Do we lose track of the fact that WDW is really (in essence) for kids?

copcarguyp71

copcarguyp71

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I see a lot of hate on these forums for rides or attractions that kids absolutely seem to love. Have we (grown ups) lost some of the capacity to enjoy the parks at the level they were meant for? I also wonder if we foist those aspersions onto the kids inadvertently causing a next generation of jaded travellers.

I myself have my own punch list of issues but have openly admitted that it may be simply because of the cynicism that age brings but I am interested in others thoughts on whether we have lost sight of the intent of WDW in terms of presentation.
 
Andrew C

Andrew C

You know what's funny?
copcarguyp71 said:
I see a lot of hate on these forums for rides or attractions that kids absolutely seem to love. Have we (grown ups) lost some of the capacity to enjoy the parks at the level they were meant for? I also wonder if we foist those aspersions onto the kids inadvertently causing a next generation of jaded travellers.

I myself have my own punch list of issues but have openly admitted that it may be simply because of the cynicism that age brings but I am interested in others thoughts on whether we have lost sight of the intent of WDW in terms of presentation.
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It is meant for families. For people of all ages. But I get your general point.
 
Tom

Tom

Beta Return
WDW is for entire families, not just kids. They have attractions (contrary to what Walt desired) that ONLY accommodate children, and others that ONLY accommodate "adults" (height requirements, thrills, etc) - but it would be boring to have theme parks filled with only rides that literally everyone can enjoy together. It would be 100% dark rides and boat rides.

Regardless, I don't consider WDW to be a destination for children. It's an ideal family destination, which offers something for nearly everyone. Children, families, extended families, couples, young adults, seniors....they can all enjoy something on property, even if that "something" is sitting on benches, enjoying ice cream and crowd watching.

I'm 35, and I've been going since I was 6. My wife has only been going since I first took her on our honeymoon in 2008. We're both adults, and we love WDW.

Our son is now 7 months old, and he'll get to experience it on his first birthday in November, then again in January. We hope he loves it as much as we do, and we're excited to re-live the experience through the eyes of a child.

To address one of your major points, yes, I believe there are many people in the world, and on these forums, who think Disney needs to be Six Flags and cater only to thrill junkies. And they (in my opinion) become unjustifiably disgruntled when Disney invests in attractions like 7DMT.

I honestly don't care if someone doesn't like it because it's a "kiddie coaster". It's PERFECT. Entire families can ride it, and everyone can enjoy it. It's a great way to introduce kids to coasters, since it's pretty tame, but is actually entertaining (unlike Barnstormer).

The people who can't handle Disney putting in family attractions should probably migrate to discussion boards for other types of theme parks.
 
JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
I really dont think the parks were ever a kids only venue. Families include adults and older kids. Disney wanted a place for families to enjoy and spend time with each other. There never was an age restriction for fun and enjoyment. Saying that though, I've always thought there was never enough for families with very young kids to do. And on the other hand, there needs to be more extreme, thrilling attractions to satisfy the wants of the daring teens. So at first you enjoy the kiddie stuff until you out grow it and then move onto other things as you get more courageous and brave to try other levels of excitement. As you move on you have no need to revisit those things youve out grown until you bring your own kiddies back years later.
 
Goofyernmost

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
We can consider it any way we want, but, children are still the driving force behind WDW's attendance. If it didn't appeal to kids a lot fewer people would ever go to it in the first place. Therefore the "fever" would not be caught.

There also is, in my mind, a massive misinterpretation of what is meant be "someplace where the kids and the parents can have fun together." Some of Walt's early attractions certainly were not geared towards adults. The Carrousel, Dumbo, Autotopia, Pony Rides or the Tea Cups were never rides that adults would have ever gone on by themselves.

However, what Walt did differently was to make it so the adults could ride things with the kids and left enough room for them in the ride vehicles. And then the attractions that were a little more mature, were not intense enough to keep kids out of them. (Dark Rides, AA shows, etc.) That is why there are no massive Roller Coasters in most of the Disney Parks. It was to not exclude kids from anything. That came later when the demand was for "Thrill" rides. It didn't mean that everything that was there was going to appeal to any age bracket.
 
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jaklgreen

jaklgreen

Well-Known Member
I don't know why there is so much hate for "kiddie" rides. I love Dumbo and even go on it by myself. I really miss Snow Whites ride. :cry: I think the problem is that people are losing their inner child, which is very sad. Even though I have been to WDW 30+ times, I never went as a child so when I go I think how awesome would this have been as a kid.
 
E

EnergyKing

Well-Known Member
Walt also came up with original attractions that appealed to adults: Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Tiki Birds (u can't deny the idea behind it), Country Bear Jamboree. Do adults really look forward to Pixar rides? It should be more than just the smile on your kid's face.

What original attractions are they coming up with these days?
 
E

EnergyKing

Well-Known Member
There's no sinister underbelly to the Magic Kingdom anymore. The only ride with any menace left (Haunted Mansion) has been kiddified by the interactive queue.
 
kap91

kap91

Well-Known Member
No...because it's meant for all ages and particular families together.

BUT

We here, OFTEN, lose track of the idea that's it's meant for FUN. Granted, I know many of us here consider theme park design and operation as a type of art equal to that of any other. And in that view we often lose sight of the end goal - to provide a fun and idealized escape from the monotony and problems of actual life. We can talk about magic bands, and the versions of rides that could have been, and whether a fictional land based on Scandinavian culture belongs in a larger (romanticized) version of Norway/ otherwise real countries but really the end goal is to make a place that is beautiful and inspiring and exciting and fun. I think the imagineers of a previous generation (like the 1950s and 60s) understood this far more than the ones today and many of the pundits here.

They realized that it didn't matter if a mountain from Switzerland was in a city of the future or if monorails and submarines went through a forest, or if bayou cruise was inside a building and suddenly changed to night and technically should have been themed to a different area of the Caribbean, or if the buildings on Main Street represent several different areas across the continent and some aren't really "authentic" at all. It's about fun, and beauty, and if it feels emotionally right - not whether it makes perfect sense to an art scholar, historian, or the logical mind.
 
JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
EnergyKing said:
For the love of Pete, Snow Whites Adventures culminated in its riders being killed by a witch...in Mr. Toad they wound up in Hell...God I miss those days...
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How times have changed. :D:D Parents used their heads. If they thought their kids couldnt take it they would avoid it... if their kids went on it and they got panicked they gave them a hug, told them to get over it. Now lets take Johnny to a therapist cause it might "scar" him for life or complain and get the ride shut down. Kids learned to get over things.
 
ChrisFL

ChrisFL

Premium Member
kap91 said:
No...because it's meant for all ages and particular families together.

BUT

We here, OFTEN, lose track of the idea that's it's meant for FUN. Granted, I know many of us here consider theme park design and operation as a type of art equal to that of any other. And in that view we often lose sight of the end goal - to provide a fun and idealized escape from the monotony and problems of actual life. We can talk about magic bands, and the versions of rides that could have been, and whether a fictional land based on Scandinavian culture belongs in a larger (romanticized) version of Norway/ otherwise real countries but really the end goal is to make a place that is beautiful and inspiring and exciting and fun. I think the imagineers of a previous generation (like the 1950s and 60s) understood this far more than the ones today and many of the pundits here.

They realized that it didn't matter if a mountain from Switzerland was in a city of the future or if monorails and submarines went through a forest, or if bayou cruise was inside a building and suddenly changed to night and technically should have been themed to a different area of the Caribbean, or if the buildings on Main Street represent several different areas across the continent and some aren't really "authentic" at all. It's about fun, and beauty, and if it feels emotionally right - not whether it makes perfect sense to an art scholar, historian, or the logical mind.
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Eh, I somewhat see your point, but I think you're downplaying some of the intricate research and real accuracy that imagineering put into a lot of their attractions.
 
M

mahnamahna101

Well-Known Member
Tom said:
WDW is for entire families, not just kids. They have attractions (contrary to what Walt desired) that ONLY accommodate children, and others that ONLY accommodate "adults" (height requirements, thrills, etc) - but it would be boring to have theme parks filled with only rides that literally everyone can enjoy together. It would be 100% dark rides and boat rides.

Regardless, I don't consider WDW to be a destination for children. It's an ideal family destination, which offers something for nearly everyone. Children, families, extended families, couples, young adults, seniors....they can all enjoy something on property, even if that "something" is sitting on benches, enjoying ice cream and crowd watching.

I'm 35, and I've been going since I was 6. My wife has only been going since I first took her on our honeymoon in 2008. We're both adults, and we love WDW.

Our son is now 7 months old, and he'll get to experience it on his first birthday in November, then again in January. We hope he loves it as much as we do, and we're excited to re-live the experience through the eyes of a child.

To address one of your major points, yes, I believe there are many people in the world, and on these forums, who think Disney needs to be Six Flags and cater only to thrill junkies. And they (in my opinion) become unjustifiably disgruntled when Disney invests in attractions like 7DMT.

I honestly don't care if someone doesn't like it because it's a "kiddie coaster". It's PERFECT. Entire families can ride it, and everyone can enjoy it. It's a great way to introduce kids to coasters, since it's pretty tame, but is actually entertaining (unlike Barnstormer).

The people who can't handle Disney putting in family attractions should probably migrate to discussion boards for other types of theme parks.
Click to expand...
It would be perfect with all 3 dark ride portions... and if they added a B&TB trackless dark ride, Bald Mountain, a new dark ride where Princess Fairytale Hall is and Wonderland/100 Acre Wood mini-lands... SDMT's problem is it is not worth a wait longer than 30-35 min. Adding 2-3 more headliners to the right side of MK would lessen the demand to ride SDMT.

SDMT isn't the E-ticket crown jewel New Fantasyland needed to cap off with.
 
Disneyhead'71

Disneyhead'71

Well-Known Member
WDW, for most of it's existence wasn't the Toddler Kingdom. I think most new fans don't get that. They go into Tomorrowland and see Stitch, Buzz, Monsters, Inc and don't understand why we whiners don't understand that WDW is for kids. The WDW I grew up with didn't have a single cartoon based attraction in Tomorrowland. It was Mission to Mars and later Alien Encounter. There was America The Beautiful that became Timekeeper, and If You Had Wings. No toons!

The y replaced the more edgy Mr. Toads with Pooh. And SWSA with Princess Fairytale Hall and 20K Leagues with Ariel.

And now the shallowing of Epcot. Replacing things that have the intellectual depth of Human History with the latest Disney cartoons.

WDW was not made for Toddlers. The current management did that. And since I am not a toddler I am far less interested in WDW than I used to be.
 
E

EnergyKing

Well-Known Member
Disneyhead'71 said:
WDW, for most of it's existence wasn't the Toddler Kingdom. I think most new fans don't get that. They go into Tomorrowland and see Stitch, Buzz, Monsters, Inc and don't understand why we whiners don't understand that WDW is for kids. The WDW I grew up with didn't have a single cartoon based attraction in Tomorrowland. It was Mission to Mars and later Alien Encounter. There was America The Beautiful that became Timekeeper, and If You Had Wings. No toons!

The y replaced the more edgy Mr. Toads with Pooh. And SWSA with Princess Fairytale Hall and 20K Leagues with Ariel.

And now the shallowing of Epcot. Replacing things that have the intellectual depth of Human History with the latest Disney cartoons.

WDW was not made for Toddlers. The current management did that. And since I am not a toddler I am far less interested in WDW than I used to be.
Click to expand...

100% agree. The overall lack of edge in MK is truly troubling. Wait until Space Mountain gets some moronic Pixar "hey hey kids, u wanna ride a spaceship?!? herher" mascot, and The Haunted Mansion is further kiddified with some cutesy ghosties in the elevator. The hanging man will be replaced with what?...any takers?
 
Club Cooloholic

Club Cooloholic

Well-Known Member
copcarguyp71 said:
I see a lot of hate on these forums for rides or attractions that kids absolutely seem to love. Have we (grown ups) lost some of the capacity to enjoy the parks at the level they were meant for? I also wonder if we foist those aspersions onto the kids inadvertently causing a next generation of jaded travellers.

I myself have my own punch list of issues but have openly admitted that it may be simply because of the cynicism that age brings but I am interested in others thoughts on whether we have lost sight of the intent of WDW in terms of presentation.
Click to expand...
Totally agree. I'm a parent so I tend to understand the need to keep the focus on kids. Its why little things like the Penny Arcade being turned into store sadden me. Or people who get annoyed at kids bumping into them at a parade. If its your 5th time seeing the thing, makeva little room for a kid who is probably seeing it the first time.
 
M

mahnamahna101

Well-Known Member
Disneyhead'71 said:
WDW, for most of it's existence wasn't the Toddler Kingdom. I think most new fans don't get that. They go into Tomorrowland and see Stitch, Buzz, Monsters, Inc and don't understand why we whiners don't understand that WDW is for kids. The WDW I grew up with didn't have a single cartoon based attraction in Tomorrowland. It was Mission to Mars and later Alien Encounter. There was America The Beautiful that became Timekeeper, and If You Had Wings. No toons!

The y replaced the more edgy Mr. Toads with Pooh. And SWSA with Princess Fairytale Hall and 20K Leagues with Ariel.

And now the shallowing of Epcot. Replacing things that have the intellectual depth of Human History with the latest Disney cartoons.

WDW was not made for Toddlers. The current management did that. And since I am not a toddler I am far less interested in WDW than I used to be.
Click to expand...
To be fair, 20K doesn't really fit Fantasyland. It should have been used as a transition between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. If they canned the Speedway for it, they could have put the Matterhorn or the Enchanted Snow Palace where 20K used to be. But Jules Verne steampunk just seems awkward next to IASW or Dumbo :D... I'd love to see 20K return in a Mysterious Island mini-land over by Adventureland, though.

Fantasyland used to be the only area of MK geared primarily to kids. The other areas had some sophistication and thematic integrity.

Epcot had Horizons, World of Motion, the original Universe of Energy, the original Journey to Imagination, the Seacabs, Communicore, Body Wars, Cranium Command... plenty of attractions that had appeal with children but didn't dumb themselves down for them.

Timekeeper, 20K, Mr. Toad and Alien Encounter are four attractions I unfortunately will never get to experience.
 

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