An upcoming auction featuring hundreds of Disneyland items expected to fetch as much as $600,000 apiece will give Disneyana enthusiasts a chance to add a bit of the Anaheim theme park’s history to their personal memorabilia collections.
Heritage Auctions in Beverly Hills will hold the Disneyland Signature Auction: The Rummell Collection on Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22.
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Scott and Terry Rummell of Dana Point are beginning to sell off the world’s largest Disneyana collection with 45,000 pieces of Disney, Disneyland and Walt Disney World memorabilia.
The two-day auction includes nearly 1,500 items designed to make Disneyland fans drool — with everything from ride vehicles to restaurant signs to attraction posters from Walt Disney’s original theme park.
We’ve collected the 10 most expensive Disneyland items in the auction to help you refine your shopping list before the bidding starts. The top 10 list is ranked by estimated auction house prices with online bidding already underway ahead of the weekend auction.
1) Park-Used Original Skyway Gondola
Current bid: $21,000
The circa 1965 Skyway Gondola was one of the first rectangular models put into service when Disneyland switched from the original round buckets.
The red gondola features original seats, rails, roof and paint job and has been rewired to make the lights functional. Scratches on a side panel where the gondola regularly pulled into the station house add to the ride vehicle’s authenticity.
The Skyway Gondola was used at Walt Disney World after that Disneyland attraction closed in 1994.
A similar Skyway gondola recently sold at auction for $621,000.
2) Park-Used Original Autopia Car
Current bid: $21,000
The circa 1967 Autopia car with original body, chassis, tires and seatbelt was used at Disneyland until the 1990s and acquired directly from the park.
A sign on the front rail reads “Do not bump car ahead, keep hands inside car.”
Designed by Disney Legend Bob Gurr, the car was designed to have a front-end inspired by a Corvette Stingray and a back-end fashioned after an Opal GT.
3) Original Club 33 Sign
Current bid: $16,500
The original Club 33 glass sign stood at the entrance from the club’s opening until an extensive renovation in 2014. The exclusive, private and secret Club 33 debuted in 1967 on 33 Royal Street in Disneyland’s New Orleans Square.
The sign’s glue-chipped glass features distinctive fern-like ripples, four flower-like stars and silver-toned metal leaf reverse glass gilding. The distinctive 33 address is painted in a shimmering teal with silvery outlines.
4) Park-Used Original Rocket Jets Ride Vehicle
Current bid: $12,000
The original ride vehicle from Disneyland’s Rocket Jets attraction in Tomorrowland replaced the Astro-Jets in 1967 as part of the New Tomorrowland refurbishment.
The paint on the white and black rockets and orange nose cone have been professionally restored. The working headlamp has not been tested in recent years.
5) Original Pirates of the Caribbean Silk-Screened Park Attraction Poster
Current bid: $8,250
The original silk-screened park attraction poster was used in Disneyland from 1967 when the ride opened until the 1980s.
The framed 41-by 59-inch poster was designed by Disney Legend Collin Campbell.
A similar original Autopia attraction poster recently sold at auction for $287,000.
6) Enchanted Tiki Room Next Show Sign
Current bid: $7,750
The original, park-displayed sign from the 1980s notified visitors of the next show time for Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room.
The 12-by-23-inch hand-carved and hand-painted wooden sign features intricate, tropical-inspired details. The sign has a crack on the top edge and scuffing where the clock hands rotate.
The 1963 Enchanted Tiki Room was the first Disneyland attraction to use Audio Animatronics — with singing birds and crooning flowers bringing the show to life.
7) Pirates of the Caribbean Life-Size Helmsman and Ship’s Wheel Replica
Current bid: $7,000
The circa 2010 replica recreates the Disneyland attraction scene with a skeleton used during the making of a ‘Pirates of the Caribbean” film and a ship’s wheel made by a Hollywood prop creator.
The life-sized piece features a 4-foot, 10-inch tall skeleton and 35-inch diameter ship’s wheel.
The Disneyland attraction’s skeletal helmsman inspired the first movie poster for the “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl” film.
8) Park-Used Pirates of the Caribbean Wait Time Sign
Current bid: $5,250
The rare 1967 hand-painted, park-used sign was created to inform Disneyland visitors of the wait time for the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.
The 15-inch-square custom wooden sign is attached to a 4-foot, 7-inch-tall stand.
9) Rainbow Caverns Mine Train Bell with Park-Used Stand
Current bid: $5,000
The actual bell used on Engine #3 of the Rainbow Caverns Mine Train attraction in Frontierland measures 11 inches tall and weighs 16 pounds.
The Disneyland attraction was renamed Mine Train through Nature’s Wonderland in 1960.
The bell was used on the attraction until 1977 when Big Thunder Mountain Railroad replaced the Mine Train. After that, the bell was used on a Disneyland food cart until 1986.
The Disneyland roundhouse and paint department restored the bell.
10) Park-Used Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue Sign
Current bid: $4,400
The original, park-displayed Big Thunder Ranch sign promotes a barbecue special at the Frontierland eatery.
The 25-by-10-inch hand-painted canvas sign from the 1990s is attached to an aged wood backing.
The auction lot includes a binder of 277 backstage photos documenting the construction of Big Thunder Barbecue at Big Thunder Ranch by Disneyland cast members.