Fantasy in the Kingdom of Dreams

Who are the real winners in life?

If a person pursues something that is not promising and nobody is interested in, and becomes a pioneer by making that something promising and interesting thanks to his or her life’s work, that person will be respected as a real contributor to society. Then we would have to talk about Walt Disney (1901-1966).

Disney developed his talent as a cartoonist, entering art school at the age of 14, making his first animation at the age of 19, and winning 48 Academy Awards over the course of his life and animation career. Something greater than this, however, is the appreciation that followed. Despite the change in century, animation is continuing to develop and acquire popularity as a major art industry. The perspicacity of Disney’s genius was indeed great.

His “Amusement Park“ is surely an example of a work left by his genuine talent. His “Dream and Hope,” the theme of his entire life, came true not only by animation, but also in the form of an amusement park that features his characters as a theme. Disneyland, which opened in 1965 in Anaheim, California and Walt Disney World, which opened in 1971 in Orlando, Florida, are the fruit of his passion for his “Dream and Hope.”

Disney’s “California Adventure Park” has been added to Disneyland, and the Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Disney MGM Studios, and the Animal Kingdom (1998) have been added to Walt Disney World. Moreover, Orlando’s Walt Disney World is almost ready for a “Future Experimental Union,” according to its original plan, to expand its offerings to include a recreation center and a cruise line.

Thanks to these facilities, people can now have a truly dream-like vacation. Visitors can enjoy various entertainments such as four kinds of amusement parks, two water parks (Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon), six golf courses, a spa sports complex, the Disney Board Walk, and Downtown Disney, while staying at as many as ten diverse accommodations. The Disney Cruise Line provides a special relaxation because of its self-developed attraction, “Castaway Cay,” which features a call at a private island with a ferry service.

Disney also offers its own brand of “edu-tainment”: recreation-style learning programs that take advantage of all of its facilities. Y.E.S. (Youth Education Series) is a program for American and Canadian children aimed at acquiring knowledge through adventure and expeditionary experiences at six amusement parks. Recently, local private schools (numbering two or three schools, including the Pine Christian Academy) have developed complementary educational programs, including a “Buddy-Buddy” program: an English learning system that provides paired work between local children and foreign children. “Dream Camp,” a program for Korean children, will be in operation during this summer.

--Tour Products from Disney

-The California Disneyland Free Tour ‘”Dream Package”

Schedule your stay to enjoy a free tour in the U.S. after going sightseeing at Disneyland while staying at the Resort Hotel in front of Disneyland. The package consists of a round-trip flight ticket, two nights lodging, and an admission ticket for Disneyland and Adventure Park. The price is 1.59 million KRW for June and 1.99 million KRW from July to September. Unipack Airline (02-732-5966•www.unipack.co.kr)

-Dream Camp (Total program: 22 days)

Stay at the All Star Resort in Walt Disney World located in Orlando, Florida. Participate in the Y.E.S. Program in the Theme Park (morning) and the Buddy Buddy Program in a local school (afternoon). Then take a cruise tour to Castaway Cay in the Caribbean (3 nights and 4 days). Also visit the Kennedy Space Center. Target participants are students from 3rd grade in elementary school to 2nd grade in high school. Just one session is scheduled, starting July 29. The price is 6.45 million KRW. One teacher will lead 15 students. Applications are due June 10. There is also a seven-night/eight-day program targeting parents of participant students. After the Disney Cruise (3 nights 4 days), participate in class, golf or tour. Departs on August 11. 3.25 million KRW. Inquires and reservations to Study Forum (02-3445-3488•www.studyforum.co.kr).

Seung-Ha Cho summer@donga.com