Disneyland at 55

It was just by a week or so that I missed the big celebration. Disneyland in California is now 55 years old, but with continual maintenance (the park equivalent of plastic surgery) it doesn't look a day over ten.

I have had the rare opportunity to visit Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and the Magic Kingdom at Disneyworld in a little more than a month's time. It is quite interesting to note the similarities and differences in the parks. Some ideas are in all three (e.g. the hub and spoke design of the parks). Other exist with the same name but different executions (Space Mountain in California has an outside line and cars that have side by side riders, in Florida the line is inside with single file riders, in Paris the ride actually goes out of the building for a moment or two). Each park also has its uniquenesses (here in California they include the big mast ship, canoes, the Casey Jr. Storyland Train, and Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln for example).

So even though the parks have similar designs they have unique feels.

What strikes me about Disneyland?

It is a lot smaller than the other parks. Disney was limited in funds when the Mother Park was built. The central castle is only 77 feet tall (in Florida it is over a hundred feet taller). But it is smaller in other ways as well. The paths are not nearly as wide, Main Street is shorter, the stores are more cramped, and many of the lines for rides meander out on the sidewalk. Altogether it makes the park seem fuller with people even though its capacity is smaller than the Magic Kingdom.

Disneyland also seems a little rougher and less polished in its content. The Haunted Mansion is more tilted to fright than fun (at one point you look up to see a hanging body). The Jungle Cruise has menacing animals and threatening natives. It appears that the rides reflect Walt's sensibilities more than corporate lawyers and those who wish to protect the delicate minds of children.

Disneyland also appears to have a stronger local appeal. Disney World attracts the world (there seemed to be more Argentines and Brazilians than U.S. citizens when we were there recently). I look atound here and see mainly Southern Californians.

The more I look the more convinced I am that like the Christian world the level of focus makes all the diference. Taken wide enough, at a gloss, the Disney Parks and Christian groups all look alike. But take some time and tighten the focus and it becones clear that each has its own distinctives.