Fascination Explanation -- Part III

So, how does this story of a man, a dream and a mouse impact me? I have been told before that I’m an 'old soul'. I’ve also many times thought I was born in the wrong decade. I’m not that technologically savvy -- in fact, my wife handles that for our family. I long for a simpler time. I love the fact our house has a front porch. However, I have always been fascinated in things like space and inventions that can some day help mankind discover things only dreamt of in years past.

Many people have said that Walt had one foot in history and one foot in the future. I relate to that. Of the many things that Walt had that I don’t, one was the ability to dream the dream and then act through it’s completion. While he probably wouldn’t have been as successful as he was without his brother, who managed the business side, few can match his work ethic and perseverance. He laid everything on the line several times because he believed in the product he was offering -- a product that has brought smiles to countless millions then and since.

One more thing…his girls always thought Walt and his movies a bit corny, to which he told them "What’s wrong with corny?". I’ve been accused of the same thing, which I come by honestly. Thanks, Dad.

Over the coming months, at the encouragement of my wife, I will be listing some of our experiences at the Disney parks that might help some folks with decisions around this very important event. I love to hear from people who have taken their kids for the first time to witness the magic. Trips to Disney World and Disneyland can be daunting, and for those not prepared, not very fun. So, if I can help make it a better experience, great. We’ll see where this little experiment goes. I will admit that Disney today is a bit more short term in their thinking than I would like and seem to want to figure out every possible way to separate you from your money, but on the whole, I still think if you do it right, the return is worth the investment. So, stay tuned...

Fascination Explanation -- Part II

I have always been fascinated by American history, especially the time period in which Walt and my grandfather grew up. These Americans grew up in a time that saw the first automobiles, the first plane take flight, two world wars and the Vietnam War, the Great Depression, and the true impact of the Industrial Revolution. Due to living in a free democracy, American citizens were able to follow their dreams and create whatever their minds could create. (Fun Fact: I have read that the majority of patents issued in the United States were for this time period.)

The first half of the nineteenth century was an enlightened period: a golden age… a time when idealism was still thought achievable. [Walt died in December 1966, but he saw the start of the demise of idealism when Kennedy was shot in 63’.] Walt’s story is one where a person who never finished high school could get on a train, go to Hollywood with $20 in his pocket, start a business from scratch, and watch it grow into [arguably] the most recognized franchise in the world -- with perhaps the one exception being McDonalds (whose story is almost as interesting, but that’s for another day…).

When you think of the great minds and personalities of the 1900’s -- the Wright brothers, Henry Ford, Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King, Dwight Eisenhower, etc. -- the case can be made that the things they are remembered for were things for their time, and that we have moved beyond them. Walt is different. Walt’s ideas and dreams are still growing and being exposed to each new generation as a rite of passage.

more to come...

Fascination Explanation -- Part I

To begin, I must point out that there are several similarities worth noting about Walt Disney and my family.

* Walt’s family came from Ireland during the immigration explosion in the late 1800’s. My grandfather’s family came from Germany during the same time period. What, you've never seen a leprechaun in lederhosen? You get the gist...

* Walt grew up in a small Missouri town (Marceline), as did my grandfather (and myself -- if you consider Springfield a small town). He modeled Main Street, USA after Marceline.

*Walt's father built their first house and was a very fine carpenter. My great grandfather built my grandfather's house and my grandfather was a carpenter. Walt and my grandfather were very good with their hands.

* Walt went to World War I as an ambulance driver. He never saw combat, but did get to chauffeur General Marshall once in France. My grandfather went to World War II and never saw combat. But he did salute General MacArthur once.

* Walt had 2 girls, as did my grandfather. To make it even stranger, both eldest girls married a 'Miller'.

*My grandfather and Walt died of complications from smoking, and both had a pronounced smoker's cough.

For some reason, when I see clips of Walt, I think of my grandfather. Both loved a good joke, loved life, and were irreverent at times. My grandfather died when I was 16 and, although he was in poor health most of the time I knew him, he had an impact on those he knew -- as I learned at his funeral when the funeral home was packed with people I had never met and who hadn't seen my grandfather in years, yet respected him enough to be there. I saw how he was admired. He and Walt grew up in a different time and a different ethic, one of hard work and determination...and unbridled patriotism. I can imagine that Walt and my grandfather would have made great friends. So, in a way, my fascination with Walt is also a tribute to how I remember my grandfather.

to be continued.....