A Weekend With Disney

My eyes flipped open at the sound of my watch alarm clock on Thursday morning at 4:20 AM. Forty minutes later I was in the parking lot with a backpack and small duffel bag, waiting for the other four members of my party. We flew to Burbank, where I then drove us in our Chevy HHR rental car around LA.
The reason for our trip: The sealing and reception of a good friend and roommate. The bonus detours on the trip: the beach, Disneyland, Wicked, and WALL-E.
Wicked was good. It wasn't quite as spectacular as I had hoped it would be, but it was good. Disneyland was lots of fun but when you stay from 9AM until 12:00Am you get kind of burned out.
Disney celebrates dreams coming true. That much was evident. They also celebrate how much money they can make from concessions, entry fees, etc. It is a fun place but still not the happiest place on earth. I have many thoughts on dreams, Disney, commercialism, and other subjects that I may talk about later. Disney does do a lot of great things. I also think they are doing a lot of things that are not as great as they used to. Over the weekend I learned a lot about media and I was able to feel differences in the purpose and in the design of different media.
The sealing and reception were, by far, the highlight of the trip because it was a greater human connection than the other things.
We decided, the four of us, to see WALL-E between the sealing and reception.
What a pleasant surprise and delight! Pixar is undoubtedly one of the best things to happen to Disney since...maybe Disney himself. I am amazed at the amazing depth Pixar is able to portray in such simple, comedic, and light presentations. I am also amazed at how Pixar could convey so much with little dialogue. Geniuses, I guess they are.
I would love to, later on, post on the themes of the movie for I feel it has some great ones. One of the greatest ironies is that the most noble symbol of humanity comes from the robot, not the humans.
It was a fantastic show and I'm going to have a hard time not spending another $5-8 going to see it again. I already miss it. And the music was lovely as well...going to have to go buy that soundtrack.
I agree with you Ben. Until we are in a position to do as much, we should support them all we can. In the meantime, let us continue to have visions of the future and prepare for our great missions in media.
Also, I am compiling a list of things I've learned and pondered about media over the last while. I think I could write a book with it. I might call it "Divine Media Philosophy." Media has been on my mind almost constantly over the last few months, even when I read the scriptures and I've learned quite a bit. The Word of God is the most powerful form of media and is the high standard of what media can do and what it should be.
I might begin a series of posts related to these ideas and seek your input and discussion.

Well, I have to go now. If you haven't seen WALL-E yet, go see it. Take care until next time we meet.
Oh, and I'm trying to get a life...I mean wife. :)