ABSTRACT
This chapter takes a look at the influence of Walt Disney on the development of 'theme parks'; indeed, it sets his contribution in a wider context by looking at a couple of other early examples of the genre. The first Disney park, also billed as the world's first theme park, was opened in Anaheim, California, in July 1955. The Disney name has become irrevocably associated with the idea of a theme park, and clearly the Japanese notion has in some respects been rather faithful to the original vision. An environment rather closer to our Japanese examples in its attempts at accuracy and attention to detail is to be found in a newer section of Florida's Disney World. A vast literature has been published on Disney worlds, clearly emphasizing the importance of this manifestation of the theme park phenomenon. The most thorough anthropological analysis of the Disney theme park phenomenon is the Fjellman study of Wait Disney World.
