10-16-07 R.I.P.—“The Happiest Place On Earth”

[Chuck Oberleitner]

R.I.P.—“The Happiest Place On Earth”

By C. W. Oberleitner
October 16, 2007

Has the end of the line come for one of the most familiar catch phrases in American Pop Culture? That appears to be the case for the five words that make up a phrase coined by Walt Disney himself on the very day Disneyland opened.

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[Tom Chaney]

Until the generation over 30 is dead, Disneyland will always be "The Happiest Place On Earth" despite the Disney public relations machine.

So, it's just a matter of who outlasts who.

[tcsnwhite]

As a side note, "The Happiest Place on Earth" is used in the park. It is used in the Grand Marshall "Year of A Million Dreams" Pre-Parade before Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams. The theme song is titled, I believe, "The Happiest Place on Earth" and it is used within the lyrics of the song numerous times.
I believe this theme song premiered for Mickey's Magic Kingdom Cavalcade that was a short parade dept. presentation to tie the crowds over before the big 50th entertainment premiered May 5, 2005. They now use it for the pre-parade cavalcade. I don't know exactly why the creative team and/or songwriter used the title, but it may have had to do with Matt Ouimet and I believe he was trying to get that original tagline back for the DLR, and sort of did during the 50th. Obviously, Jay and his marketing teams idiotic decisions prevailed later on, Matt left, and "The Happiest Place on Earth" disappeared once again.

[DisneyGal]

Originally Posted by Tom Chaney

Until the generation over 30 is dead, Disneyland will always be "The Happiest Place On Earth" despite the Disney public relations machine.

So, it's just a matter of who outlasts who.

I believe you're right though I would believe that the age would actually be lower to about teens. I'm in my early twenties and that's what it will always be to me and to all the people I know my age. It will if anything be carried by word of mouth because that's what I will be telling my future kids that Disneyland is "The Happiest Place On Earth".

[pineapplewhipaddict]

Disneyland will always be "The Happiest Place on Earth" to me, and I'm 20 myself...and if any of my friends refer to Disneyland without using it's name, that's the phrase they use.

[obelix]

I agree. I hate this generic marketing campaign. I hate the generic castle they have created for the "Disney Parks" commercials. Here's another thing. Lets see what you guys think. Remember when CMs used to say "enjoy the rest of your day at Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom"? I kinda miss that. It made the point that Disneyland USA was special.