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View Full Version : Walk In Walt's Footsteps: Apartment - Yay or nay?



DisneylandKid
03-02-2002, 09:55 AM
In the winter issue of the Disney Magazine, it gave a one-page overview on Disneyland's "A Walk in Walt's Footsteps" Tour. It had a picture of Walt's apartment above the firehouse, and said that it would be included on the tour.

First of all, that doesn't sound like something Disneyland would do for $18 or however much it costs... Secondly, I remember a few months ago I was in City Hall and a CM was (very rudely) telling a guest that this was in no way covered on the tour (and I believe he said something along the lines of "I don't know why you could possibly think this..." The same CM was VERY rude to our group later, but that's another story).

Anyway, my question is: is the apartment a part of the tour?

disneynut
03-02-2002, 09:58 AM
You're right in believing they don't offer it on the tour. It was in the newest Disney Magazine that they printed a correction saying it's not part of it. (I thought the same thing when I read the winter issue)

ishkabibble
03-02-2002, 12:43 PM
Just a short follow-up re: Walt's apartment. Follows is a link to a picture from my Aug 63 Geographic.

http://eeshkabibble.tripod.com/apt.htm

mad4mky
03-02-2002, 01:10 PM
I went on the tour last Feb. Walt's apartment is definitly NOT on the tour. They talk about it...and the light that is always on...but you do not get to go inside of it. Period.:(

But...I still would recommend this tour to anyone who inquires about it. Although I thought I knew a lot about Disneyland, I still learned some very interesting things. I'm sure the tour is as good as the guide who takes you on it...and we had a wonderful, knowledgeable guide. It takes quite of a chunk out of your day...but well worth it.:)

MammaSilva
03-02-2002, 04:36 PM
I'm not sure but I "think" one of the MP'rs bid on a tour that included the apartment on ebay Disney Auctions and paid a few hundred for the privelege but wasn't allowed to take any pictures AT all while in the apartment, I know a couple of the 'special events' have included a "peek" into the apartment with the same rule NO photograph/video zip/nada/zilch picture op of the apartment. Once upon a time you could pay extra to ride in the LillyBelle too but I understand that hasn't been available in a long time either.

AVP
03-02-2002, 08:33 PM
The Disney Magazine story was in error, and they have printed a correction. Disneyland *did* proof-read the column before it ran, and brought the error to the attention of the publisher. For some reason, it remained in the story.

AVP

Nigel2
03-02-2002, 09:21 PM
Hmmmm I wonder why they don't allow photos or any personal recording stuff. Probably the same reason they don't like photos in the patriotic shows so they can (direct quote) "To preserve the dignity" since it can be considered a historical landmark.

hbquikcomjamesl
03-04-2002, 09:47 AM
Correct. Walt's apartment was never on the tour, although a much larger suite that had been built for Walt, but never completed during his lifetime, is. For many years, it was workshop space, but for several years now, it's been the home of The Disney Gallery.

During the first year or two of the Walt's Footsteps tour, a trip around the park aboard the Lilly Belle (the DRR's private business car) was on the tour (and to anybody who understood its significance, was worth twice the price of the tour by itself), but that's been off the tour for many years (I vaguely remember being told something about a guest damaging some of the priceless, almost irreplacable, interior fittings).

ishkabibble
03-04-2002, 10:01 AM
I spoke to a Conductor this weekend about the Lilly Belle – he said it’s in the roundhouse for rehab, but is expected to be back in service in a month or so… don’t know whether or not it will be put back in the ‘Footsteps’ tour.

Niwel
03-04-2002, 03:26 PM
I was a member of the Disneyland College Program in 1998 and we did gt to see the apartment. It was amazing!
The inside is all red and there was an old victrola. But it was really eerie being up there. You could almost feel his presence

I'm not even sure if they do it with the program anymore.
If they did it with the "Walk it Walt's" tour I think they would be afraid of all the dirt that would be tracked onto the carpet and maintenance they would have to do.

I do wish the parlor car was still accessible --- how much fun would that be! ;)

hbquikcomjamesl
03-04-2002, 03:32 PM
I spoke to a Conductor this weekend about the Lilly Belle – he said it’s in the roundhouse for rehab, but is expected to be back in service in a month or so… don’t know whether or not it will be put back in the ‘Footsteps’ tour.


I'm not holding my breath: I've taken the tour every July 4th since its inception, and I've only been aboard the Lilly Belle for the first one or two tours (plus the experimental backstage tour that got canned after only two weeks, [after they'd printed up lots and lots of special stuff for it, too!].)

socabch
03-04-2002, 08:13 PM
Nigel2 Hmmmm I wonder why they don't allow photos or any personal recording stuff

I believe it's because flash photography and even sunlight can damage the items in the apartment. Especially any furniture and drapes. When I went to Graceland we were asked not to use our flashes or touch any items. They told us lights over time destroy unprotected items. Oil from your hands also destroys over time. My neighbor who is an antique dealer told me this very true.

Lost Boy
03-04-2002, 08:21 PM
The reason you will never again be able to ride in the Lilly Belle, or go into Walt's Apartment is quite simple.

There are those people out there, who for some unknown reason, think they just have to destroy things that belong to the public and are on display.

The Lilly Belle was seriously trashed by some unruly tour guests whom the poor tour guide could not stop without suffering serious injury to himself. But he did get security after the tour, and these people were escorted out of the Park and their ANNUAL PASSES were taken away and torn up in front of them. They are lucky the Park didn't press charges for destruction of Private Property. To bad the sick few ruin it for the rest of us.

They will never let us in Walt's place just for this reason. Can you imagine what some sick collector would do to this place? Just to put it up on ebay to make some money.

And if you think that is bad, you know those small brass figures of the characters that surround Walt and Mickey in the Hub. Well someone had the guts to take one (how they ever managed to lift it is beyond me, those things wiegh a ton) and stole it from the Park. They actually managed to get it out of the Park. They had security guards stationed in the Hub area for months after that. Again, one or two sick indivdiuals just had to go and ruin it for the rest of us.:crying:

tabacco
03-04-2002, 09:01 PM
I've been in the apartment :)

I do agree about why the general public isn't allowed in there, though. They'd rip it to pieces and steal every souvenier they could find. Even Walt's prized grilled-cheese maker.

Nigel2
03-04-2002, 09:55 PM
Hmmmm that is too bad... but stealing historical items is in the American spirit... look at the Liberty bell.:) :eek:

tabacco
03-04-2002, 10:28 PM
Or the bulk of the land the United States is currently occupying :)

Uncle Dick
03-04-2002, 10:30 PM
Originally posted by tabacco
Or the bulk of the land the United States is currently occupying :)
Manifest Destiny, baby! Time to annex Canada! Wooooooohooooooo. :p

And for something totally off topic, why doesn't the "razz" smilie look anything like someone sticking out their tongue?

Nigel2
03-04-2002, 11:06 PM
Hey its easy to take over canada, just fill out the forms and pay 2 million canadain (20 bucks US):D

Oh on the topic of "White Mans history" I loved a joke where an American Indian kid is reading a standard textbook and asks why they say Balboa (I think it was him... I am in a haze) discovered the Pacific ocean. The father replies "I guess we didn't notice it for all these years".:D
Or how they didn't discover america... it was just a bunch of lost Eruopeans that decided to rename everything. :D

Oh and I am guessing you know about the liberty bell thing.:)