Partners, Storytellers statues at Disneyland are restored
The iconic Partners statue in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland and the Storytellers statue in Disney California Adventure have both been fully restored.
Created by famed Disney sculptor Blaine Gibson, the Partners statue features Mickey Mouse holding Walt Disney’s hand. The original statue was unveiled on Mickey’s 65th birthday on Nov. 18, 1993, at the hub in Disneyland.
According to Disney, the bronze oxidized over time, and because of the applied patina, acrylic polymer and wax, it required a more intensive process than just a simple cleaning or polishing.
Artisans worked over four days using a process of crushed walnut shells to gently strip the figure down to the bare bronze. After cleaning, various chemicals were applied and heated with a blowtorch to create a reaction and fuse with the bronze. The figure was coated in a polymer to protect the patina, then coated with a very thin layer of wax.
The Storytellers statue on Buena Vista Street features a 1920s-era Walt in a fedora and traveling attire — just off the train from Missouri and ready to realize his dreams with his pal, Mickey.
