Kevin Yee- Airing of Grievances

Disneyhead'71

Well-Known Member
I am 32 and thoroughly enjoyed Ralph. It amused kids, but also entertained my wife and I because we grew up in the early video game and arcade world.

I consider it to be quite a crossover movie for gender and age demographics.
That is good to know. I probably won't see it, but I am pleased that Disney is going beyond the one-note princess genre.
 

Bolna

Well-Known Member
I couldn't agree more, especially with the part I bolded. They are definitely going after a certain 'type' of guest. I'd love to discuss just how smart that is for the long term health of the BRAND ... maybe I'll get that chance, seems like everyone is reading me these days (or any day really).:cool:

That's the one thing I keep thinking when I read (or see as in the 60 year of Walt Disney Imagineering video on the Disney Parks Blog) about the focus being more and more solely on the families with toddlers (or younger children): Why are they artificially decreasing their customer base? They used to have a product that was being sold as something that appealed to everyone. One would think that this is a fantastic asset for a company. Why throw it out and only focus on a certain part of the population?
 

RSoxNo1

Well-Known Member
Disney shouldn't have to buy brands that appeal to the "young adult male demographic". It should CREATE brands that appeal to that demo. And it has, via Pixar, and hey, what about "Wreck-It Ralph"? That movie is a success, and it's a giant step away from the princess movies and stuff.

And anyway, why do the suits at Disney think it has to have ALL of the candy in the store? Did Marvel ever appeal much to girls (generally speaking)? And while Star Wars, I think, has much more cross-over appeal, its vast fandom was made up mostly of males. Yet neither Stan Lee nor George Lucas seemed to freak out much that their product wasn't very appealing to half of the human race. They didn't start creating fairies and princesses in order to compete with Disney. I think the Star Wars and Marvel purchases illustrated the greed and laziness that makes up the corporate mindset at the Mouse House right now. And at best all that foreign junk cluttering up the Disney landscape will do little more than dilute the brand. JMHO.
Wreck it Ralph is fundamentally a kids movie that adults can enjoy. It's in the Pixar movie mold, but Pixar movies justly or unjustly are still categorized as being for children by the majority of the young adult demographic. Where they excel is that the parents can tolerate them more, but there is a large portion of the population that view all Disney animated films as children movies no matter what. We all know that recent releases such as Brave, Up, and A Christmas Carol are far more adult than your standard Disney kids movie but the perception change is difficult.

The recent Disney movies to really reach that wide demographic were Alice in Wonderland and the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Tron was an attempt to accomplish this that fell short (but apparently they actually are going forward with the sequal), John Carter fell short, and Lone Ranger is TBD. They are trying to create brands but it's not always obvious where that's going to be. They know that Star Wars will hit in the box office and it's a much safer bet than Lone Ranger.
 

Disneyhead'71

Well-Known Member
That's the one thing I keep thinking when I read (or see as in the 60 year of Walt Disney Imagineering video on the Disney Parks Blog) about the focus being more and more solely on the families with toddlers (or younger children): Why are they artificially decreasing their customer base? They used to have a product that was being sold as something that appealed to everyone. One would think that this is a fantastic asset for a company. Why throw it out and only focus on a certain part of the population?
Because we know the score, and they don't want us enlightening the "masses". We can and moan on our tiny sliver of the interwebs to other each other all we want, but heaven forbid we stand there in line pointing out the overflowing trash can to the Mommy bloggers.
 

Bolna

Well-Known Member
Because we know the score, and they don't want us enlightening the "masses". We can and moan on our tiny sliver of the interwebs to other each other all we want, but heaven forbid we stand there in line pointing out the overflowing trash can to the Mommy bloggers.

But what about the 56 year old couple who last went to WDW in 1998 when their kids were 10 and 14. They might think: "Hey, it might be fun to go back there again and enjoy WDW just the two of us?" and then they research WDW a little bit, look at the official website, see the links to the Mom's Panel, notice some ads on TV - and after the initial looking around they come to the conclusion that the place is not for them, they have to wait a little longer until there are grandkids as the place is only for kids. So, they book their summer vacation for somewhere else. Customers lost for WDW... And they had already looked at those wonderful rooms at the Grand Floridian which they could not afford in 1998...
 

Disneyhead'71

Well-Known Member
But what about the 56 year old couple who last went to WDW in 1998 when their kids were 10 and 14. They might think: "Hey, it might be fun to go back there again and enjoy WDW just the two of us?" and then they research WDW a little bit, look at the official website, see the links to the Mom's Panel, notice some ads on TV - and after the initial looking around they come to the conclusion that the place is not for them, they have to wait a little longer until there are grandkids as the place is only for kids. So, they book their summer vacation for somewhere else. Customers lost for WDW... And they had already looked at those wonderful rooms at the Grand Floridian which they could not afford in 1998...
Not much different then me. I turn 49 tomorrow. I celebrated my 8th birthday at a 3 month old Walt Disney World in Dec. '71. Have traveled to WDW hundreds of times. And am well in to planning my June trip......to Atlantis.
 

HatboxGhost

Well-Known Member
That was a great article as much as I hate to hear that Disney has these problems. I remember when my wife and I went on EE in 2009 and were so excited to see this amazing animatronic yeti. We are not huge coaster fans however we had to see him. We rode it 3x before I actually saw part of him......my wife saw him the second time. I was so disappointed after seeing the promos for the yeti and asked around but nobody had any idea. Now, I know.
As for AK, I have 0% interest in seeing a land based on the film, Avatar. I know that some people think its cool and maybe one ride would be good but now that Disney has purchased the rights to Star Wars they should make a SW land and put the time into that. There is so much potential there.
 

George

Liker of Things
But what about the 56 year old couple who last went to WDW in 1998 when their kids were 10 and 14. They might think: "Hey, it might be fun to go back there again and enjoy WDW just the two of us?" and then they research WDW a little bit, look at the official website, see the links to the Mom's Panel, notice some ads on TV - and after the initial looking around they come to the conclusion that the place is not for them, they have to wait a little longer until there are grandkids as the place is only for kids. So, they book their summer vacation for somewhere else. Customers lost for WDW... And they had already looked at those wonderful rooms at the Grand Floridian which they could not afford in 1998...

Good point. My in-laws tagged along with us for a few days this Thanksgiving break just to look at the WDW Christmas decorations they remembered. All I have to say is, "Thank God for the Osbourne Lights." I don't think they'll be visiting again any time soon.

On Wreck it Ralph, I'm 43 and I got a big kick out of it when I took the kids. Not sure how many adults without kids saw it, but it is a good movie. I'm not sure if it is the kind of thing to have a big impact on demos, but if Disney was still creative with the Orlando property there would already be some sort of salute to classic video games revolving around Wreck it Ralph at DisneyQuest.
 

lazyboy97o

Well-Known Member
That's the one thing I keep thinking when I read (or see as in the 60 year of Walt Disney Imagineering video on the Disney Parks Blog) about the focus being more and more solely on the families with toddlers (or younger children): Why are they artificially decreasing their customer base? They used to have a product that was being sold as something that appealed to everyone. One would think that this is a fantastic asset for a company. Why throw it out and only focus on a certain part of the population?
Because its easier. How many truly discriminating toddlers do you know?
 

doctornick

Well-Known Member
I am 32 and thoroughly enjoyed Ralph. It amused kids, but also entertained my wife and I because we grew up in the early video game and arcade world.

I consider it to be quite a crossover movie for gender and age demographics.

Yeah, while my young children enjoyed Wreck It Ralph, my wife and I absolutely loved it. I suspect that parents (or even childless young adults) are more likely to enjoy the movie as a whole than children.
 

Kuhio

Well-Known Member
But fries have always been an issue. They're like Burger King, they just can't ever get them right.

If you were truly a Disney fan, you'd have said that WDW fries are like Flynn Rider's nose... they just can't get it right!
dontknow.gif


I was talking to a friend yesterday and we actually talked fries and Disney (I know, what an exciting Christmas Eve I had!)...

Don't complain. I know for a fact that you were given the gift of scintillating conversation on Christmas Eve... despite being mostly naughty this year!
xmas.gif
 

ParkMan73

Active Member
Yeah, while my young children enjoyed Wreck It Ralph, my wife and I absolutely loved it. I suspect that parents (or even childless young adults) are more likely to enjoy the movie as a whole than children.
We took the kids to see it a few weeks ago. Everyone had a great time and really liked it - including my 10 year old son.

In reading the discussion, I can't help but think of my son. He likes Pixar well enough - but absolutely loves Star Wars, Marvel, and Lord of the Rings/the Hobbit. He spends hours upon hours reading about them, watching them, probably even dreaming about them. When I see Disney's moves, my son seems to fit those moves exactly.
 

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