I love Walt Disney. There, I said it. I know it's not 'chic' to admit this since when you work around artists, you tend to take some heat for wanting anything to do with Disney. From obnoxious cross promotions with fast food chains to long lines for Dumbo and even Hanna Montana - it's easy to take the high road with Disney and laugh at the fools who are sucked into this world.
But I'm one of those fools.
When I was a child, my favorite TV show was The Wonderful World of Disney. My earliest theater memory is The Jungle Book. Before Walt Disney World opened in 1971, we drove down from Jacksonville to stand on a platform and stare into a long-distance viewer through which we could see Cinderella's Castle being erected. When it opened, we were there within a month. There was something about Disney back then which both helped me escape the constant horrors of Vietnam, and also kindle in me a respect for the power of the imagination.
More than Walt Disney the man, I latched onto Walt Disney the idea a long time ago - and never let go. I've been to their parks hundreds of times, have seen hundreds of Disney movies and we're currently raising two daughters who are Disney kids. Only - not like how you might think. Yes, we watch Disney movies (among others), we visit Disney parks (between beach/mountain trips) and we listen to the Jonas Brothers (and Jimmy Eat World, Jupiter One, etc.). We only have one TV, three computers and no Wii. Our kids play - and I mean play. They dance. They sing. And if you give them some colored chalk and a driveway they'll spend the entire day creating worlds that Walt himself would envy. They're beautiful and brilliant children. With juicy imaginations.
For about 15 years I worked in static jobs that required little or no creativity. But deep down I always believed that my imagination was capable of taking me on great adventures one day. I became a writer in my early 30s and it was as if I'd been doing it my whole life. So say what you want about Disney. Call me uncool. I don't care. I feel lucky that when I was a kid Walt Disney grabbed me by the Toughskins, threw me up into the air and said - 'Dream!' I did.
I still do.
Jim is a father, husband, copywriter and founder of smashcommunications.com. You can find him on Twitter @smashadv and follow along on his adventure (which includes a trip to Disney World April 5 for a few days).
