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A Trip to the Walt Disney Family Museum

On a recent trip to San Francisco for a conference, I had one sightseeing trip in mind: a trip to the Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio.

This two year old museum, created with the help of Walt Disney’s daughter, Diane, is a beautiful tribute to the genius creator.

Walt Disney Family Museum Golden Gate Bridge Lisa Fine

The location’s incredible too. Behind the museum you can see the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Presidio is a beautiful, historic area that used to be owned by the military, but was recently transferred to the National Park Service.

Walt Disney Family Museum Park Service Building Lisa Fine
One of the large buildings in the square was turned into the museum. Isn’t it gorgeous?

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Walt Disney Family Museum Main Entrance Lisa Fine

When you enter the museum, you’ll find a café, gift shop, and a few displays that are open to the public. Here I am amidst some of Walt’s home furnishings.

Walt Disney Family Museum Walt's Possessions Lisa Fine

But the real treat of this museum are the ten galleries, which are filled with photographs, films, artifacts, and models of all things Disney.

You can learn more about the different galleries here, but I wanted to some of my highlights. Unfortunately, photos are not allowed to be taken inside the museum, so you’ll just have to use your imagination, or you’ll have to visit the museum!

Never before seen film clips.

I was in awe of so much of the footage. There was one in particular when Walt described the Carousel of Progress, and I loved hearing him talk about the audio animatronics and the move toward the future.

The model of Disneyland in Gallery 9.

Wow. This piece of construction was so beautiful, and it captured so many little details of the park. If you look closely, or ask a staff member, you can find a teeny tiny Walt and Diane in Disneyland together.

The museum points out how much Disney loved miniatures, and this model really captures that.

1964 World’s Fair memorabilia.

I have a fascination with the World’s Fair, ever since growing up and driving past the Unisphere every month on our way to visit my grandmother and great grandmother in Queens.

Learning even more about Disney’s influence on the fair, discovering how far back the relationships with his sponsors reach, and viewing photographs from this huge event made me even more curious. I really need to find a book on all of this.

The finale.

My eyes welled up in the last section of the museum. There are no words to describe the ways people cared for Walt Disney.

Walt Disney Family Museum Walt, Mickey Mouse, and Lisa Fine

If you plan a trip to San Francisco, leave a couple of hours to explore the Walt Disney Family Museum. For anyone who loves Disney, it’s an unforgettable treat.


Lisa Fine from HealthyDisney.comLisa Fine
Lisa Fine is a long-time vegetarian, a lover of Disney since stepping into Disneyland at the age of four), and a runner who ran her first half marathon at the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon. She’s excited to share her passions of healthy eating, running, and Disney with you here.

Follow Lisa on Twitter.

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3 Comments

  • Lisa Fine

    Thanks again for sharing my post on WDW Parkhoppers! I really loved the Walt Disney Museum, recommend it to any Disney fan, and hope to get back there in the next few years.

    • admin

      You are welcome…I apologize for the long delays… My work has been kicking my can so much lately, I have barely gotten anything else done for Parkhoppers, my own blog, or even my own running! i hope to slow that down soon!!

  • Z

    Hi there, smashing article. I work at the museum and love it.
    P.s many new and exciting things to come.