The Boys are Back in Town!

[ToTBellHop]

I have to say, with yesterday's announcements, I am excited to see more of a focus on boy-friendly properties. When they announced New Fantasyland, for example, I was surprised that it was completely focused on girl-centric properties (and I like The Little Mermaid). Now we have AVATAR, Toy Story, and Star Wars Lands coming. Very boy-friendly.

This got me thinking. Disney parks have traditionally been boy-friendly, probably because the original Imagineers were predominantly (all?) male. So I researched. There is actually literature on this and it was fascinating. Apparently, they find that girls like boy-centric properties (no surprise here; despite how items are marketed, girls like science, for example), but the opposite is not generally true (with exceptions, of course). For example, the thought is that it is vitally important that Harry Potter be male. Girls will read a book with a male lead without flinching an eye but apparently many boys wouldn't read Harriet Potter. The books wouldn't have been the same phenomenon with a female lead. So, apparently focusing on boy-friendly attractions means focusing on family-friendly attractions. Girl-friendly attractions are largely just girl-friendly (with exceptions, of course. I'm not trying to offend anyone here. Just discussing). This calls into question the focus on princesses. Perhaps that is one of the faults of New Fantasyland? Everyone loves Peter Pan and Pooh but not everyone loves Ariel.

I find this fascinating. Of course, if everything is male-centric, how do you empower girls? I wonder if WDI thinks about such things. It is just distinctive to me that each of the lands currently under construction are based on IPs with predominantly male casts.

I would be remiss for not pointing out that I am male and a father of two sons, so obviously biased to appreciate such properties in the parks. I am also in no way suggesting I don't think girls like these properties. In fact, science would suggest you mostly have successful entertainment with universal acclaim or largely-female acclaim if that makes sense (my wife enjoys Game of Thrones with me but I don't appreciate Girls on HBO).

 

[FettFan]

1. Avatar won't be really THAT boy-friendly, as the guns and mechas and army crap isn't included. Now it's all the hippie-dippy "be one with nature and twist your ponytail with the magical dino-dragons".

2. Given that Daisy Ridley is front-and-center of the newly-released Star Wars poster standing out in front of John Boyega and the Sith Templar and even stealing focus away from Harrison Ford, I don't think we're going to have a problem with girls not feeling "empowered" by the new movies or the upcoming Star Wars Land.

 

[Arthur Wellesley]

2. Given that Daisy Ridley is front-and-center of the newly-released Star Wars poster standing out in front of John Boyega and the Sith Templar and even stealing focus away from Harrison Ford, I don't think we're going to have a problem with girls not feeling "empowered" by the new movies or the upcoming Star Wars Land.

Forget the gender debates. I'm more concerned about Finn's (John Boyega's) right index finger touching the blue laser part of the lightsaber he's holding. That's gotta hurt like something awful.

 

[FettFan]

Forget the gender debates. I'm more concerned about Finn's (John Boyega's) right index finger touching the blue laser part of the lightsaber he's holding. That's gotta hurt like something awful.

He's not touching it. Look closely...that's silver, not blue. It's the metal body of the lightsaber.

He's holding Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber.

 

[Arthur Wellesley]

He's not touching it. Look closely...that's silver, not blue. It's the metal body of the lightsaber.

He's holding Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber.

I misinterpreted the drawing on the poster. But you're absolutely right.

(And a good thing for Mr. Boyega's finger)

 

[Matt_Black]

I don't necessarily by the whole "boy-friendly/ girl-friendly" stuff. My Little Pony is theoretically aimed at little girls, and guys of all ages love that show.

Frozen, also, was considered a "girly movie" and that made ALL the money, so I'm betting quite a few boys liked that too. Certainly, my nephew enjoyed it quite a bit. He takes after his uncle that way.

Bottom line- quality, accessible entertainment is going to appeal to many, regardless of gender.

 

[FettFan]

My Little Pony is theoretically aimed at little girls, and guys of all ages love that show.

Horrible example.

Might as well get guys in Princess Leia Gold Bi---

OHMYGODTHISACTUALLYEXISTS??!!?!?!

 

[Tom Morrow]

Stop worrying about whether attractions are boy or girl-centric. On a forum where we proudly tout that WDW is for everyone and not just children. It is never an issue and kids will ride anything, save for extreme examples like Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

Also outdated gender roles and all that.

 

[bethymouse]

Well... if Target can do it!

 

[ToTBellHop]

Apparently I'm the only one that finds this interesting lol

Remember when Rapunzel had its name changed to Tangled and had Flynn Rider added because it was purportedly thought to be too girly? And the princess meet and greets were changed to 7DMT because Staggs wanted boys to have something to do in New Fantasyland?

 

[sshindel]

The mantra at our house is "There are no 'boy' things and 'girl' things, just things".
As a kid I liked all the classic Disney films that are now all neon pink "princess" movies just as much as I liked Star Wars and Transformers. It never occurred to me as a kid that I "shouldn't like" Snow White or Cinderella because they were "for girls".

 

[Jon81uk]

I was in Costco at the weekend and noticed several products available in two different themes. Each Disney merchandise item at Costco was either in pink with Princesses or blue with Marvel characters. It seems this is the way Disney is going that boys like Spiderman and girls like Princesses. No room for those who want a bit of each!

 

[Nick Wilde]

I was in Costco at the weekend and noticed several products available in two different themes. Each Disney merchandise item at Costco was either in pink with Princesses or blue with Marvel characters. It seems this is the way Disney is going that boys like Spiderman and girls like Princesses. No room for those who want a bit of each!

They're marketing to the majority. The majority of boys like Spiderman and the majority of girls like Princesses. This isn't new.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Interesting premise. But I'm not sure male Imaginers were so gender focused when they built the parks. ... Although Walt had only girls, it was his desire to make it a "family" friendly park, boys included. He wasnt concerned about gender based attractions or trying to make things male or female. His desire was to simply have everyone entertained and happy. Its only been because of the squabbling, interfering, pin headed know it alls , that we have everyone so focused on gender issues. From what I've observed, its best to just leave the kids alone and they will decide whats suited for them themselves without adults trying to decide whats a male or female attraction. Of course theres definite male favored characters and female favored characters but thats always going to be gender based. Otherwise its natural for boys and girls to like the same things or dislike things.... no one has to try making everything fair to suit the pin heads studies on gender.

 

[blueboxdoctor]

I actually thought all these things are pretty gender neutral. Avatar was a huge fad when it came out, most everyone (for some unknown reason) actually liked the movie (I thought it was awful and I am a guy). Star Wars is a huge part of American culture and is popular among both sexes. And Toy Story, well, who doesn't like Toy Story? And Avatar had the ultimate sci-fi movie female, Sigourney Weaver in it (she's even in the park already in the scene from Alien in the movie ride).

I understand the point you're trying to make, but I don't see it. Avatar is just fantasy. Star Wars is basically fantasy in space (or a space opera if you will) and female Jedis are a thing. And in WDW if a themed land is done well then anyone can enjoy it.

Edit: Sorry if I sound bitter or rude, but I feel like the title you gave the thread was one of those titles meant to start controversy. It seems like anymore these days (not saying this is how you are, as I don't know you) are so quick to ignore how cool expansions are and instead look for things to incite controversy and find issue with. As I said, I can't stand the movie Avatar but I think there's a lot of cool imagery from the movie that could translate well to the themed area. Once something is finished then we can complain if it was done poorly or with poor taste.

 

[Matt_Black]

Boys and girls do have separate interests, but not in the way that you would think. Boys, in general, are more interested in mechanical processes, like machines, whereas girls take more of an interest in biological processes, like animals.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Remember when Rapunzel had its name changed to Tangled and had Flynn Rider added because it was purportedly thought to be too girly?

The title change for the movie was a last minute marketing decision, long after Flynn Rider was added. Rapunzel was basically done when it happened. Many non-English speaking countries still had it sold as "Rapunzel", or some other variation of the name.

As a minor bit of trivia, the English version of Tangled found on the Dutch blu-ray includes the original title card...the only thing different about the movie when compared to what was released in the USA.