Disney’s Limited-Time Pop-Up Brings Mickey to NYC
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Disney lovers, rejoice! The world's most famous mouse has made his way to Manhattan. To celebrate Mickey's 90th birthday, Disney has brought an immersive pop-up art exhibition called "Mickey: The True Original Exhibition" to New York City. From now until Feb. 10, Disney enthusiasts in Manhattan don't have to travel to Disney World to immerse themselves with Mickey and can instead visit the 16,000 square-foot exhibition that features both historic and contemporary work from renowned artists.
Being a Disney lover myself, I was excited to attend the exhibition on its opening day -- Nov. 8. The space is located right under the Highline, a great spot for tourists (or locals) to explore before or after their visit.
Upon entry, I received both a map for the exhibition and a Mickey exhibition pin and then waited in the lobby with my designated timed group until it was our turn to head into the first room.
The experience began in a dark room with a television screen that spanned the length of the wall. My group, which consisted of about a dozen people, watched an upbeat, two-minute clip on the history of Mickey Mouse.
Once the video was over, we headed to the "Hello Mickey" room. There were just over 10 rooms in this exhibit and each had its own theme.
Guests were not permitted to touch most of the art installations, but there were some interactive elements kids would likely appreciate such as Mickey's steamboat.
Not only was there plenty to see at this exhibit, but there were a few stations equipped with Mickey Mouse Beats by Dre headphones. Disney lovers were able to listen to Steamboat Willie, the first-ever animated short to feature synchronized music and sound, which debuted in 1928.
Another pair of headphones were located across from the 3-D Mickey. In order to make it a completely immersive work of art, the headphones played a soundtrack that was specifically written to accompany the artist's piece.
The rooms took guests throughout the different decades of Disney starting from the days before color.
This progressed to the present day with Mickey Mouse cartoons displayed on iPads.
The exhibition was filled with plenty of "Insta-worthy" backgrounds and photo opportunities.
It wouldn't be a complete immersive experience without a complimentary treat for your taste buds. Guests were able to choose between two ice cream flavors by Ample Hills Creamery. In the name of research, I went with Confetti Celebration, which had little Mickey-shaped white chocolate pieces filled with lemon cream. It was delicious.
The unique artwork throughout the exhibit was far from any type of work I had seen before. One street artist, famous for crocheting large-scale art pieces made entirely out of yarn, created a colorful Mickey Mouse leading his symphony.
This iconic Mickey Mouse t-shirt was larger than my entire body!
Fans of Disney memorabilia will love "The Collection" room, which had tons of Mickey Mouse collectibles from the past 90 years.
After about an hour and a half, I finally found myself at the shop at the end of the exhibit. Disney collaborated with Sugarfina, and there are Mickey Mouse cubes filled with candy for sale. There were also Mickey ears available for purchase with custom embroidery services on the spot.
Just when I was ready to walk out of the exit, I noticed a room covered by a curtain in the shop. Above the door read "Cosmic Cavern." I walked in and was surprised to see a blacklight room completely covered in neon. Be sure not to miss this room hidden in the shop, as it was definitely my favorite spot out of the entire exhibit.
Overall, Disney did a first-rate job at putting this exhibition together. Often, pop-ups like this one are over-sold, hectic and filled with people nudging you out of the way for a photo. At this pop-up, all of the rooms were large and the timed entries provided for ample space for each group to spread out without getting in each other's photos. As you would expect from Disney, there were friendly staff members at every corner. I truly appreciated the relaxed atmosphere, which is rare at these type of events.
Tickets to experience and celebrate Mickey at The True Original Exhibition must be purchased online in advance and will cost you $38 (children 3 and under are free). The exhibition is open Nov. 8 to Feb. 10 on Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 8pm. There are dates that are already sold out, so don't delay in booking your ticket should you wish to experience Mickey's pop-up.
In terms of which credit card to use, our tickets coded as "Entertainment" so you may want to put the charge on a card that gives a bonus in that category such as the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card or Citi Premier® Card. The information for the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
This just may just be the happiest place in New York.
All images by author.
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| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.