In November 1918, a young Walt Disney stepped onto a ship named the Vauban, which was set to take him and his Red Cross Ambulance Corps unit from the United States all the way to France. For a 16-year-old boy who had never traveled farther east than Illinois or farther west than Colorado, this was a sizable adventure; Walt’s journey to France marked his first-ever encounter with the ocean.
70 years after Walt Disney opened his dream park, we take a look at some attractions that have stood the test of time and others that still live in our memories.
Blair’s own niece and the eminent historian were recently at The Walt Disney Family Museum in conjunction with Mary Blair: Mid-Century Magic.
55 years after its release, The Aristocats remains the first of its kind as a Disney animated feature made without Walt Disney’s comprehensive involvement. But Walt did make some important contributions to the film before his sudden passing in 1966.
In recent decades, many children of Walt Disney’s close collaborators have shared cherished memories of growing up at The Walt Disney Studios, wandering the hallways of the Animation Building, and exploring the backlot and soundstages. Others recall the halls and workshops of the WED Enterprises facilities where Audio-Animatronics® figures were brought to life for theme park attractions.
Update as of May 25, 2026: After more than 10 months on display inside the lobby of the Main Street Opera House at Disneyland Resort, the original furniture from Walt’s apartment above the Fire Station on Main Street, U.S.A., will return to The Walt Disney Family Museum, as part of the process of bringing back the items on loan. Soon, the exhibit at Disneyland will feature furniture inspired by the originals from Walt’s apartment.
Update as of May 25, 2026: After more than 10 months on display inside the lobby of the Main Street Opera House at Disneyland Resort, the original furniture from Walt’s apartment above the Fire Station on Main Street, U.S.A., will return to The Walt Disney Family Museum, as part of the process of bringing back the items on loan. Soon, the exhibit at Disneyland will feature furniture inspired by the originals from Walt’s apartment.
On view June–Early August, 2025
To celebrate the release of our new book, Walt Disney Treasures: Personal Art and Artifacts from The Walt Disney Family Museum, we are displaying rare and unique objects from the collection that are also featured in the book. Some of the artifacts showcased in the book and here have never been seen by the public. These objects will be on view for free in the museum’s Awards Lobby and will rotate periodically through the beginning of 2025. The next installation in this series celebrates the significant contributions of Harper Goff.
In 1923, Walt and Roy O. Disney established the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio with no fanfare and limited prospects. 10 years later, the situation was entirely the opposite. The Walt Disney Studios—as it was then known—had become the premier animation house in the United States, attracting talent from around the world, and elevating the art form from what had been a limited novelty into a major facet of world cinema.