The family of Walt Disney opens its archives and shares recollections of the entertainment legend in a recent release from Disney Interactive, "Walt Disney: An Intimate History of the Man and His Magic."

Hours of home movies and multimedia presentations take you into the private life of the Disney family. Interactive activities are fun and educational, and there's a vast collection of photos, animation art, drawings, and letters for the curious to peruse.

The journey begins in the Main Hall, where visitors meet Disney's daughter, Diane Disney Miller, and her family.

"Some of the pieces of film they found in the [Disney] archives I had never seen," she said. "Not many had to be restored; Dad took very good care of what he shot."

In many cases, you'll hear Disney and people who worked with him discuss his life and work. From the Main Hall, there are many areas to explore, including:

Family Adventures: Hear family members share their memories and see home movies, many made by Disney.

The Theater: Watch clips from Disney's most popular films and cartoons.

The Studio: Meet the artists who helped Disney bring his creative vision to life. You can also test your knowledge with quizzes and games.

The Library: Search and browse photos, documentaries, film clips, slide shows, documents, and essays.

Disney Magic: Explore early films and television features, and take a virtual ride through Epcot Center as Disney envisioned it.

Gallery: Tour a virtual museum of art and artifacts, including items from Disney's childhood.

Life and Times: See the story of Disney's life in chronological order.

Walt Disney: An Intimate History ($40) requires a Pentium 133 or faster computer running Windows 95/98, a CD-ROM, sound card and speakers. For information, surf to www.disneyinteractive.com.

Pub Date: 11/02/98