Another Disney-laden auction is in the works, and it includes bits and pieces of Walt Disney World theme park icons.
Van Eaton Galleries has prepped almost 900 items for its “Pop Culture and Disney Parks Featuring the Art of Disneyland” auction, scheduled for Dec. 6. It will feature the usual assortment of park oddities such as signs, posters, press kits, paintings and costumes – for both cast members and animatronics.
Epcotters may be drawn to the flurry of Figment-related items. The dragon-based options include puppets, props and costumes from A Journey Into Imagination ride, souvenir prototype, pin celebration sign and an Imagination Institute sign.
A 3-foot-long sculpture inspired by Journey’s Dream Mobile airship – with Figment and Dreamfinder aboard – is estimated by Van Eaton to bring between $4,000 and $6,000 at the auction, the would-be priciest of the WDW options. The sculpture, created by Bill Toma, is one of 15 to be produced in 1982.
Here are five attention-getting Disney World-related lots found in the auction, three of which have front-and-center histories with Florida parks.
Icing on the cake
Want a piece of birthday cake? A bit of decor from the Magic Kingdom 25th anniversary pink castle makeover is available.
Van Eaton rightfully refers to the item as a “dollop.” The gallery’s write-up also says the project was “one of the more radical refurbishments ever to take place at a Disney park.”
It’s described as turquoise in color, a foot tall, 23 inches in diameter. It was placed just above the entrance to Cinderella Castle. Estimated bid: $500-$800.
Starring Epcot
While we’re in the wayback machine, try to recall the turn-of-the-century treatment that Epcot’s Spaceship Earth received. Recall that Disney installed a giant Mickey arm and wand to flank the geodescent dome and that at first there was “2000” signage, then altered to read “Epcot” in script once Y2K blew over.
In that design, there were illuminated red stars floating about, and one of them is up for auction. It’s about 44 inches tall and in good “park-used” condition. There are a few missing reflectors. Van Eaton’s estimate is $1,000 to the very apropos $2,000.
It might grow on you
You may have questions about how a 14.5-inch leaf from Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life made it into the auction circuit. The description talks mostly about the “It’s Tough to Be a Bug” attraction inside, but the “leaf prop” is in good condition, though with “stains, scruffs and scratches” throughout. It’s not the most distinctive of park relics, but Van Eaton estimates a winning bid of between $300 and $500.
Disney auctions: How Van Eaton Galleries sells memories
A little bit of shopping
There’s an original scale model of the shopping area formerly known as Disney Village Marketplace. It’s a mixed-media model, 56 inches long, in good condition but “with fallen trees, several loose adhesives, stains and wear from use” It was created by D’Agostino Izzo & Quirk Architects Inc. for a presentation, part of an enhancement study Some of the structures are still standing in real life at Disney Springs. Auction estimate: $2,000 to $4,000.
I’ll think about it Tomorrowland
Lastly, another “extremely rare” poster, touting the 1995 concept of Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom. The image – designed by George Stokes and Anne Tryba – includes representations of Space Mountain, PeopleMover, Astro-Orbitor and the plaza as seen from the park hub. Also in the nightsky are an array of spacecraft and the slogan “The Future That Never Was … Is Finally Here!”
Van Eaton writes: “This is the only example of this poster we have ever seen offered.” Pre-auction estimate: $4,000 to $6,000.
Online bids are accepted. For more information about the auction and to browse the full catalogue of offerings, go to vegalleries.com.
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/12/02/disney-auction-1204/
