Disney Legend Bob Gurr is giving fans a rare look inside the most important piece of Disney aviation history.
Strolling Down Memory Lane on Walt’s Plane
Disney Legend and former Imagineer Bob Gurr recently shared a rare video tour inside Walt Disney’s restored private company plane, offering fans a look at spaces that are not normally open to the public.
Earlier in May, Gurr visited the Palm Springs Air Museum for “A Toast to Walt’s Plane,” a special event celebrating the restoration of the aircraft’s once-gutted interior.
In a video shared to Gurr’s Instagram account, the iconic Imagineer spent some time reminiscing on his personal experience with the plane, a Grumman Gulfstream I, a twin turboprop business aircraft designed in the late 50’s.
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Palm Springs air Museum to be a part of a special event called “A Toast to Walt’s Plane”, unveiling the full restoration of the once gutted interior of this historic plane. ✈️ Throughout my years with Disney, I got to be a passenger aboard with Walt and others on several occasions. It was certainly an nostalgic visit. Special thanks to the amazing team on the restoration project for their flawless execution. It’s definitely worth a visit to the Palm Springs air Museum.
Since the inside of the plane isn’t normally open to the public, I take you on a little tour to show you what it’s like.
The aircraft, affectionately known as “The Mouse” or “Mickey Mouse One,” has been undergoing restoration at the Palm Springs Air Museum after returning to Southern California in recent years.
In the video, Gurr steps aboard and walks viewers through the restored cabin, pointing out the details that help recreate how the plane would have looked during Walt’s era.
Stepping Inside Walt’s Plane
The tour begins at the entrance stairs, with Gurr climbing aboard “our dear mouse” before stepping through the compact doorway into the restored cabin. The interior has a warm midcentury look, with wood paneling, cream-toned walls, circular aircraft windows, and upholstered seating arranged in a way that feels like a vintage executive lounge.
Early in the video, Gurr shows the galley area near the front of the plane. The small kitchen space features wood cabinetry, a round sink, countertop space, and an overhead control panel. Gurr notes how he became well-acquainted with the kitchen and bar setup, as he would help cater to other flyers onboard.
From there, Gurr moves into the passenger cabin, where pairs of seats and small tables line the windows. The restored seating includes tan upholstery, with two seats along the left edge of the aircraft and a larger, dropleaf table setup with four seats on the other side of the aisle. According to Gurr, Walt would spend a fair amount of time at the table with drawings and concepts for EPCOT:
“Those are memorable times. Walt never stopped designing, even when we’re in the air, on a Sunday, going to Florida”
And Gurr jokingly noted, “and he would smoke all day long.”
A Midcentury Lounge in the Sky
The cabin layout includes multiple seating zones separated by wood partitions. In the rear section, Gurr shows a more private lounge-like area with additional seating, giving the plane the feeling of a flying office, meeting space, and family room all at once.
The rear-most seat along the left side of the aircraft was “Walt’s seat”, according to Gurr. On the opposite side, Gurr would frequently find himself lounging on a sofa when he wasn’t accompanying pilots on the flight deck.
Gurr also shows a small lavatory area, not dissimilar from lavatories on modern airframes, complete with a flushable toilet and full sink. The lavatory also led to a baggage room, a design typical for the time.
A Rare Look at Flight Deck
Near the end of the tour, Gurr visits the cockpit area, giving viewers a look at the preserved flight deck. The cockpit is filled with analog instruments, controls, and switches, showing the complexity of the aircraft Walt Disney used to travel for both personal and company business.
Being a seasoned glider pilot himself, Gurr would often accompany the pilots at their request in a “jump seat” to assist as an extra set of eyes on the sky.
Bob Gurr and Walt Disney History
Bob Gurr is a Disney Legend and former Imagineer best known for designing many of Disneyland’s most iconic ride vehicles and transportation systems.
Joining WED Enterprises in the 1950s, Gurr contributed to classic attractions including Autopia, the Disneyland Monorail, the Matterhorn Bobsleds, the Haunted Mansion Doom Buggies, and more.
His work helped define the look, feel, and motion of early Disney theme park experiences. Gurr was named a Disney Legend in 2004 and remains a beloved figure among Disney Parks fans, frequently sharing firsthand stories from his time working with Walt Disney.
Walt’s Plane in Recent Years
Walt Disney’s plane spent decades connected to Disney Parks history, including a long period on display at Disney-MGM Studios, later Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
In 2022, the aircraft returned to Southern California for D23 Expo, where its restored exterior was displayed as part of a Walt Disney Archives exhibit. Disney had also released a variety of themed merchandise around the plane at that time.
After that appearance, the plane moved to the Palm Springs Air Museum on long-term loan. The restoration of the cabin was later announced, with the goal of recreating the 1960s-era look of the aircraft as Walt knew it.
The May 2026 “A Toast to Walt’s Plane” event marked a major moment for the project, revealing the restored interior to D23 members and invited guests. While the exterior of the plane can be viewed at the Palm Springs Air Museum, the interior is not normally open for general public walkthroughs, making Gurr’s video tour a particularly rare look inside.
Be sure to check out the full tour from Bob Gurr on Instagram below:
Have you ever attended an event with Bob Gurr? Tell us about your experience with the Disney Legend on social media!
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