9/29: Walt's World, Pt. I

[Al Lutz]

The Disney Family Museum focuses on the man before the brand... discuss this here...

DIRECT ARTICLE LINK: MiceAge.com - A different look at Disney...

[a-net-fan]

Re: 9/29: Walt's World, Pt. I

GREAT start!! I cant wait to see more. The thing I am wondering is how much of the pieces on Display are owned by the Disney family and how involved the Disney Company is in loaning pieces to the museum. For example the parlor set that was in the Apartment above the Main Street Firestation. Was that removed by the family after walts death or were those items just recently removed from the apartment to be put in the exhibit?

[bostoncg]

Re: 9/29: Walt's World, Pt. I

I hope to someday get to SFO so I can see this museum! Great article Sue, I look forward to the rest of your review on this!

[kcnole]

Re: 9/29: Walt's World, Pt. I

Wow, this looks fantastic. I have always wanted to visit San Francisco someday. Now I have a real reason to do so.

[belenunlv]

Re: 9/29: Walt's World, Pt. I

I went to the museum on Saturday as part of the D23 preview weekend. I'll start by telling you that we spent 3.5 hours at the museum and we didn't see everything. We saw tons, in fact, we saw most of what was offered. The truth is, a true Disney fan loves to read every bit of info and we tried our best.
The artifacts are awesome to see in person. My favorite was the Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs Academy Award.
The museum is put together so thoughtfully, and the flow is nice as you move from one segment of Walt's life into the next. Any true Disney fan will be more than satisfied.
I don't think young kids will truly appreciate the museum. They're best left at home. The adults and older kids will enjoy every moment. And it's helpful to remember that, as one SF Gate columnist put it, the museum is not Disneyland of the north.
I loved it and plan to visit again in the future.

[dznycat]

Re: 9/29: Walt's World, Pt. I

Went this past weekend for the D23 preview. Amazing just explain this museum enough. It is so thought out. I loved the first room that talked about the Disney family. It is nice knowing where someone has been and seeing why he became the man he was. Walt father was just like him. He never gave up after many less then successful business. This piece kind of fills in the blanks on why a man could go bankrupt and start over. A lesser man wouldn't but as you see as you walk though the museum Walt was not a lesser man. You see he gave so much more then just a little park and a few cartoons. He truly was a visionary.

This is a must see for any Disney fan.

[Anniesue]

Re: 9/29: Walt's World, Pt. I

Thank you, Sue. I look forward to the rest of your photos and descriptions. I attended the D23 preview on Sunday afternoon, and I, too, felt it was such a privilege to be there. My friends and I were overwhelmed by the amount of information and artifacts. I feel I will need to visit several more times to see it all.

[mnmears]

Re: 9/29: Walt's World, Pt. I

GREAT start!! I cant wait to see more. The thing I am wondering is how much of the pieces on Display are owned by the Disney family and how involved the Disney Company is in loaning pieces to the museum. For example the parlor set that was in the Apartment above the Main Street Firestation. Was that removed by the family after walts death or were those items just recently removed from the apartment to be put in the exhibit?

The parlor set -- and most everything that was in Walt's Fire House apartment at Disneyland -- were removed by the family after Walt's death.

The pieces at the museum are a collection of items, some donated by Ron and Diane Disney Miller, some from Walt's namesake grandson, Walter E.D. Miller, some from other members of the family and some the family members have purchased at auctions and from eBay.

There are also MANY items on loan from the company -- items from the Walt Disney Company Archives that Ron Miller helped established -- including items that can only be regarded as personal effects such as Walt's various letters to friends and family members.

In addition, several Imagineers and private collectors have graciously loaned the museum items for display.

[Athlonacon]

Re: 9/29: Walt's World, Pt. I

Forget the Disney company, just throw that out.

Sue, I am already one step ahead of you, lol. Disney is much like Ford or (dare I say) Jack Daniels where the company is named after someone but that person's influence has just vanished and only the name brand remains. I am SO thankful that Walt is still remembered as a man, and not just a corporate marketing tool. He used to be a big part of the company all the way up until the 1980's, but recently he hasn't been seen on ANYTHING Disney, unless you count pure marketing crap. This museum is great and hopefully one day I will get a chance to go see it. I would enjoy every single moment of it!

[M&M Daddy]

Re: 9/29: Walt's World, Pt. I

Great article! I went on 9/20 and it was great to re-live it through your report, especially since you were allowed to take pictures (unlike us mere mortals!) Looking forward to more!

[Disneykin Kid]

Re: 9/29: Walt's World, Pt. I

Question, I assume many or most of the items were from what was kept by the Disney family, but did any come from the Disney Archives? Never mind, I just read some other posts and got the answer, I didn't read them at first.

[Eagleman]

Re: 9/29: Walt's World, Pt. I

Sue Amazing article!
I look forward seeng the rest of the parts you have on
Walt Disney Family Museum!
Thank You

[mmeleota]

Re: 9/29: Walt's World, Pt. I

My DH and I went on Saturday for the preview and were there 4 hours, but still did not see eveything. I was excited to finally see the Snow White award in person! I loved the elevator! It was a very clever idea.

Thank you for your article Sue! I'm looking forward to the rest of it....and I agree that it feels like Walt is talking directly to you. We learned a lot about an amazing man that we have always respected and do so even more now.

[musakman5150]

Re: 9/29: Walt's World, Pt. I

Awesome post, definately makes me put this first on my list of fun things to do, forget Hawaii. Cant wait for Pt. II

[T-bone]

Re: 9/29: Walt's World, Pt. I

Wow, that does look pretty awesome. Congratulations to the Disney family for getting something like this going.

Walt was seriously an awesome person, and i'm glad to see his life work is still being honoured long after his death. Long Live Walter Elias Disney.

[a-net-fan]

Re: 9/29: Walt's World, Pt. I

The parlor set -- and most everything that was in Walt's Fire House apartment at Disneyland -- were removed by the family after Walt's death.

The pieces at the museum are a collection of items, some donated by Ron and Diane Disney Miller, some from Walt's namesake grandson, Walter E.D. Miller, some from other members of the family and some the family members have purchased at auctions and from eBay.

There are also MANY items on loan from the company -- items from the Walt Disney Company Archives that Ron Miller helped established -- including items that can only be regarded as personal effects such as Walt's various letters to friends and family members.

In addition, several Imagineers and private collectors have graciously loaned the museum items for display.

Thanks so much! Its nice to hear that so many people are contributing and working together to making this museum the best it can be! Really appreciate the response.

[disneymademoiselle]

Re: 9/29: Walt's World, Pt. I

This museum is an absolute triumph!!! What a spectacular tribute to the exceptional genius that was Walter Elias Disney. I can't stress enough the importance of making a trip to San Francisco to experience this museum. I spent six hours there and still didn't see it all. Thank you to the Walt Disney family for giving the world such an extraordinary gift

[Captain Greggo]

Re: 9/29: Walt's World, Pt. I

My mother's birthday was October 1st, so what better gift than to take her to the Walt Disney Family Museum! We arrived at 9:20 am and saw Diane Disney Miller and Walter E. Disney Miller give the opening speech and ribbon cutting. We shook hands with the Disney family and my mom and I were the first ones in on Thursday. If you watch the ABC news feed posted on the Walt Disney Family Museum website, that's my mom and I walking up to the front entrance. The museum is really a Walt Disney fan's super-drug... I was on sensory overload from the moment we entered the first gallery. We spent 4 hours and couldn't see everything. Many thanks to the Disney Family Foundation for this personal tribute to a great man!

Cap't Greggo
TK-2053

[[email protected]]

Re: 9/29: Walt's World, Pt. I

I've been to the museum several times now, once as a tourist and a couple of times to see if the gift shop wanted to carry my books (which have chapters on Disney's space programs, and the Disneyland Moonliner and Flying Saucer attractions). I can confirm that everything Sue says is true, if not a little understated.

My only "catch" in Part I is that the elevator at the end of Gallery 1 ascends to Gallery 2, not descends.

- Jack

[[email protected]]

Re: 9/29: Walt's World, Pt. I

The museum is really a Walt Disney fan's super-drug... I was on sensory overload from the moment we entered the first gallery. We spent 4 hours and couldn't see everything.

That's a pretty good description! We were there four hours as well and were only in Gallery 3 when the cast member (?) walked through telling everyone that the museum was closing in 30 minutes! I wasn't about to rush the rest of it, so we finished up G-3 and walked through the others (trying not to look to "save" it for another visit) directly to G-9. I must say that the glass wall along the back has a gasp-inducing view of the Golden Gate bridge!

We wound up in G-9 with only about 10 minutes left, so there wasn't much time for anything but a quick run-through. Plenty left for the next visit!

- Jack