Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} 's Sleeping Beauty - A Magic Plan by Walt Disney Company AND DISNEY WORLD. Up until the 1940s, the American amusment park was limited to merry-go-rounds, ferris wheels and carnival games. All that changed when Walt Disney envisioned a new amusement park called a Theme Park. Disney's innovations re-entergized amusement parks in this county and creating an entirely new approach to the real estate development and commercial construction of theme parks and the areas surrounding those attractions. Disneyland - A New Kind of Amusement Park. Later in life, Walt Disney told inquirers that he first had the idea for a new kind of amusement park when he took his young daughters out for the weekend and found that, "…existing kids' parks and fairs were often dirty, sleazy, money-grubbing places." In spite of the fact he had never developed real estate or managed a large-scale construction project, Disney nourished his notions of a new kind of amusement park throughout the late 1940s and early 1950s. His idea for displaying Disney characters in a fantasy setting was a bold departure from present-day amusement parks and carnivals that offered rides, games, and inexpensive food. Instead Disneyland was conceived as an extension of the Disney brand, and would be the first "theme park" built in the . The people at Disney Studios, even his brother Roy, were less than enthusiastic about Walt's plan. Walt, confident of his own vision, sidestepped the studio and began to gather funds by borrowing on his life insurance and selling vacation property in southern California. He assembled a staff of designers, planners and artists and formed WED Enterprises - the letters were his initials - as a personal corporation to house them. The WED group began a long process of creative brainstorming. Its members conceptualized, designed and reworked Walt's broad ideas. They visited other amusement attractions around the country to gather data and impressions and flesh out development plans, and with the help of commercial contractors created a rough construction timetable. By 1953 major large hurdles - obtaining financing and securing a location - still blocked the launching of the park's construction. In July of that year, Walt recognized his need to obtain guidance from commercial real estate development experts and solicited a pair of marketing studies from the Stanford Research Institute: one would examine the economic prospects of developing Disneyland, and the other would seek the ideal location for construction companies to build the park. After determining the facility could be profitable, the Stanford group closely examined a host of factors - demographic statistics, urban growth trends, population concentrations, traffic patterns, freeway construction, availability of experienced commercial contractors, weather conditions - before recommending a site in Anaheim, a rapidly growing town just southeast of Los Angeles. Disney had struggled to find additional financing; as he later recalled, he was told by bankers that "the outdoor amusement business was a cultural anachronism that had already declined into senility." A few months later, the financial breakthrough came with a long-term agreement with ABC which brought the television network in as a major investor. (ABC agreed to carry Disney television programming, marking Mickey Mouse's first network appearance and the start of a tremendously profitable partnership for both companies. ABC also agreed to help publicize Disneyland in return for an ownership stake in the property.) Construction of Disneyland Begins. With financing in place and a location secured, the construction companies began in the summer of 1953. Commercial contractors and construction companies fell under the overall leadership of Joe Fowler, an engineer and retired navy admiral who became construction supervisor, and later park manager for ten years. Disneyland was designed in a wheel-shaped configuration. The idea was to provide a fun entrance area with a long walkway where visitors would wander through, led by a grand visual attraction, to the park's center. From there, visitors could branch off to the rest of the park on paths that radiated outward like spokes on a wheel. This became the design for Disneyland. Visitors entered the park through Mainstreet U.S.A. and made their way to the center hub of the wheel, where they found the park's majestic centerpiece, Sleeping Beauty's Castle and Fantasyland. Winding "spokes" led from the castle through the rest of the park, guiding visitors to other different themed "lands", including Adventureland, Frontierland and Tomorrowland. This wheel design layout with an iconic centerpiece has become the standard approach for designing theme parks and has been adopted by the majority of theme parks constructed since that time. Construction for Disneyland began on July 21, 1954, just 12 months before the park was scheduled to open. Construction companies worked frantically to meet the tight schedule and completed the project on time. Disneyland was formally opened a year later, on July 18, 1955, to glowing reviews. Unlike other amusement parks of the day, Disneyland was developed and constructed to be instantly recognizable as an extension of the Disney brand and the Disney philosophy. The rides used an array of Disney motifs, costumed Disney characters roamed the park, and Sleeping Beauty Castle, the looming attraction at the heart of the park, was instantly recognizable to millions of people since it was seen every Sunday night on ABC television. Disneyland became, in a sense, the capstone of Walt Disney's career. The capstone of his career also quickly became the cornerstone of an empire. In its first six months, one million people visited the Disneyland; in its first full year, three million people passed through its gates. The park quickly generated capital to finance a vast expansion, and in subsequent years, each time the park expanded its capacity, revenues increased more than proportionately to the added capital. In spite of his lack of real estate development experience, Disney had created park plans that allowed for expansion and resulting construction that would not interfere with ongoing park operations. Lessons Learned and Incorporated into the Planning and Construction of Disney World. One thing that Walt Disney learned from the development of Disneyland was the need for space - lots of it. He saw that his parks would become a destination for vacationers, and he wanted the control over the surrounding area for restaurants and hotels that would further the Disney brand. Unfortunately, Disney did not own the the land around Disneyland, and his park soon became surrounded by low-end motels and other business that detracted from the fantasy-like image he wanted to present. Disney also had more visions for his theme park to appeal to visitors of all ages and to incorporate a wider variety of subjects than just his cartoon characters. He quickly recognized that the 160 acres for Disneyland would not be nearly enough to meet his vision. In 1963, Disney set out to find a site for a new Disney theme park that would give him the room he needed to create multiple theme parks, hotels, restaurants and more. His team (called Imagineers) scoured the country to find the right place to host a theme park on a much grander scale than Disneyland. His Imagineers chose the undeveloped lands around Orlando as the location for his new park. Disney knew the importance of getting as much land as possible and was well aware of how prices would escalate if people found out what he was doing. He formed fictitious corporations with names like Tomahawk Properties, Latin American Development and Retlaw Enterprises (Retlaw is Walter spelled backwards) to acquire the land discreetly. By the time Disney announced the project on November 15, 1965, the company had acquired 27,443 acres (43 square miles) for $5 million. (This has expanded over the years to more than 30,000 acres, or almost 47 square miles). As Disney predicted, within days of this announcement land values for property surrounding the Disney site sky-rocketed from $180 per acre to as much as $80,000 per acre. Construction Companies Break Ground on a New Kingdom. Tragically, Walt Disney passed away on December 15, 1966, before construction companies could begin building his Disney World. Roy Disney stepped into Walt's place and led the construction of the first theme park in Disney World, the , as well as on two hotels and a campground. Construction began in April, 1969. Given that central Florida is primarily a wetlands region, construction companies faced a variety of challenges with relocating water while not affecting the local environment. Construction crews built more than 50 miles of levees and canals around the property to maintain levels and quality of the local fresh water while draining areas where construction would take place. This control system, which functions automatically based on water levels and without electricity, helps to minimize flooding without removing water from the area. Even bodies of water that would remain on the site needed to be cleaned and made safer for recreational use. Bay Lake was drained of its water and cleaned of muck. Construction workers removed more than seven million cubic yards of dirt from an adjacent area to create a man-made lagoon, named . Sand from beneath the removed muck was used to create beaches around the lagoon. Once Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon had been filled with water, the surrounding areas served as the setting for one of the hotels, the Polynesian Village Resort. The dirt removed for the creation of the lagoon became the earthen foundation for the Magic Kingdom theme park. Visitors to the Magic Kingdom rarely realize that they are actually on the second floor of the park. The construction company in charge of this phase of the project created a nine- acre ground-level floor which is comprised of corridors and massive rooms. These corridors are called "utilidors" as they provide housing and access to the park's utility systems and the incredible network center that controls virtually every automated aspect of the park, right down to the gift shops' cash registers. The visible part of the Magic Kingdom is built on top of that ground floor, hiding it from view. Cinderella's Castle at the center of the Magic Kingdom is further elevated by several more feet to make it visible from miles around. The Magic Kingdom was designed in the same wheel-shaped configuration first employed at Disneyland; at the center hub of the wheel stood Cinderella's Castle. Winding "spokes" meandered from the castle through the rest of the park, leading visitors to six different themed "lands", including: Main Street, USA; Adventureland; Frontierland; Liberty Square; Fantasyland; and Tomorrowland. Cinderella's Castle is a masterpiece of design and construction. Standing 189 feet tall, the Castle is made of fiberglass veneer crafted around a 600-ton steel framework. It features ten spires; portions of the castle are finished to look like solid granite and other parts look like brick. The facade bricks nearer the top of the Castle are actually smaller than the ones closer to the ground. This technique of designing higher features to be disproportionately small makes the Castle look taller than it actually is; several buildings throughout the Magic Kingdom were constructed with smaller windows, balconies and doors on their second and third floors to employ this same design technique. Many believe the Castle was designed to be disassembled in the event of a hurricane. While this is not the case, Cinderella's Castle was built to withstand hurricane force winds. One of the Castle's towers includes an unfinished apartment. This apartment was to be used by Walt Disney and his family when they visited the park. Because Disney died before the building was constructed, the room was never used for this purpose. It has been left largely unused, although for some time it served as home for a Disney call center. By the time the Magic Kingdom opened on October 1, 1971, more than 9,000 construction workers had labored for 18 months to build the park, which cost approximately $400 million to create. Building the City of the Future. In 1975, Disney's Imagineers entered a new phase of Disney World's development with the planning of two new concepts that Walt Disney had envisioned more than a decade before. The first was a World Showcase, capturing the cultures of different countries around the world. The second was an amazing and daring vision of what the city of the future would be. Initially, Imagineers planned these two attractions as separate parks, or as attractions within Magic Kingdom. They finally chose to put the two concepts together into a single new theme park called , short for Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow. In 1979 Disney's Imagineers began construction on EPCOT. EPCOT's skyline was to be dominated by one of the most creative buildings ever constructed, known as Spaceship Earth. Science fiction writer Ray Bradbury assisted on the design of Spaceship Earth and Disney served as its design firm with its WED Enterprises Group. One of the most recognizable buildings in America, Spaceship Earth was the world's first geodesic sphere building. The building, standing 18 feet above the ground on massive steel pylons, is 180 feet tall and weighs more than 15 million pounds. So massive is the building that construction crews drove its pylon legs 120 - 180 feet into the ground to provide sufficient stability. The sphere's external surface is covered by an intricate faceting of 11,324 alucobond triangles. The building surface is covered with gutters between the triangle facets; rainwater is captured in these gutters and channeled to a nearby lagoon to eliminate run-off from the building and conserve water resources. Inside, a steel skeleton forms the building's shape, an interior sphere skin provides the interior "walls" for the ride and attractions. A second sphere, the exterior skin, is mounted to the skeleton two feet away from the interior skin with smaller framework pieces. EPCOT proved to be a much more challenging project than Magic Kingdom. With advancements in technology, designers and builders were able to incorporate five times more special effects into EPCOT than were built into Magic Kingdom. More than 10,000 construction workers labored for 26 months to create the 300-acre, $1.4 billion park in time for the grand opening on October 1, 1982; at the time, EPCOT was the largest commercial construction project on earth. Construction Continues Through the 1980s and 1990s. Since EPCOT opened its gates in 1982, Disney World has continued to expand with new construction of theme parks, hotels, shopping areas and more. In 1989, construction was completed on Disney-MGM Studios, a combination theme park / working movie studio. Using the template established with the Magic Kingdom, Disney-MGM Studios was designed with the wheel layout. Initially, a replica of Hollywood's Chinese Theater was the icon at the park's center hub. Construction crews worked from the original Mann's Chinese Theater plans and recreated the lobby precisely, then included stars on a walk of fame around the building for added effect. In 2001 Disney added a 122-foot tall Mickey's Sorcerer's Hat as the new centerpiece for the park. Constructed of fiberglass with a concrete foundation, the 156-ton hat was designed after the cap worn by Mickey Mouse in the movie Fantasia. Winding paths lead from the park's center hub to five themed areas, including: Hollywood Boulevard, Echo Lake, Streets of America, Mickey Avenue, Animation Courtyard and Sunset Boulevard. To capture the Golden Hollywood theme for the park, construction crews built painstaking replicas of California real estate icons like Sunset Boulevard and Hollywood Hills Amphitheater, as well as more mundane tinseltown scenes like a 50's diner, old fashioned theaters and other symbols of the community. Old time movie studios typically had a water tower and Disney continued this tradition with a 130 tower in the backlot area, complete with 5,000 pound Mickey ears that were lifted in place with a crane during construction. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Disney continued to add more hotels and resorts to the property - no less than 23 different resorts now offer lodging on Disney property that ranges from the most luxurious suites to camping sites. The expansion of new attractions continued with the debut of Disney World's first water park, Typhoon Lagoon, in 1989. Also that year, an entertainment complex called Pleasure Island debuted. Pleasure Island ultimately became a major section of , a 120-acre shopping, entertainment and restaurant area outside of the theme parks. In 1992 the Bonnett Creek Golf Courses opened, featuring two courses: Eagle Pines and Osprey Ridge. A second water park, Blizzard Beach, was completed in 1995. In 1996 construction was complete on the Disney World Speedway 200 race track. In 1995 Disney broke ground on the fourth of its theme parks at Disney World, Animal Kingdom. This theme park, the largest of all the Disney parks, is dedicated to the conservation of our planet's wildlife. True to form, Animal Kingdom is designed in the wheel configuration. The center of the park, Discovery Island, features the massive Tree of Life as its icon. The Tree of Life stands fourteen stories tall and is built around a refitted oil platform. Paths leave Discovery Island and lead visitors to the other themed areas of the park, which include Oasis, Camp Minnie-Mickey, Africa, Rafiki's Planet Watch, Asia and DinoLand USA. Construction crews worked on the Animal Kingdom for three years, opening the 500-acre, $800 million park on April 22, 1998. Walt Disney’s Favorite Disney Song and the Story Behind It. Disney’s Golden Age introduced the world to libraries full of unforgettable songs. From the music of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to The Jungle Book, it is difficult for even the most devout Disney fan to settle on one absolute favorite film soundtrack, let alone one song. But for Walt Disney himself, that wasn’t the case. He had a favorite song and it was “Feed the Birds (Tuppence a Bag)” written by Richard Sherman and Robert Sherman for Mary Poppins. In their documentary titled The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story , which is now available for streaming on Disney+, the Sherman brothers explain Walt’s relationship with that song, and how it found its home at the heart of their relationship with Walt. Walt Disney and the Sherman Brothers. After earning Walt’s attention writing songs for Mousketeer, , and “Let’s Get Together” for the Disney film Parent Trap, “ Dick and Bob” explained that Walt then gave them a copy of the Mary Poppins book and simply said “tell me what you think.” This was years before Walt would get the rights to make a Mary Poppins movie. After two weeks, they asked for a meeting with Walt to go over what they came up with. They asked for 30 minutes. They stayed in Walt’s office for over two hours. “We found six chapters,” Bob Sherman said, “that we could put together and make a story. We circled the six chapters, he [Walt] smiled and got his copy, opened it to the index, the same six chapters were underlined. It was a miracle.” Dick and Bob Sherman also wrote a few bars of some of the songs that could go into the film, and they played Walt what they wrote on the piano in his office. “Feed the Birds” was one of them. “He said, ‘Play me that bird lady song again,'” Dick Sherman remembered. “He looked at us and said, ‘That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?'” “He said, ‘You guys like to write, don’t ya?'” Bob remembered. “We said, ‘Yes sir.’ [Walt said] ‘How would you like to come here?'” That was the day the Sherman Brothers–the men who wrote, among others, the songs for Winnie the Pooh, Sword in the Stone, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Jungle Book, and park favorites like “it’s a small world,” “The Enchanted Tiki Room,” and “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” for Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress–became contracted songwriters at The Walt Disney Studio, the only songwriters Walt ever had under contract. “The Sherman brothers,” Walt said, “are not only very talented but very cooperative. They go for the team play, you know, and that’s the way we work here.” “Play it.” While the Sherman brothers would settle into their office in the Animation building and have success after success, they would often find themselves back in Walt’s office on Fridays for no other reason than just to talk with him. “And then he would look at me,” Richard recalled, “and he’d say ‘play it,’ and I pretty much knew what he wanted. He wanted to hear his favorite song. “After he was gone, I’d still come down on a Friday afternoon and play it for him.” On Disneyland’s 60th Anniversary, Richard Sherman took the stage in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle and marked the occasion by playing Walt’s favorite song once again for everyone in attendance. Do you have a favorite Sherman Brothers Song? Where does “Feed the Birds” rank among your favorite Disney songs? Let us know in the comments! Disneyland Offers Shopping Event for SOLD OUT Walt Disney Funko! The highly-anticipated Walt Disney with Sleeping Beauty Castle Funko POP made a surprise appearance on shopDisney this morning — it was not expected until December 7 — and sold out within minutes! Credit: Disney Archives/Funko/Disney. Those in the Southern California region who missed out on the Funko POP online can still try to get reservations for ’s reservation-only shopping event that will feature the Disney vinyl collectible. Disneyland AP shared these details about the upcoming Disneyland Resort Shopping Event on Twitter: Commemorate the anniversary of Disneyland Park and Disney’s Fantasia with the next Disneyland Resort Shopping Reservation opportunity. Make your reservation TODAY for the opportunity to purchase new Disneyland Resort Featured Products! http:// di.sn/6012HMBW8. Commemorate the anniversary of Disneyland Park and Disney’s Fantasia with the next Disneyland Resort Shopping Reservation opportunity. Make your reservation TODAY for the opportunity to purchase new Disneyland Resort Featured Products! https://t.co/vZ5h08ZCi4 pic.twitter.com/ynAAqtWhGQ — Disneyland AP (@DisneylandAP) December 4, 2020. The link in the Tweet will take you to the webpage where you can register for a shopping time. Disneyland has been hosting these shopping events at the Downtown Disney District World of Disney store amid Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park’s continued coronavirus closure. At this time, it does not appear that California’s new regional stay-at-home order will impact Disneyland’s shopping events. If, however, this changes, the Inside the Magic team will bring you the latest details as they emerge. If you have plans to visit Downtown Disney or Buena Vista street, make sure you visit Disneyland Resort’s official webpage to discover the latest restrictions and capacity details, as they can change quickly right now. As always, ITM will also remain abreast of the latest pandemic-related news from California and bring you the most up-to-date details as they are released by Disney Parks officials and the California Governor’s office. shopDisney representatives have been unable to confirm if the Walt Disney Funko POP will be restocked online. Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Reveals Next Generation of Immersive Storytelling in Disney Parks. Today at D23 Expo 2019, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman detailed the ambitious plans in store for one of the most extraordinary periods of expansion in Disney history. Nearly 7,000 fans filled Hall D23 at the Anaheim Convention Center to discover more about the multiyear transformation of Epcot underway at Resort, the coming to both Disneyland Resort and Disneyland Paris and the new ship coming to Disney Cruise Line in 2022, along with other new offerings that invite guests to be front and center in their favorite stories. “It was Walt’s vision for our theme parks to be places where Disney stories come to life in amazing ways, and with the world’s most creative and talented team of artists and dreamers, there’s no shortage of inspiration,” Chapek said. Today’s presentation featured a wealth of exciting news about Disney’s plans for parks, resorts, cruise ships and beyond: Avengers Campus. Beginning in 2020 at Disney California Adventure park and later at Disneyland Paris, guests will be able to suit up alongside their favorite Super Heroes in these two immersive campuses. Both will be home to the first Disney ride-through attraction to feature Spider-Man; and the Avengers Campus in California will also feature a brand-new E-Ticket attraction where guests can fly alongside the Avengers in an epic adventure to Wakanda and beyond. Avengers Campus will feature an inspired eatery, Pym Test Kitchen, and opportunities for guests of all ages to enjoy heroic encounters with favorite characters. Avengers Campus will open at Disney California Adventure in 2020, with the Avengers-themed attraction planned to open in the next phase of development. At Disneyland Paris, guests can extend their adventures at Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, opening next summer. The hotel will celebrate 80 years of Marvel art and artists, with more than 300 stunning pieces on display. Rooms will include one-of-a-kind themed suites featuring favorite Super Heroes like Spider-Man, and guests will also have the opportunity to meet these legends in a dedicated space. Star Wars : Galactic Starcruiser. This first-of-its-kind vacation experience invites guests to embark together on a two-night journey to a galaxy far, far away on board a glamorous ship, known as the Halcyon , where every window offers stellar views into space. The immersive adventure will include special activities, incredible dining and a “spaceport” day on Batuu at Star Wars : Galaxy’s Edge, inviting guests even deeper into their own Star Wars stories. Disney Cruise Line. Today, Chapek announced the first of the three ships coming to Disney Cruise Line will be called the Disney Wish . The beloved Disney princess Rapunzel will grace the stern of the vessel, which will be delivered in late 2021 and will set sail in January 2022. Additionally, Disney Cruise Line guests can also look forward to a signature island experience that celebrates nature and the spirit and culture of The Bahamas at a new Disney port of call located on the breathtaking island of Eleuthera at a place called Lighthouse Point. Timeless Transformation of Epcot. Chapek shared more of the ways Epcot will stay true to its original vision while bringing timeless Disney storytelling to life with the magic of possibility. The park will be unified with four neighborhoods that each celebrate a unique aspect of what makes Epcot so special: World Showcase. Disney Legend joined Chapek to reveal that World Showcase will welcome the first attraction inspired by Mary Poppins in Cherry Tree Lane, an entirely new neighborhood that will join the United Kingdom pavilion. Chapek also announced that a new nighttime spectacular, HarmonioUS —the largest ever created for a Disney park—is coming to World Showcase; along with a new attraction, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure , opening in summer 2020; a new restaurant called La Crêperie de Paris, opening next summer; the all-new Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along , coming in January 2020; Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360 , coming in January 2020; and Wondrous China , a film that uses a completely seamless 360-degree digital format to take guests on a spectacular journey across China. World Celebration. The iconic Spaceship Earth will remain a voyage through time as the journey transforms with new scenes reflecting the universal nature of the human experience. A new guide and all-new narration will focus on the storytelling that brings people together. A new three-level pavilion in World Celebration will be the home base for Epcot’s signature festivals, with a stunning views and a spectacular vantage point to witness the park’s nighttime spectacular. Breathtaking views will also be found at Dreamers Point, which will feature lush gardens, a wishing tree, an interactive new fountain and a statue celebrating the legacy of the original dreamer, Walt Disney. World Nature. Guests can meet and play with magical, living water in Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana” —the first attraction inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios’ hit film—which will be a lush exploration trail where guests can meet and play with magical, living water. Additionally, a new film coming to The Land pavilion in January 2020, Awesome Planet , showcases the spectacular beauty, diversity and dynamic story of the planet. World Discovery. Today, D23 Expo attendees learned of the new attraction Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind —the first to feature a reverse launch into space. The thrilling, family-friendly attraction will feature a never-before-seen storytelling coaster that rotates to focus on the action, wherever it may be. The new restaurant Space 220 will open this winter as an expansion of the Mission: SPACE pavilion. The culinary experience offers dining and an out-of-this-world view, with the celestial panorama of a space station—including daytime and nighttime views of Earth from 220 miles up. And PLAY! pavilion will open in time for the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World. This interactive metropolis invites guests to discover a city bursting with games, activities and experiences that connect them with friends, family and beloved Disney characters like never before. The 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort. This milestone celebration will extend beyond Magic Kingdom to each of the resort’s four theme parks and will include highly anticipated attraction openings and new entertainment, food and beverage, merchandise and more. Planned to debut in late 2020, Disney Genie is a revolutionary new digital offering that will enhance the way guests plan for and experience a trip to Walt Disney World Resort. Disney Genie will make planning easier and more fun by providing guests customized itineraries geared to princesses, thrill seekers, foodies, families and more. Guests will even be able to tell Disney Genie what they want to experience, and it will quickly evaluate millions of options to present them with an optimal day. Magic Happens Parade at Disneyland Park. Set to debut in spring 2020, the new Magic Happens parade will come to life with an energetic musical score and a new song produced in partnership with singer-songwriter Todrick Hall. Celebrating awe-inspiring moments of magic that are at the heart of so many Disney stories, the parade will feature stunning floats, beautiful costumes, and beloved Disney characters from Moana , Coco , Sleeping Beauty , and more, with a Mickey Mouse leading the way down Main Street, U.S.A. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Chapek shared a first look inside Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway , coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in 2020 and Disneyland in 2022. Disney fans in Hall D23 were also treated to a first look at the new area of Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland that will be home to this exciting attraction, which will take guests on a journey inside the wacky and unpredictable world of Disney Channel’s Emmy® Award-winning Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts. “Zootopia” at Shanghai Disney Resort. D23 Expo guests heard more details about the themed land coming to Shanghai Disney Resort that is themed to the Walt Disney Animation Studios film Zootopia . In addition to a major new attraction that blends storytelling and state-of-the-art technology to bring this favorite film to life, guests can expect immersive entertainment, merchandise and dining options that can only be found in this “mammalian metropolis.” Celebrating Animated Stories at Hong Kong Disneyland. When the centerpiece of Hong Kong Disneyland is completely transformed, the Castle of Magical Dreams will honor 13 beloved Disney heroines and feature adornments that are inspired by classic animated stories. The castle will be a canvas for new entertainment, including a daytime show and nighttime spectacular, and will be home to a new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique where children can receive royal transformations. As part of the multi-year transformation of the park, guests will be able to visit the world of Frozen , complete with all its sights, sounds, cuisine, and traditions. The area will feature two incredible attractions—a new coaster, Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs , which takes guests on a winding journey through the kingdom; and Frozen Ever After , inspired by the incredibly popular family attraction in Epcot’s Norway pavilion at Walt Disney World Resort. Guests will also have the opportunity to experience the full force of Elsa’s powers as she creates a beautiful “winter-in- summer” day. First Cirque du Soleil Show Celebrating Walt Disney Animation Studios. Cirque du Soleil, and legendary Disney animators have partnered to create a first-of-its-kind show that celebrates the magic of Walt Disney Animation Studios. The new production will combine Disney storytelling and heart with Cirque du Soleil’s signature artistry. Previews will begin March 20, 2020, at , leading up to the world premiere on April 17. Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge. Chapek also shared more details about the previously announced Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge, a unique hotel and proposed Disney Vacation Club resort drawing inspiration from the wonders of nature and artistry of Walt Disney. Bringing Magic into the Daily Lives of Families and Fans. Target and Disney will come together with a creative retail collaboration that encompasses experiential retail and merchandising and includes the launch of 25 Disney stores within select Target stores nationwide on October 4, with 40 additional locations opening by October 2020. The “shop-in-shop” will feature an enhanced Disney assortment of more than 450 items, including more than 100 products that were previously only available at Disney retail locations. Inside the Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic. Now on view at the Bowers Museum, the exhibition Inside the Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic celebrates on the 50th anniversary of its archives, with behind-the-scenes access never before granted to the public. The 10,000-square-feet traveling exhibit, which premiered at D23 Expo Japan in 2018, offers several rare items only on loan to the Bowers. Guests are invited to step into The Walt Disney Archives as they walk through a dazzling display of more than 400 objects, including original artwork, costumes, and props that tell the story of the Archives, The Walt Disney Company, and Walt Disney himself. From nostalgic classics like never-before-displayed sketches for Fantasia and ghouls from attraction, to modern-day favorites like super hero costumes and maquettes from Frozen, this enchanting exhibition is an immersive treasure-trove the entire family will love. Inside the Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic is curated by the Walt Disney Archives in conjunction with the Bowers Museum. Specially Ticketed and Timed-Entry FAQ. (Includes access to all of Bowers Museum's exhibitions) Bowers Members: First ticket is free for most membership levels*, see Membership page for details; additional visits: $10. *Note: Tickets limited to availability. Advanced ticket reservations/purchases are strongly advised. Weekdays Weekends Adults $23 $25 Seniors (Age 62+) & Students (12) $20 $22 ** Children (3-11) $5 $5 ** Children (Under 3) Free Free Santa Ana Residents (Sunday Only) $10 Active Military & NARM member $10 $10 **Must be accompanied by paying adult. Inside the Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic is a timed-entry exhibition. This means visitors will purchase tickets for a specific date and time they'd like to enter. Tickets will be available on the hour, 10 AM - 3 PM Tuesday - Sunday. Visitors are advised to arrive at least 30 minutes early to check-in at the admissions desk and receive their admission sticker. Visitors may enter the line for Inside the Walt Disney Archives 5 minutes before their exhibition start time or any time after. No reentry into Inside the Walt Disney Archives will be permitted after exiting. Your ticket includes admission into all of Bowers’ exhibitions anytime during regular operating hours on the same date.