mem·ber:
MEMBER pronunciation [mem-ber] noun
- a person that is part of a community
Members of The Walt Disney Family Museum belong to a special community of those who appreciate the life, work and legacy of Walt Disney. Members support the ongoing work of our museum.
In October, our museum is showing appreciation for Members with additional discounts, free guests, a weekly drawing, a special gift, and “Members-for-the-Month” at Charles M. Schulz Museum. For full details for Member Appreciation Month, please visit the Ticket Desk.
The Week One Drawing (Four tickets to the Monterey Bay Aquarium) was won by Stephanie Flanagan of San Francisco. Week Two (Four Tickets to Aquarium of the Bay & $50.00 gift Certificate to Lori’s Diner) was won by Joe Broadstreet of Sacramento. There are three more weeks of great prizes, including tickets to the Member Holiday Open House,Ghirardelli Chocolates, and two passes to Muir Woods and Sausalito Tour by Tower Tours.
Plus, a Grand Prize Winner will be chosen from all entries. The fabulous prize is a PRIVATE SCREENING of any classic Disney film, for the winner and 50 friends and family, in our Fantasia-inspired state-of-the-art digital theater!
Member Appreciation Month started with the first ever Sing-Along in the Theater. Our Members and their guests enjoyed singing along to Disney movies and cartoons that were shown during the first two years in our theater. There was a yummy intermission with a dessert buffet, plus great prizes including a huge chocolate basket from Ghirardelli, tickets to Disneyland, tickets to the December 10 program, and a poster signed by the Miller Family children.
Our Member Corene Johnson won the poster, and here is some of what she wrote in a thank you note, “I am still in shock (and have to keep pinching myself) to believe that I won that magnificent poster. That was the luckiest night of my life. …to hear Walt’s grandchildren speak about their memories of him and now to have that gorgeous Opening Day poster for the Museum signed by them is a real honor and treasure.”
If you ever wondered about membership at The Walt Disney Family Museum, here is an email from one of our newest (and most enthusiastic) Members:
I went to the Museum this past Saturday to see the movie of the month. Imagine my delight when I stepped outside after the film, and the jets that are here for Fleet Week were zooming overhead, so close you could see the lettering written on their wings! Watching that Air Show while sitting on the lovely deck chairs on the Museum's porch is an afternoon I won't soon forget. Not only that, but - I loved the film. This is only the second month I have been a Member, and already have seen two films that I've never seen before—and loved both of them. Here I thought I had seen EVERY Disney film, and have already discovered two more. I already have my ticket for the Spin and Marty program. Is there a chance might actually get a picture taken with Tim Considine?
I do love Disneyland. Well, who doesn’t, really. But Walt? Thought I knew all about him, was in DCA a few years ago and saw a little film about his life—it was in the theatre where “Turtle Talk with Crush“ is now. Piqued my interest so, when they came out with a DVD of The Man Behind the Myth, I bought it, took it home, and had my eyes opened up. The thing is: I had no idea. I was born in ‘56, and I thought it was nothing but: success, success, success for Walt. But his actual story of ups and downs, of taking tremendous risks, of getting taken advantage of in his youth and just optimistically going on with his plans, over and over—this man’s journey is a source of ongoing inspiration to me. To think he accomplished all of this in just one lifetime…well, it lifts me up. And the honesty of the place; this Museum is "warts and all." And they don’t pretend that Walt did it alone. There is not just a mention, but great details of all the people Walt worked with throughout the years—many of them, actually speaking to us in audio clips. Good, bad or indifferent- it’s all here.
For example—his ENTIRE testimony before the House on Un-American Activities Committee? Prominently displayed? That’s true history—here it is—make up your own mind how you feel about it. What other family would do this?What other family wouldn’t tweak something like that in one direction or the other? And speaking of the family, these people saved EVERYTHING! One of my favorite pieces is a note to the housekeeper in Walt’s own hand about what he wants for dinner. Ha! Who saves that? Is it earth-shattering with historical implications? Noooooooo. But it helps to paint a picture of a real human, with simple tastes. It tears away any presumed myths and shows us that he was just a man. No pretensions, one of us. I have never been in another museum with so many displays, artifacts, tidbits, and out-and-out treasures. In that way, it is exactly like Disneyland—the experience is essentially the same, but completely different every time I visit. And, like Disneyland, I always come away engulfed in the man’s basic optimism. I think that is the true Disney legacy. People ask me why I am such a fan. This is why. This Museum is a Disney fan's wish come true.
Thanks again for the email update (Members’ First eblast)—keep em comin!
—Margaret Anglade, DC
Thank You Margaret! We are so lucky to have you as a Member.
There is a lot more to come…stay tuned and visit us soon! Learn more about Membership at the ticket desk or ask any of our knowledgeable Museum Associates.
Pam Spedus
Membership Coordinator