3) The Yin and Yang of Walt and Roy Disney
In November 1963 Walt Disney flew to Orlando, Florida to build an east coast version of Disneyland. Most guests visiting Disneyland were from the west coast, and Walt wanted a second park for the east coasters. Unfortunately, as you may know, Walt Disney passed away on December 15, 1966 due to lung cancer, so he wasn’t there to see the final construction of what is now Walt Disney World. Through the hard work of Roy Disney, and many other amazing Imagineers, the project was finished and opened on October 1st, 1971. Yet, even after their hard work, the Magic Kingdom in Florida doesn’t hold a candle to the magic I feel walking into Disneyland in California. This is no knock on Roy Disney. It is just that Roy and Walt needed each other. Walt was the dreamer and Roy was the realist. In my opinion, since Walt’s passing this has always been a problem for the Walt Disney Company. Oftentimes they allow budgets and red tape to stop great Imagineers from having their dreams come to fruition. The company has lost the yin and yang of dreaming and realistic expectations. After Walt’s passing it feels like the executives cut themselves short of what the Imagineers are dreaming up. Walt was the voice for the Imagineers. Walt could push forward with ideas at Disneyland that Roy and other financial advisors thought were unwise or risky.
2) Cast Members’ Connection To The Past
On my most recent visit to Disneyland I really noticed how much cast members are proud of the history of the park they work for. There is a recognition that the position they fill as a cast member was once filled by people who worked with Walt Disney himself. Talking with one cast member in particular he told me how the original chef for Disneyland Park handed down his recipe cards for the food in the park, and now years later cast member-to-cast member these recipe cards had ended up in his hands. That story really blew me away because it is a literal passing the torch. Disneyland cast members care about this history, and at the end of the day their care that they show for their work is felt and appreciated by the guests.
1) Walt’s Spirit
Walking through Disneyland you can feel Walt’s spirit. The original Disney park is the living embodiment of the man. You may already know this, but in the window of the fire station on Main Street U.S.A. is the Lamp of Walt Disney. Every day that Walt would come to the park he would turn on the lamp as a signal to cast members that he was there in the park that day. After his passin,g the lamp has remained on a symbol of Walt’s spirit always being present.
Walt Disney was a kid at heart, and I think in many ways he built Disneyland not only for the guests, but for himself to enjoy. That is the biggest difference between Disneyland and Disney World, or any other Disney park for that matter. Disneyland was built, by and for, the same person, Walt. That connection to Disneyland is why Walt’s spirit is so strong in that park. Walt’s spirit creates an indescribable quality to Disneyland; there is something about Disneyland you cannot put into words. That missing ingredient of Walt’s spirit is why we haven’t seen a masterpiece like the original Disneyland, and we probably never will.
