You can tour Walt Disney's apartment at Disneyland — but is the $160 price worth it?
While some of the millions of guests who file into the gates of Disneyland each year know little about the park beyond its rides, others are quite familiar with the extra touches hidden in plain sight. For example, some are aware that Walt Disney had an apartment located right on Main Street USA. They may also know that a lamp stays on in the window of that apartment as a symbol of the famous animator's still-present legacy in the parks.
What even devoted visitors might not realize is that this historical space is now accessible via a new tour. As a guest on Walt's Main Street Story Tour, you'll step inside Disney's apartment and learn all about the animator and his life at Disneyland in the 1950s.
Unlike Disney VIP tours, you won't need to shell out thousands of dollars to peek into Disney's apartment. All that's required is a $160 per person tour fee and proof of a valid park reservation and admission for the same day. Advance bookings are not necessary, though they're highly recommended and can be made ahead of time (up to 60 days before your visit).
Being the Disney history enthusiast that I am, I have always been curious to see what Disney's apartment looked like. So, when I learned that a recent trip to Disneyland would occur shortly after the launch of Walt's Main Street Story Tour, I couldn’t resist a chance to walk inside the animator's former home.
Here's what Walt’s Main Street Story Tour was like — and whether the new experience is worth the price.
Related: Disneyland vs. Disney World: Which is the better park to visit?
An overview of Walt Disney’s apartment
As you may expect, the main draw of Walt's Main Street Story Tour is to see the former home of Walt Disney. Added in the 1950s while Disneyland was under construction, the apartment served as a convenient spot from which Disney could keep tabs on the park's progress when he was not busy making some of Walt Disney Studios' most iconic movies. By locating the apartment directly inside the park, Disney could reduce his time spent commuting and more efficiently tend to his many projects.
Built above Disneyland’s fire station on Main Street USA, Disney's in-park abode was designed to look and feel different from his main residence. It featured a Victorian-inspired theme with tufted furnishings, ornate white columns, a mix of antiques and bold red carpet and drapes.
While it was originally created as a place for Disney to stay for work, it was frequently used by his family during Disneyland visits after the park opened in 1955, as this 1962 image shows. In this photo, Disney and his wife, Lillian Disney, are enjoying the space with three of their grandchildren.
Despite the small size of the apartment — which I immediately noticed when I visited — the 500-square-foot abode served its purpose, offering only a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom and a dressing room. As the story goes, due to the lack of a proper bed, Walt and Lillian slept on couches on opposite sides of the main room during their stays at the property.
Related: Where to stay at Disneyland: On vs. off-property hotel comparisons
What to expect during Walt's Main Street Story Tour at Disneyland
To start the tour, head to the park entrance end of Main Street USA. This is where you'll find a tucked away area with a little gazebo office called "Tour Gardens."
When I arrived to check in for the tour, I was asked about my snack preferences before being given both a neck tag and a listening device so I could better hear the tour guide's insights while strolling around Main Street.
Our tour began with a 10-minute visit to the Disney Gallery, where a map of what Disneyland looked like on opening day was on display. It was here that we learned more about what inspired the design of Main Street USA.
We then walked around Main Street for about 10 minutes, getting some tidbits about the thoroughfare's design.
Once we were roughly 25 minutes into the tour, we made our way to the firehouse. By this point, the anticipation was building, as the eight of us on the tour knew that this likely meant we were minutes away from walking backstage, going up the staircase and emerging in Disney's iconic apartment. With each step, our anticipation grew even more.
Related: The best restaurants at Disneyland
Upon entering the apartment, we proceeded to spend between 30 and 40 minutes looking at everything in awe while learning about all that lay inside (under watchful eyes, of course).
Much to my disappointment, tourgoers are not permitted to take photos while in the apartment and must keep all of their belongings on one side of the wall near the entrance to ensure no pictures are being secretly snapped. However, a Disney PhotoPass photographer does appear about 20 minutes into your time in the apartment to take some photos. The cost of the tour covers all digital images you receive from this service via your Disneyland app.
To wrap up the tour, we ventured out onto the apartment's patio for 20 minutes. This is where you’re given a specially-themed, lemon-flavored cookie and a soda of your choice to enjoy as you listen to the sounds of Main Street down below.
Related: 9 real-life destinations that inspired Disneyland
A parade happened to go by while we were up there, so the scene was particularly lively during our visit. For just a brief moment as my eyes were closed, I felt like I could fully imagine what Disney experienced as he watched passersby from that perch.
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Is the tour inside Walt Disney's apartment worth it?
As a die-hard Disney fanatic who enjoys learning all about Walt Disney and the history of the parks, I didn’t hesitate to spend $160 to go inside this apartment. The snack break and additional history provided around Main Street were merely added bonuses as far as I was concerned.
That said, not everyone will feel the same as me. If $160 seems like a good trade to you to gain access to an exclusive part of Disneyland, then odds are you'll enjoy the tour as much as I did. Between the insider facts gleaned during the tour and the keepsake photos provided by the Disney PhotoPass photographer, there were many moments from the experience that I'll cherish forever.
However, if you're not raising a budding Disney historian, then this tour likely will not be appropriate or entertaining enough for anyone younger than 12. The same could even be said for older tweens and teens, depending on how fascinated they are with Disney history. I did not bring my kids on the tour as it wouldn’t have been a good use of money or their time in the park to do so, though I hope that changes once they're a little older.
If there's anything about the tour I wish was different, it's that it was a little long. By cutting some of the snack time or skipping the part about Main Street USA to bring the 90-minute tour time down to one hour, more time could be spent on other interesting aspects of the park's history, such as how some of the opening day rides came to be. In a perfect world, I'd love for the tour to be structured like Disney's Keys to the Kingdom Tour at Disney World, but now I'm nitpicking.
So is Walt’s Main Street Story Tour absolutely worth signing up for? Ultimately, that will depend on your personal interests and budget.
If you or any of your park companions are not that into Disney history or would rather spend your money elsewhere, then you'll likely want to skip this tour. There's no harm in moving right past the illuminated lamp above the Main Street fire station so you can enjoy more time in Galaxy’s Edge or an extra ride on your favorite modern-day Disneyland attraction.
Read on for more Disneyland planning:
- What it's like to stay at a hotel that pairs Disney history with a fresh look: The Disneyland Hotel
- Luxury within walking distance to Disneyland: The new Westin Anaheim
- The grandest of them all: Disneyland's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
- How I maxed out Disneyland's Genie+ and rode 26 attractions in a single day
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.