This is America’s vision of utopia.
Generations of Americans have grown up with Walt Disney shaping our imaginations. In 1955, Disney mixed up some fairy tales, a few historical facts, and a dream of the future to create an alternate universe. Not just a place for fun, but a scale model of a perfect world. “Everything that you could imagine is there,” says one young visitor. “It's like living in a fantasy book.” And not just for kids: one-third of Walt Disney World’s visitors are adults who go without children. Visiting the parks, according to actor Tom Hanks, is like a pilgrimage — the pursuit of happiness turned into a religion.
Futurist Cory Doctorow explains the genius of Disney World, while novelist Carl Hiaasen even hates the water there. Kurt tours Disneyland with a second-generation “imagineer” whose dead mother haunts the Haunted Mansion. We’ll meet a former Snow White and the man who married Prince Charming — Disney, he says, is “the gayest place on Earth. It’s where happy lives.”
(Originally aired October 18, 2013)
Special thanks to Julia Lowrie Henderson, Shannon Geis, Alex Gallafent, Nic Sammond, Steve Watts, Angela Bliss, Todd Heiden, Shannon Swanson, Katie Cooper, Nick White, Marie Fabian, Posey Gruener, Jason Margolis, Chris DeAngelis, Jenelle Pifer, Debi Ghose, Maneesh Agrawala, and Tony DeRose.
Bonus Track: Cory Doctorow on the Disney theme parks
Hear Kurt's full conversation with Doctorow about his life-long obsession with Disney in general, and the Haunted Mansion specifically.
Video: Walt Disney's original plan for Epcot
Inside the Magic Kingdom
Music Playlist
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Facades
Artist: Phillip GlassAlbum: Sentieri Selvaggi Plays Gavin Bryars & Phillip GlassLabel: Cantaloupe Music -
When You Wish Upon a Star
Artist: Philharmonic Disney OrchestraAlbum: Disney Classics -
Belle (Karaoke Instrumental Track)
Artist: Pro Sound Karaoke BandAlbum: Sing Beauty and the BeastLabel: ProSound Music, LLC -
The Blue Fairy
Artist: DisneyAlbum: Music from the film Snow White -
Grim, Grinning Ghosts
Artist: Bare Naked LadiesAlbum: The Haunted Mansion: Haunted Hits -
Like a Doll's House
Artist: DisneyAlbum: Music from the film Snow WhiteLabel: Disney -
Some Day My Prince Will Come
Artist: DisneyAlbum: Music from the film Snow White -
Kissing Dopey
Artist: DisneyAlbum: Music from the film Snow WhiteLabel: Disney -
Pirates of the Caribbean
Artist: DisneyAlbum: Music and dialogue from the attraction -
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
Artist: DisneyAlbum: Walt Disney and the 1964 World’s Fair -
Wall-E
Artist: DisneyAlbum: Music from the filmLabel: Walt Disney Records -
Someday My Prince Will Come
Artist: Stanley Clarke Trio with Hiromi & Lenny WhiteAlbum: Jazz in the Garden -
Father's Footsteps
Artist: DisneyAlbum: Music from the film Mary PoppinsLabel: Walt Disney Records -
Someday My Prince Will Come
Artist: Miles DavisAlbum: Someday My Prince Will Come -
Nocturnes, Op. 55: No. 1 in F Minor
Artist: Arthur RubinsteinAlbum: Chopin 19 Nocturnes -
Someday My Prince Will Come
Artist: Norman Simmons TrioAlbum: Satin Doll -
Someday My Prince Will Come
Artist: Tigran HamasyanAlbum: Fable