Really, a year? It’s hard to believe it’s already been 12 months since we hopped into the blogosphere with this Don “Ducky” Williams Sorcerer Mickey image and a few promises – to listen to what you had to say about all things Disney Parks and to share our fun, relevant and sometimes quirky information and expertise one story at a time. From day one, you’ve offered great feedback and support. And your comments and questions have made us think and grow.
A favorite recurring question during the year (that we thought would be fun for today) has been, “Would Walt Disney have blogged?” We’ve heard the stories of Walt engaging with families in the park but would he have gone digital? Chief Disney Archivist Dave Smith guesses Walt may have been a bit too busy to seriously engage in blogging. He told us, “I have a personal experience from when I was a teenager – I saw Walt walking in the park in about 1956, and I asked him for his autograph. He politely declined, saying that when he started signing autographs, he got this huge crowd around him and he was unable to get his work done. He did tell me to write him at the Studio, which I did, and he did send me his autograph.”
What say you, Disney experts? Today, we’re in the parks asking, “Would Walt Disney have blogged?”
Let us know if you think Walt Disney would’ve blogged in the comments below or what you would have asked him. And before beginning a second year of posts, we’d like to say thank you for a fantastic first year on The Disney Parks Blog. We have plenty of surprises planned on our journey forward. Stay tuned.
Comments
Might one of the ‘surprises planned on our journey forward’ be an organized D23 type group made up of zealous blog readers?
Ever since I discovered the blog several months ago, I have loved it and I can’t remember what I ever did before it, because it gives me information firsthand on my favorite place in the whole wide world! Congrats Disney Parks Blog!
Happy Anniversary Disney Parks Blog, it has been a great 1st year. I wish you all another 10 years of blogging and providing us all great information. Thank you to all the Disney Park contributors fro providing great content over this first year.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY !!!
I think he would have ‘hired’ Mickey, Minnie, Daffy and possibly Goofy to blog on his behalf, with perhaps weekly or monthly interviews with him. He was a busy many after all…
DAFFY?! Don’t you mean “Donald”?!
I bet Donald’s probably in the middle of another squaking rage right about now over getting confused with his cross-town black-feathered rival…
No, I don’t think Walt would blog to the public because he was very old fashioned in what he would do which made the movies and rides classics! he would probably want to talk one on one with someone on a phone then text or type something to someone. And just like a magician who never reveals his tricks, I think he would never show people how things work at the parks because it ruins the magic for those who believe. He would only show these things to those of his imageneers or those who would want to work in the business. These are my beliefs and I hold them strong and true.
I love the blog! Every day I look forward to my daily e-mail updates. Congrats on one year, and here’s to many more!
I’d like to think Walt would have been a pretty hip guy if he were still alive today. I would love to see what he would have said about the goings-on at the Walt Disney Company, and especially his Florida Project! I think he definitely would have blogged. Just another arena to make magic!
Congratulations ! One suggestion, you put really beautiful pictures at the top of the blog everyday, for all of us who are not lucky enough to have been to all parks, it would be great if the picture had a small tag as to say where it was taken. I’ve seen some amazing rides and places which I don’t recognize as we’ve only been to the parks in the USA.
Thanks and keep up the great work !
Eugenia.
Congrats on your 1 year of the Disney Blog. I don’t know if Walt Disney ever blogged or not. But I wanted ask you this. What would happen if Walt Disney blogged us?
Congratulations, Tom. All this magic is thanks to your dedication!
Definitely wouldn’t be a blogger, but might chime in once-in-a-while. Walt was such a huge fan of new technology and ways of communicating with the Disney audience that he might post monthly videos instead of writing and posting daily or weekly.
Congrata
Congrats on the successful year of blogging!!! I’m sure that you blogging now is a pretty good indicator that Walt Disney probably would have blogged, or had someone blogging for the parks, had it been a marketing option during his time. As everyone has been saying, he was big on cutting edge technology, so I agree that he would have utilized this technology himself. It’s an amazing way to get in tough with fans of the parks, where they are, at home, school, work or wherever!
Happy Birthday Disney Blog. You guys are the best. Thanks for everything you do.
Lori
I’m glad Disneyland is putting more emphasis into social media marketing. Congrats!
Happy Birthday, Disney Parks Blog! The blog is part of my day, every day. I’m always checking to see if there is something new. Looking forward to many more years of the blog!
oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY Disney Blog. I truly appreciate all the hard work put into this little (big) cyber-world i like to call my second home.
I dont necessarily think he would have blogged on a daily basis, however, I do believe that he would have stopped by from time to time to drop in a few ideas, comments and suggestions to us Disney fans.
I think he would have ‘hired’ Mickey, Minnie, Daffy and possibly Goofy to blog on his behalf, with perhaps weekly or monthly interviews with him. He was a busy many after all…
Happy Birthday Blog. Thanks so much for Heather. I love reading her posts and she’s really nice in person.
Congratulations on one wonderful year!!! Walt would have loved the fact that Disney family and friends could connect in a meaningful way EVERYDAY! What Walt Disney gave the world IS connection! If you brought a 5 year old child from every continent and put them in a room and played an original Mickey Mouse cartoon they would ALL connect through the humor and the heart. As much as blogs are about words…sometimes we need none! It is nice to have them though…keep it up and thank you!
Happy Birthday, Disney Parks blog! I’ve enjoyed you so much in your first year, this is a great blog!!!
Happy Anniversary!
Yes, Walt would definitely have blogged, and used any kind of social media to promote his park. He loved to promote Disneyland.
I hope that the DisneyParks blog keeps in mind that Disneyland is a very special park, being the original and the only Disney park that Walt saw and got to enjoy.
So please keep up all of the great blog posts about the Disneyland Resort in California! I can’t get enough! 🙂
Walt absolutely would have blogged. I have to agree with everyone who said he probably would have pioneered blogging technology. He may not have had time to respond to every comment, but he would have at least written a blog post here and there.
Happy Birthday to the blog! I can’t believe it has been a year already. I was so excited the day I found out Disney had an official blog and I have been excited ever since when you have a new post.
I think Walt Disney would have definately used social media. He was always way ahead of the curve so I think he would have been at it early on. He may not have been the one keeping everything up to date all the time, being so busy, but I think it would have personally posted himself every once in awhile.
I am sure he would be proud of the blog you guys have created!
and 2 years ago today Pleasure Island closed down.
While I like that this blog was launched, it’s a shame it comes on a dark anniversary
What will I celebrate? Your one year anniversary! Here’s to your continued success! You all have done an amazing job this year and I cannot wait to see what you have in store for us in the future!
There’s no doubt in my mind that Uncle Walt would be a blogger. He seemingly was always the leader of the pack when it came to technology and innovation and I’m sure he would have had a presence in the blogosphere.
It’s good to know that the blog that bears his name is in such capable and talented hands. Keep up the amazing work!
Congratulations on the 1-Year Anniversary of the Official Disney Parks Blog! It’s great to hear about all the plans and future changes from Mickey himself! 🙂
I believe what is called blogging today was used in different forms back in Walt’s era. All his quotes that are posted behind the scenes for cast members to remember are what I would consider to be Walt’s blogging. He always wanted the guests to be treated with respect and to be honest with them.
I would have asked him what his main criteria was when he hired a imagineer since they would be the ones putting his ideas on paper that would be put out to the public to experience.
I believe that Walt would have used any sort of new technological medium he could get his hands on in order to advertise for all of the wonderful things going on at his parks! Congrats on the big 1 DPB!!!!
Thank you so much, Disney, for transforming the way you communicate with us, your fans. Every glimpse we get into the workings of the company is *fantastic*!
Tough question, and although I always hate when other people wield those words “this is what Walt would do/want” to defend or explain their own stances on the Walt Disney Company, I think it’s pretty safe to say Walt would have had a social media team. He seemed finely attuned to guests, so it would make sense.
That said, I would hope he wasn’t regularly on Twitter or posting on the blog, himself. His strong suit was creating original content for the parks, movies, etc!
Happy bday!
Walt definitely would have blogged and twittered, or at least been behind social media. He’d also have a podcast, scheduled live chats or live webcam associated with the parks, I’m sure. (Hint, hint.)
I agree with the poster above – it would have been another way to communicate with guests and audiences about Disney developments, innovations and technology. Very much about branding and synergy.
Much like portions of this blog, Walt would have provided glimpses into Imagineering and expansions. I think he would have loved the photography and video posts. He might have given us some details into the background and outside research that goes into a Disney attraction – the architecture, sounds, smells, cultural touches. We’d get some glimpses into the archives, too.
I think he’d acknowledge the die-hard Disney fans. I’m pretty sure he’d like “Let the Memories Begin” and the idea behind D23, especially the Expo. And he’d definitely celebrate his cast members, at all levels of the company, who make the magic happen. Profiles, celebrations, birthday wishes!
If I could ask him anything, I’d ask him the same question I’d ask you. “You dream bigger than anyone else, Walt. So what’s next, and how can I be a part of it?”
Tom,
Congratulations to you and all of the other Disney Parks bloggers on a great first year! Thanks for all the great articles, photos and videos that keep us up-to-date about our favorite parks.
Hope this continues for many years to come!
I’m sure Walt would have been proud of the Disney Parks Blog(and, YES, I think he would have blogged and had a Twitter account as well!)!!
– Bret
Wow, so nice of you to say. Thanks for the great comments/feedback over the year. Keep it coming 🙂
And what an awesome job you’ve all done in the past year. Congrats, and many more.
Congratulations on your first anniversary! I’ve really enjoyed the blog, and wish you many more years of shared magic. 🙂
Uncle Walt by now would’ve found a way to incorporate blogs into home entertainment & Audio-Animatronics. 😉
I’ve really enjoyed the blog this year – I’m glad Disney got on the bandwagon and decided to make use of this great tool to stay connected with their fans!
As for Walt, I suspect that he would have pioneered the use of blogging as a cost effective way to promote his movies, theme parks, and EPCOT project, just like he did with television. I also believe that he would not personally have kept up a blog, but he would have probably made it look like he did. Interesting question…
I believe Walt would have been blogging before blogging was “mainstream”. He was always like that. Congrats on year 1…looking forward to many more to come.
Congratulations, and thanks for running this blog. It features great insight, and one-of-a-kind looks at our favorite parks, such as the Tilt Shift Videos, and Behind-The-Scenes photos. An invaluable resource for the Disney Parks fan, here’s to another year. Cheers!
Thank you. And stay tuned for a few surprises in the upcoming year.
Well done! Keep up the good work!!
What a fun question! I absolutely think Walt Disney would have taken to the blogosphere! He was always right on the cutting edge of new technology back in his time, I think he would have LOVED it! Happy Birthday, Disney Parks Blog!
Thanks, Jackie. We’ve had fun tossing that around the question at the office. Great answer.
Happy Birthday DPB!!
Congratulations! Let’s hope the blog’s birthday present from Mickey is a full-time copy editor…
Walt would have loved blogging. Just another way to tell the story!
he WOULD have blogged because he was always at the cutting edge of technology. i would ask him who his biggest influence was.
Congratulations on completing your first year. Wow, that went fast!
Yes, hard to believe it’s been a year. We have an amazing team here (that I’m fortunate to be part of) that make the days fly by. Thank you for the kind words.
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