Mural of characters still on Main Street?

EPCOT Explorer

EPCOT Explorer

New Member
Animaniac93-98 said:
That would take allot of work, the last time they updated this thing was for The Great Mouse Detective in 1986! They would have to do every DAC from Oliver and Company onward. I wonder if there would be any space if they decided to do this?
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Lets hope it gets updated...I always thought it was such a cool mural.
 
Cynderella

Cynderella

Well-Known Member
Where the heck is this? I've never ever seen it but I do know where the room with the cut outs and the movies is. Have I just missed it?
 
Jerm

Jerm

Well-Known Member
This mural was done back in the day when it was still the Walt Disney Story and would be updated for a little bit when the new films came out until no one was really even going in to see the Walt Disney Story. When they closed the Walt Disney Story in 1992 (which is why none of the 90's classic were ever add) the theater really sat empty except for special event or CM movie screenings. In 1996 it became the Welcome Home location for Walt Disney World 25th Anniversary Welcome Center and you would walk down the hall and into the theater to see a bit of a retrospective of WDW and then a bit about AK. You would exit and see the large 3D map of AK as seen below. For a while you used to be able to walk down the hall and they had the WDW Forever machines there then they had some other things that you would be able to walk down the hall and see. They then closed that hall and started using that area for CM only. One of the 2 theaters was used for a long time for Scoop's Pin Talks until DVC started taking it over and then booted him out. You can still walk down one side and see some of the old Kodak stuff (as of Dec 07) and on the other hall you could walk down and see some old displays that were left over from the 25th but you could not get down to the mural. For more info on Walt Disney Story.
check out this site http://home.cfl.rr.com/omniluxe/wds.htm

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O'Malley

O'Malley

New Member
I actually have several photos of the mural. My wife loves the Aristocats (lower left in the mural). All during the 1980's and early 1990's (until The Aristocats was released on video, then DVD), you couldn't find any reference to this movie anywhere on the property. No plushes, toys, nothing (an exception being the old BonFamilles Restaurant at Port Orleans, name taken from the The Aristocats movie, and the Scat Cat Club also at Port Orleans).

Anyway, we stumbled across the mural, and she was thrilled the cats were on the wall. We took photos, lots of video, etc. Anyone recall back in 1996 (for the 25th), they had a preview center in that hall to announce the plans for Animal Kingdom? They had the giant Animal Kingdom model set up there, a large model of a Disney Cruise Ship, and they had a film presentation explaining what Animal Kingdom would be, as well as the launching of the Disney Cruise Line. At that time, I videotaped the entire film presentation (they said it was ok), along with the Animal Kingdom model, Disney Cruise ship model, etc.

But my wife remembers the mural the most. Everytime we go, we always want to slip back there to see if the mural is still there. Haven't seen it in several years.
 
surfsupdon

surfsupdon

Well-Known Member
Mecha Figment said:
the mural is blocked off because that area is currently where the characters go to get their water and snack breaks before they come right back out to meet with the guests.
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What did the characters do previously, and where did they go?? Why couldn't they still do things in a manner that allows for the hallway to remain open to Guests.

That area and the Main Street Flower Mkt were the two nicest off the ebaten spots in the MK. Now they are both gone.
 
Expo_Seeker40

Expo_Seeker40

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Thank you everyone for your comments. :sohappy:

Perhaps before the next time I go to the MK I can arrange to have a CM escort me "backstage" to see the mural? :shrug:

I did take the keys to the kingdom tour in 2005 and we didn't see the exposition hall, however I must say I took the 8:30am tour before the park opened and it was a truly magical experience walking down main street with our tour guide and having practically the whole place to ourselves...we got to adventuralnd around 9:00am that morning and saw the lines of smiling children and families making their way into the plaza many for their first time...it was a great experience! :sohappy:
 
Bug715

Bug715

Member
Expo_Seeker40 said:
Thank you everyone for your comments. :sohappy:

Perhaps before the next time I go to the MK I can arrange to have a CM escort me "backstage" to see the mural? :shrug:

I did take the keys to the kingdom tour in 2005 and we didn't see the exposition hall, however I must say I took the 8:30am tour before the park opened and it was a truly magical experience walking down main street with our tour guide and having practically the whole place to ourselves...we got to adventuralnd around 9:00am that morning and saw the lines of smiling children and families making their way into the plaza many for their first time...it was a great experience! :sohappy:
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A CM wouldn't be allowed to take you back there but while I worked there one of my coordinators said that we could take guest's cameras and take pictures of it for them.

surfsupdon said:
What did the characters do previously, and where did they go?? Why couldn't they still do things in a manner that allows for the hallway to remain open to Guests.

That area and the Main Street Flower Mkt were the two nicest off the ebaten spots in the MK. Now they are both gone.
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I don't know what the characters did when this area was open to the public but as I believe I said earlier that break room is really small and sometimes has many characters in there so it can get crowded.

WI DISNEY FAN said:
Any chance you get to see it during Keys to the Kingdom tours?
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I have never been on this tour but I never saw it go near this area. The tour does go into the tunnel under Main Street. I think that's the closest they get.
 
007mickey

007mickey

Well-Known Member
I've never seen that mural, that is really awesome. As an admirer of disney art, that one is at the tops. I'm really kind of surprised they don't have it somewhat protected.

Is my memory correct...Exposition Hall is where you went to pick up pictures taken by cast members? I vaguely remember there being some hallway off to the side of the "check out" area. There were photos, models, etc. to view...is any of this sounding correct? Man, that was years ago I went into that place.

Too many "nooks and crannies" in WDW, wish I had about a month to really explore the parks, lots of things overlooked everytime we go.
 
Gorjus

Gorjus

Well-Known Member
Bug715 said:
A CM wouldn't be allowed to take you back there but while I worked there one of my coordinators said that we could take guest's cameras and take pictures of it for them.



I don't know what the characters did when this area was open to the public but as I believe I said earlier that break room is really small and sometimes has many characters in there so it can get crowded.



I have never been on this tour but I never saw it go near this area. The tour does go into the tunnel under Main Street. I think that's the closest they get.
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It is possible to see the mural if a cast member has the time and inclination to take you back there. However, they can only do it at certain times of day because the area you walk through to see it is used for a few hours each day. Also, you have to ask a bunch of people to close their door and stay locked up in a room while you show the guest this mural. It is a lot of effort to do it and not all CM know about it or care to make the effort.

The entertainment breakroom isn't super small, but depending on the time of day and the weather, it can become very crowded in there. Often times the entertainment department just spills out into the hallways and the theater. So, if that is the case, no, you can't show the mural.

I have taken a family back there. It was a quiet time of day. Chicken Little was doing his homework, so it was ok to shut him up in the room. The family was thrilled.

Expo Hall has some really cool things in it. If you feel like a quiet time away from the crowds, go explore it. There are displays both to the right and left side of the main area.
 
Jerm

Jerm

Well-Known Member
O'Malley said:
Anyone recall back in 1996 (for the 25th), they had a preview center in that hall to announce the plans for Animal Kingdom? They had the giant Animal Kingdom model set up there, a large model of a Disney Cruise Ship, and they had a film presentation explaining what Animal Kingdom would be, as well as the launching of the Disney Cruise Line. At that time, I videotaped the entire film presentation (they said it was ok), along with the Animal Kingdom model, Disney Cruise ship model, etc.
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Look toward the middle of the 2nd page.....
 

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