There’s no doubt about it: Disney people like weird things.
The micro-obsessions we get fixated on at the Disney parks. Something that others might find frivolous or overlook altogether.
It must have been frustrating to be so young, wanting to be heard but wondering if you had a right to do more than listen, trying to find your place at 22 in the shadow of Walt’s legacy, cobbling together a new idea from pieces of older ones, fragments from the original dream-builders of the park that you loved.
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These hitchhiking ghosts used to haunt our Magic Kingdom Doom Buggies and now they are relics of a time when we valued magic tricks over technology. Subtle over silly.
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Over the decades I’ve spent as a Disney historian, I’ve heard people say time and time again that there must be something wrong with Disney Adults. But I have historical evidence that proves that Disneyland was, in fact, created for the enjoyment of adults from the very beginning.
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Amidst cat calls, pranks, and those who watched and waited for her to fail so they could pounce, Grace Huntington walked a daily minefield with invisible protective gear making her not as invisible as she wished she could be.
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Sometimes Disney fans, creators, and even Cast Members hear a story about something in Disney history and get so excited to hear a "secret" that they immediately pass it on as fact without tracking down the primary source.
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It occurred to me the other day that so much of what we see at Disney isn’t actually what we think it is. Or it used to be something very different, but we don’t realize it.
Let me explain.
I know that Marvel isn't traditionally Disney, and maybe you feel the same way I used to about Marvel. But bear with me, because I just realized something this week:
We are all living a Dr. Strange moment right now.
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I’ve held my babies with teary eyes during fireworks, I’ve been pixie-dusted for once-in-a-lifetime moments, and I have witnessed a gentle snow falling on Main Street USA in Disneyland Paris at Christmastime. But this moment was one that will go down in the record books as one I will likely never have again, but wish was an everyday occurrence.
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Hey Disney friends! If you're headed to Walt Disney World for the first time this year (or just the first time in FOREVER!), I've put together this scavenger hunt full of unique items to look out for, along with some fun facts about each one!
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What you are drawn to explains more about you than you likely have ever realized.
The question is, where do you find yourself in the story? And why do you connect with a particular character, storyline, or idea?
This carousel nestled in the heart of Fantasyland in Disneyland Park is the "hook" you see as you stand in the hub and look through the castle entrance. It's what draws you into the land, and rightly so!
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Photographing Disney as has opened my eyes to a new way of seeing the magic, and has taught me a few lessons along the way that extend far beyond taking great photos. How we view the parks and the world around us depends on more than the lens we use or the subject matter at hand.
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Is there anything better than that moment when you walk into the parks in the morning? The early light gives everything an optimistic glow, and the anticipation of what's ahead makes your feet light and your heart lighter.
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Disney bounding is reimagining everyday clothes with a touch of magic to turn even the most ho-hum outfit into a statement about a character (or movie, attraction, or idea) that you love. And anyone can do it, anywhere, anytime because it is not a costume, but rather a carefully arranged fashion statement.
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This week while walking with my brother in Hollywood Studios, he pointed out a fairly abrupt transition that has been on my mind ever since. There is a place where the Muppets Courtyard (or Grand Avenue, as it's now called) blends into the entrance of Galaxy's Edge, and while most Disney transitions are seamless, this one is not.
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If you're a seasoned Disney veteran, you know what I'm talking about. You know what to book, in what order, at what time. It becomes as easy as breathing after a while, with comfort in the routine that brings as much happiness as walking through the main gates themselves.
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A Cast Member once told me that a Disney trip is like a marathon, and truer words have never been spoken. While I love pounding the pavement, without preparation and a few emergency tools on hand, my Disney day can quickly go from a joyful adventure to a desperate slog at the drop of a hat.
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