Matt_Black
Well-Known Member
I hate to break it to you, but at least some of those examples could be said to be for kids and arrested development adults too.
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Oh Disney World... What Happened to you?
- Thread starter Timeshark
- Start date
21stamps
Well-Known Member
Well, I started going to Disney world annually from my first birthday on.. And I loved those attractions too. I don't think Disney has been "toddlerized". I think what happened was- now some people compare it to Universal and want Disney to change what has been working for them for years and years.
Oh and I mentioned Star Wars earlier.. I think that is the biggest thing they have done in recent years. It is not just kids into Star Wars, it's my entire generation.. Now they have more of an excuse to be Star Wars nerds bc of their kids. There's also plenty of them out there who don't have children and will go. I especially know this because they all ticked me off at Christmas time. It was near impossible to get certain Star Wars merchandise.. I drove 90 minutes to go pick up an R2D2 that people were selling on eBay for $500 and up. Most of the reviews on this item were written by grown men, not kids.lol
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Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
I am not comparing it to Universal. I am directly comparing the current WDW to the WDW of the past. The examples I gave were direct moves away from attractions with a modicum of intellectual depth to toons. I didn't start going to WDW when I was one. It wasn't even being planned then, but I have been going since Dec. '71.
Matt_Black
Well-Known Member
Guess what? The theme of Alien Encounter, being a sci-fi story about teleporting a monstrous alien, has about as much cultural cache as cartoons. I say this as someone who has been a lifetime fan of both sci-fi and cartoons, and when I mention either, I often get a "Oh, that's nice" with a look that says I have all the maturity of a twelve-year old. Which may or may not be accurate, but come to that conclusion on account of my actions, not my taste in entertainment!
21stamps
Well-Known Member
I guess that's what I don't see.
I don't remember there ever being a ride or attraction that I couldn't do at a young age. People talk like it used to have attractions geared for older groups.. But I loved 20k leagues when I was a child. So what has really changed? The attractions may have, but not the age groups that they accommodate.
Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
Now they are NOT aimed at everyone. They are aimed at toddlers. Of course you liked 20k leagues as a child it had multigenerational appeal. Now instead of actually getting something out of the attractions themselves it's all about watching your child's eyes light up. In the '80s no one said, "Oh, your youngest is 15? Well, WDW probably isn't for your family."
RobidaFlats
Well-Known Member
Try thinking about it from the other direction. Rides like 20k were more likely to be appealing to the older members of the family as well as the young ones. The argument being made is that the reliance on cartoons maintains enjoyment for the young ones, but lessens it for the older ones.
I think that the term "cartoons" might be a little imprecise, however. As an example, let us look at the Disney Channel. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is loved by kids, but as an adult, I find it pretty lame. I let the kids watch it because it makes them happy, but I don't truly enjoy it. On the other hand, there are shows like Phineas and Ferb. The kids like it, and so do adults. So when that is on we watch it together, as opposed to me just being there while the kids enjoy the clubhouse pablum.
As I have stated previously, this is the sweet spot that the parks used to strive for. Nobody had to derive their enjoyment solely from seeing others have enjoyment. The attraction was designed to appeal to the whole family.
Edit: @Disneyhead'71 beat me to it, but the sentiment is the same.
bethymouse
Well-Known Member
Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
At least every country in World Showcase.We need a princess to represent every country, don't ya know?
bethymouse
Well-Known Member
Love it! The moral of the story was to fight stereotypes and prejudice! Even Frozen gives a life lesson that LOVE is the most powerful magic of all!
I will always love Disney movies and I will always love the Disney parks! Granted, they aren't perfect, but who/what ever is? Oh... there's got to be a Disney movie with that moral lesson!
bethymouse
Well-Known Member
Matt_Black
Well-Known Member
Well, again, the film had a bit more nuance than that. Both Judy and Nick had prejudices, but Judy's carry more cultural weight in Zootopia society and have more potential for harm because she has the backing of authority. And THAT is the difference between prejudice and racism.
21stamps
Well-Known Member
I'll agree to disagree on that point. At 15, in the 90s, I didn't want a week long Disney vacation.. 2 or 3 days was enough.
I do understand what both of you are saying, the only thing I would say is that for awhile there were too many princesses. There still are, but they do seem to be getting back to boy or gender neutral themed attractions. Like I said, I loved 20k leagues, as so did my brother. We all loved space mountain, splash mountain, mr toad's etc. I don't remember a ride that was too "girly".
My son would not love enchanted tales with belle, or the little mermaid attraction (sorry forget the name) So we didn't even bother with them.
bethymouse
Well-Known Member
@AJH219 Our last trip this past June, I noticed less happy faces and a few less "hellos" from cast members. But, I also still ran into a few cast members that just went out of their way to help me ( in World of Disney, a cast member went back in the back room to get me a snow globe that I was looking for, as the shelf was empty).
RobidaFlats
Well-Known Member
You've lost me. I didn't say anything about rides being "too girly" nor did I mention gender at all. Your response doesn't appear to be related at all to the generational issues that I talked about.
bethymouse
Well-Known Member
@21stamps My 12 year old boys loved Enchanted Tales with Belle! It was so dag gum hot that day, we just thought we'd give it a try ( never had done it before). We'd do it again just to participate and meet Belle ( play different characters, and maybe when "Dad" is with us, he can play one of the guards... love the adult interaction... especially the men).
bethymouse
Well-Known Member
Well, I am waiting for Avatarland to open, and then I will decide if Disney has truly "gone down hill" and "missed the mark". Boy! I hope it's good, and I hope they don't try to open Pandora too soon ( even though I can't wait).
21stamps
Well-Known Member
My response is to the appeal of attractions then vs now. Which is what I thought we were talking about. The only difference I see between a Disney World that appealed to the entire family, and one that doesn't- is the heavy princess theme, instead of something like aliens or 20 thousand leagues under the sea.
21stamps
Well-Known Member
Maybe we'll give it a try. I asked him if he wanted to, and he just wanted to go on space mountain again.lol.@21stamps My 12 year old boys loved Enchanted Tales with Belle! It was so dag gum hot that day, we just thought we'd give it a try ( never had done it before). We'd do it again just to participate and meet Belle ( play different characters, and maybe when "Dad" is with us, he can play one of the guards... love the adult interaction... especially the men).