December 1961 – September 1963
LOCATION
Main Street USA – The Babes in Toyland Exhibit opened in the Main Street Opera House at the end of 1961. Visitors arriving on Main Street from the park gates saw the Opera House on the right, across from the Town Square gardens.
BACKGROUND
Walt loved the magic of bringing stories from the screen into the real world within Disneyland. After the success of the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Exhibit in Tomorrowland, Walt wanted to bring another movie world into the park. Babes in Toyland opened in 1961, and the film’s elaborate sets became an obvious choice for an exhibit. The attraction opened in the Main Street Opera House in December, the same year as the film’s release.
EXPERIENCE
Visitors to the Opera House had the chance to explore the sets of Babes in Toyland up close. Like with the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, this exhibit was a walkthrough attraction, allowing visitors to wander at their own pace through the different scenes. Featured sets included the Pumpkin House, Mary’s Garden, the Forest of No Return, and the Shoe House.
CLOSURE
Babes in Toyland did not perform well at the box office, and the critical reception was even worse. With such poorly received source material, this exhibit never stood a chance. The Opera House continued to show the exhibit until 1963, however, until Disney finally broke down the sets for good.
TRIVIA
One piece of Babes in Toyland survives in Disneyland to this day. Every year, the soldiers marching in the holiday parades are exact replicas of the original stop-motion figures used in the film.
I’ve loved this movie since I was a kid. Every time my daughter and I go backwards into the graveyard scene at the Haunted Mansion, I always comment that we’re going into the Forest of No Return. I’ve often wondered if those tress are the same from the Babes in Toyland set.
Do you know if they are?
I don’t believe they are (and couldn’t find any sources verifying that), but it is possible!
I loved the exhibit. We were at that preteen stage and we’re appropriately silly and snarky walking through and the trees sort of teased and chased us (in a fun way). No one else was in the exhibit at the time, but through the years I always thought about it … especially when visiting Mr. Lincoln.
I visited the set several times before it was dismantled. It had a magical quality to it and I enjoyed walking the cobblestone street thru Toyland. Photos of the set do not do it justice.
As part of the promotion for Babes in Toyland, I long ago saw Walt drive Annette Funicello down Main Street in a Model-T during the Disneyland Christmas Parade. Annette in her stage set custom wore so much makeup that I was surprised it hadn’t melted in the warm California sun
By the way, it took me 50 years to admit to myself (sadly) that Disney’s movie Babes in Toyland was pure crap.
Hahaha! Honestly, I haven’t seen the movie but it didn’t seem that great. 🙂
Ok I swear this was one of those things I thought I hallucinated. Thank you for confirming it was actually real!
Glad I could help! 🙂
I had no idea this is why the soldiers march at Christmas!