My family and I have always been big fans of Disney, so when we saw that the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia was having a special exhibition to celebrate 100 years of The Walt Disney Company we had to get tickets.

We had a feeling that it was going to be a little crowded because we were going on a Saturday, but we were still excited. The exhibition started out with a little video message from Mickey Mouse and the man who started it all, Walt Disney. Then you are led through a hallway with facts about Walt Disney’s life, from childhood to adulthood, as well as insight to some of the earliest characters and when they were created.

The different rooms in the exhibition focused on different aspects of the entire company. One room is dedicated to the early drawings and artifacts of the first couple hit movies including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Alice in Wonderland, Pinocchio, Alice in Wonderland, Mary Poppins and Sleeping Beauty.

One of my favorite areas was the Marvel section. I recently have become a big fan of the Marvel movies and characters. The section featured some of the popular superhero costumes and gear like Black Panther’s suit, Captain America’s shield and helmets from characters like Loki, Peter Quill, Iron Man and Ant Man.

As a big fan of the Disney parks, another area I really liked was the one with information about the parks. It had everything from the early designs and ideas to the newest rides and attractions coming to the different parks around the world.

Other sections of the exhibition included animations and drawing, sounds and haptics and behind-the-scenes information. Overall, it was a cool experience, and I enjoyed seeing some of the ideas behind the parks, characters and movies I know and love.

— Mary Melnick, social media & editorial coordinator