One of my very favorite attractions in all of Walt Disney World can be found in a little corner of Hollywood Studios. One Man’s Dream is a tribute to the man behind the mouse and offers a glimpse into the life and legacy of Walt Disney.
Located on Mickey Avenue this is a walk through, go at your own pace attraction. As you move through the building you move through Walt’s life. The entrance begins with Walt’s life as a young boy in Marceline, Missouri. Here you’ll find pictures of Walt as a baby, vintage family photographs and artifacts including Walt’s second grade school desk. As you move through the exhibits you’ll see films featuring Walt’s story along with audio specific to the period.
As expected, there is a large portion of the building dedicated to the development of Walt Disney Studios and the Disney Parks. This is the area that truly gives you a sense of the development and life of the Disney brand that we all know and love. Included in this section is Walt’s Burbank office (this is where I stop and spend more than a few moments imagining the conversations and brain storming that took place around this very desk).
You’ll also see original mock ups of attractions, audioanimitronics and early park models. Stop for a moment and listen to the audio of Walt discussing the “Florida Project” – his vision for what we now know as Walt Disney World was truly amazing.
The building is stocked with over 400 archives donated by the Disney Corporation and the Disney family. These are periodically switched out so every visit will be different.
The attraction ends in a theater where you’ll be treated to a 15 minute film narrated by Julie Andrews. I have to admit I never leave this theater with dry eyes. Once the doors swing open and you are back out in the park you’ll have a new appreciation of the dedication, vision and love that went into it all.
My name is Susan Heidenrich and I am a destination specialist with Travel with the Magic. I’ve visited Walt Disney World over 20 times and I would love to help you plan your next Disney vacation. Email me at SusanH@travelwiththemagic.com and follow me on facebook for tips, tricks and information on all things Disney!
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