So everybody has one of those dreams that is just that... a DREAM! Some come true and others stay a distant and far off wish that remains with them forever! Well one of my far off dreams came true last month when I was visiting DisneyLand in California. I was allowed to visit Walt Disney's Private Apartment above the Firestation on Main Street, USA!
So here is how it happened! I walked into Guest Relations very confident and holding strong to my ultimate goal. A very nice Cast Member was there of which I was sure after hearing my story I would NEVER get into Walt's apartment. However I told her who I was and where I came from and then explained what one of my "Bucket List" dreams was. She heard my story and then told me she would be right back. When she returned about 5 minutes later she said that due to the significance of the apartment it is never shown anymore except on very rare occasions such as if you are family of Walt's. She explained how the items inside are museum pieces and a very large part of the history of the company not to mention personal items of Walt's. MY DREAM WAS BEING CRUSHED before my eyes and ears!
Then she asked if I was alone which I very promptly answered YES. She then said to go over to the side of the Firestation and put my Disney CM ID on and that a VIP Tour Guide would meet me there to take me on a tour of my Dreams! To this date I cannot remember the wonderful CM that met me there but she was very nice and truly a pleasure to be with for the hour I was with her. After introductions and questions about where I work and what I did for Disney we climbed the stairs behind the Firehouse up to Walt's apartment. The stairs are the same ones he used and are green in color. At the top of the stairs she unlocked the door which was beautiful reddish brown door, very simple but to Walt's liking.
As the door opened I was looking down a small hallway with an Edison player straight in front of me with a coat rack on the left. The carpet was red and floral in color and pattern. The room was very cold. The CM said she was just going to put the heat on as it was off since "no one every goes in here anymore!" She then asked me if I wanted her to tell me everything about the apartment or if I just wanted to look around for myself. I quickly told her that I wanted to be told everything as if I knew nothing about the apartment. I then had to tell her that this was such a dream come true that I would probably cry. I lasted about 30 seconds and then began crying. She said that she was going to love giving this tour because most VIP's who are given the tour do not understand the significance of the apartment and its occupants.
I was shown the Eddisson player on the couch that Walt used to entertain as well as to sleep on. The couch was red in color and very comfortable. I picture of Walt was above his couch. Behind the middle pillow was a cubby that held the original rolls for the player. This was a gift to Lillian from Walt and was an original piece. In another cubby was Walt's pj's and a pillow. The photo shows me sitting on Walt's couch and bed. Other items also were on the ledge of the couch. Adjacent from his couch was Lillian's couch which is identical with a photo on the wall of her as well. In the middle are two chairs, a small table and two foot stools. The table usually holds something special, a Lamp always turned on. Read my other post about this lamp. In the photo I posted you will see this lamp. They moved it due to it being the Christmas season so a small Christmas tree is now on the table. The window that is at the center of the 2 chairs with the table underneath looks out over Main Street, USA. All guests usually see the lamp but now see the tree instead. The lamp which is on the left of my photo is now in another window as you can see and it is still lit.
After viewing the chairs, lamps, carpet, photos, couches, nicknack's and the rest I was shown the phone that Walt would use which was on Lillian's side of the room. I was even given a chance to call someone. Why would I want to call someone? Well the caller ID comes up saying "Walt's Apartment"! From there we went over to Walt's small kitchen which is across from the center window. On the counter was a small sandwich press for making Walt's favorite, Grilled Cheese. It would also serve to heat up another of Walt's favorite, Chili! Across from that was a large porcelain drink bowl with matching mugs. The bowl said "Tom and Jerry". This was Walt's favorite adult beverage the recipe is: 12 egg(s), 1 cup sugar, 1 bottle brandy, Pinch of ground allspice, Pinch of ground cinnamon, Pinch of ground cloves, 1 bottle dark rum, milk, nutmeg. Not my type of drink but OK. The fridge was empty but usually stocked with oranges for Walt's breakfast. above the sink were cabinets for his dishes which were still there along with baby bottles that Walt used to feed his grandchildren!
Turning left we looked at an old Victrola that Walt gave to his wife as a gift. It was original to the apartment. Some items have been removed after Walt's death as the family wanted them but replaced them with replica's. Next we turned slightly right and walked into a very small hall that contained their burrow with a silver dressing set for Lillian. A few things remained hanging on the hooks to our left. From there was the bathroom. This bathroom is special because Walt had it designed for him with 4 shower heads to massage his bad muscles following a polo accident. A piece of cranberry glass sat on the toilet.
Walking out of the bathroom we continued up a few stairs which led to an outside deck that sits right above the guests bathrooms right next to guest relations. Walt was able to entertain guests up there as well as to sit and relax with his family. From there you could see the flag on Main Street, USA as well as to be able to watch all the parades and going on's in the park. Walt's children would also run from there to the Jungle cruise to scare guests and play with them. Walt got many phone calls from managers saying that his children were doing this. The CM and I walked to the privacy fence and looked over. A few guests saw us and pointed with some pictures being taken. Later when I walked out, many guests were standing there taking pictures of us and asking questions. This led to park security having to escort us back into guest relations with me then going back stage and then on stage again in a different area to get away from the guests.
We then entered the apartment again had a few more stories, a few more tears followed by a hug. The CM was so happy that she was able to do this for me that she needed to hug me and told me that she never gave a tour like this before filled with so much emotion and happiness~ One last surprise for me was a pin that she gave to me. I will post a picture of it later but it was a pin of the lamp which actually lights up!
After about an hour in the apartment I made one last tour while touching everything possible, looked out Walt's window, sat on his couch and Lillian's, made a call, took in the sites etc, then the CM made a call to a manager and got permission to take a picture of me sitting on Walt's couch! What a surprise since no photos are allowed to be taken in there! We then left the apartment and back into the park.
It all happened so fast but was truly a dream come true! Thanks Disneyland!
