MARCELINE, Missouri is a long drive from Disneyland in Anaheim, California. A group of Disney fans are making the drive to D23 this weekend in a 1950s car that was given to the town by non other than Walt Disney himself. Cleaned, polished and ready to go, the roadster which was part of a mini autopia – 10 little cars on an electric track that’s almost a half century old will be on display at D23.
While D23 will be packed with fans of all ages, this little group will have an edge over most of the fans. Walt Disney grew up in their little home town. Until age 9. Walt lived in Marceline. He modeled Main Street, USA after the town that includes a swimming pool, a municipal park and an Elementary School that carry the name of Walt Disney.
The Disney Museum at the old train station where the family arrived from Chicago over 100 years ago, is full of Disney memorabilia. Their goal of $500,000 to fix the cars and set up a new ride on land next to the museum is in full swing.
“This is the only ride to ever leave Disneyland, and it came to us,” said Kaye Malins, executive director of the Walt Disney Hometown Museum. “This is a one-of-a-kind story, and we want to share it with Disney fans all over the world.” Marceline, MO has started a campaign to raise funds to restore the ride for all to enjoy.
Malins will be at the Walt Disney Hometown Museum booth at D23 and said “If we do a little fundraising while we’re there — that’s great,” “But we’re doing to do this for Walt.”
So while Marceline, MO is worlds away from Disneyland as Walt himself said, “To tell the truth, more things of importance happened to me in Marceline than have happened since — or are likely to in the future.”
Join me at D23 and drop by the Walt Disney Hometown Museum and meet Kaye Malins and the group and follow us on our social media pages for D23 and Disney news.
(Photo courtesy of the Kansas City Star)
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