Walt Disney Family Barn

Today, I had the pleasure of visiting the Walt Disney Family Barn in the heart of Griffith Park.  The park is just a short drive from me, and it was such a beautiful day today that it was a great opportunity to get out!  When I first arrived, I received an exclusive collectible sticker.  The sticker is your 'ticket' on the train that takes you to and from the barn.

The barn is actually a museum that was built in the backyard of Disney's house as a place where Walt could get away and play with his toy trains.  It's no secret that Walt Disney loved playing with trains -- so much so that he built an entire barn for them!

They say that the barn was the birthplace of Walt Disney Imagineering because it was here that Walt stirred up his original concept designs for the Disneyland park.  How inspiring!  Being inside the historic building, you can really 'feel' Walt's vibe.  EVERYTHING in the barn was touched and created by Walt and his closest friends.  The desks, the tables, the stationary, and all the train tracks.  It was so cool to see.

There's a few other things that make this location special.  For starters, it's the only Disney 'park' that offers free admission.  All other parks like Disneyland, Disney World, etc... and even his family and hometown museums require a fee to enter.  Secondly, it's the only place where you can collect an exclusive Disney pin that you can't find anywhere else.  For those who are die-hard pin collectors, a gift shop visit is a must.  Lastly, it's the only place where you can see an original train from Disneyland when the park first opened!  How COOL is that?!  

Overall, good times were had at the Disney Family Barn!  It's small and can easily be seen in about an hour, but it's worth the visit if you have the time!