Before the much anticipated Disney film “Saving Mr. Banks” opens on Christmas Day, Disney fans were given the opportunity to “see where it all began” and preview the film on the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California.  

Between December 13-19, 2013, Guests could reserve seats in the Disney Studios theater to watch the film.  Immediately following the screening, guests could take a self-guided tour of the Walt Disney Studios lot featuring many of the sets and costumes featured in the film, before grabbing their very own Blu-Ray DVD copy of the 60th Anniversary edition of “Mary Poppins” (retail price $17.99).  This whole experience is priced at $50 per person.  To put that into perspective: Disney studio lot tours are usually $60 per person and offered almost exclusively to D23 members and their guests, while this event was open to the public.  This was such a unique opportunity I couldn’t pass this up – especially since I enjoy learning about the behind the scenes process of making a film. 

So, on December 15th (which coincided with the anniversary of Walt Disney’s passing), my husband and I traveled up to Burbank to take advantage of this amazing opportunity for Disney fans.  Upon our arrival, we were ushered into a welcome room in the Frank G. Wells Building where we each received a wristband for the event and vouchers to claim our DVDs at the end of the evening. 

There was a long line for the concession stand so if you plan on going to any of the other showings this week, bring your own snacks!  There were also photo opportunities with the famous Mary Poppins carousel horses and iPads that featured a free multi-touch book, available to download for your own iPad at www.iTunes.com/SavingMrBanks.

The Welcome Room featured the carousel horses from the film

iPads with the interactive multi-touch ebook from Saving Mr. Banks

We followed the signs from the Frank G. Wells building over to the Main Theater on the Studio lots and found our seat assignments.  We were greeted by a Disney Cast Member who welcomed our group and said that this is only the second film that The Walt Disney Company has invited audiences to see on the Studio lot (the first one being “The Princess and The Frog.”)  

We watched a clip from “Saving Mr. Banks'”movie premiere, which was held in the very same theater!  Then the film began. We laughed, we cried, we gaped in awe at both Tom Hanks as Walt Disney and Emma Thompson as P.L. Travers.  The lights came on and the attendees poured into the streets of The Disney studio lot and began to make their way to various parts of the lot for the tour using a map we were given during check-in.

Map & wristband from the event

What should we do first?

We decided to trust our gut and hit up the two spots on the tour that would probably garner the most attention:  a photo op with Mickey Mouse himself and Walt’s Suite on the 3rd floor of the Animation Building (an area that the public hardly every gets to visit!).  Luck was on our side because when we left the Suite, the line had stretched completely down the hall!  We briskly walked through the Animation Building’s 1st and 2nd floors, which features Disney history but didn’t take any photos.

Fantastic Mary Poppins memorabilia outside “Walt’s Suite”

Props and sets from the making of the film

Tom Hanks’ face is superimposed on famous Walt Disney images

A complete reproduction of Walt’s desk for “Saving Mr. Banks” – see Tom/Walt on the cover of Time?

After Walt’s suite, we went and took our very own “shadow pic” with Mary and Mickey’s shadows!

We walked over to Studio A next door to the Animation Building, where the music was created for Mary Poppins.  There were lots of sketches and props in the room.

The Sherman Brothers’ piano

Walt Disney’s Limousine

Reproduction of P.L. Travers’ parlour room

We walked over to Stage 2, which was renamed Julie Andrews Stage and snapped a photo with Mary Poppins and Bert on Cherry Tree Lane

Lastly, we made our way over to the Legends Plaza, where key Disney Legends had their hand prints lit up in honor of Mary Poppins.

The Legends Plaza – Dopey has a Santa hat!

Dick Van Dyke & Glynis Johns’ handprints lit up

The Sherman Brothers &  Julie Andrews & Don Dagradi

What a spectacular event hosted by The Walt Disney Studios!  I was delighted to walk through the set locations where both “Mary Poppins” and “Saving Mr. Banks” came to life!  If the Walt Disney Studios ever host another event like this, I highly recommend that you attend.  Hope you enjoyed the photos and stay tuned for a full review of the film, coming soon!