Through a legacy gift, you can join other passionate supporters in ensuring access to the museum’s collections, special exhibitions, public programming, and educational initatives for visitors of all ages and backgrounds for generations to come. Your thoughtful gift will help continue to foster the next generations of creative talent and provide access to arts education for all.
Posted on Tue, 08/19/2025 - 10:37
On view mid-August–October 19, 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...
Workshops
Sat & Sun, Sep 27 & Sep 28 | 10am–noon
The Art Playground is for families with children ages 3–6. In our Learning Center, we will be embracing the fall season and teach simple art techniques. Children can use their imagination and new skills to create their own autumnal and Halloween items. Our Education staff will be present to support...
Talks
Sat, Sep 27 | 1pm
Three decades after its premiere, Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story (1995) endures as one of the most popular and influential animated films of all time. Join us as Pixar Animation Studios’ Senior Historian Christine Freeman contextualizes, from her unique perspective never before shared with the public...
Workshops
Sun, Dec 7 | 10:30am–12:30pm
There may be more than what meets the eye in this crafty workshop! In honor of the 20th anniversary of Walt Disney Pictures & Walden Media, LLC’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), we will look at concept art of the film and the original source material. Then...
Workshops
Sat, Sep 20 | 10:30am–noon
Follow the butterflies’ migration this Fall and their presence within the world of animation! This special workshop will take a whimsical behind-the-scenes look of how tiny (yet mighty) creatures like butterflies have fluttered in different animated pieces from Walt Disney’s Bambi (1942) to Disney’s...
Films
Thu–Sun, Jun 1–Oct 5
11am, 1pm, & 3pm
No screenings Sep 6, 21 & 27
11am, 1pm, & 3pm
No screenings Sep 6, 21 & 27
Complementing our latest special exhibition, Mary Blair: Mid-Century Magic, enjoy the inspirational story of Mary’s life and unique artistic style in a special screening of Mary Blair’s Pigments of Imagination (2025). The new featurette, produced and edited in-house at The Walt Disney Family Museum...
Films
Thu–Sun, Jun 1–Oct 5
11am
No screenings Sep 6, 21 & 27
11am
No screenings Sep 6, 21 & 27
Complementing our latest special exhibition, Mary Blair: Mid-Century Magic, enjoy the inspirational story of Mary’s life and unique artistic style in a special screening of Mary Blair’s Pigments of Imagination (2025). The new featurette, produced and edited in-house at The Walt Disney Family Museum...
As employees of The Walt Disney Family Museum, we strive to achieve and perpetuate the values that Walt held important in his work and his life. We believe that to achieve the level of quality associated with Walt Disney, each person, as an individual and as part of a cohesive team, contributes toward delivering a memorable experience to every visitor to The Walt Disney Family Museum.
Special Events
Thu, Nov 13 | 5:30–8pm
In celebration of our newest special exhibition, Happiest Place on Earth: The Disneyland Story, we are pleased to host an exclusive Member Preview Night. Experience Happiest Place on Earth: The Disneyland Story before it opens to the public and toast to the special exhibition’s opening with bubbles...
Thank you for your intent to make a future gift to The Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio of San Francisco, California. Your legacy gift will help ensure the museum can continue to share the life and legacy of Walt Disney, remain accessible to our community, and foster the next generations of creative talent.
The information provided in this form is not offered as legal or tax advice. Please consult your attorney, tax advisor, or other professional for advice in all estate-planning matters.
Workshops
Sat, Sep 20 | 1–2:30pm
Follow the butterflies’ migration this Fall and their presence within the world of animation! This special workshop will take a whimsical behind-the-scenes look of how tiny (yet mighty) creatures like butterflies have fluttered in different animated pieces from Walt Disney’s Bambi (1942) to Disney’s...
Field Trips
Available by reservation
On-site: Mon, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
On-site: Mon, 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 will challenge students to collaboratively work in teams to navigate a Sphero SPRK robot through trial and error, using math-based calculations and computer block programming.
Field Trips
Virtual
Available by reservation
Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am-3pm PT
On-site: Mon, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am-3pm PT
On-site: Mon, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
Create fun and unique art pieces with 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.
Field Trips
Virtual
Available by reservation
Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am-3pm PT
Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am-3pm PT
Benefitting from embedded digital media content, this walk-through the museum brings Walt’s inspirational message to life. Classes learn about his early failures, the art of animation, storytelling principles, and the technological innovations that made classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) possible.
Field Trips
Virtual
Available by reservation
Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am-3pm PT
On-site: On-site: Mon, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am-3pm PT
On-site: On-site: Mon, 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.
Field Trips
Available by reservation
On-site: Mon, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
Please note: Hand-Drawn Animation is offered
as a two-hour session only.
On-site: Mon, 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.
Field Trips
Virtual
Available by reservation
Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am-3pm PT
On-site: Mon, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am-3pm PT
On-site: Mon, 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.
Field Trips
Virtual
Available by reservation
Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am-3pm PT
On-site: Mon, Thu, & Fri, 10am–noon or 1–3pm
Virtual: Mon–Fri, 10am-3pm PT
On-site: Mon, 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.