Disney Gallery (New Orleans Square) Articles

What was intended to be a private apartment in New Orleans Square for Walt Disney and his family was finally open to the public in 1987 as the Disney Gallery.The area was originally called The Royal Suite due to the discrete entrance on Royal Street intended for the Disney family alone.Public entry was via outdoor stairways leading up to the second floor gallery a dramatic entrance built when the walkway to the ground floor Pirates Of The Caribbean was remodeled in 1987.Upstairs the Disney Gallery interior spread out over various rooms and short hallways that surrounded a small patio luxurious furnishings elegant moldings and parquet floors all approximated the 3000 square foot apartment as it would have looked had it been finished for Disney family in the 1960s.

The ornate iron railing outside still have the initials WD and RD curled into filigree as tributes to the Disney Brothers.But it was the art not the architecture that compelled frequent repeat visits.

The Disney Gallery was originally going to be an apartment for Walt Disney. He passed away before they finished it and it was later turned into the Gallery.

The initials of Roy/Walt Disney are in the ironwork on the Disney Gallery's balcony. Herbert Ryman (one of Walt's original constructors of Disneyland) went on many trips to New Orleans with Walt to get ideas on how to portray it in the park. In the original painting made by Herbert Ryman of this area of the park the initials in the cast iron were W.D. and L.D (for Lilian, his wife).

Was used for offices for the planning for Tokyo Disneyland.

The Gallery has hosted the following exhibits: Art Of Disneyland, Pirates Of The Caribbean and Haunted Mansion

Temporarily moved to Main Street Opera House in 2007