PAM BURNS-CLAIR RECOUNTS HER VISIT TO THE WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM

Left to right: Sue & Don Peri, Pam, Chelsea & Bob Clair, Jim Sarno (Harriet's Imagineer buddy from the 80's) & Matt Kelly

With much anticipation, Bob, Chelsea and I arrived at the preview of the new Walt Disney Family Museum. We were accompanied by (co-author) Don & Sue Peri--Don having contributed to the museum in its early development—our friend Jim Sarno (former Imagineer who worked with Harriet in the 80's), and partner Matt Kelly (who helped with cover photography for our book). We became drawn in to the story right away, which follows Walt sequentially through his life, complete with first-person audio narrating, his vision, his struggles, and his dream as it unfolded through its own history. It was fascinating, beautifully and creatively displayed (but of course!), and we especially enjoyed the insights Don was able to add about the teammates, being such a Disney history expert on the early days of Walt making his mark in the industry.

We moved on to the area depicting the projects and attractions of the Imagineers, including many of the groundbreaking techniques like "Audioanimatronics" and spotted a quote of my mom's next to a display, including a video of Walt with Blaine Gibson, of the development of Abe Lincoln at Disneyland. Then Jim and Don summonsed me forward where my mom was featured next to an expansive encased model of all the attractions at all the parks, much like the originals that my mom had created in the beginning. There was my mom pictured with Walt and the robin from Mary Poppins next to a phone receiver with audios, including her name and several others. I picked up the phone, pressed the button next to "Harriet Burns" and she came to life, telling a story about how exciting it was to work with Walt, complete with her humor and enthusiastic familiar style. Tears and smiles poured forth from my heart. Chelsea took the next turn and reacted similarly to her grandma.

At one point, Jim spotted a picture featuring other Imagineers at the shop and excitedly pointed out, "That was your mom's corner! See--there she is!" gesturing to a tiny head in the background. We enjoyed taking in the audio stories and visuals of her cronies as well, including another audio of my mom and several pictures of her that would pop up on rolling slide shows on several walls.

It was a thrilling day, and I look forward to many more visits to the museum, as it is impossible to take in its depth in one visit. Diane Disney Miller and her team would make Walt proud!

Pam Burns-Clair