Walt Disney once famously said “I dream, I test my dreams against my beliefs, I dare to take risks, and I execute my vision to make those dreams come true.”
And while he may have stayed true to these words in all aspects of his life, today we’d like to turn an eye to the homes he imagined into reality. More specifically, the whimsical storybook mansion he built for his family as his animation studio was gaining ground.
Especially since avid Disney fans can now celebrate 100 Years of Disney — the company’s year-long centennial celebration — in the Mickey Mouse creator’s own home.
Walt Disney’s house in Los Feliz, where he lived for almost 20 years and where he and his wife Lillian raised their two children, is currently available to lease.
It doesn’t come cheap though: the storybook mansion is being rented out for $40,000/month. Chase Campen with Compass is in charge of the listing.
“This property was chosen by Walt Disney as the place to raise his family, and also coincided with a transition of Disney Studios from fledgling enterprise toward entertainment giant,” Campen says. “It sits on an acre of land with incredible outdoor space and city views. Its historical pedigree only adds to the magical mystique.”
Speaking of magical mystique, the storybook mansion draws visitors in with its unique architecture from the second they lay eyes on it.
Mixing French Provincial, French Country Tudor, and Neo Gothic styles, the property located on Woking Way in Los Feliz, Los Angeles is a beautiful example of storybook architecture.
Related: Wonderfully Witchy: The Storybook Spadena House in Beverly Hills
The owner of the former Walt Disney house is Timur Bekmambetov, a Kazakhstan-born film director who purchased the home in 2011. And it would seem that creativity flows freely through the 1932-built house, as our sources tell us that the director has been inspired by the home to create a graphic novel and a movie script he is working on about fictional Disney characters who never made it to the big screen.
The storybook mansion has 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, and 2 half baths across 6,388 square feet of living space, and beautifully appointed interiors that match the whimsical exterior.
The majestic home sits atop a gated drive with parking for 10. A rotunda entrance welcomes residents and guests alike into this magical place, from where they are ushered into the dramatic two-story living room that features vaulted wood beamed ceilings, wood-paneled walls, a brick fireplace, and original windows that look out over the backyard, pool, and downtown Los Angeles.
From there, one wing of the house offers an elegant dining room with French doors to the outside and an artisanally painted ceiling set amidst interlaced beams.
This leads to a gorgeous eat-in kitchen with a center island, marble counters, custom cabinets, a walk-in pantry, and stained glass windows — a perfect mix of modern convenience and old warm charm.
Opposite the living room on the other wing is the still-intact home theater where Walt watched dailies of his productions; the original elements have been preserved, and enhanced with a touch of modern technology.
Upstairs, the spacious primary suite rests above the theater, with city views, ample closets, and a bathroom with dual vanities, a large dual head shower, a centerpiece tub, and period tile.
The other wing features two generous guest bedrooms with a well-appointed bathroom between them. Completing the upstairs is a sunlit family room with vaulted ceilings and access to a former sleeping porch, ideal for an office space or gym.
As is to be expected, the outdoor grounds are incredible, featuring well-landscaped walkways, lush grass lawn, an inviting pool, trellis covered outdoor dining area, and an entire separate area that resembles a private park.
Walt Disney lived in this home longer than any other home from 1932 to 1950.
While his Holmby Hills mansion is most often associated with his persona, Disney’s house on Woking Way is where he raised his daughters and where got the inspiration for Snow White. Diane and Sharon Disney’s original playhouse still sits on the property.
Disney’s Storybook Mansion — also known as the Storybook Cottage — can now be rented for $40,000/month.
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