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The stars still twinkled in the pre-dawn sky when the bus came lumbering and sighing into the hotel parking lot. Parents yawned. Toddlers who weren't sleeping fussed quietly. A smiling driver and gentle music were insufficient to allay their sleep-deprived crankiness. The smell of burned coffee and hastily-gathered bagels was stifling rather than welcoming. The time was 5:30 AM, and my wife and I were leaving our resort at Walt Disney World.
I write this log entry while waiting for our flight our of Orlando. I love aviation, and I've spent a lot of time recently at airports, but I still watch the terminal and ground operations with great interest. Thanks to my new job, I now have a little more insight into some of those operations. And much of what stands out to me is how thoroughly every process has been systematized.
Systems are everywhere in our modern world. Even places that give an air of freedom and spontaneity, such as Disney World itself, have systems all over the place. In fact, such places tend to be the least spontaneous of all. Every character meet-and-greet is deliberately planned; every ride line is carefully designed; every photo spot has had its plants and shrubs meticulously shaped. Underneath the veneer of magic is a rigorous machine that is built with one purpose in mind: to keep up an artificial sense of wonder.
Kids often have a sense of when something is contrived, even if they can't put that sense into words. I think that's one reason children often get overwhelmed at Disney parks. Everything is too perfect, too whimsical, too loud and energetic, too focused on pure spectacle and stimulation. It's not natural, and it's not as fulfilling as many parents hope it will be. The experience may still be enjoyable and indeed quite memorable, but fun with family and friends is what makes the trip satisfying, not simply characters and merchandise.
On the contrary, the monotony of systems can be crushing. This is especially true when they're laid bare, and even more so when they present an annoyance rather than a point of fascination. Airport security comes to mind: keep you eyes forward, don't ask questions, and just do as you're told.
Unfortunately, if we want the conveniences of the modern world, we have to live with these systems. We have an awful lot of people on this planet, and all of those people want to own and do many things. In order to meet that demand, we need efficiency. Efficiency is borne of standardization, and standardization is the hallmark of systems. But one has to wonder what of the world we have left to enjoy in an unstructured manner anymore.
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[Last updated: 2022-09-26]