In 2020, The Walt Disney Archives will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. To commemorate this momentous occasion, the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, CA will be hosting a new exhibit filled with relics of the company’s rich history.
The exhibit, titled “Inside The Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic,” will span 10,000 square-feet and display more than 400 pieces of original artwork, costumes, props, and more. This exhibit will debut at the Bowers Museum on March 7, 2020 and run through August 30, 2020, before traveling to new, yet to be announced, locations.
Visitors will get a look at never-before-seen art from Fantasia, Walt’s desk from the 2013 film Saving Mr. Banks, original pitch portfolios used to secure investors for Disneyland, and maquettes from animated movies like Peter Pan and Frozen.
Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will have the opportunity to experience the exhibit before it opens to the general public during a special preview night, where Disney archivists will be in attendance. D23 Gold Members will also receive discounts on tickets to the exhibit, as well as discounts on merchandise from the museum store.
In addition to the exhibit, Disney fans will be able to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Archives throughout 2020 in the following ways:
- The Archives will partner with the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood for special El Cap Throwback screenings during the year.
- A special exhibit, 50 Years of the Walt Disney Archives, will debut at D23’s Destination D event at Walt Disney World Resort in fall of 2020. The exhibit will include 50 iconic treasures, each representing a year that the Archives has been in existence.
- D23’s Behind the Scenes Experience: A Day at the Studio Lot events in 2020, held exclusively for Gold Members of D23, will offer a rare glimpse into how the Archives preserves the magic of The Walt Disney Company.
- All Official Walt Disney Studios Tours in 2020, presented by D23, will include a special gift for guests themed to the 50th anniversary.
Future locations and dates for the exhibit are to be announced sometime in 2020, so stay tuned for additional information on “Inside the Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic.” D23: The Official Disney Fan Club has been celebrating its 10th anniversary throughout 2019, so be sure to check out the additional events and celebrations going on throughout the year.