Is entitlement becoming an issue?

[IMFearless]

Wow! Just, wow! Have just caught up on this whole thread!

To me the issue is simple: Defenition of celebrity has changed over time.

It is true to say that Disney, like most organisations has always treated celebrities or famous guests differently to others.

I think the issue is that over the past 40 years or so, but most intensely in the internet ages, just who is considered a celebrity has altered. In the past, aside from royalty, someone would have been famous for "doing" something, but more recently that has changed to people becoming famous for just "being" someone.

In this age of social media, there is more than ever an "and me" attitude where many people want to become famous or a celebrity by "being" someone rather than "doing" something. After all there are many celebrities who do very well for themselves, just because of who they are. This is going to appear quite desirable to many people, because it's essentially getting something for nothing.

My feeling is, this type of celebrity will continue, unless society's view of what is actually admirable changes back to focusing on what people "do" rather than who people "are". We are all to blame in this problem when it is things we say or do that help to fuel the cycle of fame by giving attention to celebs who have done nothing to become famous.

I like the dresses, I think the difficulty is that the parent is the one that has "done" something, but the child has become the celeb for just being "the child that wears the dresses".

Disney are simply using the child's mini-celeb status to help promote their product, why would they not do so? It's being given to them on a plate to be honest.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Wow! Just, wow! Have just caught up on this whole thread!

To me the issue is simple: Defenition of celebrity has changed over time.

It is true to say that Disney, like most organisations has always treated celebrities or famous guests differently to others.

I think the issue is that over the past 40 years or so, but most intensely in the internet ages, just who is considered a celebrity has altered. In the past, aside from royalty, someone would have been famous for "doing" something, but more recently that has changed to people becoming famous for just "being" someone.

In this age of social media, there is more than ever an "and me" attitude where many people want to become famous or a celebrity by "being" someone rather than "doing" something. After all there are many celebrities who do very well for themselves, just because of who they are. This is going to appear quite desirable to many people, because it's essentially getting something for nothing.

My feeling is, this type of celebrity will continue, unless society's view of what is actually admirable changes back to focusing on what people "do" rather than who people "are". We are all to blame in this problem when it is things we say or do that help to fuel the cycle of fame by giving attention to celebs who have done nothing to become famous.

I like the dresses, I think the difficulty is that the parent is the one that has "done" something, but the child has become the celeb for just being "the child that wears the dresses".

Disney are simply using the child's mini-celeb status to help promote their product, why would they not do so? It's being given to them on a plate to be honest.

Great post and I agree right up until the last paragraph. This isn't like Johnny Depp showing up and getting VIP treatment as a promotional tool. These self-professed VIPs are showing up as if they were regular guests and then partnering with their pal front-line cast members to create exclusionary esperiences in full view of the general public. This is done at the expense of the average guest and is NOT sanctioned by Disney. The cast members involved are breaking the rules.

 

[Sans Souci]

 

[IMFearless]

Great post and I agree right up until the last paragraph. This isn't like Johnny Depp showing up and getting VIP treatment as a promotional tool. These self-professed VIPs are showing up as if they were regular guests and then partnering with their pal front-line cast members to create exclusionary esperiences in full view of the general public. This is done at the expense of the average guest and is NOT sanctioned by Disney. The cast members involved are breaking the rules.

Well this is a double edged sword, because if Disney are not doing anything to prevent cast members from behaving in this way, they are essentially allowing it to happen quietly. It's a bit like the situation that developed in Disneyland with the old GAC.

There are three possible reasons they are quietly allowing it to happen, and by they, I mean the top management of the parks:

A. They don't know about it
B. They know about it, want to stop it, but haven't done anything meaningful to change it.
C. They know about it, realise they could stop it, but have made a measured decision not to at this point, because the potential upside to allowing it to continue is greater than the potential downside of implementing a policy change.

I very much suspect the answer falls somewhere between the three. Like with GAC, once the problem becomes big enough and noticeable enough to the average guest, Disney will respond. The way management appear to sit in recent years seems to be much more with a reactive style of management approach rather than a proactive style. Just like the GAC they waited until it became a massive issue before it was dealt with.

The problem is the bigger the problem becomes before it is dealt with the bigger the potential fallout of making a change becomes.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Well this is a double edged sword, because if Disney are not doing anything to prevent cast members from behaving in this way, they are essentially allowing it to happen quietly. It's a bit like the situation that developed in Disneyland with the old GAC.

There are three possible reasons they are quietly allowing it to happen, and by they, I mean the top management of the parks:

A. They don't know about it
B. They know about it, want to stop it, but haven't done anything meaningful to change it.
C. They know about it, realise they could stop it, but have made a measured decision not to at this point, because the potential upside to allowing it to continue is greater than the potential downside of implementing a policy change.

I very much suspect the answer falls somewhere between the three. Like with GAC, once the problem becomes big enough and noticeable enough to the average guest, Disney will respond. The way management appear to sit in recent years seems to be much more with a reactive style of management approach rather than a proactive style. Just like the GAC they waited until it became a massive issue before it was dealt with.

The problem is the bigger the problem becomes before it is dealt with the bigger the potential fallout of making a change becomes.

I think it's 100% A. They have no idea.

 

[IMFearless]

I think it's 100% A. They have no idea.

This surprises me. Being that some of the items on Lane's YouTube appear to have been filmed specifically for the Disney Parks Blog.

If the management of the parks are so disconnected to what is actually happening in them it reeks of poor management in my opinion.

The situation that developed with "what the GAC became" could largely have been avoided by better, earlier, more responsive hands on management that deals with abuse before it becomes epidemic.

I think if this is truly going on, as widely as is being reported in this thread and to the extent that appears to be the case and Disney truly don't know about it, then the more worrying question is: why not?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

This surprises me. Being that some of the items on Lane's YouTube appear to have been filmed specifically for the Disney Parks Blog.

Sure, that type of thing is officially endorsed, but that's only happened once to my knowledge.

If the management of the parks are so disconnected to what is actually happening in them it reeks of poor management in my opinion.

The situation that developed with "what the GAC became" could largely have been avoided by better, earlier, more responsive hands on management that deals with abuse before it becomes epidemic.

I think if this is truly going on, as widely as is being reported in this thread and to the extent that appears to be the case and Disney truly don't know about it, then the more worrying question is: why not?

"Ground level" managers are mostly front line CMs who got promoted. They have no special management skills. There's absolutely a disconnect between the GSMs and the "real" decision makers.

 

[NowInc]

Just got back from SWW and Lane (as well as another social media "celeb" Alanaexplains) was out...and amazingly enough she (and the other) had perfect timing for "Random Magic" and got to meet C3PO and R2D2 with Luke and Leia all at the same time..while other guests were told they could not by front line CMs.

The mom of said child was very nice to leave her daughter by herself in line for a previous Meet and Greet while she was "getting info" from CMs around the corner...its truly sad. What is even more sad are the CMs who flocked around her (the mom) at first sight.

 

[FutureCEO]

In my opinion, 100% yes.

I will not go into details, but I feel that certain guests are receiving constant, greater experiences simply because of their viewer counts on social media. I am not talking about a sweet "something extra" here and there, but more along the lines of every visit, getting special treatments and interactions. Being allowed to go where other guests can't, getting more than 20 minutes of one on one time with characters, being allowed behind counters, etc.

It seems that unless you dress your child up as a character, they will be seen as "less worthy" of getting the same treatment. Try explaining that to a kid sometime.

I am sure there are many "supporters" of this type of thing, as its seen as "cute", but try to look at the bigger picture. There are MANY of these types of accounts out there now, and its increasingly becoming worse and worse.

Please let me know if I am out of line in thinking this way. Shed some light on what I am missing.

I'm new to this thread so I'm not reading 13 pages but society as a whole is a problem. Not just Disney

 

[PhotoDave219]

Just got back from SWW and Lane (as well as another social media "celeb" Alanaexplains) was out...and amazingly enough she (and the other) had perfect timing for "Random Magic" and got to meet C3PO and R2D2 with Luke and Leia all at the same time..while other guests were told they could not by front line CMs.

The mom of said child was very nice to leave her daughter by herself in line for a previous Meet and Greet while she was "getting info" from CMs around the corner...its truly sad. What is even more sad are the CMs who flocked around her (the mom) at first sight.

Generally these negations and find out info are done more discreetly.... My bothan spies are more discrete and payment is usually in the form of a tasty beverage.

That being said.... all Four together. in 2014, happened twice a day - maybe 4 or 5 groups total got to experience it a day. I didnt because hell, I preferred getting people go to and from set, just a photo.

and dear christ almimght, google has led me down a dark path. Such child exploitation.

 

[Much-Pixie-Dust]

I agree. And as sad as this may be, I also think it's a bit unsafe. I grew up in the 70s/80s and I remember being told that it was a bad idea to wear personalized shirts and things with our names on them because potential kidnappers could trick kids into thinking that they knew them. That may be a bit paranoid, but in an age of cyberstalking and whatnot, I would never make an instagram about my small child (edit to add: beyond sharing with family and close friends)!

I agree 100%. I never Twitter (Pics) about my child and I only IG her on a private account. I won't even put pics of her on public forums such as this one. I don't FB her either. Paranoid? Maybe, but I am okay with that.

 

[ItlngrlBella]

Well, this just popped up in my news feed. Ew:

http://m.smh.com.au/world/florida-c...aworld-universal-studios-20150606-ghi4us.html

Speaking of which - I know the justice system would call it "cruel and usual punishment," but we need to castrate these monsters and lock them up for life.

 

[12_Ears_Dad]

The OP is the one with the entitlement issues. He just wants to be a cute cuddly little girl and he cant. FREAK!!

(of course im joking...)

 

[jlsHouston]

What are the mom and dad planning to do to help her get over the feeling that she's the center of the universe? Which is exactly what she will think if they keep this up.

Lol... wait til she's 34...hopefully she's still cute..

 

[jlsHouston]

Well this is an interesting thread and read.

Yah I'm up to page 6 , I can't believe I missed this when it started.

 

[RandomPrincess]

My daughter is in kindergarten and at all her activities the older girls fawn her and the other little girls because they are little and cute. They act like everything the little girls do is a huge accomplishment. As time goes on and they get older new little girls come along and they will be the cute adorable ones and my daughter and her friends will be judged by actual accomplishments, personality etc. It's the natural cycle. Most kids manage to make the gradual transition just fine. I'm sure all of us were the cute little kid who got extra attention at something.