Thinking about the “replacement,” it occurred to me that two seemingly conflicting impulses are driving its replacement. One is an overwhelming emphasis on “mature” thrill rides, primarily coasters, designed to appeal to teens. The other is the precipitous decline in Disney’s writing quality and the removal of any witty, satirical, or clever material and anything with a tinge of dark humor. All writing is now at a roughly second grade level.
At first, this “infantilization” would seem to conflict with the increased focus on “mature” audiences. It makes sense, however, if Disney assumes its audience is moronic sensation-seekers. This assumption is part of a much broader cultural trend that spreads far beyond Disney.