Friday, July 22, 2005
Page 15
AT THE SIDEBAR (Column)
Welcome Words to Consider
By J’AMY PACHECO
“To all who come to this happy place welcome.”
—Walt Disney, July 17, 1955
If you’ve previously read this column, you probably know about my affection—bordering on obsession – with all things Disney. So it probably won’t surprise you to learn that last Sunday, I dragged my nine-year-old out of bed at 3:30 a.m. for a trip to Disneyland.
We only live 70-some miles from the Magic Kingdom, so it wasn’t the drive that got us up before the sun. Rather, it was the knowledge that the park would celebrate its 50th birthday that day, and the desire to be there when it happened.
Fortunately, we have friends who are as crazy – perhaps more so—than us, so we had company for the trip. We arrived in the parking lot by 6:30 a.m., but still ended up behind what had to be thousands of people in line. For about an hour and a half, we stood outside the gates and chatted with strangers, all of whom were as excited as we were to be there.
Surprisingly, it was a very well-behaved crowd, and a very well-managed event. When we finally got through the gates, smiling cast members handed each of us a pair of golden ears embroidered with the day’s date, July 17, 2005, and reproductions of Disneyland’s opening day brochure.
It was so worth the wait.
A nice person let us sneak our children into a Tomorrowland spot from which we were able to see a rededication ceremony broadcast to an enormous screen. We marveled at how young Art Linkletter still looked, and grew misty-eyed to hear Diane Disney recite the introductory line of her father’s opening day speech. When the Governator himself spoke, our children clapped as hard as they did for the surprise fireworks and the flock of white birds released over the park.
At 4:45 p.m., we stood in front of the castle and watched a replay of Walt’s welcoming speech, delivered 50 years to the minute that he originally presented it. We looked out over a sea of golden ears, and marveled at the way thousands of people had come together in the middle of a busy theme park to pause, in silence, to listen to words half a century old.
Sometime during the day, I heard somebody say something that moved me. As a journalist, I’m ashamed to say I’m not sure who it was—only that it was said during the morning’s ceremony. But as a journalist who didn’t have paper or a pen, and who only had four hours of sleep the night before, I’ll do the best I can.
A story was related by one of the speakers who indicated a guest had commented, “I wish Walt could have seen this.” The speaker’s reply was, “He did, and that’s why it’s here now.”
I found that exchange remarkable. Without a doubt, Walt Disney changed the world, from theme park design to movies, and way beyond. He was a man with dreams, and the willingness to mortgage his personal property to make them come true. He had an ability to express those dreams in such a way that they continue to thrive, although half a hundred years has passed.
It made me wonder how many of us go about our lives ever giving thought to what effect our actions will have decades in the future. An architect or contractor who builds things probably does, designing and constructing structures meant to last for a long time.
But what about the rest of us? I wonder if the guys who signed the Declaration of Independence knew the lasting impact it would have on our nation. Or the people who invented television, the microchip, fast food, plastic or the aluminum can. I wonder if teachers ever go to school considering how their words will affect a single child, who could grow up to be a theme park designer, a criminal or a world leader. And I wonder if those of us leading ordinary lives are doing things that are having an impact we don’t even recognize.
At the park, I observed a man getting star treatment on a ride. Explaining why his party was getting a private boat, an employee told the waiting crowd the man had been at the park on opening day. The crowd burst into applause.
I chuckled—it probably wasn’t even the guy’s choice to be there 50 years ago. But his mom, his dad, or somebody took him there, and now, cast members ask for his autograph. Sunday, he was a celebrity, for simply having gone to Disneyland as a child.
Walt saw a vision, and Sunday, thousands of us lived it.
So, what are your plans for today? What are you going to do to change the world?
It’s worth considering, don’t you think?
Copyright 2005, Metropolitan News Company