Top 5 Reasons the Walt Disney Family Museum should be on every Disney Fan's Bucket List

A few years ago, my mom suggested we take our family vacation to San Francisco. I wasn’t super excited about the trip—I probably wanted to go to the beach—however I agreed to go with one major caveat: I wanted to visit the Walt Disney Family Museum. As a history teacher and Disney fanatic, I couldn’t wait to dive deeper into the history of the man who created my favorite place on earth. A few years later Megan was able to visit the museum as well, and the two of us agree it is a must do for any Disney fan out there.

5. It’s located in a neat and historic area of San Francisco

The Presidio, located near the Golden Gate Bridge is beautiful. It’s also a national park! You can spend half your day learning about Disney, and half your day experiencing the beauty of the surrounding area. Here’s a restaurant located within the park that we recommend.

4: Unique Gift Shop Finds

Like any good Disney attraction, there’s a gift shop to peruse before and after you experience the museum. The focus is obviously on Walt Disney himself, and is a treat for anyone interested in his personal history. As a Missouri girl Megan loved snagging a copy of “Walt Disney’s Missouri” for her coffee table. Luckily you can shop from the comfort of your own home at the museum’s web store HERE

3. The Exploration of Walt’s Childhood

The museum features several galleries, but they all begin with an exploration of the Disney family. This gallery gives an overview of the family’s time from Chicago to Marceline to Kansas City, emphasizing how Walt’s time in Marceline, Missouri would go on to have such a large impact on the eventual creation of Main Street U.S.A. You can get a glance at the different galleries HERE.

2. It Doesn’t Shy Away from Controversy

Although ultimately the museum is a celebration of Walt Disney’s life, the museum does hint at Disney’s more conservative political beliefs pre-Pearl Harbor as well as the impact of the animator’s strike in 1941. These events challenge the casual fan’s perception of who Walt Disney was and allow for a critical look at the man behind the mouse.

1. Incredible Artifacts

From Walt’s 7 honorary Oscars for Snow White and the Seven Dwarves to the ACTUAL PARK BENCH he used to sit on while watching his daughter’s playing on the carousel, this museum has everything. There are early sketches and models of characters, incredible propaganda posters created by the studio during WWII, and a full scale model of Disneyland. There’s also the original pencil sketch of, you guessed it, Mickey Mouse! The last gallery of the museum focuses on remembering Walt, and if a true fan can get through this gallery without shedding a tear than your heart is more frozen than Hans of the Souther Isles.