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Walt Disney Family Museum . . . AWESOME!!!

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So, I may not have been able to visit the parks this summer like I wanted - and even if I wish upon a star, I seriously doubt I'll be able to magically be transported to Expo, but I got to do something very cool this July . . .

The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco.

We decided to go on a road trip to Northern California. My husband wasn't up for spening money on flights, but he was willing to drive from Seattle to Northern CA so we could experience the "other" California - "other" than what he grew up with in Southern CA. I must say (not to upset all of you in So. CA), I really prefer Northern CA. SO pretty - not so much concreat and dessert . . . and not so much of my husband's family . . . OOPS! Did I say that? hee hee! JUST KIDDING!

So we decided to spend two days in San Francisco and I knew I HAD to visit the Walt Disney Family Museum. It was a MUST! In addition to the museum located at the Presidio, Lucasfilms/ILM offices are located there as well. This is mecca for my husband, being a HUGE Star Wars fan and computer animator. So, before the museum, we had to visit the offices at the Letterman Arts Center at the Presidio too. A great Yoda statue and fountain outside and some very cool stuff inside the lobby (which is as far as us "normal" folk get to go without knowing an employee there). If you have time before or after the museum, it's just a quick walk or you can park across the street for free (for an hour). Yoda is VERY cool!

Then we went to the museum. I just have to say - WOW! From the outside, you kind of go, "Really? THIS is the place?" and there is all sorts of construction happening at the Presidio, so things are a bit ragged and dusty around the museum. However, once you get inside, you are transported into Walt's World. His REAL world - not just the ones he made up for all of us to enjoy.

The only complaint, however, is that you can't take too many photos there - so I don't have too many to share. BUMMER! But the rest of the experience makes up for that. You do get to take photos outside the building and indside the lobby, but once you show your tickets and get your hand stamped, then the camera has to be put away. The lobby, luckily, has some pretty fun stuff to photograph (no flashes, please). Like Walt's Oscar with the seven little Oscars that he received for Snow White. There are numerous awards from around the world and a replica of his parents' living room.

Once inside, it's like being swept away in a time machine. All sorts of great interactive displays about Walt's early life and how he got started in movies. Then you get into the elevator/train (Spoiler, sorry!) and are whisked away to 1923 when Walt arrived in Hollywood. That's the point where my son (age 7) started getting interested and there was a little something for everyone. I enjoyed the whole DISNEY aspect of everything. My son enjoyed the cartoons playing everywhere and the interactive displays - buttons to push, instruments to "play", movies to watch. My husband enjoyed the art history, and animation and reading about an old family friend, Ward Kimball (he was one of my father-in-law's car buddies and I got the honor of meeting him before he died - so cool!). Then you descend into the parks part of the museum. OMG! I was in heaven! The Disneyland display is amazing and a true highlight of the museum. I must say, I was also amazed at the itty-bitty Mousekateer ring (class ring style) they had on display. I want one of those!

There was a wall of old TV's playing various old Disney shows and my son was introduced to Davy Crocket. What? We hadn't ever shown him Davy Crocket? Well, it left an impression on him because later at the gift shop, of all the things to pick out, it HAD to be the coon-skin cap (luckily all fake).

The ending . . . well, the ending is well put together, but it sucks. I mean, we all know what happens . . . Walt dies and that was a very sad event. I couldn't spend too much time in that room because I was welling up with tears from all the sad Mickey posters and the news real playing on the single TV. But! You are left with a montage of everything Walt has left for us to enjoy and a legacy of imagination and dreaming.

"If you can dream it, you can do it." - Walt Disney

Of course, like any good Disney attraction, you exit through the gift shop! HA! Of course. But this isn't a typical gift shop. It's not corporate Disney. It's unique! It's well themed little vignettes of merchandise set around an intimate shop with unique-to-the-museum items. This place is NOT owned by the Disney company. It is owned by the Disney FAMILY! So, it's the same, but different. It's not a park. Don't go expecting a Disney park attraction. It's different - it's awesome - it's PURE WALT! It leaves you asking WWWD? (What Would Walt Do?) - and yes, they just came out with a pin that has WWWD on it, but it's to give out to cast members at the park . . . or maybe keep for yourself, ahem.

If you find yourself in San Francisco and want a Disney fix - visit the Walt Disney Family Museum! I would recommend getting tickets online so you don't have to stand in line, but then again, you only get to use coupons or AAA discounts if you buy at the door. There are timed entries too. If you get the 10 am when they open, you can still go any time of the day or go early and return later. There is a cafe on site, which I wish we would have eaten at seeing as how the other restaurant near by at the Presidio is $$$$$ and we ended up eating pre-made sandwiches that cost us a stupid amount at the Golden Gate Bridge. (ugh!)

Walt would be proud of what his family has done to honor his life. I enjoyed the walk down memory lane very much. I have a new appreciation for each movie I watch that Walt had anything to do with and next time at Disneyland, I'll make sure to say an extra special thank you to Mr. Disney.

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Comments

  1. CathyM's Avatar
    Love this!! Can't wait to go!! As if Jeff Kurtti's presentation didn't already have me wanting to see it....now you!! Thanks for sharing, Anna.
  2. UsBurchs's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by CathyM
    Love this!! Can't wait to go!! As if Jeff Kurtti's presentation didn't already have me wanting to see it....now you!! Thanks for sharing, Anna.
    Apparently, Jeff was there the night before we went! It would have been nice to see him again, but we really enjoyed our time at the museum just the same.