Living in the Shadow of the Happiest Place on Earth

By: Tran Nguyen

When people ask me where I am from, I tend to tell people that I grew up near Disneyland. Most people know about Disneyland and  where Disneyland is then would ask me if I would go often. I tell them that I have only been to Disneyland once in my life. 

The reality is that most local Garden Grove and Anaheim residents are removed from the glamor of Disneyland. Contrary to popular opinion, the Disney magic does not extend to local neighborhoods and communities. The Happiest-Place-On-Earth operates as a self-contained universe that caters to tourists from around the world. The park has its own transportation system, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Visitors can spend their entire vacation within the Disneyland complex without ever leaving.  This creates a bubble around Disneyland that insulates visitors from the surrounding communities and businesses.

There is inherently a disconnect between the local community and the amusement park. According to City Data, 72.4% of Garden Grove residents live below the poverty level in city assessment of the renting rate in this city among poor and not poor residents. For many local residents around Disneyland, the gentrification of the area has made it increasingly difficult to afford even the cost of tickets to the park itself.  Rising property values and rents in Orange County are forcing out low-income families and long-time residents, making it difficult for them to access the area's popular amenities and attractions.

The firework shows are the only semblance of the Disney magic that local residents can experience without entering the park. The closest local residents could be to the Disney magic is by watching from afar. It's heartbreaking to realize how naive I was in thinking that living next to the "happiest place on earth" is a dream come true. Disneyland has a long way to go in terms of spreading its Disney magic to local communities. The park must ask itself who it is serving and who has access to the so-called Disney magic.