Hundreds of never before seen artifacts of Disney’s legacy are on display at the Ronald Reagan Library on July 6 until April 2013.

The exhibit, presented by D23: the Official Disney Fan Club, contains hundreds of never before seen costumes, props, artwork, set pieces, and artifacts. The exhibit was opened to celebrate the friendship between Ronald Reagan and Walt Disney.

Jennifer Torres, the registrar of the Ronald Reagan Library, claims Reagan and Disney bonded over their common background and viewpoints.

 “They were both from the Midwest, they both came up to California to work in showbiz, and the same optimism Reagan had was the same one Disney had,” Torres said.

Standing at 12,000 square feet, the exhibit is the largest ever from the Walt Disney Archives.

Development for the exhibit began after the museum celebrated the centennial of Reagan’s birth.

“We looked for something big to follow that up and Disney actually worked with their schedule to work with our schedule,” Torres said.

Collecting artifacts from Disney for the exhibit wasn’t too difficult. As Torres explains, the Reagan Library had already lent some of their artifacts to the company in the past.

“We have been loaning things to Walt Disney and their Hall of Presidents in Disney World,” Torres said.

There are 500 never before seen artifacts from Disney’s past and present in the exhibit itself. For example, you can see the actual desk where Disney created his legendary works as well as the actual set where Disney filmed his Disneyland series. Visitors can see the authentic, intricately detailed costumes from films such as Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, Mary Poppins, Tron: Legacy, Iron Man, and Captain America: The First Avenger. It also had costumes worn by celebrities like Scarlett Johansson, Tina Fey, David Beckham, and more in the famous AnnieLeibovitz photo spreads. A section dedicated to the Pirates of the Caribbean films that included costumes, set pieces, and a 23 ft. model of The Black Pearl, which left attendees like Jeineene Adler of Moorpark awestruck.

 “It exceeded my expectations,” said Adler, ” I wasn’t expecting to see some of the larger objects here.”

One of the final sections of the exhibit celebrates Disney’s political legacy, with the sculpted busts of all 44 presidents for the Hall of Presidents at Disneyland and the documentary that further explains Disney and Reagan’s friendship.  

“I like some of the information that incorporated Ronald Reagan as well [as Walt Disney],” said Megan Moore, 21, from San Diego.

The exhibit has reportedly held a positive reputation for both old and young Disney fans, and volunteer docents like Al Palmer have taken notice.

 “The public response [to the exhibit] has been good,” said Palmer.

The exhibit is especially a treat for college students who are Disney fans or are just in looking for a new learning experience.

“It’s a way for you to get really more in depth in an area of history or art or culture that you can’t in a classroom,” Torres said.

Tickets can be ordered online at www.reaganlibrary.com for $21 (general admission). The exhibit is scheduled to close on April 2013.