A window into how America interprets the world

Disneyland is more valued than ever for its art. The theme park is also revealing how America interprets the world and itself.

Stepping into Disneyland is like stepping into a fantasy storybook. New Orleans Square has a version of a swashbuckling South, with pirates, ghouls and drooping Spanish moss. Frontierland is a take on the Wild West, with the rush for gold and saloons. Tomorrowland is a vision of a retro-fantastic future, which shows thriving US colonies.