Business Slogan 42: The Happiest Place on Earth
A carefully crafted business slogan speaks volumes of it’s brand values and promises, successfully.
Disneyland – The Happiest Place on Earth. What was Walt Disney thinking when he opened Disneyland with this promise?
“To all who come to this happy place: welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past … and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts which have created America…with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.”
– Walt Disney –
Dedication of Disneyland on July 17, 1955
Disneyland Town Square, Main Street, U.S.A.
I grew up with Disney characters even though my house did not have a television then. I did not get to watch Mickey Mouse & Donald Duck cartoons every morning like the other kids. So, I listened attentively when the kids in school talked about the naughty things Mickey did, and loving every moment of it. It was a big deal when my father announced he was going to bring us to watch “Snow White & Seven Dwarfs”. I remembered the anxiety watching my father waiting in a long, snaking queue that didn’t seem to move at all. I remembered the excitement and joy when he returned with four tickets. I enjoyed the movie very much. Thereafter for many months, I played the tiny 45 rpm vinyl record almost every day just to hear the beautiful songs … especially the “hi ho, hi ho” one. I also recalled collecting the Disney stickers and cherishing every one of them lovingly. They were too precious to be used. Admiring them was good enough. Come to think of it, I still have one or two Disney magazines dated from 1974, somewhere on my book shelves. Yes… Disney’s cartoon gave me lots of happy moments and memories.
I felt I was back to my childhood days when I stepped into Hong Kong’s Disneyland for the first time. I was told it was not as big or as fun as Disneyland and Disney World. Still, I was mesmerized and totally captivated with the movie clips, performances, dances, rides, walking toons, parades, souvenirs and definitely the firework at closing time.
It is certainly a happy place on Earth.
Even young Brittany thought so too.This 16-year is what she said at YouTube:
It just occurred to me the other day of how different the world would be (especially for a child) if Walt had never gotten the thought and inspiration to put pencil to paper, to make a simple mark that would someday become a little mouse that would lead to theme and water parks all around the world, hundreds of movies, thousands of characters, an entire cruise line, at least two TV stations, multiple store, and a whole lot more. For me personally, who knows what I’d be doing by now.
Here is a short 3-minute video clip she put together to pay tribute to the man who brought so many magical moments to our life.
- Make the dreams come true
- I’m going to Walt Disney World
- Year of a Million Dreams (for 2008)
Source of Walt Disney’s photo and quote: from: Geocities