Welcome back “Dr. Disneyland”, better known as Jeffrey A Barnes, Dean of Student Success and Professor of Humanities at California Baptist University in Redlands. This is Jeff’s second time speaking to the Arcadia Rotary. His first engagement was so well received, that we asked him to come back and share more about the History of Disney. In fact, today was the first “LIVE” Rotary speaking engagement since the pandemic.

Professor Barnes’ knowledge of Walt Disney, the man, was impressive and enlightening, yet his knowledge of “Disneyland” the theme park had all in attendance and on Zoom flashing back to their first times attending the theme park. He began by asking what July 17 meant to anyone? For most it was possibly someone’s birthday or a couple’s anniversary, but for the million of fans of Disneyland, they knew that it was the Grand Opening Day, July 17, 1955. Professor Barnes gave a brief history beginning with opening day and the phrase “Everything that could go wrong, did.” Yet the visionary dream of Walt Disney resulted in cities across the country and around the world wanting to have a Disney sequel land in their back yard.

On July 17, 1965 many marveled at the accomplishments that Walt Disney had achieved in the past 10 years. Instead of looking at the past accomplishments Walt Disney was looking towards the future. Professor Barnes touched on the dreams that Disney had for his theme park and where he would build his Disney World Sequel. Barnes stated that one of Walt’s biggest challenge was if the East Coast had an appetite for a Disney theme park. This concern was answered during the New York’s 64-65 Worlds Fair. It was there that Disney’s EPCOT vision was set in place, Magic Kingdom – Disney 2.0. It was during this period that Disney decided on where to build his new theme park. To make this happen though, Professor Barnes gave us a look inside how Walt Disney purchased the land without anyone knowing. Disney’s creation of 5 dummy corporations to purchase the swampland in Orlando went mostly unnoticed until a smart reporter placed all the dots together and reported that it was Walt Disney behind all of the land purchases. It was this type of thinking that produced complete control of both development and construction.

For more of Disney’s history pick up one or both of Professor Barnes’ books The Wisdom of Walt:  Leadership Lessons from the Happiest Place on Earth and Beyond the Wisdom of Walt:  Life Lessons from the Most Magical Place on Earth.

From all of the Arcadia Rotarians, thank you for your insightful knowledge of the most Happiest Place on Earth. Hope to see you for part III.