"That Walt Disney Dude"

[DCTooTall]

Why is that trouble?

If I had to venture a guess.... It's because people who just know Disney as the company it is today (With Wall Street connections, multinational parks, huge media empire stretching from a broadcast network to film to cable...to comics...etc etc etc) can't really apprecciate how everything Disney is and was is due to the 2 Brothers. "It all started with a Mouse" is a great tagline, but it doesn't begin to express the cultural impact they had, nor how close to losing everything they where. Just look at the number of times things we take for granted were called "Walt's Folly" by people when it was being put together.

In many ways, You can even blame Disney for the whole concept of coming out with a tv or movie product, and then taking a character from it and marketting the crap out of it with everything from a plush doll to a lunchbox, etc. The decision to license Mickey for official merch in the early days helped not only ensure Mickey's status as a pop culture stalwart, but helped establish trends we still see today.


Here's another way to think about it. From the 20's until the 70's, for most of society, DisneyCo WAS Walt Disney. It was in part that feeling that the man was the company that led to it's decline and near death thru the 70's and early 80's after Walt's (and later Roy's) death. After Eisner came in and saved the company from being sold and parted out, We had an era of Mike Eisner WAS Disney (remember the days of Wonderful World of Disney w/ the Eisner intros on ABC Sunday nights) along with the expansion of the company into the media empire we know today.

I would almost say it was during the mid-late 90's when we could say that much of the old feel of the company was finally overshadowed by the major corporate feel we see so easily today.



So IMHO, I could feel like the issue with knowing who Walt is, and being able to see what he brought to the world and country, is very much impacted by the generational things. It's been over 40yrs now since Walt died, which means for many people taking their kids to Disney these days, their parents may not even be old enough to really remember how much Walt was around. In 40yrs, We'll probably have the same issue with modern generations and Steve Jobs (who for many Apple fans, WAS Apple).


(And for the record, Walt had been gone for over a decade before i was born, so most of my knowledge and opinions have come from what I've seen, read, and learned over the years since it was a subject that interested me. I honestly don't expect my contemporaries to even know as much about it as i do. )

 

[Planogirl]

I assume many people go to theme parks only for fun. How many can say anything about creators of Universal, SixFlags, SeaWorld? It is not about who created it but how fun it is to be there. Of course, Disers know a bit too much, I am constantly reminded by other people of this little fact, but we cannot expect others to share same craziness. I am sure everyone heard name Walt Disney and I am sure everyone knows about films and parks but this is it, the rest is our thing. Those girls most likely had basic knowledge and did not need anything else to have fun.

I do know that Universal Studios is the oldest studio in the United States. Should I have admitted that?

 

[declansdad]

If I had to venture a guess.... It's because people who just know Disney as the company it is today (With Wall Street connections, multinational parks, huge media empire stretching from a broadcast network to film to cable...to comics...etc etc etc) can't really apprecciate how everything Disney is and was is due to the 2 Brothers. "It all started with a Mouse" is a great tagline, but it doesn't begin to express the cultural impact they had, nor how close to losing everything they where. Just look at the number of times things we take for granted were called "Walt's Folly" by people when it was being put together.

In many ways, You can even blame Disney for the whole concept of coming out with a tv or movie product, and then taking a character from it and marketting the crap out of it with everything from a plush doll to a lunchbox, etc. The decision to license Mickey for official merch in the early days helped not only ensure Mickey's status as a pop culture stalwart, but helped establish trends we still see today.


Here's another way to think about it. From the 20's until the 70's, for most of society, DisneyCo WAS Walt Disney. It was in part that feeling that the man was the company that led to it's decline and near death thru the 70's and early 80's after Walt's (and later Roy's) death. After Eisner came in and saved the company from being sold and parted out, We had an era of Mike Eisner WAS Disney (remember the days of Wonderful World of Disney w/ the Eisner intros on ABC Sunday nights) along with the expansion of the company into the media empire we know today.

I would almost say it was during the mid-late 90's when we could say that much of the old feel of the company was finally overshadowed by the major corporate feel we see so easily today.



So IMHO, I could feel like the issue with knowing who Walt is, and being able to see what he brought to the world and country, is very much impacted by the generational things. It's been over 40yrs now since Walt died, which means for many people taking their kids to Disney these days, their parents may not even be old enough to really remember how much Walt was around. In 40yrs, We'll probably have the same issue with modern generations and Steve Jobs (who for many Apple fans, WAS Apple).


(And for the record, Walt had been gone for over a decade before i was born, so most of my knowledge and opinions have come from what I've seen, read, and learned over the years since it was a subject that interested me. I honestly don't expect my contemporaries to even know as much about it as i do. )

All interesting points but they have no impact on my enjoyment of WDW or anything else related to Disney.

 

[LBIJim]

That made me smile... BUT if anyone does step into the world you should know at least a LITTLE history of how everything came to be ... and the one who started it all pixuedust:

But why? Let the girls enjoy WDW on their own terms. That dude Walt Disney is probably as relevant to them (and millions of other people) as, say, President Woodrow Wilson. Face it, most people don't care about history. For those girls, the dude is "ancient" history. Even worse.

I think the dramatics here are a bit much. I highly doubt Walt Disney expected or cared if guests knew his life story or the details behind the creation if the parks.

So two girls referred to him as "that Walt Disney dude." As long as they were enjoying themselves, who cares? And for all anyone knows, they knew perfectly well who Walt Disney was and were maybe, oh, just talking like teenage girls.

A few of the hero worship posts here are approaching that of a certain other dead dude from central Pennsylvania.

Jim

 

[ppony]

When I was 15, I went on a church youth trip to Washington DC. I'm ashamed to admit that I knew next to nothing beside the most basic of things about what I saw there. I knew who the presidents were, but I didn't know what The Wall "was", I didn't care about much of the Smithsonians beyond where Kermit, Mr. Roger's sweater and the ruby slippers were. The 2 hours we spent in the air and space museum were torture to me as a teen... and really, anything else we did just didn't sink in. Now, at 42, I'd LOVE to go back and truly see it w/ more knowlegde and appreciation. I do thankfully remember going to the top of the Wash. memorial which you can't do anymore. I wish I could remember more of that trip. We learn more and appreciate more as we grow older. So will they. Walt died right before I was born. I'm very sad about that, but I know the incredible global impact he and his brother had and they'll always be heros to me.

 

[Bullseye]

I go to wdw for fun and vacation. When I want some history I'll do a different vacation like walking the freedom trail. I know bits and pieces about him and lots of other famous people. I think my life will be complete though without ever knowing enough to write a thesis about him.

Who said anything about writing a thesis? Having the slighest curiosity about him and writing a thesis about him are two pretty different levels of committment. I only know bits and peices about him also.

So, when your at HS you don't ever pop into "One Mans Dream" for 10-15 minutes to take in some of the story of Walt Disney? Show your kids some of the really old pictures of Walt, and Mickey, and Donald? See some neat stuff? You don't see the movies or street shows in the world showcase and take in some of the history?

 

[mdsoccermom]

Who said anything about writing a thesis? Having the slighest curiosity about him and writing a thesis about him are two pretty different levels of committment. I only know bits and peices about him also.

So, when your at HS you don't ever pop into "One Mans Dream" for 10-15 minutes to take in some of the story of Walt Disney? Show your kids some of the really old pictures of Walt, and Mickey, and Donald? See some neat stuff? You don't see the movies or street shows in the world showcase and take in some of the history?

We have never seen One Man's Dream. My kids have never cared to, and neither have DH and I.

And yes, we do see movies in World Showcase because we love to travel. See how that works? We spend time on our vacations seeing the things that interest us.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

We have never seen One Man's Dream. My kids have never cared to, and neither have DH and I.

And yes, we do see movies in World Showcase because we love to travel. See how that works? We spend time on our vacations seeing the things that interest us.

That is great.......enjoy..........that what it is all about.

But with all due respect,you have little knowledge of the Man and his time and therefore have no right to say things like he was just a business man and we know all about Disney from just visiting the parks.

AKK

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Why is that trouble?

You are correct..........I used the wrong word............I should have said.*Shame of it*.........*or *what they are missing*

 

[declansdad]

You are correct..........I used the wrong word............I should have said.*Shame of it*.........*or *what they are missing*

There is no shame in it and they are only missing something in your opinion. Not knowing the history of WDW or Walt and Roy Disney does not impact a person's enjoyment of the parks in any way.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

There is no shame in it and they are only missing something in your opinion. Not knowing the history of WDW or Walt and Roy Disney does not impact a person's enjoyment of the parks in any way.

In YOUR opinion......I find it a Shame, because they don't know what they are missing and that,IN MY OPINION and in COMMON SENSE,that does effect their enjoyment of the parks.

For example..........If you enjoy the Castle, knowing how and why it there, the History....E.I..........the Cinderella and Snow White and Sleeping Beauty characters/story and movies, you will enjoy it more.

But to each there own..............you are like me and everyone else entitled to your opinion

AKK

 

[declansdad]

In YOUR opinion......I find it a Shame, because they don't know what they are missing and that,IN MY OPINION and in COMMON SENSE,that does effect their enjoyment of the parks.

For example..........If you enjoy the Castle, knowing how and why it there, the History....E.I..........the Cinderella and Snow White and Sleeping Beauty characters/story and movies, you will enjoy it more.

But to each there own..............you are like me and everyone else entitled to your opinion

AKK

I agree that we both have different opinions but there is nothing related to common sense about this. Stop trying to put those who don't agree with your opinion down. No one is making fun of you for your opinion, why is it necessary for you to do?

 

[Nina1]

It's easy for old(er) farts like myself to assume that the whole world knows Walt and his accomplishments, the only thing worth watching on a Sunday evening in my youth was his Wonderful World. I agree with the poster who recommended 'One Man's Dream', I'd make it a requirement for first time visitors.

Bill From PA

Amen, Bob. I think what those girls said is sad, not funny. I don't think people fully grasp how Walt Disney's accomplishments truly changed the world.

 

[mdsoccermom]

That is great.......enjoy..........that what it is all about.

But with all due respect,you have little knowledge of the Man and his time and therefore have no right to say things like he was just a business man and we know all about Disney from just visiting the parks.

AKK

Actually, I think I have the right to say pretty much what I believe. I think e erroneous should stop acting as if not idolizing Walt Disney is tantamount to hate speech.

 

[SaraJayne]

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/07/25/the-20-most-influential-americans-of-all-time/#all

Huh, look at that. Not a Walt Disney to be found on that list.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Actually, I think I have the right to say pretty much what I believe. I think e erroneous should stop acting as if not idolizing Walt Disney is tantamount to hate speech.

You misunderstand or maybe I was not clear.............you have every right to state your opinion, but without the knowledge and background.....your opinion has no foundation.

AKK

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I agree that we both have different opinions but there is nothing related to common sense about this. Stop trying to put those who don't agree with your opinion down. No one is making fun of you for your opinion, why is it necessary for you to do?

Not putting anyone down................offering my opinion and explanation. Common sense is part of that.

If you don't agree...fine with me.......but is seems your the one attacking, because your points don't have merit

AKK

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Amen, Bob. I think what those girls said is sad, not funny. I don't think people fully grasp how Walt Disney's accomplishments truly changed the world.

Amen!

 

[Mkrop]

I couldn't agree more with you Bill, they should have "One Man's Dream" running constantly on a resort channel kind of like they have Stacey running 24/7 .

They actually have the biography of Milton Hershey running on a constant loop at the hotels on Hershey property. We have stayed there when we have gone to Hershey, and we find it very interesting. How and why he started the parks, what times were like back then, his foundation etc

I'm going to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg next week. Does anyone know the history of Busch Gardens? I have no idea of its history, OR who started it all!!

I know I saw a history about them when I was in the parks as a young teen/adult. They were started by the Busch family, the people who use to own Budweiser. Family owned until the got bought out. They owned Sea World too I beleive.

For anyone interested in learning more about Walt Disney's life there is a movie called "Walt: The Man Behind the Myth". It is narrated by Dick Van Dyke and was made with the permission and help of Walt's family. It is available on YouTube and the link is below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zflYLPCiglk&list=FLJDjIKKRZjpiQ6LwUfkN-wQ&index=1&feature=plpp_video

We have seen this too many times to count. We love learning about it the history. I feel you can learn a lot about the times by studying someone like Walt. DS did project on him in 4th grade, and it was kind of cool so I read the books too.


I am sure those girls were just being teens. I think knowing the history of the parks is fascinating and it does add to my enjoyment but if others feel differently..oh well. I feel there are so many ways to learn about the history of our country besides politics and wars. I want to learn about the people. I find the American Experience fascinating when the talk about Alexander Graham Bell, and Carnegie etc. "oh that Carnegie Hall" and now look at it!!!!

 

[declansdad]

You misunderstand or maybe I was not clear.............you have every right to state your opinion, but without the knowledge and background.....your opinion has no foundation.

AKK

Not putting anyone down................offering my opinion and explanation. Common sense is part of that.

If you don't agree...fine with me.......but is seems your the one attacking, because your points don't have merit

AKK

Nope you're not putting anyone down at all.