Museum for Disney Theme Park History

justintheharris

justintheharris

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I know this was discussed on the DIS podcast before and I'm not sure if anyone ever brought it up here. If Disney World ever built a museum to archive the resort's history in perhaps Disney Springs, would you pay extra money to visit? What would you imagine it being like? What would you want to see inside?

I particularly gained interest in this idea during the marathon weekend in January when I ran past all the old ride vehicles for Mr Toad, Snow White etc. and realized that if Disney still kept some, they likely have many old Disney artifacts stowed away. And with Disney ever so eager to make more money, this would seem like a worthy investment for them.
 
justintheharris

justintheharris

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Big Phil said:
I like the idea very much. I'd like to say they could do it for free as a bit of a walk through. Lots of stuff to see though. Disney Springs would be the perfect place for it too.

By the way, where are the old vehicles for Mr. Toad and Snow White?
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When I ran the full Disney Marathon, there was a part (between Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom) where they displayed old ride vehicles of Mr Toad's Wild Ride, Snow White's Scary Adventure, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea and there were two other vehicles that are slipping my mind right now. I'll try and dig out a picture of it. Also, let's face it. If Disney ever does it, it won't be free admission. But if that means a very thorough and complete museum, I'm okay with that.
 
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Surfin' Tuna

Well-Known Member
I've always thought this would be a great idea to eat some people in the park. Doesn't require the payroll that a theater would, so it seems as if it's something that would fit today's mindset. Disney Springs wouldn't make as much sense, since that would be lost rent revenue from a store. In the park, though, especially if indoor and air conditioned would be a place us old folks might enjoy visiting.
 
kap91

kap91

Well-Known Member
I definitely think there should be something like this - whether disney exclusive or not, there needs to be a place that archives together the rich history of the past 100 years or so of themes entertainment.
 
justintheharris

justintheharris

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Surfin' Tuna said:
I've always thought this would be a great idea to eat some people in the park. Doesn't require the payroll that a theater would, so it seems as if it's something that would fit today's mindset. Disney Springs wouldn't make as much sense, since that would be lost rent revenue from a store. In the park, though, especially if indoor and air conditioned would be a place us old folks might enjoy visiting.
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Well I personally think Disney Springs is more practical because otherwise people would have to pay the admission for the theme park. And I'd like to see it on a grandiose scale. Something 10 times larger than One Man's Dream and have room for exhibit expansions.
 
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Surfin' Tuna

Well-Known Member
justintheharris said:
Well I personally think Disney Springs is more practical because otherwise people would have to pay the admission for the theme park. And I'd like to see it on a grandiose scale. Something 10 times larger than One Man's Dream and have room for exhibit expansions.
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I get that, but there is not room for something that large at DS. I doubt we would ever see anything like this, since I don't think we have since the 20,000 Leagues exhibit in CA. If we did, however, Disney would not give up valuable real estate for it. The most likely would be something to increase capacity in the parks. As for One Man's Dream, they is a shell of what it once was. I would love to simply see them increase that and put Walt back into the parks.
 
justintheharris

justintheharris

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Surfin' Tuna said:
I get that, but there is not room for something that large at DS. I doubt we would ever see anything like this, since I don't think we have since the 20,000 Leagues exhibit in CA. If we did, however, Disney would not give up valuable real estate for it. The most likely would be something to increase capacity in the parks. As for One Man's Dream, they is a shell of what it once was. I would love to simply see them increase that and put Walt back into the parks.
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Well I agree that OMD is not what it once was and that it should be expanded but the museum that I'm speaking of wouldn't be so much Walt-oriented as it would be Walt Disney World Resort. Walt Disney himself would only be directly (again, DIRECTLY) relevant to the history of Walt Disney World before its opening. It would feature concept art, unbuilt attractions, old ride vehicles and animatronics, tributes to closed rides etc. I'm sure Disney could find a place somewhere on property for it even if its not at Disney Springs. I wouldn't want to see it inside one of the four parks because 1. The only place I could rationalize for it is Main Street. Anywhere else wouldn't make sense and 2. If it's in a theme park, I don't feel it would be to the scale I would like to see it at nor do I believe it would see the upkeep
 
JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
I'd enjoy visiting a museum on property set up with Disney parks/ studio artifacts, and I'd even be willing to pay to enter. I read some where that years ago there was so many Disney related items sitting around uncared for, that troves of items were simple trashed. When it came time to start saving things for Disneys history, there was so much it was difficult to decide what was the more valuable and historic to save. So much was lost to the trash heap. Its a shame Disney has so many interesting things wed enjoy seeing displayed and never get the opportunity. I spent a huge amount of time in One Mans Dream, looking at the display cases full of old artifacts... sooo interesting.
 
ajrwdwgirl

ajrwdwgirl

Premium Member
I would certainly visit a Disney museum. A few years ago I went to the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco and it was fabulous. There was an Archive's exhibit that was in Chicago a few years ago too and that was great and really popular and the Pirates exhibit at D23 Expo last year was first rate too. I think it was be quite profitable.
 
justintheharris

justintheharris

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
JIMINYCR said:
I'd enjoy visiting a museum on property set up with Disney parks/ studio artifacts, and I'd even be willing to pay to enter. I read some where that years ago there was so many Disney related items sitting around uncared for, that troves of items were simple trashed. When it came time to start saving things for Disneys history, there was so much it was difficult to decide what was the more valuable and historic to save. So much was lost to the trash heap. Its a shame Disney has so many interesting things wed enjoy seeing displayed and never get the opportunity. I spent a huge amount of time in One Mans Dream, looking at the display cases full of old artifacts... sooo interesting.
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That's why I have hope that their greed will actually tempt them into the idea. To them, most of the old stuff is useless other than for this.
 
Cmdr_Crimson

Cmdr_Crimson

Well-Known Member
IMO I feel it wouldn't be a great idea to put it into Disney Springs as there are many other spots that that it could be put into. Including its own spot where it can be a huge complex celebrating the Disney parks. Like Walt has said.......
6018fb660beb6f571c7abf52002c07e6.jpg
 
justintheharris

justintheharris

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Cmdr_Crimson said:
IMO I feel it wouldn't be a great idea to put it into Disney Springs as there are many other spots that that it could be put into. Including its own spot where it can be a huge complex celebrating the Disney parks. Like Walt has said.......
6018fb660beb6f571c7abf52002c07e6.jpg
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That sounds awesome but I'm unsure of how practical it is. Bear in mind that A LOT of the land at Walt Disney World isn't suitable for large structures.
 
PaisleyMF

PaisleyMF

Active Member
I think is a great idea, and IF they could get the Disney Family Museum to curate the exhibits with the Disney Vault people. NOW that I pay for. AND FYI the Disney Family Museum is not part of Disney Enterprises.
 
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MAGICFLOP

Well-Known Member
They had / have one. I have not looked for it in a while, it was in Innovations in EPCOT. It was located in the hallway behind club cool, it had a timeline on the wall and there were doors that were sometimes open and one could enter and they had models and such. I have not been in it in years so don't know if it still exists.
 
Cmdr_Crimson

Cmdr_Crimson

Well-Known Member
MAGICFLOP said:
They had / have one. I have not looked for it in a while, it was in Innovations in EPCOT. It was located in the hallway behind club cool, it had a timeline on the wall and there were doors that were sometimes open and one could enter and they had models and such. I have not been in it in years so don't know if it still exists.
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it was the 25th anniversary exhibit and no it is not there anymore. However, they did update the timeline on the wall on the outside of where the exhibit used to be.
 
a goofy username

a goofy username

Active Member
i've seen, floating around on various parts of the internet, the idea of relocating CoP to a museum, preserving it permanently, and using the tomorrowland space for a new attraction. i don't hate that idea; it'd feel weird but i've always been amazed it's lasted this long and worried its time is running out. moving it to a museum would ease this constant stress i get from worrying about its fate amidst all the complaints i'm sure disney gets from people who think it's boring
 

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