
The biggest celebration of The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary won’t cost you a park ticket, you won’t have to pay extra for Lightning Lane, and fans can join in the celebration without battling it out for a Park Pass reservation.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company. In late 1923, Walt Disney and his brother Roy O. Disney opened the Disney Brother Studios. Neither could have known that such a small-scale endeavor would grow to be the multi-billion dollar entity it is today. Walt always said that he hoped we’d never lose sight of one thing: that it was all started with a mouse. But nearly 60 years after his death, his biggest fans haven’t lost sight of the fact that it was actually all started my a man who hailed from a tiny town in Missouri, called Marceline.
This year, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company, the city of Marceline, Missouri, is holding a special event, and because it’s located more than 1,200 miles from the nearest Disney theme park, Guests won’t have to purchase a park ticket, they won’t have to use line-skippers like Lightning Lane, and they won’t have to hold their breath, waiting to see if they can get a Park Pass Reservation.
Walt’s hometown of Marceline, Mo. invites guests to “Celebrate a Moment in Time” on June 3, 2023. During the celebration, guests can take a trip down memory lane and be immersed in the surroundings that inspired Walt Disney himself, all while supporting the Walt Disney Hometown Museum.
There will be events at a downtown Marceline street fair and E.P Ripley Park beginning at noon and running until 4 p.m., and even Mickey Mouse will be there to join in the festivities. During their time in Walt’s hometown, guests can go on a scavenger hunt, meet featured artists, buy exclusive merchandise, purchase food and drink from local vendors, collect a special cancellation stamp at the local Walt Disney Post Office, enjoy live music, and take photos with Mickey and friends.
In addition to opportunities to meet artists, guests can also draw live with the Disney artist Jeff Shelly and see Ryan “Arcy” Christenson, who will be painting a mural in the park. At 4 p.m. Citizen will dedicate a replica of the Main Street U.S.A. clock to the local Walt Disney Museum Garden as part of the garden’s ribbon cutting ceremony. Following the clock dedication, an separately-ticketed event will include a four-course meal, special guests, a silent auction, and will end (as many Disney events do) with a fireworks display.
The four-course meal will be curated by Marcy Carriker Smothers, the author of “Eat Like Walt.” During the event, guests can also meet Floyd Norman, an animator and Disney Legend. To close out this day of “Celebrating a Moment in Time” will be “A Kiss Goodnight” fireworks display, named for the special phrase Walt gave to castle shows at certain Disney parks at the end of the day. This special event runs from 5 – 9:30 p.m. and will require a ticket.
Tickets for the event range in price and can be purchased until midnight on May 13, 2023. For information about the event and to purchase tickets, click here.