In early October, The Disney Gallery reopened in its new home near Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A. in the former Bank of Main Street. The Bank of Main Street originally opened when Disneyland opened July 17, 1955 as a functioning Bank of America branch. The branch was in operation until 1993 when an atm was moved in and the Guest Relations department took it over and it became the annual passport processing center. Guest Relations handed over the responsibilities for processing annual passes on March 5, 1996 to the Disneyland ticket sellers/Main Entrance department who processed passes at the bank until this fall when the entire operation moved to the former Plaza Pavillion restaurant.

I have so many amazing memories from my bank days. I was the closing lead the last night that Guest Relations processed passes at the bank. I remember standing in the bank that evening so vividly, as it was March 4, my 21st birthday. Back in those days, my friend Lori J. and I used to have a blast flashing our secret hand signals indicating “cute boys” under the desk.  (Lori and I have known each other since junior high.  The picture of us was taken back in 2006 at Big Thunder Ranch after a trip to Club 33.)  I can now admit taking bad pictures of people on purpose…something I came clean on when they took my picture for my pass in the case that the Cast Member felt it appropriate to uphold the tradition. We had a wall in the back of the “celebrities” who had annual passes. One of which was Screech from “Save by the Bell.” Totally awesome.

Another friend of mine, Lori D., holds a very special place in my heart when I think back to my bank memories. (That’s us way back in the ’90s.)  She was a young mom of two boys in the 1990s. She would regale us with stories of her boys’ antics and adventures. She is a girly girl, like me, who lived in a boys’ world of sports, snips, snails, and puppy dog tails. I listened to her stories in wonder and now that I have two boys of my own, I often think back to those hours and days of her parenting sagas and reflect upon my own experiences. What I love even more is that now her boys are two very successful, college educated young men. She has a great relationship with her young men and I always say that I want to model my relationship with my boys after her.

New memories are now being made at the bank. Merchandise Cast Members now laugh and create their own memories within its walls. Old timers, like me, will appreciate that the current design maintains elements of the old facility – select pieces will be displayed inside the vault. Kim Irvine, director of Concept & Show Design for Walt Disney Imagineering, Anaheim, notes that the gallery now features an elegant Victorian interior with chandeliers, fancy moldings and hand-woven carpets in order to build on the charm of the turn-of-the century atmosphere of the bank building and Main Street as a whole. In addition to the bank vault with its special highlighted artwork, The Disney Gallery on Main Street, U.S.A. will feature three large display rooms.

· One room will feature historic Walt Disney Imagineering conceptual art created during the development and enhancement of attractions.
· One room will showcase Disney-inspired art by current and former Disney artists and Imagineers.
· One room will feature prints (including on-the-spot Print on Demand), sculpture, books and other items for sale to guests and collectors.