WDFM Reviews

Very polite and helpful staff, quiet and respectful atmosphere and great atmosphere

The whole story of Walt Disney is fully lived. The price is high but in line with American museums

Excellent Museum about Walt Disney and his Family. There are many things to look at and read and old home movies from the early 1900's. Not recommended for Children under 12 as there is a lot of reading involved and nowhere for them to play. We went there on my wife's birthday. I was enjoying it immensely, then I looked at my watch and realized we had been there looking at stuff for 8 hours, the time just flew by. I want to go back, there is too much to take in, in just one day.
If you like Disney you will probably love this place as I did. It has everything all of the awards he was given over the years, from just about every country in the world and that's just the first room before you enter the Museum. It's got all kinds of info about how he pioneered a lot of the techniques of movie making that are still in use today. It has tons of antiques throughout.
If your into history this place is loaded with it.
It's well worth the $30 per person admission. You won't be dissapointed.

Amazing place to visit if you re a Disney fan. Tons and tons of information and highly knowledgeable staff. Beautiful modern museum with very well presented exhibits. A nice balance of reading and technology. Some interactive items for children, but not it s strength. Great location in the Presidio with beautiful landscapes and views.

The museum had a lot of information about Disney and family

It was a very great and inspiring experience I loved it

Love the history and the background of this very unique museum. A must for people interested in walt.

If you're a Disney fan, go to San Francisco.
Since it was Walt's life, there are no works after Walt's death.
it's recommended.

Very interesting and fun. Also free admission to main exhibit for Veterans and family.

Amazing! We spent almost over two hours just for the main exhibition!

Lots of history on Walt and Roy and their family. Plenty of displays that brought back memories.

With so much technology and copy Alcatraz they have a system with hearing aids in different languages

Wished there would be more original items. Too many copies/ reprints/ tv screens. The award collection is v impressive

tldr: Read alot, not good for kids.
A very well done museum! Went for about 4 hours and spent the majority reading or listening. Military gets in free and they have Student discounts as well. Very informative and the ending of the exhibit is great fun. Not good for kids or anyone that's mentally impaired, blind, or deaf.

You physically need AT LEAST 2-3 hours to explore everything. If you love Walt you'll need 4-5 to really explore everything!!!!! What an amazing experience this was!!! I can not wait to go back!!!! AMAZING. HANDS DOWN THIS IS A MUST DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BRING YOUR LIFE ALERT!!!!! I nearly collapsed 8-9 times. Only one issue....they didn't have tissues readily available!!!!!

Getting to know more of the man behind the "happiest place on earth"

Always enjoy this museum. The Eyevind Earle exhibit is really gorgeous and fascinating.

Great place for Walt's family history and his start in animation. Really enjoyable.

As longtime fans of Disney (both the company and the man Walt), time at the Walt Disney Family Museum was a must for me and my wife on a recent trip to San Francisco. We had heard wonderful things about it, but nothing that prepared us for what we found inside. The same-as-every-other-building-in-the-Presidio facade doesn't hint at the variety of dazzling displays and memorabilia stored within. The multiple rooms of exhibits, arranged chronologically from before Walt's birth, through his early years, first cartooning and filmmaking, move to California and the rise of Mickey Mouse, then through all of the decades of innovation, feature-length films, and eventually theme parks, are all extremely well-executed, with a variety of looks that keep the visitor engaged. There is SO MUCH to see here, I could easily spend a week going through the displays and still not have soaked in every detail. A lot of the exhibits are interactive; there is quite a bit of video associated with each display, and best of all, since Walt was such a public figure and did so many interviews and TV shows, most of the exhibits are narrated by Walt himself. And I still tear up thinking about the last room, which contained Walt's daughter's memories of his final days, and a wall full of editorial cartoons and telegrams to Lilian Disney expressing sorrow over his passing. For even a passing Disney fan, put this place at the top of your list of things to see at least once in your life. (Tip: the museum apparently shows Disney movies in its cozy downstairs theater, one film a week, showing daily at 1:00 p.m. Admission to the movie is included with admission to the museum, but you have to ask for a separate ticket. We showed up at 2:00, but were able to catch the last half of Mary Poppins -- a real unexpected treat to see it on a big screen!)

Really well put together and curated Museum ... special exhibits are usually outstanding

A must-visit, even for casual Disney fans. Allow about 3 hours. There are some hands on activities for adults and kids. I suspect children under age 8 will get bored quickly. A historical look at the life of Walt Disney, from his youth to his death. Very clean, well kept, and an extremely friendly staff. In addition to the museum, they have a deli, as well as a souvenir store. A fascinating look at the life and accomplishments of Walt Disney.

if you like disney it's to see, but it doesn't impress

I ve been here twice and will go back again. I love the history and how much there is to see. You could spend all day here if you wanted. Great park, plenty of parking. Beautiful views of the water and bridge.

Great biographical walkthrough of Walt Disney's life and work.

Very interesting museum, it's worth it if you visit San Francisco

Not a Disney fanatic but I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Walt Disney and everything that went behind all the creations. Truly inspiring!

Unique story of Walt Disney's personal family history as both a child and adult. Intertwined with that is the story of his - and of his Company's- development over several decades. Displays thoughtful, well designed. Probably better for school age and up, rather than families with young children.

Sensory overload! Impressive collection of memorabilia from Walt's entire life and great narratives on every item. Don't miss the DISNEYLAND MODEL ROOM! You can spend 2 hours in there alone Have membership - will definitely be back

This is my favorite museum in SF! Such a beautiful space, and great exhibits on the fascinating history of Disney, and great features on the artists who have been influenced by his vision both during and after his life.

This was a great informative museum on the life and legacy of Walt Disney. There was so much to read and watch. I probably could have gone through it twice.

WDFM is targeted more towards adults and older children. It is about Walt Disney's life and work from humble beginnings to the success of creative curiosity. Expect to spend several hours in the main exhibit; there's a lot to go through! If you're an avid Disney fan, consider their membership as you get free admission to rotating exhibits.

MAIN EXHIBIT
[+] multi-plane camera model in display
[+] mini Disneyland model, has a mix of Walt's ideas as well as past and current attractions
[+] theater room used for movie feature of the month (included in museum entry) and for special talks (additional cost)
[+] open studio for arts and crafts, from creating your own stop-motion video to hand painting your own cels (weekends only, 1-4pm)
[+] monthly themed Animate Your Night evening events, with drinks, photo booth, raffles, etc.
[+/-] last ticket sale is an hour before closing

SPECIAL EXHIBITS
[+] rotating exhibits that change ~6 months
[+] has featured Snow White, Where The Wild Things Are, Tyrus Wong (artist for Bambi), Mary Blair (until 9/7/2014)
[+/-] in a separate building, behind main WDFM
[-] separate admission fee

PARKING is part of the Presidio, $1.20/hr, everyday until 6pm

MEMBERSHIP
[+] options for individual, dual, family, and more
[+] can enter special exhibit hall with just the membership card
[+] discounted prices for special talks and workshops
[+] museum store discount
[+] includes free admission to affiliate museums
[-] quite pricey, dual is a better deal than individual
[+/-] if it helps, it is a non-profit organization

If you plan on visiting both exhibits, allot a day outing! It'll take several hours if you want to go through everything. Have fun!

This place is beautiful, can you learn a lot of things about the Walt Disney's life, I recommend visit this place when you go ti San Francisco

Quaint and Amazing journey thru Walt's life and Disney chronicles the nostalgia giving heart, soul, and personhood to the creator of all that we cherish in DISNEY

Went for my wife's sake, but had a good time for myself as well. Thank you for letting me in free as a Veteran on the 4th of July! Coat check is fantastic and FREE!!

Perfectly curated museum of Walt Disney s extraordinary life. If you can, go with a small group and request a tour guide because there s so much to see and learn about Disney s creativity, failures, luck, perseverance and risk taking. Allow for 3 hours.

Wonderful story of Walt Disney. Some amazing keepsakes on display to share with fans. My favorite was the Disneyland model. Details were beautiful.

This place captures well the Walt Disney story the good, the bad, and the ugly. No matter where you fall on the spectrum of fandom, this place will help you appreciate the innovation and progress that Disney helped bring about both in animation and society.

For me, it was too expensive. $25/person with a TON of reading. Sparse history on animation, a few references to his characters, and waaay too much about his life. For artists and absolute ultimate Walt Disney fans, this is your place. For fans of just the Disney characters or park (or anyone bringing kids), this place is not for you.

Had items to view free. There are other items to see for a fee.

This museum made me more aware of disney. Many of the cartoons I saw when I was a child were produced from Disney. There is a feeling of aftertaste, and from these introductions, I understand the cartoon production process of Disney.

Great exhibit, many amazing artifacts and a really good, really fascinating narrative and in depth discussion of that Disney magic. It's definitely the Disney story told here - Don't expect a full discussion of his falling out with Ub Iwerks, for example - but it's a great museum with a lot to see.

Disney has really created something special here. This monument to monopolization and consumerism squats in the middle of San Francisco. Also, there seemed to be tons of families there when I visited, not sure about that. I had fun, but Disney.

This is a great place to go back in time when you were a child and Disneyland was wonderful and not all hype. It's also a place where children can see how the real Disney land used to be. A moment of time past. What would roll over in his grave if he could see the prices and how Disneyland is now. It was a place for family to gather and enjoy themselves but at their prices now who can really afford it without going into debt

An interesting museum for Disney fans. Suitable for over 5 year olds.

Great little museum about Walt Disney, the man behind it all. Lots of interesting facts and artifacts. Love the volunteer that explained everything to me as I went along the rooms. A great experience!

What a magical museum! Walt Disney was an amazing man and we had an amazing time learning about his life and legacy. Beautiful location in San Francisco.

Pretty nice place but very long and didn t expect so many details about Walt Disney himself it s not about actual Disneyland so don t get it mixed up

A surprisingly good museum which talks more about the history of the Walt Disney and shows some interesting artifacts from history. Highly recommend the Mickey special exhibit if it is still there when you visit. Cheaper if you are a college student so bring your student IDs.

From the time of birth to the death of a single person, Walt Disney, you can see everything from the dream you had in your mind.
I was impressed that he was a really great person.

You should go if you like Disney, Mickey, or Disneyland, the local guide told me.
Personally, I would recommend it to those who like early Disney from the past, rather than the recent CG work Disney.
I would also recommend it to anyone who does not come to Disney and likes the world's pictures, animations and works.

It is a museum filled with volumes that you can't think of as a small two-story building. It may take more than 2 hours if you want to see everything.
There was a baggage check at the entrance, and I was able to borrow a Japanese audio guide (it was an iPhone) by depositing my passport ID at the reception.
It is told for a long time from "How Mickey was born", "How Walt tried to make a picture, a character, and an animation". In that long life, you can see the precious picture of When Mickey was born for the first time .
This is a museum where you can understand how Disney was so wonderful about how it was trying to develop anime in the days when there was no PC.

There are exhibits that children can enjoy, but it is not an attraction, so if you are slow, small children may get bored.

In the annex, there was an exhibition dedicated to Mickey's drawing.
Exhibits may vary depending on the season.

It was a great tour. Worth buying the GO PASS and using it here. There was really interesting things we didn't know about Walt, but there was a lot we did if you seen the movie about him. I recommend self guided tour. The goddess tour rushed through and you didn't get to see much without lagging behind and then that just defeats the entire thing. Lol coffee shop and store at the end of tour. Really awesome lounge area outside. Definitely check this one out.

Any fan of Walt Disney or the history of the Disney Company needs to put this destination at the top of their to-do list.

Even those with just a passing interest will find the interactive displays interesting and engaging.

I enjoyed it, as did my wife who does not enjoy museums. Why does it have to be so expensive? Why do they feel they need to charge so much.

A place where you can spend the whole day, the appearance is ultra-low-key. The two floors inside introduce the rise of Walt Disney's origins, the transformation of hardware and software, and the internal and external conflicts and growth of the company.

The furnishings are nostalgic, but the details are very careful. There are a lot of visual effects and animations, which are suitable for the whole family to visit. It is more suitable for one person kneeling to absorb the essence and style of the master.

It's good to know a little about the history of Walt Disney. Although, I did not do anything extraordinary.

A Trip Through LIFE/ Success of Walt Disney, His Career, His Dreams. A Beautiful Location with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

This was awesome and the staff were so nice. We took the bus from the Marina district which drops you off very close. Nice cafe inside.

Definitely worth your money. You get to see a lot here. There are also some interactive things you can play with. Loved to go here with my hostel friends and was really interesting to see the development of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and the whole Walt Disney empire.

Such a gem! So much information about the early days of Walt Disney and his struggles before Disney's success exploded. See how animation techniques rapidly changed, and sketches from early Disney movies. As you go through the museum, don't miss the train and Disneyland model.

My husband and I had so much fun in here. I wish we have more time to spend. Two hours is definitely not enough. There are so many information and cool stuff inside. You gotta check it out yourself!

My students went on a field trip to this museum and participated in a class and 1 hr. guided tour. Students loved the experience and want to go back. One hour was not enough time, there is so much to see in the museum. They saw everything about Walt Disney's life from childhood to death from cancer with a huge collection of memorabilia. It all shows how creative and innovative he was!

This place was so amazing, the vast history behind Walt Disney and his vision is breathtaking. And inspiration to all those who feel they can change the world with their ideas.

A must see museum for any Disney fan in a beautiful historic location. As with any Disney venue, prices are steep but worth the price. You could easily spend an entire day looking at all of the artifacts and exhibits. The deli offers excellent food as well.

Honestly, I expected a more "magical" experience. There is a ton of cool Disney history here and great information from a "behind the scenes" perspective. Most of the interactive pieces were broken on our trip. Overall this place caters more to adults and may be a little dry for children.

This is honestly a great museum. It goes over Walt's life in detail, has a changing exhibit of the different movies and stories, with never before seen scribbles and draft versions of characters, has a detailed exhibit about the multiplane camera, and has the best miniature version of OG Disneyland ever.

Military friendly! An incredible collection of Disney art and early technology. Be sure to pay your parking and enjoy this great museum of the beginnings to an American icon.

Amazing art pieces that takes you into the personal and professional life of Walt Disney.

A lot of cool information about the beloved Disney!

We didn't allow enough time. I recommend at least two hours. The day we were there it closed at six. Walt tells his story in his own words.

If younare interested in the magic this is a great place to see original sketches and to read about the history of Disney. It all started with a mouse.

The main museum building is bigger than expected and has lots of awesome exhibits.

Coat check and decent prices for the area with great items on display relevant for people interested in learning more about Walt Disney.

Very informative, made with a lot of attention to detail.