Disneyland was another of those totally game-changing innovations like the 747.

The outsized effect of Disneyland on the American psyche has always fascinated me. In a lot of ways, Disneyland is synonymous with the idea of the family vacation. I remember reading a fascinating article a few months back about a column Elie Wiesel wrote about his trip to Disneyland [0]:

> I don’t know if a Garden of Eden awaits adults in the hereafter. I do know, though, that there is a Garden of Eden for children here in this life. I know because I myself visited this paradise. I have just returned from there, just passed through its gates, just left the magical kingdom known as Disneyland. And as I bid that kingdom farewell, I understood for the first time the true meaning of the French saying ‘to leave is to die a little’ [partir, c’est mourir un peu]

For a theme park--of all things--to create that sort of effect on its visitors is nothing short of remarkable.

0. http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/206125/elie...

> Disneyland is synonymous with the idea of the family vacation

Hoo boy

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/read-john-hughes-o...

and the no-celebrities-harmed film adaptation "Vacation".