The Babes in Toyland Exhibit (1961–1963) was a walk-through attraction in Disneyland’s Main Street Opera House, showcasing vibrant sets from Disney’s 1961 live-action musical film Babes in Toyland. Designed to promote the movie, it immersed guests in the whimsical world of Mother Goose and Toyland, but its run was cut short due to the film’s box-office flop.
Here are 10 fun facts about this quirky, short-lived exhibit, bursting with 1960s Disney charm and Main Street nostalgia!
- Movie Tie-In Launch: The exhibit opened in November 1961, a month before Babes in Toyland hit theaters on December 14, 1961, as a promotional push for Disney’s first live-action musical. It ran until September 1963, closing after the film’s poor performance.
- Opera House Takeover: Housed in the Main Street Opera House, the exhibit transformed the former lumber mill and puppet show venue into a colorful walk-through, featuring film sets like Mother Goose Square, Mary’s Garden, the Pumpkin House, the Shoe House, and the Forest of No Return.
- Self-Guided Magic: Unlike staged shows, the exhibit was a walk-through attraction, letting guests roam at their own pace through the movie’s fantastical sets, from cobblestone streets to the Toymaker’s factory, creating a “you’re-on-the-set” vibe.
- Living Characters: Cast members dressed as Bo Peep, toy soldiers, and even animated trees from the Forest of No Return mingled with guests, adding interactivity.
- Toy Soldier Legacy: The exhibit’s toy soldiers, designed by Imagineer Bill Justice with X-shaped straps, became iconic. They inspired Disneyland’s Christmas parade soldiers, still marching today, and appeared in Mary Poppins (1964).
- Box-Office Bust: Despite its vibrant sets, the exhibit struggled because Babes in Toyland bombed, grossing under $2 million against a $3 million budget. Critics called it “gaudy” and “Babes in Disneyland,” dooming the attraction.
- Rare Set Relics: A 1964 Devlin family photo shows a staircase from the film lingering in the Opera House after the exhibit closed, possibly reused during its brief Mickey Mouse Club Headquarters phase (1963–1964).
- Annette’s Upside-Down Feat: The exhibit included Mary’s Garden, tied to Annette Funicello’s song “I Can’t Do the Sum,” where she walked upside-down. The set displayed wired costumes and wigs used for the gravity-defying effect.
- Main Street Flair: The exhibit’s red-lettered marquee and candy cane-striped guardhouses, gave the Opera House a festive flair.
- Quick Pivot to Lincoln: The exhibit was dismantled in 1963 to prepare for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, which debuted in 1965. The Opera House’s shift to a high-tech Audio-Animatronic show marked a new era.
