Book Review

Power comes in many forms, and it is increasingly important that researchers continue to identify and analyze how these various forms of power evolve over time. This is especially important when it comes to how power dynamics can impact the communities in which we live. Whether they are relational, reputational, institutional, governmental, financial, or social structures of power, Disneyland Politics accurately points out, “Power dynamics are present in every city and jurisdiction to one degree or another…” (p.4).

In this important book, the authors highlight how the relationship between the City of Anaheim and the Disney Corporation can help us understand urban power dynamics. The political order in Anaheim centers around a Disneyland Imperative that favors the interests of the Disney Corporation over all competing concerns. Residents of Anaheim have experienced a growing imbalance where city leaders focus more on Disney's desires rather than the well-being of its local community members. In many ways, Disney's supporters have justified preferential treatment toward Disneyland and its needs because they see the theme park as Anaheim's Golden Goose.

One of this book's most important arguments is that to understand power dynamics within a planned urban environment “a longitudinal perspective that examines both public and private actors is needed” (p.12). When it comes to urban economic development projects, private-sector evangelists promote that the strength of the economic environment, rather than the fabric of the current political landscape, shapes urban public policy. On the contrary, proponents of the public perspective find that many current urban development projects produce inequitable benefits and threaten democracy. They highlight, “Disneyland and its allies do not tend to use democracy as a primary political strategy. Instead, they try to limit public involvement and get things passed with as few people voting on an issue as possible” (p. 92).

This political strategy is analyzed throughout all three parts of this book. The first part of this book, “The Quiet Partnership,” illustrates how three local industrialists helped to establish the Disneyland political order. Pearson, Moeller, and Murdoch used their key leadership positions within the local government and the local business community to help expedite the process of bringing Disneyland to Anaheim. After the City of Burbank rejected Disney's proposal to develop Mickey Mouse Park, “Disney and Anaheim recruited each other” (p.27). Even Walt Disney himself knew that he would need to establish relational power with key Anaheim government officials to build Disneyland. His perspective was proven accurate when a land annexation was needed for the land that Disney purchased to develop Disneyland to be part of the City of Anaheim. In response, “City officials carefully drew boundaries to exclude any opponents who might vote against annexation, and Disneyland was born” (p.29).

Part II, titled “The Luster Fades,” highlights the Curt Pringle era as Mayor of Anaheim, and his imperative to oppose affordable housing initiatives in favor of high-end commercial development projects such as the Platinum Triangle, a downtown-type, mixed-use, high-density development that would connect Disneyland to the local professional baseball stadium and hockey arena. Chapter 6, “Living in the Shadow of the Mouse,” highlights several examples of how local housing needs were opposed by Pringle in favor of holding land for Disney for future development of luxury hotels and theme park expansions. In fact, at one Anaheim City Council meeting, Pringle explicitly stated that the proposed housing development being discussed would “kill our golden goose” (p.80).

The authors’ most important findings come in Part III, “There, And Back Again.” In Chapter 10, titled “The Haves and The Have Nots,” the authors highlight the disparity that exists between the utopian vacation experienced by Disneyland attendees compared to the lived reality of being a Disneyland employee. According to a 2018 survey studied by the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College, many Disneyland employees couldn’t afford health care or dental insurance, and Disneyland employees who are parents were most negatively impacted by the low wages and lack of access to affordable and nutritious food. In fact, 11% of respondents to this survey were “either homeless or had no place of their own over the past two years. These hardships occurred even though Disney reported a 78% increase in quarterly profits as compared to the previous year and raised ticket prices by 18% in February 2018” (p.132).

This book provides important insights into how power dynamics exist within the urban planning process. Specifically, it highlights how Disney establishes strong relationships with key governmental leaders to progress its agenda, even if its goals are to the detriment of the local community and the democratic process. Including Janet Wasko's Understanding Disney and her work on “Disney Synergy” could have added to this book's analysis of the Disneyland Imperative, as Disney's theme park efforts also strategically tie into other aspects of their operations. In that same regard, the “audience commodity” is a concept that can help add to our understanding of how the Disney Corporation and its proponents, such as Curt Pringle, viewed the City of Anaheim and its residents.

Chapter 8 of this book, “Forgotten by the City,” provides an important glimpse into this reality of how Anaheim residents are viewed by local leaders, especially its Latino residents. In this insightful chapter, the authors point out, “Latinos and others in this city disliked how Anaheim city government and the police department focused public resources and attention on Disneyland and the Anaheim Resort District. One Latino leader said that Latinos ‘live in the shadows in working poverty neighborhoods’ in Anaheim” (p.111).

The Disneyland political order has become so problematic that in May 2021 the FBI released an affidavit that “contained details about how a self-described cabal wielded power in Anaheim” (p. 150). Figures C.1-3 in the “Conclusion” chapter help to illustrate the specific construction of the Disneyland political order and how it evolved through different eras in Anaheim. Yet, despite these poignant examples of how corporate giants can yield power over the municipalities we live in, the authors leave its readers with an important empowering message to always remember, “While citizens and elected officials might feel like they must comply with the requests and needs of the economic power or dominant industry, the reality is that they have a choice” (p.183).