Walt Disney Presents at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Gallery Tour and ‘One Man’s Dream’)
Walt Disney Presents is an attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It was originally created in honor of the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney’s birth. This walk-through exhibit offers a behind-the-scenes look at Walt Disney’s life and the history of the company. Below, we’ll discuss what to expect from Walt Disney Presents during your vacation. In addition to the memorabilia and artifact displays, the exhibit features a character location and a short film about Walt Disney’s life.
Walt Disney Presents is considered part of the Animation Courtyard at Walt Disney World. It sits past the entrance of “The Little Mermaid, A Musical Adventure,” which is slated to open in the Fall of 2024. It is on the right before you reach Pixar Plaza and the entrance of Toy Story Land. Walt Disney Presents is open daily. The exhibit typically opens at 9:00 a.m. However, it closes before the rest of the park. You will want to check the My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit for exact times.
Below are the quick reference details for Walt Disney Presents at Hollywood Studios.
| Walt Disney Presents | Hollywood Studios Attractions |
|---|---|
Location: | Past Animation Courtyard |
Height Requirement: | None |
Ride Type: | Self-Guided Tour Theater Show Character Meet-and-Greet |
Early Theme Park Entry: | No |
Extended Evening Hours: | No |
Rider Switch: | NA |
Good For: | Nostalgia |
Scare Factor: | None |
Must-Do List: | Low Priority |
Perfect For: | All Ages |
Special Mention: | One Man’s Dream is a must-see when available. |
| Accessibility: | Guests may remain in a wheelchair or ECV. Audio Description, Handheld Captioning, and Assistive Listening Devices are available. |
Walt Disney Presents Overview
When entering Walt Disney Presents, you’re met with mostly black-and-white photographs of Walt Disney. The hallway continues as a timeline of his life, with significant years highlighted throughout each display.
You’ll see a few photos of Walt with Mickey Mouse at Disneyland in California.
The timeline begins with Walt’s birth in Chicago and his early years in Marceline, Missouri.
Walt’s second-grade school desk is on display. This is the first of many artifacts from the Disney Archives you’ll see while touring the exhibit.
Here are a few more photos of the display highlighting Walt’s early inspirations.
The exhibit shares some of the extraordinary hardships Disney went through during his life. While you’ll encounter many interesting facts, some of the most memorable are the endearing ones. For instance, this display acknowledges Walt Disney’s brother, Roy.
Walt Disney Studios was formed in 1923. Originally, it was named the Disney Brothers Studio. However, Roy felt an emphasis should be placed on Walt’s name. Soon after, the company became solely known as Walt Disney Studios, which is recognized as the starting date of the Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney created Mickey Mouse in 1928. He was also the voice of Mickey Mouse for approximately 20 years.
Steamboat Willie was Mickey Mouse’s cartoon debut. It’s famously known for being the first fully synchronized sound cartoon.
Other displays throughout this section of the exhibit celebrate the art of animation and the technological advances that were made.
In 1937, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released by Walt Disney Studios. Walt Disney received an honorary Oscar for the film in 1938. During his 43-year career, Walt Disney won 48 Academy Awards and 7 Emmys.
In late 2023, a scale model of Disneyland was added to Walt Disney Presents. It replaced an existing exhibit.
Toward the end of the interactive gallery, the displays shift from Walt Disney to the history of the Disney Parks and Disney Cruiseline.
Once you reach the back of the theater, you’ll encounter a display that changes fairly often. We stop at Walt Disney Presents several times a year. The current exhibit contains items from The Little Mermaid, which was released last year. These exhibits change often to celebrate upcoming Disney films.
A few items from the Disney series Percy Jackson and the Olympians are also on display.
Over the years, we’ve been privy to seeing costumes and props from many movies, including the Live-Action Beauty and the Beast, Pirates of the Caribbean, and models from various animated films.
One Man’s Dream
When you reach the end of the exhibits, you’ll find a set of theater doors with a sign above, counting down the time until the next performance. Hopefully, Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream is playing. Occasionally, the film is replaced by sneak previews of an upcoming Disney film.
One Man’s Dream is a short film shown in the Walt Disney Theater, which serves as the exit of Walt Disney Presents. It’s an endearing 15-minute film that examines Walt Disney’s life and vision for creating the Disney Parks. The film offers previously unseen footage of Walt Disney. It’s narrated by actress Julie Andrews, who starred in Mary Poppins and many other films.
Walt Disney Presents Character Area
A character meet-and-greet location is also toward the back of One Man’s Dream. Over the years, we’ve seen many characters meet in this area. At one time, it was home to a Guardians of the Galaxy meet-and-greet featuring Star Lord and Groot. After that, Mike Wazowski and Sulley from Monsters, Inc. met here with guests. Currently, Ariel (in landform) is meeting guests at this location.
Related: Disney’s Hollywood Studios Characters
Final Thoughts
Don’t forget that Walt Disney Presents closes earlier than the rest of the park. It is also an excellent place to hang out in the event of a rain shower. The movie theater exits into the Animation Courtyard, so you can quickly get to Star Wars Launch Bay or the Disney Junior Play and Dance if it’s still raining.
For more about this park, try our planning guide for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or check out these individual reviews:
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Alien Swirling Saucers Ride Guide
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Review
- Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
If you plan to spend a good deal of time at Hollywood Studios, you might consider staying at one of the nearby Epcot Resorts. All of these resorts offer Friendship Boat transportation to the park. They include:
- Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Review
- Yacht Club Resort Review
- Disney’s Beach Club Review
- Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Review
In the Comments
Have you ever visited Walt Disney Presents? Do you have any questions about this attraction? Share your thoughts or questions in the comments section below.
