Let’s Celebrate: Disneyland’s “Second Grand Opening” Is Today
Proto-Video Game? Real-World App? Museum? Disneyland Represents Much To Many
A ham-and-egger like me, a blogger with a stronger work ethic than skills, often struggles to find the words to fill the space. And when we do, the internal celebration is palpable.
So much so that I often wonder what truly talented writers feel when they drop the proper clauses into the CMS. Maybe nothing. Surely something.
For example, today the Los Angeles Times’ game critic Todd Martens waxed poetic on Disneyland. It is spectacular.
Without cheesiness or cliche, Todd mentally explored the environs of Disneyland and pronounced it fit for reverence and study, all the while touching on its obvious but necessary frivolousness. It’s a wonderful piece of writing that perfectly prefaces the reopening of the original Disney theme park, Walt’s dream, and sets the tone for Disneyland’s “second grand opening.”
THE American Export?
Of course, few places have as big a hold on the American imagination as Disneyland.
Lucky as I was to visit Walt Disney World 2-3 times during my formative years, in my mind’s eye there was a goal to visit “the original.” I knew the layout was different, that the place was smaller, and that Walt had designed it – that mattered.
Yes, re-runs of the “Disneyland” television shows hosted by Uncle Walt were replaced in my memory (fused, morphed) by Michael Eisner’s hosting of Disneyland-style shows.
And Disney’s Hollywood Studios became my favorite spot, but the reverence that many retain for Walt’s imagination kept the personal dream alive until I was able to get a press pass for the park; I visited for just a couple of hours during a Bruins road trip to Anaheim (back in the day).
Four or five of us, all of us above 30, made an afternoon of it. And I will never forget the smiles.
Celebrate the Second Grand Opening
Today, I count myself lucky to have made friends in LA who meet me at Disneyland almost every time I find myself in California. But even as I look forward to seeing those faces, I know that in Disneyland itself I have a friend, too.
So, when in the trying times of the past two years I heard fans clamoring for a return to “their park,” I understood.
Neil Gabler, no ham-and-egger he, wrote an amazing biography entitled, “Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination” – and I think that phrase, The Triumph of the American Imagination, fits the bill here. I think that is what Disneyland represents to many a triumph of our inner childs’ worldview.
The Love Isn’t Fake
Certainly, Martens agrees. Especially as he wrote:
Disneyland still symbolizes a place where America’s most popular art form — cinema — can take physical shape and become a spot to reframe, re-contextualize and reorient our relationship with our country’s myths and possibilities.
Is it fake? Not at all.”
See, Todd just said what I was trying to say — me in seven paragraphs — (he) in just two sentences.
But the point is that ham-and-egg bloggers and wordsmiths like Martens agree.
The opening of Disneyland means better days are ahead. And that is worth celebrating.
Feature Image: Disneyland Resort.