Hanging out with Oswald in 2017… People will often hear about a decision that The Walt Disney Company has made and immediately say, “Walt is rolling over in his grave”. Too often we find things to complain about, but we rarely give praise. I was thinking about this, and I think there are many things that Walt would be proud of. Here are a few.
Live Shows
When I was watching Beauty & The Beast – Live on Stage at Disney’s Hollywood Studios the other day I was in awe. A classic fairytale came alive before my eyes! Disney knows how to put on incredible live shows. Walt Disney loved retelling classic stories, and I think that he would enjoy seeing some of these shows come alive in a different way.
Immersive Lands
Storytelling is at the heart of what The Walt Disney Company has always been about. Walt himself was a master storyteller who pushed the limits. Instead of seeing a bunch of attractions in a themed land, you can now actually become part of the story. Walt Disney wanted his parks to be a place to escape the outside world, and the immersive lands like Galaxy’s Edge and Pandora allow you to do just that.
Disney Cruise Line
Walt and Lilly Disney loved to cruise. Things looked a bit different back then, but one thing that has not changed is the timeless style of Disney Cruise Line. The ships are designed to resemble the classic style of yesteryear, and the line is known for its attention to detail. Service is exemplary on any of the Disney Cruise Line ships. It’s easy to picture Walt and Lilly standing on the deck, looking out at the ocean, with smiles on their faces.
Disney+
Walt Disney wanted family entertainment to be affordable. With Disney+, you and your family can watch a treasure chest of entertainment. You can see recent movies, watch quality shows, find something that you saw in the theater as a child, and even go back over 90 years to watch Steamboat Willie. It doesn’t matter if you like classics or want something brand new, there is always something to watch on Disney+. How many of us made it through lockdowns in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic by binging things on Disney+? I know I did.
Walt Disney World
Disney World was Walt Disney’s idea, even though he didn’t live long enough to see his dream turn into a reality. What was once swampland and orange groves is now one of the most popular tourist destinations on the planet. Walt had big plans, but I don’t think that even he could have imagined the outcome. I’m glad that his brother Roy insisted on adding “Walt” to Disney World. Central Florida changed forever because of this man.
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was Walt Disney’s first success, but sadly he lost the rights to his creation. That loss led to the creation of Mickey Mouse, but it is not the end of the story. In 2006, then-Disney CEO Bob Iger was able to broker a deal where Disney once again obtained the rights to Oswald. In an interesting bit of trivia, the Lucky Rabbit was traded for sportscaster Al Michaels. Walt’s daughter Diane is quoted as saying, “Having Oswald around again is going to be a lot of fun.” Walt Disney would have been thrilled to have his creation back.