The Disneyland Difference

My first trip to Disneyland had me full of excitement and wonder. Having been a Walt Disney World veteran for two decades I was excited to experience the original park for the first time.

When I began sharing my excitement to visit “the land” I received countless commentary on how I would be “disappointed” and why. “It’s really small” “There are only two parks” “There are only three hotels” “The castle looks like it was made for miniature golf”, etc.

Although I was aware of these differences, I was a bit surprised by the excessive comparisons between Disneyland to Walt Disney World. It was at that moment that I decided to acknowledge the differences, accept them, and experience Disneyland as what it was meant to be…not the lesser of the parks; but Walt’s original vision; the place that started it all.

Much to my dismay, the cynics were right about one thing: I did laugh when I saw the castle. I ran in the park looking up for it…and there it was….in my eye-line…peeking out from the trees. It did indeed look like a miniature golf castle, but I instantly loved it anyway. The fact of the matter is…it fits there, just as Walt intended. The monstrosity of Cinderella castle would never “belong” in Disneyland, the size alone would make it impossible: it would be Godzilla to the small rural town. Sleeping Beauty Castle nestles right into Disneyland, allows you to wander through its halls and up its staircases to experience the story of Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip. There is an enchantment in its walls and it sets the stage for all the other wonderful things that the Magic Kingdom holds.

Instead of feeling cramped and crowded, to me, the Disneyland park had a peace and an intimacy that Walt Disney World has never had. People move at a more leisurely pace, there’s no sense of incessant urgency, everything about the park just makes you want to stroll on through.

I was endeared to the Disneyland difference beyond what I anticipated and found myself feeling like I was experiencing Disney for the first time. Everything had a weight of nostalgia, a quaint intimacy and a quiet memory of the man who built his dream.

As I wandered through the lands I felt like I was feeling what all those people making cynical comparisons were missing: the magic. The fact of the matter is, there is no comparison between Walt Disney World and Disneyland that would do either any justice. To spend your time making lists of square footage, size of castles and number of rides is a distraction from the magic and splendor that each park holds. The beauty of the magic of Disney is that its different for every person and has something for everyone. For me, remembering my first rides on Dumbo, Mr. Toad and Peter Pan are among my most cherished memories. For you, maybe it’s the thrill of Space Mountain, the celebration in the parades or the sweet scents from the confectionery, whichever Disney destination you hold dear, we are all living Walt’s dream walking in a place “for people to find happiness and knowledge…A place for parents and children to share pleasant times in each other’s company…the older generation can recapture the nostalgia of days gone by, and the younger generation can savor the challenge of the future. It will be filled with the accomplishments, the joys and hopes of the world we live in. And it will remind us and show us how to make those wonders part of our own lives.”~Walt Disney

Regardless of which Disney destination is your favorite, when you remember that, you are living Walt’s Dream.

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