The inaugural Dreaming Tree Gala will be held in the Ballroom of the Americas at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday, November 18. The black-tie event, which includes dinner and fireworks, will feature a mix of Disney legends, artists, cast members and fans gathering to hear intimate stories of a man who used his childhood in small town America as a source of inspiration throughout his career. The event will raise funds for the Walt Disney Hometown Museum, a rare collection of Disney memorabilia showcased in the heart of Walt’s beloved boyhood hometown of Marceline. Mr. Robert Wilson, a long-time Disney family friend and the last CEO/COO of Walt’s private family company, Retlaw, will headline the event and be its keynote speaker. Tickets and additional event information can be found at http://www.dreamingtreegala.com.
“I was blessed with a long career and association with the Disney family and I’m excited to be sharing my private story for the first time,” said Wilson.
“My parents first met Walt and Roy when they returned to Marceline in 1956 to dedicate its new pool,” said Kaye Malins, the museum’s executive director. “Through the generous help of the Disney family, we’ve been building a world-class museum in the city that became a tremendous source of inspiration throughout his career. Walt never lost his love for Marceline, and we’re working hard to keep our promise to maintain his legacy for a new generation of Disney fans across the globe.”
The museum is currently working on many projects ranging from gallery expansion to structural upgrades. One of the most meaningful initiatives is the return of Walt and Roy Disney’s 1966 historic gift of Midget Autopia to the city of Marceline. To this day it remains one of the only rides ever to leave Disneyland and maintain operation outside the company’s control. The ride left Disneyland in 1966 and ran an additional 11 years in Marceline’s Walt Disney Municipal Park. It was officially retired by the city in 1977, but plans are underway to restore the ride and return it to the very heart of the city that Walt and Roy called home.
The Walt Disney Hometown Museum is in an historic 1913 Santa Fe Railway station in the very heart of Walt Disney’s boyhood hometown of Marceline, Missouri. The 10,000 square feet of immersive gallery space contains a unique collection of Disney family effects, not able to be viewed anywhere else in the world. Visit http://www.waltdisneymuseum.org for more information
