Be Our Guest or Welcome Foolish Mortals? Disney’s Invitation to Play and the Delusion/Illusion of Hyperreal, Immersive Documents

Abstract

This paper playfully appropriates the metaphor of delusional states to frame a discussion of hyperreal documents present in Disney theme parks and resorts. A brief overview of the literature on delusion in individuals transitions into the collective formation of positive illusions to introduce the concept of play. The conceptual framework of play culture, or ludics, is presented to understand cultural production and meaning, which is further described in relation to theme park design and the negotiation of theme park experiences. This discussion is situated in document theory to explicate the intentionality of theme park designers and the indexicality of park guests. Aspects of theme park experiences as document transactions are elucidated in alignment with document phenomenology, touching on the implications for interpreting meaning and authenticity in environments characterized by hyperreal simulacra. The paper ends with an outline for a research agenda involving Disney theme parks, document phenomenology, and immersive documents.