Semester of Graduation
Spring 2024
Degree
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Department
English
Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
Welcome to Orlando, Florida, the theme park capital of the world, home of Disney World, Universal Studios, Seaworld, and, as of 2019, 2.6 million people. 75 million people from across the world visit this city per year for its subtropical climate, outdoor activities, and, of course, the manicured theme parks and curated magical experiences these parks provide, allowing those 75 million visitors the luxury to escape from their normal lives and indulge in their childhood fantasies, giving this city the nickname The Happiest Place on Earth.
For the other 2.6 million people who call Orlando home, this city and its tourists are a paycheck, a nuisance, a glitzy booby trap, and a death sentence.
In this short story collection, we hear the voices of two transplants haunted by the ghost of their local paramour, hungry for revenge, a man so sick of his minimum wage jobs, he blows up Disney, the half-eaten torso of a tourist trapped at the bottom of the Seven Seas Lagoon, and a family, the Wilders, who call this swamp turned family friendly vacation destination their home. This collection is a coming of age narrative, a gothic horror story, an eco thriller, a queer romance, and a love letter to Orlando all rolled into one, as these stories unravel the reality behind the name The Happiest Place on Earth.
Date
3-25-2024
Recommended Citation
Logan, Parker M., "The Happiest Place on Earth" (2024). LSU Master's Theses. 5906.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/5906
Committee Chair
Jennifer Davis