10.18.11
– Walt Disney World hosts its first Disneyana convention, as told by Dave Smith in 1992.
Disney Archivist Dave Smith with the first Disneyland attraction vehicle ever sold at a Disneyana convention.
Whether it’s early Mickey Mouse watches, original cartoon cels,
recent limited edition figurines, or 1955 Disneyland guidebooks,
Disneyana collectibles have a fascination for Americans young and old.
And, with the opening of Disney Parks in Japan and France, and the
expansion of The Disney Stores throughout the world, what started as an
American hobby has grown to where it is enjoyed worldwide today.
To provide an event where Disneyana fans could gather together for
several days of collecting, guest speakers, good food, special
merchandise, and the fun experience of a Disney Theme Park, Walt Disney
World Attractions hosted its first Disneyana Convention. Held September
24-27, the Convention Center drew over 750 Disneyana collectors and
fans to Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Guests arriving on Thursday morning took care of their hotel check-in
and convention registration, then rushed to the Disneyana Collectible
Shop where special merchandise featuring the convention logo had been
placed on sale. Eager collectors grabbed up ornaments, decals, buttons,
T-shirts, spoons, and even stropping bags. The hottest items were a $25
plate—in a limited supply of just 500—and a watch. One watch had been
given to each registrant, winch left less than 500 available for sale.
The convention began in earnest Thursday evening with a
welcome reception Ice Cream Social. The Fantasia Lobby was decked out
with banners flags, park benches, gazebos, and greenery, along with
tables loaded with ice cream, pastries, and other delectable taste
treats. Disney characters were on hand to greet guests, and as a special
added attraction, three of the original Mousketeers—Bobby, Sharon and
Sherry—were there to autograph photographs in a Mousketeer Clubhouse in
the West Rotunda.
Friday dawned with a buffet breakfast outdoors in front of the
Convention Center. Mickey Mouse and Dick Nunis, Chairman of Walt Disney
Attractions, made a grand entrance in the LiMOUSEine. Other members of
Mickey’s gang gathered with some of the Park’s singers and dancers for a
couple of musing numbers to lead guests into the Fantasia Ballroom for
the opening session.
After the surprise entrance of the Voice of Disney—Jack
Wagner—to emcee the events, the morning got off to an exciting start
with a kinetic audio-visual presentation covering the history of The
Walt Disney Company. The morning speakers were Dick Nunis, reminiscing
on his many years with Disney, landscaper Bill Evans sharing experiences
in creating the natural scenery in all of the Disney Parks, Max Howard
speaking on the expansion of the feature animation division in Florida
and showing previews of Aladdin, and Esther Ewert of Disney
Art Editions, relating the history of Disney animation art in the
market place. The climax of the morning session was the introduction
of the Aladdin characters in a festive parade complete with a live camel and horses.
For the afternoon, convention-goers had many choices. They
could attend a Limited Edition sale and Artist Signing, where a number
of very special pieces had been created especially for the convention by
the likes of Lladro Goebel, Armani, R. John Wright, Ron I.ee, Laurenz,
and others. Nearby was a Disneyana Fair, where Disney signs, artwork,
and props—many never before offered for sale—could be purchased.
There was a preview of auction items, and, upstairs, a Disney
Business Group Presentation included displays from Disney Art Editions,
Disney Stores, Disney Vacation Club, Disney Gallery, Disney Classics
Collection, The Disney Channel, Disney Publishing, the Magic Kingdom
Club and other divisions of the Disney organization. Finally, down the
hall was a Disneyana Trade Show where independent dealers displayed
their wares. It was almost more than a collector could handle in one
day.
The day was capped by a thrilling Disneyana auction, with
selected pieces from the Disney vaults bringing record prices. An
original Dumbo attraction unit from Disneyland brought $16.000, as did a
bronze-cast Mickey Mouse statue. A Carousel horse brought $4,000 and
the art for a Little Mermaid plate $8,250.
At Saturday morning’s session, my assistant, Robert Tieman and I had
the thrill of being delivered into the banquet with Mickey Mouse it an
armored truck, bringing 30 Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives
for show and-tell. Tony Baxter, from Walt Disney Imagineering, brought
insight into Euro Disneyland’s design, and a highlight was a
conversation with 98-year-old Joe Fowler, builder of Disneyland and Walt
Disney World.
The public was allowed to join conventioneers at the
various fairs and trade shows on Saturday and then the convention
culminated with a delicious banquet, followed by comments by Dick
Nunis, and Bob Bowman and Bo Boyd of Disney Consumer Products. The Kids
of the Kingdom brought the house down with The Best of Disney and each guest received a valuable medallion as a keepsake.
It was an exhausting three days, but those in attendance praised the
convention planners. The First Disneyana Convention had been a rousing
success. Now, off to Anaheim for the next one in September, 1993.
From Disney News, Winter 1992.
