Disney and I have always had a torrid romance. The only other time I visited their theme parks was when I was two. My parents took me to Disney World. I have no recollection of it and can only determine that it was a "meh" trip since we never returned. I grew up watching every film, knowing every song, and toting my knowledge of classic films locked up in "the vault." My father never enjoyed Disney...except for that time he cried while watching Beauty and the Beast. I didn't understand why until I got older. Things started to come together: the girls all have big chests, there's a hero who is usually male, that is unless the male is the superhero (even in Mulan and other tales that claim female empowerment), and their attractions seemed way too expensive and exclusive for my family to afford. When I got to college, I learned about their worldwide corporate superpower. I was shocked and quite annoyed...okay, disheartened mostly. If you want all of your dreams to come true, do you have to buy, sell, and own everything around the globe? Along the way, Disney has not done right by me.
Through it all, I just wanted to experience a Disney park. What was it about that place that made everyone so happy? Was it actually magical? Before leaving for California, I made a disgusting promise to myself: I would buy any and every souvenir I wanted while in the park. I really love souvenirs.
When we got there (quite early), we sat in traffic to park the car, waited in line to board the shuttle to the park. Through it all though, I had a huge smile on my face. Disney was a mystery to me, and I was about to feel the magic!
When we arrived, I saw the line for tickets...and the price. So far, there was no magic...only anger. I took pictures of the long line thinking, "This is what people don't talk about after returning from their amazing vacation." We got our tickets, lined up for the park, and officially entered Disneyland. At first glance of Main Street, I wasn't all together too impressed. It looked like a really (really) spiffed up version of Wild West City, a "theme park" about the West located in Northern New Jersey. You haven't heard of it? I'm shocked.
But then...wow.
It was actually magical. Immediately I saw a train leaving an old time station and a cart full of people being pulled by a horse down Main Street. While eating a breakfast of pastry, I watched a Disney worker scrub bird poop off of a fake cobblestone! Please read that sentence again. Where was I?! From that moment forward, I embraced it, I reveled in it, I loved it. It was magical, and I felt magical!
On one of my major shopping sprees (remember, I gave myself permission), I saw a book that I regret purchasing on the making of Disneyland. It was a small paperback but filled with pictures and little tidbits about all the original rides and Walt's ideas, opinions, and declarations. My favorite passage was about the Storybook Land ride (also one of my favorite parts of the park). Apparently, the massive Monstro the whale was meant as the exit of a roller coaster, but Walt realized it would be more interesting if people entered Storybook Land through the mouth of the whale, just like Pinnochio. A simple little change like that made all the difference. What kind of mind do you have to have to do something like that?
I loved seeing the old rides and the traces of Walt all over the park. Can you say "Tiki Room?" Best. Attraction. Ever. I wanted to buy one of those...unfortunately, (and suprisingly) not for sale. I thought a bit more about him. Is there anyone out there with the same power and imagination that Walt had? I think so, but then again...all those people are essentially owned by Disney in one way or another: Tim Burton, George Lucas, if a group counts then the Pixar company. They also have something else in common...male.
It's time for another empire builder...even though I officially love Disneyland and want it to continue its massive run of success. I'm not saying it has to be me, but why not? It could be you! Or you! The next Walt Disney is out there...hopefully she won't sell out to the Walt Disney Company. Or maybe she will depending on the economy...but still hold true to her independent values and desire for imagination-creation greatness.
