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Disneyland celebrates the country's 250th birthday in 2026
- Thread starter Phroobar
- Start date
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Earlier in this thread we'd discussed the National Garden Of American Heroes that was originally announced for the 250th back in 2020, but was suddenly cancelled without a replacement in 2021 by President Biden. Good news!
The National Garden of American Heroes is suddenly back on, and it will still include a statue of Walt Disney among the 250 Americans the Garden will debut with (and more statues will be added into the future as more and more Americans achieve greatness, or are nominated to be honored there). Earlier today, President Trump signed an executive order to put the 2020 plan back into motion.
You have to wonder if Disney will get involved in the creation of Walt's statue? Will he be the suited, older Walt like at Disneyland's Partners Statue? Or will he be sweater-wearing 1960's TV casual Walt that so many of us remember from our youth? Or will he be a young, skinny, go-getter Walt ready to make his own American Dream like at DCA's Storytellers Statue? Or will he be something different?
My guess is that he'll be the late middle-aged Suited Walt to befit a formal garden. But what do I know? I'm just thrilled we're making up for all this lost time and putting the pedal to the metal to get our nation ready for a fun 250th Summer!
The National Garden of American Heroes is suddenly back on, and it will still include a statue of Walt Disney among the 250 Americans the Garden will debut with (and more statues will be added into the future as more and more Americans achieve greatness, or are nominated to be honored there). Earlier today, President Trump signed an executive order to put the 2020 plan back into motion.
You have to wonder if Disney will get involved in the creation of Walt's statue? Will he be the suited, older Walt like at Disneyland's Partners Statue? Or will he be sweater-wearing 1960's TV casual Walt that so many of us remember from our youth? Or will he be a young, skinny, go-getter Walt ready to make his own American Dream like at DCA's Storytellers Statue? Or will he be something different?
My guess is that he'll be the late middle-aged Suited Walt to befit a formal garden. But what do I know? I'm just thrilled we're making up for all this lost time and putting the pedal to the metal to get our nation ready for a fun 250th Summer!
President Donald Trump reinstates order to build 'National Park of American Heroes'
President Donald Trump called for a national park of 'historically significant Americans in 2020.' Biden revoked it and now Trump is bringing it back.
www.usatoday.com
TP2000
Well-Known Member
On the above, I have to think that it would be fun to show Walt in his later years as Disneyland quickly became an instant success and an American Classic for all the ages. There are so many photos of Walt at Disneyland circa 1960-1966 where he is clearly happy as a clam and proud of his work. He poured his heart into the place, and literally mortgaged his family's future on it, and it all paid off! A true American dream.
I'd love to see Walt's statue in the Garden of American Heroes take on the persona of him at Disneyland during that time. Wouldn't you?
And isn't Walt happy that the Internet didn't exist in the 1960's?!? Can you imagine the posts I would have made in 1963 lambasing him for not putting in his shirt collar-stays before he showed up to opening day at the Tiki Room?!? Scandal!
I'd love to see Walt's statue in the Garden of American Heroes take on the persona of him at Disneyland during that time. Wouldn't you?
And isn't Walt happy that the Internet didn't exist in the 1960's?!? Can you imagine the posts I would have made in 1963 lambasing him for not putting in his shirt collar-stays before he showed up to opening day at the Tiki Room?!? Scandal!
Last edited:
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
Earlier in this thread we'd discussed the National Garden Of American Heroes that was originally announced for the 250th back in 2020, but was suddenly cancelled without a replacement in 2021 by President Biden. Good news!
The National Garden of American Heroes is suddenly back on, and it will still include a statue of Walt Disney among the 250 Americans the Garden will debut with (and more statues will be added into the future as more and more Americans achieve greatness, or are nominated to be honored there). Earlier today, President Trump signed an executive order to put the 2020 plan back into motion.
You have to wonder if Disney will get involved in the creation of Walt's statue? Will he be the suited, older Walt like at Disneyland's Partners Statue? Or will he be sweater-wearing 1960's TV casual Walt that so many of us remember from our youth? Or will he be a young, skinny, go-getter Walt ready to make his own American Dream like at DCA's Storytellers Statue? Or will he be something different?
My guess is that he'll be the late middle-aged Suited Walt to befit a formal garden. But what do I know? I'm just thrilled we're making up for all this lost time and putting the pedal to the metal to get our nation ready for a fun 250th Summer!
President Donald Trump reinstates order to build 'National Park of American Heroes'
President Donald Trump called for a national park of 'historically significant Americans in 2020.' Biden revoked it and now Trump is bringing it back.www.usatoday.com
Please, please don’t let it be ‘Walt sitting on the toilet’ Walt….
Just no.
Talk about humiliating…
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
On the above, I have to think that it would be fun to show Walt in his later years as Disneyland quickly became an instant success and an American Classic for all the ages. There are so many photos of Walt at Disneyland circa 1960-1966 where he is clearly happy as a clam and proud of his work. He poured his heart into the place, and literally mortgaged his family's future on it, and it all paid off! A true American dream.
I'd love to see Walt's statue in the Garden of American Heroes take on the persona of him at Disneyland during that time. Wouldn't you?
And isn't Walt happy that the Internet didn't exist in the 1960's?!? Can you imagine the posts I would have made in 1963 lambasing him for not putting in his shirt collar-stays before he showed up to opening day at the Tiki Room?!? Scandal!
Agree 100%.
This needs to be the Walt ‘era’ captured.
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mlayton144
Well-Known Member
Why would that surprise you? Dare I speculate most fans lean liberal , and based on what was elected to lead the country why celebrate other than maybe a sparkler and a cupcake at most.I think Disneyland has been losing a lot of it's patriotism in the last few years. We no longer see bunting on main street. There is no "to honor America" float. This is what summer time use to feel like. Now we see the latest festival invading areas that should be time locked. I'm surprised there is still a flag retreat ceremony instead of a couple of cast members taking down the flag like it was a load of laundry. It's this pride in America that is the soul of the park.
The heart and soul of Disneyland has been patriotism. Disney should see it as a huge opportunity to market the anniversary.
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
I have yet to see any real evidence that this 250th is something most anyone or any company is taking seriously.
Also, we know exactly what Disney's going to be doing in July 2026: they're still going to be celebrating the 70th. They made it very clear that the 70th basically continues until Halloween season 2026. So anyone mad that Main Street and the park looks basically the same then as it does now come July next year only has themselves to blame for not paying attention to something Disney has been very clear about.
Finally, the heart and soul of Disneyland, and all Disney Parks, has been about many things, including creating happiness; about safety, courtesy, efficiency, show, and (if they still have it?) inclusion; about world class guest service; about blowing people away with incredible attractions and amazing experiences; about nostalgia; about shared experiences with family and friends. If patriotism was central to what made Disneyland tick, then every single international Disney park would suck, and that's not at all the case.
I would say Disney parks are distinctly American experiences (to varying degrees), or stylized to appear so to the local populace in some cases, but that does not necessarily mean they are inherently patriotic ones. Maybe that's true for some people, but I sincerely doubt that most people love Disneyland primarily because of patriotism. If that was the case, people would have raised hell about the cutting of the All American College Band and the turning of MSEP's final float into character shlock; instead, most people were silent. If it was about patriotism, they would have filled Lincoln's theaters; they did not (and Lincoln's had attendance problems at least as far back as the 70s-this isn't new behavior). The flag retreat would be impossible to see because of course everyone would want to see this moving moment; no, you can walk right up to it most of the time. And so on and so forth. So sure, it's *a* part of Disneyland, but I'm not sure it's *the* part that matters for most people.
Most everything that you mentioned has been lost. There is no world class service anymore. Safety, courtesy, efficiency, show have all been sacrificed for squeezing every last dollar out. Disneyland transported you to a place that doesn't exist anymore. In a strange way Disneyland doesn't exist anymore.
truecoat
Well-Known Member
and celebrate the end.
John park hopper
Well-Known Member
popcorn bucket of President Washington
Nirya
Well-Known Member
Abe Lincoln bucket where you take the popcorn out of the back of his head feels more appropriate imo.
CoastalElite64
Well-Known Member
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
I still think that's a pretty drastic claim and that Disneyland, despite its faults, still looks pretty good compared to its competition. There's still a lot that they do right.
The place ain't perfect, but it's not Camden Park either.