Town Square Theater - Revision history

Waltdatedworld: Updated link.

2026-02-02T03:57:00Z

Updated link.

Mmouse: /* Town Square Theater */

2022-12-10T18:58:45Z

‎Town Square Theater

Mmouse: /* Fun Facts and Trivia */

2019-02-28T01:10:02Z

‎Fun Facts and Trivia

Mmouse: /* Town Square Theater */

2019-02-28T01:03:40Z

‎Town Square Theater

Mmouse: /* Town Square Theater */

2019-02-28T00:58:44Z

‎Town Square Theater

Mmouse: /* Town Square Exhibition Hall (1998-2010) */

2019-02-28T00:57:57Z

‎Town Square Exhibition Hall (1998-2010)

Mmouse: /* Fun Facts and Trivia */

2019-02-28T00:29:25Z

‎Fun Facts and Trivia

Mmouse: /* Town Square Theater */

2019-02-28T00:25:01Z

‎Town Square Theater

Mmouse: /* Town Square Exhibition Hall (1998-2010) */

2019-02-28T00:16:30Z

‎Town Square Exhibition Hall (1998-2010)

Mmouse: /* Walt Disney Story Theater (1973-1998) */

2019-02-28T00:06:36Z

‎Walt Disney Story Theater (1973-1998)

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 ===Town Square Exhibition Hall (1998-2010)===
-On August 27, 1998, the former Walt Disney Theater became the Town Square Exposition Hall<ref name="dated"> https://waltdatedworld.com/id28.htm </ref> . This “home to photographic marvels, images and innovations", was sponsored by Kodak and housed a series of photography inspired exhibits.
+On August 27, 1998, the former Walt Disney Theater became the Town Square Exposition Hall<ref name="dated"> https://www.waltdatedworld.com/disney_main_street.htm </ref> . This “home to photographic marvels, images and innovations", was sponsored by Kodak and housed a series of photography inspired exhibits.
 When guests entered the Exposition Hall, they found themselves in the Hall of Still Images<ref name="Mongello"> Mongello, Lou. Lou Mongello's Audio Guide to Walt Disney World - Main Street, USA . Second Star Media, 2007. </ref>. Here, guests could take souvenir photos in front of various backdrops, and see vintage photography equipment dating back to the 1800s. At the end of the hallway, guests could still find the Bill Justice mural.

@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 ===Town Square Theater===
 With the closure of Mickey's Toontown Fair on February 11, 2011, Disney knew it needed a new location for a permanent Mickey Mouse meet and greet. To solve this problem, the Town Square Exhibition Hall was refurbished, eventually reopening on April 1, 2011 as the Town Square Theater <ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/03/mickeys-magical-meet-and-greet-debuts-april-1-at-magic-kingdom-park/ </ref>.
-[[Image:MickeyMeet.jpg|thumb|400px|Mickey in his dressing room.]]
+[[Image:MickeyMeet.jpg|thumb|400px|Mickey in his dressing room.|alt= Mickey Town Square Theater]]
 When entering the new theater, guests initially had the option of meeting either Mickey and Minnie Mouse or Disney princesses (who would eventually be relocated to the under construction [[Princess Fairytale Hall]]). In line with the new theater's theming, the Mickey meet and greet was officially titled "Backstage Magic with Mickey Mouse".

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:10, 28 February 2019
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	*One of the posters in the Town Square Theater queue features Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.		*One of the posters in the Town Square Theater queue features Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
		+	===Bill Justice Mural===
		+	For fans of Disney Animation, the Bill Justice mural that adorned the wall of the Walt Disney Story Theater was a highlight of the attraction. Although the mural has since been removed, you can see a high quality photo of the attraction at Imagineerindisney.com by clicking [http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/415544/15785093/1325185474877/Imagineering-Disney_Character-Mural_Walt-Disney-Story-Theater_med.jpg?token=y6aIyZ03HgD3OtLVeuW4QNX47NA%3D Here]

	==References==		==References==

@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 ===Town Square Theater===
 With the closure of Mickey's Toontown Fair on February 11, 2011, Disney knew it needed a new location for a permanent Mickey Mouse meet and greet. To solve this problem, the Town Square Exhibition Hall was refurbished, eventually reopening on April 1, 2011 as the Town Square Theater <ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/03/mickeys-magical-meet-and-greet-debuts-april-1-at-magic-kingdom-park/ </ref>.
+[[Image:MickeyMeet.jpg|thumb|400px|Mickey in his dressing room.]]
 When entering the new theater, guests initially had the option of meeting either Mickey and Minnie Mouse or Disney princesses (who would eventually be relocated to the under construction [[Princess Fairytale Hall]]). In line with the new theater's theming, the Mickey meet and greet was officially titled "Backstage Magic with Mickey Mouse".

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:58, 28 February 2019
Line 44:		Line 44:

	===Town Square Theater===		===Town Square Theater===
		+	[[Image:MickeyMeet.jpg\|thumb\|400px\|Mickey in his dressing room.]]
	With the closure of Mickey's Toontown Fair on February 11, 2011, Disney knew it needed a new location for a permanent Mickey Mouse meet and greet. To solve this problem, the Town Square Exhibition Hall was refurbished, eventually reopening on April 1, 2011 as the Town Square Theater <ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/03/mickeys-magical-meet-and-greet-debuts-april-1-at-magic-kingdom-park/ </ref>.		With the closure of Mickey's Toontown Fair on February 11, 2011, Disney knew it needed a new location for a permanent Mickey Mouse meet and greet. To solve this problem, the Town Square Exhibition Hall was refurbished, eventually reopening on April 1, 2011 as the Town Square Theater <ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/03/mickeys-magical-meet-and-greet-debuts-april-1-at-magic-kingdom-park/ </ref>.

@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 ==Fun Facts and Trivia==
-The Town Square theater features numerous references to the history of Walt Disney animation and the Walt Disney Company. Below is a list of some of those references found when guests go to meet Mickey backstage.
+The Town Square theater features numerous references to the history of Walt Disney animation and the Walt Disney Company. Below is a list of some of those Easter Eggs found when guests go to meet Mickey backstage.
-*When guests enter the theater, they can read that the theater was established in 1901 on the tile floor. This is a reference to the year that Walt Disney was born.
+* When guests enter the theater, they can read that the theater was established in 1901 on the tile floor. This is a reference to the year that Walt Disney was born.
-*Similarly, the FastPass + queue holds a painting of the Town Square Theater which also features the 1901 date.
+* Similarly, the FastPass + queue holds a painting of the Town Square Theater which also features the 1901 date.
-*In the standby queue, guests can see a poster that reads "Fred and Ward-Two Clever Boys form Illinois. This is a reference to Disney Legends Ward Kimball and Fred Moore <ref name="trivia"> https://insidethemagic.net/2014/11/d-tales-7-backstage-magic-with-mickey-mouse-displays-hidden-disney-history-in-town-square-theater/ </ref>.
+*In the standby queue, guests can see a poster that reads "Fred and Ward-Two Clever Boys form Illinois". This is a reference to Disney Legends Ward Kimball and Fred Moore <ref name="trivia"> https://insidethemagic.net/2014/11/d-tales-7-backstage-magic-with-mickey-mouse-displays-hidden-disney-history-in-town-square-theater/ </ref>.
-* Also in the queue, a memo to Mickey Mouse fro S.A Tilley can be seen. S.A. Tilley was a real person who worked in the Walt Disney Imagineering publicity department<ref name="trivia"/>.
+* Also in the queue, a memo to Mickey Mouse from S.A Tilley can be seen. S.A. Tilley was a real person who worked in the Walt Disney Imagineering publicity department<ref name="trivia"/>.
 * When meeting Mickey, guests can find a rolled up print of the Bill Justice mural, that was found in both the Walt Disney Story Theater and Town Square Exposition Hall, on a bookshelf.
@@ Line 84: / Line 84: @@
 *The Nifty Nineties is a reference to a Disney short of the same name which featured Fred Moore and Ward Kimball<ref name="trivia"/>.
-*A magic bird cage in the room features the name "Joyce" on the bottom. This is a reference to Imagineer Joyce Carlson<ref name="trivia"/>.
+*A magic bird cage in the dressing room features the name "Joyce" on the bottom. This is a reference to Imagineer Joyce Carlson<ref name="trivia"/>.
 *On a bookshelf found in Mickey's room, guests can see the four icons of Walt Disney World's parks represented by a sorcerer hat, a tree, a globe, and a castle made of book spines<ref name="trivia"/>.
-*The globe, which represents [[Spaceship Earth]] reads "Leota crystals" on its base. This is reference to the [[Haunted Mansion]]'s Madame Leota, who was named after Leota Toombs.
+*The globe, which represents [[Spaceship Earth]] reads "Leota crystals" on its base. This is reference to the [[Haunted Mansion]]'s Madame Leota, who herself was named after Imagineer Leota Toombs.
 *One of the posters in the Town Square Theater queue features Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
 ==References==

@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 With the closure of Mickey's Toontown Fair on February 11, 2011, Disney knew it needed a new location for a permanent Mickey Mouse meet and greet. To solve this problem, the Town Square Exhibition Hall was refurbished, eventually reopening on April 1, 2011 as the Town Square Theater <ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/03/mickeys-magical-meet-and-greet-debuts-april-1-at-magic-kingdom-park/ </ref>.
-When entering the new theater, guests initially had the option of meeting either Mickey and Minnie Mouse or Disney Princesses (who would eventually be relocated to the under construction [[Princess Fairytale Hall]]. In line with the new theater's theming, the Mickey meet and greet was officially titled "Backstage Magic with Mickey Mouse".
+When entering the new theater, guests initially had the option of meeting either Mickey and Minnie Mouse or Disney princesses (who would eventually be relocated to the under construction [[Princess Fairytale Hall]]). In line with the new theater's theming, the Mickey meet and greet was officially titled "Backstage Magic with Mickey Mouse".
-When guests entered the new Town Square Theater they choose which experience they wanted to wait for. If they choose to meet Mickey Mouse, they entered the right hallway. Adorning the walls here, are animated posters advertising Mickey as a magician. Once guests arrived in the mouse's dressing room they could interact with a talking Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Throughout the room guests could also find a number of tributes to Disney history and other Walt Disney World attractions.
+When guests entered the new Town Square Theater they choose which experience they wanted to wait for. If they choose to meet Mickey Mouse, they entered the right hallway. Adorning the walls here, are animated posters advertising Mickey as a magician. Once guests arrived in the mouse's dressing room they could interact with Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Throughout the room guests could also find a number of tributes to Disney history and other Walt Disney World attractions.
-If guests chose to visit the Disney princess, they would go to the left, where they could also find a series of animated posters. Unlike Mickey, who's room was themed as a dressing room, the Disney princesses met in front of smaller themed backdrops. No matter which character experience guests chose, they ended up in the theater's gift shop upon exiting.
+If guests chose to visit the Disney princess, they would go to the left, where they could also find a series of animated posters. Unlike Mickey, whose room was themed as a dressing room, the Disney princesses met in front of smaller themed backdrops. No matter which character experience guests chose, they ended up in the theater's gift shop upon exiting.
 The first major change to come to the Town Square Theater occurred on October 31, 2011, when a new talking Mickey Mouse made his debut <ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/10/mickey-tests-some-magic-words-at-walt-disney-world/comment-page-1/ </ref>.  Although the next generation meet and greet character would continue to meet sporadically over the next couple of years, it was not until October 21, 2013 <ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/10/meeting-magician-mickey-mouse-at-town-square-theater-in-magic-kingdom-park/ </ref>, that the talking Mickey experience became permanent. Following the opening of [[Princess Fairytale Hall]] on September 18, 2013, the Disney princesses moved out of the Town Square Theater <ref> https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/09/princess-fairytale-hall-opens-in-new-fantasyland-at-magic-kingdom-park/ </ref>. Mickey and Minnie then remained the sole occupants of the theater until May 20, 2014 <ref> https://insidethemagic.net/2014/05/tinker-bell-moves-to-town-square-theater-at-walt-disney-world-leaving-magical-nook-and-fairy-friends-behind/ </ref>, when Tinker Bell moved in. At this time, the new Garden Theater opened within the Town Square Theater, which allowed guests to shrink to the size of a fairy and be magically transported to Tinker Bell's Magical Nook.

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 ===Town Square Exhibition Hall (1998-2010)===
-[[Image:Steamboat.png|thumb|300px|The Steamboat Willie photo opportunity in the Town Square Exhibition Hall.]] On August 27, 1998, the former Walt Disney Theater became the Town Square Exposition Hall, <ref name="dated"> https://waltdatedworld.com/id28.htm </ref> which was “home to photographic marvels, images and innovations". Sponsored by Kodak, the new building housed a series of photography inspired exhibits. When guests entered the Exposition Hall, they found themselves in the Hall of Still Images<ref name="Mongello"> Mongello, Lou. Lou Mongello's Audio Guide to Walt Disney World - Main Street, USA . Second Star Media, 2007. </ref>. Here guests could take souvenir photos in front of various backdrops, and see vintage photography equipment dating back to the 1800s. At the end of the hallway, guests could still find the Bill Justice mural.
+[[Image:Steamboat.png|thumb|300px|The Steamboat Willie photo opportunity in the Town Square Exhibition Hall.]] On August 27, 1998, the former Walt Disney Theater became the Town Square Exposition Hall<ref name="dated"> https://waltdatedworld.com/id28.htm </ref> . This “home to photographic marvels, images and innovations", was sponsored by Kodak and housed a series of photography inspired exhibits.
-Entering the building's theater, now renamed the Hall of Moving Images<ref name="Mongello"/>, guests could watch classic Disney cartoons. In the back of a theater, another mural  featured a timeline of Disney animation beginning in 1901 with Walt Disney's birth.
+When guests entered the Exposition Hall, they found themselves in the Hall of Still Images<ref name="Mongello"> Mongello, Lou. Lou Mongello's Audio Guide to Walt Disney World - Main Street, USA . Second Star Media, 2007. </ref>. Here, guests could take souvenir photos in front of various backdrops, and see vintage photography equipment dating back to the 1800s. At the end of the hallway, guests could still find the Bill Justice mural.
-Exiting the theater, guests walked through the Hall of Digital Technology<ref name="Mongello"/>. Here they could see the "image expo" which featured different vintage photos taken in Walt Disney World. Finally, guests would exit into the Kodak Camera Center, where they could purchase camera merchandise. The Town Square Exhibition Hall closed April 2, 2010 <ref name="dated"/>.
+Entering the building's theater, now renamed the Hall of Moving Images<ref name="Mongello"/>, guests could watch classic Disney cartoons. In the back of a theater, another mural featured a timeline of Disney animation beginning in 1901 with Walt Disney's birth. Exiting the theater, guests walked through the Hall of Digital Technology<ref name="Mongello"/>. Here they could see the "image expo", which featured different vintage photos taken in Walt Disney World. Finally, guests would exit into the Kodak Camera Center, where they could purchase camera merchandise. The Town Square Exhibition Hall closed April 2, 2010 <ref name="dated"/>.
 ===Town Square Theater===

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 ==History and Description==
 ===Walt Disney Story Theater (1973-1998)===
-What is today known as the Town Square Theater, originally opened in March 1973 as the Walt Disney Story Theater<ref name="widen"> http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/wds.htm </ref>. This new structure was built to house the Walt Disney Story attraction.
+What is today known as the Town Square Theater, originally opened in March 1973 as the Walt Disney Story Theater<ref name="widen"> http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/wds.htm </ref>. This new structure, which was built specifically to house the Walt Disney Story, was located in the Town Square section of [[Main Street USA]] next to the Gulf Hospitality House.
-When guests entered the Walt Disney Theater, they found themselves in a long hallway filled with personal artifacts and memorabilia from Walt Disney's life. Exhibits here included the eight unique Academy Awards presented to Walt for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a scale model of the Nautilus submarine from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, letter written to Walt Disney, and various pictures  of Walt's many achievements<ref name="widen"/>.
+When guests entered the Walt Disney Theater, they found themselves in a long hallway filled with personal artifacts and memorabilia from Walt Disney's life. Exhibits here included: the eight unique Academy Awards presented to Walt for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a scale model of the Nautilus submarine from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, letter written to Walt Disney, and various pictures of Walt's many achievements<ref name="widen"/>.
-After reaching the end of the hallway, guests reached the entrance to the building's two theaters. Here, a large mural created by Disney artist Bill Justice could be found. The mural, which featured over 170 characters, took four months to complete<ref name="widen"/>. As new Disney films were released, characters from the new animated feature would be added to the mural (this practice ended in 1986 with the release of the Great Mouse Detective) <ref> http://www.imagineeringdisney.com/blog/2011/12/29/mural-removin-season-at-disney.html </ref>.
+After reaching the end of the hallway, guests reached the entrance to the building's two theaters. Here, a large mural created by Disney artist Bill Justice could be found. The mural, which featured over 170 characters, took four months to complete<ref name="widen"/>. As new Disney films were released, characters from the animated feature would be added to the mural (this practice ended in 1986 with the release of the Great Mouse Detective) <ref> http://www.imagineeringdisney.com/blog/2011/12/29/mural-removin-season-at-disney.html </ref>.
-After entering the theater, guests would watch the attraction's film, which was a - minuted biography of Walt Disney.
+After entering the theater, guests would watch the attraction's film, which was a 23 minuted biography of Walt Disney. The film was narrated by Walt himself, and began with his early childhood in Marcelene Missouri, and ended with the creation of Disneyland, and his plans to build [[EPCOT]]..
-After watching the film, guests exited the theater and entered the post-show area. Initially, guests would see large displays of Walt Disney World's Phase One, EPCOT, Walt's Carolwood Pacific railroad, and early Audio Animatronics<ref name="widen"/>. This area was perhaps most notable however for its Western River Expedition model. This preview of the intended attraction, was tied in with a nearby audio-Animatronic owl named Hoot Gibson who would introduce himself as the star of the upcoming Western River Expedition, and  give a lecture on Audio-Animatronic technology<ref name="widen"/>.
+After watching the film, guests exited the theater and entered the post-show area. Initially, guests would see large displays of Walt Disney World's Phase One, EPCOT, Walt's Carolwood Pacific railroad, and early Audio Animatronics in this area<ref name="widen"/>. The room was perhaps most notable, however, for the Western River Expedition model. This preview of the intended attraction, was tied in with a nearby Audio Animatronic owl named Hoot Gibson, who would introduce himself as the star of the upcoming Western River Expedition, and  give a lecture on Audio Animatronic technology<ref name="widen"/>.
 During the Walt Disney Story's run, the attraction was temporary replaced three times:
-The first, was in in June of 1981, when the attraction was replaced with the [[EPCOT Center]] Preview Center. At this time, the area's postshow as restructured, and the displays about Carolwood Pacific and the Western River Expedition model were completely enclosed. At this time, Hoot Gibson gave a new spiel about the upcoming EPCOT Center Animatronics<ref name="widen"/>.
+In June of 1981, the attraction was replaced with the [[EPCOT Center]] Preview Center. At this time, the area's postshow as restructured, and the displays about Carolwood Pacific and the Western River Expedition model were completely enclosed. Hoot Gibson was also given a new spiel about the upcoming EPCOT Center Animatronics <ref name="widen"/>.
 In 1984, the Walt Disney Story was once again temporarily replaced by a pre-show and film focusing on the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. At the end of the summer the original attraction returned<ref name="widen"/>.
@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 In October 1992, the Walt Disney Story closed. Although the company cited deterioration of the film as the reason for the closure, the attraction's popularity had waned <ref name="widen"/>.
-Following the closure of the Walt Disney Story, the theater remained closed until October 1996 when the Walt Disney World 25th Anniversary Welcome Center opened.  At this point, new exhibits showcasing upcoming Disney projects were presented in the preshow hallway and postshow area. A new film was also featured at this time. In 1997, the Anniversary Welcome Center closed. It was subsequently replaced with [[Disney's Animal Kingdom]] Welcome Center <ref> http://allears.net/magic-kingdom/the-walt-disney-story-magic-kingdom-archives/</ref>.
+Following the closure of the Walt Disney Story, the theater remained unused until October 1996 when the Walt Disney World 25th Anniversary Welcome Center opened.  At this point, new exhibits showcasing upcoming Disney projects were presented in the preshow hallway and postshow area. A new film was also featured at this time. In 1997, the Anniversary Welcome Center closed. It was subsequently replaced with [[Disney's Animal Kingdom]] Welcome Center <ref> http://allears.net/magic-kingdom/the-walt-disney-story-magic-kingdom-archives/</ref>.
 ===Town Square Exhibition Hall (1998-2010)===