I turned 47 years old last month. As I have been contemplating life and making a mental inventory of what I have accomplished, all the while writing my weekly “Wednesday with Walt” articles, I began wondering what Walt was doing when he was 47. Well, he had certainly accomplished much more than I have, to say the least. Still, he had also dealt with some hard financial struggles and tough failures on some of the ventures he had started. But isn’t it a funny thing… it just so happens that right around his 47th birthday was when he was ready to announce a little 160-acre dream that had been brewing in his mind. In fact, this was when he publicly announced to his friends, colleagues and employees that he was interested in building a theme park.
After traveling around to state fairs, carnivals, and parks across the U.S. and Europe in the 1940s, the vision of building an amusement park grew in Walt’s mind. He was just convinced the park would be successful as long as it offered a “good show” for families, was clean, and had friendly employees.
According to Bob Thomas’, Walt Disney An American Original, Walt formulated his first thoughts for a “Mickey Mouse Park” in a memo written to his staff on August 31, 1948 (just a few months before his 47th birthday). In the memo, he described a very exciting new project for the Walt Disney Company. It would be an amusement park for children and adults alike.
Mr. Thomas says, “The memo painted a picture of a small American town built around a midway with attractions that would appeal to the entire family. His first model, and every model thereafter, included a train circling around the outside of the park. There would also be a town hall, fire department, and a jail with real-life characters in it. Other attractions would be colorful and attractive food stands and restaurants with special rooms for birthday parties. Visitors could take a horse-drawn streetcar to a Western village and buy cowboy items at the general store or see a movie in the Western theater. Surreys would transport people into a carnival section that aimed to please the entire family with roller coasters and merry go rounds. Walt’s early ideas also mentioned places to rest with plenty of shade and drinking fountains.”
Walt told many of his executives about his vision to build the utopian theme park, Disneyland, but with his studio again drowning in debt by 1948, he was met with skepticism and even ridicule. In fact, Walt’s brother Roy hit the roof over the idea. If his plan failed, it could take the company with it. Walt also told many friends about his new dream park. In fact, during this same time period, Walt and his family were enjoying the quiet life in their first Palm Springs home at Smoke Tree Ranch. Walt loved that easy, cowboy kind of life and the people there loved him. He asked many of his friends there about investing in Disneyland. Many of Walt’s friends and colleagues kicked themselves for years for not listening to him and purchasing Disneyland stock.
Thankfully, Walt trusted his instincts more than he trusted experts who told him his expensive theme park concept would never be successful. He mortgaged everything personally and professionally to see Disneyland built. In 1954, he sold the Palm Springs house he loved so much. Hocking everything he had and borrowing from everyone he knew to fulfill his dream, he attracted ABC as an investor and sponsor. He would also bring on board Santa Fe Railroad, Bank of America and several other corporate giants to fund the entertainment success story we now call Disneyland.
Walt was amazing at 47, just as he was at every other age of his life! I have not accomplished anything like he had by my age; still, I have done some pretty worthwhile things in my life. I didn’t follow my passion for writing when I was young enough to pursue it as a career but I have thankfully remained employed all my life in the administrative field. I have been married to my high school sweetheart for more years than I will tell you and have raised three wonderful children who I cherish with all my heart. And, I am so grateful to be able to fulfill my passion for writing now. Being able to share a weekly dose of someone I truly admire like Walt Disney is just icing on the cake, and I would like to send out a great big THANK YOU to Chip for allowing me to use Chip & Co as the platform.
I doubt I will be designing any theme parks this year but I can tell you one thing for sure, I will most definitely be enjoying one during a couple of magical visits!:)
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