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Category Archives: History
Teaching History Through the Parks: Animal Kingdom
Most notable in a tour of Disney parks through the eyes of a history teacher, when you enter Animal Kingdom head right into Asia. This does not mean you should overlook the cultural and architectural accuracies in Africa (and the thousands of animals from these continents) as well as explore Rafiki’s Planet Watch to learn about the history of endangered species in our world.
When you arrive near Serka Zong, the Disney-created Nepalese village that houses Expedition Everest, you will see totems. These were handcarved in Nepal and imported to Walt Disney World. You will also notice that Imagineers focused on the culture of those in Nepal when building here. The rooftops have wood stacked on top of them to represent the wealth as Nepalese villagers in the Himalayas would (you could imagine findig wood up in the cold mountains would be tough). You will also see reference to the fear of these villages to the Yeti (Eep!!) when you see the red paint which is a traditional color of protection/warding off evil.
Finally, and possibly the most overlooked is the Buddha Eyes carved into a stone in Serka Zong. Buddhism is a peaceful belief system practiced throughout Asia and emphasizes finding enlightenment and ending personal suffering and desire.
It is amazing that Disney Imagineers plan each land, village, and attraction down to the flora, fauna, and even the rocks in order to make sure every minute detail transports you into the world they have created. Disney surely is in the details!
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Teaching History Through the Parks: Disney Hollywood Studios
When you first enter Hollywood Studios, you may just be seeing the best piece of history. On your left you will see a shop named “Sid Cahuenga’s One of a Kind”. This pays homage to California’s Treaty of Mocahuenga. This document ended the Mexican-American war in California and was named for a village in California.
You will also see shops paying homage to real places in Hollywood such as Carthay Circle and Sunset Boulevard. What may be the most fun is within Hollywood Brown Derby which is a replica of the California restaurant in and of itself. The caricatures and signatures in the guest book are those of celebrities who have dined in the park and the original restaurant.
Mann’s Chinese Theater is also a replica of Hollywoods Grauman’s Chinese Theature. Before the Sorcerer Hat began the transformation from the old-hollywood theming of MGM to the current movie studio theming of Hollywood Studios this was the main center piece of the park.
Also be sure to check out the movie memorabilia and movie history that you can find in both The Great Movie Ride and Studio Backlot Tour. And of course, don’t dare miss the Walt Disney museum and show to be seen at the Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream attraction.
Before we go, do you know which attraction finds its home in the fictional Nepalese village of Serka Zong?
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Teaching History Through the Parks: Epcot (Take 2!)
The only remaining tale to tell about World Showcase is something you can find represented in statues in both the Italy and Germany pavilions. In the heart of the Bavarian village in the Germany pavilion you will see the fountain with a statue atop. The statue depicts St. George slaying the dragon. Over in Italy you will find a variation of this tale in the statue of Theodore and the dragon (who most tales say accompanied George on his mission).
This is a fun tale to tell so lets begin. The German tradition tells of George’s dragon slaying in a set of poems called The Songs of St. George, but typically this is a European story from the time of the Crusades.
This website provides a nice intro to George and his tale. (Although it is a school site based in the UK, it seems to be the most straightforward.)
“St. George traveled for many months by land and sea until he came to Libya. Here he met a poor hermit who told him that everyone in that land was in great distress, for a dragon had long ravaged the country. ‘Every day,’ said the old man, ‘he demands the sacrifice of a beautiful maiden and now all the young girls have been killed. The king’s daughter alone remains, and unless we can find a knight who can slay the dragon she will be sacrificed tomorrow. The king of Egypt will give his daughter in marriage to the champion who overcomes this terrible monster.’
When St. George heard this story, he was determined to try and save the princess, so he rested that night in the hermit’s hut, and at daybreak set out to the valley where the dragon lived. When he drew near he saw a little procession of women, headed by a beautiful girl dressed in pure Arabian silk. Her attendants were leading the princess Sabra to the place of death. The knight spurred his horse and overtook the ladies. He comforted them with brave words and persuaded the princess to return to the palace. Then he entered the valley.
As soon as the dragon saw him it rushed from its cave, roaring with a sound louder than thunder. Its head was immense and its tail fifty feet long. But St. George was not afraid. He struck the monster with his spear, hoping he would wound it.
The dragon’s scales were so hard that the spear broke into a thousand pieces. and St. George fell from his horse. Fortunately he rolled under an enchanted orange tree against which poison could not prevail, so that the venomous dragon was unable to hurt him. Within a few minutes he had recovered his strength and was able to fight again.
He smote the beast with his sword, but the dragon poured poison on him and his armour split in two. Once more he refreshed himself from the orange tree and then, with his sword in his hand, he rushed at the dragon and pierced it under the wing where there were no scales, so that it fell dead at his feet.”
While some variations of the tale end here others mention his travel party (including Theordore) and some end with his marriage to the princess. There are princes defeating foes scattering throughout Walt Disney World, but where else but World Showcase can you teach the tale of a real man who walked this Earth and maybe, just maybe, did slay a dragon to save a princess??
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Keys to the Kingdom: Liberty Square
During my Keys to the Kingdom tour this past November, I learned so many awesome details about the Magic Kingdom. This is another installment of the memories from that wonderful tour. Spoiler alert!
Walt Disney was a genius in many areas. One such area was his attention to detail. He always wanted everything to be perfectly represented in the park as design integrity was very important to him. If Walt didn’t know exactly how something should be represented he would gather a research team to study the facts to determine the most authentic design possible.
After Walt’s death, when the imagineers set out to design Liberty Square at Walt Disney World, they wanted to keep with Walt’s standard. This is the reason you will never find a restroom while strolling through Liberty Square.
If you eat at Columbia Harbour House, and you need to find the restroom, the cast members could tell you honestly, “I’m sorry but you will have to go to Fantasyland for that.” You see, if you go to the restroom inside Columbia Harbour House it is indeed located in Fantasyland. You might ask why this is. It is simply because there were no indoor toilets back in colonial times. Truth-be-known, the only reason there is one inside Columbia Harbour House at all is due to health regulations.
When visiting Walt Disney World, you have to always be on the lookout. Remember to look all around, up and down and everywhere. The magic of Disney is in the attention to detail. Another example of this can be found while strolling through Liberty Square. One might notice that the ground is brown in the center. It is meant to resemble a river – a river of sewage, I’m afraid, as in colonial times. Without indoor toilets, everyone collected their waste and then threw it out of their upper windows into the middle of the road. The brown gravel looking part of the pavement is a representation of that.
It is fascinating how much time has been spent on every aspect of Walt’s vision. There are new and exciting things to discover each time you visit. Plan a trip soon — you’ll be glad you did!
Teaching History Through the Parks: Magic Kingdom
What better park to begin our historical tour than the Magic Kingdom? No matter what the discussion about Walt Disney World, this is always “the beginning”.
When you first enter Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom it is clear how Disney is in the details. As you begin your stroll down Main Street you will see gas street lamps on the streets. Continue walking towards the hub and the lights will move you forward through time and you will find electric lamps here. Just another way that Disney World just keeps you moving forward.
As you reach the hub the setting for this history lesson will be Liberty Square. The first thing you will notice as you enter this land is that you have most certainly turned up at a colonial “American” village. What changes about the ground here? Have you ever noticed the gravel section in the road here? If you had lived in colonial times this would have been your sewer. As your family walkes along the cobbles why not mention that had this been a real colonial town this would be filled with chamber pot waste and garbage that would have been thrown from houses. Ewwww!
Keep your eye out for Paul Revere’s famed “two if by sea” lanterns as you walk through this area as well! There may not be a replica of Christ Church here, but the lanterns represent those famous Revolutionary signals from April 18, 1775.
Also notice that clocks here with Roman numerals use “IIII” instead of “IV” which would be commonly used today, as this was the “4” of that time period.
Also, as a nod to my own home, each section of Liberty Square is supposed to represent different areas in America’s 13 original colonies. The Haunted Mansion area uses architectural cues from New York’s Hudson River Valley.
With a few notes in Disney history, be sure to look out for the Disney family’s coat of arms as you walk through either entrance through the castle. Also, as you leave the park take note of the often overlooked sign on the front of the train station that reads “Walt Disney World Railroad Office, Keeping Dreams on Track” with Walt’s name listed as Chief Engineer.
Here is a piece of trivia to keep you thinking until the Epcot installment:
Disney lore says that Walt loved his dog, Rover, so much he used his likeness in three different Magic Kingdom attractions. Can you name all three??
[Libery Square Picture Credit: Deb]