THIS year marks the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company, with lots of attractions, rides, and exhibitions popping up across the globe to mark the special occasion.
Which is how I found myself at Disney100: The Exhibition – a new attraction in London that celebrates 100 years of the Walt Disney Company.
The new attraction, which opened to the public this morning, is housed inside the ExCel in London.
It spans a whopping 20,000 square feet and has 10 sprawling galleries packed full of original props and costumes from some of Disney’s most iconic films.
At the start of the Exhibition, visitors can snap a photo in front of a giant green screen before making their way inside the first gallery.
Straight away, my arms were covered in goosebumps as my eyes darted from one piece of memorabilia to the next.
Disney lovers, both old and new, will spend hours pouring over more than 250 rarely-seen artefacts, works of art, costumes, props, and other memorabilia.
“Where Do the Stories Come From” is one of the very first galleries, and it has a range of real-life props from both the animated and live-action films.
For example, there’s the Crystalline glass slipper from the live-action Cinderella and the storybook from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Before the venue opened, Walt Disney Archives director Becky Cline revealed that two of her favourite props were based on British stories.
One of those was the snow globe from Mary Poppins, while the other was the Carousel Dick Van Dyk rode in the same film, and they’re found in this first gallery.
Inside the “Illusion of Life” gallery, visitors will be able to see original artwork from Cruella – and the red dress Emma Stone wore in the same film.
One of my favourite galleries was the “The Spirit of Adventure and Discovery” because it had a range of superhero helmets from the Marvel films, Captain America’s shield, as well as plenty of Star Wars props, including a BB-8 droid from the film.
If being enthralled by the movie props wasn’t enough, there were also galleries that explained the advancements in filming technology like storyboarding, and the role of music in the films.
Another highlight for me was the “Your Disney World: A Day in the Parks”, which gave visitors a glimpse into the history of Disney’s iconic theme parks, including vehicles from some of the parks’ most beloved rides.
While all of the props are preserved inside glass cabinets, there are several photo opportunities to be had too.
I snapped photos next to a cardboard cutout the fairy godmother from Cinderella, took a selfie with Mickey Mouse, and posed for a picture inside a Spinning tea cup.
There were also lots of interactive features in the exhibition too, including a quest for younger visitors as well as interactive screens and headphones that played music.
At the end of the exhibition, visitors are led through a gift shop with bespoke merchandise on sale.
In a previous article in Sun Online Travel, Walt Disney Archives director Becky Cline said: “We are incredibly excited to bring this fantastic exhibition to London.
“We can’t wait for guests in the UK to experience their favourite Disney stories, characters, and attractions in new and immersive ways as we celebrate all the wonderful worlds of Disney.”
While more than 80,000 tickets have already been sold for the exhibition, there’s still plenty of time to visit.
The exhibition will run until 2024, with ticket prices starting from £16.
The ExCel Centre just 12 minutes from Central London on the Elizabeth Line, and can be reached on the DLR too.
Earlier this year, Disney World celebrated its 50th anniversary.
And Disneyland Paris has just turned 30 – and Sun Online Travel visited the park.
