Walt Disney Apartment- 

Above The Firehouse at Disneyland

 

In the year 2012, Bob Gurr , Carlene Thie and her family went to Club 33 & Walt's apartment for Carlene Thie Birthday.

 

I remember that day we went to Disneyland's Club 33 and Walt's Apartment, it was raining so bad. When I got to the Disneyland park, I realized I forgot my phone, my umbrella broke, my poncho had torn, I couldn't find Disney Legend Bob Gurr, (or my family ) I was standing in the middle between both parks getting wet. (where we were supposed to meet)

 

I did brought my dog, Minnie Mouse (A service dog)

Minnie did have her rain coat on, not me! LOL!

Yet the rain was so bad, that it was bouncing back and Minnie wet getting wet and wanted to be held, and myself, I had no hope: )

 

Finally Bob Gurr, came about 20 minutes late, and my family came late too!

 

We went  into Disneyland and up to Walt's Apartment, we had a blast. Then made our way over to the vintage truck where they sell corn dogs on Main Street USA. 

Of course Bob Gurr, had to look at the engine and of course security was called. Once they realized it was DISNEY LEGEND Bob Gurr, of course everything was ok. LOL!

 

We then made our way to Club 33 and had the best day ever!! Man that was so much fun and I totally laughed about the rain and enjoyed every minute! 

 

In the next coming months I will post more photos, I hope to have some video to show you, inside Walt's Apartment.

 

 

 Walt Apartment information Disneyland's

 

 

 

It took one year and one day to build the original Disneyland, and during construction Walt Disney wanted a hidden little place where he could watch his vision be turned into reality.Above the Disneyland Firehouse.

 

The apartment itself is on the cozy side with only 500 sq. ft., but it served its purpose well. With a small kitchen, bathroom, and wooden desk, it had all Walt Disney needed to create, observe, and spend time with his family in peace from within the park.

 

 A fireman’s pole  was hidden in a closet…Originally

 

As the story goes, Walt would slide down the pole into the firehouse, but when an overzealous fan tried climbing up the pole the meet Walt, the pole was covered up.

 

On Main Street USA where Walt Disney and his family used to hide out, the Huffington Post has an interview with Walt's daughter Diane Disney Miller, who reveals some of the secrets about the pad, which is still not open to the public. Even today, the apartment acts as a quiet little time capsule in the middle of all the capitalist extravagance: it's "decorated with antiques, The original cranberry red glass lamp that over looked Disneyland, which can be seen at the Walt Disney family museum. Today there is a teal colored light that over looks Disneyland. Also one can see inside Walt's Apartment, vintage instruments and a grandfather clock. It still looks today as it did when Walt Disney kept it as his personal home inside Disneyland."

 

Diane Disney Miller said that Walt Disney kept Walt's  Apartment very private. It was for the Disney family to enjoy alone. It was their residence there and they would invite people up, if there were special people in the park, Lilian Disney and Walt Disney would go out and they would invite them up. Early, it was during "Davy Crockett," I remember there was some event there that day and Fess Parker and Buddy Ebsen were both out there for it, and dad was looking out that window and saw them and he said, "Hey, come on up!"

 

Walt & Lillian Disney told them how to get around, back behind, and get up to the apartment and there was a fire pole in it, it's not there now, but there was a door into the closet area that had a fire pole, like the firemen would have, and he showed it to them and said, "Why don't you guys slide down that?" And they did! People would say, did your father ever do that? 

--Diane Disney Miller

 

 

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. 

 

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. Diane Disney miller remembers standing next to Walt Disney 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 its original look. Now, a light is kept on near the window, as a tribute to Walt Disney creation of Disneyland.