Crazy Comments: Perceptions of Disney from a non-Disney Person

[real mad hatter]

Why Disney?

Good thread,why Disney?I dunno I just can't explain to people who ask why,at my age,do I get so excited about a WDW vacation.So I tell them " well I've been all over Europe and Asia,lived in Canada,have had vacations in 16 islands in the Mediterranean,done Mexico,Vegas,California,then late on in life we went to WDW in Florida and that was it,love at first sight. A world so different from the one we live in,not one day is the same,a place where dreams come true,where the clock never strikes midnight,living inside this magic bubble is a vacation that will live in your memory for the rest of your life".So why do I love WDW?please don't ask because there is no easy answer.:sohappy:

 

[Crush Dude!]

Good thread,why Disney?I dunno I just can't explain to people who ask why,at my age,do I get so excited about a WDW vacation.So I tell them " well I've been all over Europe and Asia,lived in Canada,have had vacations in 16 islands in the Mediterranean,done Mexico,Vegas,California,then late on in life we went to WDW in Florida and that was it,love at first sight. A world so different from the one we live in,not one day is the same,a place where dreams come true,where the clock never strikes midnight,living inside this magic bubble is a vacation that will live in your memory for the rest of your life".So why do I love WDW?please don't ask because there is no easy answer.:sohappy:

Man you hit the nail bang on the head!!

Great description and it's the same for me!!

I'm not worried what others think, it's my happy place and an incredible break from the real world :sohappy:

 

[jmani56]

I think the marketing actually does create most of the bad perceptions. All the public ever sees is Cinderella Castle, Dumbo and the Teacups. I was always confused why Disney never showcased all the amazing things they have on property, or even the amazing cultural experiences at Epcot. Even my good friends still think WDW is a glorified amusement park for kids with a castle.

But as I said earlier, maybe it's better this way. Keeps it our secret.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Well let me share this conversation I had with my husband yesterday. He's bummed that our oldest (in college) can't come spring break because her break is different. We will still have two kids with us, 13 and almost 17.
Anyhow, he was whining about our oldest not going.
Me: In 4 years (the youngest) will be headed to college. Are we just going to stop going to Disney when the kids are gone?
Him: Hell no!
So that's that. I have many more years of telling my students I am going on a Disney vacation, even when there are no kids involved (or, someday FAR AWAY, grandkids).

 

[I_heart_Tigger]

I have also had somone find out how often I've gone to Disney and said, "You should really get out more"

My response was, "Well I've been to 52 countries how much further out would you like me to get?"

btw - also asked how much they have "gotten out" and found that other than the province we live in - Nova Scotia - they have also been to Ontario, Alberta, Maine and New Hampshire...hmmm a very small fraction of 2 very large countries and I'm the one that has to get out more. :shrug:

 

[I_heart_Tigger]

Well let me share this conversation I had with my husband yesterday. He's bummed that our oldest (in college) can't come spring break because her break is different. We will still have two kids with us, 13 and almost 17.
Anyhow, he was whining about our oldest not going.
Me: In 4 years (the youngest) will be headed to college. Are we just going to stop going to Disney when the kids are gone?
Him: Hell no!
So that's that. I have many more years of telling my students I am going on a Disney vacation, even when there are no kids involved (or, someday FAR AWAY, grandkids).

When my sister and I were younger (11 and 13) my parents went away to Boston without us for a "Parents only" trip - no big deal, right? Then they came home with Disney World souvenirs. :fork:

I don't know what's worse, that they snuck off without us or that we fell for that whole "going to Boston (or New York or Toronto)" thing two more times :lol:

It just got to be the routine after a while - one Disney trip a year with the kids and one without.

 

[cameronmouse]

I, like I'm sure a lot of people get the Disney again really? Why?
Theres No place like it!!!!!!

 

[quirkle]

I'm with Red Socks and the Prince. Run ads based on 'toddler + grandparent moments', and this will be the perception of the park you create.

I think the results of that are even more disastrous than us getting weird looks for liking the parks. The result is that parents everywhere dream of the first day they bring their young 'uns to Disney, only to discover that the experience often isn't all that magical. Few toddlers are extatic having to stand in 95 degrees for an hour for a thirty second spinner ride. Only to be dragged along to stand for another hour in 95 degrees only to be manhandled by a huge furry monster eight times their size while daddy takes pictures.

The Disney experience was so dissapointing for the small children Disney targeted, that the MK is being rebuild as toddler cartoon kingdom to suit the demograph their marketing attracts.

I brought my eldest daughter when she was 2 1/2 and my youngest at 1 year. I never had expectation of what their reaction would be - I was too consumed with my excitement.:ROFLOL:

Really though - Disney is my go to place - my true happy place - my daughters did great with the characters because they were just meeting old friends. When we brought my eldest to Sesame Street she was scared to death. Less than a month later she was sitting on Mickey's lap and calling Donald a wacky duck.

My youngest was squeezing Minnie's nose and happy as can be - I think people need to put things in perspective - Disney will be there - you will go back - have fun while you are there and don't freak out over what you don't do - just enjoy what you do!

 

[DisneyWall-E]

My family and most people I know are Disney fans to some degree, so I dont really get any flak for going every year. When I used to I would ask them where they are going for vacation, and being that town is only and hour and a half from the beach that would be there answer 90% of the time. So I would ask theme why they would want to go to the beach again and that usually shut them up.

 

[foreverbelle]

'So you have any summer plans?'
'Going to Disney.'
'Again?? Weren't you just there?'
'Yes again.'
'I just don't get it, it doesn't change!'
'Neither does the beach, and yet you go every year.'

Ive stopped mentioning that Disney does change and update and things, unlike the beach.

 

[Joshua&CalebDad]

'So you have any summer plans?'
'Going to Disney.'
'Again?? Weren't you just there?'
'Yes again.'
'I just don't get it, it doesn't change!'
'Neither does the beach, and yet you go every year.'

Ive stopped mentioning that Disney does change and update and things, unlike the beach.

Awesome, just pure awesome. That made my day. I'll have to remeber that one and make sure I use it. :lol:

 

[Walt Disney1955]

The misconceptions about the Disney parks don't bother me at all. I'm not in the business of converting people. You're not interested in Disney? Fine. I'm not interested in sharing it with my everyday life anyway.

What really bothers me are the misconceptions about the man himself. I hate it when some irresponsible ignoramus perpetuates the lie that Walt Disney was a racist, for instance.

It is a sad state in our society. The internet is the one piece of equipment where we have information at our fingertips and we don't use it. But why bother right? The tabloids tell us all we need to know about dead celebrities. Princess Di was pregnant right?

It is very easy to say whatever you want about a deceased person when they aren't here to defend themselves. All I have is one phrase for people who suggest Walt was anti-sematic, or racist or whatever: "Its a Small World." Created in 1964 for the World's Fair. Unless some of you fell of a hay wagon you've gone on that ride. If there is one thing in the world that promotes peace and unity of people of all colours and countries it is that ride. If anything that ride gives you the impression Walt was a hippy more than anything. I will say this, it would disgust a truly, deeply racist man to create that ride. Yet one of the last things Walt did before he died was put it in Disneyland.

So you'd think that would put to bed any rumour right? But it doesn't because that version doesn't create drama.

Let's just admit one thing here, Walt was a fascinating man who did a lot of good for the world. However, I am pretty sure the sun rose and set in his home as well. I'll bet he snapped at his kids and Lillian at times. I am sure he lost his temper and said things he regretted a minute later. And I'll bet dollars to donuts he had some racist bones in his body from time to time because regardless of what "era" you were born in we all still have human bones and we all have those thoughts from time to time. If no one wants to admit it then I'll do it for you, I've said things out of context out of anger that belittled a group of people before. I'll probably do it again and I am guessing Walt did as well.

The difference is, there are people who say things out of anger and leave it at that and there are people who burn crosses and take their actions much further and deeper. That's the difference between a good person and a not so good person. So if I don't flinch a lot when I hear second hand information about something Walt may or may not have said in the 1940s about the Jews then you might understand why. Hitler started a war, Walt created a popular attraction built on peace. Actions always speak louder than words.

 

[ChrisFL]

It is a sad state in our society. The internet is the one piece of equipment where we have information at our fingertips and we don't use it. But why bother right? The tabloids tell us all we need to know about dead celebrities. Princess Di was pregnant right?

It is very easy to say whatever you want about a deceased person when they aren't here to defend themselves. All I have is one phrase for people who suggest Walt was anti-sematic, or racist or whatever: "Its a Small World." Created in 1964 for the World's Fair. Unless some of you fell of a hay wagon you've gone on that ride. If there is one thing in the world that promotes peace and unity of people of all colours and countries it is that ride. If anything that ride gives you the impression Walt was a hippy more than anything. I will say this, it would disgust a truly, deeply racist man to create that ride. Yet one of the last things Walt did before he died was put it in Disneyland.

So you'd think that would put to bed any rumour right? But it doesn't because that version doesn't create drama.

Let's just admit one thing here, Walt was a fascinating man who did a lot of good for the world. However, I am pretty sure the sun rose and set in his home as well. I'll bet he snapped at his kids and Lillian at times. I am sure he lost his temper and said things he regretted a minute later. And I'll bet dollars to donuts he had some racist bones in his body from time to time because regardless of what "era" you were born in we all still have human bones and we all have those thoughts from time to time. If no one wants to admit it then I'll do it for you, I've said things out of context out of anger that belittled a group of people before. I'll probably do it again and I am guessing Walt did as well.

The difference is, there are people who say things out of anger and leave it at that and there are people who burn crosses and take their actions much further and deeper. That's the difference between a good person and a not so good person. So if I don't flinch a lot when I hear second hand information about something Walt may or may not have said in the 1940s about the Jews then you might understand why. Hitler started a war, Walt created a popular attraction built on peace. Actions always speak louder than words.

Excellent post, I couldn't have said it any better.

I'd only add that some of Walt's closest collaborators were Jewish...including the Sherman Brothers (R.I.P. Robert Sherman)

 

[El-Fuego]

Total Agreement

I am in my late twenties, and to be honest I kind of like things the way that they are.

When I go to WDW, it's an escape from the stupidity of my peers on a typical "adult" vacation — pretentious clubs, random hook-ups and sloppy drunkenness. I agree that Disney should do a much better job marketing to couples and some segments of more sophisticated young adults, but I'm just fine being in a predominantly family environment when I go to WDW. I don't think adding large groups of young adults looking to party will make the experience better. Bringing back a jazz club for example may attract a younger but mature crowd. Bringing back nightclubs just attracts rowdy locals, because let's face it — people looking to party on vacation aren't going to pick WDW for the club scene.

Disney marketing does target families with small children, but in all honestly it seems to be working pretty well from a business perspective. The parks are more crowded than ever. And when the target audience is families, you get less cheap-thrill roller coasters and more Spaceship Earth's.

I guess my point is that maybe we should be content with keeping WDW as our adult vacation secret, otherwise the demographic in the parks may change and things may be less enjoyable. It's also always funny to bring first-timers along and watch their reaction as they realize they had no idea how wrong their perceptions were of WDW. Yes, it's annoying when people make comments about our vacation plans, but I usually just smile and let them stay ignorant.

Couldn't agree more.:sohappy:

 

[ASHLAND WDW MAN]

I hope that Disney keeps marketing it as they are now. Those of us that "get it" and love it have fewer people to deal with so we can enjoy it even more.

 

[WishIwasThere]

Now that he knows what's there, he's excited too. He enlisted in the army so we'll be getting discounted tickets and hotel rates next year :sohappy:

I highly recommend staying at Shades of Green. Rooms just as large as the Poly, which is a short walk away. Deluxe level accomodations at a value to moderate price.

 

[Silver Figment]

I am in my late twenties, and to be honest I kind of like things the way that they are.

When I go to WDW, it's an escape from the stupidity of my peers on a typical "adult" vacation — pretentious clubs, random hook-ups and sloppy drunkenness. I agree that Disney should do a much better job marketing to couples and some segments of more sophisticated young adults, but I'm just fine being in a predominantly family environment when I go to WDW. I don't think adding large groups of young adults looking to party will make the experience better. Bringing back a jazz club for example may attract a younger but mature crowd. Bringing back nightclubs just attracts rowdy locals, because let's face it — people looking to party on vacation aren't going to pick WDW for the club scene.

Disney marketing does target families with small children, but in all honestly it seems to be working pretty well from a business perspective. The parks are more crowded than ever. And when the target audience is families, you get less cheap-thrill roller coasters and more Spaceship Earth's.

I guess my point is that maybe we should be content with keeping WDW as our adult vacation secret, otherwise the demographic in the parks may change and things may be less enjoyable. It's also always funny to bring first-timers along and watch their reaction as they realize they had no idea how wrong their perceptions were of WDW. Yes, it's annoying when people make comments about our vacation plans, but I usually just smile and let them stay ignorant.

I see what you're saying. I also like things the way they are. I let my friends in on the "secret" so that i can enjoy the parks with them and the new person always loves it and wants to go back for more.

 

[WDW 3]

I highly recommend staying at Shades of Green. Rooms just as large as the Poly, which is a short walk away. Deluxe level accomodations at a value to moderate price.

I second the Shades of Green recommendation

 

[WDW 3]

We had great not crazy people contact us to go just as adults.

They took 10 family members including 4 grandkids and want to go it alone with us Trouble was they had teenage boy to infant and it's not easy to tour with a group like that.