Since my trip to Disney World I find it harder than before to accept the daily life of resignation and the imperfect world we live in, while knowing that, of course, WDW is more artificial than a normal person's daily life. I'm sure that the performers (or cast members as they refer to them) hook up, break up, angst, and have the difficulties of normal people; but for a week there was a suspension of disbelief. Whatever else Disney does, they get that right.
I wonder for those who visit at a certain point in their adolescence how that eventually filters through their experiences. Until I went to college I was incredibly sheltered, and although the last time I was there pre-2013 I was 10, I don't think it would have tripped my cynic radar pre-18. Mostly because I didn't really have a cynicism radar! That first developed in college, was honed in grad school, and developed to a razor edge in the first 3 years I was in NYC. I think that if I had gone back in high school it would have been slightly different from the perspective of a 10 year old, but the innocence would still have been there. It requires trials of life experiences to really see things from multiple angles.
I think that's what fascinated me most about my entire trip was the Walt Disney exhibit in Hollywood Studios. Walt had failed in a few endeavors prior to creating Mickey Mouse, and even afterward had to strive incredibly hard to make Disney Studios last through the Depression and WWII, adapting as necessary. Before he died, his vision for Disney World was actually called EPCOT (Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow) which included the Magic Kingdom as well as what was eventually called EPCOT. It was only after his death that Walt Disney World became the official name for the entire complex in tribute to his dedication, vision, and intelligence in buying up 28,000 acres of Florida property to expand as necessary!
How could someone leave his family during the Depression to try and make his own way out of necessity, fail a few times, and still pursue something he loved to found one of the most successful animation companies in the world? There were setbacks, re-toolings, experiments that didn't work and other normal difficulties, but still, the sheer optimism and resilience that he displayed is incredibly admirable. I'm not one for admiration of the current crop of "heroes" with the exception of perhaps Warren Buffett who also advocates for the average person; but as for past heroes, I have a new appreciation for the vision, compassion, and drive that transcended his past failures and reached for new heights, knowing how the average person would cower behind any safety net they can.
I'm not advocating major changes for myself. I know my limits and that I will never be one of the movers and shakers of the world, but I am thrilled that Hollywood Studios has at least recorded some of these amazing achievements of Disney, and after chatting with an employee at the exhibit, learned that Walt himself actually was discussing the idea of the current animated film (now billed as Frozen) back in the 1950's, based off of Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen. I think today he would be proud to see what has become of his ambitions, his sweat and tears, and what would ultimately be his accomplishments, even posthumously.
It's good to remember that; watching those cast members who act the part, and that you know have the usual trials of life going on; they give the illusion of Walt Disney's ideal land which has given so many children and adults a joyous holiday, since experiences like that are so rare in today's world. Even he wasn't blessed at every step, and in fact had overcome many challenges, but if you hold on, maybe there's something greater as the sum of all your efforts. At least we can hope.
I wonder for those who visit at a certain point in their adolescence how that eventually filters through their experiences. Until I went to college I was incredibly sheltered, and although the last time I was there pre-2013 I was 10, I don't think it would have tripped my cynic radar pre-18. Mostly because I didn't really have a cynicism radar! That first developed in college, was honed in grad school, and developed to a razor edge in the first 3 years I was in NYC. I think that if I had gone back in high school it would have been slightly different from the perspective of a 10 year old, but the innocence would still have been there. It requires trials of life experiences to really see things from multiple angles.
I think that's what fascinated me most about my entire trip was the Walt Disney exhibit in Hollywood Studios. Walt had failed in a few endeavors prior to creating Mickey Mouse, and even afterward had to strive incredibly hard to make Disney Studios last through the Depression and WWII, adapting as necessary. Before he died, his vision for Disney World was actually called EPCOT (Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow) which included the Magic Kingdom as well as what was eventually called EPCOT. It was only after his death that Walt Disney World became the official name for the entire complex in tribute to his dedication, vision, and intelligence in buying up 28,000 acres of Florida property to expand as necessary!
How could someone leave his family during the Depression to try and make his own way out of necessity, fail a few times, and still pursue something he loved to found one of the most successful animation companies in the world? There were setbacks, re-toolings, experiments that didn't work and other normal difficulties, but still, the sheer optimism and resilience that he displayed is incredibly admirable. I'm not one for admiration of the current crop of "heroes" with the exception of perhaps Warren Buffett who also advocates for the average person; but as for past heroes, I have a new appreciation for the vision, compassion, and drive that transcended his past failures and reached for new heights, knowing how the average person would cower behind any safety net they can.
I'm not advocating major changes for myself. I know my limits and that I will never be one of the movers and shakers of the world, but I am thrilled that Hollywood Studios has at least recorded some of these amazing achievements of Disney, and after chatting with an employee at the exhibit, learned that Walt himself actually was discussing the idea of the current animated film (now billed as Frozen) back in the 1950's, based off of Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen. I think today he would be proud to see what has become of his ambitions, his sweat and tears, and what would ultimately be his accomplishments, even posthumously.
It's good to remember that; watching those cast members who act the part, and that you know have the usual trials of life going on; they give the illusion of Walt Disney's ideal land which has given so many children and adults a joyous holiday, since experiences like that are so rare in today's world. Even he wasn't blessed at every step, and in fact had overcome many challenges, but if you hold on, maybe there's something greater as the sum of all your efforts. At least we can hope.
posted by AnonymousX at 8:16 PM
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