Making its triumphant return to California as part of D23 Expo, Walt Disney’s airplane has landed at D23 Expo! The Grumman Gulfstream I plane, nicknamed “The Mouse,” was acquired by Walt Disney in 1963. The interior of the plane included a galley kitchen, two restrooms, two couches, a desk, and more. Walt Disney and his wife Lillian helped design the plane’s interior. Over 28 years of service to The Walt Disney Company, the plane flew 20,000 hours and transported an estimated 83,000 passengers. Disney Legends Julie Andrews and Annette Funicello, as well as U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan were among the plane’s famed passengers. Following the end of its use by the Disney Company, the plane moved to Florida and was on display at Disney-MGM Studios (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios) from 1992 until 2014.
The exterior of Walt’s plane has been restored in partnership between D23, The Walt Disney Archives, and Amazon, with support from Walt Disney Imagineering. Mickey Mouse One: Walt’s Plane presented by Amazon is open to D23 Expo attendees in the Anaheim Convention Center Arena. The exhibit also includes a curated collection of artifacts from the plane’s interior.
Let’s take a look at this fantastic and unique exhibit!
D23 Expo takes to the Skies aboard Mickey Mouse One: Walt’s Plane
As a media preview of the D23 Expo on Thursday night, guests were treated to a special look at the remarkable “Walt’s Plane” exhibit in the Anaheim Convention Center Arena. The exhibit gives Expo attendees and up-close look at Walt Disney’s personal plane as well as a look at artifacts from its history and interior.
It is just so cool to see this up close — and the restoration is spectacular!
Take a video tour of this exhibit in our video below
Display cases showcase the plane’s history during the years Walt Disney heavily utilized it.
Grumman Gulfstream I model gifted to Walt Disney.
Drawings and schematics of the plane.
Flight operation manual for Walt’s plane.
Walt Disney used the plane heavily to travel back and forth between Los Angeles and New York for the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. Disney produced several attractions for the fair including Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, “it’s a small world,” and the Carousel of Progress. 
Photos of Walt Disney, his wife Lillian, and family traveling aboard the plane. 
Walt with members of Smoke Tree Ranch in front of the plane.
Disney Legend Harriet Burns made this jack-in-the-box for Walt as a thank you for taking her to the New York World’s Fair aboard his plane.
Walt’s invited guests would receive these bags as a gift for traveling aboard the plane. 
A second display case highlights artifacts from the plane’s interior.
Stewardess uniform concept art.
Food storage container from the plane’s galley.
“Hot cup” from the plane’s galley and the galley lightswitch
Illuminated cabin signs from the plane’s interior.
A third artifact display includes a suit worn by Tom Hanks when he portrayed Walt Disney in “Saving Mr. Banks.”
More items from inside the plane, that were personally used by Walt, are on display in this small cabinet.
The plane’s instrument panel
Ashtray and cupholder, with Walt Disney Productions matchbook.
A mockup of a portion of the interior, showing how the interior of the cabin and a seat on the plane would have looked together.
As part of the sponsorship with Amazon, specialty merchandise to commemorate the restoration of Walt Disney’s plane is available exclusively on the retail website. Below are a couple of the new items but you can browse the entire collection now on Amazon.
Our media preview of this spectacular exhibit was concluded with a welcome speech by Disney CEO Bob Chapek. Chapek noted that Walt’s Plane would find a permanent home at the Palm Springs Air Museum after the D23 Expo. This is a fitting home for the plane, as Walt Disney was fond of the Coachella valley and had a second home in Palm Springs.
The evening concluded with a few words and a warm welcome to the D23 Expo 2022 from D23 head Michael Vargo.
Without a doubt, Walt’s Plane is a not-to-be-missed item for this year’s D23 Expo. It is a breathtaking exhibit for Walt Disney and Disney history fans. The plane’s restoration and the exhibit itself are remarkable accomplishments for the Walt Disney Archives and Walt Disney Imagineering. If you have to choose between seeing Walt’s Plane or the Walt Disney Archives’ exhibit, Step in Time — hands down, go see the plane. You won’t regret it!
Don’t Miss The News From The D23 Expo!
For ALL of our D23 Expo coverage, click the image below. We are updating non-stop, all day, every day of the expo!!!
And come see MiceChat at the EXPO! We are giving away some incredible prizes including a 2-Night stay at the HoJo House of the Future Suite and 2 x Two-Day parkhopper tickets to Disneyland, as well as dozens of other incredible prizes from local theme parks, hotels, and restaurants!
Our booth will also host animatronics master Garner Holt, movie critic extraordinaire Leonard Maltin, and David Koenig, the author of “Mouse Tales.”
And last but not least, we’ll reveal some exciting news about the next Gumball Rally (here’s all the fun from 2022’s Rally), and there’s a special opportunity for teams who stop by during the expo!
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