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Christina Rees

Christina Rees

Director of Public Relations and Communications

CRees@HA.com
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Steve Lansdale

Senior Public Relations and Communications Specialist

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Press Release - October 27, 2025

Celebrate 70 Years of Disneyland with Part II of the Marc and Alice Davis Archive, Disney Parks Attractions and More in Heritage’s Nov. 7-10 Animation Art Auction

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More than 1,600 lots span the magic, artistry and imagination of Disneyland’s 70-year legacy

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Disneyland - PeopleMover Original Silkscreened Park Attraction Poster (Walt Disney, 1967-1995).
DALLAS, Texas (Oct. 27, 2025) — Heritage invites collectors and fans alike to embark on an unforgettable journey through seven decades of Disney wonder during the Celebrating 70 Years of Disneyland - Featuring the Marc and Alice Davis Archive Part II Animation Art Signature® Auction, taking place Nov. 7–10. With more than 1,500 lots offered over four full days, the event celebrates the legacy of Walt Disney’s original theme park and honors the visionaries who built its foundation.

“This auction truly takes you through every land of Disneyland, from Main Street, U.S.A., to Tomorrowland, Frontierland, Fantasyland and beyond,” says Jim Lentz, Heritage’s Vice President of Animation and Anime Art. “It’s a love letter to the park’s past and to the extraordinary artists who brought Walt’s dream to life. There’s something here for every Disney collector, from original concept art to park-used treasures.”

A Celebration 70 Years in the Making

When Disneyland opened its gates on July 17, 1955, it became the benchmark for imagination and immersive storytelling. Seven decades later, its influence endures, and Heritage’s latest Signature event pays tribute to that legacy with pieces that trace the park’s creation and evolution.

Among the many highlights are John Hench’s original artwork for Tomorrowland’s PeopleMover, Ken Anderson’s concept drawings for Snow White’s Scary Adventures and even a park-used Snow White character costume, each capturing a defining moment in Disneyland’s history.

The Disneyland Park Entrance Posters

No celebration of Disneyland would be complete without its iconic hand-pulled serigraph Park Entrance posters, the vibrant images that greeted guests as they entered the park. This auction boasts one of the most impressive collections Heritage has ever offered, featuring rare examples such as Fantasyland, Mickey Mouse Club Theater and Frontierland’s Rainbow Caverns.

Collectors will also find perennial favorites like Tomorrowland’s Skyway, Disneyland’s Monorail and the beloved PeopleMover. These beautifully printed works represent the very spirit of Disneyland, where design, color and nostalgia meet in perfect harmony.

The Bradley/Bushman Prints: Building Walt’s Dream

One of the most historically important sections in the sale is dedicated to the Bradley/Bushman architectural prints, early brownline and blueline renderings that date from 1952–1954 — years before Disneyland opened. Nearly 50 lots of rare prints offer a behind-the-scenes look at the park’s creation, including an early aerial view of Disneyland, the original Dumbo Flying Elephants Ride brownline and a stunning 1953 blueprint for Fantasyland’s Castle Entrance.

These works, drafted by some of the earliest Disney designers, offer collectors a rare opportunity to own the blueprints of Walt’s vision.

Walt Disney World - Mr. Toad's Wild Ride Original Park-Used Ride Vehicle
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and Other Park-Used Treasures

In every Heritage Disney auction, ride cars and props capture the most attention, and this event features one of the most exciting examples ever offered: an authentic Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride attraction vehicle from Walt Disney World’s Fantasyland. Retaining its original four-seat configuration and electric motor, this piece is among the most complete examples known and is accompanied by two original Toad Hall props — a large globe and armchair featured in the attraction.

These rare, park-used pieces evoke the joy of the early park experience and are joined by dozens of other extraordinary Disney park artifacts spanning decades of attractions and memories.

From the Disney Store to the Collector’s Gallery

In keeping with the spirit of Disney’s expansion beyond the parks, Heritage’s auction celebrates the history of The Disney Store, which opened its first location in Glendale, California, in 1987. What began as a way to “bring the parks to neighborhoods” evolved into a worldwide phenomenon, and this sale features over 20 original display figures from those beloved stores, including Tinker Bell, Belle and the One Hundred and One Dalmatians puppies among others.

Collectors will also find more than 125 “Big Fig” character statues, long sold out and more popular than ever. This massive selection includes beloved figures from classic and modern Disney films — from Snow White and Bambi to The Lion King — as well as theme park favorites and even the iconic Disney/Star Wars crossover Big Figs, including Jedi Mickey Mouse, Stormtrooper Donald Duck and Princess Leia Minnie Mouse.

These pieces, once displayed in Disney Stores or offered exclusively through the Disney Catalog and theme parks, represent a larger-than-life celebration of fandom and artistry.

Sleeping Beauty Maleficent and Diablo Art Corner Production Cel
Main Street’s Art Corner: Where Disney Animation Became Personal

No Disneyland celebration would be complete without honoring the beloved Main Street Art Corner, the place where countless guests purchased their very first authentic Disney production cel. For many collectors, that small shop marked the beginning of a lifelong appreciation for Disney artistry, and Heritage is proud to present the single largest collection of original production cels ever offered that were originally sold through the Art Corner itself.

This extraordinary grouping features timeless characters including Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Tinker Bell, alongside treasures from Disney’s most celebrated animated classics such as Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, One Hundred and One Dalmatians and The Jungle Book.

The crown jewel of this section is the original Main Street Art Corner sign that once hung above the shop’s entrance — a rare and nostalgic artifact that embodies the magic of animation art collecting.

“With my love of Disney animation art being what it is, this is simply one of my favorite pieces in the entire sale,” says Jim Lentz, Heritage’s Director of Animation Art.

Marc Davis South African Lions - From Life Original Ink Drawing with From Life
The Marc and Alice Davis Archive, Part II

At the heart of this event lies one of Heritage’s most honored offerings: The Marc and Alice Davis Archive, Part II, celebrating the lives and legacies of two Disney Legends whose artistry shaped both animation and Imagineering.

Marc Davis, one of Walt Disney’s famed Nine Old Men, helped define the look and spirit of Disney’s golden age through characters like Cruella De Vil, Maleficent, Aurora and Tinker Bell. His creative journey carried him from the animation desk to WED Imagineering, where he conceived unforgettable attractions including Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, The Jungle Cruise and America Sings.

This auction includes over 100 original WED concept drawings from Marc’s personal collection — a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse into the mind of one of Disney’s most versatile artists. Complementing these are numerous works from Marc’s fine art career, including studies in anatomy, bullfighting, music and Greek mythology, as well as impressionistic paintings inspired by Herman Melville’s Moby Dick.

Alice Davis, a legendary costume designer and collaborator on projects such as It’s a Small World, is equally represented here with personal model sheets, studies, and artwork that illuminate her precision and creativity. Together, the Davis archive offers nearly 300 lots spanning animation, Imagineering, and fine art — an extraordinary testament to their shared brilliance.

Papua New Guinea: The Art That Inspired the Artist

Another remarkable portion of the Davis archive centers on the couple’s fascination with the art and artifacts of Papua New Guinea. Heritage will offer more than 80 lots from the Davises’ personal collection, many of which were displayed in their home for nearly half a century. These include hand-carved ancestral figures, masks, spirit boards, jewelry and pottery acquired during their travels in the 1970s, alongside Marc’s original sketches and paintings created on site.

The Kevin and Jody Collection and Global Theme Park Art

Collectors will also delight in items from the personal archives of Disney artists Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily, whose designs and sculptures have become synonymous with modern Disney artistry. More than 40 lots from their personal collection appear in the auction, from rare prototypes to original artwork.

Another event highlight is a dazzling Global Theme Park Art section, featuring original concept art and presentation designs from Landmark Entertainment Group, creators behind major attractions for Universal Studios and beyond. This segment showcases work by some of the most celebrated artists in themed entertainment, including Marc Davis, Herb Ryman, Syd Mead, William Stout, Claudio Mazzoli, Phil Mendez, Eddie Martinez and Eric Heschong.

Concepts for The Wonderful World of Oz theme park, Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch and Universal Studios’ Spider-Man attraction headline this once-in-a-lifetime offering of creative imagination at its finest.

A Magical Finale

For Jim Lentz and the Heritage team, this event represents not only a monumental sale but also a personal celebration. “This auction is a tribute to every dreamer who ever walked down Main Street or believed in the magic of Disney,” Lentz says. “The Davis Archive, the ride vehicles, the store displays — every item tells a story about creativity, collaboration and joy. It’s been one of the most rewarding auctions we’ve ever assembled.”

Images and information about all lots Heritage’s November 7 - 10 Celebrating 70 Years of Disneyland - Featuring the Marc and Alice Davis Archive Part II Animation Art Signature® Auction can be found here, where the auction is open for bidding.

Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world's largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Heritage also enjoys the highest Online traffic and dollar volume of any auction house on earth (source: SimilarWeb and Hiscox Report). The Internet's most popular auction-house website, HA.com, has more than 2 million registered bidder-members and searchable free archives of 7,000,000 past auction records with prices realized, descriptions and enlargeable photos. Reproduction rights routinely granted to media for photo credit.

For breaking stories, follow us: HA.com/Facebook and HA.com/Twitter . Link to this release or view prior press releases .

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Christina Rees, Director of Public Relations and Communications
214-409-1341; CRees@HA.com