If you're a Disney lover heading to San Francisco, don’t miss the Walt Disney Family Museum! Nestled in the Presidio, with incredible views of the Golden Gate Bridge, this hidden gem is packed with heart, history, and a whole lot of Disney magic.
Founded by Walt’s daughter, Diane Disney Miller, the museum tells the incredible story of Walt’s life from humble beginnings to creating the happiest places on Earth. There are interactive exhibits, original sketches, early animation tools, rare photos, and even a massive miniature model of Walt’s dream Disneyland that will leave your jaw on the floor.
Tickets are just $25, and it’s perfect for all ages, whether you’re a lifelong fan or just starting your Disney journey. You can easily spend a couple of hours wandering through the galleries, soaking up all the behind-the-scenes magic.
Plus, just around the corner, you’ll find the Yoda Fountain outside the George Lucas Studios! It’s a little slice of Star Wars history tucked into the Bay Area, and it makes for the ultimate nerdy photo stop.
The museum experience kicks off with a huge wall of awards and it was seriously impressive. You’ll find shelves packed with trophies, medals, and honours, including 15 of the actual Oscars that Walt Disney won throughout his legendary career.
The ultimate highlight, seeing the special Oscar Walt received for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. You know, the one with one full-sized Oscar and seven miniature ones lined up beside it. It was so surreal to see it in person! It’s such an iconic piece of film history, and honestly, I couldn’t believe I was looking at it in real life. Seeing it up close was absolutely unforgettable and such a magical moment.
Next up was Walt Disney’s early life, and honestly, it was so cool to see how it all began. It started with his childhood where Walt lived with his parents and worked his first job delivering newspapers before school. They even had old photos and little mementos that made it all feel so real. It’s wild to think that this kid with a paper route would go on to build an empire which brings magic to people all over the world.
Then it moved into his time volunteering for the Red Cross during World War I. One of the little stories that really stuck with me was about Walt during his time with the Red Cross in World War I. He didn’t just drive ambulances he was decorated them! He used to draw little cartoons and characters all over the hospital vans and even old army helmets he found.
And then came the start of the Walt Disney Company. That’s when things really started to get exciting. One of the absolute highlights was seeing what’s believed to be the very first drawing of Mickey Mouse! Standing in front of such an iconic piece of cinematic history was surreal, I could hardly believe it.
From there, the exhibit took us through the early days of animation, back when everything was hand-drawn, frame by frame. You could see how much effort and detail went into those early cartoons. It really gave me a new appreciation for all the work behind the magic. Being surrounded by all the history of those first ideas, sketches, and stories that became part of so many childhoods, made me feel really emotional.
Then we got to the part I’d been waiting for the most and honestly, it did not disappoint. This whole section of the museum was all about the birth of Disneyland, and it felt like stepping into a dream.
Front and centre was the bench from Griffith Park, the one that’s said to be where Walt Disney first dreamed up the idea for Disneyland while watching his daughters ride the carousel which you can actually sit on! The bench had the most incredible view of the Golden Gate Bridge, and all I could think was, “This might be where Walt Disney’s butt sat when he came up with one of the most magical places on Earth!”
One of the most unexpected highlights was seeing one of Walt’s actual trains from his backyard. He had a full miniature railroad running through his garden, and you could see how much joy it brought him. It was such a fun reminder that Walt never really grew up and even with all his success, he still made time to play.
Right nearby was a real birdcage from the Enchanted Tiki Room, which was so cool to see up close. They also had animatronic robotics from those early days of Disney's Audio-Animatronics and you can actually interact with them!
Just when I thought we’d seen it all, we saw a beautifully detailed model of Disneyland. It was incredibly intricately detailed and every little building, path, and tree was carefully placed.
They even had a replica of the little apartment Walt used to stay in above the fire station on Main Street. It was tucked away behind a glass wall, set up just like it is in the park.
This part of the museum made me feel so emotional and full of magic. It was nostalgic, inspiring, and totally surreal to be that close to the origins of Disneyland.
The last part of the museum was honestly the hardest to walk through. I got so emotional that I actually cried. It was the farewell to Walt Disney. The walls were filled with hundreds of letters, posters, and newspaper articles from all over the world, thanking him for everything he’d done and sharing how deeply he would be missed. Seeing all those heartfelt tributes laid out like that really showed me just how much of an impact he had not just on the entertainment industry, but on people’s lives everywhere. It was a powerful reminder of the legacy he left behind, and it hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting.
This is an absolute must-see for any Disney fan visiting San Francisco and if you walk round the corner you can visit the Yoda fountain at the George Lucas Studios to finish off your experience.
Top tips:
-
🕰️Take your time and absorb everything, from the early sketches to the animatronics. Give yourself plenty of time to soak in the details.
-
🌉Sit on the Griffith Park bench where Walt himself dreamt up Disneyland. Plus, the view is incredible!
-
🎥Interact with the animatronics, it’s like stepping behind the scenes.
-
👟Wear comfy shoes, you’ll be walking and standing a lot, so stay comfortable!
-
❓Ask questions if there are guides around they often have great stories and extra insights that bring the exhibits to life.
-
🎟️Plan for parking and entry times
- 🖼️Pay to visit the extra exhibits, they are totally worth it!