Disneyland Loses Some of Its Magic

Re “Disneyland Is Now Safe for Hippos,” Sept. 3: What happened to imagination and a little fun? Back in the mid-’60s, though not nearly as high-tech as it is today, the Disney park was a land all its own. I have vivid memories of some of the shows the Disney performers put on at the park. Shows that would be impossible today.

I will never forget the attack of Fort Wilderness on Tom Sawyer’s Island. I watched in awe as actors dressed in Native American costume raided the fort as guests were taking a few minutes to drink something cool. Carrying tomahawks they sure looked like a mean bunch. Shortly thereafter the cavalry troops rescued the fort, with guns blazing, from those villainous Indians. The soldiers helped us kids handle the pretend rifles, defending the fort from the next group as they crossed the Rivers of America. It was the magic of Walt Disney back then that made one feel as if one were in another land, during another time, that is sorely lacking from the park these days.

Greg Diller

Santa Monica

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As a former jungle cruise skipper (‘79-’80) who shot at many a mechanical hippo in my day (all to no apparent ill effect, either to hippo or park guests), I mourn the passing of common sense at Disneyland, where management grovels slavishly at the Temple of Current Political Correctness and skippers are disarmed once and for all, lest anyone’s sensibility be offended. Surely, somewhere Walt is spinning in his refrigerator.

Paul Takakjian

Pacific Palisades

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In your article, former employee Mike DeForest asks, “What’s next, disarming the Pirates of the Caribbean?” Good question. Perhaps a better question is why anyone ever thought the marauding activities of pirates to be amusing family entertainment? If you really want to know about the pirates of the Caribbean, I suggest you read James Michener’s “Caribbean.” The descriptions of rape, torture and other acts are appalling. That we should celebrate such behavior is a sad commentary on a sick society.

So, I suggest that the disarming of the Jungle Cruise boats is one small step toward rehabilitating a dysfunctional culture. Glorifying violence and putting toy guns in the hands of toddlers is surely responsible to some extent for the slaughter plaguing our schools and our streets across the nation. Let’s look at violent behavior for what it truly is and stop desensitizing ourselves to the toll that it takes on our lives.

David Salahi

Laguna Niguel