mjaclyn
Currently in Wonderland
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2003
- Messages
- 2,010
Hi all!
A fellow DISer was kind enough to point me to this blog that has different interviews with Walt Disney and it's really interesting to see how different things were back in the 60's, when Disneyland first opened.
http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/20...ersary_16.html
From these interviews I can really see how Walt Disney was VERY focused on the guest experience. Wanting to keep DL clean, safe and full of entertainment that could be enjoyed by everyone, even those who only chose to pay the $1.00 entrance fee and not purchase any additional tickets. I think it's hilarious that even back then people were STILL complaining about the ticket prices. I wonder if 50 years from now future guests will be saying 'I can't believe it was only $90 a day to get into MK back then!!'
I also thought it was really interesting that Walt even thought about the types of snacks he did and did not want to serve in the park. In the interview he discusses not selling shelled peanuts, chewing gum or 'spun candy' (cotton candy) because of how much of a mess people make with it. It was in that interview that he also said he didn't want alcohol served in Disneyland. I think it's so funny that both MK and DLR now sell cotton candy but no one is saying that it tramples on Walt's legacy. I think the way many people walk around Food & Wine Festival every year displays much more of the rowdy behavior he wanted to avoid. I personally don't have an issue with wine being served in one or two upscale restaurants in MK (much like Club 33 in DLR), but as soon as it becomes readily available at every popcorn cart I'll be the first one in line to protest it.
Something else... Reading about how Walt couldn't go and enjoy the park with other guests because he would be surrounded by people wanting his autograph kind of made me sad for him. Here you have a man who worked his whole life to bring a dream he had to reality and then when it finally happened he wasn't able to enjoy it with the people he built it for. He had to go alone when it was closed.. There's something a little sad about that to me.
Anyway, I thought the blog was really great and I think I may read Jim Korkis's book now.
A fellow DISer was kind enough to point me to this blog that has different interviews with Walt Disney and it's really interesting to see how different things were back in the 60's, when Disneyland first opened.
http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/20...ersary_16.html
From these interviews I can really see how Walt Disney was VERY focused on the guest experience. Wanting to keep DL clean, safe and full of entertainment that could be enjoyed by everyone, even those who only chose to pay the $1.00 entrance fee and not purchase any additional tickets. I think it's hilarious that even back then people were STILL complaining about the ticket prices. I wonder if 50 years from now future guests will be saying 'I can't believe it was only $90 a day to get into MK back then!!'
I also thought it was really interesting that Walt even thought about the types of snacks he did and did not want to serve in the park. In the interview he discusses not selling shelled peanuts, chewing gum or 'spun candy' (cotton candy) because of how much of a mess people make with it. It was in that interview that he also said he didn't want alcohol served in Disneyland. I think it's so funny that both MK and DLR now sell cotton candy but no one is saying that it tramples on Walt's legacy. I think the way many people walk around Food & Wine Festival every year displays much more of the rowdy behavior he wanted to avoid. I personally don't have an issue with wine being served in one or two upscale restaurants in MK (much like Club 33 in DLR), but as soon as it becomes readily available at every popcorn cart I'll be the first one in line to protest it.
Something else... Reading about how Walt couldn't go and enjoy the park with other guests because he would be surrounded by people wanting his autograph kind of made me sad for him. Here you have a man who worked his whole life to bring a dream he had to reality and then when it finally happened he wasn't able to enjoy it with the people he built it for. He had to go alone when it was closed.. There's something a little sad about that to me.
Anyway, I thought the blog was really great and I think I may read Jim Korkis's book now.
