Walt: One Amazing Man

[stitch09]

i have been to disney world 14 times, and i love everything about it. from the rides and shows, to the hotels, to the awesome family time, we've created many wonderful memories!! i know so so much about disney that people refer to me as "the disney nut" haha. but, along with a love for the parks, i have always been fascinated by walt disney the man himself. i have watched documentaries about him, i've read books about him, i've probably done at least 3 or 4 speeches and papers on him for school! i simply believe that he was an amazing, good-hearted man that did so much for the world. his dream was to make people happy, and he did just that. i really, really wish i could have met him. i would love to be able to sit down with him for a day (or several haha) to talk about his dreams and his life. he is my role model- he never gave up, even when his company almost went bankrupt several times. i really wish he could have lived to see the opening of disney world, i know he would have loved it. i hope people out there feel the same way as i do... life just wouldn't be the same without walt and all of his creative ideas, from his movies to disneyland, from mickey mouse to epcot (the part he was most excited about in the "florida project"). as a news reporter said after walt died: "He was an original; not just an American original, but an original, period. He was a happy accident; one of the happiest this century has experienced… the century hardly deserved him." this is very true, walt was truly one of a kind, one that has changed our lives in many ways. i do not let a day go by without thanking him for giving me so many wonderful memories in my life. he has even inspired me in my future goals in life; walt has said many inspiring things, but one really stands out to me: "It's kind of fun to do the impossible." we all love you walt!! and thanks for everything!!

 

[bebelle]

Amen!

 

[AnxiousDad]

... In college I did a paper on him, really out of admiration. After researching, my impression was that Mr. Disney does have a dark past that eventually eroded my admiration.

As I remember, and I can go dust my old paper buried on my mom's house if you want, he oppose labor movements that wanted to set independence to the existing syndication system on the 40s, even destroying his opponents with the Anti American Act hammer, he was instrumental into forcing exile for several artists (including Charles Chaplin, mind you) and even helping, above and beyond, Hoover's FBI efforts to spy on his employees.

Again, all this is from memory, I am not able to produce footnotes and references right now - my paper was some 20 years ago.

Still an admirable business man, but his actions during the 40s - 50s are, at least morally questionable. I remember concluding that he was the father of Corporate America, good and bad (I do not necessarily agree now, this were the 80s and I was in college). But not a role model on my book.

 

[dizneygib]

we totally agree

 

[stitch09]

i am aware of all of that, like i said, i know pretty much everything about walt. nobody's perfect, he was doing what he believed was right and best for his business at that time. the great things he has done for us definitely outweighs any of the negatives... to disagree with that is just ridiculous. and he is definitely a role model- one of the hardest workers and best minds our century has ever seen! every role model in history has their dark spots, but it's what they've done positively to help people and change people's lives that must always be remembered!

 

[Brancaneve]

I apply his theme park principles to my 6th grade classroom: keep it happy, keep it clean, etc.

A very good friend of mine(Traditionalist Catholic) refuses to attend any Disney park because he says Walt was a Freemason, and did things to undermine Catholicism. Anyone know if that's true?

 

[Boxley]

I feel the same way about Oprah.

 

[Leader of the Club]

Ah, I love Walt. I always think about him when I'm strolling through the Magic Kingdom.

My youngest son shares Walt's middle name. (and my dog is named Mickey), not that I'm obsessed or anything.

 

[disneydad78]

I apply his theme park principles to my 6th grade classroom: keep it happy, keep it clean, etc.

A very good friend of mine(Traditionalist Catholic) refuses to attend any Disney park because he says Walt was a Freemason, and did things to undermine Catholicism. Anyone know if that's true?

me being a FREEMASON, we do nothing to undermine the Catholics. Rumors. you like what shriners do for kids, shriners hospitals,,upper level of freemasons. Freemasons do nothing against anyone, your friend is miss informed,,sorry he doesnt go to parks because of that. his lost.