The Lost Kingdom: What happened to Disney?

I didn't grow up in a family with a lot of money. Both my parents worked hard and were conscientious with finances. Our family vacations were something I will always remember and treasure. Not just because of the time spent together, but because of the efforts to save up enough to make them happen. I realize that now more than ever.

They were not rich, but we were blessed. 

Camping trips on islands, a cabin in the woods on a mountain in New Hampshire, water skiing on lake Winnipesaukee, a cross country road trip... I have a lot of fond memories.

We even visited the Magic Kingdom. Multiple times.

It helps when your parents knew someone who worked at Disney at the time. That's probably the only way we were able to go in the first place. The Hall of the Presidents, Swiss Family Treehouse, the Jungle Cruise, it's a small world. We knew where everything was!

I was never a huge fan of Mickey Mouse. Donald Duck was my favorite. 

It was a lot of fun roaming around the park and taking part in all the adventures. My father is a historian, so the Hall of the Presidents was a guaranteed stop every time we visited the park. I would need more than one hand to count how many times I've been there. The last time was probably 2000. 

A lot has changed since then, but some things are exactly the same. With a family of my own, I'm having to make a lot of the same financial decisions. Saving up to take my family on a vacation is now my responsibility.

I'm faced with choices regarding the types of things I want to instill in my children. What do I want them to cherish? What is important for them to learn, to value? What sort of character traits, morals, and heroes should they emulate?

Unfortunately, Disney no longer represents these things.

The family oriented and conservative principles of Walt Disney were evident throughout his life. They are what helped to establish the Disney company. Disney World was a place where families could go to escape the day to day things of this world. They could laugh, love, enjoy rides, and spend time together in an environment that encouraged good values. These were the pillars the the Magic Kingdom was built upon.

Those pillars are eroding.

Replaced by ideologies that undermine the family, teach immorality, and elevate selfish desires and relative truth as the epitome of existence, this Magic Kingdom is loosing its footing. What went wrong? Why is this new worldview not only taking over Disney, but permeating throughout all of society?

Maybe the real question we should be asking is not what happened to Disney, but what happened to the family?

One things is for sure. The values and principles that I want my kids to learn are far more important  than investing my money and time into a kingdom that is diametrically opposed to them. On this earth, many kingdoms will come and go. I'm going to put my hopes and dreams in a Kingdom where the pillars of truth will never change or crunble.