The inspiration of and appreciation for Walt Disney knows no boundaries. The membership at The Walt Disney Family Museum certainly reflects this diversity. Each month, we’ll introduce you to one of our Members, so you can see the varied and frequently fascinating people, who have come together to learn and experience more about the life, work, philosophies, and ideals of Walt Disney. This month, we’d like you to meet mother and son, Judith and Michael Roman and their great nephew/cousin, Gavin.
Judith and Michael Roman, native San Franciscans and mother and son, are long time Disney fans. Judith is a retired preschool teacher and Michael teaches English at Galileo Academy of Science and Technology.
They spent several months last year caring for their great nephew/cousin Gavin while his mother was deployed. Gavin, who is now two and a half, has already been to Disneyland twice and The Walt Disney Family Museum numerous times.
Why did you become a member of The Walt Disney Family Museum?
From the moment we entered the museum, we were fascinated with all the history and information on the Disney family since we have been working on our own family history. About four years ago while at Disneyland, we took the tour “A Walk in Walt’s Footsteps” and were so intrigued by all the hidden information at the park that we knew the museum would provide even more and it does. We joined the museum moments after our first visit. That day we spent over four hours reading and learning. We have been visiting a couple of times a month ever since.
What do you find the most enjoyable about your membership?
We love that we can go for an hour or two at a time and watch the monthly movie or search for the answers to the Inside Track and earn our monthly pin. We also enjoy the fact that the staff is so friendly and creative - always coming up with new questions, lectures, activities, and events.
What do you enjoy most about the museum?
We enjoy the monthly lectures, one of our favorites being when Spin and Marty shared their stories. Our favorite activity was the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and we send special thanks to Pam Spedus for providing a high chair for Gavin so he could enjoy all the treats too. Gavin would say his favorite day at the museum was Noon Year’s Eve because he was fascinated with the ball bounce. Last September, we started attending the Animate Your Nights. We consider them mother and son nights because we always get our picture taken and enjoy the artistic activities together. Thus, we see that the museum was appropriately named when they included the word “family” in the title.
How does Walt Disney inspire you?
Judith: I admire Walt’s desire to never stop creating new forms of entertainment. First cartoons and feature films, then TV shows and Disneyland, which just continues to grow to this day.
Michael: I admire Walt’s desire to explore the unknown world of the future. He was always working to expand The Happiest Place on Earth. He didn’t stop with what was readily available, but built toward his vision of the future.
What was your first Disney inspiration or memory?
Judith: My first two memories include going to see Cinderella and watching The Mickey Mouse Club on a twelve-inch Admiral TV. My aunt Martha sent a limousine to our house to take us to see the movie. By the time we saw the movie, my sister and I thought we were princesses or at least princesses for a day. A few years later our family was the first on the block to have a TV. We all rushed home from school to watch The Mickey Mouse Club. When I say all, I mean all the other kids on the block, as well as me and my siblings staring into that tiny box.
Michael: My first memory includes believing in the magic of Tomorrowland. I believed that I was actually shrinking when we entered the Adventure Thru Inner Space. I never quite understood how we grew back to our natural size when we left the ride. The huge eye staring down at you was just so cool. Then when you left the ride you could go right across from the ride and talk with some of your favorite characters on the phones. I guess the whole experience Disney created was something I see as bigger than life.
Anything else you would like to share about yourself?
Judith: I am attending classes on family history and hope other people will take the time to explore their family history so they can build on their future. I see this as a lesson that is clearly visible at the museum.
Michael: As a performer, I am intrigued with creating something bigger than life and I have spent the last twenty years performing as Upstairs the Clown for children at parties and special events. As a teacher, I admire Walt’s “never give up” attitude and try to encourage my students to follow their dreams.
For more information on membership at The Walt Disney Family Museum, or to join today, please visit our membership page!