If you had asked me before I made our latest Collector Guys video if I collect Disney, I would have said “not really.” I do collect vintage lunch boxes and guess what? A lot of them…are Disney. We’re only talking about Walt Disney here…not Disney owned properties like Star Wars, the Muppets or Marvel.

This is what I call “cross-collecting.” It’s when a collectible generates interest in different categories. For instance, maybe you don’t collect lunchboxes but you do collect Mary Poppins. Thus the lunch kit is a must for your collection.

In the early days of Pop Culture lunch kits...the 1950s...ADCO manufactured the first Disney boxes. Eventually, Aladdin was the lucky company who would “seal the deal” to sell them. And boy did they sell them. Millions of them. Including the biggest seller of all time. Which we will talk about later in this post. So let’s take a look at the Disney themed kits in my collection.

ADCO Mickey Mouse/Donald Duck 1954

The ADCO kits of the 50’s often had these coins at the top of each box. Since most were western themed it was usually of a Native American. In this case it had the image of Mickey.

ADCO Walt Disney’s Official Davey Crockett 1955

This kit had the usual Native American coin on the top.

The Amusement Parks

From this kit on all the metal Disney lunch boxes were produced by Aladdin.

Disneyland 1957 (Castle/Adventureland)

Aladdin Disneyland 1960 (Monorail/Submarine)

Ludwick Von Drake in Disneyland 1962

Disney World 1972

There are two variations to this lunch box. The one below has a “Happy 50 Years” In the corner. This was only on the kits sold in 1973 which would have been the “50th” anniversary of the Walt Disney Company. There is another version out there that only has “50 Years.” These small differences don;t seem to increase the value of this kit at all. This box was very popular and quite a few were produced. So you should be able to grab one on the secondary market pretty cheap.

1973 variation of the Walt Disney World box

Magic Kingdom/Wonderful World 1979

Wonderful World-Disney on Ice 1980

Parades, Trains and Goofy

Disney on Parade 1970

Disney America on Parade 1976

Disney Express 1976

Sport Goofy 1983

The Mickey Mouse Club

The original Mickey Mouse Club aired from 1955 to 1959 then continued in syndication. Which eventually led to various revivals throughout the years. There are three Mickey Mouse Club lunch kits.

Mickey Mouse Club Yellow Border 1963

Mickey Mouse Club White Border 1967

New Mickey Mouse Club 1977

This revival featured a more diverse cast and a disco version of Theme song. Colorful and upbeat this kit leans more into the live actors than the Disney cartoon characters. That cast included a young Lisa Whelchel, who you know now as Blair on the Facts of Life. Host of the MeTV show Collector’s Call which happened to do an episode on my collectibles...including some of my lunchboxes. On my episode we talked briefly about this lunch box and their version of the Mickey Mouse Club. She said that that her group of Mousekateers refer to themselves today as “the forgotten mice.”

**Joel Magee, Lisa Whelchel and Steve Harris on Collectors Call**

The Disney Domes

Disney School Bus (American) 1961 to 1973

There were a couple of Disney domes produced. Including the most popular lunch pail of all time! This Aladdin Disney School Bus. Introduced in 1961 this pail was in production for over twelve years with over 9 million sold. Making it easily the most popular lunch box of all time. This colorful kit features all the child Disney characters on their way to school. With Goofy behind the wheel.

**Disney School Bus American Front with Bottle**

The dome itself had very few changes over the years. But the bottles did evolve over that time. Over those 12 years Aladdin kits featured all different kinds of bottles. From the original metal to various plastic versions. Three of the five versions are seen below.

Now there is one rare variant to this popular dome. Take a look and tell me the major difference between these two? Can’t tell?

Take a look at who is getting off the bus.

**Jimmy Cricket and one of the three pigs**

In the American version you have Jimmy Cricket. But in this one from Spain you have one of the Three Pigs. Why the change? I don’t know... and I would love to know why. Are pigs more popular than crickets in Spain?

Disney School Bus (Spain)

Disney Fire Fighters 1969

**Disney Fire Fighters Front with Bottle**

The Movies

Mary Poppins 1964

Jungle Book 1966

Winne the Pooh 1967

Peter Pan 1969

Pinocchio 1971

Bedknobs and Broomsticks 1972

Robin Hood 1974

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 1975

That sure looks like Bambi behind Snow White

The Rescuers 1977

Pete’s Dragon 1978

The Black Hole 1979

The Fox and the Hound 1982

There you go. Almost all of the Metal Disney lunch boxes ever made. I’m missing two or three and when I get them I will update this site. For more detail on these kits check out this Collector Guys YouTube video

Hi.

Jun 15 The Wonderful World of Disney Lunch Boxes