Why Are People Captivated by Disney? The Strength of the Dream Kingdom and Character Business | DisneySea 25th Anniversary | How the Way We Enjoy the "Dream Kingdom" Has Changed Over 25 Years

What is it about Disney that captivates us?

Many people visit again and again, watch the movies, collect merchandise, and continue to be drawn in even after they become adults. So, why are so many people so obsessed with Disney? I feel there is a charm that cannot be fully explained by simply saying, "It's a fun place."

One of the charms of Disney is surely its overwhelming worldview.

The moment you step into the park, a different atmosphere from everyday life flows there. Everything from the buildings, music, and scents to the staff's service and the fine decorations is thoroughly crafted, creating a space that lets you forget reality.

In daily life, many people live while carrying various burdens, such as work, human relationships, and anxiety about the future. However, Disney has a special atmosphere that makes you think, "It's okay to just have pure fun for now." That sense of being in an extraordinary space might be the reason it captures so many people's hearts.

Furthermore, Disney's strength is not limited to its theme parks. Its status as one of the world's top character businesses is also a major attraction.

From Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse to the Disney Princesses, and even recent additions like Marvel and Star Wars, they possess numerous characters loved across generations.

People empathize with stories and layer their memories onto characters. It is not uncommon for characters you loved as a child to remain special existences even after you become an adult.

And Disney is extremely skilled at giving shape to that feeling of "liking" something.

If you watch a movie, you want the merchandise; if you have the merchandise, you want to go to the park; and if you go to the park, you want to experience that worldview again. Including hotels, limited-time events, souvenirs, and fashion items, they create value not just as product sales, but as an "experience."

That is why people naturally open their wallets and think, "I want to go again." I feel there is a mechanism there that moves people's emotions, which cannot be dismissed simply by saying they are good at business.

Moreover, the charm of Disney also lies in the fact that how you see it changes with age.

As a child, you are absorbed in the attractions and characters, but as an adult, you begin to notice the service, the space creation, and the brilliance of the detailed staging. It is not rare to be surprised by the thorough management to ensure the worldview is not broken and the fine ingenuity used to entertain visitors.

Even in parts that might go unnoticed at first glance, in the sense that the accumulation of those details greatly changes the overall impression, you strongly feel the dedication to creating the Disney worldview when you visit the park.

And above all, Disney has the power to make even adults think, "It's okay to dream."

In modern society, where efficiency and results are demanded, there are certainly not many places where you can be moved as purely as a child and forget reality for a little while.

That is perhaps why people are captivated by Disney again and again, seeking that special time away from their daily lives.

DisneySea 25th Anniversary

Tokyo DisneySea has reached the milestone of its 25th anniversary.

25 years is by no means a short period of time. There are likely generations who were children when it opened who have now become parents and are visiting with their own children. There is no doubt that it is a place that has been loved by many for such a long time.

However, I feel that it is not just DisneySea that has changed over these 25 years. Our own "way of enjoying it" has also changed significantly.

25 years ago, no one was looking at smartphones inside the park. Smartphones didn't even exist in the first place; it was an era where it was standard to decide on a meeting place and walk around with a paper map in hand.

Taking photos wasn't as casual as it is now, either. We used disposable cameras or digital cameras, thinking about the "perfect" moment before shooting. Perhaps because it wasn't an era where you could easily take dozens or hundreds of photos, each one felt special.

And above all, I feel like we looked at the scenery more back then.

We walked through the streets, gazed at the harbor scenery, and listened to the flowing music while enjoying the atmosphere of the place. I think we also enjoyed the park itself by talking with the people we came with during wait times.

On the other hand, today's DisneySea has become a place that is difficult to enjoy without a smartphone.

Restaurant reservations, show lotteries, checking attraction wait times, maps, and ticket management—many functions are based on the assumption that you have a smartphone. To get around efficiently, you also need time to look at your phone. There is no doubt that it has become more convenient, and there are parts that can be enjoyed more comfortably than before.

However, I feel that in exchange for that convenience, we have also lost something.

When walking through the park, many people are looking at their smartphones instead of the scenery. Even amidst beautiful streetscapes, I see people checking their next plans, opening apps, and checking their screens immediately after taking photos.

Of course, that in itself is not bad. As times change, ways of enjoying things change, and sharing memories on social media is likely a way of enjoying things that is typical of this era.

However, precisely because it is the 25th anniversary, it makes me think a little.

Originally, the charm of DisneySea should not have been just the attractions. The architecture crafted down to the smallest detail, the fantastical scenery themed around the sea, and the atmosphere that changes in each area. It was a place where you could feel the extraordinary just by walking around.

That is why, perhaps it would be good to take your eyes off your smartphone once in a while and take time to savor the scenery and atmosphere of the place.

Enjoying the "scenery not through a screen," just as people did 25 years ago.

That might also be a new way to enjoy DisneySea as it celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Thank you for reading until the end.
While working in the construction industry, I also buy and sell vintage clothing.
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