Over the years, I spent a lot of money - for me, anyway - at the Disney Gallery. My wife was able to use those pieces to adorn my marital home when I moved in. It is a good thing I married another Disney enthusiast who insisted on framing whatever wasn’t yet framed.

In addition to inexpensive reproductions of their work already being sold at the Gallery, including postcards, the artists would sign books and magazines with pictures of their work and just about anything else relevant.

What a treat it was to meet people like Marc Davis, Claude Coats, Rolly Crump, and many other old-school Imagineers, and people from younger generations such as author Jeff Kurti, and get their autographs. I had Tony Baxter sign a couple of pieces at such events - “Fantasy on Fantasyland�?, and a limited edition lithograph of Discovery Bay. Reproduction pieces from Frank Armitage, Bryan Jowers, Collin Campbell, Melanie Taylor Kent, Nina Rae Vaughn, and Dan Goozee are also currently displayed in our home.

Eventually, the signings grew more restricted and less fun, partially a result of the rise of the Internet and the Ebay culture and the skyrocketing participation in the annual passholder program. I think that helped take some of fun away from the Gallery, and as the merchandise carried in the Gallery started to be sold elsewhere inside and outside of the park, more of the shine was dulled.

Once the merchandise became easily or widely available elsewhere, the Disney Gallery must have lost much of its luster from a park management viewpoint. After all, the Gallery is upstairs and doesn’t draw the eye like a Vegas casino. The space could be put to another use without, in theory, losing merchandise sales.

Although I haven’t seen an official announcement about what will replace the Gallery, I highly doubt that Disneyland Resort management would close down the Gallery without knowing exactly what they want to do with the space. There has been much speculation - office or apartment for Parks & Resort honcho Jay Rusalo; special lodging for guests; expansion for Club 33; a meet & greet location; dark ride testing track; "Condorman" tribute pavilion; James Tweed Kirk shrine. Okay, I’m kidding about those last three. Perhaps there are competing proposals, but I’m sure something will happen. It won’t just sit empty. Unfortunately, what is certain is that we’re losing the Disney Gallery.

Yeah, we can get the merchandise elsewhere, and Disneyana can host signings, and the art displays can even be relocated. But the Disney Gallery experience can never be completely replicated elsewhere. So, after 20 years, it is with sadness that I say goodbye to the Disney Gallery.

The Pellmans on their last visit to the Gallery.

Perhaps it is time to combine aspects of the Disney Gallery with Disneyana, the exhibits currently in the Opera House, and more, and open up a new attraction/shop somewhere else on Resort property. I’m thinking something in conjunction with the Disney family, something with “Imagineering labs�?, stuff from Pixar, Feature Animation, and other parts of the company, stuff from the Disney Archives, and more. I won’t hold my breath. But I’ll dream, anyway.

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-- Ken Pellman

--Posted August 7, 2007
©2007 Ken Pellman, all rights reserved. Licensed to LaughingPlace.com.