Disney 100: The Exhibition – A Century of Magic and Memories on Tour

Disney has been under some scrutiny lately for their choices in the direction of movie projects and theme park expansions. However, they still currently sit firmly atop the blockbuster movie AND amusement park food chains. This has not been the first time and likely will not be the last that Disney has gotten mixed receptions from their fans. When a company has held the limelight in the pop culture zeitgeist for as many decades as Disney has, well, you will surely have highs and lows. How many decades is that again? Ten?! Yes, TEN decades. 

This year, Disney celebrates its 100th anniversary and has slated a string of different special events to commemorate the occasion. One such event is Disney 100: The Exhibition. This is a traveling exhibition with limited engagements in select cities across the United States and Internationally. I was invited to check out the exhibit this past week ahead of its opening in Chicago.  

“…magical sights and whimsical sounds Disney parks are famous for are on display…”

Disney 100: The Exhibition acts as a traveling pop-up museum. The same magical sights and whimsical sounds Disney parks are famous for are on display here. Upon entering the exhibition, you are greeted by Walt Disney himself! Well, kind of… he’s a hologram projected onscreen, but it is so convincing you might think Walt traveled through the multiverse to recite one final monologue. 

After the warm greeting by hologram Walt, you are taken back in time to the very beginnings of Disney as a company and the man who founded it. The exhibition progresses chronologically through time as you drift from one room to the next—each room with its own unique theme and design to keep your eyes and ears busy. Fans can enjoy looking at the helmets of Marvel superheroes, listening to movie soundtracks on demand, and exploring the back story of their favorite Disney characters.