New exhibits exploring the history of Disneyland and Walt Disney himself will open in the Main Street Opera House at Disneyland for the park’s 70th anniversary on July 17, 2025. The opening of the exhibits coincides with the premiere of “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” a new show featuring the first ever Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic.
Main Street Opera House
The Main Street Opera House has a new marquee advertising both “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” and “Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln.” The facade also features blue, magenta, and yellow bunting for the Disneyland 70th anniversary celebration.
Although both shows are listed on the marquee, “Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln” is on a temporary hiatus. After the initial run of “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” the two shows will play in rotation.
A sign on the ground indicates that “Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln” has “No Shows Today.” Because we were attending a media-exclusive event, “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” was also listed as not performing for regular guests. The new show and exhibits all officially open on Thursday, July 17.
Evolution of a Dream
The first exhibit is dedicated to how Disneyland grew from an idea to a complete theme park. Pieces in this area include the actual Griffith Park bench where Walt Disney came up with the idea of Disneyland.
Walt Disney’s Dream
“It came about when my daughters were very young and Saturday was always’ Daddy’s day… So we’d start out and try to go someplace… I’d take them to the merry-go-round and I took them different places and as I’d sit while they rode the merry-ground — sit on a bench, you know, eating peanuts — I felt that there should be something built, some kind of amusement enterprise, where the parents and the children could have fun together. So that’s how Disneyland started.”
Walt Disney
Next to the bench is a carousel horse on loan from the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round, which opened in 1937.
A famous photo of Walt Disney behind Sleeping Beauty Castle is framed by photos of Roy E. Disney, Diane Disney, and Sharon Disney with carousels.
Walt Disney Imagineering and the Walt Disney Archives curated relics and memorabilia from the early stages of Disneyland development to display in this exhibit. These include pencil drawings and concept artwork of preliminary park plans. Some of the plans on display have never before been seen publicly.
Among the sketches are early concepts for a park located along Riverside Drive near Griffith Park.
Banners representing the lands of Disneyland hang from the ceiling above boards of artwork. The Fantasyland board features concept art for Sleeping Beauty Castle, King Arthur Carrousel, and other Fantasyland facades and attractions.
Fantasyland
A Realm of Storybook Magic“Early concept art for Fantasyland envisioned a world where fairy tales and storybooks come to life. Imagineers crafted illustrations filled with towering castles, charming villages, and whimsical landscapes inspired by classic Disney animated films. Each design reflected Walt Disney’s vision of a place where guests could step into the stories they loved, from soaring over London with Peter Pan to spinning through a Mad Tea Party. These renderings helped shaped [sic] the beloved Fantasyland where magic, dreams, and happily-ever-afters are just around the corner.”
The Frontierland board also includes concept art for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Frontierland to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
From the Wild West to the Wild Frontier“Disneyland has always transported guests to new worlds. In Frontierland, Imagineers brought Walt Disney’s vision of the Old West to life with early concept art that captured dusty trails, mighty rivers, bustling towns and the spirit of adventures. Decades later, that same spirit shaped the bold vision for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Concept art imagined X-wings soaring into Black Spire Outpost — a village on the edge of Wild Space. Drawing from the cinematic legacy of ‘Star Wars,’ designers created an immersive world like no other. Together, these lands — one grounded in folklore of the past, the other in a galaxy far, far away — showcase places where guests don’t just witness the adventure — they live it.
New Orleans Square
A Timeless French Quarter“Hand-drawn concept art for New Orleans Square captured the elegance and mystery of the historic French Quarter — with its intricate ironwork balconies, gas-lit streets, and lively courtyards. The Imagineers’ sketches are so vivid you can almost feel the warm Southern charm, hear the swinging jazz echoing through the streets, and catch the sweet scent of beignets in the air. These early illustrations helped shape a place where cobblestone streets, swashbuckling pirates, ghostly mansions, and the timeless spirit of Mardi Gras come to life.”
Tomorrowland artwork is on a board and a nearby wall. These depict familiar icons like Space Mountain, the Monorail, and the cars of Autopia.
An old map of Disneyland is included on this board alongside artwork for Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America.
Adventureland
Charting New Paths“Early concept art for Adventureland captured Walt Disney’s vision of a vibrant natural world inspired by lush jungles, storied civilizations, and bold exploration. These designs drew inspiration from ‘True-Life Adventures’ and live-action epics like ‘The Swiss Family Robinson.’ Among these concepts were ideas that would become the Jungle Cruise and the Swiss Family Treehouse. These evocative renderings laid the groundwork for a land of discovery and wonder, where adventure lies just around the bend.”
One board features artwork for Mickey’s Toontown and Bayou Country, plus previous iterations of the Bayou Country land. The area was known as Bear Country from 1972 to 1988, then Critter Country until 2024. There is concept art for Country Bear Jamboree and its replacement, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. There is also concept art for multiple iterations of Mickey’s Toontown.
Mickey’s Toontown and Bayou Country
Silly Streets and Cajun Beats“The lands of Disneyland have always been shaped by bold imagination and visionary design. In Mickey’s Toontown, the whimsical renderings set out to envision a vibrant neighborhood where curved buildings, exaggerated proportions, and bold colors brought an animated world to life and where every corner feels like stepping into a living cartoon. Nearby, the Bear country — home to the toe-tapping Country Bear Jamboree — became Critter Country. Early concepts capture a wooded retreat and haven for charming critters. More recent designs show how it transformed into Bayou Country, bringing the heart of New Orleans and ‘The Princess and the Frog’ to life. This collection of art celebrates the evolving process of storytelling.”
Instead of a board, Main Street, U.S.A. artwork is on two walls in a corner of the exhibit.
A pair of display cases are dedicated to vintage Disneyland merchandise. In this case are Mickey ears from through the years. Note that these include ears from past Disneyland anniversary celebrations, as well as a classic pair of “Mouseketeers” ears.
Another case shows off Disney timepieces, including wristwatches, from the past 70 years. Labels indicate what year they are from.
Artifacts from The Walt Disney Family Museum
The Walt Disney Family Museum has loaned more than 30 artifacts for display. An area behind glass recreates Walt’s private apartment above the Town Square Fire Station with original furniture and décor from the apartment. These include two rocking chairs, two dining chairs, a table, and a cranberry-colored lamp.
Walt’s Private Apartment
Living the Dream“Located above the fire station on Main Street, U.S.A., was a cherished retreat where Walt and his family spent time together and offered a special space to rest or retire for the evening. Walt loved being close to the park-watching as pieces moved in and out of the Opera House mill shop and seeing Main Street evolve before his eyes. The apartment was personally decorated by his wife, Lillian, with the help of designer, Emile Kuri, and filled with furnishings and décor carefully selected to create a warm, inviting hideaway. On display here are original pieces from the apartment — authentic furniture and personal items now on loan from The Walt Disney Family Museum.”
Two large display cases showcase some of Walt Disney’s awards and humanitarian accolades, also on loan from the museum.
Walt the Humanitarian
“Beyond his groundbreaking work in entertainment, Walt Disney was recognized for his profound contributions to society. In 1964, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the United States’ highest civilian honors, for shaping American culture through storytelling and imagination. Walt was also honored by the American Forestry Association for his dedication to conservation and the protection of America’s natural resources — further reflecting his belief in protecting the world for future generations.”
These include Walt’s 1955 Emmy award for the “Walt Disney’s Disneyland” series, his Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded by President Johnson in 1964, the Walt Disney Commemorative Medal presented to Lillian Disney by President Nixon in 1969, and Walt’s plaque from the Racing Pigeon Association in recognition of the greatest contribution to the sport of racing pigeons.
There are a collection of photographs of Walt from over the years.
Walt the Filmmaker
“Walt Disney was a trailblazer of cinematic storytelling — constantly pushing the boundaries of what animation and live-action film could achieve. From the earliest Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts to the groundbreaking animated feature film ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,’ Walt blended artistry with innovation to create films that captivated audiences around the world. This collection of images celebrates Walt behind the camera — directing, experimenting, and crafting stories that would shape film for generations.”
History of Audio-Animatronics
The Main Street Opera House is home to “Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln,” featuring one of Disney’s first Audio-Animatronics. The new “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” show, on the other hand, showcases Disney’s newest, most advanced animatronic. This exhibit just before the theater’s entrance celebrates the legacy of Audio-Animatronic technology.
There are original and replica figures dating back to Imagineering’s earliest development of animatronics. The talking figures were first introduced in 1963 with Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room and two animated birds are on display in the opera house.
There is a doll from the original run of “it’s a small world” at the 1964 – 1965 New York World’s Fair and figures from Pirates of the Caribbean.
In this area, a TV plays “Memories of Walt,” featuring personal stories and reflections from those who worked alongside Walt Disney and those inspired by his vision.
There is a new bust of Walt Disney and a portrait of him holding a Mickey Mouse sketch, opposite the portrait and bust of Abraham Lincoln.
A Tribute to Disneyland Past, Present, and Future
After viewing “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” guests will exit through a tribute to 70 years of Disneyland.
On one side are historical images of Cast Members at work over the past seven decades.
On the other side is a mural paying tribute to Disneyland history.
The exit gallery culminates in a peek at the future of Disneyland Resort with plans for new attractions and guest experiences underway, reminding guests of Walt’s legacy and his belief that Disneyland will never truly be complete so long as imagination is left in the world.
Video Tour
Watch our full video tour of the Disneyland 70th anniversary exhibits below.
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