Disney-related places for Disneyland visitors

[irlandaise]

There's an article in the NY Times today about Walt and Roy's original 1923 offices in the Los Feliz district of Los Angeles. (After they moved out of their uncle's garage.) It's now home to a skateborad shop, a copier shop, and some other businesses. Here's a link to the article that's good even for non-NYT subscribers for the next couple of weeks:

Disney’s First Offices in Los Angeles Are Hiding in Plain Sight

That got me thinking of other places that Disney fans might want to see while they're in the area to go to Disneyland. Here are a couple I know about; please add others I've forgotten!

El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood: not an original Disney site, but they've owned it for decades and they did a beautiful restoration on it. The place where "Citizen Kane" premiered.

El Capitan Theatre

The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank: not open to the public, but you can see it through Adventures by Disney and during D23 events:

Hollywood/Disneyland Tour

Walt's backyard railroad barn was preserved and moved to Griffith Park. I thought the nonprofit that takes care of it offered rides on his railroad, but all I see is mention of visiting the barn, and the website hasn't been updated recently. Someone with more knowledge please chime in.

Carolwood Pacific Railroad barn

Of course, if your California visit also includes San Francisco, you must see the Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio:

Walt Disney Family Museum

Anyone else have suggestions?

 

[Corpsebride]

In Los feliz is the Tam o shanter restaurant. Lots of Disney imagineers and Walt used to eat there. Walt even had his favorite table which is available to sit at. There's also original imagineer art on the walls. It's a Scottish style pub, yorkshire pudding and roast beef. tons of tartan on the walls. Staff is so great. I highly recommend.

 

[DizMe]

Not far from the Studios and the Tam is Forest Lawn cemetery. We visited the Disney memorial garden, which is lovely and has a small statue of the Little Mermaid (not Ariel, but the original fairytale version). There's a brass plaque with Walt's name and other family members. It was very beautiful and I was surprisingly moved by the experience. I say that because I'm normally not "that type" but I'm so glad I went.

 

[Corpsebride]

Not far from the Studios and the Tam is Forest Lawn cemetery. We visited the Disney memorial garden, which is lovely and has a small statue of the Little Mermaid (not Ariel, but the original fairytale version). There's a brass plaque with Walt's name and other family members. It was very beautiful and I was surprisingly moved by the experience. I say that because I'm normally not "that type" but I'm so glad I went.

That's right! I totally forgot! I have family buried in Forest Lawn. It is a beautiful cemetery. Looks like I need to go visit Uncle Walt!

 

[Kit Jackson]

The Walt Disney Family Museum is not something you can do as a day trip from Disneyland. It would need to be part of a multi-day west coast trip. That being said, the Walt Disney Family Museum is amazing. I would say it's a must see for any Disney fans with the means/ability to travel. If you are seriously into Disney history, this is the museum to go. I absolutely loved it.

 

[irlandaise]

The Walt Disney Family Museum is not something you can do as a day trip from Disneyland. It would need to be part of a multi-day west coast trip.

I would hope that when I mentioned it being part of a visit to San Francisco, no one thought that could be a day trip! I have seen people on this board think they could drive up to SF and do the museum on the same day, which is also unrealistic. (Unless they planned to leave Orange County before dawn.)

That being said, the Walt Disney Family Museum is amazing. I would say it's a must see for any Disney fans with the means/ability to travel. If you are seriously into Disney history, this is the museum to go. I absolutely loved it.

They have some permanent exhibits and some temporary ones, so one can always justify multiple visits!

 

[vakamalua]

Loved the Disney family museum in SF! But it's not the story of the company or the films or the parks--some of that is included but it's really Walt's story as told by his family with great insight & beautifully curated. IMHO It's not really a museum that children would enjoy very much; there's a lot to read & see but it's not really interactive at all.

 

[Jason2015]

The Griffith park carousel

 

[pindecisive]

Loved the Disney family museum in SF! But it's not the story of the company or the films or the parks--some of that is included but it's really Walt's story as told by his family with great insight & beautifully curated. IMHO It's not really a museum that children would enjoy very much; there's a lot to read & see but it's not really interactive at all.

I really love the museum because some of the gift shop feels like what Disneyland was before it became commercialized, lots of fun, non-Disney branded items that tie into the movies.

The gift shop is free, so even if you don't want to pay to tour the museum, you can swing by the gift shop for fun.