An entire page of the magazine, in hues of periwinkle blue, gray and white, shows sunlight dancing in a cloudy, almost stormy sky. In the middle of the page gray, slanted text tantalizes: “Where happily ever after begins…” From the last of these dot-dot-dots, a swirling trail of white stars zigzags down the page.
Don’t know what the ad is selling? Well, worry not! There are thirteen more glossy, heavy paper stock, full-color pages to follow in this ad!
The next two pages, facing each other, feature a luscious photo of a young woman dressed in a yellow skirt and a blue and red, mutton-shouldered, low-cleavaged top with upswept white collar, seated on the ground in a thick deciduous forest. In her lap are four bunnies. At her hips reclines a spotted doe. Near her slippered foot sits a squirrel. On her raised right hand’s index finger perches a blue jay. Near her feet – two raccoons. Above them in a tree, a brown owl is staring. In the near distance, two adult deer timidly hide. The lass stares with glassy eyes at the jay. In the middle of the left page, in slanted white letters: “Where you’re the fairest of them all.” In the bottom left corner, in tiny print: "Rachel Weisz as Snow White." In the lower right corner, in larger, periwinkle, fun script: "DisneyParks.com." Under this, in white: "407-W-DISNEY."
Aha! So this is an ad for Disney Parks!
Turning the page, we see another two-page photo. A still lake is surrounded by rocks and mountains. At the far left looms a multi-towered castle. In the foreground, the size of the page, a white, bucking horse dances on its hind legs, its thick tail swirling to the ground. On the steed is a knight in black pants and brown shirt, with a red cape swirling in the wind. He is handsome, of course. In his left hand is a long shield, in his raised right – a silver sword. From his shield there is a long swirl of yellow orange flames. At the horse’s front hooves there are also flames. In the right bottom corner: David Beckham as Prince Phillip slaying the dragon, Maleficent.” In the middle of the right page: “where imagination saves the day.” The same periwinkle address info at the bottom right.
Twenty-first century celebrities staged as fairy tale heroes and heroines! The timely and the timeless meet!
The next two pages regale us with another fantasy photo. A giant periwinkle teacup is part of a carnival merry-go-round ride. At intervals behind this one are other teacups, pink, blue, green. The grassy and wooded background is a blur. In the front-most cup are seated: a round-faced fellow in wine-brown attire (a top hat, velvet coat, scarf and yellow vest.) Directly behind him is a fellow in a black-and-white checked suite and blue bow tie. Next to him is a lass in a blue dress protected with a white pinafore, and a blue ribbon in her hair. In the middle of the left page: “Where wonderland is your destiny.” At bottom left: “Beyonce Knowles as Alice, Lyle Lovett as the March Hare and Oliver Platt at the Mad Hatter.” Bottom right: Disney contact info.
Wonderland is destiny? I thought it was a destination…
Moving on to the next two pages, a craggy, almost black slope descends into a crashing sea. The sky consists of black and gray cloud shapes with white, matching the waves. To the left stands a dark-haired knight in silvery armor. A red cape triangulates behind him. In both hand he holds a large silver sword with a gold handle, the point of its blade piercing a dark anvil. Words in the middle of the left page read, “Where you’re always king of the court.” Bottom left: “Roger Federer as King Arthur.” Bottom left: More Disney info.
Such a clever wordplay: king’s court and tennis court! All in an effort to court reader’s wallets!
In the next two-page photo, it’s twilight. Most of the page is filled with large, black and then blue, stone steps that lead up to a brown, light-emitting, many-towered castle. In the middle of the stairs lies a glowing, silvery bluish, high-heeled slipper. At the front of the stairs a worried lass is running down. She is blond and fair-skinned in a blue dress with a tight bodice and deep cleavage, the chiffon skirt billowing behind her. Her left hand holds her skirts, the right is raised in a gesture of reaching out or keeping something away from her. Her large sensuous lips and eyes evidence worry. The middle of the left page declares: “Where every Cinderella story comes true.” Bottom left: “Scarlett Johansson as Cinderella.” Bottom right: More, yet more Disney info.
Does that include the wicked step-mother and the wicked sisters, too?
Speaking of destinations, are we there, wherever that might be, yet? Oh no, weary pilgrim, this Disney journey isn’t over yet!
Next we see a lush forest garden: plants, bushes, trees and flowers in a riotous cacophony. To the right, on a very large, green, rhododendron leaf sits a young gird (12 or so) in pink, her long brown tresses over her shoulder. She has diaphanous wings. She looks worriedly out into a distance. Hovering in the air on the left is a flying adult fairy dressed in blue, with large white, diaphanous wings. She hovers in mid-aid a few feet from the leaf-sitter. She has a silver wand in her left hand, from the tip of which light and then sparkles emit, falling onto the lass in pink. The adult fairy looks caringly and longingly at the girl. In the middle of the right page: “Where the magic begins.” Bottom left: “Julie Andrews as the Blue Fairy, Abigail Breslin as Fira, her fairy-in-training.” Bottom right: Disney info, yet again.
Magic only begins now? What about the previous pages? Weren’t they magical too?
And now, the last, solitary, page. It is a periwinkle blue sky, clear, with a big, fluffy white cloud at bottom right. White text in the middle of the page pronounces: “Where dreams come true.” In smaller white font: “There have always been a million reasons to take your family to a Disney Park. Now there are even more. It all happens during the 2008 Year of a Million Dreams Celebration. This event promises to unlock imaginations and create memories that last forever, all with the magic that only Disney Parks can make. Join us now. Call 407-W-DISNEY and make your dreams come true. Or visit us online at disneyparks.com.” At the bottom, the Disney castle logo and in Walt’s (Mr. D. himself!) print, “Disney Parks.”
There we have it: Disney Parks are where dreams come true! And, if you didn’t know it, we have embarked upon the Year of a Million Dreams. That sounds “magical;” however, it means that there aren’t dreams enough to go around for every American! There is one of these million dreams for every 300 or so U.S. residents! What if thousands sign up for one dream, leaving others unclaimed? It seems like these dreams, passed around so often, could easily become shopworn, dirty and frayed around the edges. But, since they come straight out of the Disney factory – dream factory, that is! - perhaps they are Teflon coated and durable. Should one break, I’ve no doubt that Disney Parks could crank out another dream in the blink of a mass-produced eye.
Disney Parks are the purveyors of dreams to untold millions of potential Dream Catchers. Unfortunately, real dreams can’t be manufactured and sold on demand. Real dreams come from inside each of us, unique and quirky, not intended for mass consumption.