Explore The Franklin Institute’s Disney100 Exhibition: A Sneak Peek Inside

February 15, 2023 7:19 pm

Your Disney World: A Day in the Parks gallery at Disney100: The Exhibition, now open at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. ©Disney

The world premiere of Disney100: The Exhibition, which was created to celebrate The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary, will take place at The Franklin Institute on Saturday, February 18, 2023. Earlier today, the media and D23: The Official Disney Fan Club members had the opportunity to attend an exclusive preview and ribbon-cutting ceremony to get a first-hand experience of the innovative exhibition.

(L to R): Mickey Mouse, Semmel Exhibitions Executive Producer and Director Christoph Scholz, The Franklin Institute President and CEO Larry Dubinski, Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline, Disney Legend Don Hahn, Walt Disney Archives and D23: The Official Disney Fan Club Vice President Michael Vargo, Minnie Mouse

Accompanied by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, Franklin Institute’s President and CEO, Larry Dubinski, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the Disney100: The Exhibition, in celebration of The Walt Disney Company’s centenary. The ceremony was attended by a number of prominent figures, including Walt Disney Archives Director, Becky Cline, Head of the Walt Disney Archives and D23, Michael Vargo, and Executive Producer/Director of Semmel Exhibitions, Christoph Scholz. As part of the celebration, the Philly POPS performed a medley of classic Disney tunes. Other notable guests at the event included Disney Legends, Don Hahn and Bob Gurr.

The Wonder of Disney gallery at Disney100: The Exhibition, now open at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. ©Disney

Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in ten creatively designed galleries, featuring state-of-the-art technology. They will be able to rediscover classic favorites and delve into the origins of inspiration for some of Disney’s most cherished and famous films. The experience will include an exciting scavenger hunt for hidden artifacts from beloved Disney adventure movies, an interactive window into Captain Nemo’s legendary submarine, and a chance to stroll down a replica of Main Street, U.S.A.

Mufasa costume from The Lion King: The Broadway Musical (1997-present) inside The Magic of Sound and Music gallery at Disney100: The Exhibition, now open at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. ©Disney

The exhibition will feature ten distinctive galleries, each with its own theme. These include “Where It All Began,” “Where Do the Stories Come From?,” “The Illusion of Life,” “The Spirit of Adventure and Discovery,” “The Magic of Sound and Music,” “The World Around Us,” “Innoventions,” “Your Disney World,” “The Wonder of Disney,” and “We Are Just Getting Started.” Each of these galleries promises to offer a unique and captivating experience to visitors.

The Magic of Sound and Music gallery at Disney100: The Exhibition, now open at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. ©Disney

Disney’s Crown Jewels

Over 250 of Disney’s most prized possessions, such as original artworks, artifacts, costumes, props, and other memorabilia, will be on display throughout the exhibition’s galleries. Among these cherished items are many that are rarely seen, including early sketches of Mickey Mouse and original animation drawings from his first appearance in Steamboat Willie (1928). Other items of note include the Spell Book from Hocus Pocus (1993), a Cinderella Castle model for Magic Kingdom® Park, a Genie maquette from Aladdin (1992), and the Black Panther costume from the 2018 film.

Glass slipper from the live-action Cinderella (2015) on display at Disney100: The Exhibition, now open at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. ©Disney

Disney MagicStage

Upon entering the exhibition, guests will be greeted by the Disney MagicStage, where they will encounter a life-sized vision of Walt Disney himself, who will share an inspiring message about innovation. In collaboration with Disney StudioLAB, DisneyResearch|Studios, and Industrial Light & Magic, the team utilized cutting-edge technology to create this unique greeting, digitally bringing Walt to life.

The Spirit of Adventure and Discovery gallery at Disney100: The Exhibition, now open at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. ©Disney

To create the authentic recreation of Walt Disney, the team tapped into the vast resources of the Walt Disney Archives. Two separate audio recordings of Walt were assembled to create his vocal script, and footage of Walt from the 1960s was provided by the Disney Archives to DisneyResearch|Studios. The footage was then converted to high definition using their super-resolution A.I. upscaler. The end result was a stunning collaboration across all parts of The Walt Disney Company, and a testament to Walt’s famous words: “We’re always exploring and experimenting.”

Where Do the Stories Come From? gallery at Disney100: The Exhibition, now open at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. ©Disney

Original Soundtrack

The exhibit’s original soundtrack was composed by Steve Mazzaro, a renowned composer who has contributed his musical talents to several Disney-produced films, including The Lion King (2019), Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017), and The Lone Ranger (2013). The soundtrack for the exhibit features a seamless blend of themes from beloved Disney classics, such as “When You Wish Upon A Star” from Pinocchio (1940) and “Let It Go” from Frozen (2013), along with a brand new theme created exclusively for the exhibition. Mazzaro’s music promises to enhance the overall experience of the exhibition and transport visitors to a world of Disney magic.