The Historic Connection Between the Voyageurs’ Lounge & The Walt Disney Studio Library
Discovering the Real Story Behind the Library-Themed Lounge at Disney's Riviera Resort
Sometimes, the most magical discoveries at Disney don’t just happen in the parks, they can be found at the resorts too. I first learned about the Voyageurs’ Lounge at Disney’s Riviera Resort through Marcy Carriker Smothers’ book 100 Disney Adventures of a Lifetime. As both a librarian and a book lover, I was instantly drawn to its story.
The Voyageurs’ Lounge is a library-inspired space filled with books and memorabilia that pay homage to Disney’s history and Walt’s love for travel. I originally wrote a blog post about the Voyageurs’ Lounge for WDW Magazine back in 2023, but I’m revisiting the topic here in order to share more about its unique history. The Voyageurs’ Lounge holds more history than people realize; it’s not only connected to Walt’s European travels but it also pays tribute to the Walt Disney Studio Library and its first librarian. Intrigued to learn more? Then let’s dive in!
The books on display inside the Voyageurs’ Lounge are not readable, as they are fixed to the actual shelves. However, the collection on display was intentionally curated to represent the kinds of books Walt Disney purchased during his trip to Europe in 1935.
Walt’s two-month European trip in 1935 took him to countries like France, England, Scotland, Switzerland, Germany, and Italy. While on his trip, he purchased books along the way to bring back to the studio. These books were primarily fables and children’s tales, which would later serve as inspiration for Disney’s creative projects.
When I first learned about the books Walt brought back, I started wondering: Where were these books stored? Who used them? Was there a library to house them at the studio? If so, was there a librarian to manage the collection? After extensive digging, I found some answers.
From my research, it appears that a library of sorts existed as early as 1930. However, there was no librarian overseeing the space, and it’s unclear what system, if any, was used to organize the collection. The first official librarian at the Walt Disney Studio Library was Helen Josephine DeForce. She began her role on July 1, 1935, just in time to catalog the books Walt brought back from Europe. In total, there were 335 books to catalog—90 titles from France, 81 from England, 149 from Germany, and 15 from Italy.
A detailed list of the books Walt purchased can be found in Didier Ghez’s book, Disney’s Grand Tour: Walt and Roy’s European Vacation Summer 1935. This list was compiled using the Walt Disney Studios Library logbook (now preserved by Walt Disney Imagineering) and from another document listing the books acquired (preserved by the Walt Disney Archives). It’s fascinating to look at this list and imagine just how these books inspired Disney artists!
Some of the titles purchased during that trip are on display inside the Voyageurs’ Lounge, such as Pinocchio, Le Malade Imaginaire, Robinson Crusoe, and Fables de la Fontaine. Copies of invoices from the bookstores Walt visited are also on display for guests to see. One invoice in particular is dated for July 1, 1935, coincidentally matching Helen DeForce’s start date.
These books and the library they belonged to served as invaluable resources, not just for studio artists, but also for designers, lawyers, and other employees within the company. They provided inspiration and references for many of Disney’s iconic works.
This connection with the Voyageurs’ Lounge what sparked my passion for uncovering more about the studio library and the people who worked there. As a librarian and a Disney enthusiast, this research has been an absolute joy to dive into. I’ve since uncovered more details about the library’s history and its role within the Disney company, which I hope to share in the future!
As for the Voyageurs’ Lounge, I hope to return to it one day. Maybe even spend some time there working on this very research! It’s such a beautiful space and truly feels like a celebration of Disney history.
SOURCES
Disney’s Grand Tour: Walt and Roy’s European Vacation Summer 1935 by Didier Ghez
Walt’s People: Talking Disney with the Artists Who Knew Him, vol.15 edited by Didier Ghez
100 Adventures of a Lifetime: Magical Experiences from Around the World by Marcy Carriker Smothers
My copy of ‘Disney’s Grand Tour’ just came in the mail! Thank you for the book recommendation.
Great article! I really enjoyed it.