The Disneyland Chimera and New Urbanism

In Greek mythology, the Chimera was a monster that was made up of parts of several different animals. In our language, the word chimera refers to "an illusion or fabrication of the mind; especially : an unrealizable dream" (from http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/chimera).

Disneyland is just such a place.

The self-proclaimed "happiest place on earth" is an incredible amalgamation of falsehoods, clever marketing ploys, and other general glitz. It's a gilded orb, but like most such orbs, it's completely empty and offers only the warmth imparted by the holders own hand.

What is amazing to me is that it works. Let's look at some of the things that are positive about Disneyland:

• Completely walkable - everything you could ever want from food to a trash can to clothing to restrooms are all immediately available.
• Homogeneous late 19th century gingerbread architecture that invokes a time gone by that Americans seem to be nostalgic for.
• Wayfinding is easy - you are NEVER lost at Disneyland, and if you are, there are cleverly placed landmarks, directional signs, and helpful employees to guide you.
• It is inherently safe - the admission fee alone should deter most petty thieves, and the ubiquitous yet demur security are also prohibitive - not to mention the sheer number of people.
• It is clean and in good repair - part of the whole gig of Disneyland is to ensure that every day is like the first. This is important because most people do not go there everyday, and on the day you do go, you want everything to be perfect for you.
• The employees love their jobs and are well compensated for their time. There are no poor in Disneyland, no problems.
• There's a mix of uses everywhere - I understand that Mr. Disney even maintained an apartment near the entrance, there's a sport court in the top of the hollow Matterhorn.

So for $50 a person per day, you can enjoy the perfect environment carefully planned for your delight. Everything around you has been carefully designed and organized for your total enjoyment.

But at what cost? One of the largest parking structures in the world is located right outside its gates, with over 10,000 parking stalls (that cost, incidentally, $20,000 a space...) and serviced by its own freeway on and off ramp system. So much for walkability. And as far as everything else goes, well, it's all well and good to enjoy that for a day on vacation. But would you like to live there?

It reminds me of the Truman Show. Remember that movie? Truman lived in a completely fake environment while he was the unwitting star of a TV show. Interesting premise, right? Did you know that the Truman Show was filmed in a place called Seaside, Florida? That's right, another new urbanism locale (I am loath to call it a city for reasons which should be apparent). The directors were obviously looking for a place to film that would give them that "too good to be true" feel. And they found it. It works perfect, because it is perfect. It has been carefully designed to be perfect. It's like those pre-packaged peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with the crust already cut off. All right, who is so lazy that they can't even make their own peanut butter and jelly and then cut the crust off...

The point is, all of this seems too fake to be real. And it is. There are no poor, there are no problems, and there is no growth. People grow strong out of adversity and diversity, not being spoon fed baby food their whole lives. Or having people cut the crust off their bread for them. People may think that they want their lives to be completely planned and exactly spelled out. But there is something of fortitude which comes through finding a blemish and getting over it or (great day in the morning) do something about it...

So make your own peanut butter and jelly. And cut your own crust off. Or enjoy the chewy, flaky dryness of the crust.