On Thursday, July 17, 2025, the Opera House will reopen to guests. When it does, guests will have the opportunity to experience Walt Disney – A Magical Life, along with the exhibit located in the lobby of the Opera House, Evolution of a Dream. This exhibit shares a look at before, during, and after Walt Disney’s dream of Disneyland became a reality. It is packed with some incredible images, artifacts, and art that help tell this story.
On Monday, July 14, 2025, Daps Magic was included with members of the media who were given the opportunity to preview this exhibit and show. There is a LOT to be found throughout the gallery; prepare to spend some time there. The Daps Magic team did its best to capture as much of it for those who are unable to visit The Happiest Place on Earth! and see it in person. However, there are some beautiful pieces of art, incredible replications, figures, and even an original doll for it’s a small world to be found!
First entering the Opera House, one will see a picture of Walt Disney walking through Sleeping Beauty Castle, which is iconic. Underneath is a bench from Griffith Park that is a part of Walt Disney’s origin story for Disneyland. Coming around the corner, there is an explosion of artwork, concept art, and even vintage merchandise! Some of the highlights that jumped out were the early drawings of Disneyland. There are also images that showcase ideas for the different lands in the park.
One’s eyes will be drawn quickly to a display window where a replica of Walt’s Apartment can be seen. This display has some of the 30 artifacts that are on loan from The Walt Disney Family Museum for this exhibit. The furniture and artifacts seen there were actually in the apartment at one point. Some guests might question why the infamous lamp is different in the window, or if it is from Walt’s apartment. It turns out that Lillian Disney (who was honored with a window on Main Street, U.S.A. on the 100th anniversary of her and Walt’s wedding) would occasionally swap things in and out through the years.
Moving further back into the lobby, guests can see an exhibit that showcases the story and history of Audio-Animatronics. There are some really incredible things to be found here, most of which work. For fans of Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, there is a little mechanical bird in a cage that Imagineering found that came from the same company as the one that Walt Disney purchased, which got him thinking and dreaming about Audio-Animatronics. Nearby, there are working tiki birds, and also the control box for the original attraction. Look closely and you can see when this control box was last worked on!
Continuing around the front half of the room, there are awards that were given to Walt Disney through the years. These are also on loan from The Walt Disney Family Museum. There are also many more pictures to look at. On the back side of the room, there is the second half of the Audio-Animatronics exhibit. This features a goose from it’s a small world, an original doll from the attraction, and then two pirates and a pig from Pirates of the Caribbean. All of these have been found in the attractions at some point or another, some more recently than others.
On the back of the wall, there is a bust of Walt Disney underneath his portrait on one side of the fireplace and a bust of President Abraham Lincoln on the other side. A screen above the fireplace plays a presentation called Memories of Walt ahead of the start of Walt Disney – A Magical Life.
Eventually, guests are invited into the theater to watch Walt Disney – A Magical Life. This show is approximately 15 minutes long. It starts with a video presentation of One Man’s Dream. Hosted by Disney CEO Bob Iger, this tells the story of Walt Disney’s life using his own words. It culminates with a visit to Walt Disney’s office, where he can be seen leaning on a desk waiting for his guests to arrive. It is very reminiscent of the old television shows he used to appear in. Walt Disney speaks for a few minutes and shares some thoughts before the show concludes.
After exiting the theater, guests will first find some pieces of art that portray Abraham Lincoln at different points of his life. These works were once a part of the lobby exhibit of Abraham Lincoln. It is nice that they have a new home in the Opera House. Continuing through the curtains in the exit hall, guests will find themselves facing a beautiful, brand-new mural. This mural showcases the history of Disneyland. On the other side of the hallway, photos can be seen that showcase cast members at work throughout the years. There is also a corner that shows what is coming in the future to the Disneyland Resort.
With the reopening of the Opera House, there will be more to see and experience in this space than perhaps ever before. Plan on spending some time absorbing the exhibits before and after watching Walt Disney – A Magical Life. There are a lot of hidden treasures to be found. This whole exhibit and attraction is a collaborative labor of love. It shows the magic of what happens when a lot of people come together to work on something they really care about. There are some incredible little details to be discovered both in the exhibit and in the show. This new experience showcases the foundation of what has made Disneyland such a special place over the last 70 years. It is a wonderful way to showcase Walt Disney’s life, his dreams, and the man who isn’t just a corporate icon.
What do you think of this new attraction on Main Street, U.S.A.? Are you excited to check it out once it opens on July 17, 2025? What are you most looking forward to checking out in person? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
