Be prepared, this article is extremely optimistic. I take some liberties in my reasoning because I wanted to be hopeful for the future. While the evidence I present is true, I have created an extremely optimistic hypothesis, so take that with a grain of salt.
In Walt Disney’s opening day speech in 1955, he said “Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America…with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.” I don’t think anyone realized how true the very end of that quote would be. Disneyland truly is a source of joy and inspiration to all the world, so much so that the Walt Disney Company has added four international Disney parks in Europe and Asia that are similar to the original Disneyland Park.
It’s interesting to me that the “ideals, dreams and hard facts that have created America” that also make Disneyland so special have touched the hearts of men, women, and children throughout the world. These American values and traditions have been the best representation of the United States since before Disneyland opened. When international guests visit the domestic parks they have the ability to see America at its best. I truly believe that Disneyland creates a romanticism with American culture that is contagious for international guests.
While some of this is speculation on my part we’ve also seen past dictators and harsh leaders plea to visit Disneyland. In 1959 Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev visited Los Angeles, California and the one thing he wanted to do more than anything else is visit Disneyland. That’s right. One of the most powerful men in the world wanted to visit the land of Mickey Mouse and Snow White. Khrushchev was told he would not be able to visit Disneyland due to security reasons. This made him incredibly angry. But why? Could it have been that he wanted to see the “ideals, dreams and hard facts that have created America”? Khrushchev isn’t the only international leader who was denied excess to a Disney Park. Kim Jong Nam, son of Kim Jong Il and brother of now-current leader of North Korea Kim Jong Un, tried to take a visit to Tokyo Disneyland. When his family found out that he wanted to visit the Japanese Disney Park his father quickly cancelled the trip. Not only that, but Kim Jong Nam was now no longer was going to be given the rights of succession to rule North Korea. Again we should question, why was this such a big deal? Well, because North Korea is an avid enemy of the United States, and his son wanting to visit a Disneyland Park that allows visitors to see the “ideals, dreams and hard facts that have created America” was a huge embarrassment for Kim Jong Il. Regardless of the fact that is wasn’t the original Disneyland Park on American soil, it was still viewed poorly in the eyes of his father. Now that it is very clear that the original Disneyland Park, along with the Disney Parks around the world, creates a soft spot even for the harshest world leaders, we see the power that Disneyland and the Disney Parks have.
Like I said, Disneyland is the best representation of what America has to offer. Although it seems idealistic I believe it holds the power to unite people around the world. We’ve seen what it has already done to rulers like Khrushchev and Kim Jong Nam. Just the idea of visiting such a place had them excited. This is where I take a liberty to tell you that I’d love for the United Nations Leaders to have a day in which they all visited a Disney park together. It sounds completely comical and outlandish, but imagine the good that day would do for the world.
In the summer of 2014 I had the opportunity to work as an intern on Capitol Hill. I listened to many congressmen and women talk about why American politics is becoming so polarized. One of the things that really caught me off guard was one member of Congress saying he used to vacation with other members of Congress (Republican and Democrats) and their families, but that they no longer share that time together. He said since that camaraderie has dissolved, Republicans and Democrats no longer see each other as friends with differences, but as enemies. I think this problem is something world leaders also have. World leaders don’t see each other as people, but as either their allies or their enemies. Now imagine they all got together and visited Disneyland. Like I said it sounds silly, but I believe the happiest place on earth could do them all a little good.
