“Disney: the happiest place on earth?”
By: Adie Goodyear
What do you think of when you hear the word Disney? Maybe you think of the rides
and the thrills. Perhaps the cute characters pop into your head. Or is it the bright colors and
catchy songs that get stuck in your head? Families from all over the globe travel to Disney for
the memories to be made and to hear the sweet sound of their children laughing. I bet that
when you hear the word “Disney,” you don’t think dark, cold, and death. I want you to take a
moment, empty your mind, and really think about this question: is Disney truly the happiest
place on earth?
In 1974, Disney installed a brand new ride called “America Sings.” This ride was
designed to take an audience through the history of music without them ever leaving their
seats. The ride works such that while the audience sits back and relaxes, the history of music
is displayed on six different stages that rotated. The same year this ride was built, a young
lady with the name of Debbie Stone took a job at Disney. She was only eighteen years old
and recently out of high school when she agreed to do this job. Her only job was to wish the
audience farewell as they exited the ride. One day Debbie found her body being crushed
between a rotating and a stationary wall, but nobody knows for sure why Debbie was on the
ride at all. Debbie Stone is the only known employee death on record.
How do you feel when you first step into Disney and hear the intoxicating music? Do
you feel happy, relaxed, or free? Well, did you know that what you feel is because of the
music, and did you know it’s on purpose? Humans cannot help what they feel because when
we hear happy music, we tend to get happy. Disney makes sure to use this to their
advantage. They make sure people’s trips are more enjoyable by playing music that will
make people laugh and feel good. Pretty smart, huh?
Disney is known for their bright colors; there is no dull spot in Disney. There is a
reason that the parks are so colorful. Walt didn’t feel that the customers would be satisfied
with their visit just by some music that would be on repeat all day long; therefore he made it
pleasing to the eyes and not just the ears.
So, is Disney the happiest place on Earth? Why of course! I had my own experience
there and it was the happiest I have ever been. All though you may go for the rides and the
food, just keep in mind that everything may not always be as it seems. Sometimes the
happiest places can hold the deepest secrets.
Sources:
http://www.snopes.com/disney/parks/amersing.asp
http://listverse.com/2013/03/27/10reallifedisneydeaths/
Fall 2014, Page 11