The Walt Disney Family Museum Offers Virtual Events

The Walt Disney Family Museum is offering virtual classes and Happily Ever After Hours! Find all of the details! #waltdisney #wdw

I’ve shared about my love of The Walt Disney Family Museum several times. We absolutely loved our visit to this museum in San Francisco. In fact, we spent about 4 hours there. But we could have spent the whole day! My son, who is planning to be an Imagineer when he grows up, wanted to take a mental picture of every single display. And we are all in need of some magic and entertainment at home. Just in time, The Walt Disney Family Museum is offering virtual events for every Disney fan! There are events for everyone, no matter the age!

Happily Ever After Hours

In keeping with their mission, The Walt Disney Family Museum is finding new and unique ways to connect to their audience virtually. And they are thrilled to announce our new Happily Ever After Hours virtual series with Disney luminaries. These will include animators, artists, directors, and Imagineers. They will discuss their careers and connections to Walt’s story. And they will be hosted via Zoom webinar. Audience members will have the opportunity to submit questions to our special guests in advance. And then they can watch them answered live! Grab a refreshment and hear from some of your favorite Disney personalities from the comfort of your home.

The first event took place on April 15, and featured Bob Gurr. This Disney legend and Imagineer shared stories about his love of trains. And he also shared about his work at the Disney Parks, and his memories of Walt Disney. My son and I were so honored to be able to listen to this legend in this live session. It’s something that he will carry with him for the rest of his life!

Bob Gurr was hired by Walt Disney in 1954, just ahead of the opening of Disneyland. With a background in car design, Gurr is most famous for designing many of the early ride vehicles of Disneyland, including Autopia cars, Matterhorn Bobsleds, and Haunted Mansion Doom Buggies. His fascinating career reaches beyond Disneyland to rock concerts, Las Vegas, the Olympics, and more.

Event line-up

The Walt Disney Family Museum will offer several other Happily Ever After Hours events as well, with legends like Muppeteer Dave Goelz and Disney Directors Brenda Chapman and Kevin Lima. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to miss a single one! Be sure to check out The Walt Disney Family Museum’s website to find more information and register.

Check out the amazing line up below:

Producer Don Hahn | Wed, Apr 29
Animator and Television Showrunner Butch Hartman | Fri, May 1
Author Marcy Carriker Smothers | Wed, May 6
Klaus Producer Jinko Gotoh | Fri, May 8
Members Only Talk: From Paper Son to Disney Legend: Tyrus Wong’s Journey | Sat, May 9
Directors Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise | Wed, May 13
Historian Michael Campbell | Wed, May 20

The Walt Disney Family Museum Virtual Classes

The Walt Disney Family Museum will be offering classes in art, animation, and more to students of all ages. What a great way to learn a new skill while we have this time on our hands. These courses vary in price. And you can register via their website.

Adult Courses

Character Design: Every Sat, Apr 18–May 9 | 10:30–11:30 am

In this four-week class, students will explore what it takes to create a well-developed character. And you can learn more about character styling by studying designs that center around theme, environment, and time period. Learn how to use proportion, silhouette, and shape language. In addition, you will learn about experimenting with facial features and clothing to create your own original and believable character. That sounds amazing!

Designing Comics: Every Sat, May 16–Jun 6 | 10:30–11:30am

In this four-week course, students will explore the history and evolution of comics. And you will also learn what makes this form of visual storytelling unique and versatile. Students will delve into techniques such as gesture and silhouette, page layout, and story pacing. The final product will be to design your own short comic from start to finish!

Youth Courses

Character Design: Every Sat, Apr 18–May 9 | 1:30–2:30pm

Designing Comics: Every Sat, May 16–Jun 6 | 1:30–2:30pm

How will you learn more about Walt Disney and his many talents during this time of social distancing? With Walt Disney Family Museum, the opportunities abound! Be sure to follow me on Instagram to see highlights of our live session with Bob Gurr!

Digital Storytime and Virtual Community Art Exhibition

The Walt Disney Family Museum is also starting a new virtual Storytime series. Readers of all ages are invited to join the authors and illustrators of inspiring recent titles, including:

Mary Poppins with Illustrator Geneviève Godbout | Tue, May 5

Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist Storytime | Sat, May 9

There’s also a new virtual community art exhibition, The World of Tomorrow. Both adults and teens of all skill levels are encouraged to submit new or previously created artwork, inspired by their vision of a “world of tomorrow”. You can find all of the guidelines and enter here.