The Happiest Place on Earth

For anyone who needs a lesson in branding, a trip to Disneyland is a must. My day at Disney was...well... a blast. The attention to detail is astounding - from the lights at the train stations, to the benches in Frontier Town, to Mickey and Minnie's houses in Toon Town. All of it perfect.


Branding 101

The last time I was at Disney, about a year ago, I thought it was looking a little run-down and not quite up to standard, but with the 50th anniversary celebration now here, Disneyland has been primped, painted, and polished and the heydey of Disney is back.

Now, are they a few cracks in the veneer? Surely. Some of the vendors are decidely disgruntled with what they perceive as low pay and long hours. Some restaurant lines are long due to staffing challenges. But take away those small issues, and the magic of Disney remains intact. Not only do you have a great time, but the food is pretty delish -- even th fast fare (the portions are huge), and the goods for sale (T-shirts, princess costumes, baseball hats) are decent quality, even though overpriced.

But I had a blast. And got caught up in the magic. And, yes...upgraded to the annual pass, because the next time I see a business challenge, I'll remind myself of how attention to the smallest details can make or break the brand.