Walt Disney’s former private jet, nicknamed “Mickey Mouse One,” has been restored to its original 1960s condition after years of deterioration. The Palm Springs Air and Space Museum has completed the interior restoration of the Grumman Gulfstream I, a 15-passenger aircraft that was neglected for decades at Walt Disney World.
The restoration process, which took three years for the interior and several years for the exterior, involved Georgia-based Phoenix Air Group, Walt Disney Imagineering, and Disney Archives. The aircraft had been left exposed to the elements at Walt Disney World, initially as part of a studio backlot tour and later in a field behind Disney’s Animal Kingdom. By the time restoration efforts began, its windows had deteriorated, moisture had damaged the cabin, and essential components like the engines and cockpit equipment had been removed.
Disney acquired the Gulfstream in late 1963 after becoming dissatisfied with commercial air travel. The plane was customized with a distinctive rust, orange, brown, and gold interior, reflecting the style of the 1960s, and an exterior painted in orange and black, matching the Walt Disney Productions aesthetic of the era. Walt and his wife, Lillian, influenced the plane’s design, including a private area for Walt separated by a clear divider filled with leaves and grasses from their backyard. An aviation enthusiast, Disney also had a custom instrument panel installed near his favorite seat to monitor flight details.
The aircraft served as more than just a personal luxury; it played a role in the company's development. From its windows, Disney surveyed the land that would become Walt Disney World, then known by the codename Project X. The plane also transported executives and talent during key company projects, including preparations for the 1964-65 World's Fair.
After Walt Disney's death in 1966, the jet continued in service for the company and even appeared in two Kurt Russell films: "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes" and "Now You See Him, Now You Don’t.” Over its 28 years of operation, the aircraft accumulated approximately 20,000 flight hours and carried around 83,000 passengers, including notable figures like Julie Andrews and Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.
The plane was moved to Orlando in 1985 and retired in 1992. Following the end of its run on the backlot tour in 2014, its future appeared uncertain until the Palm Springs Air Museum agreed to house it. Beginning in 2019, Disney crews undertook the exterior restoration, cleaning the aircraft, replacing windows, sealing the fuselage, repairing wing edges, and repainting it in its original livery. The plane was later disassembled and transported to the 2022 D23 Expo in Anaheim, where its restored exterior was showcased. After the expo, it was again disassembled and trucked to Palm Springs, where it was reassembled and placed on display, now complete with its fully restored interior.