Walt Disney Family Museum
The Verdict
"Plan for 2 to 3 hours. The Disneyland scale model room is the highlight even if you're not a Disney person. Thursday is the quietest day."
What you need to know
The Walt Disney Family Museum occupies a converted 1897 Army barracks in the Presidio, overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. Walt Disney’s daughter Diane Disney Miller founded the museum, which opened in October 2009. It traces Disney’s life through interactive galleries, early animation cells, the multiplane camera that revolutionized animation, and personal artifacts that go well beyond the theme parks.
What to expect
The permanent galleries move chronologically through Disney’s career: his Kansas City beginnings, the creation of Mickey Mouse, Snow White’s risky production, wartime propaganda work, and the planning of Disneyland. The multiplane camera display shows how Disney’s team created depth in animation decades before computers. A scale model of Disneyland as Walt envisioned it fills an entire room.
The Diane Disney Miller Exhibition Hall hosts rotating special exhibitions that change several times a year. The museum cafe serves grab-and-go food from 11am to 3pm on operating days.
Visiting
Located at 104 Montgomery Street, The Presidio, San Francisco, CA 94129. Open Thursday through Sunday, 10am to 5:30pm, with last entry at 4:30pm. Closed on Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1. Museum admission is required, so check waltdisney.org for current pricing. CityPASS bundles are available.
Getting there
The Presidio is accessible by car via Lombard Street or the Golden Gate Bridge approach. PresidiGo shuttle runs free service within the Presidio. Muni bus lines serve the area along Lombard Street. Parking is available on the Presidio grounds.
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