D23 Expo is here! Today we give you a special first look at the Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland: The Exhibit, the largest exhibit ever staged by the Walt Disney Archives at the D23 Expo. The exhibit showcases amazing artifacts, props, animatronics, ephemera, documents, photos, collectibles and more from Disneyland’s rich 60-year history. The Walt Disney Archives exhibit will be open to D23 Expo attendees throughout the three-day convention… and hopefully the Archives will consider bringing this spectacular show to other venues after the Expo!

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D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit
D23 EXPO 2015 FIRST LOOK
The Walt Disney Archives Presents:
Disneyland: The Exhibit

Thursday night, the D23 Expo gave invited guests, media, and Sorcerer’s-level D23 Expo attendees a special sneak preview of the D23 Expo’s Walt Disney Archives exhibit.
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

The exhibit, the largest the Walt Disney Archives has ever staged at the D23 Expo, is nothing short of incredible with artifacts, memorabilia, documents, and photos from the last 60 years. Below, D23 head Adam Sanderson and Walt Disney Archives director Becky Cline with Mickey at the opening of the new exhibition.
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

Pixar and Walt Disney Animation head John Lasseter welcomed guests to the D23 Expo.
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

There’s something for everybody in this exhibit from early documents on the construction of Disneyland, to nostalgic artifacts from America Sings, to recent removals such as the original Abominable Snowman from the Matterhorn Bobsleds. The exhibit gives a breathtaking look at the last six decades of Walt Disney’s Disneyland, from minutiae to the major changes. It’s one of this year’s D23 Expo must-sees. We’ll have even more photos from the exhibition in our full coverage next week, but below enjoy some first-look photos from this spectacular exhibit.
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

Disneyland’s first ticket on display
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

Disney Legend and Imagineering Ambassador Marty Sklar with the original sketch of Disneyland behind him
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

Original early Disneyland billboard artwork
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

Pirates!
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

A recently-removed figure of Alice from Disneyland’s Alice in Wonderland dark ride
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

Country Bear Jamboree
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

Jungle boat maquette
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

Star Tours
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

Disney Legend Tony Baxter with Rex from the original Star Tours
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

Lots of really amazing early merchandise, souvenirs and ephemera on display
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

The recently removed original Abominable Snowman from the Matterhorn
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

Adventure Thru Innerspace
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

America Sings!
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

Parade costumes
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

Cheshire Cat from a Main Street Electrical Parade float
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

Fantasmic!
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

Great early Disneyland costumes
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

Disneyland: The Exhibit is an amazing exhibition. Congratulations to D23 and the Walt Disney Archives for an amazing job well done. If you’re attending the D23 Expo this weekend don’t miss this!

That’s it for our special D23 Expo First Look at the Walt Disney Archives exhibit. Stay tuned for more D23 coverage via our Twitter throughout the weekend and a full recap of the event here in Dateline Disneyland next week!

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Thanks for reading. See you at the D23 Expo!
[B]- Andy[/B]

D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit
D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit

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D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit D23 Expo, D23 Expo 2015 First Look: Walt Disney Archives presents Disneyland The Exhibit
FTC-Mandated Disclosure: Promotional consideration for this edition of Dateline Disneyland was provided by the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel & Water Playground.
Andy Castro
Andy is a Southern California native and a life-long fan of Disney theme parks and animation. From 2007-2016, Andy wrote the weekly Dateline Disneyland photo, news and opinion blog here on MiceChat. Today, Andy continues to produce occasional Dateline Disneyland articles and additional special guest content for MiceChat.