Aug. 10, 2012: Five Suggestions... The Walt Disney Family Museum

[Werner Weiss]

The gist of my first article about The Walt Disney Family Museum was that it’s a wonderful museum, and you really should go there. Today I’ll explain how, with a little extra planning, you can make the most of your visit.

Link to Yesterland: Five Suggestions for Your Visit to The Walt Disney Family Museum

Please discuss it here.

[shoewee]

I loved visiting the museum last month, but you didn't share one big negative.....as a Disney geek, you are NOT allowed to take photos through 99% of the museum. I was so beyond disappointed when I learned this. The big spiral room near the end was amazing, and I was so upset I couldn't take pictures. I loved the museum, but this was one of the biggest downfalls.

[Werner Weiss]

I mentioned the photography restriction in my first article about the WFFM. I would have liked to take pictures too. However, between copyright issues and some people now posting anything and everything on the Internet, I can see the reason for the restriction.

[wdwprince]

I would love to visit this museum. What a great experience it must have been to listen to Ron Miller speak and to be in the audience with Diane Disney Miller. I really need to plan a trip to CA.

[planetsix]

I visit my grandma who lives just north of the bay, and we're always passing through San Fran. I want to go but my dad and brother probably wouldn't be as interested.. Someday though! Great article by the way!

[Timekeeper]

My family is thinking of visiting my aunt who also lives in the bay area, so we may be able to visit it. I can still sort-of understand the photo restriction, but is there at least a photo co-op outside the galleries?


Timekeeper

[mondo]

Thank you for the article. I am a volunteer at the museum and I unfortunate do need to tell quests not to take pics and videos. You just need to get there early so you have all day to soak up everything or visit often.

[Werner Weiss]

I can still sort-of understand the photo restriction, but is there at least a photo co-op outside the galleries?

Yes, there are some excellent photo-op locations. Photography is allowed in the entrance lobby/gallery, which, among other things, includes the set with the actual furniture from Walt Disney's apartment on the second floor of the fire station at Disneyland.

If you look at my two articles, any pictures that have "Photo by Werner Weiss" below them are from locations where photography is allowed. Photography is not allowed once you present your ticket or membership card to enter the galleries.

I assume the main reason for the photography restriction is to address copyright and to prevent too much content from winding up on the Internet. The benefit for guests, however, is that you don't have to worry about people around you posing their families for photos in front of exhibits that you're trying to see, sticking video cameras in your face, or setting off flashes, whether accidentally or intentionally. It makes the museum atmosphere what it was meant to be, not a series of photo-ops.

[Tomkuwahara]

We went to the museum last December. It might be good to reiterate that the parking at the museum is free and there are lots and lots of parking spaces. The exhibits are all fantastic and you can spend as much or as little time there as you like. There is a spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the windows on the west side of the building as you go down to the spiral ramp. We did eat at the cafe but it's expensive and mediocre at best. The cast members are warm, very friendly and ready to help you.
Don't feel that you have to go to a special event to have a wonderful time. There is so much to see to keep everyone busy and interested. I loved the museum store. A lot of wonderful Disney merchandise, lots of pins for you collectors, magazines, clothes, etc. The Presidio itself has wonderful views of the bay and the bridge. Once long time ago I was working at the old Letterman Army Medical Center which is now torn down. If you go out the south entrance to the Presidio (Arguello street), you will also get great views of the bay and a look the wonderful homes and steep hills of San Francisco. Plus there is a house that is an exact copy of the White House but smaller in size.

[Werner Weiss]

Tomkuwahara made a lot of good points, including all the positive comments about the museum and the Presidio. Allow me to comment on three of the points.

It might be good to reiterate that the parking at the museum is free and there are lots and lots of parking spaces.

Parking is free on Saturdays and Sundays. On weekdays, parking is $1 per hour from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Parking was always plentiful when I was there.

We did eat at the cafe but it's expensive and mediocre at best.

I wrote that I had lunch in the Museum Café four days in a row. I thought it was fine for what it is. True, the Café is nothing exciting and the selection is limited. It relies mainly on pre-made sandwiches, but I thought they were decent. Of course, it's very convenient if you just want to take a short lunch break while in the museum.

A lot of wonderful Disney merchandise, lots of pins for you collectors, magazines, clothes, etc.

Very good point. I should have written more about the store. You'll find museum-specific items and Disney items that you're unlikely to see anywhere else. There's plenty of merchandise with Disney characters, but because it's run by the museum, not by The Walt Disney Company, the merchandise mix is completely different from what you would find at a Disney Store or in a Disney park.