Creepiest Place on Earth: The Dark Side of Disney

Abstract

Disney theme parks tend to create strong feelings of joy and happiness for those who visit and dream of visiting them. There has been an expansion of Disney theme parks in America and worldwide, which has enhanced the Disney brand, positioning the company as a leading producer of popular culture and a major influence in the creation of theme parks. The first park, Disneyland California, was opened in 1955 and was envisioned by Walt Disney himself. In 1971, the Walt Disney World Resort opened in Florida, and this park remains the largest Disney resort globally. The expansion of parks has continued with Tokyo Disney Resort in 1983 and Disneyland Paris in 1992. Hong Kong Disneyland opened in 2005, and Shanghai Disney Resort began in 2016. One of the reasons theme parks have been so successful is due to the fond memories created and joyful childhood experiences. Iconic characters are brought to life in impeccably run theme parks, and the positive associations with Disney enrich positive experiences of popular culture. According to Veloso (2017), “if you’ve ever been to one of the 11 Disney parks across the globe, then you’d understand the magic of themes and ambience”. There is, however, a darker side to the lived reality of the parks, and questions about what happens when the cultural phenomenon has passed its accessibility point; for example, when theme parks fail or run into disrepair. Amongst all the positive associations of the Disney theme parks, there have been a handful of parks that have been abandoned over time. This essay sets out to explore the urban spaces of the Disney theme parks when they no longer represent that utopian space and begin to fulfil a liminal emptiness that contrasts with the polished, happy and sanitised version of life that is generally marketed to the world.