Unique to Disneyland and tucked away on Main Street, USA, The Disney Gallery is one of the park’s best kept secrets. Not only is this a great spot to escape the heat and hide from the crowds, it offers a peek into Disney’s past, present and future. There are also some fabulous shopping opportunities, to boot!
The theme is refreshed seemingly every season, which means there’s almost always something new to see in here. The current exhibit, entitled “Crowning Achievements: Creating Castles for Magical Kingdoms”, features concept art, original artwork, layout design, and more, showcasing Disney castles from around the world.
The Gallery’s shop is the first room to greet you as you enter. Don’t let the size of the shop fool you, it’s easy to do some serious damage to your pocketbook in here. There’s a selection of Disney Art for sale, including various matted prints, Imagineering & Disney art books, maquettes by Kevin Kidney & Jody Daly, Dave Avanzino‘s 3D shadow boxes, and lots of pieces by Robert Olszewski - including the incredible platform with the full layout of Main St., USA! With each new exhibit comes a heap of newly themed merchandise, too! From jewelry to collectibles, home goods, clothing, and even art-on-demand, there’s a big selection to choose from. You might also find some leftover merchandise from previous exhibits (note the photos below of the Mary Blair and Railroad themed items).
A little factoid about the Gallery is that it was originally known as the “Bank of Main Street”, and it housed an actual bank! After the bank left, the vault remained and is now used as a fun way to display items for the exhibits.
Going into the second room, you’ll find original artwork inspired by the current theme. Many well-known Disney artists have pieces showcased here, such as Larry Nikolai, Noah, Randy Noble and Stephanie Taylor, to name a few. Should you be so inclined to drop a couple grand, the giclées displayed are available to purchase. However, if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly way to bring a piece of the magic home, there are print and canvas options available in the Art-on-Demand kiosks, as well.
As fabulous as the first two rooms are, the third & final room is where the action is at. It’s the heart of the attraction. For this particular exhibit, Walt Disney Imagineering has provided a vast range of pieces for display.
When you’re done perusing through the exhibit, if you find you’re still craving more castle love, head next door into the lobby of the Opera House where there’s a model of Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle on display.
So now that you’ve had a chance to cool off & unwind a bit (and maybe even partake in a little retail therapy), I would highly recommend taking some time to enjoy the crowning achievement of the original Magic Kingdom. There may even be more to see than you might think! Things like the walk-through attraction, Snow White’s wishing well, the “center” of Disneyland, the Disney family crest, and remember to always look up - especially on the backside of the castle. Be sure to check out Adventures by Daddy’s very own gallery of photos below!
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I love the Disney Gallery. I try visit it every time I go to the park, even if I’ve already seen the exhibit. The merchandise in the store is great too. I have the Mary Blair pillow and coasters, as well as several of the matted vintage-style attraction posters, which decorate my living room. Even Andrew (my 11 year old) likes going in the DG. Great blog and picures, Chrysty.
Thank you, Chrissy! It’s nice to hear that even Andrew enjoys the Gallery, it’s really a great place to cool off, and learn some neat stuff while you’re there!
Hi Chrissy, thanks for the comment. I was able to go in the Disney Gallery for the Mary Blair exhibit during my visit to Disneyland last year. My whole family loved it, even my two girls ages 11 & 14. I totally agree that Chrysty did a great job with the post and capturing the spirit of the exhibit.
Just fabulous! It has to be a must see and I want everything that shop! Great pictures as looks as though I could spend an hour in there! I wonder how many people pass it without even knowing it’s there.
Well written, excellent photography and full of exciting information - You SO rock!
Aww, thank you so much!! I can’t wait to take you on a personal tour one of these days. 😉
I agree Kelley! Chrysty did such a great job with the photos and writing for the post. I want to visit the gallery too! Thanks for the comment.