It’s finally here! It’s time for Destination D23 held at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Disney World!
We’re here LIVE at this sold out weekend event where we’ll see tons of Disney history, shopping and more! Keep up with AllEars to enjoy all the fun.
The Walt Disney Archives: 50 years bringing magic home Exhibition
The first exhibition of the weekend is a new exhibition curated by The Walt Disney Archives. Here you will find 50 years of Disney World memorabilia and merchandise!
The first thing we saw was the dream catcher!
The Dream-Catching Machine is from the original iteration of Journey Into Imagination at EPCOT, which opened in 1983 and featured the characters from Dreamfinder and Figment. After the trip was changed in 1998, the dream catcher moved to Mouse Gear until 2020, when The Walt Disney Archives acquired it.
Check it out in our video below!
The dream catcher of the dream finder is exposed to the destination D23 💭 # DestinationD23 # D23Events @ DisneyD23 pic.twitter.com/c1oE2ZZskS
– AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 19, 2021
Then we took a fifty-year journey of Disney World merchandise! We started in the 70s, when Disney World opened in 1971. Souvenir guides were very popular!
Part of this merchandise might look like Disney World’s current Vault collection!
The 1980s at Disney World included the opening of EPCOT in 1982 and (what is now known as) Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 1989, which means a lot of new merchandise was introduced!
There were many, say, unique merchandise launched in the 80s …
… Like stuffed products, for example, like broccoli with sunglasses and an eggplant with a Kitchen Cabaret knob.
Meanwhile, the 1990s included the opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 1998, as well as MANY kidney holes.
In the 2000s and 2010s, merchandise really became a fashion statement. The MagicBands were created in 2013 and Pin Trading began to take off. Minnie’s ears and spirit t-shirts also became very popular!
Vinylation was also important to many collectors in the 2010s.
And today, Disney World merchandise is in its 50th anniversary!
Passing by the merchandise, we found a look at the past of Disney World, with funny finds like the model of the German pavilion of EPCOT …
… And also a Canadian flag model!
This painting features elements from the four Disney World parks.
There was a 1993 Barbie Magic World costume! This took place at EPCOT’s America Gardens Theater.
We were also thrilled to see the costumes from the (much lost) Great Movie Ride, including some famous hats!
We were also able to see one of the dancers of the Parade of lights opening sequence of the beloved trip.
Figment appeared.
And so did the Pirates of the Caribbean parrot, along with an old switchboard!
Walt Disney Imagineering Presents: 50 Years of Dreaming and Doing
We recorded a video from the illusion lab, which is where the Disney Imagineers created some of the most famous Disney illusions you know and love.
Inside Walt Disney’s Imagineering – Illusioneering Lab✨ # DestinationD23 # D23Events @ DisneyD23 pic.twitter.com/bFfkNX9lM1
– AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 19, 2021
You can watch a video of some of the illusions created over the years for Disney parks!
The imaginaries inside the Illusioneering lab are showing off some of the ways they have created various illusions for the parks over the years! 🤯 # DestinationD23 # D23Events @ DisneyD23 pic.twitter.com/u27GJwIIZi
– AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 19, 2021
Glendale’s Mickey
Buying at Mickey’s of Glendale, a Walt Disney World Imaging store, is an exclusive perk for those attending Destination D23! Let’s take a look at some of the merchandise.
There are new spirit t-shirts with Orange Bird in front …
… And the Destination D23 logo on the back!
Check out our in-store video to find some of these fun new products!
A look at the merchandise available at Mickeys of Glendale at Destination D23 🛍 # DestinationD23 # D23Events @ DisneyD23 pic.twitter.com/2fjyigY3b4
– AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 19, 2021
And yes, the merchandise of the Haunted Mansion Muppets is also in Mickey’s of Glendale!
Haunted Mansion Muppet Merchandise! # DestinationD23 # D23Events @ DisneyD23 pic.twitter.com/XvOUeExxFt
– AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) November 19, 2021
Keep checking with All Ears for more updates on Destination D23!
Check out the FULL schedule for the Destination D23 event!
Are you visiting destination D23 this weekend? Tell us in the comments!
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