Field Trips

The Walt Disney Family Museum is committed to providing purposeful and appropriate learning experiences for all learners. We are happy to collaborate with educators to discuss ways we can provide accommodations for the needs of your class. Please contact education@wdfmuseum.org for more information.

On-site School Experiences

Join us in-person at The Walt Disney Family Museum for an engaging field trip that will delve into the rich history of Walt Disney’s life and his incredible legacy! Our unique on-site school experiences examine art, the inner workings of the animation process, and provide creative spaces for original artmaking. 

During School Experiences students are encouraged to explore and use their imagination through hands-on art related activities. By venturing through the museum galleries that illustrate Walt Disney’s important contribution to the animation industry, students can engage with knowledgeable educators, learn new art skills, and enter the enchanting world of Disney like never before. 

Our on-site workshop offerings are activity-based and available in either a one or two-hour class. The two-hour session is more comprehensive and allows students more time to work on their projects.

Virtual School Experiences

Embark on an exceptional virtual Disney field trip that brings the magic of San Francisco's Walt Disney Family Museum directly to your school, no matter where you are! Our innovative virtual experiences offer an engaging way to explore the rich history and creativity of Walt Disney and his incredible legacy. Our virtual field trips provide an immersive journey through interactive exhibits, behind-the-scenes insights, and captivating stories. Engage with knowledgeable educators, participate in hands-on activities, and delve into the enchanting world of Disney from the comfort of your location.

Our virtual and on-site workshop offerings are activity-based and available in either a one- or two-hour class. The two-hour session is more comprehensive and allows students more time to work on their projects. 

Virtual Workshops will occur online through Zoom. Students are required to have an internet connection, camera, and microphone in order to communicate with the class. We will take care of the rest!

Prices

On-Site Experiences

Self-Guided Tour: $12 per student, $15 per adult

Guided Tour only: $15 per student, $18 per adult

Workshop only: $15 per student, $18 per adult

Tour & one-hour workshop: $18 per student, $21 per adult

Tour & two-hour workshop: $21 per student, $24 per adult

Select Spanish language experiences available upon request

 

Virtual Experiences

Virtual Tour: $150 flat fee

Virtual Workshop only: $15 per student, $18 per adult

Virtual tour & one-hour workshop: $18 per student, $21 per adult

Virtual tour & two-hour workshop: $21 per student, $24 per adult

Select Spanish language experiences available upon request

Descriptions of these School Experiences are as follows:

The Magic of Animation: Zoetrope

Grades 1–3
Available in-person only
On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
Spanish language experience available
Please note: The Magic of Animation: Zoetrope is
offered as a one-hour session only.

Before flips books, stop-motion films, and computer animated movies, zoetropes were created as a form of animation technology from the early 1800s. A zoetrope is a device that produces the illusion of motion through a sequence of drawings. In this workshop, students will learn about the early forms...

Read More

Imagineering: Creative Problem Solving

Grades 6–12
Available in-person only
On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm

Gain insight into the world of Disney Imagineers who worked under Walt at WED Enterprises during the 1950s and 60s to imagine, research, design, and build some of Disney’s most iconic and revolutionary projects and park attractions. In this hands-on workshop, students will apply these concepts to...

Read More

Background Design

Grades 3–12
Available in-person or virtually
Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am–3pm PT
On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri
10am–noon or 1–3pm
Background design is an important part of the storytelling process as it helps give context to the narrative by showing the world in which the characters live. Although not the main focus, backgrounds can amplify and fully immerse an audience. We will discuss industry-standard practices as students delve into perspective fundamentals. Students gain an understanding of overlap, depth, and atmospheric perspective, then apply these concepts to design a layered background.
Read More

Theme Park Design

Grades 5–12
Available in-person or virtually
Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am–3pm PT
On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
Please note: Theme Park Design is offered as a two-hour session only.

When creating theme parks, designers and architects apply their creative minds and technical ingenuity to design ambitious projects. Students will plan their own innovative theme parks using creative thinking, problem solving, and teamwork. They will create their theme park’s rides, shows, food...

Read More

Storytelling

Grades 5–12
Available in-person or virtually
Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am–3pm PT
On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
Walt Disney knew that at the heart of every animated film is a well-told story. Join us on this School Experience as we investigate the basics of narrative structure, establishing interesting and dynamic plots, and creating internal and external challenges that can impact a character’s journey. Students will then develop their own short story.
Read More

Diving into Disney: A Virtual Tour Field Trip

Grades K–12
One hour tour
Available virtually only
Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am–3pm PT

Visit The Walt Disney Family Museum without ever leaving home! Benefitting from embedded digital media content, this virtual walkthrough of the museum galleries will bring Walt’s inspirational message to life. Students learn about his early failures, the art of animation, storytelling principles...

Read More

Hand-Drawn Animation

Grades 6–12
Available in-person only
On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
Please note: Hand-Drawn Animation is offered as a two-hour session only.
Animators often start their journey with a piece of paper, a pencil, and their own imagination. We will explore the traditional practices and principles of hand-drawn animation. With a few simple techniques, students will bring their drawings to life in the same way that animators in the 1930s did.
Read More

Character Design

Grades K–12
Available in-person or virtually
Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am-3pm PT
On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
Walt Disney was a storyteller whose characters captivated audiences through their unique personalities and distinct designs. Students will learn the fundamentals of character design through the use of shape language, silhouette, and personality traits, and uncover the creative process towards developing unique and memorable characters.
Read More

Color Theory

Grades K–12
Available in-person or virtually
Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am–3pm PT
On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
The Ink and Paint Department was an invaluable part of the animation process, especially with the addition of color to animated films. In this School Experience, students will learn about the relationship between colors, and how color theory utilizes both art and science in color mixing to achieve a particular visual effect.
Read More

Multiplane Animation

Grades 3–12
Available in-person only
On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
Spanish language experience available

As Walt Disney pushed the boundaries of animated feature films, his team developed techniques and technology that further enhanced their films. One of these devices was the multiplane camera. This amazing piece of equipment is a large movie camera that photographs multiple layers of artwork stacked...

Read More

Storyboarding

Grades 5–12
Available in-person or virtually
Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am–3pm PT
On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
The Walt Disney Studios pioneered storyboarding—an innovative way to convey an artist’s vision and the film’s story for those around them. Join us in this School Experience as we delve into timing, camera angles, camera shots, and how to plan out a visual project in a sequential and visual form. Students will then take on the role of a storyboard artist as they envision their own version of a scene from a script.
Read More

Exploring Trains

Grades K–2
Available in-person or virtually
Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am-3pm PT
On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
Please note: Exploring Trains is offered as a one-hour session only.

The way we travel around the world—in trains, cars, planes, and rockets—has evolved over the past century as new innovations have developed. Join us as we explore various modes of transportation and its importance to Walt Disney, then using colors, shapes, and design basics, students will create...

Read More

Paper Cut-Out Animation

Grades 3–12
Available in-person only
On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri
10am–noon or 1–3pm
Before the use of cels, paper cut-out figures were a common form of animation. Join us as we create paper creations with simple shapes and designs using construction paper and glue, then animate our creations to make our own silent stop-motion short films.
Read More

Pointillism

Grades K–12
Available in-person and virtually
Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am–3pm PT
On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
Walt Disney experimented with different mediums in his animated films. From watercolor to pointillism, the possibilities were endless and gave each movie a signature look. Join us as we create fun and unique art pieces using Pointillism, a painting technique involving small dots, patterns, and colored paints. Students will learn about Impressionism and gain a basic understanding of color filling, shading, and tints to create a cohesive art piece.
Read More

Audio-Animatronics® and Robotics

Grades 6–12
Available in-person only
On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
In this workshop, students will learn the history of Audio-Animatronics® technology during the early 1960s. This hands-on activity places students in the mindset of Disney Imagineers as they are challenged to collaboratively work in teams to navigate a Sphero SPRK robot. Through trial and error, using math-based calculations, and computer block programming, students will find solutions to make their machines function smoothly.
Read More

Discovering Improv

Grades K–12
Available in-person only
On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri
10am–noon or 1–3pm

Walt Disney’s background in theater and live performance helped build his exceptional ability to command a room, pitch creative ideas, and tell compelling stories. In this workshop, students will explore improvisational theater: the art of creating original scenes and stories on the spot. Students...

Read More

Touch Tour presented by Carbon

Grades K–12
Available in-person only
Mon, Wed, Thu & Fri, 10am–3pm
The Touch Tour incorporates ten iconic objects from the museum’s main galleries—generously 3D-printed by Carbon—into an audio-descriptive tour, providing guests with visual impairments the opportunity to experience the museum’s collection through the enhanced experience of touch. 
Read More

Off-site Partnership Programs

Creative Classrooms

Bring The Walt Disney Family Museum to Your School

Creative Classrooms is The Walt Disney Family Museum’s local school partnership program, giving Bay Area students an opportunity for educational initiatives at their school during the 20 2627 school year. This program is designed to inspire learning, creativity, and innovation across the curricula through inquiry-based, hands-on activities related to the life of Walt Disney and the art of animation taught by our museum’s Education team.

Creative Classrooms is comprised of a maximum of eight visits to the school and one field trip to the museum. The museum provides all transportation curriculum, and art supplies.

If you would like to apply to be part of our Creative Classrooms program, registration opens on August 1, 2026. Applications must be submitted by August 31, 2026, to education@wdfmuseum.org

To learn more about our Creative Classrooms program and apply, click here.

Extended Learning

Bring The Walt Disney Family Museum to Your After-School Program

Extended Learning is the Walt Disney Family Museum’s local after-school partnership program, giving San Francisco Bay Area students an opportunity to engage with art and animation in creative and inspiring ways during the 2026-27 school year within their school’s after-school programs. Through hands-on activities related to the life of Walt Disney, students will explore important elements of art and the animation process taught by our museum’s Education team.

Extended Learning is a semester-long program comprised of weekly 1–2 hour visits that will be part of an after-school offering. The museum provides the curriculum, materials, and art supplies.

If you would like to apply to be part of our Extended Learning program, registration opens on August 1, 2026. Applications must be submitted by August 31, 2026, to education@wdfmuseum.org.

To learn more about our Extended Learning program and apply, click here.

For more information about our outreach initiatives, please visit out Outreach page by clicking the link below.

Outreach

Accessibility

Guests of The Walt Disney Family Museum can request American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters on-demand for our Talks, Workshops, School Experiences, Tours, and Storytimes. If you would like to request an ASL interpreter, please fill out the form linked below. Please note: Interpreter availability is not guaranteed and requests must be submitted at least two weeks in advance.

The museum is proud to partner with Bay Area Communication Access (BACA) for our ASL interpreter needs. For more information on their services, please visit BACA's website.

For more information on our Accessibility offerings, please visit our Accessibility page by clicking the link below.

Accessibility

Additional Resources

Scholarship Programs

We are committed to quality education and providing every student with the opportunity to benefit from our curriculum-based school experiences. To ensure that under-resourced schools can take part in our school experiences, we offer two scholarship programs. 

Admission Waivers

Scholarships are available for museum admission for all Title I schools. Please indicate your Title I status on your registration form or contact education@wdfmuseum.org for more information.

Bus Scholarships

Bus scholarships are available for field trips scheduled during the academic year for Title I schools in the San Francisco Unified School District. Teachers are responsible for booking their own buses.