Press Releases
Union Station Shares Exciting Announcements for Disney100: The Exhibition Featuring Special Guests on the 101st Anniversary of The Walt Disney Company
– Five Additional Weeks Added Based on Popular Demand
– Now Extended through January 5, 2025, Spanning Entire Holiday Season
– Over 100,000 Tickets Sold from All 50 States and Eleven Countries
– Final Exhibition Stop Before Moving to Europe
KANSAS CITY, MO – Today, on the 101st anniversary of The Walt Disney Company, Union Station officials along with Becky Cline, Director of the Walt Disney Archives, and special guest Roy Patrick Disney, announced exciting news surrounding Disney100: The Exhibition, presented in Kansas City by Bank of America. The exhibition, originally scheduled to run through November 30 has now been extended through January 5, 2025, in order to meet strong holiday season demand. Additionally, Becky Cline, shared that from Kansas City, this blockbuster experience will move to Europe, making it the last chance to see it before it leaves Union Station.
“We knew we had something special with Disney100: The Exhibition from all the connections that Walt himself had with Kansas City and our region,” said George Guastello, president and CEO of Union Station. “So far, we’ve welcomed guests from all 50 states and eleven countries, and the takeaway is the same: they come to relive the magic and memories of their past. They grew up with Disney shows and characters in their homes. They were swept away by Disney movies in theatres. And many visited Disney theme parks as some of their most special moments. Walt made history during his time in Kansas City and like him, we feel that it’s our obligation to keep moving forward and pave new paths. With exhibitions like Disney100: The Exhibition, we know we’re doing just that by connecting generations and encouraging people to pursue their dreams with passion.”
This additional five weeks will allow guests from all over the region – especially those traveling to Kansas City for the holidays – to experience the magic of 100 years of Disney.
More than 100,000 tickets have already been sold, putting Disney100: The Exhibition on track to be one of Union Station’s most attended exhibitions. Plus, of the guests who’ve already visited, the experience has earned one of the highest satisfaction ratings in Union Station’s history.
“We at The Walt Disney Company are pleased to announce the extension of the exhibition here in Kansas City,” said Becky Cline, Director, Walt Disney Archives. “It’s truly special to see Walt’s story, both personally and professionally, presented in a place that was so impactful in his early career. We hope everyone will have the opportunity to experience the magic of 100 years of Disney that has spanned generations and touched the hearts of fans around the world. For people here in the Kansas City region, that magic is, understandably, especially personal.
Roy P. Disney, grandson of Roy O. Disney and great-nephew of Walt Disney was also in attendance for the special announcement event. He spoke about the Disney family and connections they have to Kansas City. It was yet another history making moment to have Roy walk the same bustling halls and marble floors that his grandfather and great-uncle walked.
In addition to over 100,000 exhibition tickets sold, another 30 Disney related events and programs have welcomed and engaged thousands of guests. Presenters as part of Disney100: The Exhibition Speaker Series have included luminaries such as Disney Legend Bill Farmer, the official voice of Goofy, Bret Iwan, the official voice of Mickey Mouse, and more. Topics have ranged from the history of Walt’s time in Kansas City to costume and design and even Walt Disney’s favorite foods.
Rounding out the Disney100: The Exhibition Speaker Series, on October 26 at 10 AM, Leslie Iwerks, the granddaughter to Disney Legend Ub Iwerks who was the co-creator of Mickey Mouse will give a presentation in the Regnier Extreme Screen Theatre. Leslie is also the daughter to Disney Legend Don Iwerks, an Academy Award® winner for Technical Lifetime Achievement and founder of the large format film company, Iwerks Entertainment. Leslie, an Oscar® and Emmy®-nominated filmmaker, will present highlights from the remarkable career of her grandfather as well as her own. Plus, guests will enjoy a special screening of Leslie’s favorite episode of the Disney+ original series The Imagineering Story (2019), which documents the fascinating stories and people behind the 12 Disney theme parks operating across three continents. Tickets to the presentation are available online.
All of this, leading up to and through the holiday season, has been a boom for Union Station that annually draws over 2 million visitors from far and wide.
“Union Station is where Kansas City celebrates,” said Ray Kowalik, Board Chairman, Union Station. “Generations of families – from the entire region – come here to reminisce and create new memories. With the holidays almost upon us, the extension of Disney100: The Exhibition could not come at a better time. We welcome new and returning guests of every age to experience the magic of the 100 years of Disney this holiday season, right here at Kansas City’s favorite place to celebrate.”
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION:
This groundbreaking exhibition, celebrating 100 years of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the largest and most immersive projects the Walt Disney Archives has ever produced. Created by the Walt Disney Archives in collaboration with Semmel Exhibitions, Disney100: The Exhibition – presented at Union Station by Bank of America – features more than 250 objects across ten imaginatively themed galleries including works of art, artifacts, memorabilia, costumes, and props.
Key Exhibition Features Include
– Original costumes for characters such as Cruella (Cruella, 2021), Captain Barbossa (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, 2003), Black Panther (Black Panther, 2018), and Ariel (The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid LIVE!, TV, 2019).
– Film props such as prop storybooks from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and Sleeping Beauty (1959), the prop spell book from Hocus Pocus (1993) used by Disney Legend Bette Midler, Cinderella’s glass slipper from the 2015-live action film Cinderella, the Skywalker lightsaber hilt used by Daisy Ridley in Star Wars: The Rise of the Skywalker (2019), and the Dinglehopper from the live-action The Little Mermaid (2023) used by Halle Bailey.
– Imaginative photo opportunities featuring some beloved Disney characters, such as Goofy as well as the Fairy Godmother from Cinderella (1950).
– A wide selection of artwork and three-dimensional maquettes showing the journey of animated characters and stories from concept to screen.
Visitors will encounter objects and works of art from some of their favorite Disney and MARVEL films, such as Encanto (2021), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), and more from across The Walt Disney Company, including Pixar, Star Wars, and National Geographic. The exhibition also features more than 14 interactive installations, offering new ways to experience the magic of Disney and the stories that have impacted generations for more than 100 years. Exclusive merchandise is offered inside the Disney100: The Exhibition gift shop.
This morning at the Disney100: The Exhibition announcement event, Union Station created magical moments from start to finish with astonishing visuals, including a nearly four-foot 3-dimensional Mickey cake.
Disney100: The Exhibition tickets are available online now and scheduled through January 5, 2025.
Ticket Prices: *All Pricing Below Excludes 10% Preservation Fee
Adult: $25
Seniors (55+): $22.50
Child (4-12): $20
Union Station Member: $18.50
Hours of Operation: *Last Ticket Sold 1 Hour Before Closing
Sunday: 11 AM – 5 PM
Monday – Saturday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Note: For special holiday hours and closures, please check unionstation.org
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About the Walt Disney Archives
For more than 50 years, the Walt Disney Archives has carefully safeguarded the most treasured items from The Walt Disney Company’s history, including original scripts, movie props and costumes, Walt Disney’s correspondence and script notes, theme park artifacts, merchandise, millions of archival photographs, and many of Walt’s personal effects. Founded by Disney Legend Dave Smith in 1970, the Walt Disney Archives is a vital resource for every part of Disney, as well as an important research center for Disney scholars, researchers, and writers. The Archives also shares its vast collection with Disney fans everywhere through its exhibitions and close association with D23: The Official Disney Fan Club.
For the Walt Disney Archives:
Bruce Lam
The Walt Disney Company
About Semmel Exhibitions
Semmel Exhibitions is a division of Semmel Concerts, the European live entertainment production company. Some of their productions include TUTANKHAMUN – HIS TOMB AND HIS TREASURES; THE DISCOVERY OF KING TUT; MARVEL: UNIVERSE OF SUPERHEROES; and DISNEY100: THE EXHIBITION; through which they have reached an audience of millions of people worldwide and built an international network within museums, science centers, cultural venues, and the creative industries. More information can be found at semmel-exhibitions.com.
Union Station Kansas City — a 501(c)3 non-profit organization — is a 108-year-old historical landmark and celebrated civic asset renovated and reopened to the public in 1999. Recently awarded “Favorite Attraction”, “Favorite Family-Friendly Attraction” and “Favorite Historic Attraction”, the organization — dedicated to science education, celebration of community and preservation of history — is home to Kansas City’s internationally-awarded Science City; the new Arvin Gottlieb Planetarium; the Regnier Extreme Screen Theatre; the popular Model Railroad Experience; City Stage featuring live theater, and a selection of unique shops and restaurants. Union Station is also home to prominent area civic organizations and businesses, and regularly hosts world-class traveling exhibitions and was proud to host the 2015 Royals World Series Championship Parade/Rally and the 2020 and 2023 Chiefs Super Bowl Parades/Rallies plus the 2023 NFL Draft. Awarded “Top Banquet Facilities in KC” by KC Business Journal, the facility annually hosts hundreds of community events and private celebrations of all sizes. Visit WWW.UNIONSTATION.ORG for details. Also, follow us on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and YOUTUBE.