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The Exterior |
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The only picture of Walt,
with his family, in the apartment |
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The Back Patio |
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Walt's Desk |
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Walt's
Private Apartment
As Disneyland was constructed, Walt
Disney wanted a place to stay and watch the activity. So, he
had a special apartment constructed on the second floor of the
Main Street Firehouse. Private, and hidden from the rest of Disneyland,
it was the perfect place for Walt to do quiet work, or enjoy
with his family.
The apartment is was very small, but was fully operational.
It had a small bathroom, with a shower, along with a small kitchen
unit. The furniture design was in a "Firehouse" look,
with reds, and whites, decorating the room. The original decorator
of the apartment was Emil Kuri, a set designer for many Disney
films, and also the decorator of Main Street, itself.
Walt didn't allow any pictures of him or his family inside
the apartment. Except one photograph, for National Geographic
Magazine (right)
The apartment also featured a quiet patio. Lillian Disney
often used this patio for her afternoon tea, or to entertain
guests. The patio was also decorated accordingly. White wicker
furniture covered deck. The patio was very private, vines surrounded
the wood patio, blocking any observers from the street.
When Walt Disney worked in the apartment, he would often work
at a small wooden desk, near the far right window, facing Main
Street below. (See a map of the entire
building, or see a different
map)
The day Disneyland opened, Walt watched from his apartments
window how the crowds poured through the gates. Mousketeer, Sharon
Baird was there:
"On the opening day of Disneyland, we (Mouseketters)
were in Walt Disney's private apartment above the Main Street
Fire Station when the gates of the park opened for the first
time. I was standing next to him at the window, watching the
guests come pouring through the gates. When I looked up at him,
he had his hands behind his back, a grin from ear to ear, I could
see a lump in his throat and a tear streaming down his cheek.
He had realized his dream. I was only twelve years old at the
time, so it didn't mean as much to me then. But as the years
go by, that image of him becomes more and more endearing."
Much of the original furniture has been removed. Although,
Disney designers have tried to remain faithful to it's original
look. Now, a light is kept on near the window, as a tribute to
his creation of Disneyland
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A look out the Window |
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Another look out the Window |
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Another View of the Apartment |
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