And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men
— Colossians 3:23
I love Disney.
I’m not talking about the company, the studio, or even necessarily the movies (although some Disney movies are among my favorites).
No, what I love are the theme parks; specifically Disney World as I have yet to visit Disney Land. I have only recently developed this love for the parks. I went to Magic Kingdom and Epcot when I was 12, but didn’t go back for 30 years. I remembered very little from my pre-adolescent trip, so when we went back in 2016, it was like the first time.
Mind.
Blown.
My wife has been to WDW many times, so I married into a Disney family. However, I have taken the infatuation with all things Disney to a whole new level. I watch theme park vlogs. I listen to Disney World podcasts. I have a Spotify playlist with music from Main Street USA to Frontier Land and every attraction in between. So why do all of these outlets even exist? How is it possible that there are hundreds of YouTube channels devoted solely to Disney theme parks? Why are there multiple streaming radio stations online that play Disney attraction background music and songs from the ride queues? In other words; why are so many people obsessed with Disney?
I firmly believe it comes down to one thing: excellence. Disney’s attention to detail blew me away. From the moment you pass under the iconic “WALT DISNEY WORLD Where Dreams Come True” sign, you are engrossed in what is called the “Disney bubble.” The value (cheapest) resort hotels on property are filled with over-the-top aesthetic details, while the top end resorts are nothing short of breathtaking! Once inside the parks, your senses are engaged in every way possible.
The street entertainment and constant background music make a memorable impression on your auditory senses in every corner of the parks. Each attraction has its own unique soundtrack, complete with ambient noise and realistic sound effects. Animal Kingdom in particular has a vibrant African and Asian theme that incorporates dozens of authentic musicians and entertainers. When in that park, it is hard to believe you’re in a Florida metropolitan area.
Disney certainly knows how to entice through our sense of smell as well. They actually have a patent on a gadget called an Air Smellitzer that pumps out smells like popcorn, baked goods, or vanilla on Main Street and other smells on different rides and attractions. When queueing for Pirates of the Caribbean, you get a whiff of salty sea air. When riding Soarin’ you get that heavenly fresh citrus aroma when gliding over the orange grove.
Visually, Disney does everything possible to keep the immersion going. From the terrifying cobwebbed lobby of the Hollywood Tower Hotel to the indoor German restaurant that feels like Bavarian town square village Oktoberfest celebration, theming is A+. They keep sightlines true to the theme by creative landscaping, forced perspectives, and clever backdrops. Each of the parks has an iconic feature that absolutely demands your attention the entire time it is visible. Magic Kingdom has Cinderella Castle, Epcot has the enormous geodesic sphere (the big golf ball for all us common folk), Animal Kingdom has the tree of life, while Hollywood Studios has the Hollywood Tower Hotel. All in all, it really is a magical place.
Disney cast members (employees) are expected to create magical moments for the guest whenever the opportunity arises. The really good ones seek these moments out and make the most of them. Whether it be guest recovery on a botched restaurant reservation, a costumed character giving a special needs child special attention, or a maintenance worker asking for an autograph from a seven year old little girl leaving Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique after a princess makeover, the cast members can create magic simply by exuding that spirit of excellence.
What if we in the body of Christ could treat God’s house and service for Him in the same way? I see far too many people, churches, or even ministers that have a “well, it’s good enough” attitude toward God and His things. I think the root cause of this lackadaisical attitude is the misconception that our service is directed at people. We conduct our weekly church services in a formulaic way that has been “proven the most effective”, without seeking God’s counsel on what direction He wants to lead. We absolutely want to draw crowds! Contrary to what many churches teach (usually very small churches), God is absolutely interested in numbers. If it isn’t growing, it is not performing the function that Jesus set the church up to perform. The church ought to grow daily according to Acts. So why doesn’t it?
Our spirit of excellence has become a spirit of adequacy. As society has begun to celebrate mediocrity, the church has been going along for the ride. Instead of the church being the voice of conscience for our culture, we have allowed the cultural norms to permeate the church. The kingdom of God is not socialistic. There will be no participation trophies. I Corinthians 15:41-43 says that in the resurrection in Heaven, we will differ in glory like the stars differ in glory. God looks at our attitude and passion toward service for Him. The word of God through John says, “I could wish that you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth.” – Revelation 3: 15b-16.
We are on this planet for such a short time compared to eternity. James calls our lives vapor; here for a moment and then passed away. Let’s not waste any more time procrastinating and giving minimal effort in our service. We all want to hear “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”, so let’s act like it. If a Disney cast member can create magical moments for guests all for $16 an hour, we need to do so much more for eternal rewards! We are put here to make an impact on the kingdom of God, so let’s do it and do it with excellence!