Adventures by Disney’s San Francisco Long Weekend Tour

If you’re considering Adventures by Disney’s San Francisco Long Weekend I would highly recommend this for all ages! It was a fantastic way to utilize your time in the Bay Area. Not only were our two guides thoroughly knowledgeable, but our driver was as well. He was also able to expertly guide our motorcoach in and around traffic and found creative routes that took us past Pacific Heights (a swanky neighborhood overlooking San Fran and the Bay; houses can go for up to $40 million!), Victorian Queen Anne-style homes that the area is famous for, and past houses like the ‘Full House’ home, and the Addams Family home.    

We had a wonderful time biking along the Bay past Fishermen’s Wharf, Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, and ending up at Golden Gate National Recreation Area for some fantastic photos of the Golden Gate Bridge! We also had a photo opportunity in front of the Palace of Fine Arts. Reminded me of being in Italy! We covered so much more ground than we could’ve done on foot. Adventures by Disney accommodates for all different levels of physical activity, too. There were some in our group that chose to take the motorcoach version vs the bike ride.

For Star Wars enthusiasts there was a stop at Lucasfilm Headquarters for a photo op with their Yoda fountain. Pop inside to have a photo taken in front of the Lucasfilm sign or next to a life-size mannequin of Darth Vader and R2D2. The grounds are beautiful.

   

A personal highlight for me was the Walt Disney Family Museum. Walt’s daughter, Diane, founded the museum and picked the perfect location in Presidio overlooking the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge. The museum features an impressive collection of family photos, awards (including Walt’s many Oscars), and the first known drawings of Mickey Mouse. A docent expertly guided us through the museum and told the story of Walt’s birth all the way through to his death. It was fascinating to hear about his innovations in the art of animation and his determination to make his dreams a reality for everyone to enjoy. The tour was approximately 1 hour and you were welcome to spend extra time in the museum or gift shop. I purchased a replica of the original Mickey doll from the 1930s. It’s the only Disney venue that carries this item!

This tour includes one lunch and two dinners. The restaurants are phenomenal! M.Y. China Restaurant presented us with a family-style diner which was a great way to try many of their menu items. We feasted on honey glazed walnut shrimp, seven spice pork ribs (best dry rub ever!), peking roast duck, and sugar egg puffs just to name a few. I would recommend the Ancient Nobles cocktail (Pyrat rum, lime, mint, and prosecco). We also dined at One Market Restaurant which included a farmer’s market salad, our choice of grilled natural angus NY steak or seared Mahi Mahi, and New York cheesecake. Excellent service and views of the pier.   

Although it wasn’t listed on the tour we had some time to spare after dinner which allowed us to head over to the other side of the bay for magnificent views of the city. It was a gorgeous sight to see the City by the Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge lit up at night! 

Visit the Muir Woods National Monument with its ancient Redwood trees and ferry across the bay to Angel Island with views of the city like no other! Enjoy a trip to Silverado Vineyards in Napa and try your hand (or should I say feet?) at grape stomping! Your guides may even have you participate in a grape stomping competition. Extra points for those brave enough to try a taste of your creation! Silverado Vineyards was started by Walt’s daughter, Diane Disney Miller, and her husband.

Consider making your next memories the Adventures by Disney way!

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Jaime Buss

Leisure Travel Specialist at Travel Leaders (Woodbury Office)
I specialize in Romance Travel, Disney (All products) and warm weather getaways. Learn more about me and view my contact information►

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