From: geoff@pmafire.inel.gov (Geoff Allen)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney,rec.roller-coaster
Subject: The genius of Walt Disney
Summary: Disney does it right!
Keywords: Disney kids amusement park family coaster
Date: 26 Aug 92 20:04:10 GMT
Organization: WINCO

According to the book _Disneyland:_Inside_Story_ by Randy Bright (a
great book which is, alas, now out of print), Walt Disney originally
got the idea for Disneyland while taking his daughters to the local
amusement park.  He sat on a bench, forking out money while his
daughters had fun.  He thought there ought to be a place where families
could have fun *together*.

This year, I've been able to compare Mr. Disney's success against a
couple of other places, and I thought I'd share my thoughts with those
in rec.arts.disney (for obvious reasons) and rec.roller-coaster (because
of the interest in amusement parks in general, not just roller
coasters).

This year, I've visited three amusement parks -- Disneyland; Silverwood
Theme Park, in Athol, Idaho; and Lagoon, in Farmington, Utah.  My sons,
one two years and one about half a year old, were with us at Disneyland
and Lagoon; they stayed with Grandma while Mom and Dad went to
Silverwood.

Lagoon is something of a traditional amusement park.  There are lots of
very fun rides there.  There is also very little that families with
children under 50 inches tall can do *together*.  Lagoon has a great
kiddieland, and we spent the bulk of our time there.  Our son had fun,
and we had fun watching, but that's just it -- we were watching.  Lagoon
is a great place for adults (or teenagers) to have fun, and it's a great
place for little kids to have fun, but it lacks in being a place for
*everyone* to have fun at the same time.

Silverwood is similar, in having several ``adults-only'' rides, but much
worse when it comes to kiddie rides.  There are two.  That's all.  We
were glad that the kids were at home with Grandma. 

Then there's Disneyland.  We took grandma. ;^)  Everyone had fun, and
everyone went on (almost) everything together.  Mom and dad did sneak
off to ride the Matterhorn, and Big Thunder Mountain, and we all got in
line for Star Tours and did a ``baby swap'' to let mom and dad and
grandma ride.  We had fun at Disneyland before we had kids, and had
just as much (or more!) fun with the kids along.  (I'll describe the
baby swap in a minute, in case you're wondering what I'm talking about.)

Disneyland succeeds in fulfilling Mr. Disney's vision of creating an
amusement park where families could have fun *together*.  Lagoon
succeeds in creating a park where kids can have fun, or adults can have
fun, but it's hard to mix the two.  Silverwood calls itself a ``family''
park, but I'd agree only if everyone in your family meets the height
limit.

Now, about baby swapping.  For those not familiar with the concept, the
baby swap is a Disney policy which allows the whole family, riders and
non-riders, to wait in line together.  When you get to the front, you
mention that you need to baby swap (or, the employees are likely to
figure it out ;^) ).  Then a subset of the riders (call them 'A') goes
on the ride while the other subset ('B') waits at the head of the line
with the kids.  When A is done, A takes the kids and B rides.  So you
wait in line once instead of twice.  Just another example of how Disney
does things right!

A note to my friends in rec.roller-coaster:  Do not be concerned about
me.  I'm *not* saying that I think big, nasty rides with height
restrictions are bad.  Au contraire.  I love a wild roller coaster, or
an abusive spin-n-barf ride just as much as the next guy (well, unless
the next guy is buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com ;^) ).  I'm just saying that
I'd like to see more stuff that *everyone* can enjoy.  Nobody does that
better than Disney (that I've seen, anyway).

Geoff ``Walter Elias Schwarzkopf'' Allen ;^)

p.s. To those in rec.arts.disney who may not get the name joke, Anton
     Schwarzkopf (no relation to Gen. Norman S.) is the greatest roller
     coaster designer alive today.  Maybe that ever lived!  <Ducking from
     the items being hurled by the Harry Traver, Herbert Schmeck, Prior
     & Church, and no doubt others, fans out there...>

     ``Walter Elias,'' of course, is Walter Elias Disney.

-- 
Geoff Allen          \  [If it weren't for kids,] we'd all live in a
uunet!pmafire!geoff   \  quiet house, without Big Bird or Mickey Mouse,
geoff@pmafire.inel.gov \  or Kool-Aid on the couch.  Thank God for kids.
                        \             -- The Oak Ridge Boys
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney