The Walt Disney Family Museum

[ValpoCory]

My wife and I are going to SF on Wednesday, sans DD5 and DS1. We are staying in Union Square, and the Super Sightseeing tour picks you up there and takes you to the Pier 39 area and then to the Walt Disney Family Museum (amongst other places). We'll be doing that on Thursday, which is our 10th wedding anniversary. Finishing off the day with a nice dinner at the Cliff House overlooking the Pacific.

If you are planning on going to the Museum, print this out for $2 off admission (expires 12/31/2011 but it might extend ... check link).

http://www.baycityguide.com/images/coupons_pdf/San_Francisco_printable_coupons_attractions.pdf

 

[mamacatnv]

My wife and I are going to SF on Wednesday, sans DD5 and DS1. We are staying in Union Square, and the Super Sightseeing tour picks you up there and takes you to the Pier 39 area and then to the Walt Disney Family Museum (amongst other places). We'll be doing that on Thursday, which is our 10th wedding anniversary. Finishing off the day with a nice dinner at the Cliff House overlooking the Pacific.

If you are planning on going to the Museum, print this out for $2 off admission (expires 12/31/2011 but it might extend ... check link).

http://www.baycityguide.com/images/coupons_pdf/San_Francisco_printable_coupons_attractions.pdf

FYI The WDFM would be very boring to small children. There is a ton of reading involved

 

[dwheatl]

My wife and I are going to SF on Wednesday, sans DD5 and DS1. We are staying in Union Square, and the Super Sightseeing tour picks you up there and takes you to the Pier 39 area and then to the Walt Disney Family Museum (amongst other places). We'll be doing that on Thursday, which is our 10th wedding anniversary. Finishing off the day with a nice dinner at the Cliff House overlooking the Pacific.

If you are planning on going to the Museum, print this out for $2 off admission (expires 12/31/2011 but it might extend ... check link).

http://www.baycityguide.com/images/coupons_pdf/San_Francisco_printable_coupons_attractions.pdf

Glad you're able to get away for some couple time for your anniversary. Congrats on 10 years, and have a wonderful trip. We went to SF for our 10 year anniversary, but that was long before the Museum was there.

 

[ValpoCory]

FYI The WDFM would be very boring to small children. There is a ton of reading involved

Yep. That's why we are going during this trip with the kids back in Texas.

 

[ValpoCory]

Glad you're able to get away for some couple time for your anniversary. Congrats on 10 years, and have a wonderful trip. We went to SF for our 10 year anniversary, but that was long before the Museum was there.

Thank you! We can't wait.

 

[mamacatnv]

Yep. That's why we are going during this trip with the kids back in Texas.

Duh, I missed the without kids part! Have a great time its an amazing display

 

[SanFranciscan]

My wife and I are going to SF on Wednesday, sans DD5 and DS1. We are staying in Union Square, and the Super Sightseeing tour picks you up there and takes you to the Pier 39 area and then to the Walt Disney Family Museum (amongst other places). We'll be doing that on Thursday, which is our 10th wedding anniversary. Finishing off the day with a nice dinner at the Cliff House overlooking the Pacific.

If you are planning on going to the Museum, print this out for $2 off admission (expires 12/31/2011 but it might extend ... check link).

http://www.baycityguide.com/images/coupons_pdf/San_Francisco_printable_coupons_attractions.pdf

I used to work at the Cliff House long before I started volunteering at the WDFM. I left the Cliff House 20 years ago, and I do agree that the views can be quite lovely depending upon which table that you get. Without a window seat, much of the charm is gone. If you happen to be in the area of the Cliff House early and find it to be crowded and don't get a "good table," there is a little restaurant up the hill called Louis's. It is owned by relatives of the owners of the Cliff House. Because Louis's is small, there are no "bad tables"; and Louis's is much cheaper than the Cliff House, where a basic omelet can run you around $20. I thought that I would mention this because this would get you a Pacific view on the cheap, and the tables in the back hang over the cliff leaving you feeling as though you are sitting on the edge of the world.

 

[EPCOT66bye]

What hotels are near the Presidio? We'd like to spend a day at the WDFM and also Exploratorium, which looks to be nearby. Unfortunately, this would be the only time we'd have in SF, so staying close would give us more time in the museums. We'll also be driving to Anaheim for time there.

thanks!

 

[ter-moo]

What hotels are near the Presidio? We'd like to spend a day at the WDFM and also Exploratorium, which looks to be nearby. Unfortunately, this would be the only time we'd have in SF, so staying close would give us more time in the museums. We'll also be driving to Anaheim for time there.

thanks!

This one is really close to all of that. It's a newly renovated motel, owned by Joie de Vivre. It has free parking available, which is HUGE! I haven't stayed there, but I've stayed at some of their other properties, and have always been pleased.

http://www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/sanfrancisco/del_sol

 

[EPCOT66bye]

thanks, ter-moo...

That looks like a really nice place and convenient, but not quite in our budget. We're traveling for 25 nights, so I'm budgeting about half that a night. Unfortunately, that's a challenge when the rates are higher for a given locale. i'm beginning to see that CA is rather expensive.

 

[Miss SD]

This one is really close to all of that. It's a newly renovated motel, owned by Joie de Vivre. It has free parking available, which is HUGE! I haven't stayed there, but I've stayed at some of their other properties, and have always been pleased.

http://www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/sanfrancisco/del_sol

Thanks for the information about the hotel. Even though we're locals, it looks like a nice spot for a stay-cation. And they allow dogs!

 

[ter-moo]

thanks, ter-moo...

That looks like a really nice place and convenient, but not quite in our budget. We're traveling for 25 nights, so I'm budgeting about half that a night. Unfortunately, that's a challenge when the rates are higher for a given locale. i'm beginning to see that CA is rather expensive.

There are a couple of other less expensive hotels along Lombard Street:

Cow Hollow Inn: http://www.cowhollowmotorinn.com/
Buena Vista Motor Inn: http://www.buenavistamotorinn.com/
Coventry Motor Inn: http://www.coventrymotorinn.com/
Comfort Inn: http://www.sanfranciscocomfortinn.com/



Have you looked into vacation rentals? That might end up being cheaper for you...

The key words you want to look for to be close to the areas you mentioned would be Presidio, Lombard Street, Cow Hollow and Marina District.

 

[Rynosaur]

we are heading to san fran this weekend and i am really going to try to make it to this museum. i think we have time saturday to dedicate about 4 hours there

 

[SanFranciscan]

I now live in Orlando, but I remember walking past a number of lodges on my way to the supermarket after work at the Disney Museum. Since it is now off-season in San Francisco, with October being second only to January for the lowest number of tourists, the hotels on Lombard would be less expensive than their "official" prices of course and be very convenient to the Palace of Fine Arts/Exploratorium and the Disney Museum. My companion and I paid no where near the price per night listed on the door of our room when we went to Disneyland in April of 2006 so October prices are probably much lower than the "retail" (summer rush) price of a room in San Francisco.

I am trying to remember the name of a motor lodge that is right outside the gate of the Presidio about three blocks from the museum. I shall look it up for you. It is maddening not being able to remember the name of a place that I can still see so clearly in my mind.

 

[mamacatnv]

We always stay at the Travelodge Golden Gate - its rates are always less than the Cow Hollow Inn and they are across the street from each other. Corner of Steiner and Lombard in the heart of Cow Hollow - Walkable to the Exploratorium and an easy cab ride/drive to the Disney Museum. Parking at the Disney Museum is free so if you have a car this is an easy 3-5 minute drive from the motels on Lombard St.

http://www.travelodge.com/hotels/california/san-francisco/travelodge-golden-gate/hotel-overview

 

[ter-moo]

I now live in Orlando, but I remember walking past a number of lodges on my way to the supermarket after work at the Disney Museum. Since it is now off-season in San Francisco, with October being second only to January for the lowest number of tourists, the hotels on Lombard would be less expensive than their "official" prices of course and be very convenient to the Palace of Fine Arts/Exploratorium and the Disney Museum. My companion and I paid no where near the price per night listed on the door of our room when we went to Disneyland in April of 2006 so October prices are probably much lower than the "retail" (summer rush) price of a room in San Francisco.

I am trying to remember the name of a motor lodge that is right outside the gate of the Presidio about three blocks from the museum. I shall look it up for you. It is maddening not being able to remember the name of a place that I can still see so clearly in my mind.

Was it the Marina Motel?
http://www.marinamotel.com/

Actually THAT one looks really great! (but a little more expensive than the poster was looking for...)
There's another called The Presidio Inn:
www.presidioinn.com/

There's also an Economy Inn just outside the Presidio. Couldn't find a website for it.

 

[SanFranciscan]

The more that I think about it, the more I think that Hotel Del Sol is the one right outside the Presidio gate. Since that is out of your budget, moving away from the Golden Gate Bridge area up closer to VanEss Avenue will bring down the room rates.

 

[jegsnakkernorsk]

I was in San Francisco for work, staying at the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero Center. This was down in the financial district and when a meeting was canceled, I hoped in a cab and $21 later I was at the Presidio at the Walt Disney Family Museum. And another $20 later I was looking at black and white family portraits of Walt's ancestors in room #1.

The museum may not be a part of Disney Corporation, but the sticker shock is eerily similar. (I spent another $55 on a t-shirt and three pins, but I'm sure you can forgive the splurge.) There is however, complimentary coat check in the basement, next to the women's restroom - convenient!

The exhibits are largely interactive and interesting to an adult audience. I saw a group of young school children being hurried through so perhaps they have special tours and activities for children. Mostly, on this Wednesday morning in early December, it was adult couples - a mix of Baby Boomers and Gen Xers. It took me about 3 hours to tour the museum and I didn't know about the theater so I only explored the 10 rooms, the cafe and the gift shop.

Unlike a typical Disney-fan, I had no plans and no idea what to expect. I was largely pleased with my visit. The one thing I wish I had mentally prepared myself better for was that this is NOT Disneyland or Wald Disney World. I knew I was going to a museum, but I was going to a Disney Museum, so I thought. Basically I was expecting Cast Members - friendly, outgoing people who are ready to answer questions and be helpful. The staff were instead bored, over-educated museum staff. I actually don't know their education, they all just seemed like they had masters degrees from expensive universities in comparative religion and women's studies and were really disappointed in the turn their lives had taken. Anyway, if you want a cab home - you have to beg one of them to #1 look at you, #2 listen to you, and #3 call a cab for you. Good luck!

 

[dwheatl]

If anyone on here is planning to visit the museum soon, Sweet Jack has a half-off coupon. Here's the link : http://sweetjack.com/daily-deal/san-francisco
It's sort of like Groupon. You subscribe, and they have daily deals. If it's not on the daily deal, click on the "recent deals" tab.

 

[PatriciaH]

Going next month! Really excited!