Disney opens up their archives at D23 Expo

By Sarah Sluis

This weekend, Disney will exhibit 92 items from their archives, including Walt Disney's old traveling trunks, the storybook used in the opening scene of Sleeping Beauty, and Miley Cyrus' Hannah Montana wig. The move marks a departure from the company's usual secrecy. The context in which it occurs, the D23 expo, the inaugural Disney-themed trade show in the style of Comic-Con, is just as revealing of Disney's changing strategy.

Those that have visited any of Disney's theme parks may recall the many "behind-the-scenes" books that are penned by and sold to Disney fanatics, with jam-packed titles like Mouse Tales: A Behind-The-Ears Look at Disneyland, and The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World: Over 600 Secrets of the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. These types of books are testament to Disney's deep mythology, and the incredibly detail-oriented way their ideas are executed. They also show how people's curiosity can be piqued when a magician withholds his secret--apparently Disney's mantra was "We do not talk about how we make the magic." Today, that same fervor has been extended to over 1,000 blogs, a medium known for its tempestuous moods. To corral these fans, Disney's PR team created D23, a community for Disney's core followers, which includes a $75 yearly membership fee, a magazine, and discounted entry to Disney's debut convention, the D23 Expo. With the recent news of Disney's acquisition of Marvel, it will be interesting to see if the expo, which takes place this weekend, will eventually grow to incorporate this group of comic book characters, or if the world of Disney characters will be kept hermetically separate from that of Marvel. Will the majority of these fans defend the acquisition, or will they feel it's encroaching on the core Disney heritage? Disney is always coming up with new characters, and I doubt anyone's complaining about Pixar, which was also a Disney acquisition, so I think that offers a clue to the hard-core fans' response. It also appears that Disney will offer previews and special events extending to all its properties, such as ABC's "Lost," (convention-goers can check out a preview of an auction of series items) at the expo. Next year, it's possible D23 may grow to include Marvel brands, and become a rival to Comic-con itself.