Dedicated to the life, career, and art of Walt Disney, this new museum offers a fascinating look at the man behind the mouse. Opened in 2009 by the Walt Disney Family Foundation (headed up by Walt's oldest daughter, Diane, who lives in Northern California), the museum occupies an inconspicuous spot on the main post of the Presidio. The architecture alone is reason to visit the wonderful world of Disney. Repurposed out of an old army barracks and gymnasium, the deceptively large space blends seamlessly into its historic surroundings. In fact, it's easy to pass right by the tidy brick facade, until you notice the uniformed usher with the über-friendly smile beckoning you toward the door. Once inside, you'll find a museum that is as appealing to adults as to children (okay, maybe a tad more to adults, but don't tell that to my 8-year-old). The galleries are set up chronologically, beginning with Walt's early cartoons for his high school yearbook and ending with his death in 1966. Highlights include an interactive gallery documenting Disney's innovations in sound synchronization where kids can add sound effects to a Steamboat Willie cartoon; absorbing audio narratives about Disney's run-ins and ultimate triumphs over swindlers who tried to cash in on early successes; an original multiplane camera that shows you how Disney developed dimensional animation; and the nail-biting tale of how the Disney brothers financed Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Along the way, there's plenty of old-fashioned cartoons to watch -- which I suspect kids and grown-ups will enjoy for different reasons. It's part of what makes this new museum such a winner.
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