Built during Disneyland’s one-year construction, Walt Disney kept an apartment above the Main Street Fire Station next to City Hall. As one of the first buildings built, it gave him a bird’s eye view from which to oversee Disneyland’s construction. Once the park opened, the apartment served as a place for Walt to entertain friends and watch guests’ reactions as they entered and exited the park.
Today, Walt’s apartment is a shrine dedicated to preserving yesteryear. While closed to the public, it is opened for dignitaries, Disney corporate executives and other important guests who visit the park. If guests look up to the apartment window from Main Street, they can see that the lamp is always on in Walt’s memory. If they could venture inside the tiny studio apartment, they would see that little has changed since the Disney family called it a home away from home.
I once had a special relationship with Walt’s apartment, but before I can get into that, I think I should tell you a little bit more about myself. Growing up, every family home I ever spent time in (grandparents, great grandparents, even our house) had rooms with objects and furniture that were for looking and not touching–from Victorian furniture to beautiful pieces of cut glass and crystal to American and European ladies’ hand fans dating back to the 1800s. (Ladies’ fans were an item that Mrs. Disney always made sure were in stock at the One of a Kind Antique Shop in New Orleans Square.) We were in no way wealthy; these were just things that we collected or had been handed down and were treasured by all.
I grew up appreciating antiques. When I got my first job at 16, instead of spending my money on clothing, it wasn’t uncommon for me to save up for small antique pieces of china. By the time I had graduated from high school, I had already amassed quite a collection of beautiful teacups and other lovely antiques.
I began working at Disneyland just weeks after high school graduation and within a year, I had my first look at Walt’s infamous apartment. You can imagine my sheer delight upon standing in the entry way for the first time. There in front of me were all of the things I loved and appreciated—Victorian furniture and antiques, Lillian’s teacup collection, beautiful fabrics and many lovely knick-knacks. For a moment I was frozen—just taking it all in. I knew that the Disneys were “my people.” I “got” them and had they been in the room with us, they would have certainly “gotten” me and appreciated my excitement.
I began making my way around the room and I’m not really sure if my feet were on the ground as I fluttered from one sight to the next. The other guides must have thought I was crazy as I began to “ooh” and “ah” at what was in front of me. I admired Lillian’s teacup collection and the other guides giggled as I named each cup and saucer’s country of origin and even maker or cup type without having to pick it up. I was in my element and loving it.
From that point forward, I became an unofficial caretaker of Walt’s apartment. Whenever word came that someone was going to be taken “upstairs,” I was asked to “get the apartment ready.” I would make sure the teacups were displayed showing their most lovely sides, the refrigerator was stocked and the doors to the wet bar were closed, things were dusted and the like.
Now, truth be told, things were rarely out of place. Nevertheless, I always grabbed the keys and raced to the apartment as fast as my feet could take me, for those were my moments alone with the Disneys. I would gently unlock the door and slowly enter the apartment, careful to take it in just like I did the first time. I would unhurriedly make my way through, taking it in and imagining what it would have been like to have been one of Walt’s invited guests. What it must have been like to be Mrs. Disney attempting to prepare a light snack from the apartment’s small wet bar area. I would saunter over to the bathroom area where next to the door stands a highboy dresser with Walt’s bakelite grooming set, with hair still in the brush. I’d look out the window (careful not to be seen), down at the guests on Main Street, just as Walt had so many years before.
Those were my moments. Moments I will treasure for the rest of my life. Moments I didn’t share with anyone. Moments that live in my brain and that I re-experience in my mind’s eye whenever I catch a glimpse of the lamp’s gleam from above the fire station.
About a year before leaving the Disneyland Resort, I took a job writing for the resort, away from Guest Relations. On my last day in August of 1998, I asked for the keys so I could say good-bye to the place I loved. I entered the apartment and took these final pictures (and several others) so that I could remember it. I took a few playful pictures too, as I’m sure the Disneys would have seen the humor in them.
I’m optimistic that these days there are other tour guides who care for Walt’s apartment when the call comes that it will be shown. I hope that there is a special guide who loves it the way I did–who truly cares about those teacups, knick-knacks and gorgeous furniture. I also hope that one day, I’ll get to return to see my friend and hideaway high above Main Street. If not, I’ll always have my memories.
(Visited 1,072 times, 16 visits today)
Lovely! I am a fan of that era too, but i am not good with the origin of my teacups! What a special place for you!
Amazing. I may have shed a tear while reading this. 🙂 Beautifully written.
Very cool! Great post, as usual!
Thank you for sharing these special memories with us, I loved reading this post. 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing these memories with us. It was a beautiful story. It would be a dream come true to tour his apartment let alone be the unofficial caretaker! What special memories. 🙂
How super fun. Thanks for sharing the stories and photos. 🙂
Having just toured the Disneyland Dream Suite, I read your post with tenderness and care. What an amazing experience you were granted! Thanks so much for sharing…
Beautiful memories. Thank you for sharing.