WDFM Reviews

Interesting facts about the life of Walt Disney. Mostly like by adults

A unique little enclave of Disney history tucke in a beautiful setting. If you are a legit Disney fan, this is a must see!

Must-see for all Disney lovers.

A museum dedicated to the man Walt, and what is very cool for the fans. From his father's violin and original drawings he made as a teenager for the school newspaper to the Lilly Belle, the home-made model train that he had driven around in his backyard, it is all there to see.
However, I was most blown away by the large amount of original sketches and background paintings from masterpieces such as Snow White, Fantasia, the Silly Symphonies and short subjects. Even the very first exploratory sketches Ub Iwerks made Mickey Mouse hanging there. Really great to see how these drawings sometimes even 20s burst of liveliness. With a few pencil lines rake the Disney animators did an emotion, to put down an action and character. I literally spent hours watching it, what an artist they were!

Unless you are interested in the history of animation or the Walter Disney family, skip this. They seem like a very nice family, but not interested in the Disney family tree back to Scotland. Everything is nicely displayed, but only covers early Disney movies like Steamboat Willie and Snow White up to the opening of Disneyland in 1953. Not interesting for kids, better for Baby boomers who grew up with Disney cartoons.

Great exhibition spanning the life and legacy of Walter Disney. Interesting temporary exhibition on 9 of the Disney animators. Definitely worth the little extra. Plan 4 hours as the minimum time required for both.

Really nice use of multi-media exhibits. Everything was artfully done and there were some great interactives. Loved the model of Disneyland. We arrived at the end of the day though, and the docents were reminding us every 10 minutes to hurry-it-up. Could have let up a bit.

Was surprised to find this to be the most engrossing museum I've been in in a long time! A must for any Disney fan or anyone with an interest in drawing or animation. Loved it. Caught lots of nostalgic feels as well.

A little known place, and it's a shame!
Located in the former military base of the now-abandoned Presidio, the Disney Family Museum is NOT part of the company that runs the parks.

It traces the life of Walt and these ancestors since they left France. Yes, these ancestors were French. It is even their city of origin, Isigny in Normandy, which gave them their name once pronounced in English. The family of Isigny became Disney.

You will discover, like me, this anecdote as well as many more about the history of Walt and see the first scrolling machines that allowed him to produce Snow White and many other cartoons thereafter.

There is also the original model of the first park imagined by Walt Disney.

The museum is well designed and very professional for a family museum and the staff is very welcoming. Ideal for the whole family.

Practical info:
A shuttle called "Presidigo" will transport you free from the district "Financial District", you will board at the stop "Embarcadero bart stop" which is located on Drumm Street, at the end of the line of Cable Car "California".
See also near the museum, the "Palace of Fine Arts". Very pretty.

Great tribute to Walt, his accomplishments, and his life. It was like one big "One man's Dream" which appears in Hollywood Studios in WDW. Somewhat pricey though

This place blew me away. It didn't look like it would be much from the outside but once I stepped through the doors, I realized this was a high quality Disney experience.

Great place to go. We ve been there four times, always see something new

Very informational. There are lots of details I this museum, but it also have sound bites and video clips for those that dont want to read everything. There are fun interactive stations too!

As a Disney fan I had to go see this. So glad I did. They had a exhibit on the artwork of Pinocchio at the time as the displays were amazing. I suggest using Uber or Lyft to get there as traffic and parking can be a challenge. If you love Disney, this is a must see. Artifacts from the theme parks, his backyard railroad and much more

What an amazing gem in the SFBA! We spent 3 hours there and feel like we only scratched the surface of what there is to see, listen to, play with etc. Definitely worth another visit...or two...or three...

Amazing. Didn't want to go but my daughter talked me into it. Brought back great childhood memories and learned a lot.

Beautiful museum with lots of history about Walt Disney, personal family archives worth visiting and knowing this fantastic story of a dreamy genius

Great info for lovers of Walt Disney--note that this is more about his life than Disneyland itself.

You will not find a more dynamic and entertaining museum experience. This museum focuses on Walt Disney's youth, his innovations in early animation, the rise of Disney feature films, and the creation of Disneyland.

Tons of info, work samples, interactive exhibits, dioramas, and a theater featuring early Disney films. There's so much more to mention, but you just have to see it. Your kids will be entertained too. My kids and I spent nearly 5 hours in there, and we like to go back.

if you love Disney you need to come and look at this place

It's an interesting place and museum to go when you visit San Fransisco especially if you like Walt Disney and the story behind it..

The Walt Disney Family Museum

A cute museum talking about Walt Disney, a genius of all time, this museum will tell you everything about Walt Disney and his family, the journey of him to build Disney Empire. Don t miss the model of Disneyland it is really cool.

Wonderful especially the view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Growing up with all things Disney this museum was an amazing behind the scenes into walt's life. Very beautiful photos and exhibits. Very breathtaking and emotional for someone who loves all things Disney.

If you like history, and Walt Disney, you may like this place

Our group of four loved it! May not be as interesting for kids, though. The museum takes you through the life of Walt Disney, from his parents and where he grew up, through all of his struggles and then through all of his successes. It was really interesting to learn the details of the life of a man who has had such an impact on so many people all over the world. I definitely cried at the final exhibit that showcased the end of his life. He was a genius and a rare talent, and this museum is something that shouldn't be missed if you grew up loving Disney.

Definitely a place for Disney fans. So much history to look at and read through. Nice relaxing location. Take your time going through. Nice nearby places to eat. Lovely front lawn to sit outside for a picnic or to run around. Parking is plentiful and inexpensive.

This beautiful museum in the Presidio gives a fascinating insight into the story of the man behind the mouse. It's a family museum and is an honest and heartwarming tribute to Walt Disney. There's everything here from family treasures, to storyboards, Academy Awards, rare films, scripts and movie scores - it's a real treat. We really enjoyed the Masters of Animation special exhibition too. The shop is delightful and although we didn't eat at the cafe, we kind of wish we did because the food looked great. There's so much to see here - so allow yourself a minimum of 2-3 hours to do it justice.

A museum that exceeded expectations. Very interesting to know about the life of Walt Disney

The biggest problem with this place is the trek out but once you get there make a day of it and hang out and explore the Presidio (maybe even bring a kite or two!). A great tribute to Walt Disney with wonderful changing exhibits. A solid gift shop and, if you're lucky, Wall-E will be waiting to greet you on the outside!

My Family and I went to Disneyland the year it opened and I've returned many, many times over the past fifty years. Never having been to Disneyland around Christmas, I'm taking my Sons and their Families this Christmas.

I went to the Museum with two other friends. It took us two and one-half hours to see and absorb all there is to see, ending the tour sitting and reflecting with tears. I loved every minute of it. It was so well done. Not sure if 'youngsters' would appreciate the whole of it.

So happy it's close by to me too (Sonoma).

Enjoy!

The most interesting part for me was the exhibit of Mary Blair's designs. Some of them looked a lot like the movies they eventually led to: The Three Caballeros, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp. But she had a unique way of drawing in a plane, which the animators were never able to master, so that her studies led only to a vague idea of what the characters ended up looking like, and in some cases the overall layout of a scene. But it was quite educational.

The Disney Museum itself was pretty much like the displays that used to be in Disneyland (Anaheim) before it was "modernized" with a bunch of new rides and shops. So for me there wasn't much new there. For somebody younger, who has never seen those displays before, it might be more interesting.

For Walt disney fans, it is worth to go, but for other visitors, it might be a bit boring

Allow an entire morning or afternoon for your visit. Probably not idea for young children, as the exhibits are detailed enough that you'll want to linger.
The museum fills all three floors of the building and is very comprehensive.
A very appropriate tribute to the vision and passion of one of the most prolific and creative minds of the 20th Century.

Really cool Museum depicting the life of Walt Disney and the whole company.

I must admit that I walked in with the expectation that this was not going to be particularly enjoyable but I was very pleasantly surprised! The main exhibit was very well-done with new and modern interpretations of the different exhibits. My kids (4 & 5) thoroughly enjoyed this as well. One negative that I'd point out is that the special exhibit was a little bit pricey at $10 for the number of content seen.

Not so much for younger children but a great museum!

Really nice but it takes a while to enjoy everything. The audio guides do not last until the end

Like all things Disney, this is overpriced. Expect to pay $6 for parking less than 3 hours, and $25 per adult to walk around. The area is beautiful, but the cost isn't justifiable.

What a treat for Disney fans! A testament of love from daughter to father.

inspiring place to know the story behind Mickey mouse and how he created a new industry.

This place was so sweet and fantastic! Very helpful for my group of students :) thank you Disney museum - we loved our visit!!!

It's ok. Felt like information and multi media overload. Was so confused when I left.

Very cool see all mr Disney's first drawings and stuff i loved it

This museum was thorough and well put together. I love learning about Disney, from Kansas to Hollywood; through new animation, film, and sound techniques; animating through World War 2, strikes, and world humanitarian issues.

We had other touristy things on our agenda, but could easily explore much longer than the 2 hours we spent there.

A must visit for the real Disney fan. Make sure you have enough time to experience everything. At least two three hours. Amazing how they put Walt's life story this nicely together. Also make sure to visit the shop.

They often have member events or different exhibitions, make sure to check it out.

Unfortunately the museum was closed when I was there, but it looks like a very good place to take the family.

Great history of the family and the company. Learned a few things even after studying Mr Disney multiple times.

It's a fantastic museum for anyone who is a fan of Walt Disney or Disney in general and gives a fantastic overview of his early life right into his death and all his accomplishments and achievements within animation, film, radio and much more.
Highly recommend it for animation fans or anyone wanting to learn more about him, the medium and craft.

A MUST for any Disney fan. Details Walt's early life, starting of the studio, and up through his passing. If you want to see/read everything, expect to spend at least four hours there.

Great museum with tons of interesting facts about the Disney family. First off, note that it is a museum about the Disney family, not a family museum. While there are some activities for kids, it's really for adults. Most kids will be bored long before the adults have finished absorbing all that this fantastic facility has to offer. Check the movie times to see if there is something playing for the young ones then immerse yourself in the Disney family journey.

My husband and I love the Disney parks and have even taken tours there. This was a no brainer to visit. It was interesting to walk through Walt's life and even sit on a bench he frequented in Disneyland at one time. There was also an exhibit of artists, which was nice to see. It cost extra, but it was well worth the walk through.

So many cool things to see and learn about Walt Disney, the early years of his animation career, the birth of Disneyland, and the days before his death. The Presidio is a perfect location with beautiful views and lush greens for picnics and running around.

Be sure to read the last banners before you see the condolence drawings and tv

One of the best experiences in my SFO visit. Worth it. Adults only. Take your time. There's a lot to learn here.

Very well thought out going from antiques to a modern interpretation of Walt Disney's life and career. Try finding the timelines within each section. Makes it noteworthy and puts perspective on movies.

Much different than I expected. It had a lot of great background on Disney's life and the building of the Disney company we know today.

Really nice place :)
Perfect for Disney's fans

Not a place for little kids. Very interesting and informative. Great exhibits! Nice gift shop too!

I went with first graders as a chaperone, they weren't as excited as expected. Older kids might appreciate and enjoy it more.

Don t know that I d pay the admission price again, but this was definitely a fantastic visit! I learned so much about animation and film beyond Walt Disney and I was really in awe by their collection of artifacts. The way finding was also quite easy, and it packs in more than expected! Gorgeous views of the bridge too.

Fairly large disney museum. They cover basically Walts entire as well as how much of a visionary he is. A good place to spend a few hours before going to the Golden Gatr Bridge.

The museum itself is very large and would take half a day of you read every piece of information they have. Also have several large models of the parts.

Very interesting place and an unexpectes surprise.

Great place to spend the day with family and friends. Great views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Interesting Walt Disney artifacts and personal story. Special exhibits available for an additional cost. Friendly staff, nice cafe, and pricey gift shop with books and artwork available. Worth the visit!

There is so much to see from the Disney family! This was an amazing adventure!

Very nice, a must for those who love cartoons especially Disney cartoons

In addition to the very detailed museum of how the cartoons were made, the view of the Golden Gate is very cool.

Wish I lived closer so I could visit more often! So much to see and read, that it takes more that one trip to see it all. And the special exhibitions are definitely worth seeing too.

This place is great for a family outing, but probably better for kids over 7... There is a lot of history and reading to do, so younger kids may get boared.

Well worth seeing at least once If you are a Disney fan. A little pricey for a 2 hr museum.

This is a great experience for any Walt Disney fan. It is a true testament to his life from beginning, middle and end. The tickets aren't inexpensive but I think the value is there. Do your best to allow at least 2 hours...more if you want to soak in every detail. Another tip would be to orient yourself to the flow of the exhibits. Sometimes it was difficult to understand where my eye was to follow along. That being said, it may have been that my brain was overwhelmed by all of the amazing memorabilia and history. Enjoy your experience! My favorite parts were the Mr. Toad section and the Snow White Oscar award! Is this a special date? Then check out the Presidio Social Club for dinner afterward!

Fantastic for anyone who wants to learn Disney history, and, as a side effect, a bit about pop culture in early 20th century USA.

Like any Walt Disney attraction, there are very specific rules. The staff is nice but kind of bland, not what I would imagine at a Walt Disney museum. The place was really cool and I learned a lot. I did the special exhibition as well, nine old men. I was told when entering that I had to put my backpack on my front or check my backpack at the bag & coat check. I put the bag on my front. I had a large camera around my neck. When I entered the exhibition there were several other people with backpacks still on their backs. I felt like I was told about the bag because he was hoping I would check the bag and the camera. Don't worry, guys, I didn't sneak any photos.

Very beautiful museum, both on the inside and outside. Especially loved the old cartoon sketches and the giant model of Disneyland.

Really cool, so much history of W. Disney and his career, definitely need about 3 hours to really see everything

A mediocre museum with uninspiring transient exhibitions. Sadly, not really worth the admission.

Not for toddlers.. more for older kids and adults that want to know about walt disneys life history. Mainly reading the displays

Expensive (20usd) and few activities for children, lots of text to read