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Last post, we investigated the history of Walt Disney World, partly because of its status as an American iconic symbol and partly because WDW is a personal favorite vacation spot. However, this is a blog about pop culture and its importance as a part of American history. While WDW is a part of Americana, its relationship to the time period of its initial construction is important in understanding that era in history. Magic Kingdom in Florida's Walt Disney World opened in 1971, as the Vietnam War was winding down and the decade of the Counterculture was coming to an end. Family values were once again coming to the forefront after the generational conflicts that accompanied the unstable 1960s. The Counterculture and the Vietnam War protests had torn the generations apart throughout the previous decade. The new decade brought with it new hope - Woodstock and Altamont, Kent State, and the violence of the Civil Rights protests had ushered out an impassioned end to the 1960s, but also marked a time for hope for a passive and restrained 1970s with the promise of the restoration of "law and order" with the Nixon administration. (More on the failures of the Nixon administration in that department in a later discussion.) The opening of Magic Kingdom, a family oriented amusement park, provided an escape from reality and offered a place where families could have fun together - a much needed place in the early 1970s. But, WDW was really an extension of the original Magic Kingdom, that of Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Since Disneyland came first, we should look at the importance of that Magic Kingdom in its socio-political atmosphere. Construction began in the former Orange Grove in Anaheim in July 1954, right in the middle of the post World War II era of consumerism, suburbia, and the image of the perfect family life of 1950s America. The idea of a family amusement park fitted this era perfectly. Post World War II also brought an air of nostalgia for happier pre-war times. Walt used this idea for the entrance to his amusement park - Main Street USA where visitors would be brought into a turn of the century American city. In his own words, Walt's connections to the past were important to the success of Disneyland:
"For those of us who remember the carefree time it recreates, Main Street will bring back happy memories. For younger visitors, it is an adventure in turning back the calendar to the days of grandfather's youth."
Disneyland was successful largely due to the time period in which it was constructed. The 1950s were not only conducive to the idea of family and consumerism, but the decade was a perfect fit. Disneyland easily became a part of Americana and it spread to Florida and eventually overseas including EuroDisney and Tokyo as well as the various Disney Destinations vacation packages around the world. But Walt Disney began at the right time and promoted his dreams in the right way to not only succeed, but to become a part of both American history and America itself.
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Last post, we investigated the history of Walt Disney World, partly because of its status as an American iconic symbol and partly because WDW is a personal favorite vacation spot. However, this is a blog about pop culture and its importance as a part of American history. While WDW is a part of Americana, its relationship to the time period of its initial construction is important in understanding that era in history. Magic Kingdom in Florida's Walt Disney World opened in 1971, as the Vietnam War was winding down and the decade of the Counterculture was coming to an end. Family values were once again coming to the forefront after the generational conflicts that accompanied the unstable 1960s. The Counterculture and the Vietnam War protests had torn the generations apart throughout the previous decade. The new decade brought with it new hope - Woodstock and Altamont, Kent State, and the violence of the Civil Rights protests had ushered out an impassioned end to the 1960s, but also marked a time for hope for a passive and restrained 1970s with the promise of the restoration of "law and order" with the Nixon administration. (More on the failures of the Nixon administration in that department in a later discussion.) The opening of Magic Kingdom, a family oriented amusement park, provided an escape from reality and offered a place where families could have fun together - a much needed place in the early 1970s. But, WDW was really an extension of the original Magic Kingdom, that of Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Since Disneyland came first, we should look at the importance of that Magic Kingdom in its socio-political atmosphere. Construction began in the former Orange Grove in Anaheim in July 1954, right in the middle of the post World War II era of consumerism, suburbia, and the image of the perfect family life of 1950s America. The idea of a family amusement park fitted this era perfectly. Post World War II also brought an air of nostalgia for happier pre-war times. Walt used this idea for the entrance to his amusement park - Main Street USA where visitors would be brought into a turn of the century American city. In his own words, Walt's connections to the past were important to the success of Disneyland:
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