By the D23 Team
The acclaimed Disney100: The Exhibition opens Saturday, November 18, at the 35,000-square-foot Exhibition Hub Art Center in Chicago, bringing new original Disney artwork and artifacts and other exciting updates, after its premiere run at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. The opening day is also Mickey Mouse’s and Minnie Mouse’s 95th birthday.
Disney100: The Exhibition is presented by the Walt Disney Archives and Semmel Exhibitions, a worldwide exhibit presenter and producer. In Chicago, the show is presented in partnership with Exhibition Hub and Fever, both leaders in global live-entertainment operations.
Guests will find new artwork throughout many of the 10 immersive galleries, plus an updated prologue experience titled “Into the Wonder,” which introduces Walt Disney and how the exhibition is guided and organized by his creative philosophies. Also new is the experience of the final gallery, “We Are Just Getting Started,” which immerses visitors in iconic moments spanning 100 years of Disney storytelling and includes a unique platinum version of the beloved Partners statue of Walt and Mickey, with which guests can pose for photos. The full exhibition, which is traveling the world in two editions for five years, celebrates the recent centennial anniversary of The Walt Disney Company on October 16, 2023.
Each gallery features visual, audio, and interactive elements, with more than 250 unique and rarely seen works of art, artifacts, memorabilia, costumes, and props from the historical collections across the many realms of Disney. New artwork and artifacts include visual development art from Bambi (1942), original attraction posters from Disneyland Park, original props from 101 Dalmatians (1996), Alice in Wonderland (2010) and The Little Mermaid (2023), and a Disneyland guidebook from 1955, the year the park opened—and much, much more.
The city of Chicago plays an important role in the Disney story: Walter Elias Disney was born in Chicago’s Hermosa neighborhood; Walt purchased his first motion picture camera in Chicago and attended both McKinley High School and night classes at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts.
“We are incredibly excited to bring this fantastic exhibition to Chicago,” said Becky Cline, director of the Walt Disney Archives. “We can’t wait for guests to experience some of their favorite Disney stories, characters, and attractions in new and immersive ways as we celebrate all the wonderful worlds of Disney.”
Disney100: The Exhibition is scheduled to be open throughout the holiday season and into 2024. The Exhibition Hub Art Center in Chicago is located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood at 2367 W. Logan Blvd., Chicago, IL 60647, and is easily accessible via Chicago’s public transit system. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit disney100exhibit.com/chicago.