After Seven Decades, the Magic of Disneyland Shines Brighter Than Ever
I want to start this article with a brief disclaimer — I love the Disney Parks.
As someone who grew up visiting Walt Disney World, the parks have been the background for my most cherished memories, sparked my interest in all kinds of new topics, and even helped me find a job that I love doing every day.
Cinderella Castle
Hopefully, then, it is understandable that I am a bit biased.
In the age of social media, however, there is a constant prevailing notion that Disney has gotten worse. The combination of the new microscope that the parks have been placed under and the internet’s propensity for negativity often tints any conversation about the parks with an aura of darkness.
Updated Sleeping Beauty Castle Banners – 70th Celebration
Despite the chatter, I dare you to walk down Main Street with your loved ones, immerse yourself in Pirates of the Caribbean, or watch a child’s smile as they soar on Dumbo and not feel a swelling of that old Disney magic.
As die-hard Disney fans, it is easy to lose sight of the forest for the trees. But if you travel to the parks with a new friend or family member, you can see the magic manifest around you.
Mitch Albom’s Disneyland Visit
Recently, legendary sports columnist and novelist Mitch Albom took a trip to Disneyland that perfectly encapsulated what makes the park so special.
Telling the story in a way that only Albom can, the writer discusses his arrival at Disneyland, the race down Main Street, with its familiar sights and sounds, the turn into Frontierland, where the Mark Twain Riverboat loomed large, and finally his arrival on Pirates of the Caribbean.
Albom, who has visited Disneyland for 55 years, took six students from Haiti, who had never been to the park before. The group beamed with joy as they watched the Pirates of the Caribbean story.
Then Albom cut to the heart of Disney’s magic.
“Which is when it hit me. This was their first time; mine had come on my brother’s 10th birthday, which my family had celebrated in this very building, at a restaurant called the Blue Bayou, which was still here, right in front of me, overlooking these same boats on this same famous ride,” he writes.
Like Albom, I am awed that I can still spend time visiting the places that I enjoyed with my family. In a sense, Disney has a monopoly on nostalgia, at least for me.
However, doesn’t mean that I can’t be a realist.
A Changed Experience
In the 70 years since Disneyland opened, the resort has expanded in unthinkably exciting ways. It has also, however, become more expensive, requires more planning, and demands more from guests than ever before.
Despite this, however, the resort is still the Happiest Place on Earth. It is a place where all are welcome and age relives fond memories of the past and savors the challenge and promise of the future.
It is a place where elephants fly, a trip through space is just around the corner, and a world of adventure awaits would-be explorers.
“What kid doesn’t want to explore a frontier, have an adventure, see tomorrow, or witness his or her fantasies come true? Sure, as adults, we hear ‘fantasy’ and tend to think something salacious,” Albom explains.
Sleeping Beauty Castle
“Kids aren’t so jaded. They still think flying is magical. They still think a talking mouse ― or, more currently, a talking Jedi Knight, or an in-the-flesh superhero ― is the kind of thing that only happens when dreams come true.”
“it’s a small world”
Disneyland has changed a lot over the past 70 years, but the magic remains. All you have to do is show up and open your eyes.
