Just dreaming, but what if you ran into Walt at the park...

[stacilee]

I had never been to DW as a child. Never dared to dream of it in fact.
My DH was a Disney-fanatic. Our first trip together was in 1992 with our 2 DS's. Eleven or twelve trips and 2DD's later.....
I AM THE ONE THAT BURSTS INTO TEARS WHEN WE PASS THE SIGN ON THE WAY OUT THAT SAYS:

"See 'ya real soon!"

I tell you, I drive them all crazy!

When I am in "the world" I love to stop and just soak it all in. I love to "people-watch".
I already know that when I am old I will still return even if it is just to sit on a bench or in my little motorized wheelchair and I am confident I will get as much enjoyment out of my visit as I do when I am screaming on the TOT now. It is a place like none other. It is as if it lives and breathes on it's own. If you listen carefully you can hear it.
I watch other families, young couples, single people, older people, CM's and I find myself wondering: "What is their story?"

I had a thought.

WHAT IF, one day while quietly sitting there "watching the world go by" I look across the way and there was an older man sitting by himself on a bench doing the very same thing? We catch each others glances. He smiles at me, nods a friendly little nod and I return the smile.
After a few moments he askes if he can join me on my bench. Of course I say yes. He seems harmless enough, kind of granfatherly. We begin to talk about the sunny Florida weather, the number of people in the park that day, chit-chat, small talk.

Finally I realize my bad manners and reach out my hand to introduce myself. He smiles and reaches out too, and says "It's a pleasure to meet you, Stacilee. My name is Walt."

Time would stop of course.

If you had a day, or even and hour or two to spend with Walt in his world and no one else even noticed the two of you, where would you take him what would you show him around "the world"?

No crankypants need reply. I would like to hear good thoughts only. Your very best Disney dreams.

 

[goofy4tink]

I would want to show him Epcot. and get his thoughts on it. It was such an important concept to him. I would love to see it through his eyes.

 

[maci]

Your scenario brings tears to my eyes. I dont know what I would say? Probably just babble like a crazy person!!
He was such an extraordinary man. Can you imagine what more he would have accomplished had he lived longer?
He had such vision, I wish Disney could find some one again with such true vision to lead the company.

But I have a feeling Walt is watching over "his baby" everyday from a birds eye view!

 

[ugadog99]

Your post is very moving. It made me all teary. I have often thought what it would be like to actually meet Walt. I, too, would probably babble on like some nut. Then, I would want to walk around MK and hear all he had to say. Finally, I would want to walk through Epcot and see what he thought about his "Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow"!

 

[tigger53]

as a child walt disney was my hero, a father figure since i didn't have a dad. i loved the wonderful world of disney. my first visit to the magic kingdom was in 1974 and i remember crying when i first saw the castle and i wished walt was there so i could give him a big hug and say thank you. if i could come across him today thats just what i would do. he has brought so much happiness to so many people. the best thing about all of this is i brought my kids up on disney and they feel the same way i do about it all. we've been known to cry when we have to leave our dream place. most people think we're nuts to always take our vacation to disney, they just don't understand how special it all is.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Call me a cranky pants if you want, but I would much prefer that meeting at Disneyland.

Disney World morphed SO much from what was originally planned. I think Walt would love that he was able to bring joy to so many people, but somewhat dismayed that his dream city never came to fruition.

I would tell him that his drive and commitment to excellence have been inspiring to me, and led me to places that I never thought I could go. And I'd thank him for that.

If you're bored, check out www.waltopia.com

Walt did his last presentation on video, shortly before he died. It's at that Waltopia site, and it is absolutely breathtaking to see what he dreamed up. It's a long video, and even on a fast connection can be spotty, but it's very much worth it to watch the whole thing.

 

[jaysue]

Metaphorically speaking, anyone who is open to the magic of all the effort, design and love of work that went into WDW walks with Walt while at WDW.

It was his effort, vision and direction that set the whole project in motion and resulted in what is arguably the happiest place on earth.

If Walt came forward in time and walked with me through the parks, I would want to take him to One Man's Dream in MGM-Studios and get his thoughts on his own history and legacy - I am sure he would be blushing at that attraction

In terms of attractions that Walt would like or have his stamp on them that I would want to go on with him:

MK:
Jungle Cruise (no doubt here)
Splash Mountain (weaves a tale and Walt loved to do that)
Tomorrowland Transit Authority (a Family ride and Walt loved those)
Hall of Presidents (Walt was a Patriot and found of animatronics)
Carosuel of Progress (He purchased it!)

Epcot:
Spaceship Earth (another Family ride that weaves history)
Universe of Energy (I think Walt would have been impressed)
The Living Seas (attention to detail and educational as well)

MGM-Studios:
One Man's Dream (he would be embarrassed but would be fun)
Tower of Terror (so he could be proud of his imagineers)
Muppetvision 3-D (family attraction that is a lot of fun)
Dinner at Hollywood & Vine or The Brown Derby

Animal Kingdom:
Kilamanjaro Safaris (Walt loved animals and I think he would be quite pleased with this attraction)
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail (family activity that gives respite from the park and is educational to boot)
Dancing to the African Village shaman outside of Zawandi Marketplace (I think Walt would find this man to be very talented)

To dream is fun...........

 

[Serenity]

Thank you for this post. It is exactly how I feel about this place. I have never thought about meeting Walt. Reading your post actually made me cry. I think if I every saw him I would only be able to say one thing - "THANK YOU!"

 

[stacilee]

I agree with you guys! and snackystacy, you aren't being a crankypants by saying you would like to visit DL with Walt, that's okay.

I would not only enjoy talking and walking with Walt, I would pay attention to his reactions to things. You know when you get into a great discussion with someone and you are both really enjoying yourselves...
I remember him on TV when I was a little girl and wishing He was my grandfather because I didn't have one. I liked the way he got excited about things and smiled alot.
I would like to see his hands up close since it seems to me that he was one that gestured alot in order to communicate.See him reach out and touch things, maybe to see what they were made of or to appraise their construction. I would like to hear his comments. Maybe even tsk tsk a little. ( BUt I am not getting cranky here!)
I wish I could see the crinkle at the corners of his eyes, see his eyebrows go up, hear him chuckle in surprise and wonder at things. I would watch his facial expressions as he observed the families around him enjoying themselves. He understood people.

I would love to let him know how many millions of people's live his dreams have influenced. I would like to make him really laugh with some of the tiny things that make up a lifetime of Disney memories for us:
Like how our potty training of Daughter #2 was set back by months because the toilets in DW scared her to death with their automatic (and very loud) flushing. She would hold onto the seat with her tiny little hands, squeeze her eyes shut and scream. By the time we returned home she was afraid of all toilets.
I'll bet he would get a chuckle out of that, as any daddy or grandfather would! And then he would probably say something like: "Ahhh, but those commodes are always clean... " am I right?

 

[Micca]

I'd tell him "this may not be exactly what you had in mind, but you are going to love the technology" and "...this is bigger than you ever imagined". Best of all: "I know all the best stuff, and we can minimize the waiting "

 

[HappyGramma]

I would walk with him up main street 1st thing in the morning. Then I think I would just thank him for pursuing his dream. A dream that lets me grab hold of a bit of that childhood magic that lightens the heart and gets me to believe again. Faith, trust and pixie dust.

 

[slo]

I would want to shake his hand and tell him thank you.
Thank you for creating a world that is timeless!!!
*A world that I remember from my childhood - now able to share with my DD's - and know they will be able to share it with their children.
*A world that I don't have to worry about my children being tarnished by it and a world that I don't have to monitor to make sure that it is okay for my children to experience.
*A world that I feel is safe and happy.
*A world that makes me feel like a child again when I want to temporarily abandon my responsibilities as a grown up for a week.

Thank you for creating characters that make me smile and creating the company for others to continue making these characters now and in the future.

I would just want him to know how much true Disney fans appreciate what he has done and how much it means to us and our families.

 

[IloveWINNIEthePOOH]

Well, if I could pick my jaw off the floor........I would ask him, "What did you want to do on the first day that the Magic Kingdom opened?" and then ask him to take me with him and show me. Then I would ask him if he could change a few things in each park, including resorts DTD, etc, what would it be?

Then I would ask him if I could adopt him as my grandpa!! He seems like one of those guys that you just can't help but love!

It would be such an HONOR and PLEASURE to meet him!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Twende]

As a young child I saw Walt in Disneyland and I remember being awe struck! I just stood and stared at him. He was pointing and smiling and showing some flowers to a group with him. It left a picture in my mind!

I would love to sit next to him on Mickey's Philharmonic. Wouldn't he just love to see his favorite rodent in 3 dimention?

 

[stacilee]

I am loving these dreams of yours. The littlest DD woke up at 3 am with, I suspect, strep throat, so keep them coming. I am going to need some happy thoughts to keep me going today.

twende, great mental image. You are very lucky!

This morning when I turned on the computer I saw that my DH had made a custom screen-saver for me with an old black and white photo of Walt on Main street talking to a CM who was kneeling on the ground working on the trolly tracks. They are alone on the street, it is an overcast misty morning where you can just makeout the castle in the background, a beautiful picture. Superimposed on it he quotes my scenario. "hello, my name is Walt" and "what if". It is really beautiful. He did it before he came to bed last night.

Ah, such romance!

I sure needed that this morning. Just wanted to share.

 

[WDWLVR]

If Walt was around you know he would have a special place in each park. Like his apartment above the firehouse at Disneyland. I would love to be able to go to whatever that special place is and just sit and talk with him. Walking there I would love to hear his insights on that particular park.

While Walt never got to see WDW debut his impact is still there.

I do agree too that Disneyland is Walt's park. I love being able to walk around and ride the same rides he rode.

 

[Chicago526]

I'd just give him a BIG hug and say "thank you!"

I do see Walt in MK and Epcot. He left us before MK was open, but it was very nearly finnished, so his touch is everywhere you look. And Epcot hadn't broken ground, but the plans were well on the way, my mom remembers watching him talk about the plans on Wonderful World of Disney. In MK, he fixed all of DL faults (not many, mainly he had more space and money to work with) and with Epcot he got to have a permenant World's Fair. I even see him at the Poly and Contemporary, and the camp grounds, as he had a hand in their development, too. They all feel more "Disney-like" than all of the others (not that the newer hotels aren't wonderful too, they are, but it's not the same some how...).

Anyway, I just I had been born and was old enough to remember Walt myself, instead of having to watch clips and hear my mother speak of him.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I'd think I was at The Haunted Mansion.

 

[Mickey76]

This is a great thread!

I would like to have a conversation with him on a bench on Main Street, USA, just talking about all of the wonderful things he has done for so many of us, without knowing any of us personally.

I would certainly thank him for giving us a place to visit where we can totally escape the perils that life sometimes hands us. I would also want to know what he would change as a far as rides/attractions currently in the parks and what he would think is a good idea for a resort.

After we were through with our conversation, I'd ask him to draw a picture of him, Mickey, and me. I'd leave him by thanking him again for everything and then I would go back to enjoying his vision that became a reality.

Mickey76