Disclosure: I was provided an all-expense paid trip to the #TomorrowlandEvent in Los Angeles California in order to facilitate this post; however all opinions and love for Disney expressed, are my own.

 

While I was in LA earlier this month for the Tomorrowland Event, we visited the Disney Archives. Not everyone just gets to visit the Disney Archives willy nilly. It’s located on the Walt Disney Studio Lot so this was a full morning of incredible-NESS! This place is where movies are imagined and come to life!! We got to see SO much and we learned even more, including the connection between vintage Disney and Tomorrowland. I can’t wait to share all of this awesome stuff in this post!!! Make sure to head out to theaters THIS Friday, May 22nd to see Tomorrowland! It’s a family friendly film, rated PG.

Hanging Out at the Corner of Dopey Drive…

As soon as we arrived to the Disney Studios Lot, we went to have breakfast. Then we separated into a few different groups to check out the shops and the lot. Loved the street signage so much, I had to snap a photo! We just hung out on Dopey Drive, Mickey Ave. and Pluto’s Corner?

 

 

Where the Magic Began…

Do you see that window on the top left corner of the building? That, folks, was the office of Walt Disney. Walt worked countless hours there and walked the halls of THAT building. That’s where the magic began. It gave me goosebumps just standing there taking that photo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploring the Disney Studios Lot…

Getting to explore the Disney lot was an amazing experience! There’s just so many things to see. Of course, I naturally had a selfie with Walt and Mickey Mouse. Surrounding one of the areas at the lot were these columns and columns filled with the handprint plaques of the Disney Legends like Robin Williams, Julie Andrews, Sir Elton John, Dick Van Dyke…..and SO many more! My favorite is the Golden Girls wall. Right there, altogether were all of them! That made me SO happy!!

 

 

Meet Kevin…

After dawdling around the lot for awhile, we went in to the Disney Archives Building. That’s where we met this guy. Kevin. He is nothing short of an infinite Disney knowledge bank!! He works at Disney Archives and you can tell that he loves his job. He was over the moon excited about everything he was showing us – from beginning to end. He never lost his excitement and you can tell even as an adult, he believes in the magic of Disney!

 

 

Jack Sparrow’s Rings and Tim’s Toolbelt

After meeting our guide, Kevin…he showed us around the displays and items inside the lobby and hall area. This is where we spotted things on display like Jack Sparrow’s rings and Tim the Toolman Taylor’s toolbelt {insert Tim the Toolman Taylor’s grunt grunt grunt}. We also saw some of the original Mickey Mouse Club ears – very cool.

 

 

Shhh……..

Guys, as SOON as you walk into the Disney Archives room (which is a fairly small room) – more goosebumps appear. There is so much nostalgia and magic going on in this room. So many originals in this room. So much HISTORY in this room. We saw one of the original Disney animation desks and lots of vintage Disney memorabilia.

 

On the opposite side of the room as the entrance, is a wall filled from top to bottom with books….and there’s Mickey Mouse, right in the middle of it all. It’s only fitting that Mickey is there…he IS a very large part of the history of Disney!

 

 

The connection between It’s a Small World & Tomorrowland…

I’m not giving away any spoilers, but you’ll find when you watch Tomorrowland that there is a HUGE connection between It’s a Small World and Tomorrowland. You’ll also find that the 1964 World’s Fair is a huge part of the movie as well. I loved this World’s Fair poster on display inside. Next to the poster was a table with lots of  memorabilia including an “It’s a Small World” record and World’s Fair coloring books.

 

When you see Tomorrowland, you’ll definitely see the vintage Disney aspects. I love that! The film showcases Walt’s vision of progress. Walt was an innovator, a lover of the future and what it could bring — and how we can make the future our own! Truly genius!

 

 

Then There Was That Time I Held an Oscar…

OmGawwrsh! Yes….this happened too. I literally HELD a REAL DISNEY OSCAR innnn my hands!!! No joke. You wanna know something?! Those babies are HEAVY! I would have never thought in my life that I would get the opportunity to experience everything we did in this ONE day — let alone, hold an Oscar!

 

My Final Thoughts…and the 1st Disneyland Ticket

I honestly can’t squeeze my final thoughts into one blog post. This whole Disney Archives experience was phenomenal. It’s one thing to go to Disneyland, but it’s a whole ‘nother ballgame when you get to experience the archives of the brilliance behind Walt Disney! My mind is seriously still spinning from it all. I love all things vintage and so seeing all of the original items inside this one room was too hard to absorb. I’m still absorbing it.

The biggest thing that still sticks in my head is from the photo above. The very FIRST Disneyland ticket sold….for $1. See the ticket number?? 000001? Yeah, how awesome is that?! In this photo, you can also see an original Disneyland Premiere Parking Pass and Press Preview ticket dated Sunday, July 17, 1955. Just wow!

 

Check out the Tomorrowland trailer…

TOMORROWLAND is rated PG and opens in theaters everywhere on May 22nd!

Like TOMORROWLAND on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyTomorrowland

Follow Disney Pictures on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DisneyPictures

Visit the official TOMORROWLAND website: www.Disney.com/Tomorrowland

 

Check out our other Tomorrowland posts including our interview with George Clooney!!

George Clooney Interview

Britt Robertson Interview

The Tomorrowland Exhibit and Sneak Peek