I’m no fan of Disney.

I opted for Ghibli films as the primary source of animated programming for my offspring post Lion King/Little Mermaid era, on. Generally sticking with the subtitles, rather than watching the abortive attempts John Lasseter makes at importing them for Disney. Even if we were to forgive the dubbed obliteration of character depth and insipid addition of unnecessary, subtlety-dissolving soundtrack in consideration of gaining the wider audience, Lasseter is pure fail. I mean, the tool actually introduces two (maybe more) of the videos as being “his favorite one of the collection” and rewrites storyline/endings to clinch the dumbed down vapidity even in subtitles.

But I digress.

This is about Disney, the real Disney, not just their recent atrocities. They may have lost it years ago, but when they had it, it was damn good.

I left my love for the Magic Kingdom in Orlando and had nearly forgotten about the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride until I recently stumbled upon Dave’s 20kride.com, a site dedicated to Florida’s Disney World attraction, which he introduces by saying:

Chances are you rode this ride when you were a kid, and chances are that you haven’t thought about it in a loooong time. But you’re thinking about it right now and probably something is starting to stir deep inside you. Do you feel it? That’s the pull, the power—that’s your dreams awakening.

So over-amped and nostalgic, and 100% true. I could feel that shit.

While its true that many regard the Magic Kingdom as relic of America’s time of innocence, Disney World survived into the early 80’s and became as time-honored a tradition for folks tripping on acid as it did for the nuclear familial unit.

It was about discovery and wonder, instead of the extension of an over-branded cinematic vehicle. A roller coaster with animatronic characters is one thing. Doing that shit in a freaky looking submarine under the water is another.

But enough of my spiraling… Check the images above and stop by Dave’s site. Be sure to check out the employee urbex scavenger missions at the bottom of the After the Shutdown photos page. I wish I’d known about the last vestige of wonder that could’ve been tapped from that park while I still lived close enough to break in.

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