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Away from the concrete jungle in San Francisco sits the Presidio, a 1,500-acre park on a former military post. It’s kinda like Central Park in New York City, just not so central! Housed in one of the Presidio’s historic red brick buildings is The Walt Disney Family Museum. Yes, seriously! Disney pixie dust magic right in San Francisco!
The Walt Disney Family Museum provided complimentary general admission for my family. All opinions are my own.
My family and I went on a 2-week California history road trip, visiting missions, historic properties, and redwood forests. We thought there would be no better way to experience another slice of California history than to learn more about “the man behind the mouse.”
Come One, Come All!
I’m gonna say right up front that I recommend anyone and everyone visit The Walt Disney Family Museum. Kids, parents, grandparents, Disney fanatics, people who love Americana, those who enjoy rags to riches stories and the value of hard work and stick-to-itiveness (yep, it’s a word!). This is a museum where you will want to spend some time!
I grew up knowing about and visiting Disneyland and have since been to Walt Disney World as well. But, as the late Diane Disney Miller (Walt’s daughter and co-founder of the museum) said:
My father has one of the most well-known names around the world, but as the Disney ‘brand’ has grown, the man has become lost. We are committed to telling the story of Walt Disney’s life, in his own words, and in the words of others who knew him well and worked with him. My father was very open, and in the many conversations and interviews that you will hear in the galleries, you learn the story of his life. It is a wonderful story, and Dad himself loved to tell it. Thanks to the amazing work of many dedicated people, we are fortunate to be able to tell it here using the tools he worked with—art, music, film, and technology—to present an honest yet affectionate portrait of this amazing artist and man.
The Walt Disney Family Museum is about more than just Disneyland, which many of you know and love. The entire experience illuminates Walt Disney’s tremendous successes, harsh disappointments, and unyielding optimism as he tirelessly pursued innovation and excellence, while entertaining generations worldwide.
Engaging the Senses
The 40,000-square foot museum is filled with interactive galleries featuring historic materials and artifacts, early drawings and animation, movies, music, state-of-the-art technologies, listening stations, more than 200 video screens, and a 14-foot model of Disneyland, just to name a few things!
Each gallery pays tribute to Walt’s many groundbreaking achievements and innovations, as well as detailing what he faced in every stage of his life.
The exhibits use sight, sound, and touch (taste and smell are reserved for the Café!) to move you through the experience.
And if nostalgia was one of the five senses, The Walt Disney Family Museum definitely engages that sense as well.
Disney Nostalgia
What’s your very first Disney memory?
I remember visiting Disneyland as a child, having a “Pirates of the Caribbean” story book at home, and getting “It’s a Small World” stuck in my head.
I also remember going to Disneyland on its exact 50th Anniversary (July 17, 2005). I went with a certain someone who I had just met on a blind date the day before. We took a picture together in front of the Fantasyland carousel, and no joke, there is a Hidden Mickey in my hair! That certain someone and I were married less than a year later.
And, just last week, we took our children to the “Happiest Place on Earth” and enjoyed “Pirates” and “Small World” all over again.
You will find all the Disney nostalgia at The Walt Disney Family Museum. Just to name a few things…
- seeing the People Mover on the Disneyland model
- an original Autopia car
- Mickey Mouse merchandise from the 1920s and 1930s
- The Mickey Mouse Club on TV
- Audio-Animatronics
- ticket booklets (“that was definitely an E-ticket ride!”)
10th Anniversary
It’s exciting to mention that The Walt Disney Family Museum is celebrating its 10th Anniversary right now! It opened in October 2009, as part of re-purposing the Presidio in San Francisco, and this first decade is only the beginning.
To coincide with the 10th Anniversary festivities, a major special exhibition, Mickey Mouse: From Walt to the World, was installed at the museum. It’s a celebration of animation’s most beloved and recognizable character!
Plan Your Visit
When planning your trip to San Francisco, schedule a good chunk of time to experience all The Walt Disney Family Museum has to offer.
Besides the engaging, interactive galleries, the museum offers a Museum Store, Café, and a 114-seat, Fantasia-inspired theater, where they present screenings of classic Disney films every month, as well as other special Disney programs and talks.
Beyond that, The Walt Disney Family Museum offers weekly classes and workshops in their state-of-the-art Learning Center, as well as one and two-week intensive camps encouraging students to explore animation and special effects.
We hope you enjoy a morning or afternoon (or full day!) of discovering new details about “the man behind the mouse” and remembering your favorite Disney nostalgia at The Walt Disney Family Museum!
Have you visited The Walt Disney Family Museum & experienced Disney pixie dust magic in San Francisco? Please share in the comments below!
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Wow this place is so awesome. I would love to come and visit next time. Thank you for sharing.