Having been to Florida seven times (yes, seven!), I've visited Disney World the same number of occasions. And even though this video is of a different time and place, the 'Disney' aspect of it remains the same. It's strange watching the video because the changes I can see are more to do with modernity rather than changes because it is a different location. It reminds me of both my first visit to Disney where I giggled and gurgled on the teacups while wearing a baby pink dress, to my last visit at sixteen where I tried to be achingly cool in tight jeans and a band t-shirt while visibly scorning what I felt was another overly-capitalist manifestation of everything that was wrong with the world.
Both memories feel as surreal as the music laid on top of the vintage images in the video.
The film is a home movie shot by Jeff Altman's grandfather in 1956. The man shaking his grandmother's hand is Walt Disney himself.
I've never been. My OH has, so has my eldest son. Lots of the kids from my middle son's class seem to be going there this year. Should I make a point of visiting the magical land before I die? It has never really appealed, but everyone I know who's been seems to come back all enchanted.
ReplyDeleteLove the song...
Must've been fun to meet Mr. Disney in person. Went to DisneyWorld when I was a very young kid, maybe I'll go back when I have some of my own ;)
ReplyDeleteK.
I think it's overrated but that's probably the number of times I've been. My last time ruined it because I was over the whole fake happiness thing (was very angsty at 16). You'd probably enjoy it because the kids would absolutely love it. My brother was 9 at the time and it was nice seeing him all excited.
ReplyDeleteK - how crazy would it be to think that your grandma met walt disney?? my nan's met take that and andy peters mind. xx