So it’s the time of seasonal giving and you’re looking for something a bit unusual for that special Disney fan in your life.
Photo by Mark Gibson. Courtesy of The Walt Disney Family Museum
Nothing says Disney any better than items related in some way to “Walt and his life” and the Walt Disney Family Museum has a few things worth considering. Here’s the direct line to the Museum’s onsite store, (415) 345-6859, where you can place a phone order if you’re unable to make it to The Presidio of San Francisco for a personal visit. The phone number also enables you to purchase the few things available online at www.waltdisney.org as well as many other items sold at the site.
Photo by Mark Gibson. Courtesy of The Walt Disney Family Museum
For those who’ve complained or been disappointed by the Museum’s rule of “no photography in the galleries,” the store recently received its first shipment of “Picturing The Walt Disney Family Museum.” Available online (beginning Dec. 10), this $34.95 hardcover book is about the same size of the “Art of …” books published for Disney and Pixar animated productions.
Photo by Mark Gibson. Courtesy of The Walt Disney Family Museum
Not available at Amazon.com or other online retailers, “Picturing The Walt Disney Family Museum” features photos of each Museum gallery, highlights dozens of key artifacts and has an awesome two-page spread of the highly detailed “Disneyland of Walt’s Imagination” model. It includes a forward by Walt’s daughter, Diane Disney Miller, and light text by founding executive director, Richard Benefield.
Courtesy of The Walt Disney Family Museum
For those who’ve visited the museum, this book is a wonderful keepsake. For those who’ve not yet made it to the Museum, it’s bound to whet your appetite by giving you a better sense of the place. The cover features the reflection of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in the glass wall at the back of the Museum.
Courtesy of The Walt Disney Family Museum
Online, you can also find “The Man, The Magic, The Memories,” a 96-page book written by J.B. Kaufman. The book tells the story of Walter Elias Disney in 10 chapters that parallel the 10 galleries of the museum, from his birth to his tragic, all-too-sudden death. It retails for $19.95. In addition, the online site is selling exclusive 16-inch Mickey and Minnie dolls, inspired by vintage designs from the 1930s. The boxes feature The Walt Disney Family Museum logo and vintage Mickey Mouse cartoon artwork. The dolls sell for $25 each.
Photo by Mark Gibson. Courtesy of The Walt
Disney Family Museum
Outside of memberships (always a good gift if you or the recipient lives near San Francisco) and tickets to the museum, monthly film presentations and special events, that’s pretty much all that’s available to purchase online from the Museum.
Photo by Mark Gibson. Courtesy of The Walt Disney Family Museum
But what about something you regret not buying during a visit to the museum? A pin perhaps? The Walt Disney Family Museum has several pins available, priced from $6.50 to more than $15. Maybe you forgot to buy a shirt or hat with Walt’s smiling face and the Museum’s logo? Maybe it was one of the items from Japan’s recent Mary Blair art exhibit that was made available in the U.S. exclusively to The Walt Disney Family Museum. A few postcards, small plush figures and other Mary Blair items are still available in San Francisco.
Photo by Mark Gibson. Courtesy of The Walt Disney Family Museum
For fans of Disney history, there are several back copies of the “E-Ticket” magazine, other hard-to-find books like “Ellenshaw Under Glass: Going to the Matte for Disney” from 2003 and “Wally Boag: Clown Prince of Disneyland” to more easily found titles like “From Walt to Woodstock: How Disney Created the Counterculture” and “How to Be Like Walt: Capturing the Disney Magic Every Day of Your Life.” Two books you won’t find at the Museum: “Walt Disney Hollywoods Dark Prince” and “Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination.”
Photo by Mark Gibson. Courtesy of The Walt
Disney Family Museum
There are also several DVDs, including “Walt – The Man Behind the Myth ” and the recent-release of the Walt Disney Family Foundation-financed “Walt & El Grupo” documentary by Ted Thomas, son of Disney animator and “Legend” Frank Thomas. The Museum is even offering the official theatrical poster for “Walt & El Grupo” in limited quantities and a pin depicting the image.
Photo by Mark Gibson. Courtesy of The Walt Disney Family Museum
If you’re interested in something from The Walt Disney Family Museum, even if it’s a gift for yourself, give the Museum’s store a call at (415) 345-6859. The staff is friendly and they’ll be glad to assist you with any purchase.