NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif., May 24 -- A primary symbol of Walt Disney World Resort for many people, a car from the world-famous Walt Disney World Monorail will be put up for auction at Disney Auctions (www.disneyauctions.com), presented by eBay, on May 27. In conjunction with the year-long Walt Disney World "100 Years of Magic" celebration commemorating the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney's birth, enthusiasts and collectors can bid on an authentic Monorail pilot's car from the resort for the first time.

The "100 Years of Magic" auction, from May 23 through June 6, also will feature a variety of memorabilia items from Walt Disney World theme park attractions, one-of-a-kind vacation experiences at each of the four Walt Disney World parks, and original artwork from various Walt Disney films and park attractions.

"We are having a lot of fun with this auction. It caters to our most passionate bidders who really want to own a piece of the history of Disney, and I'm not sure we can beat the Monorail for providing that history," said George Grobar, Vice President Auctions, Walt Disney Internet Group. "What better way for Disney Auctions to join in the celebration of Walt's 100th birthday than to offer a Walt Disney World icon and an item that was Walt's personal idea."

The Monorail - Walt's Welcoming Vision

Beginning with the Walt Disney World opening in 1971, the Mark IV "Monorail Red" greeted visitors from around the world and conveniently transported them between locations within the resort. Disney Auctions is offering the nose section of Monorail Red, which was decommissioned on January 23, 1993 following more than 20 years of service. By the time "Monorail" Red was decommissioned, it had logged a total of 943,976 miles -- the equivalent of 38 trips around the circumference of the Earth. On any given day, the Monorail system serves up to 200,000 Disney guests and is the most heavily traveled passenger monorail system in the world.

Other "100 Years of Magic" auction items include:

• Unique Vacation Experiences -- An experience at each of the four Walt Disney World parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Each experience includes a customized and private park tour, access to select attractions, and a sneak peek "behind the curtain" into backstage areas.
• Park Memorabilia -- Official "100 Years of Magic" merchandise available only at the Walt Disney World Resort and Disney Auctions, a 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride vehicle porthole, and a green running light from a Jungle Cruise ride vehicle.
• Authentic Artwork -- Items include an original artwork cel from Beauty and the Beast, "Remember the Magic" original painting created for the Walt Disney World 25th anniversary, an original painting of Sorcerer Mickey, a watercolor of the famous Mickey Mouse and Goofy golf scene, and the artist proof of the "100 Years of Magic" commemorative ticket.

Disney Auctions (www.disneyauctions.com) presented by eBay is an online marketplace from Walt Disney Internet Group and eBay. It features authentic, rare and one-of-a-kind Disney collectibles and memorabilia from every aspect of Disney's fabled entertainment legacy. Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) provides strategic leadership and operational management for The Walt Disney Company's Internet properties including category leaders Disney.com , ESPN.com , ABCNews.com and ABC.com . Steve Wadsworth is president of WDIG, which is headquartered in North Hollywood, CA, and has operations in Seattle, New York, Orlando, Fla., Tokyo and London.