Over the course of his long and prolific career, Walt Disney became synonymous not just with the artist, inventor, and movie maker he was, but with a whole cast of beloved characters. From Mickey Mouse to Mary Poppins, The Walt Disney Family Museum celebrates how Walt's highly animated imagination and tireless pursuit of innovation "helped define 20th-century America," as visitors get to know Walt through 40,000-square-feet packed full of his early drawings, animations, movies, and listening stations, with clips narrated in Walt's own voice. Through these exhibits, visitors can peer into Walt's world, and understand the successes, failures, and unmatched imagination of the man who brought animation to life.

Not unlike Disney's pioneering films, the museum's 10 galleries weave together state-of-the-art technology and history into an immersive experience. Early drawings and animation demonstrate the first seeds of inspiration; examples of multiplane camera cranes spotlight technological advances and the Disneyland of Walt’s imagination. A museum store stocks vintage Disney plushes and prints, and a Fantasia-themed theater complete with heavily padlocked broom closet shows Disney classics six days a week.