Searching for Meaning in Orlando…

 

My youngest daughter is 17 years old, and her club volleyball team played in the AAU nationals this week in Orlando (They’re pretty good – they won their division and came in 27th out of approximately a million teams from all over the world. Maybe a billion teams. Impossible to say. But it was a lot.). Anyway, the next day, we went to Disney’s Magic Kingdom. On the hottest day of the year so far in Florida – heat index of 116F. We spent the next day at Universal Studios theme park, which was more enjoyable because the heat index barely reached 114F. You may be wondering why this matters to you. Well, you’re about to find out. And I apologize in advance. Allow me to explain.

Those of you who have been subjected to my ramblings in the past may recall that my mind sits still poorly, sort of like an adolescent boy in poetry class. His mind is everywhere, except on the subject matter at hand. It seems that I never really outgrew that. A lecture about warts made me wonder about evolutionary theory and the possibility of divine intervention. Tinder’s gender policy got me to thinking about the Danish pianist Victor Borge verbalizing 37 Spanish genders. I once went from feeling inexplicably lonely on a crowded airplane to wondering about the impact of libertarianism on the human soul. It’s a strange place inside this head. I’ve learned to like it, although I really, really, REALLY wish there was a “pause” button.

But my point, as best I can recall, is that an intense, loud, over-stimulating place like Disney World stirs up all sorts of strange thoughts in here. You’re thinking, “Tough. That’s your problem, screwball.” Right. Well, it’s about to become your problem, because when it comes to incoherent over-analyzing of possibly non-existent philosophical underpinnings of social trends, I love to share. And after this week, some obvious questions come to mind:

Disney and Universal are very different. How so? Why?

Why is escapism into fantasy worlds so popular that people spend such an enormous amount of money on it? Is this healthy?

How were the crowds different in the two parks?

How does Disney market differently to boys and girls? Why? And how does this fit with Disney’s endless moral preaching on gender & homosexuality?

How are villains treated in each park? Heroes? Everybody else? Storylines? Morals to the stories? Background settings?

How did we get from “It’s a Small World After All” to “Pirates of the Caribbean”? Those two rides are very similar and very different, in lots of fascinating ways.

At Universal, “The Hulk” gets a roller coaster designed to make you as green as The Hulk himself, but that’s it. But then they spent $1 billion building Harry Potter World. That had to be considered a long-term investment on what might appear to be a transient popular trend. Why would they do that?

Why would anyone honeymoon at Disney World?

What does this fantasy world look like to a bald four-year-old little girl wearing a princess dress in a wheelchair with PIC line in for chemotherapy?

Why does this fantasy world make me vaguely uncomfortable? I told my kids that Santa was real. Why am I bothered by the four-year-old cancer patient having the time of her life just talking to some lady dressed up as Snow White?

For two days, my family wandered around the parks saying, “Cool! Look at that!” I was right there with them, and I also found all that to be stunning to look at. But I was endlessly distracted, like the adolescent boy in poetry class, by…well…by lots and lots and lots of other stuff.

So I offer fair warning: There may be some fairly strange posts coming, about princesses and Marxism and magic wands and Chinese tourists and intentional suspension of disbelief and Fantasia and superheroes and dinosaurs and teenage girl volleyball players and space ships and abortion and pirates and polite Midwesterners and sleeping babies in strollers and Florida heat and dreams of a better tomorrow and I can’t even imagine what.

Feel free to scroll past these as rapidly as you wish. I can’t blame you. If you’re lucky, I won’t get around to it – coming back from vacation is a bummer in private practice. I’m about to get really busy with, you know, work.

But wow, what an absolutely fascinating week.

Hang on tight. Or scroll quickly.

Your call.

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  1. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    This should be quite a ride. Yeeha!

    • #1
  2. Addiction Is A Choice Member
    Addiction Is A Choice
    @AddictionIsAChoice

    Hey, PVS is real! (Post Vacation Syndrome)

    Oh, and Doc, if you’re writing it, I’m reading it!

    • #2
  3. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Dr. Bastiat: [T]hen they spent $1 billion building Harry Potter World. That had to be considered a long term investment on what might appear to be a transient popular trend. Why would they do that?

    Twenty year old popular trends can become self-perpetuating. Kids that grew up with the books are having kids.

    Not me. I read the first chapter of the first book and wasn’t impressed enough to read the second. But then, I was 37 years old at that point and I probably was well past the target demographic. If I had been reading to little ones … it would have been The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Treasure Island, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Prisoner of Zenda (Rupert! “For my part, if a man must needs be a knave, I would have him a debonair knave, and I liked Rupert Hentzau better than his long-faced, close-eyed companions.”) … stuff like that.

    • #3
  4. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Ruprecht.

    • #4
  5. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Ruprecht.

    Don’t start that again.

    • #5
  6. Samuel Block Support
    Samuel Block
    @SamuelBlock

    Did you keep a count of adults wearing Goofy hats?  

    • #6
  7. Front Seat Cat Member
    Front Seat Cat
    @FrontSeatCat

    Doctor – maybe you better make a list: On one side put all the fun and fascinating things you and your family enjoyed. On the other side, put strange observations, stirred up memories, and more strange observations and go from there.  It may be easier to keep the lists separate, unless they go together in that strange head of yours.  The little girl that was sick in the wheelchair was having the time of her life – that’s being a kid, in spite of the illness.  When in Disney, that’s probably all you need to know.  If you don’t know, plan another trip, maybe at Christmas, and just be a kid again…….PS take more vacations…..PPS….I need to talk – I could use one!

    • #7
  8. MarciN Member
    MarciN
    @MarciN

    I have such strong and mixed feelings about Disney World too. Funny to realize other people do too.

    What really astounds me is how this bastion of capitalism cares so much about what the socialists think of them. Their creative staff is coming out of the country’s socialist colleges–I guess that’s why they give us pointless lectures on the latest liberal obsession at every turn.

    All that said, I came to understand Disney World very differently when I saw the pair of movies Mary Poppins and Saving Mr. Banks. Hearing Pamela (Emma Thompson) and Walt (Tom Hanks) talk about their respective childhoods made me understand why Disney World appeals to adults as well as children. Walt’s understanding of family life was extraordinarily perceptive. As was Pamela’s.

    Disney World has drifted far from where it started philosophically, but you can still see its original inspiration in some of the older attractions–for example, the Enchanted Tiki Room and Tomorrowland.

    • #8
  9. Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… Coolidge
    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo…
    @GumbyMark

    I’ve had some direct experience with the folks who run one of the parks so can comment on a couple of things.

    The people who run theme parks (the ones who are actually on site, not the distant folks they report to) love working at theme parks.  Many of them have spent their entire working careers at various theme parks.  They don’t have a desire to make movies or do anything else.

    They are very metric driven.  They know a lot about their customers and exactly what is happening in their parks and measure it all.

    Calling the rivalry between the Disney and Universal parks fierce is an understatement.

    The Disney park is pitched to younger children while Universal aims for teenagers.  When we lived in Florida we saw this in action.  Our children’s field trips up through sixth grade were to Disney, after that to Universal.

    Your ordinary new attraction can represent an investment of $100-150 million.  It’s like building a factory and as complex.  If you want to see cutting edge technology and robotics go behind the scenes at Disney or Universal.  A few years later you’ll see it deployed in manufacturing.

    For a massive investment like Harry Potter it’s all about how accurate they are in projecting how much related merchandise can be sold to the customers.  You would be surprised how much people at the parks spend on merchandise.  It was a good investment.

    Living in Florida when our children were young in the 90s we spent a good deal of time at Disney (at the time you could buy a Florida resident passport for $100 per person per year which gave you unlimited access to all the parks except for about 8 weeks a year – a fantastic deal – the per person price now is much, much higher).  I was incredibly impressed by how efficiently they ran the parks.  The US government should subcontract all its operations to Disney as should every state DMV.

    • #9
  10. MarciN Member
    MarciN
    @MarciN

    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… (View Comment):
    The US government should subcontract all its operations to Disney as should every state DMV.

    I’d vote for that! I agree. 

    I come across Disney in business books all the time. Disney World is right up there with the Ritz-Carlton in terms of constantly pursuing excellence. 

    • #10
  11. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    Percival (View Comment):

    Dr. Bastiat: [T]hen they spent $1 billion building Harry Potter World. That had to be considered a long term investment on what might appear to be a transient popular trend. Why would they do that?

    Twenty year old popular trends can become self-perpetuating. Kids that grew up with the books are having kids.

    Not me. I read the first chapter of the first book and wasn’t impressed enough to read the second. But then, I was 37 years old at that point and I probably was well past the target demographic. If I had been reading to little ones … it would have been The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Treasure Island, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Prisoner of Zenda (Rupert! “For my part, if a man must needs be a knave, I would have him a debonair knave, and I liked Rupert Hentzau better than his long-faced, close-eyed companions.”)stuff like that.

    FWIW, Disneyland closed Tom Sawyer Island. 

    • #11
  12. Phil Turmel Inactive
    Phil Turmel
    @PhilTurmel

    Dr. Bastiat:

    Hang on tight. Or scroll quickly.

    Your call.

    Bring it!

    • #12
  13. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    DisneyWorld vs. Universal: great subject. The former has a coherent spirit – the joys of childhood – and the latter is a collection of intellectual property inflated to overwhelm and immerse. It’s awesome and cool and all about the future or alternate worlds.  DisneyWorld, on the other hand, is grounded in American myths, including the myth of the founder himself.

    I spent some of the happiest days of my life there. (Including Epcot and the Hollywood Studio park, which was architecture / typeface heaven.) And now no one in any family wants to go back. Wife’s been-there-done-that and she’s not a Disney nerd; Daughter is 18 and still loves the stuff, but she’s busy with college. They’ll probably take me there when it’s Dad’s Last Wish time. Sigh.

    • #13
  14. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    DisneyWorld vs. Universal: great subject. The former has a coherent spirit – the joys of childhood – and the latter is a collection of intellectual property inflated to overwhelm and immerse. It’s awesome and cool and all about the future or alternate worlds. DisneyWorld, on the other hand, is grounded in American myths, including the myth of the founder himself.

    I spent some of the happiest days of my life there. (Including Epcot and the Hollywood Studio park, which was architecture / typeface heaven.) And now no one in any family wants to go back. Wife’s been-there-done-that and she’s not a Disney nerd; Daughter is 18 and still loves the stuff, but she’s busy with college. They’ll probably take me there when it’s Dad’s Last Wish time. Sigh.

    You can get 10% off on a cranium freeze if you get a lifetime membership. Operators are standing by. 

    • #14
  15. Cow Girl Thatcher
    Cow Girl
    @CowGirl

    Percival (View Comment):
    Not me. I read the first chapter of the first book and wasn’t impressed enough to read the second.

    Whew…what a relief! I thought I was the only one who really doesn’t care about Harry Potter! My youngest son was enthralled by the first book. So, I read it–just to see. Meh. And this is weird, too, for me! I am a person who must read–if there are words, I will read them. But, Harry Potter just didn’t do a thing for me.

    I am delighted for people that love the J.K. Rowling series. Everyone should have a passion. And if that passion can be developed by reading, then go for it!!

    Funny thing is, DisneyWorld/Disneyland got the same reaction from me as the Harry Potter books—okay, yeah, cool. That’s it. Never need to go again! I don’t know if it had to do with the fact that I first experienced Disneyland as an adult. Maybe if I’d gone when I was a child, it would have been different. I agree that it was an amazing experience, and very fun. I loved all the Disney movies when I was a kid, and I still enjoy them as an adult. But…other people can go to the theme parks without me!

    • #15
  16. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Cow Girl (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):
    Not me. I read the first chapter of the first book and wasn’t impressed enough to read the second.

    Whew…what a relief! I thought I was the only one who really doesn’t care about Harry Potter! My youngest son was enthralled by the first book. So, I read it–just to see. Meh. And this is weird, too, for me! I am a person who must read–if there are words, I will read them. But, Harry Potter just didn’t do a thing for me.

    I am delighted for people that love the J.K. Rowling series. Everyone should have a passion. And if that passion can be developed by reading, then go for it!!

    I second all that.

    Funny thing is, DisneyWorld/Disneyland got the same reaction from me as the Harry Potter books—okay, yeah, cool. That’s it. Never need to go again! I don’t know if it had to do with the fact that I first experienced Disneyland as an adult. Maybe if I’d gone when I was a child, it would have been different. I agree that it was an amazing experience, and very fun. I loved all the Disney movies when I was a kid, and I still enjoy them as an adult. But…other people can go to the theme parks without me!

    I didn’t get to Disney World until I was around 12 or so. I enjoyed myself, but perhaps if I had been younger, it would have had more of an impression.

    “The Wonderful World of Disney” was huge when I was younger — the highlight of the week, especially if I was at Grandpa’s house because Grandpa had a color TV.

    • #16
  17. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    Cow Girl (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):
    Not me. I read the first chapter of the first book and wasn’t impressed enough to read the second.

    Whew…what a relief! I thought I was the only one who really doesn’t care about Harry Potter! My youngest son was enthralled by the first book. So, I read it–just to see. Meh. And this is weird, too, for me! I am a person who must read–if there are words, I will read them. But, Harry Potter just didn’t do a thing for me.

    I am delighted for people that love the J.K. Rowling series. Everyone should have a passion. And if that passion can be developed by reading, then go for it!!

    Funny thing is, DisneyWorld/Disneyland got the same reaction from me as the Harry Potter books—okay, yeah, cool. That’s it. Never need to go again! I don’t know if it had to do with the fact that I first experienced Disneyland as an adult. Maybe if I’d gone when I was a child, it would have been different. I agree that it was an amazing experience, and very fun. I loved all the Disney movies when I was a kid, and I still enjoy them as an adult. But…other people can go to the theme parks without me!

    My Uncle Walt shall hear of this!

    • #17
  18. KirkianWanderer Inactive
    KirkianWanderer
    @KirkianWanderer

    I just finished a 10 day trip (I live in England) leading two high school friends around South Eastern England and Paris. The first thing that one wanted to do in the Louvre was see the Mona Lisa. Not because he was interested in the painting, but because he really wanted to fight a mob of Chinese tourists. 

    • #18
  19. RushBabe49 Thatcher
    RushBabe49
    @RushBabe49

    I am a total Harry Potter fangirl.  Sorted into my houses at both Hogwarts and Ilvermorny, got my wand and Patronus.  I have all the books, and am collecting the new illustrated editions as they come out.  I was hooked after we saw the first movie when it came out in 2001.

    • #19
  20. Addiction Is A Choice Member
    Addiction Is A Choice
    @AddictionIsAChoice

    And the wonderful lessons in those Harry Potter films. For example, the joy of not having to read Harry Potter.

    • #20
  21. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    The books are very well-written, especially after the first. She is very playful when it comes to language and names. For instance, a werewolf named Remus Lupin. That stuff is funny.

    • #21
  22. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    Arahant (View Comment):

    The books are very well-written, especially after the first. She is very playful when it comes to language and names. For instance, a werewolf named Remus Lupin. That stuff is funny.

    I do admire her YA writing and the books have something for any age. 

    Politics have corrupted her and I wonder if that is something we should all beware of. 

    • #22
  23. Samuel Block Support
    Samuel Block
    @SamuelBlock

    TBA (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    The books are very well-written, especially after the first. She is very playful when it comes to language and names. For instance, a werewolf named Remus Lupin. That stuff is funny.

    I do admire her YA writing and the books have something for any age.

    Politics have corrupted her and I wonder if that is something we should all beware of.

    I think the trick is that conservatives are used to being the ones who defend capitalism even though it’s self-proclaimed progressives who make culture products. All of the virtues they espouse are effectively trademarked, even if nobody can claim ownership of the intellectual property.   

    I was a kid when those books came out, and they are fun. But as art, even in the realm of fiction for young people, I wouldn’t count it as genuinely belonging to the same category as The Lord of the Rings or Where the Wild Things Are

    • #23
  24. MarciN Member
    MarciN
    @MarciN

    I mentioned Dr. Bastiat @drbastiat  in my quote of the day post this morning, but I didn’t use the @ symbol and name method to tell you that I did. :-) 

    • #24
  25. Al Sparks Coolidge
    Al Sparks
    @AlSparks

    I never went to theme parks as a child.  My parents, who grew up in the Great Depression and experienced World War II as young adults seemed to consider them as a waste of money.

    So my only exposure to them was as a young 22-23 year old when I went to Disneyland in California.  What turned me off to the experience was the long lines at the rides.

    Maybe I missed something by not getting exposed to them as a child, but I don’t think so.

    • #25
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