Heritage Auctions has revealed some extremely rare Disney memorabilia coming to auction later this month. In 2022, Heritage sold $2.2 million worth of original Disney art and artifacts during a record-breaking event. 2023’s auction is fittingly called “The Art of Disneyland: From Stagecoaches to Monorails… and More!”
Some items include a cabin from Walt Disney World’s monorail, blueprints of Cinderella’s Castle, and a bench from Main Street USA at Disneyland. Plus, some previously lost footage of Walt Disney, and more concept art and prototypes than you can shake an enchanted stick at. Between this and listings for water from the now-closed Splash Mountain, it seems to be an excellent year for Disney memorabilia auctions.
Many of the rare items come from the collection of Jody Daily and Kevin Kidney. Both are longtime artists for the company. Some of the 857 lots in the auction were designed and created by Daily and Kidney themselves. “Our niche is nostalgia,” Kidney says. “We are interested in classic Disney, the Disney of our childhoods.”
The monorail cabin was first used in 1984, and was in service until some time in the 1990s. It still has working doors and all its windows are intact. Plus it has eight rows of seating and still has the original signage from Walt Disney World. But don’t fret if monorails aren’t your preferred mode of enchanted kingdom transport. There will also be an original Skyway gondola from Tomorrowland will also be up for grabs. And for those looking for something a bit more rustic, there is a frontier-era stagecoach. The coach once belonged to a friend of Walt Disney and was even once located at the Disneyland Hotel.
Non-pumpkin-based modes of transportation aside. The most exciting item has to be a previously lost piece of film that features Walt Disney and the Mouseketeers. The footage was shot at the park in 1955 while they christened the Disneyland Express “Snow White” bus line.
“The film reel comes in a lightweight metal canister, and the film is in ‘Very Good’ playable condition,” Heritage said. “The film includes a DVD with a professionally transferred digital copy of its footage.” But if you cannot drop the crazy amount of money that this will probably sell for, Heritage has uploaded the footage to their YouTube channel.
“With historic lots such as these, this Disney auction truly covers everything — from stagecoaches to Monorails,” Jim Lentz, Heritage’s Director of Animation Art, said. “If Disneyland is the Happiest Place on Earth, this surely will be the happiest auction on earth.” And he’s not exaggerating when he says everything, there is even an Epcot trashcan prop up for grabs.
The live auction will take place on Saturday, March 25 at Heritage Auctions’ Beverly Hills location (9478 West Olympic Blvd). The online bidding will conclude the following day. All items are available to view online. You can also see them in person at the Beverly Hills auction house from March 20 – 24 from 10 am to 5:00 pm Check out the previously lost footage below:
