Why Disney?

Originally Posted By Guppy1387

Hi All!

I'm working on a research paper for my "Deconstructing Disney" class at Cal State Fullerton. I was hoping you could help me answer some questions.

Why are you drawn to the Disney brand? What about Disney keeps you as a fan/follower?

Please tell me all you can about how Disney makes you feel, what Disney means to you, and why you are drawn to and kept as a Disney fan, etc.

If you are interested in speaking with me more in-depth about Disney for my research paper, please e-mail me at shanhiggins@csu.fullerton.edu

 

Originally Posted By DlandDug

My interest in Disney is based entirely on Disneyland. I enjoy the company's output-- films, characters, etc.-- in the same way I enjoy other entertainment.

Disneyland, on the other hand, is for me a place to go and be carefree for a few hours. It is a place to be literally free of care. I recognize it is no substitute for real life-- and that it can have its share of problems and difficulties. But during the time I spend there, either alone, with family, or friends, it allows me to step back and just enjoy some time without my usual troubles and worries.

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

It is getting harder and harder for me to justify, as it no longer exhibits everything that drew me to Disney. But, yes, the parks are what it is all about, and they do bring on a whole new spirit every time I walk through the turn style.

 

Originally Posted By alphabetmom

What initially drew me as a kid was Wonderful world of Disney, that and living near by and the thrill of seeing the majestic peak of the Matterhorn. Then as an adult was the fact that a really overweight person could ride the rides, not so with Knotts, altough Knotts has special teenage memories. But now as a much thinner person it is how clean the park is and all the attention to detail. It truly is a magical place. It might not be what it once was I really don't know as I have not lived in California for 30 years but what is really what it once was where are the orange groves. Where is the cork screw or the livery stable. It is a magical place to me maybe because I only get to visit every few years.

 

Originally Posted By KatieKate123

There is just something special about getting to see your first disney princess movie. It's a little magical. I know that my daughter feel in love with the little mermaid and we had to watch that movie over a hundred times, and it never got old. The first time I went to the parks with my kids we went on the airplane. When you step off in the Orlando airport, it's a feeling thats hard to explain, but it's like you are there. This is before you even get to the parks. Then going on magical express is very magical, but the most magical part is walking up main street and seeing the castle.

 

Originally Posted By Tony C

Walt Disney himself. We sometimes through around the word genius too liberally. But he was a genius, the foresight he had was just miles ahead of everyone else.

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

Amen Tony. He was a good man that seemed to want to do the very best, and for others to do so as well. It is so inspiring.

 

Originally Posted By velo

quickly off topic, Guppy - my dd will be applying to CSU Fullerton for Fall '12 (advertising/PR). Do you enjoy the school? (she'd live in the dorms)

 

Originally Posted By hbquikcomjamesl

When Walt decided to build Disneyland, it was his intention to produce an amusement enterprise entirely unlike anything else in the world. A place where families could have fun together. A place where paying customers were called -- and treated as -- guests.

Knott's Berry Farm was (at least when it was under Knott Family control) not only geographically closest to Disneyland, it was also closest in overall philosophy, and yet Knotts was (when it was in its prime) a place where locals went to spend a few hours on weekends, whereas Disneyland was, from day one, a nationally-known (and before long, world-renowned) destination.

Now that I've experienced the real French Quarter, my appreciation of NOS has changed significantly: where before, NOS was a taste of a place I'd only seen pictures of, now, I can appreciate it as a somewhat sanitized version of a real place, evocative enough of my vacation memories (although with the "One of a Kind Shop" gone, it's less so) to feel special in an entirely different way.

Then there's Tomorrowland's boundless optimism for the future, the incurable romanticism of Fantasyland and Main Street, and Frontierland's blend of actual U.S. history with western films ranging from "Stagecoach" to "Blazing Saddles" (in case you haven't noticed, an instrumental arrangement of the Blazing Saddles theme is in the background loop; the first time I noticed it, I laughed out loud).

And there's the world-class entertainment, which had an uncanny tendency to produce "hit" shows and parades.

During my quarter-century as a passholder, I would frequently spend an evening at Disneyland, just to walk around for an hour or so, see either the Main Street Electrical Parade or Fantasmic, spend a few minutes with Johnny or Rod at the Coke Corner, and go home, completely satisfied, without having entered a single attraction queue. I don't think there's a single non-Disney amusement facility where that sort of guest experience happens.

 

Originally Posted By fkurucz

For me, having grown up in Orange County in the 60's Disneyland has a powerful nostalgia factor for me.

That said, as an out of towner now, I feel less compelled to make the annual trek to Anaheim (or Orlando). The cost has become too high and the experience, due to year round AP crowding, has diminshed.

 

Originally Posted By Dabob2

The closest, probably, would be Tivoli in Copenhagen (which impressed and inspired Walt). The rides are most definitely secondary to the atmosphere and the wonderful free entertainment.

Of course, DL has all that PLUS amazing attractions, but if you want a place where you can just soak in the atmosphere and never go on a ride and still have a great time with a touch of magic--Tivoli is it.

 

Originally Posted By Dabob2

11 for 9.

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

Amen Dabob, I adore Tivoli, and I have only ever been on one ride there. Lol

 

Originally Posted By Sparrow

The Disney/Pixar movies are great movies with great stories that people of any age can enjoy. I get a sense of nostalgia when I watch them but I also watch them for entertainment value. Most of them never get old.

As far as the parks, they are among my favorite places on Earth. Yes they are crowded and pricey but they let me lose myself and forget my troubles in a way few other places can. The memories I have made and continue to make with loved ones there are priceless.

 

Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795

I think the thing I like most about Disney is that they encourage us to stay kids on some level. Whether you are watching the movies or playing at Disneyland there is something that makes you feel young. That is why they are magical.

 

Originally Posted By oc_dean

>>Why are you drawn to the Disney brand? What about Disney keeps you as a fan/follower?<<

My response is very, very similar to DL&Dug .. but what I will add is this -

As I follow the park much more .. and much less on other departments in the company .....

Disneyland embodies something missing in today's more heavily corporatized world.

It's a world created out of love. Not a means to make money .. but because a man named Walt wanted to entertain people .. because it was just something he enjoyed doing.

That kind of heart ... that kind of entrepreneurship still exists with many turns around every corner in the park.

It's an escape from today's greedy, corporate, "I only do it for money" Society that seems to ruin it, and spoiling life .. just outside the Disneyland berm.

So ... it's more than just quality filled attractions. It's more than just rides designed with a creative edge, with "story". It's more than that whole mind-filled "immersion" that we speak of so much in these forums.

It's a place built with an idealism that was very real in the 1950s and 60s America. It's sadly dissipated outside the berm in that place called the Real World ... but much of the park that was built by Walt, that hasn't been touched yet, still exudes that Love and Entrepreneur spirit .. that draws me in every time.

For I don't look at Disney / Disneyland as a "Brand" .. that's Today's Corporate Talk -

I simply look at it for the magical world that was created for the purpose of "wanting to build a magical place people would grow to love"........

.... not a Theme Park Built Just To Make Money.

 

Originally Posted By Bellella

I just don't really know what it is. Whenever I see a Disney movie, especially the early animated ones, I just have this incredible feeling of excitement and contentment. That could be because of the whole happily ever after ethic. Or it could be that everything is just so amazing. The animation, the acting, the music especially. I mean, where else is there talent like that? Where else are there movies that are just so completely timeless? I feel that I can't really describe just why I love Disney so much, or why I feel a huge adrenaline rush whenever I think about Disneyland. All I know is that I've loved Disney all my life, with every passing year increasing my feelings of sheer happiness whenever I watch "Bambi", "Dumbo", or any of the classics. Disney is just so completely special to me, and I want it to always remain that way. It's just quite simply a huge part of my life, and I am completely enamored and obsessed with it. I love how it makes me feel, and I always want it to stay. God bless you, Walt.

 

Originally Posted By lesmisfan

ill just copy and paste from your other board.

well for me, Disneyland has just been a way of life. I grew up going with my family to disneyland about once a year, sometimes once every couple of years if we needed extra time to save up the money. Going to disneyland was leaving the stress and all to real world and escaping into a place of fantasy where you could escape just for a bit. We was always a family bonding time for us. We would go for the fun, for the memories and also to meet some of our favorite characters and experiance the magic that came with being at disney. it is a welcoming place. A trip to disney was always an adventure! especailly getting there, since we live in socal we always played the matterhorn game, whoever spotted the matterhorn first from I-57 won! it was so much fun. And growing up the first ride of the day was always the parking lot tram, i always loved riding that thing when I was a kid. Disney brings families together in ways no other entertainment industry has.

 

Originally Posted By Guppy1387

@Velo - Sorry it took so long to get back to you! I do enjoy CSUF. I completed my undergrad there and I'm now working towards my Master's there (and most of my family went there as well). It is a big school with a lot of people, and being a commuter school (and a commuter myself), it doesn't really have a sense of community. (But living in the dorms might be a whole different story.)

There is a lot of extra-curricular stuff to do on campus - usually events of some kind every afternoon on campus. I've happened upon small concerts and every spring they have a bigger concert that's usually free for students and minimal pricing for visitors. Movie nights, different clubs to join, sports games to attend, plays to see, etc. They also have a great rec center with a pool, indoor track, weights/gym equip, rock wall and different exercises classes to take. And there's a great Downtown Area not far from campus where a lot of CSUF and Fullerton JC students go.

I'm in the communications program (which is the same college advertising/PR major is) and have found the professors and staff there to be very helpful and accessible. Undergrad classes have more students, but I can only think of a couple classes where the professor never learned students' names.

Not sure if I gave you what you were looking for but I hope this helps!

 

Originally Posted By Guppy1387

@EveryoneWhoCommentedOnThisPost: Thank you all so much for your help with this project! I really appreciate it and you all gave me great stuff to work with. Thanks again