Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance I know, it is commercial now a days, but I just take it for what it is, try to realize that it's more of a sign of the times than anything else and not let it ruin my fun.
Originally Posted By cheesybaby <<Disney films have always gone hand in hand with the parks, but in the past it was a bit more subtle.>> Yeah, the Tiana show is completely unprecedented. Back in the day they would have never had shows or parades that were blatant commercials for movies. Lion King parade? Permanent Hunchback show? Hercules Parade? Mulan Parade? Snow White show? Pixar Play Parade? Aladdin show? They never would have allowed something so crass before 2009.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Just try to find the positive in everything, Hans. When you walk by all the pirate stuff, rather than thinking... "Man, look all this pirate crap everywhere, this is ridiculous!" Think something like.... "God, Johnny Depp is hot." See how much funner that is!?
Originally Posted By mousermerf That was difficult when it was an oddly placed kiosk in the west breezeway of Epcot's Innoventions. That was thankfully removed at the first sign of the downturn in pirate popularity.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Yeah, the Tiana show is completely unprecedented. Back in the day they would have never had shows or parades that were blatant commercials for movies." Did you see that big banner on the back of the Mark Twain promoting the film? I have no real issue with the Tiana show itself; it was the big advertisement hanging off the stern that I felt was a bit overboard and completely ruins the vibe of New Orleans Square and Frontierland. "See how much funner that is!?" I actually used to have that attitude, and for the most part I still do. However, It's gotten so overbearing now and management has drifted so far from the high standards they once had that it's kind of hard to constantly overlook some things. The Tron skin on that Monorail is really something that kind of bugs me.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "That was difficult when it was an oddly placed kiosk in the west breezeway of Epcot's Innoventions." They did that?? See, that is exactly the kind of crap that I'm complaining about. Back when EPCOT opened such a thing would have never been allowed.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Maybe if you had kids and you had to buy them things like that it wouldn't bother you so much?
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Commercialism is the farthest thing from my mind when my two year old is running around wearing a Captain Sparrow hat complete with dreads and my daughter is dressed up to the nines in her Cinderella dress strutting around looking much prettier than any of the Disney princesses
Originally Posted By mousermerf But you can have appropriate stuff or appropriate places - no one cares what you sell at Mousegear at Epcot. At the same time, you can hawk all the Nemo crap you want at the Seas pavilion, maybe even some Pirates stuff. Heck, you'd be amazed at the number of little Mickey's Mini Gardens they sell at the Land pavilion each day which exist no where else and are entirely themed and tied into the green house and exist solely as a thematic extension of the boat ride. They're just viable clippings and liquid plant food in a sealed "greenhouse" in a box with Mickey on it, but boy do people love those little things. Themed and appropriate.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance I bet you have a Mickey's mini garden in every room of your house don't you Mousermerf, don't you!?
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Maybe if you had kids and you had to buy them things like that it wouldn't bother you so much?" Kids learn from adults, and it's okay to explain to your children that Disneyland shouldn't be Walmart. Disney wants nothing more than get you to spend spend spend. Now, there's nothing wrong with that, but they've reached the point where it's gone completely overboard. Like mousemerf said, there is a way tactful way to do it without being so crass.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Dr hans, you should adopt some kids so you have more of an excuse to go to the parks.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Adopt one kid from each continent, and then name them after the continent they are from. "North America don't you hit your sister Antartica!"
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Well, I'd say there are plenty of things that aren't necessarily for kids at Disneyland, but since there has been a change to be more catering to children/family things then maybe that's because that's where the focus has switched in America? People are looking more for a vacation that will be focused on family activities and making the kids super excited/happy? Maybe much more so than in the 50s/60s/70s/80s the focus has switched more to families spending more quality time together and taking vacations that will be focused on parents getting to see their children having such a fun time. I think nowadays people are looking for fun experiences for the whole family. I can't really think of a good way to put it into words, but there seems to be a consensus in America now where you should be spending lots of quality time with your kids. Family game night, family movie night, reading together, etc, etc, etc. It didn't use to be like that to the degree it is now. And that's shifted the family vacation choices too. People want something more family/child focused. I mean I'm just guessing of course, and I can definitely appreciate where you're coming from. I agree that the park are definitely centered around children/families more so than it ever has before. And I agree that if you didn't have children, it would take a special kind of person to want to go to Disneyland more than rarely. I think this forum is full of them, but I can see that it wouldn't be the majority, and it would bother even those that do enjoy coming again and again.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Maybe. In my opinion there are various paths to reach the same objective and if Disney wants to distinguish itself in the theme park industry by appealing to families with children that's fine. However, dumbing down the experience should have never been a part of the formula. What Disney is has done in recent years is gone into hyper-drive with a synergistic approach to tying all of its character/film brands together and pimping them at the parks. Personally, I don't think this directive is as much about appealing to families as it about trying to "sell" its various franchises to consumers.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance And just for the record, what are some specific examples of dumbing down the experience?
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt Constance, I've beaten the Disney character horse to death, and the examples of how far the company's theme parks have strayed from their lofty goals are beyond obvious. I suggest that you spend some time researching Walt Disney and his theme parks. Go online and find out what EPCOT was really supposed to be. Take a visit to San Francisco and check out the Walt Disney Family Museum. His vision for what these places were supposed to be was quite high minded and meant to inspire people.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance I've read a lot about the subject, and I know what EPCOT was suppose to have been.
