During the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, new details and stops were announced for the upcoming world premiere of Disney100: The Exhibition. Created for the 100-year celebration of The Walt Disney Company, the exhibition will immerse guests in the stories that have been entertaining guests since 1923, when Walt Disney founded the company. The world premiere of the exhibit opens February 18, 2023, at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with Chicago, Illinois, and Kansas City, Missouri, set as the next two stops on the North American tour. The international unit of the exhibit will open on April 18, 2023, in Munich, Germany, with more cities to be announced in the coming months.
“As we prepare to kick off Disney 100 Years of Wonder, we are incredibly excited to bring this fantastic exhibition to life,” said Becky Cline, director, Walt Disney Archives. “We can’t wait for guests to experience their favorite Disney stories, characters and attractions in new and immersive ways as we celebrate all the wonderful worlds of Disney.”
President and CEO of The Franklin Institute Larry Dubinski added, “The Franklin Institute is thrilled to host Disney100: The Exhibition, the first major event to mark the global celebration of Disney’s 100 years, allowing fans throughout the Philadelphia region and beyond the very first opportunity to see these crown jewels come to life in beautifully crafted galleries reflecting the creative empire synonymous with imaginative storytelling, innovation, discovery, and wonder.”
Created and curated by the Walt Disney Archives and Semmel Exhibitions, Disney100: The Exhibition invites guests to step into Disney stories using innovation and immersive technology throughout ten galleries in the 15,000-square-foot exhibit.
The Walt Disney Archives opens its vault of treasures, showcasing hundreds of objects, including many of Disney’s “Crown Jewels” — more than 250 rarely seen original artworks and artifacts, costumes and props, and other memorabilia. Disney has curated behind-the-scenes glimpses into the creation of the most popular characters, films, shows and attractions — from Disneyland to Walt Disney World Resort and beyond. The ten themed galleries, with moving stories, unique interactive installations, and background information, will take visitors on a journey through 100 years of The Walt Disney Company, celebrating the classics from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Strange World, as well as the latest additions to the Disney company — Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel and National Geographic.
The Franklin Institute is proud to present and play host to the world premiere of Disney100: The Exhibition in the Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion and the Mandell Center. PECO, the premier corporate partner of The Franklin Institute, is the Local Presenting Sponsor of the exhibition.
