Field Trips

Character Design

Date
Available in-person or virtually
Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am-3pm PT
On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
Year
2026
Location
Virtual: Zoom Webinar
On-site: Diane Disney Miller Exhibition Hall
Ages
Grades K–12

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.

Virtual and On-site School Experiences

Our new 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 School Experiences occur online through Zoom. Students are required to have an internet connection, camera, and microphone in order to communicate with the class.

On-site School Experiences combine a gallery tour and one of our hands-on workshops, allowing students to be creative while exploring Walt Disney’s life and work in meaningful ways. School Experiences appeal to a variety of learning styles and align with the Common Core State Standards.

Reservations

Registration for the 2026–27 academic year is now open. Book a School Experience with us by contacting education@wdfmuseum.org. We will schedule your experience, and send the invoice at a later date. Please book your experience with us at least three weeks in advance.

Admission Waivers

Scholarships are available for Title I schools. Please indicate your Title I status on your registration form.

Other Programs

  • Field Trips

    Hand-Drawn Animation

    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.
    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.
    Read More
  • Field Trips

    Background Design

    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.
    Available in-person or virtually
    Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am–3pm PT
    On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri
    10am–noon or 1–3pm
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  • Field Trips

    Color Theory

    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.
    Available in-person or virtually
    Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am–3pm PT
    On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
    Read More
  • Field Trips

    Multiplane Animation

    As Walt Disney pushed the boundaries of animated feature films, his team developed techniques and technology that further enhanced their films. One of...

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

    Diving into Disney: A Virtual Tour Field Trip

    Visit The Walt Disney Family Museum without ever leaving home! Benefitting from embedded digital media content, this virtual walkthrough of the museum...

    One hour tour
    Available virtually only
    Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am–3pm PT
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  • Field Trips

    Pointillism

    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.
    Available in-person and virtually
    Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am–3pm PT
    On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
    Read More
  • Field Trips

    Storyboarding

    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.
    Available in-person or virtually
    Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am–3pm PT
    On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
    Read More
  • Field Trips

    Exploring Trains

    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...

    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.
    Read More
  • Field Trips

    Paper Cut-Out Animation

    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.
    Available in-person only
    On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri
    10am–noon or 1–3pm
    Read More
  • Field Trips

    Theme Park Design

    When creating theme parks, designers and architects apply their creative minds and technical ingenuity to design ambitious projects. Students will...

    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.
    Read More
  • Field Trips

    Storytelling

    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.
    Available in-person or virtually
    Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am–3pm PT
    On-site: Mon, Wed, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
    Read More
  • Field Trips

    Discovering Improv

    Walt Disney’s background in theater and live performance helped build his exceptional ability to command a room, pitch creative ideas, and tell...

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