency of travel, especially ocean travel...
.
Frights, Camera, Action! The Haunted Mansion Goes Hollywood (2003 - 2005)
Based on the success of the Pirates exhibit and film, Disney stretched the synergy machine again for the next exhibition. This display again featured concepts from the Disneyland Haunted Mansion, but it also displayed concepts, props, and costume pieces from the 2003 film
The Haunted MansionThe Haunted Mansion is a 2003 family oriented fantasy film based on the ride of the same name, directed by Rob Minkoff and starring Eddie Murphy, Terence Stamp, Jennifer Tilly, Marsha Thomason and Nathaniel Parker...
, which was based on the attraction.
Although the film did not fare as well as
Pirates, the art was a huge draw for guests. An added bonus was artwork from the Haunted Mansion attractions in the other Disney theme parks. It was intended to show how all the mansions influenced the one in the film.
Disneyland, A Magical Canvas: 50 Artists Celebrate 50 Years (2005 - 2007)
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Disneyland, the Gallery showcased artwork from Disneyland exclusively. This exhibit was similar to the first, Art of Disneyland. Each region of the park was represented. What is different, however, is that the art displayed was from only 50 Imagineering artists; artists have multiple pieces throughout. The artists were selected by
Walt Disney ImagineeringWalt Disney Imagineering was formed by entertainment mogul Walt Disney on December 16, 1952 as WED Enterprises to develop plans for a theme park and to manage Disney's personal assets. It was an independent, private company, owned by Walt Disney himself, but on February 3, 1965, was merged into...
because of their creative impact on the Park.
In July 2006,
Setting Sail For New Adventures was added to the front room of the exhibit to display artwork from
Pirates of the CaribbeanPirates of the Caribbean is a multi-billion dollar Walt Disney franchise encompassing a theme park ride, a series of films and spinoff novels as well as numerous video games and other publications...
, both the attraction and the films. It was done to capitalize on the certain success of the second
Pirates film,
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's ChestPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is a adventure film of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, the sequel to the film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and the first film from Walt Disney Pictures to feature the current logo...
; the display included props and costumes from the film. Numerous pieces also reflected the revamped scenes from the Pirates attraction, which included
Captain Jack SparrowCaptain Jack Sparrow is a fictional character from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise who is portrayed by Johnny Depp. He was introduced in the film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl , and appeared in the back-to-back sequels, Dead Man's Chest and At World's End , as well...
,
Davy JonesDavy Jones may refer to:People:*Davy Jones , English actor and singer, star of The Monkees*Davy Jones , American*Davy Jones , American baseball player...
, and
BarbossaHector Barbossa or "Captain Barbossa" is a fictional character and pirate in the popular Disney film trilogy Pirates of the Caribbean. Barbossa was first introduced in the series as the primary antagonist and pirate captain of the Black Pearl after committing mutiny against the ship's former...
.
Inspired by Disneyland (2007)
In celebration for the Gallery's 20th Anniversary, the Gallery unveiled a new exhibit featuring, for the first time, the work of artists who were not necessarily Imagineers. Contemporary artists including
ShagShag may refer to:*Collegiate shag, a swing dance from the 1920s*Carolina shag, a swing dance that began in South Carolina in the 1940s*St. Louis shag, a swing dance that evolved from the Charleston*Shag...
, Jody Daily,
Tom WilsonThomas Francis Wilson, Jr. is an American actor, writer, musician, painter, voice-over artist and stand up comedian. He is best known for playing Biff Tannen in the Back to the Future trilogy and Coach Ben Fredricks on NBC's Freaks and Geeks.-Early life:Wilson was born in Philadelphia,...
, Amanda Visell, Kevin Kidney, and Maggie Parr created original works that were based on their views and memories of Disneyland.
The exhibit's other main feature was a room filled with prints of vintage storybook illustrations used in the Disney
Little Golden BooksLittle Golden Books is a popular series of children's books. The first 12 titles were published on October 1, 1942:#Three Little Kittens#Bedtime Stories#Mother Goose#Prayers for Children#The Little Red Hen#Nursery Songs...
series for children. The books were all based on classic Disney films like
Sleeping BeautySleeping Beauty is a American animated feature produced by Walt Disney and based on the fairy tale "La Belle au bois dormant" by Charles Perrault. It was released to theatres on January 29, 1959 by Buena Vista Distribution...
,
Peter PanPeter Pan is a American animated feature produced by Walt Disney and based on the play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up by J. M. Barrie. It is the fourteenth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and was originally released on February 5, 1953 by RKO Pictures...
, and
Mary Poppins.
Disneyland Dream Suite (2008)
It was announced by the Walt Disney Company on October 1 2007, that the Disney Gallery would be remodeled in order to house the new
Disneyland Dream SuiteThe Disneyland Dream Suite is a luxury apartment located in the New Orleans Square area of Disneyland Park at the Disneyland Resort. It was created as part of the Year of a Million Dreams promotion that ran from Oct. 1, 2006, through Dec...
for the continuation of the Year of a Million Dreams celebration at Disney parks. The Suite will be offered to guests who are randomly chosen to stay during the celebration, and the guests will be able to stay the night in the park inside of the Suite. Advantages to having this suite are:
- Late night Snacks and Beverages
- Dinner in the Suite
- A dazzling view overlooking the Rivers of America
- A Private balcony view of Fantasmic!
Fantasmic! is a long-running Disney nighttime show at both Disneyland in California and Disney's Hollywood Studios, Florida featuring fireworks, live actors, water effects, several boats, decorated rafts and projections onto large mist screens featuring reworked Disney Animation...
Other details are surprises in every room, as well as a Bayou themed Patio (to go with Pirates of the Caribbean) with Fireflies.
See also
- List of past Disneyland attractions