Magic Kingdom eyeing a new home in Presidio
By Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross
Monday, June 21, 2004
(sfgate.com) Psst, Minnie, pass it on. San Francisco's Presidio is being eyed as a possible home for a major museum dedicated to the man who made Mickey Mouse.
Word is, the heirs of Walt Disney have approached the Presidio Trust about turning a century-old barracks at the old Army base into a permanent showcase for the life, art and philosophy of Disney.
The barracks needs $9 million to $10 million in seismic repairs and probably at least that much in other renovations to turn the place into a real museum.
Disney grandson Walt Miller confirmed, "We're in the middle of negotiations for the building.'''
Largely unbeknownst to the public, Disney's heirs have been leasing a small, unmarked warehouse in the Presidio for the past three or four years, where they've set up a display of photos, letters and other Disney mementos, according to well-placed sources.
Much of that material is already online in a "virtual museum'' at the Disney Family Foundation (disney.go.com/disneyatoz/waltdisney), which is hosted by Disney online but is not affiliated with Walt Disney Co.
Disney daughter Diane Miller says the online museum fulfills her lifelong ambition of helping people to "better understand Walt Disney as the man behind the myth.''
It even answers some persistent questions about the man, such as:
Was Walt dishonorably discharged from the Army?
Was it true he couldn't draw?
Was he a mean boss?
What was his favorite attraction at Disneyland?
And, was Walt frozen?
(The answers, according to the Web site's FAQ section: No, no, depends on who you ask, whatever he was working on at the time, and nope.)
One question that isn't answered is how some people in lefty San Francisco might feel about the Presidio hosting such a shrine to the flag-waving animator.
"Some people are going to freak -- we know that,'' admits one Presidio insider familiar with the plans.
Then again, with some 6 million square feet of rental space inside the park, Presidio officials are casting a wide net for tenants.
As for why Disney's heirs would be interested in the Presidio:
Family members wouldn't comment, but one Presidio source familiar with the project said Walt was a very patriotic gent and his family "liked the idea of it being on a former military base.''
Besides, his daughter and son-in-law spend most of their time around here these days -- in fact, they own the Silverado Winery up in the Napa Valley.
By Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross
Monday, June 21, 2004
(sfgate.com) Psst, Minnie, pass it on. San Francisco's Presidio is being eyed as a possible home for a major museum dedicated to the man who made Mickey Mouse.
Word is, the heirs of Walt Disney have approached the Presidio Trust about turning a century-old barracks at the old Army base into a permanent showcase for the life, art and philosophy of Disney.
The barracks needs $9 million to $10 million in seismic repairs and probably at least that much in other renovations to turn the place into a real museum.
Disney grandson Walt Miller confirmed, "We're in the middle of negotiations for the building.'''
Largely unbeknownst to the public, Disney's heirs have been leasing a small, unmarked warehouse in the Presidio for the past three or four years, where they've set up a display of photos, letters and other Disney mementos, according to well-placed sources.
Much of that material is already online in a "virtual museum'' at the Disney Family Foundation (disney.go.com/disneyatoz/waltdisney), which is hosted by Disney online but is not affiliated with Walt Disney Co.
Disney daughter Diane Miller says the online museum fulfills her lifelong ambition of helping people to "better understand Walt Disney as the man behind the myth.''
It even answers some persistent questions about the man, such as:
Was Walt dishonorably discharged from the Army?
Was it true he couldn't draw?
Was he a mean boss?
What was his favorite attraction at Disneyland?
And, was Walt frozen?
(The answers, according to the Web site's FAQ section: No, no, depends on who you ask, whatever he was working on at the time, and nope.)
One question that isn't answered is how some people in lefty San Francisco might feel about the Presidio hosting such a shrine to the flag-waving animator.
"Some people are going to freak -- we know that,'' admits one Presidio insider familiar with the plans.
Then again, with some 6 million square feet of rental space inside the park, Presidio officials are casting a wide net for tenants.
As for why Disney's heirs would be interested in the Presidio:
Family members wouldn't comment, but one Presidio source familiar with the project said Walt was a very patriotic gent and his family "liked the idea of it being on a former military base.''
Besides, his daughter and son-in-law spend most of their time around here these days -- in fact, they own the Silverado Winery up in the Napa Valley.
