Partners Statue in Disneyland

The Partners statue in the rotunda area in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle in Disneyland is a tribue to Walt Disney and his star creation, Mickey Mouse. It was created by Disney Legend Blaine Gibson and it truly captures the spirit of Walt Disney. It was originally installed in Walt Disney World in 1995. The Disneyland version was installed in 2001. You can read a lot about the statue elsewhere. I was struck by how elegant it is and how it has transformed the center of the park from a simple crossroads into an entirely new and distinct attraction. It is surrounded by flowers and trees and there are many benches so you can sit down with your family or friends to relax and enjoy the view. The image I show here has been reproduced on innumerable photos by The Company, and with good reason. It sums up the purpose of the statue. The dedication on the plaque is pure Walt - "I think most of all what I want Disneyland to be is a happy place where parents and children can have fun together." I'm sure we all want Disneyland to continue to be a happy place for people of all ages, perhaps especially for those of us who never grew up. One of my most prized possessions is a 3-D photograph of this statue that I was lucky enough to take before the 3-D photofinishing company went out of business.

You can click on these pictures to see a larger version.

The Statuettes

In the ring around the Partners Statue are six bronze statuettes of the other Disney stars. Here we see Goofy and Pluto. Also immortalized are Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Jiminy Cricket.

Disney Collectors! Be sure to see our Goofy Partners Statue Figure, a 10 inch replica of the statue seen in Disneyland.

The Old Tomorrowland Gate

When you stand in front of the Partners statue and look to your right, you're blessed with another perspective on Walt's vision for Disneyland when you look through the Tomorrowland Gate. The "gateway arch" was actually the track for the Wedway People Mover. On the right was Star Tours. On the left used to be Dreamflight. In the middle was the rocket ride. Of course, Tomorrowland was totally rennovated in 1998 and now has a far different look.

Click here to see the New Tomorrowland in Disneyland.