A new exhibit that celebrates 70 years of Disneyland is coming to The Walt Disney Family Museum. The new exhibit, called Happiest Place on Earth: The Disneyland Story, is an original special exhibition curated by award-winning producer and Disney Legend Don Hahn, with the museum Director of Collections and Exhibitions Marina Villar Delgado. The exhibit is inspired by The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland, written by Hahn and historian Christopher Merritt. This promises to be a treasure trove of Disney history that will take guests “behind the scenes of one of the most groundbreaking endeavors of the 20th century—the creation and opening of Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California.” The new exhibit will open on November 14th in the Lower Lobby and Theater Gallery.
Harper Goff (1911–1993), Main Street, U.S.A. concept art, c. 1950s; Collection of the Walt Disney Family Foundation, Harper Goff Collection, © Disney
“There’s a Disneyland that we experience as a child, with our eyes full of wonder at the stories it tells,” says Hahn. “But as we peeled back those layers, we found another Disneyland story—an incredible origin story of unconventional creativity without boundaries, of upset, failure, persistence, and pioneering that gave birth to a new kind of entertainment that still resonates now more than ever. That’s what this exhibition is about.”
Bruce Bushman (1911–1972), Fantasyland concept art, c. 1954; Collection of the Walt Disney Family Foundation, ©Disney
“We are honored to partner with the museum’s longtime supporter and Advisory Committee member, Don Hahn, to showcase artwork and ephemera from this remarkable moment in history,” adds Kirsten Komoroske, Executive Director of The Walt Disney Family Museum. “This new special exhibition will allow visitors to further delve into the stories of innovation behind Disneyland attractions and experiences that have inspired joy and wonder for generations.”
The Walt Disney Family Museum described this new exhibit in the following way:
On July 17, 1955, an estimated 90 million viewers—more than half the population of the United States at that time—tuned in to their television sets to watch the grand opening of Disneyland on ABC. By the time it was unveiled to the public, Walt Disney and his collaborators had been developing the Park for more than two years and gathering inspiration for the better part of a decade. Happiest Place on Earth: The Disneyland Story will showcase the ideas, designs, and artworks behind the fascinating evolution of Walt’s original theme park—explored through the lens of his relentless imagination.
Guests will discover historic objects from the Park, early concept art, designs for unrealized attractions, archival footage, costume development illustrations, stunning hand-drawn maps, and rarely seen historical photographs that chronicle the production, realization, and early guest experiences that Walt envisioned and pioneered. The special exhibition’s interactive elements will also offer a more in-depth look at the Park’s original attractions and the creative risks that defined them.
“We were fortunate to have the Walt Disney Archives, Animation Research Library, and Walt Disney Imagineering contribute an incredible range of historical materials to this exhibition,” says Villar Delgado. “Together with treasures from our museum collection, the goal was to balance iconic imagery with rarely seen early artwork that reflect Disneyland’s complex development and highlight the bold ideas and collaborative spirit that made the Park a reality.”
There will also be a special short film that was produced by Don Hahn specifically for this exhibit. Called Happiest Place on Earth: Walt’s Disneyland, this film will trace the creation and early years of Disneyland. This will be done through Walt Disney’s own words and includes rare archival interview footage.
Starting on Friday, November 14, 2025, Happiest Place on Earth: The Disneyland Story will be open to the public in The Walt Disney Family Museum’s Lower Lobby and Theater Gallery. The special exhibition can be experienced for free with general admission. Otherwise, there is a suggested donation of $5 to support the museum.
The Walt Disney Family Museum continues the legacy of Walt Disney. The museum exists to both inform about Walt Disney by telling his story and also inspire people to use their imagination and persevere in pursuing their goals, just like Walt did. This museum is a MUST-VISIT for Disney fans looking to make a pilgrimage and connect with Walt Disney in a way that can’t be done anywhere else. A visit to The Walt Disney Family Museum is informative, emotional, and beautiful.
