Walt's Disneyland Apartment
Disneyland: Was Walt's Disneyland apartment ever open to the public?
My father swears that we were in Walt's Firehouse apartment in the very early 80s. I would have been 9ish at the time and have no memory of that (nor do I think that it was possible)! My question is.... was Walt's apartment ever open to the public? If it was and I don't remember being there..... I may need a large box of tissues!
Firehouse Apartment?
I was under the understanding that the apartment was over or near the Pirates ride......probably going to need to defer to current/former cast members on this one.....
By the Pirate's ride is where Walt was building a second larger apt, but it wasn't finished before he died. Above the firehouse was where he stayed while Disneyland was being completed, and after. I think I read something about a tour that included a trip into the apt sometime in the 80s, but unfortunately the book I think I read it in is in a box somewhere until I move. So I can't confirm that.
Thanks Victoria! Good luck with the move! Keep me posted if you do run across the book.
Walt's apartment over the Main Street firehouse has welcomed members of the public over the years, but only the very few ones invited by higher-ups in the Disney company.
Many, many more people have been in the second of Walt's apartments, the old Disney Gallery space above Pirates of the Caribbean that it now the Disneyland Dream Suite. That was open to the public for years as the Disney Gallery. If you remember art on the walls and prints and posters for sale, then you were in the New Orleans Square apartment, not the firehouse one.
Others are correct; that apartment was not completed before Walt's death, so Walt never stayed there. These days, John Lasseter is said to be a frequent occupant of the New Orleans Square dream suite apartment. Which is great news for Disney fans, as he has the power to order immediate corrections to anything he sees amiss in the parks.
Thanks Robert! As we do not know any higher ups in the Disney community, I am going to go with the apartment above Pirates. I will call my father this evening because up until now he insists it was the on Main St. in the firehouse! I will get back to you on the details, maybe my father is more magical than I assumed! ha ha!
Amy, I think your father may be correct. It was about 1987 when we went up to the apartment. We were not part of a tour, we were just allowed to go up there. I don't remember too much of what was inside (as I had to keep an eye on two small kids)but I definitely remember the couches that turned into beds,the chairs and of course the lamp which we were not allowed to get too close to.
From T Dunc
Posted September 20, 2011 at 9:52 PM
That is totally possible that you were in the apartment as a kid because during Disneyland tours they go in there and tell you the history of Walt and the apartment. I've never bee on the tour but a woman told my mom and I about that while we were waiting for Aladdin in california adventure. So it's possible, but I had just met that lady so I don't know if she was telling the truth or not. But ask your dad if it was a tour or if you just went in. Either way that is so cool.
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