‘Disney:100’ immerses visitors in the company’s magic while at the Franklin Institute

The Franklin Institute has become the “Happiest Place on Earth” and so much more with the latest display to stop at the historic institute—’Disney:100 The Exhibition.’ The world premiere of this years-in-the-making showcase opened last weekend and will remain on display until Aug. 27. 

The new exhibit features 10 galleries covering 15,000 square feet of the venue all in commemoration of the 100-year celebration of The Walt Disney Company. Philadelphians will be able to walk through sections highlighting a century of work from the archives of WDC, and also, a brief look into what the future holds. 

Rebecca Cline, Director of the Disney Archives, noted the significance of the showcase when it was first announced in Philadelphia to help “protect, preserve, and share the legacy of the company.” Cline also shared that ‘Disney100’ is based on the philosophies, dreams and practices of Walt Disney, as is the company. 

The showcase starts off with ‘Where It All Began’. This portion is dedicated to a creative endeavor that marked Disney on the map in the first place—storytelling. It also showcases the multimedia environments that illustrate how Disney storytellers bring characters to life.

‘The Spirit of Adventure and Discovery’ is another gallery, and it puts the spotlight on adventure stories from Disney, Star Wars, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. ‘Your Disney World: A Day in the Parks’ on the other hand allows guests to step into a recreation of Main Street, U.S.A. to explore the legacy and development of Disney parks and attractions worldwide.

All throughout ‘Disney: 100,’ museum-goers will not only see a showcase of what the company offers, but they will also take part in the classic magic of it all with a variety of interactive activations. 

From sifting through where characters from the brand were first imagined, to finding the origin of the many fairytales sprinkled throughout WDC’s pop culture, to even seeing what color palettes go into creating some of the most prominent figures in the company’s history—visitors will be immersed in it all. 

Music is also a huge fixture in the exhibit, it even has its own gallery titled ‘The Magic of Sound and Music’. And that rings true for the background of this showcase as well. The brand new soundtrack was created for and solely will play at ‘Disney100’, and it comes from a company veteran whose work can be heard on the soundtracks of ‘The Lion King (2019)’, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales’, and ‘The Lone Ranger.’ 

For the showcase, Steve Mazzaro has composed an original soundtrack for the exhibit blending themes from different classics such as ‘When You Wish Upon A Star’ from ‘Pinocchio’ (1940) and ‘Let it Go’ from ‘Frozen’ (2013). With the sounds, sights and experiences throughout this 10-Gallery display, visitors can’t help but feel as through they’ve fully immersed themselves in Disney culture.

Additionally, 23 “Crown Jewels” from the Walt Disney Archives vault of treasures are on display. The carousel horse used by Julie Andrews in ‘Mary Poppins’ (1964), Genie Maquette from ‘Aladdin’ (1992), a digital painting from ‘Frozen’ (2013), a concept drawing of Disneyland by artist Herb Ryman, and the First Order Stormtrooper Armor from ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ (2017) and ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ (2019) are all sprinkled throughout ‘Disney:100’, among others. 

Overall, the ten imaginatively themed galleries will feature moving stories, unique interactive installations, and exciting background information to take guests on a journey through 100 years of The Walt Disney Company, a release states. Throughout the showcase, visitors will be able to celebrate the classics from ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ to ‘Strange World’, as well as the latest members of the Disney family—Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, and National Geographic.

There will also be some exclusive showcases that Disney curated to show behind-the-scenes glimpses into the creation of the company’s most popular characters, films, shows, and attractions. And whether you’re a massive fan, somewhat admirer or just someone looking to delving  in to the magic that it has to offer, ‘Disney:100’ is the closest you’ll get to feeling part of where it all started. 

Tickets ($25-$45) are timed and dated, and advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended. For information on purchasing tickets, visit fi.edu.