San Diego Comic-Con International

You're Invited to a Tea Party

A key is the invitation to the Mad Hatter's Secret Tea Party. Hidden somewhere in Downtown San Diego, the tea party is actually a traveling exhibit featuring art, costumes and props from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland.

You're Invited to a Tea Party

A pair of invitations to the Walt Disney Studios presentation of the artistry and inspiration behind Tim Burton's upcoming feature, Alice in Wonderland.

Alice in Wonderland - A Line Forms for the Tea Party

A line of fans forms in front of the Alice in Wonderland - Special Event. The Invite-Only Tea Party was actually located at 338 Seventh Street in Downtown San Diego.

Note: Invitations were handed out early in the morning until a specific cutoff time or until the invites were gone. Guests were given a key and invitation that actually gave the invitee a specific window of time to enter the exhibit.

Touring Exhibition Description

A short description of the exhibit, which includes costumes and props made available by Tim Burton and the production team behind the Disney's Alice in Wonderland.

Alice in Wonderland - Poster

A poster in the lobby that shows a shot of Alice and an iconic iron gate from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland.

Alice in Wonderland - Doorway

A slanted pair of double doors are the gateway to Lewis Carroll's magical world.

Alice in Wonderland - Doorway

Guests to the secret Tea Party eagerly enter the doorway to Wonderland. Once opened, the doorway reveals a twisting rabbit hole.

Alice in Wonderland - Rabbit Hole

Exhibit guests must fall down the rabbit hole in order to enter Lewis Carroll's Wonderland.

Alice in Wonderland - Rabbit Hole

The rabbit hole is lined with a menagerie of antiques and artifacts. Among the seemingly random pieces is a color print of Sir John Tenniel's famed illustration from the fifth chapter of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. This classic drawing features Alice, the Hatter, the Dormouse and the March Hare having a tea party.

Note: Lewis Carroll is actually the pen name for Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, whose ancestors were very involved as clergy in the Anglican Church of England. The pseudonym is taken from the roots of his name, Carroll is derived from his first name Charles and Lewis comes from his middle name Lutwidge.

Alice in Wonderland - Rabbit Hole

Along the rabbit hole walls is a portrait of the White Rabbit himself, dressed as herald to the Queen of Hearts. This is a color print of Sir John Tenniel's original illustrations from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

It also seems fitting that a ticking clock has been placed right next to the framed illustration.

Alice in Wonderland - Rabbit Hole

A historic guidebook illustration of a Dodo bird alludes to the famed character from Lewis Carroll's stories.

Alice in Wonderland - Shrinking Room

As guests leave the Rabbit Hole, a giant sculpture of Alice in the Shrinking Room makes guests feel an awkward sense of scale.

Alice in Wonderland - Shrinking Room

Alice's giant hand seems to dominate this little corner of the Shrinking Room.

Alice in Wonderland - Shrinking Room

The potions Alice drinks are contained in glass bottles of varying sizes. Different sizes were needed to create specific proportions when filming the Shrinking Room sequences.

Alice in Wonderland - Shrinking Room

The magical Eat Me cakes are kept in ornate treat boxes. Again they are made in differing scales, necessary for the film's effects.

Alice in Wonderland - Shrinking Room

Different scales of keys, which Alice uses to unlock Wonderland.

Alice in Wonderland - Shrinking Room

The Oraculum, the Calendrical Compendium of Wonderland. It is described as an ancient parchment scroll, which contains an ever changing history, revealing the past, present and future of Wonderland.

Alice in Wonderland - Shrinking Room

A wig worn by Mia Wasikowska's stunt double, Tarah Paige.

Note: Paige was a gymnast on the 2001 U.S. National Team. Tarah also starred as Tricia Skilken in the 2006 film about rebellious gymnasts, Stick It.

Alice in Wonderland - Shrinking Room Case

Many of the Shrinking Room props are kept in a glass case.

Alice in Wonderland - Alice Kingsley's Dress

Displayed in the Shrinking Room, is the original costume designed by Colleen Atwood. The victorian inspired dress transforms actress Mia Waskowsika into Alice Kingsley.

Alice in Wonderland - Alice Kingsley's Dress

Alice Kingsley's ice blue victorian dress, silver necklace and blue beaded gloves. Also displayed is a character sketch.

Alice in Wonderland - Shrinking Room

A miniature diorama of the Shrinking Room is displayed inside the Shrinking Room. The miniatures were used to shoot scale effects for the film.

Alice in Wonderland - Shrinking Room

A miniature doorway almost goes unnoticed in part of the Shrinking Room. Next to the tiny door, is a wooden Three Legged Table miniature, which doubles as the scaled down version of the table in the foreground.

Alice in Wonderland - Shrinking Room

A miniature of the Three Legged Table sits next to the tiny door which Alice tries to enter.

Alice in Wonderland - Iron Gate

An ornate wrought iron gate frames the doorway leading from the Shrinking Room into the Garden. The gates are similar to those used in the publicity stills and trailers.

Alice in Wonderland - The Mad Hatter

The Mad Hatter's costume is displayed and a portrait of Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter hangs in the background.

Alice in Wonderland - The Mad Hatter

The Mad Hatter's original costume, designed by Colleen Atwood. The Mad Hatter's costume adapts to his ever changing mood, his coat will change colors and his bow-tie will smile or frown, to match the Hatter's feelings.

Alice in Wonderland - The Mad Hatter

The Mad Hatter's Hat - In Wonderland, the best way to travel is by Hat.

Alice in Wonderland - The Mad Hatter

The Mad Hatter's Wig - Proof, if proof were needed, that the Hatter's madness is truly hair raising.

Alice in Wonderland - Iron Gate & The Mad Hatter

A look back through the garden at the Wrought Iron Gate and The Mad Hatter's Costume.

Alice in Wonderland - Tea Party

Enter the garden and find a long table prepared for the Tea Party.

Alice in Wonderland - The Tea Party

The table is set for the Tea Party, but the Hatter, the March Hare and the Dormouse don't seem to be present.

Alice in Wonderland - The Tea Party

The table is set with cakes, puddings & pies for The Mad Hatter's Tea Party.

Alice in Wonderland - Tea Party Refreshments

A closer look at the wonderful tasty cakes, tarts, tortes, teapots and other sweets served at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party.

Alice in Wonderland - The Flower Garden

Take a second to smile at the flowers and these Wonderland flowers will smile right back (video)

Alice in Wonderland - Garden Wall

A pair of portraits, featuring Alice and Tweedledee & Tweedledum, hang on the garden wall behind the tea party.

Note: Tweedledee & Tweedledum do not actually appear in the original Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Instead, Lewis Carroll introduced them in his later work, Though the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There.

Alice in Wonderland - The Red Queen's Throne

Leave the Tea Party & Garden and step right into the Red Queen's Throne Room. The beautifully appointed throne features a heart shaped back, and sits on a heart shaped carpet.

Note: The Queen of Hearts is the foul-tempered monarch from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures Through Wonderland. The Red Queen is a completely different character, appearing in Carroll's sequel, Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There.

Alice in Wonderland - Red Queen's Throne

The throne from which her tyranny emanates. The throne features a heart shaped back and sits atop a heart shaped floor.

Alice in Wonderland - Iracebeth, the Red Queen

Iracebeth, the Red Queen, dress and concept sketch as designed by Colleen Atwood.

Note: Though the dress and other accessories are decorated with red hearts, the character is officially the Red Queen. In Lewis Carroll's original works, the Red Queen and the Queen of Hearts are two different characters. The Queen of Hearts appears in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and the Red Queen is a character in Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There.

Alice in Wonderland - Iracebeth, the Red Queen

A lovely gown worn by Helena Bonham Carter, who plays Iracebeth, the Red Queen. Though the gown is decorated with red hearts, the character has been officially named as the Red Queen.

Alice in Wonderland - Iracebeth, the Red Queen

The crown, red heart-shaped wig, scepter, heart shaped spectacles and boots which transform Helena Bonham Carter in the irascible Red Queen.

Alice in Wonderland - The Red Queen's Hats

The Red Queen's Hat Collection - Such a large head demands only the finest headwear... and here you can see some of the Mad Hatter's finest creations.

Alice in Wonderland - The Red Queen's Hats, Chain & Mace

Displayed are the Red Queen's Hat Collection, her wicked majesty's Mace, and a heart-shaped chain and lock.

Alice in Wonderland - Red Queen's Court

A miniature of the Red Queen's Court. This 3D model was inspired by the concept art of the Red Queen's court. The court's exaggerated scale and grandeur matches that of the ruthless ruler.

Alice in Wonderland - White Queen's Court

A variety of techniques were used to film the special effects. Like the Shrinking room, the White Queen's Court was also created in miniature.

Alice in Wonderland - White Queen's Court

A closer look inside the White Queen's Court miniature.

Alice in Wonderland - White Queen's Tower

Mimicking a chess piece, this prop is a mock-up of the White Queen's Tower.

Alice in Wonderland - White Queen's Mace

This mace is the White Queen's weapon, but it is not used lightly by this purest of souls.

Alice in Wonderland - Mirana, the White Queen

The White Queen's beautiful gown, designed by Colleen Atwood.

Alice in Wonderland - Mirana, the White Queen

The shimmering white gown worn by Anne Hathaway, which transformed her into Mirana, the White Queen.

Alice in Wonderland - Alice Kingsley's Armor

A shiny suit of armor worn by Alice Kingsley (played by Mia Waskowsika).

Alice in Wonderland - Sword & Shield

The Mad Hatter's sword and Alice's shield. They stand together in the final battle for Wonderland.

Alice in Wonderland - White Knight's Spear

A long spear belonging to the White Knight.

Alice in Wonderland - White Queen's Castle

A large backdrop features a majestic view of the White Queen's Castle. The recurring chessboard themes in the exhibit's artwork and props, seem to imply that there will be some sort of struggle for control of Wonderland.

Alice in Wonderland - Alice Kingsley Promotional Poster

A promotional poster for Alice in Wonderland, features actress Mia Wasikowska as Alice Kingsley.

Alice in Wonderland - Mad Hatter Promotional Poster

An Alice in Wonderland promotional poster features Johnny Depp, as the Mad Hatter.

Alice in Wonderland - Red Queen Promotional Poster

Helena Bonham Carter appears as Iracebeth, the tyrannical Red Queen - on promotional posters for Disney's Alice in Wonderland.

Alice in Wonderland - White Queen Promotional Poster

Promotional posters for Alice in Wonderland feature Anne Hathaway, as Mirana the White Queen.

Alice in Wonderland - Touring Exhibit

The exhibit will tour until the film's release in the Spring of 2010.

Alice in Wonderland - Touring Exhibit Banner

A giant banner helped guests find the Tea Party's secret location. It also revealed that the party was actually a traveling exhibit of props and costumes from Disney's Alice in Wonderland.