Walt Disney’s Childhood Home Opens to the Public

In today’s world, the Walt Disney Company is a name synonymous with magic. After creating the Walt Disney Company 100 years ago, Walt Disney went on to create magic for millions of fans all over the world.

Because of his influence, many fans feel emotionally attached to Walt’s legacy. His history is fascinating, and his story is incredibly inspiring. Now, fans can go back and see where it indeed started by visiting his childhood home.

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Walt Disney’s childhood home, located in Chicago, Illinois, has recently opened its doors to the public, allowing fans and enthusiasts to step into the early years of this iconic figure’s life. This momentous occasion marks an opportunity for visitors to explore the place where Walt Disney’s passion for animation and storytelling was ignited.

The opening of his childhood home not only provides a unique glimpse into the humble beginnings of a visionary but also serves as a tribute to the man who brought magic and joy to the world. As you step through the front door, you are immediately transported back in time.

From the charming wooden exterior to the authentic furnishings inside, every detail has been carefully preserved to recreate the atmosphere of a bygone era. It’s a truly immersive experience that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the world that shaped the imagination of one of the greatest storytellers of all time. The home was built by Walt’s father for just $800. Who would have guessed that in 1901, this humble home would become the birthplace of a legend and innovator?

sherman brothers and walt disney

The tour takes you through various rooms of the house, each with its own story to tell. As you walk through the rooms, you can imagine young Walt Disney spending his days here, dreaming and creating. The unassuming bedroom where he slept, the cozy kitchen where his family gathered for meals, and the modest living room where they entertained guests all hold a sense of history and nostalgia. It’s as if time has stood still, allowing visitors to witness the roots of Walt Disney’s creative genius.

Walt was homeschooled, so this home served as his classroom growing up. It was in this humble environment that the seeds of Walt Disney’s imagination were sown, and the foundation for his future success was laid. As visitors explore the backyard, they can envision the young Disney brothers diligently working on their early animated creations, a testament to the determination and passion that would propel Walt Disney to greatness.

Rey Colon, the Walt Disney Birthplace project director, says,

“Walt Disney was an example that, you know, if you come from humble beginnings, if you work hard, you follow your dreams. You could change the world.”

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For fans and admirers of Walt Disney, visiting his childhood home is a pilgrimage of sorts. It allows them to connect with the man behind the magic to understand the roots of his boundless imagination. It’s a chance to pay homage to a visionary whose creations continue to touch the lives of millions worldwide.

The opening of Walt Disney’s childhood home to the public is an invitation to step into the past, to witness the origins of a legend, and to be inspired by the enduring legacy of Walt Disney.

New LEGO Disney Set Is Tribute to Walt Disney

Via DisDining.com

LEGO enthusiasts and Disney fans alike will be thrilled with the latest creation from LEGO: the LEGO Walt Disney Tribute Camera. This incredible set pays homage to the man behind the magic, Walt Disney, and combines the beloved LEGO and Disney brands in a truly unique way.

Walt Disney is a name that needs no introduction. Known for revolutionizing the entertainment industry, Disney built an empire that continues to capture the hearts of millions around the world. The LEGO Walt Disney Tribute Camera is a nod to the visionary filmmaker and his iconic creations.

The set features a LEGO version of an old-fashioned movie camera, reminiscent of the one used by Disney himself in the early days of animation. It is beautifully designed with intricate details, such as a film strip, giving it an authentic feel. Comprised of 811 bricks, this set is a labor of love and highlights Disney’s influence on the world of cinema. The set also includes a black and white mini-figure of Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse, a Bambi and Dumbo figure, and a mini-figure of Walt Disney himself.

All year long, the Walt Disney Company and LEGO have been collaborating on collections as a way to celebrate the Disney 100 anniversary. This year marks 100 years of the Walt Disney Company, and these LEGO sets are a fun and meaningful way to honor such an occasion.

walt disney camera LEGO

Preorders for the camera have begun, but it won’t officially be on sale until September 1. The set will cost $99, a standard price for a set of this size. It has been so incredible to watch Disney and LEGO collaborate on so many awesome sets this year, and this one is no exception. It will be so fun to see what is next to come for this iconic collaboration.

Tour Walt Disney’s Newly-Restored 1932 “Storybook Mansion” in Los Angeles

Via DisDining.com

From the street, visitors to the area in Los Angeles only see a gate and a really steep driveway. But something very special sits upon a small area of land at the top of that driveway–a mansion that at first glance seems unassuming and not entirely different from other structures visitors see in the neighborhood on Woking Way, a tiny street that lies between Los Feliz Boulevard and Griffith Park.

But atop that steep driveway is a place where real magic was born, real magic happened, and real magic was relived over and over again. It is, after all, Walt Disney’s Storybook mansion.

walt Disney's home on woking way

Known as Walt Disney’s “Storybook Mansion,” the home is a private residence that opens up for tours once a month. The home is one part luxury mansion, one part storybook cottage. And it’s 100% fairytale magic.

“There is something special about the house,” says Dusty Sage, who gives the once-a-month tours of the home formerly owned and lived in by Walt and his wife Lillian Disney. “I always like to think I’m feeling the spirit of Walt Disney when I’m in here. Whether that’s just me thinking that way or if it’s actually his spirit, I don’t know. But I get goosebumps in this house. No matter how many times I’m here, I feel the vibe of this place and it speaks to me.”

The mansion features white plaster and deep red brick. Dark wood shingles line the roof of the structure, and stained glass adorns the windows to the outside world. Within a tower topped with a classic weather vane lies the front door to the Storybook Mansion where Walt once lived, and if you’re ever lucky enough to tour the home, the walk up to the house will inspire you with rose bushes bearing two colors of roses lining both sides of the walk: yellow for Walt and pink for Lillian.

The year was 1932. Walt Disney hadn’t yet created and released what would be the first-ever feature-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The film wouldn’t debut at the Carthay Circle Theater for five more years. That year, Walt and Lillian had their new home built at 4053 Woking Way in Los Angeles.

Over the next 18 years, the Disney couple would welcome two daughters, Diane and Sharon, Walt Disney Studios would release Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Bambi, Victory Through Air Power, Make Mine Music, Fun & Fancy-Free, Melody Time, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, and Cinderella, and Walt would begin plans for his first theme park, Disneyland, in Anaheim, California, some 32 miles southeast of his Storybook Mansion.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs One Sheet Movie Poster (RKO, | Lot #13005 | Heritage Auctions

The mansion encompasses more than 6,300 square feet and originally sat upon 1.5 acres of prime Los Angeles real estate. It’s not the same house in many respects as it has seen changes over 72 years that have passed since Walt and Lillian lived in it.

walt disney's home on woking way

Part of the land on which the Disneys had their house built has been sold. The house has undergone some renovations and refurbishments as well. Walt’s workout room was first converted to a nursery and then to a billiards room.

While Walt and Lillian lived there, Walt had one of the bedrooms turned into a screening room. There, he could work with footage that was recently shot for the live-action projects on which Walt Disney Studios was working.

walt disney home on woking way

Just inside the mansion is a large rotunda, and the home still features the original colored-leaded glass. Other features inside Walt’s Storybook Mansion include painted vaulted ceiling beams, a “Juliet” balcony, a library, a sleeping porch, a breakfast nook, and two bars. There are also four bedrooms and five bathrooms. Just like Walt’s Carolwood estate, to which the family moved in 1950, the Storybook Mansion made beautiful use of plants native to California and rock terraces.

Upon the start of the Second World War, the country began to take strikes in supporting the effort, and Americans started to contribute metals to that end. Walt Disney himself donated two metal deer sculptures from his home on Woking Way.

This photo from the Los Angeles Times, dated August 14, 1942, shows Walt Disney with his sledgehammer as he prepares to break up the metal sculptures into pieces.

walt disney metal drive for world war 2

The home still has a little cottage where Walt’s daughters Diane and Sharon used to play outside. Since the Disneys moved, a swimming pool has been installed on the property, but the tiny cottage is still on the property as it was when Walt and Lillian lived on Woking Way.

walt disney's home on woking way

“This house was just a style Walt Disney liked,” said Sage.

Walt Disney Gets Another Behind-the-Scenes Movie

Via DisneyFanatic.com

Disney Plus has just released a special collection focusing specifically on the Disney Parks and how the Walt Disney Company was developed, and now the special features continue with an upcoming movie about “about Walt Disney’s journey to building Disneyland, the “Happiest Place on Earth”! Deadline has revealed that David Gordon Green is “set to direct a movie at Disney Studios for Disney+”. The writing for this movie will be helmed by Evan Spiliotopoulos, who wrote for “The Jungle Book 2, Pooh’s Heffalump Movie, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure and the $1.26 billion-grossing live-action reboot of Beauty and the Beast”. Apparently it took a year for Cavalry Media to fine-tune their pitch for Disney, and as we can see by this news, that effort must have paid off!

Director David Gordon Green has seen success previously with “Halloween Kills”, which is “the sequel to the highest-grossing Halloween movie of all time”. In addition to the Disney movies mentioned above, writer Evan Spiliotopoulos also worked on “Snow White and the Huntsmen, which grossed nearly $400M worldwide” as well as “the $245M WW-grossing Hercules”. Since he clearly has experience with Disney movies, and David Gordon Green has experience with making successful films, we expect that this original film will be promising!

According to Deadline.com, “Dana Brunetti and Matt DelPiano at Cavalry Media will produce with Jason Reed”. Reed was a producer for the live-action Mulan in 2020. While films in the new Disney+ collection and the movie “Saving Mr. Banks” have already provided some insight into the Disney Parks’ background, and Walt Disney World’s 50th-anniversary celebration provided many more fun facts, we’ll be interested to see what else can be learned from this new movie too! Have you seen any other movies about the development of Disneyland, the development of Walt Disney World, or Walt Disney himself?

Walt Disney’s Carolwood Pacific Railroad Plans Part of Upcoming Massive Disney Auction

Bidders have a chance to purchase a rare piece of Walt Disney history. An archive of Carolwood Pacific Railroad items is on the auction block. The Carolwood Pacific Railroad was Walt’s personal backyard railroad. It served as the inspiration for the Disneyland Railroad and locomotives at all future Disney theme parks.

Heritage Auctions is offering the lot as part of its The Art of the Disney Theme Park / Disney Storybook Art Collection Signature Auction. The auction runs April 8 – 10. We’ll be showcasing a number of Disney Parks items from the auction in great detail here on the site over the next few weeks.

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According to the Heritage Auctions press release, the archive is “comprised of the actual plans for Walt Disney’s Carolwood Pacific Railroad and an original set of cyanotype blueprints for the Lilly Belle steam locomotive.” The Lilly Belle, a 1/8 scale coal-fueled steam engine, provided the power to the Carolwood Pacific.

The Carolwood Pacific Railroad first operated in the backyard of Walt Disney’s Holmby Hills, California home. The Carolwood Pacific ran on a half-mile of 7-1/4″ gauge track. It began operating in 1950, five years before Disneyland opened.

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Numerous artifacts are included in the lot.

  • Master Backyard Layout, including extensive hand-written notes and “Use this for layout. 6/1/51 Walt”
  • Additional blueprints, including locomotive, rolling stock, bridge, and track layout drawings
  • Printed plans for Walt Disney’s residence itself and a timber trestle
  • A topographical map of Carolwood Drive

In total, the lot is comprised of approximately 60 pieces. No price estimation has been published. The auction includes numerous Disney artifacts, but none tied so closely to Walt Disney himself.