D23 Spotlight Series – The Happiest Place on Earth at The Walt Disney Family Museum

If you’re in the Bay Area, say “hip, hip, hooray” for D23’s latest Spotlight Series event on “The Happiest Place on Earth”! For the first time in San Francisco, join Disney Legends Don Hahn and Tony Baxter at The Walt Disney Family Museum for a special presentation on our favorite park, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year!

Enjoy early entry into the museum’s newest exhibition, Happiest Place on Earth: The Disneyland Story, where you’ll discover the park’s incredible origin story through early concept art, hand-drawn maps, and other rarely seen media. Get an insider look at the attractions and experiences that came (or didn’t come) to be. Never before could you get this close to Disneyland while being over 400 miles away from the park itself!

And who better to guide your experience than Disney Legend Don Hahn, the award-winning producer behind iconic films including Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King, and co-author (with Christopher Merritt) of the 2025 book The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney’s Disneyland? Joining him to help delight our D23 Members is fellow Disney Legend Tony Baxter, the incredible Imagineer behind fan favorites such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, Disneyland Paris, and more.

There will be two presentations of the panel discussion. Please click below to indicate which panel you would like to attend:

• 5:00 p.m. Presentation
• 8:00 p.m. Presentation

This event includes:

• Panel discussion with Disney Legends Don Hahn and Tony Baxter on “The Happiest Place on Earth”
• Early entry to the Happiest Place on Earth: The Disneyland Story exhibition at The Walt Disney Family Museum
• Access to The Walt Disney Family Museum Gift Shop
• A D23 Member event gift and event credential

Not only is the surrounding Presidio picturesque, but fun facts, anecdotes, and more from Disneyland experts will make for an event you won’t forget. We’re excited to see our D23 family at The Walt Disney Family Museum real soon!

DETAILS

ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM

Inside The Walt Disney Family Museum, founded by Walt’s daughter Diane Disney Miller, you can find animation, innovation, and inspiration in the remarkable life story of Walt Disney, the man who raised animation to an art, tirelessly pursued innovation, and created a distinctly American legacy that transformed the entertainment world. Located in the scenic Presidio of San Francisco, the museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that features contemporary, interactive galleries with state-of-the-art exhibits narrated in Walt’s own voice alongside early drawings, cartoons, films, music, a spectacular model of Disneyland, and more.

ABOUT THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH: THE DISNEYLAND STORY EXHIBITION

On July 17, 1955, an estimated 90 million viewers—more than half the population of the United States at that time—tuned their television sets to watch coverage of the grand opening of Disneyland on ABC. By the time it was unveiled to the public, Disneyland had been in active development by Walt Disney and his collaborators for more than two years, and they had been gathering inspiration for the better part of a decade. Happiest Place on Earth: The Disneyland Story will showcase the ideas, designs, and artworks behind the fascinating evolution of Walt’s first theme park—explored through the lens of his relentless imagination.

Guests will discover historic objects from the park, early concept art, designs for both realized and unrealized attractions, costume development illustrations, stunning hand-drawn maps, and rarely seen historical photographs that chronicle the production, realization, and early guest experiences that Walt envisioned and pioneered. The special exhibition’s interactive elements will also provide a more in-depth look at the park’s original attractions and the creative risks that defined them.

NOTES

Ticketing Terms and Conditions:

• D23 Gold and General Members may reserve a ticket for themselves and up to three (3) guest(s) for this event.
• Each attendee, including the D23 Member and their guest(s), must possess a valid, individual event ticket to be admitted.
• Ticket quantities are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• To reserve tickets, D23 Members must log in using their valid D23 Member account credentials and assign a legal first and last name for each guest’s ticket.
  • Tickets are non-transferable and must be used by the individual(s) named at the time of purchase. D23 Members and each of their guests over the age of 18 may be required to show a valid government-issued ID matching the name on their ticket.

Age Requirements:

• All guests under the age of eighteen (18) must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, who must also possess a valid event ticket.
• Children under the age of three (3) may attend without a ticket but must lap sit due to limited capacity and be accompanied at all times by a parent or legal guardian with a valid event ticket. Only children with a valid event ticket will receive event gifts, giveaways, and concession vouchers.

Entry Requirements:

• All D23 Members must present a valid D23 Membership card (physical or digital via the D23 App) along with a valid event ticket at check-in.
• D23 Members and each of their guests over the age of 18 may be required to show a valid government-issued ID matching the name on their ticket.
• Failure to present a valid membership card, a corresponding ticket, and a valid government-issued ID matching the name on their ticket may result in denial of admission without refund or further obligation by D23.

Event Conduct and Restrictions:

• Unauthorized video or audio recording of any kind during the presentation and/or screening is strictly prohibited.
• D23 reserves the right to deny admission or remove any individual who fails to comply with event rules, disrupts the event, or violates the terms and conditions of participation.
• To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, all D23 Members and guests attending this D23 event are expected to adhere to the stated Disney rules (as applicable, and, including without limitation, with respect to Guest Courtesy Policies) found here.

Any ticketed Members or their guests who do not personally attend the event forfeit their place as well as all experiences, benefits, and gifts associated with the event. D23 Members must be present or guests will not gain admittance to the event.

All D23 events are subject to change without notice. All ticket sales are final. There are strictly no cancellations or refunds regardless of reason (including, without limitation, due to illness, change in travel plans, etc.) and tickets are not transferable.

PLEASE BE ADVISED – Permission to Film/Photograph/Record: Disney Worldwide Services, Inc. (“Disney”), and its affiliates, vendors, contractors, agents and/or assigns (together, “Producer”), may be taking photos, filming and/or making other recordings during the event you will be attending. By entering the premises for the event, for yourself and on behalf of any children accompanying you, you: (i) irrevocably consent to and authorize Producer to photograph you, make audio and/or video recordings of you in whatever medium, and use such photographs and recordings for all purposes (including advertising and promotions) in all media, now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity, and in any language without notice, attribution, permission or payment; and (ii) acknowledge all such photographs and/or recordings will be the sole property of Disney.