By Nicole Nalty
If you’ve ever visited a Disney theme park, you’ve probably picked up a park map. While the maps are absolutely helpful in finding your way around the park, Disney maps have become a collectible and cherished keepsake for many Disney fans… which is why we decided to celebrate this special souvenir with a closer look at some amazing original maps from Walt Disney Imagineering.
D23 Members and their guests were invited to join us for a truly one-of-a-kind opportunity––an exclusive viewing of several maps from parks all over the world, from Herb Ryman’s 1953 Disneyland map, to a map of Treasure Cove at Shanghai Disneyland park. Walt Disney Imagineering Art Library staff members Vanessa Hunt, Mike Jusko, and Denise Brown curated this very special exhibition of maps especially for D23, and they were the perfect people to do so! Vanessa recently lent her curation talents to Maps of the Disney Parks: Charting 60 Years from California to Shanghai (Disney Editions Deluxe, 2016). Guests were also treated to a special presentation hosted by Walt Disney Archives Archivist Justin Arthur, featuring special guests Julie Svendsen, Luc Mayrand, and Chris Merritt, whose artwork is featured in the book.
While on the Walt Disney Imagineering campus, guests were invited to shop at Mickey’s of Glendale and have their copies of Maps of the Disney Parks: Charting 60 Years from California to Shanghai signed by the day’s special attendees. Event attendees also received a stunning recreation of a Disneyland park “fun map” designed by Disney Legend Sam McKim.
Click here to see our upcoming (and equally amazing) events!
