While not quite linear, our visit with a toddler worked out well
Mathematically, Des Moines, Iowa, might not be the precise spot in the continental U.S. that’s furthest from both Disney parks. But it sure feels like it. So, after our family trip to Walt Disney World in March, I was thrilled to see Disney100: The Exhibition pop up in nearby Kansas City. Although this experience does not include rides, character greetings, or pin trading, it does offer one important element: Disney magic.
My husband and I made the three-ish-hour drive down to Disney100 in late June. We spent a single night at the Home2 Suites downtown and re-visited the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium the next day. Disney100 is located at Union Station, a spot that’s familiar after a previous visit to Science City at Union Station. Disney100 is also a pretty manageable attraction, time-wise, so we made sure to swing through Science City again.
The Disney exhibition starts off with a strong dose of atmosphere in the form of glittery lights and a chance to pose with “Goofy” (a statue) before setting off on the tour. As with any Disney experience, we joined a small line that was queued behind the previous tour group, but our wait was less than 10 minutes. From there, we watched short video that introduced the exhibit and provided some history about Disney and its founder, Walt Disney.
I’ll be the first to say that Disney’s history is not my niche. I’m fully aware that Disney’s past encompasses a range of problematic elements, including some very racist themes and scenes in movies. I don’t embrace Disney as a perfect company — far from it — and I’m not particularly fond of Walt Disney as a person, despite any lack of clarity about his beliefs. As with many fans, my love of Disney comes from an amorphous place of nostalgia and comfort that isn’t entirely rational and consistent. I carry and constantly re-explore the contradictions and nuances inherent in my fandom. I think it’s the only wise way to be a fan.
All of that is to say that I’m not one to cheer when Walt’s face pops up on the screen. For that reason, I worried that this attraction might not be for me. But when the video ended and we moved along to the interactive, museum-style exhibits that followed, I definitely found myself engaged alongside our daughter. There was a heavy focus on intriguing artifacts from movie sets and Disney parks, rather than Walt Disney’s biography, and it was fun peeking around each corner to see if any of my favorites might be highlighted (many were).
Our daughter was too young to appreciate the history or novelty, but she wasn’t too young to recognize some of the movies, or to stop and pose with the character statues placed here and there throughout the attraction. I will flag that visiting with a nearly-two-year old meant that only one of us was engaged in a traditional and orderly museum experience at any given moment. The other was inevitably chasing our daughter from statue to exhibit, with no particular rhyme or reason.
As evidenced by the chasing, we did not use our stroller much during our Disney100 experience, but we did bring it along. We had no trouble navigating through the exhibit with it. We took turns toddler wrangling, and for me, the opportunity to watch her excitement play out was worth skipping some placards. If you’re visiting with a toddler, I would recommend planning for a casual visit. If you want a more thorough and immersive experience, you might want to line up a sitter.
And if you’re looking for a sense of what to expect: A few of my favorite items were Giselle’s dress from the movie “Enchanted”, the Lumier and Cogsworth production models from the live-action “Beauty and the Beast”, the glass slipper from the live-action “Cinderella”, and a couple different “Little Mermaid” items. You’ll also find several Star Wars and Marvel exhibits.
Finally, Disney100 provided a rare opportunity for Disney fans of the Midwest: A chance to wear our Minnie ears! My daughter and I both wore a pair for at least part of the experience, and we walked away with some great pictures.
If you’re looking for food in the immediate area, note that there are a few options right on site at Union Station. There are a couple sit-down restaurants, a coffee shop, a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and some grab-and-go options. We were running late and ended up grabbing and going. The food wasn’t spectacular, but it was fresh and decent, which isn’t a bad review for prepared food we snagged from a cooler.
This exhibition is unique, and it travels from city to city. For now, it’s parked in Kansas City until September 2, according to the Union Station website. I don’t see an announcement about its next destination, but in the past, it has stopped through Philadelphia, Munich, Chicago, and London.
For us, Disney100 was definitely worth the 3-hour drive and overnight trip. The fact that it was located in Union Station gave us the chance to soak in some Disney at a destination we had already planned to revisit. Whether you visit alongside young children or line up a babysitter, I view it as a fun, doable option.