What Would Walt Do?

We are always worried about the next generation. We want them to have everything we had, and more. But things inevitably change, and we need to make way for the new. If my dad can learn to use a cell phone, anything can happen.

My latest trip to San Francisco, only recently made me realize how much I miss the old. Nestled in the presidio is a small pocket of history that resonates a little differently than any other museum ever has in my experience.

The Walt Disney Family Museum is like no Disney attraction ever seen before, particularly for its convenient Nor-cal location. The ten galleries of the museum take only a few hours to walk through, making it the perfect afternoon excursion for a trip to the city. Moderately priced at 20 dollars per ticket (15 for students), it is affordable even on a state budget.

But what is really unique about the museum, is the target audience. This is not a museum designed for toddlers hoping to push talking buttons or play with touch-screen games. It is geared toward a more mature crowd, looking to learn about the man behind the mouse.

The first gallery begins with Walt’s family history, and the means by which he grew up and spent his childhood. Even at an early age, Walt’s love for cartooning is a common theme in his family’s early travels across the Midwest in the early 1900s. It was in Kansas City where he discovered the world of motion pictures, vaudeville and amusement parks. His love for drawing and storytelling eventually leads him to Hollywood, and the birth of Mickey Mouse.

The following nine galleries led us through the other stages in Walt’s life and career including his early Hollywood days, beginning of the feature films, the artists strike, Disneyland and his last years. It is in many ways the story of a small company that made it big. But at heart, it is the story of a small man who followed his dream. He set standards for child and family entertainment that may never be met. And not only that, Walt was surrounded by a loving family of his own and was loved by dozens of friends and fellow artists. He must have been the happiest man on earth.

Being in the museum transported us to a time when Disney was a family name. To the small studio of close friends, who picked stories that meant something to them. In his lifetime, Walt Disney worked on just over 20 full length feature films, dozens of other projects for television, short films and of course, Disneyland.

The life of Walt Disney really puts his work into perspective. But what is really illuminating is how small a fraction of the Disney productions were actually overseen by Walt himself. “Mary Poppins” is the last film Walt was fully involved in before his death in 1966. That was over 50 years ago.

Since then, hundreds of movies, television shows and other projects have been released. The Disney Company itself has grown to epic proportions, owning dozens of cable channels, publishing companies, record labels and film studios.

Giant media ownership would not be so saddening if it were not for some of the things being made with the name Disney attached to it. Take the ABC network for example, which Disney owns. What would Walt have to say about “Desperate Housewives” or “The Bachelor?” Or even its self-titled Disney Channel?

The mom and pop days are certainly over. The little company that could has become so big and so successful; it may have spread itself to thin. It has even been accused of blatantly marketing sex to its young audience.

Ever since returning from the museum I have been worried about this. Worried that my children would not experience any of the Disney magic that came before them, that the age of storybook cartoons was over and the age of 3D technology was taking over.

Films like “Alice in Wonderland” frighten me because they stand as proof that this new company is willing to stray from why we came to love the name Disney, in the interest of profit (reaching an audience who will pay an extra five dollars to see a movie).

But there are reasons to be hopeful. Like Disney’s recent release “The Princess and the Frog.” This film pretends to be nothing but a charming story about a prince and a princess. The music is catchy and the moral of the story is something we can all get behind. It reminds me of something straight off of Walt’s drawing table.


















My doubts are at bay. For now.

But taking a glance at some of the upcoming releases in the Disney studio is not very promising. A computer-animated version of Rapunzal is set for release at the end of the year, but does not seem to have any of the storybook charm of “The Princess and the Frog”, and does not appear to be the start of a new pattern.

And then there is “The Sorcerer's Apprentice”, set for release this July.

Do not be fooled by the title. Trailers are already in theaters, and from the looks of it, Jerry Bruckheimer is set to butcher the classic Mickey Mouse “Fantasia” segment with the help of Nicholas Cage and Jay Baruchel.

It is an obvious, borderline pathetic, attempt at recreating the lucrative “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “National Treasure” franchises.

After all, it is much easier to cash out on old ideas than take a risk and be creative.

Right Walt?