"I was determined to diversify. I had another idea which was plaguing my brain. It was The Silly Symphonies. A series without a central character which would give me latitude to develop the animated cartoon medium." —Walt Disney
Avast there, ya bilge rats! Today marks the 16th anniversary of International Talk Like a Pirate Day, but there be tales behind the origins of that day that steer a course to our old shipmate Walt Disney, yarns that ye might not have heard!
Millions of children around the world knew him as Uncle Walt, but to Chris, Joanna, Tamara, Jennifer, and Walter Miller, he was Grandpa. In honor of National Grandparents Day, The Walt Disney Family Museum hosted five of Walt Disney’s grandchildren as they reminisced not about the internationally-renowned storyteller, but about the attentive “Grandpa” who, as Tamara Miller recalled, “Appreciated and adored all of us.”
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 Steve Smart and Javier Barreto.
One of our most important jobs as Museum Educators is to help first-time visitors to The Walt Disney Family Museum understand that there is so much more to Walt Disney than what they’ve imagined—which is usually limited to Mickey Mouse, amusement parks, and cartoons...
On Saturday night, September 24th, the Walt Disney Family Museum celebrated their loyal members and one of Walt’s favorite comfort foods, with "Chili & A Movie."
Disney fans from coast to coast will have reason to celebrate on October 1, 2011, as The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco marks its second anniversary—and the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida celebrates its 40th anniversary.
One might have thought, in the fall of 1955, that Walt Disney might have had more pressing things to do than visit a film shoot in the remote backwaters of northeastern Georgia. After all, Disneyland had opened only a few months earlier and there was still a studio to run...
Our thoughts go out to Steve Jobs’ family, friends and colleagues. A man ahead of his time, who left us before his time. His vision and legacy will always inspire.
Each month, we ask a museum staff member to answer five questions about their position at The Walt Disney Family Museum, their fondest Disney memories, and personal tidbits. Just in time for Halloween--and for all those trick-or-treaters out there--we've decided to highlight someone who's responsible for all the treats you'll find at our events: Carla Flores!
Guests who visit Disneyland (or any Magic Kingdom-style park created since) are greeted by two great symbols of the life and career of Walt Disney. The first thing they see is the large floral Mickey Mouse, which has warmly welcomed Disneyland guests since opening day...
In 1976, America celebrated its Bicentennial and in observation of this moment, an enclosed railway passenger car that was part of the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad was redesigned and recreated into a new, elegant, private coach to be ridden by VIPs, dignitaries, Cast Members, and other special guests...
When Walt Disney made the trip from Kansas City, Missouri to Los Angles, California in July of 1923, he boarded the famed Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe passenger train, the California Limited. Inaugurated in 1892 and surviving until 1954, the California Limited was a true “workhorse” of the famed railroad.
It’s not often that one sees Michael Labrie, Director of Collections for The Walt Disney Family Museum, visibly distressed, and I must admit, I never have. But while researching one of the Museum’s most treasured artifacts, the Carolwood-Pacific Railroad and the Lilly Belle, I learned that there was, in fact, a time when Michael was not his usual calm, cheery self...
Come dressed in your best Halloween costume and join us in a variety of frightfully fun events! Toss a ghost into a jack-o-lantern for a prize, create your very own flapping ghost and, only if you dare, walk through our “spooky walk” and see what our ghostly friends have in store for you!
The earliest mention of Silly Symphonies is contained in two letters that Disney wrote his brother Roy and Ub Iwerks. The first, on 20 September 1928, indicates simply and idea for a “musical novelty,” some combination of music and animation. The second, written three days later, grows more precise...