So, I have decided that there's no better place I'd like to escape reality than in that little tourist bubble in Anaheim, California. What's better than a place that features live trad jazz bands?! Nothing, I say! Alex and I made sure to hit up all the Disneyland bands we could find. I was very excited to get to listen to Hook and Laddar who are reminiscent of the Firehouse Five Plus Two, a jazz band comprised of Disney animators (this is one of my favorite jazz groups). We didn't dance to them, but did spend some time doing Lindy Hop to one of the other Disney bands -- thanks for recording us, Amber!
Aside from the music and dancing, the rides and the shopping, I had a great time noticing all the ways that Disney manipulates people. So much goes into keeping their "happiest place on earth" image. So much is carefully planned to make you feel a part of this fantasy world while at the same time tricking you into spending an ass-ton of money on crap.I love the "magic" in Disneyland. I love watching people act in ways they wouldn't act normally. For example, the people on the railroad wave at you and suddenly you're waving to the train every time it passes! During a very moving fireworks show, when Tinkerbell appeared over the castle a little girl exclaimed, "SHE IS REAL! TINKERBELL IS REAL!" That was too great! That same night I saw someone get proposed to by the wishing well. Damn, Disney. You're good.
When I first got to Disneyland I thought to myself, "This place is amazing, but I could never work here". I want to believe the magic. Yet, when an earthquake struck on our last day I wanted to see behind the scenes and find out what exactly goes on when something like that happens. The rides were all closed, so people were milling around looking for things to do...yet it was very business-as-usual in many ways. I wondered how much money they'd be losing, and how many people would leave and come back, or just leave altogether.
It was fun watching people. It's the combination of these things that make Disneyland more wonderful than just rides and fun foods. Why aren't I there now!?
