It is the best of times; it is the worst of times.
And suddenly, 43 square miles in central Florida does not feel quite as big as it used to.
Let me assure you; my passion and interest in Disney entertainment, and more specifically, Walt Disney World, has not diminished in any way. But my perspective on it certainly has changed. The face of the world has changed dramatically over the course of 2008, and in that context, flying elephants, jungle cruises and haunted mansions have, at least to me, begun to evolve somewhat into mindless repetitions, ingested over the course of all too frequent visits to central Florida.
I visited Walt Disney World eight times within a time period beginning in November of 2006 and concluding this past June. In addition, I visited Disneyland this past spring. As reflected here at 2719 Hyperion and by my numerous appearances on the WDW Radio Show podcast, I had become a Disney theme park disciple of the highest order. It was a fun, exciting time. A happy escape from reality.
To the almost near and total exclusion of the rest of the world.
No, I did not neglect my family, nor did I put my professional career at risk. But the social, political, spiritual and community-related aspects of my life had seemingly faded away, replaced by a Disney-centric existence of blog writing, web browsing and more frequent Disney World jaunts and vacations. I had become wrapped up in a cocoon of all things Disney. I had truly lost touch with the events of the world.
Self realization arrived over this past summer when one day I found that I could not contribute anything of value to a discussion that focused on the presidential election campaigns. While I could speak articulately of the merits of Wall-E or my disappointments relating to Toy Story Mania, I knew little to nothing of the candidates vying for the highest office in the land. At the same time, the harsh reality of rising gas and grocery prices seem to undermine my daydreams of monorails and people-movers, of dining plans and food and wine festivals. My perspective of Walt Disney World began to revert back to a time of more moderate activities and the annual or bi-annual vacations that marked the years before the creation of 2719 Hyperion.
I decided to get back in touch with the world around me. I turned off an iPod filled with Disney mp3s and switched on the radio and tuned it to the local NPR affiliate. I reached for the New York Times instead of the new Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. I began to reacquaint myself with a spirituality that I had long ago abandoned. And putting it all together, I cast a ballot in this most recent and no doubt historic election, a decision that was based on sound research and extended thought, rather than knee-jerk ideological preconceptions and regurgitated political-celebrity punditry. A process I could not have completed successfully if I hadn't emerged from that tightly spun Mickey Mouse cocoon.
Years ago on an episode of Saturday Night Live, William Shatner wisely, albeit harshly, told Star Trek fans to "Get a Life!" Shatner was not directing Trekkies to abandon their passions but rather to temper them.
Disney fans so often pride themselves on the motivation behind their passions--"to escape the real world." Ask almost any passionate Disney fan why they love Disney theme parks, and the words "escape from" or something synonymous will likely factor into their response. In context to an annual visit or an occasional vacation, it is sound reasoning. But when it becomes the primary focus of your day-to-day life, to the exclusion of nearly all aspects of your social, political and spiritual well being, it is likely time to send Mickey Mouse and company on their own occasional vacation from your life.
This is certainly not to accuse all Disney fans out there of fostering the same Disney isolationism that I embraced over the past couple years. This is a very personal reflection on my part and in no way implies a critical view toward any of my fellow bloggers, podcasters and Disney enthusiasts. I will leave it to those individuals to conduct their own self examinations, should they so choose.
Being a Disney fan is a fun and often rewarding passion. In the last week, I have immersed myself in Donald Duck cartoons from the most recent Disney Treasures releases. I eagerly anticipate seeing Bolt this upcoming weekend. And over the course of 2009, I will begin to plan what I hope will be an exciting and more deeply anticipated Walt Disney World vacation for 2010.
But in the past week I have also stayed abreast of current affairs. I've taken steps to become more active in my community. I continue to pursue my spiritual re-education. And I've taken a step beyond the "vanity-charity" approach to giving and am currently exploring opportunities for volunteerism that employ more than just the writing of checks for high profile charities.
The world today faces challenges that are countless. It requires social, political and spiritual activism on the part of all the planet's passengers to meet and overcome these challenges. Don't let an overwhelming passion for all things Disney inhibit or diminish your potential contributions to that activism.
The world is much larger than just 43 square miles.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
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27 comments:
I had wondered what had happened to you after frequent appearances on Lou Mongello's podcast sharing your scarily encyclopedic knowledge of all things Disney—and then sudden disappearance. I have missed them.
But I completely respect where you are coming from. Disney's World is just part of a larger world. And with limited time in the day and ability to give attention to things, it's not bad to bring balance into the equation. And turning a passion into something closer to work can take the joy out of it—and appreciating it for what it is.
That being said, I do hope you do continue to express and share your passion for the works and worlds created and inspired by Walt. But, like all good things should be consumed, in moderation.
Best of luck wherever this all takes you.
Your comments hit home. When I started my company it was just myself. Fifteen years later, it was over 600. It was 60+ hours a week. I remember sitting with my daughter watching a Disney cartoon when I realized that it was over and I couldn't answer any of her questions about the film - my mind had been work. I was physically there, but mentally somewhere else. As someone with ADHD, I've found the only way I can cope is by being really focused, because if I let too many distractions in then I can't get anything done. So, I keep myself limited: work, flying, amateur radio and collecting. After 25 years of focus I've slowly come to grip with my need for balance - otherwise I get too focused and tend to burn out. Then I mentally "clean house," and end up throwing the baby out with the bath water. When I find myself doing something too much, the only way I've found that works is to sit back and develop my own mission statement -- what do I want out of X? Then I set some objectives and then start to schedule specific amounts of time for the activity. Believe me, it takes several tries, but it does eventually work.
You've certainly contributed to my knowledge and I'm better for it. Naturally, I'd hate to lose that stimulation; that different perspective. But it's always great to remember that this great big world is made up of the smallest of elements -- they all count and none of them are insignificant. Don't worry about significance or making a difference. If you look for joy in the things you do it will impact far more than you realize. There are far too many serious people out there.
Remember, do what you love and the money will follow. The problem starts when we switch the priority of those two elements.
Love your stuff and your musings are one of the things that are part of my "Thanks" for this season.
Jeff,
Like others have mentioned, I also wondered what was happening with you and your blogs. I've always loved the graphic design aspect of both 2719 Hyperion and Boom Pop! Thank you for them and thank you for sharing your reason for taking a step back.
For me, the timing of your post couldn't have come at a better time. I'm currently teaching an honors colloquium class called "The Disney-fication of America (and the World)". It's a hybrid class that meets face-to-face only four times while the rest of the work is done online. I've taught honors versions of public speaking before, but this class is really making ME think and wonder about my own personal Disney ultra-fascination.
The old saying is "Moderation in all things". Of course, the modern version is "Moderation in all things (including moderation)". Maybe the better version is "Balance in all things". Here's wishing everyone balance in their life, especially we enter this hectic holiday season.
Carla
Very good testimonial, Jeff, and I'll pray some blessings for you in your journey!
I got pretty close to that kind of Kool-Aid drinking Disney fandom in about the year preceeding my first trip to Disneyland and the year between my that and my second trip. Weirdly, that second trip ended up being so good that it almost bookended my interest in Disney. My interest is still there, but it's not the same near-single-minded passion.
Nowadays, unless someone happened to hit on my blog during my Disney month or come across my full folder of Disney DVDs, they wouldn't really guess that I'm a Disney fan. Not because Disney is bad or worthless, but because there is so much more out there. Even at the best of times, having a wide range of interests prevents me from fixating on any one too much.
I like Foxxfur's approach over at Passport to Dreams: if you limit yourself only to Disney, then you are denying yourself the same richer world that Disney's own animators and Imagineers themselves enjoyed. My argument is to actually read some Twain and Verne and Grimm, take in some other artists' films and ballets and things. Pass on the annual trip to WDW this year and go to the actual tropical rainforest of Africa or South America, wild west of North America, or castles and museums of Europe. Don't worry about New Orleans Square, California Adventure or World Showcase: go see New Orleans, California or the world.
The world beyond "the World" is a pretty fascinating and beautiful place. Engagement with its people, places, cultures, history, and even problems, is a vivifying experience. It's not to say that Disney is bad by any means... I still love watching the movies and going to the parks. But one does not live by Disney alone.
GREAT post- that is the focus of my Insights and Sounds blog!
Mark
www.InsightsandSounds.blogspot.com
A constant diet of sweet and sugary foods will cause you to gain weight, give you diabetes, and rot your teeth.
Everything in moderation.
Well said, Jeff. Thanks for sharing and putting this out there. Some early reactions to this post on some Disney message boards has been predictably defensive and negative, but they have missed the point of this article.
I would love...LOVE...to hear you on Lou's podcast again talking about this blog entry. Something tells me it would be a respectful, but spirited, conversation.
Best regards.
Hey Jeff, great blog entry, it makes me think of all the "escape" things in my life, including WDW, and where they really rank on my list. Sadly, too many trivial activities have ranked above family, friends, and community too often in my life as well. The birth of my first child, along with the current political and economic climate have really opened my eyes to whats most important, and deserves the bulk of my time, instead of seeing how many of my favorite TV shows and podcasts I can fit into any given evening after work. I have missed you on WDW radio, and hope that you will soon return. Just remember that as much as we support you and others as podcasters and bloggers, me and hopefully most of the other Mousefans support you as a friend as well, even if we never cross paths.
I think you posted some great thoughts here Jeff. I am a huge Disney/Walt Disney World fan just like yourself, but I've always been careful not to let it consume my life.
I always make attempts to balance everything in my life. That includes my Disney fandom, video game/Sonic the Hedgehog fandom, and my real life outside of those fandoms.
I will echo what others have said; to not cease what you are contributing to the Disney community, because what you bring to it is just remarkable. But I am very happy that you are making more time for the world around you. We all have to, you can't stay consumed in one thing your whole life.
So best of luck to your new endeavors Jeff; and here's hoping we can hear you again on some of Lou's future shows. :)
Thanks Jeff, that's really the biggest thing I can say to you. I have been trying for a very long time to find a way to put into words exactly what you have said in your post. It is that exact reasoning that led to my abandoning of the Club 71 Blog. I realized that I was, and had been so engrossed in all things Disney that it was actually beginning to take a toll on both my personal and professional life. Every minute of every day was spent surfing websites, scanning license plates (even at work), reading blogs, and ignoring everything and everyone else around me. It took a lot of long, hard thought and soul searching to come to terms with the idea that I had basically removed myself from the "real world" in favor of the escape that Disney could provide. Thank you for verbalizing what I've been thinking for a very long time, and best of luck to you in all your endeavors.
Very well stated Jeff! Everything in moderation!
That is what I was going to say. Everything in moderation. Disney is great and fun but we have to remember to live our lives in the real world too. I found your words inspiring. Well said.
"To put it simply, I should say that our general belief was in moderation. We preach the virtue of avoiding excesses of every kind, even including excess of virtue itself...We rule with moderate strictness and in return we are satisfied with moderate obedience. As a result, our people are moderately honest, moderately chaste, and somewhat more than moderately happy."
— "Lost Horizon"
Moderation and balance are vital to the well-lived life.
Cheers to you, Jeff.
After the breakup of his first marriage and serious therapy Bruce Springsteen said he came to realize the greatest two days of his life were as follows: the first day he picked up a guitar and the day he learned he could put it down and still be somebody. He says now he picks it up for the right reasons.
Best wishes to Jeff Pepper and anyone else out there striving for balance in their lives. As a few other posters have stated so well: We have to actually read Twain, et. al. to 'get' The American Adventure. We need to be aware of current events for the rest of World Showcase to be something beyond a well-themed place to sample 'beers of the world.' And we need to practice the peace, love & Mickey Mouse with those parents pushing double-wide strollers into our ankles AND our neighbors back home. Otherwise, all Walt, the Imagineers and cast Members have done was for naught.
'mixiedust'
A very thought-provoking entry. I've often wondered how some of my favorite bloggers could know so much about Disney, to a level I doubt I could ever reach. I love Disney, but my life will never allow me to immerse myself in it the way that you describe. Good for you, working to achieve balance in your life. And good luck in achieving it...
Cheers, Jeff! I ran into the same issue, though on a smaller scale than you. I jumped into blogging back in May and it took much more time that I ever imagined. I was putting out three posts a week, most only a few paragraphs. I have no idea how you could keep up with daily posts -- especially with the level of graphics and research you provided.
After a couple months, I realized that the blog was taking much too much time from family and other important aspects of life, so now blogging is only sporadic. I still keep in touch with my Disney fandom through reading and research, but cut out much of the additional stress of blogging.
Best of luck to you in your new outlook on life. While I love Disney and the parks as much as anyone else, I had to learn that moderation is key. It appears you have found the same. I hope you find happiness with your new priorities.
Funny, I got to this blog quite by accident, looking for the text of JFK's speech. I recently left Disney after over 10 years there, and am finding balance again in my life. BTW, I was the architect for the CA version of Toy Story Mania, which I hope is less of a disappointment than the FL version. That endeavor so completely swamped my personal life that I decided that there must be a better life without the Mouse. It's better, even though I have to pay for admission now.
Nice post, and great comments too.
So because you're "bored" with all of this - everyone should "get a life." Nice.
Dear 6:35 A.M. anonymous,
Remember next time you decide to sign on and comment before you've had your coffee to pour the milk on your cornflakes and pee in the toilet.
Instead of the other way around.
(Jesus loves you. But we think you're a jerk.)
Anonymous criticism is such a cowardly and intellectually bankrupt action. If you have any opinions or beliefs that are worth sharing, you should have the courage of your own convictions.
Jeff,
As you know, I was also blogging quite regularly for a good amount of time.
I have had the privilege of counting you among the members of the community that I have gotten the opportunity to meet and shake their hand (and you got to expound parental wisdom on my wife during the MegaMeet last year).
But, I too have been recently struggling with balance and it really has nothing to do with the blog. Work is now the primary occupier of my time eating into everything else that I love.
Which, unfortunately has caused me to cut back on those things that were my "release" and "escape" from the reality of an all-consuming job. But these things were easily expendable (i.e. the blog and time at the gym).
I am very upset by this as I'm sure you are upset by your need to re-prioritize the tasks that occupy your day-to-day time.
I hope that we get to bump into each other again in the future and I'm sure that 2719 Hyperion isn't shuttered, but will have much more sporadic, albeit, excellent content.
It's always better to post quality than to just post because you feel something needs to show up in the blog.
Good Luck my friend!
Good for you Jeff. I sure have missed your posts and podcast appearances but respect that sometimes you need a break.
I'll be sad to see you go. You were the creator of my favorite blog! But I understand where this is coming from. Best of Luck.
Jeff,
Over the past year, I have really treasured our friendship and long-winded discussions about things.
A lot of people have made various comments over the past week and I wanted to drop in a few of my own comments. I also hope that your ego has enough room to inflate this large!
Without you and 2719 as an inspiration, there would be no Imaginerding. No Three Caballeros (plus +) at Disneyland. No MouseFest 2008 memories. No Charles Ridgway Taco Bell dinner.
And most importantly: no hour spent on the One…thanks to google.
Your writing, graphics and insane Disney knowledge were a constant source of bewilderment and motivation. You were the blogging bar that we all held ourselves to.
Is that enough proselytizing, or should I go on?
I just wanted to add my support while you undertake your new spiritual journey and decide on an appropriate course of action. 2719 has hosted some amazing articles and I know that future researchers will appreciate your work.
By the way, your blog was so much more than 43 square miles!
G
Agreed. This is why I never liked being called a fan of anything.
I hope more people can evaluate themselves like you did.
Being a Disney disciple too and frequently visiting the parks, I think your text is great but do not agree with it totally. Going to a Disney park never was for me an escape from reality, but rather, a better way to see it, to be in touch with a deep part of myself-what occurs when Disney is a passion with one- that eventually helps to put reality in the right perspective. For me, who had never been interested in politics, for instance, Obama, in his faith and power to sum up the American essence, was revealed Disneyesque. Second, I think that a Disney park does reflect the psychological changes that go on in the US and in the relationship of the human soul with technology. But I loved the confessional tone of your text, I wish Disney people would write more personally about their relationship with Disney, like you did. Congrats!
Jeff,
I'll echo here what a lot of other folks are saying - I've missed hearing your insight on Lou's WDW Radio podcast, and I've missed the frequent updates, but, heavens, I certainly understand the need for a more rounded day-to-day experience. Best of luck to you in all you do - I'll keep checking back to 2719 and Boom Pop!
I visited WDW for the first time this summer, after decades of enjoying so many things Disney on the movies, the Disney Channel, and my memories of the Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday nights.
Once I figured out how to get around, I was captivated like I have not felt since I was a kid. The whole place made me feel great and a lot of it had to do with being treated as most other places should but don't. It was also wonderful to see some childhood memories not crushed by a reality of actually visiting a place I knew about for decades.
It is months later and the type of cold and snow Florida never sees is outside right now as I type, in stark contrast to the heat and humidity of that wonderful time I had in WDW.
I wish I could live a Disney life all the time. I so deeply admire Walt Disney and what he stood for - trying to make life better for everyone through education and technology with fun thrown in. Everyone else today is focused on making money.
I understand to a point why you want to get away from Disney for a while, but as for me, more of the world should BE like Disney. The man had a dream, it is not outdated and it needs to be fulfilled. I would happily live in one of the communities he had planned. Certainly it is the kind of future we were once promised, before people became antitechnology and science from a misguided sense of fear and ignorance.
I discovered this blog shortly after returning from WDW. I deeply enjoy learning so much about this wonderful world of Disney, which I hope will continue.
Many people try to put down Disney being so fake and unrealistic - well, quite frankly I find too much of so-called real life to be unpleasant and a detriment to so many lives, especially children. The world needs to be a lot more like Disney as far as I am concerned.
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