Where the Magic Began: A Peek Inside Walt Disney’s Apartment
By: Maggie Ballantyne, Team Lead & Travel Advisor
October 21, 2025
In February 2023, I received an early birthday gift AND a dream come true. During my trip to Disneyland, I had the incredible opportunity to take Walt’s Main Street Story Tour, which included a rare visit to Walt Disney’s private apartment above the Fire Station. This historic space was a gift from Walt to his wife, Lillian, and stepping inside felt like stepping into a piece of Disney magic.
To simply put it, the experience was captivating. I loved looking out the apartment window over Main Street, watching families enter the park and meet their favorite characters just as Walt did many years ago. It was a moment that connected the past and present in the most magical way.
Being in a room where Walt and Lillian created memories for their family and where so many memories were dreamed up for families around the world was truly incredible. I have so much admiration for Walt’s tenacity, creative genius, storytelling ability, and his deep love for others. All that magic felt captured in this very small, intimate space.
My best friends, who toured with me, and I found the experience to be a bit emotional too. There were moments when we got goosebumps just being there. While Walt was alive, he requested no technology in the apartment and Lillian valued her privacy as well. So, except for a few photos representing Walt’s side of the apartment, all phones had to be put away. Knowing this is still his apartment and his requests are being honored made the moment even more surreal. I am grateful for the photographer who was present to capture the memories for us and allowing us to be fully present and soak it all in! Photos from the Disney photographer are included in your tour.
I should clarify that this tour is so much more than “just” a visit to Walt’s apartment! The day starts at the tour check in at the Tour Gardens on Main Street, U.S.A. From there, The Walt’s Main Street Story Tour begins with a fascinating 30-minute guided walk down Main Street, where I learned so much about the history, design, and hidden details of this iconic area. Our guide pointed out information about the use of forced perspective to make the street appear larger, the scent of vanilla and popcorn pumped throughout the area, she pointed out that at the front of the park guests will see gas lamps, but as they head deeper into the park, guests will see modern electric lamps. This demonstrates one of Walt’s favorite things: progress! We saw names on the windows that pay homage to members of the Disney family. We saw signs that are nods to Walt’s hometown of Marceline, Missouri.
As we made our way to the end of Main Street, we then made a U-turn at the Jolly Holiday Bakery Café (one of my favorites) and we stopped at the corner of the Coca-Cola Refreshment spot.
Fun Anecdote from the Tour: Electricians installed light bulb fixtures for alternating red and white light bulbs and found that they had an odd number of fixtures above the front door. This meant that two bulbs of the same color would have to be next to each other. As someone who cares about design and detail, this would drive me crazy! The electricians agreed that Walt would probably feel the same way. The solution? It was suggested to Walt that they paint a bulb half white and half red, so that the alternating pattern could continue. This creativity solved the problem and the design can still be found there today!
At the conclusion of our tour, we stepped outside of Walt’s apartment onto his private balcony where we got to see his view of Main Street. On the balcony, we had the chance to relax, enjoy a drink, and eat the personalized cookies just for this tour! The cookie is delicious and tasted like a lemon shortbread with edible glittery stars!
I absolutely love experiencing the magic behind the scenes at Disneyland, and Walt’s Main Street Story Tour is truly a dream come true for Disney history buffs and self-proclaimed Disney nerds like me. Having done tours in the parks on both coasts, I can confidently say this one offers a unique and deeply personal glimpse into Walt’s connection to Disneyland. It brings the stories of Main Street to life in a way you won’t find anywhere else. If you’re passionate about Disney history and want to deepen your appreciation for the magic, this tour is a must.
If you love Disney and want to experience “Enchanting Extras” in the parks, please reach out to me for recommendations at maggie@wishesfamilytravel.com to start planning! I love adding bits of magic to each of my clients’ itineraries to ensure their vacations are personalized to them. You can also follow along to learn more at www.facebook.com/wishesfamilytravelmaggie
This tour was purchased at rack ate (pricing available to the general public).