Fine article Brad. One correction though. The Space Mountain in the model is from thr original concept drawings by Disney Legend, John Hench. This design was never built at any Disney park.

I loved the museum.  On a recent trip to SF, I went there twice in one week, bookending the meetings I was there to have.  As a Disney fan, it was a truly memorable and emotional experience.  I learned a lot of things I never knew about Walt and his experiences and struggles.  But I'm awfully concerned about the museum.  Because both times I went, I was one of about 15 people there.  In the middle of the day.  Granted, it wasn't a weekend, but I still have my serious doubts that this place has a future considering that it's only been open less than a month.  The second time I went, the ticket-taker at the entrance to the first gallery admitted to me that "since we've been open, we haven't even been close to our capacity." She voluntarily showed me the tally sheet kept at this position.  It was about 3 p.m., and for the whole day there had been about 70 people.  Now, I'm not an accountant, but just multiply the $20 admission fee by 70 and you'll see the problem, especially with a $110 million budget.

My other problem with the place is that if you're not already a dyed-in-the-wool Disney fan, you're probably not going to be all that interested.  For fans, it's a fascinating place that could easily consume an entire day.  But not everyone knows about Walt Disney, or cares, frankly, certainly not tourists visiting San Francisco, which has less to do with Disney than pretty much any other major city in the country.  (New York?  Mickey opened on Broadway.  Chicago?  Walt Disney's second home.  Atlanta?  "Song of the South."  Kansas City?  Obviously.  Los Angeles?  Of course.  San Francisco?  No connection to Walt Disney whatsoever.)  So, how are they getting visitors who will probably prefer one of the city's many, many other museums -- or Alcatraz, or Fisherman's Wharf, or Chinatown, or the Golden Gate Bridge, or a trip up to Napa......

The museum itself is fantastic.  Disneyland itself could learn a lot from the WDFM -- not to mention Epcot, which needs to develop more entertaining, exciting displays.  The museum is engaging, fun, informative, inspiring and classy.  (With, by the way, a LOUSY gift shop.)  There's very little wrong with it .....except that no one is going.