Walt Disney Family Museum Location Discussion

Now that I have placed my endorsement for the next leader of the Walt Disney Family Museum, I’d like to provide a little background for another discussion that is resurfacing as a result of this current situation – the location of the Museum.

There are those in the community of Disney fans who believe that a Walt Disney Museum would be better served if it were located closer to where much of Walt’s legacy was created.  That would be somewhere in the Los Angeles area, and many of the advocates of that location are residents of that area, and they feel there would be a greater attraction to a Walt Disney museum that was located in an area where Walt spent most of his creative life.  There are also some who think that the Museum is something that the company he and his Brother Roy created is somehow responsible of creating.  Now, I will admit I have developed my own bias for the Museum’s locations at The Presidio of San Francisco, as it is just a bit under 50 miles from my front door, and easy for me to visit.  But, I think I understand some of the reasons it is where it is located. 

First and probably foremost, it is called the Walt Disney Family Museum, and not the Walt Disney Museum.  This is because the Museum is Walt’s family’s tribute to his legacy and of their creation.  It has very little to do with what has become the company Walt and Roy created, but, for legal reasons, the Walt Disney Company does have certain controls over what happens and what is displayed at the Museum; they don’t own or operate it.  That is solely under the direction of Walt’s surviving family.  In addition, the vast majority of artifacts on display are the property of Diane Disney Miller or her family, and many of those artifacts were stored in a warehouse on The Presidio grounds for many years.  I have heard stories of Diane taking guests to that warehouse for personal viewings, since she and her husband Ron live in the area.  It makes certain sense that when uses for The Presidio, after it was turned over as National Park Services resource, were being considered, that Walt’s family would look there first, as well as The Presidio Trust approaching the family as being a location for their Museum.

I also mentioned there were legal issues which affected the Museum.  During his lifetime, Walt created a private company, which ultimately became Retlaw (Walter spelled backwards) to protect certain property and copyright claims for his naming rights.  Upon his death, control of Retlaw passed to his wife Lillian.  In 1982 the family sold much of Retlaw to the Walt Disney Company, which consisted of certain rides at Disneyland and control of Walt Disney’s naming rights, which I understand included ownership of Walt Disney’s name, image, and voice materials.  I honestly don’t understand the reasoning behind this sale, but, I do understand there were some internal conflicts developing within Walt Disney Productions, some of which, according to my observations, seems to still exist today.  But, the main outcome is that Walt’s public company gain control of his name, image, and voice.  This has created an environment where the Museum must obtain certain approvals for what is displayed at the Museum.  So, what affect might this have on the location?  It creates a separation – geographically – between Walt the Man and Walt Disney the company, and is less likely  to have the Museum overshadowed by Disneyland or the Studio.  It also keeps the Museum closer to the family in Northern California.

Some have claimed that the Miller’s simply put the Museum at The Presidio because it was convenient for them to have close to them, without giving much thought to any other location.  They claim that Walt carefully researched – through Buzz Price – the location for Disneyland to maximize its potential visitation.  I’d like to point out that his actual first choice was a parcel location adjacent to the Studio, but the dream ended up exceeding the space all too quickly.  With the brilliant analytical skills of Buzz, Walt went on to look for a larger parcel on which to build his dream, and settled on the Anaheim location, not because it was the best place at the moment but because of the future plans in place for the area.  We should also note that the location was still relative close to Walt’s base of operations, making his oversight and development of Disneyland’s progress much easier process.  Even the Walt Disney World location was based on, in part, the local future plans being developed for the area, and not what was currently in place.  Now let’s apply a little of Walt’s thinking to the thought processes of Ron and Diane’s locating the Museum, after all Diane grew up as the daughter of this creative genius, and Ron was groomed by the master to take his place, it would make sense that some of the creative thought process would have been transferred.  First, I understand from a couple of reliable sources that there were a location of locations looked at in southern California.  No reasons given for them being excluded, but, there was some thought given to SoCal.  Next, as I said earlier, many of the artifacts were already being stored on The Presidio. 

But that fact aside, The Presidio Trust has been looking at all the way to preserve the base while making it a valuable resource for the people of the United States, since The Presidio Trust Act was passed in December of 2001. So while I have no evidence to support it, I would not be surprised to learn that it was the Trust the approached to family about creating the Museum at The Presidio.  So, let’s go back to the creation of Disneyland for a moment, because some have made the comparison, while others have dismissed this comparison as being wrong.  We all have the benefit of 20/20 hindsight to make the claim that Walt’s choice of Anaheim was a brilliant decision.  But, let’s remember that none of the access highway that were part of the basis for the decisions were actually in place or even out of the planning stage when the choice was made on Anaheim.  Since it is my belief that Walt Disney’s Family is looking at this Museum as a long term tribute to their amazing Father and Grandfather, it would make sense to be that they would look for a location, like Walt, that had a fair well developed plan for future growth, and someplace where they can more easily maintain oversight of its development and growth.

So there’s my basic synopsis of the location issue, as I understand it.  But, there are people out there who know much more than I, so if they’d like to share.  I’d be more than happy to listen to what they have to say.

So stay tuned as I try to learn more about what’s next for the Walt Disney Family Museum.

Your comments or questions are always welcome.  If you have a correction or something you think I should look at in my research, please feel free to contact me at mr.grumpyguy@gmail.com

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Mineral King: Walt’s Last Lost Project

In the summer of 1958, Walt Disney Productions shot a movie, touted by some and the best adventure movie you’ve never seen – Third Man on the Mountain.  I have to admit, it is one that I have not seen.  But then, with well over 600 films to their credit, there are quite a few Disney films on my yet to see list, but, this one has moved up considerably on the must see list.  The film was shot on location in the Swiss village of Zermatt.  This quaint little town in Swiss Alps is only accessible by a Cog or Rack Railway.  That will become obviously important later in our discussion.  As will the other important development that occurred as a result of Walt’s location visit during shooting.

On Saturday January 21, we gathered at the Walt Disney Family Museum for a discussion of Walt Disney’s last project, and one that not many, but the more serious Walt Disney fans, know anything about.  Most Disney aficionados are pretty knowledgeable about Project Future, which you know better as Walt Disney World.  But…  Did you know that, during the same period that Walt was developing his ideas for Florida, he was also working on developing a ski resort in the California Sierras?  Well, yes he was…  But first, let’s head back to 1958 and the other well development that came out of Walt’s visit to Zermatt.

How many of you remember Holiday Hill at Disneyland?  The mount of dirt was excavated from in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle to create the moat, and atop of that mound was one of the towers that supported the Skyway gondola ride.  Since Walt had always felt that the tower detracted from the picture he wanted painted for the Castle, he was always looking for a way to plus the area.  While in Zermatt, Walt sent a postcard by to one of his favorite designers – Harriet Burns.  Harriet’s daughter, Pam Burns-Clair, was also at the Museum for this day’s events.  The postcard simply said this, “Build this.”  You know that build today as the Matterhorn, the first tubular steel rollercoaster, and built inside a mountain.  The added bonus or probably more accurate reason for building it…  It disguised the Skyway tower next to Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.

Another added bonus of the day…  Since there was an event in the morning, Sam Gennawey, and Jeff Kurtti were at the Museum for a Meet & Greet and book signing, I had time between the two events to go through the galleries.  The galleries in a minute, but, the meet and greet was great.  Jeff is one of my favorite presenters (well, they are all my favorites, but, Jeff is at the top of the list) at the Museum, and I always look forward to seeing him.  Since I wrote a review of Sam’s book on my blog, I’ve had the opportunity to strike up an online friendship.  So getting the opportunity to meet him – in person – was special, and I’ve got to say, he is every bit as friendly in person as he is online.  Also in the meet and greet was Werner Weiss of Yesterland.  Werner wrote the Foreword for Sam’s book.  But what followed was a completely unexpected pleasure.

As I mentioned, I got the chance to once again go through the galleries, amazingly, a different experience each time.  This visit will be one of those very special times in my memory.  As I was making the transition from gallery 6 to 7, I notice another individual I now recognize from the earlier meet and greet event.  As I was stopped to talk to a couple of Museum Staffers, I didn’t have a chance, then, to approach this person.  But, I did manage to eventually catch up with him toward the end of gallery 8.  This person was and is David Price, one of the panelists for the afternoon’s event.  I got to introduce myself, and confirm that he was indeed “Buzz” Price’s son, as I had suspected.  And, I got to telling him how much I had enjoyed seeing his dad at an event about a year and half earlier.  And… as it turned out, “Buzz’s” last public appearance, another of my special moments at the Museum.  Not being a person who wants to intrude on others experience in the galleries, I was preparing to move on, and leave David to his viewing and thoughts.  Imagine my joy as he walked along side of me, conversing about the exhibits before us, Walt, and his Dad.  We strolled and talked all the way to the Disneyland of Walt’s Imagination exhibit, where after several minutes we parted company.  It was a most pleasurable 30 minutes which I will always remember fondly.  I was left with one overwhelming thought; I wish I had a Dad that I cherished as much as David so obviously cherishes his Dad.  Thank you David, for spending that time with me.

Now for the reason we came together at the Museum…  We were joined in the Walt Disney Family Museum Theater by Sam Gennawey, David Price, and Ron Miller to talk about the Walt Disney efforts to develop Mineral King Valley, which is now part of the Sequoia National Forest, as a ski resort, and summertime mountain destinations.   You might recognize Sam’s name as I wrote a recent review of his new book, WALT AND THE PROMISE OF Progress City.  I have found Sam’s book thought provoking and inspiring.  David Price is an architect in Southern California, and for the Disney fan, you may recognize a familiarity with his last name.  Yes, David is Harrison “Buzz” Price, the man responsible for the economic study which led to Disneyland’s location in Anaheim, along with dozens of other studies for Walt and the Disney Company.  Finally, we have Ron Miller.  Rom is a former CEO of Walt Disney Productions, husband of Diane Disney Miller, and a co-founder of the Walt Disney Family Museum.  As Sam described, Ron was “in the room” as plans for the development of Mineral King were pursued, and it is always wonderful to see one or more of the Museum’s co-founders participate in a presentations.  And…  As an added bonus, I got to sit next to Diane.  Okay, yes there was the 6, or so, feet of wheelchair space between us, but no wheelchairs today.  So, leave me alone…  I was sitting next to Diane!!!  J

Now on to Mineral King… 

We now know that Walt was very taken with Zermatt, Switzerland from his visit during the filming of Third Man on the Mountain.  But, did you know that he and his family were avid skiers.  Well, as we learned during this session, Diane… not so much early in her life.  While we were treated to a picture of Lillian, Walt, Diane (about age 8 or 9) and Hannes Schroll (more on him later) all posing on skis.  Diane did confess that she really did not really learn to ski until years later.  Hannes Schroll was a Alpine ski racer and the creator of the Sugar Bowl Ski Resort.  Hannes and Walt became good friends and Walt was an early investor in Sugar Bowl, but, you may not know his other Disney connection…  Hannes was known to many as the yodeling skier, and could often be heard skiing done the slopes.  It is Hannes doing Goofy’s holler in The Art of Skiing, and Sugar Bowl, even today, has a few Disney references, such as Mt. Disney, Disney Meadows, and the Donald Duck run.

Out of Walt’s interest in winter sports, he was approach to do the pageantry portion of the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley.  Walt’s staff planned the opening and closing ceremonies, it was at Walt’s insistence that these ceremonies be televised for the first time.  Much, if not all, of today’s televised sports pageantry can trace its root back to those televised ceremonies of the 1960 Winter Olympics.  As we learned from Ron, on Saturday, it turns out the much of the operational aspect of those games were handled or managed by Disney staff.  Seems the operational skills needed for running a theme park, are much the same as running the Olympic Games… who knew?  J  As result of all of this, Walt was looking to develop a winter sports destination with all the natural Disney flair.  Several locations were explored, but for many reasons these projects went nowhere.  So when the U.S. Forest Service put out an RFP to develop the Mineral King Valley, the Disney organization jumped on the opportunity.  The Mineral King Valley is bordered on three sides by the Sequoia National Forest, established in 1908.  The Mineral King area was originally excluded from the Sequoia Nat’l Forest primarily because of the earlier mining and commercial development activities in that area.  While it was made part of the Sequoia Game Refuge, it was still available for development.  While the Forest Service’s RFP was for a modest ski resort, Walt Disney saw a greater potential for a resort that could be used and enjoyed year round, and submitted grander plans for the valley’s development.  Using what he had learned in his development of Disneyland, the plans, underway at the time, for his visions of EPCOT, and what he saw as an ideal Alpine village in Zermatt, Switzerland, Walt designed what he thought would be an ideal resort in Mineral King.  Walt even put his best number guy, Harrison “Buzz” Price, on the task.  Remember, it was Buzz who had successfully identified the optimal location for Disneyland, and had recently identified Orlando as the future home of Disney World.  Even the Sierra Club was originally on board for the development.  Unfortunately, before the project could really get off the ground and actually building started, we lost Walt.  With Walt gone, there was no one to illuminate his vision well enough to keep the project going.  The team Walt left behind tried gallantly, but eventually the Disney organization was left with no alternative but to walk away.  It truly saddens me that this project never came to fruition.  From all the pictures Sam showed us and the comments for Ron and David, it would have been a place I’d visit often.

I particularly enjoyed this session, as we treated to some very loving banter and comments back and forth between Ron and Diane.  And David recalled some poignant memories of his young life in the Mineral King Valley.  You see, David’s family shared ownership of a cabin in valley, and he recalled often being at the cabin to make repairs.  Sam Gennawey is and exuberant presenter and moderator and greatly enhanced the presentation.  I’ve already started a campaign to have him back.  With this year being the 30^th anniversary of Epcot, I thought a session discussing what we see today at the theme park, and the EPCOT of Walt’s vision.  It would be a very interesting program.

Finally, I don’t say it here enough, but…  I would like to thank all of the Walt Disney Family Museum staff for all their efforts.  I enjoy each of my visits to the Museum as much for the exhibits and programs, as for the staff interaction.  Each and every one of you has every reason to be proud of what you have helped to create.  You all make each visit better, so to all of you…  THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Your comments or questions are always welcome.  If you have a correction or something you think I should look at in my research, please feel free to contact me at mr.grumpyguy@gmail.com

You can find us on Facebook at:  Discovering Disney History on FB

Walt Reunited with another Old Friend

Originally posted August 18, 2010

It is with great sadness that I report to you that we have lost another Legend in the Disney Community, and Walt has reunited with another old friend. On Sunday August 15th, Harrison “Buzz” Price passed away at the age of 89.


Buzz was a research economist for Stanford Research Institute (SRI) and later founded Economics Research Associates (ERA). Buzz worked with Walt and the company on many research projects, but probably his most famous was the study that Walt commissioned in the early 50’s to find the best location for his newest endeavor – Disneyland.

It was just a few weeks ago the we got the chance to listen to Buzz talk, at the Walt Disney Family Museum, about that research project and what it was like working with Walt. Along with Diane Disney Miller and the Greenes, it was a most enjoyable evening, and a great way to start off the Museum’s celebration of Disneyland’s 55th anniversary.

Hearing of Buzz’s passing brought home to me just how important it is to take the opportunities, as they arise, to spend time with the people who are important to us. Everyone who is important in our lives, because you never know, and those who are integral to our interests and hobbies because they can provide insight we may not get any other way. In the case of Disney Legends and particularly those who actually worked for and with Walt, it is especially important in my view, because this is a group of individuals who are getting up there in years and we may not have these opportunities much longer. It is interest and informative to read about their exploits and some very good authors and biographers have capture some of these stories very well, but, there nothing like sitting there enraptured, listening to their personal experiences from their own mouths. I think it gives greater live and depth to our experiences.

So Godspeed Buzz, and Thank You for sharing a little bit of your life with us. I will treasure it always, and I hope you are up there right now, planning that greatest of all theme parks with Walt and the rest of the guys.


Your comments or questions are always welcome. If you have a correction or something you think I should look at in my research, please feel free to contact me at mr.grumpyguy@gmail.com