10/12: Walt's World, Pt. II

[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...

[Gullywhumper]

To anyone who hasn't been to The Walt Disney Family Museum; Go now! It's an amazing place. I knew it would be good, very good. I didn't know that it was going to be phenominal! To anyone who doesn't feel that San Francisco is an appropriate place for the museum, when you see the site you will be won over! Plus Disney has a long history in the Bay Area, including San Francisco, there are many past and current ties to Disney in and around San Francisco. The Bank of America, which was the primary banking partner for Walt and Roy Disney throughout their careers, started in San Francisco. There are way too many other links to Disney to write here. Perhaps I'll write them up later.

I've already been to The Walt Disney Family Museum 4 times. Once for a reception for the film "The Boys, The Sherman Brothers Story" where Richard Sherman played piano and sang with Dianne Disney sitting next to him at the piano. I met Dianne Disney Miller and her husband Ron Miller that day. The next visit was for the Preview Weekend, I joined the museum as a member so I could attend this event. D23 was there too ... those D23 admissions sold out in 10 minutes. Museum Membership admissions were availible for quite a while after.

Preview weekend, September 26th and 27th, was very exciting. I had dinner that Saturday night with the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society, Michael and Sharon Broggie hosted the dinner at the San Francisco Yacht Club. Yale Gracie's son sat at our table, he told many stories about his dad and also from his own work with Imagineering.

My 3rd trip to The Walt Disney Family Museum was for opening day, October 1st. I had a 10:00 AM admission ticket, we were with the first group to enter the museum. Dianne Disney Miller, and her son Walter both spoke, they cut the ribbon to open the museum. They actually tore the ribbon, the large ceremonial scissors didn't quite do the job. I wondered if they did that as a tribute to Walt's difficulty cutting the ribbon to celebrate the opening of the Disneyland Alweg Monorail System at Disneyland in 1959. Many members of the Disney Miller family were present that day, I only recognized Dianne Disney Miller, Ron Miller and Walter Disney Miller,

I just went back yesterday, I took a friend visiting from out of town to visit, I've already taken six friends there! I always get emotional when I visit, I"m so moved by this amazing place. There are so many things to see! Plus the museum has just barely begun! There are many special events comming up soon, special exhibits and so much more.

Come to San Francisco, stay at a hotel along Lombard Street in the Marina and Cow Hollow neighborhoods and you can take the 43 bus or even walk to the museum. The hotels and motels along Lombard Street are some of the best bargans in San Francisco, plus it's a nice neighborhood with many shops and restaurants along Lombard, Union and Chestnut Streets. Dianne's Estate Jewlery is on Union Street (they run the Jewel of Orleans Shop in New Orleans Square at Disneyland). You can walk along Marina Green and Crissy Field near by, with beautiful views of San Francisco Bay, the Marin Headlands and the Golden Gate Bridge. Oh, and the Palace of Fine Arts is located in this neighborhood! The Palace holds both the Exploratorium Science Museum and the Palace of Fine Arts Theater. You will recognize it as the Golden Dreams / Little Mermaid Rotunda at Disney's California Adventure.

I have pictures of my visits, mostly outdoor shots, though I do have pics of the opening ceremony with Dianne Disney Miller. I will add some soon, I've been having some technical problems lately.

Go to The Walt Disney Family Museum if you have even a passing interest in Disney and Walt Disney. This place will not disappoint! Plus San Francisco is one of the most amazing cities in the world! I've lived in San Fancisco for 24 years. Only Disneyland and Yosemite come close to matching my love for San Francisco!

[RenMan]

This is AWESOME, Sue. Thanks so much, and keep it coming. I hope to visit someday soon. I'm a little far away right now!