Disneyland’s Disneyana on Main Street, U.S.A. currently has a letter signed by Walt Disney, original Marc Davis concept art, Bruce Bushman concept art, and more paraphernalia available for purchase.
While Disneyana has previously sold items belonging to and signed by Walt Disney, this is the first time it’s sold items like concept art. The prices are high but Magic Key discounts do apply.
Enchanted Snow Palace Concept Art by Marc Davis – $26,000
Before there was “Frozen,” there was the Enchanted Snow Palace. This Fantasyland attraction that never came to be was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Snow Queen,” which would later inspire the successful Walt Disney Animation Studios film.
Marc Davis planned for the Enchanted Snow Palace to be set to the Nutcracker Suite. Guests would have traveled through an icy kingdom, encountering polar bears, penguins, walruses, “Snowball Men,” and then the Snow Queen herself. This concept art depicts a polar bear and a small white mouse enjoying a sled ride.
Marc Davis’ Original Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Card – $1,800
This framed set includes a black and white photo of Davis and Disney with a Pirates of the Caribbean figure. Davis was a key figure in the development of the attraction (read the complete history of Pirates of the Caribbean).
The draw of this set, however, is Davis’ 1988 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences membership card. The card is signed by Davis. The framed set also includes a plaque with this quote from Walt about Davis:
All I have to do is tell him what I want and it’s there! He’s my Renaissance man.
Walt Disney
Marc Davis’ Original WED Enterprises Business Card – $1,400
This set includes the same photo of Davis and Disney, and a plaque with the same Disney quote. The card here is Davis’ WED Enterprises, a.k.a. Walt Disney Imagineering business card. It’s embossed with the “WED” logo and has his name in the bottom right corner.
Davis was one of Disney’s “Nine Old Men,” a group of animators who worked at Walt Disney Productions in its early years. Davis joined Disney in 1935, starting as an animator on “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” He later moved to WED and worked on such attractions as Jungle Cruise, Enchanted Tiki Room, Carousel of Progress, “it’s a small world,” The Haunted Mansion, and Country Bear Jamboree.
Marc Davis’ 1958 Signed Contract – $4,000
The last Marc Davis piece is his 1958 Walt Disney Productions contract. The framed set includes the same photo and Disney quote.
The contract is dated August 18, 1958. It’s an annual renewal of Davis’ contract. Davis’ signature, dated September 3 of 1958, is at the bottom.
Carousel Concept Art by Bruce Bushman – $2,500
Next up is a concept brownline print by Bruce Bushman. As the plaque with the artwork states, Bushman was “The Father of Fantasyland.” He joined the company in 1937 as an animator for “Fantasia.” He sketched many different concepts for Fantasyland at Disneyland, working closely with David Bradley.
Bradley, the owner of Disneyland inspiration Beverly Park, would describe concepts while Bushman brought them to life. They designed many different attractions, some of which never came to life. This concept art depicts a “Circus Parade” carousel with various animals. resembling lions, giraffes, and more. A carousel of mythical beasts was one early Fantasyland idea.
There are notes in the corner of the artwork describing the carousel as a “Free kiddie ride.” It also designates it as part of the circus area of Fantasyland.
Though the carousel of mythical beasts never came to fruition, Fantasyland does have the King Arthur Carrousel. The attraction was originally built in 1922. Disney eventually purchased and refurbished it, and Bushman designed its canopy.
Walt Disney Autographed Letter – $24,000
The last special item currently available at Disneyana is a letter signed by Walt Disney himself. It comes framed alongside a black and white photo of Walt and a Mickey sketch.
The letter is addressed to Mr. J. Kenneth Roden, Executive Vice President of the non-profit Junior Achievement of Union County, New Jersey. It’s type-written but Walt’s signature was hand-written in blue ink. Disney thanks Roden and Junior Achievement for presenting him with the Distinguished Service Citation and states:
Anything I have done for Junior Achievement has been because I have great faith in the goals toward with JA works for the youngsters and I am glad to have been able to help further this very worthwile project.
The letter is dated August 10, 1961.
It includes a plaque saying, “It was all started with a mouse” — a common misquote of Walt’s famous, “It was all started by a mouse.”
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