Ask a kid to name two of the Seven Wonders of the World and he'll reply: "Splash Mountain" and "Space Mountain."
For kids, a trip to Disneyland is one of the high points of world history.The problem is the park has more success being history than teaching it. One visit there is enough to see that high-minded attempts to boost interest in historical displays such as the Disney Art Gallery, the good ship Columbia and "The Wonders of China" have been met with mixed success.
"Last call! Last call!" yells the Columbia captain, trying to drum up a few passengers for his voyage. The Art Gallery had four people in it the day I went through, and there was no waiting to see the "Wonders of China" Circle-Vision film.
One gets the feeling that people who enjoy such things probably enjoy them at the Epcot Center, not Disneyland.
"I think it's true the Epcot Center has more success with educationally oriented things," says Barbara Warren, a Disney publicist. "But at Disneyland we still feel a need to offer alternatives. I think Walt's main goal was to have something for everybody. He wanted an educational element to the park, some real substance, even if there weren't people lined up to see it all."
One indication that the "dry-eyed" side of Disneyland has fallen on hard times is the debate about closing the landmark "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" exhibit. The auditorium seats several hundred, but often a mere dozen people show up to see the automated Lincoln deliver his speeches. And though "Animatronic Abe" hasn't been scuttled for certain, several insiders feel Honest Abe is now history.
One reason may be that - at Disneyland - kids are still king, and youngsters won't visit anything at the park that smacks of school or education. Parents, usually in tow, are forced to bypass several exhibits they'd probably like to see.
The attention to detail and authenticity is all there - that "quality experience" Disney guarantees. As Warren says, "I like nothing better than taking a ride on the Columbia or the Mark Twain trip along the `Rivers of America.' It's wonderfully relaxing and interesting."
But Disneygoers don't seem to have the time.
And whether or not they'll catch that spirit is yet to be seen. A look at future plans for the park would indicate "no." Over the next few years Disneyland will be adding dozens of attractions - including a "Young Indiana Jones Spectacular," "MuppetVision 3-D," a "Little Mermaid" ride, some "Alien Encounters" in Tomorrowland and a "Dick Tracy Revue" - but all the "bookish" exhibits are still on the drawing board or have been left to simmer on the back burner.
Disneyland - which would love to be all things to all people - just doesn't have the money, time or space for everything.
So for now, people who like a lot of meat with their "cotton candy" entertainment should take a look at the Epcot Center and Disney World as an option. Disneyland, it seems, is destined to play the role it plays best: the breath of life for childhood fantasy.