I recently had the chance to visit the Walt Disney Family Museum while in San Francisco for a family wedding. I had a fabulous visit and it’s definitely a place all Disney fans should check out! With that, let’s get into my Walt Disney Family Museum Review.
Getting to the Walt Disney Family Museum
Unless you’re familiar with city driving, driving yourself to the Walt Disney Family Museum can be a bit stressful and chaotic due to the numerous stop signs, stoplights, pedestrians, cyclists, and general city traffic. However, parking was plentiful once I arrived mid-afternoon. Be prepared to pay a small fee for parking! If you’re not comfortable driving in the city, I would recommend rideshare.
The museum itself is easy to spot at the Presidio, with large banners indicating its entrance. Head into the building and make a right to purchase tickets. There’s also a secondary building around the back, where they showcase special exhibits. You can buy a ticket for the main exhibit, just for the special exhibit, or a combo ticket that grants access to both. Discounts on the main exhibit are available for D23 members, and there are discounts for seniors and other groups as well.
How Long to Spend at the Walt Disney Family Museum
This museum is massive! We were there for over 2 hours and didn’t stop to look at everything. If you can, I would recommend getting there at opening so you can take full advantage of your visit. Periodically throughout the year, there are special events and movie screenings, too! So make sure you double check their website to see what’s going on during your visit.
What Exhibits are at the Walt Disney Family Museum?
The Walt Disney Family Museum tells the story of Walt Disney’s life, and his family’s life, through photographs, videos, artifacts, and audio straight from the life of Walt and those he surrounded himself with. You’ll start with his early family life, then move on to his early studio efforts, and continue chronologically through the rest of his life. You’ll notice special attention to certain achievements, like the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, as well as the war efforts during World War II. The final room focuses on theme parks, with a particular emphasis on Disneyland. The very last exhibit touches on Walt’s death – a touching tribute that nearly moved me to tears!
Is the Walt Disney Family Museum Good for Kids?
This museum may be a bit tough for younger kids, as there is a lot of reading to do! But if your kiddo is into Disney, they would probably enjoy looking at all the pictures, especially when you get to the parts covering the studios and animated features. The Disneyland room would also be great for kiddos of all ages, as the Disneyland model was very detailed and fun to look at! Outside the museum, there’s a big grassy area to run around and burn off energy!
Final Thoughts
I really loved visiting the Walt Disney Family Museum! I enjoyed all the exhibits and I’d like to return some day when my kids are older. It was a very thorough collection and laid out Walt’s life in a way that was easy to understand. I also appreciated the emphasis on using his own words as well as video footage from his life and works. I definitely recommend a visit to the Walt Disney Family Museum if you’re in San Francisco and looking for some Disney fun!
