The Walt Disney Family Museum

Touring the Walt Disney Family Museum

I used to think that Rice-A-Roni was the San Francisco treat...but clearly it’s the Walt Disney Family Museum. When the California Coast cruise was set for two port days in San Francisco the museum was immediately on my list of “must do’s”.  This is an exciting experience so before you get swept away let me give you an overview of the museum and a few tips then once you have that all digested I’ll give you a more detailed description of the museum and its exhibits.

• Getting There: Disney Cruise Line offers two different Port Adventures for the California Coast cruises:
• Walt Disney Family Museum and Views of San Francisco: This Port Adventure includes 2 hours at the museum, stops at Twin Peaks, drives through Golden Gate Park and makes a brief stop at Cliff House on the Pacific coast. There is also an approximate 30 minute stop on the Golden Gate Bridge and then drive by the Ghirardelli Square and Fisherman’s Warf. 
• Adults $99 (ages 10+)
• Kids $59 (ages 3-9)
• Walt Disney Family Museum: This Port Adventure is strictly a tour of the museum, which lasts approximately 3 hours. Although the ride to and from the Presidio is narrated, there are no stops for photos, etc. either way. 
• Adults $75 (ages 10+)
• Kids $55 (ages 3-9)

• Admission:If you are traveling with children in your party there are a few things you should be aware of:
• The museum is exactly what it says, a museum, so unless your child is angelic and interested in the history of Mr. Walt Disney, the museum might not be for them. 
• While the ticketing prices through the Cruise Line are consistent with the Walt Disney World/Land “age” category (kids are ages 3-9 and adults are ages 10+) the museum has a different definition of “child” and “adult” which can benefit you if you are traveling with children, seniors or students. 
• Museum Admission via the website:
• Adult (18+) $20.00
• Senior (age 65+) $15.00
• Student (with valid ID) $15.00
• Child (ages 6-17) $12.00
• Under age 6: Complimentary with adult admission 
• There is a museum membership which is $75 for adults and $55 for students and seniors. Individual membership allows you: 
• Unlimited free admission for one member and free admission for one guest
• Personalized membership card
• Discounts on additional guest tickets
• 10% discount in the museum store
• Discounts on education and public programs
• Free film of the month and discounted tickets for special feature films
• General Member Pin
• Free subscription to the quarterly newsletter
• Monthly e-blasts
• Other museum membership plans are available
• Excursion or on Your Own?: This is one of the most frequent questions I get asked about any Port Adventure. You have to consider the cost and the options and transportation is usually the make or break financially. Based on the facts and figures given you have to run the numbers and decide what works best for you. Some people feel that the security of Disney Cruise Line Port Adventures may outweigh the possible extra cost while others are comfortable exploring on their own and prefer an open schedule.

                                  Excursion         On Your Own
    Museum:              $75 per adult        $20 per adult

    Transportation:     Included              ~$15 cab fare
                                                             ~3 mile walk
    Membership:        $75 per adult + free admission for one guest
                                 (read above for other benefits of membership)

Regardless of how you play the numbers the museum is certainly worth the cost. The museum is set up in a chronological timeline starting with a brief family history and Walt’s participation in the war and has a total of 10 “exhibits”. Details about the exhibits and the museum itself will be coming shortly but a few things I observed at the museum:

• There weren’t many children and if there were children they were older and very well behaved. No strollers are permitted in the museum.
• The museum is spread out in a way you can wander and interact within each exhibit without feeling like you have to wait in line or that it’s too busy and you’re missing something.
• Photos are only allowed in the lobby area. No photos are allowed within the museum itself.
• All bags are subject to inspection by security. The museum asks that all bags, backpacks, umbrellas, coats, etc be checked in the coat room on  the lower level. 
• No cell phone use, food or drink, or smoking is permitted in the museum 
• The museum is open Wednesday-Monday 10am to 6pm (*closed every Tuesday) and is not open on January 1st, Thanksgiving Day or December 25th.