Originally Posted By Dabob2 I was six when the ride opened, knew the words by heart, and knew what they meant. I totally got the world unity message, even then. It's really not a difficult message, even for kids.
Originally Posted By Disney_fanatics_mom Agree with the posts above. My young children certainly know what Small World is about.
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs Kids are ALWAYS looking for the true meanings and messages in Disney attractions. That's why Hall of Presidents and Mr. Lincoln are always packed. This just in: The Lonesome Ghosts and Skeleton Dancers will be added to the Mansion later this year, along with an AA figure of Eddie Murphy replacing the caretaker.
Originally Posted By oc_dean >>It is nothing more than another amusement park ride. << And Disneyland is nothing more than a trivial set of attractions with superficial meanings. It's just one big cutsy world after all!
Originally Posted By danyoung >You must think all kids, like TDA, thinks, are mental midgets.< Not at all. trekkeruss said it best - "They aren't debating about it... the kids DO NOT CARE." I'm sure many kids get the theme. If I'd seen it as a kid, I probably would have. But then I wouldn't see the addition of new characters as in any way overriding that theme. As long as they fit in stylistically, as they certainly seem to be doing, then I'm fine with it.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones There is no doubt in my mind that children will enjoy the changes. But then again, they enjoy the ball pit at Chuck E. Cheese. Children are always reaching, only if you challenge them to. I've already heard reports that, "The little girl in front of me just loved the characters and blah blah blah." Of course she did. Many more will. There are many places in the parks to see characters though, but Small World wasn't supposed to be one of them. I'm sure that little girl would love to see characters on every ride. Why not add characters to Lincoln? To the Grand Canyon Diorama? She can point at them and repeat their names and have a grand old time.
Originally Posted By wangaroa Choop, Spokah, Funny line you gots there 'bout the ball pit at Chaz Cheez: G's what built the Chuck E. animazatroniks be the same G's what bilt the new figgahs fo' the Smal Wurled. Ironick, no?
Originally Posted By oc_dean >> Why not add characters to Lincoln? To the Grand Canyon Diorama? << Hey, I'm all for it. Just as long as they "artistically fit in." Pass the word on to Kim Irvine .. and to all in WDI. I'm sure they'll just fawn all over the idea! And don't ever question it. Because Disney is perfect. They never do anything wrong.
Originally Posted By oc_dean >>Funny line you gots there 'bout the ball pit at Chaz Cheez: G's what built the Chuck E. animazatroniks be the same G's what bilt the new figgahs fo' the Smal Wurled. Ironick, no? << Yo, man! Weezza just lives in a superficial world after all. Know whoa'am sayin?
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I'm willing to bet that kids will still be able to point to world unity as the underlying theme of IaSW even with the addition of the characters.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains <And we wonder why children are so retarded these days> My children are smart and caring people. Maybe yours won't be - but why all the hating on children?!?!
Originally Posted By crazycroc I wish that at least would have let us skate the flume inside before they put in all the characters. No one has mentioned that Jimmy is in Mexico room, yet. Holding two applesacks.
Originally Posted By oc_dean Instead of getting just a tad over sensitive over Spokker's comments ... lets just all admit ... while some parents raise their children with the right kind of parenting, (and I don't doubt many LPers who have families are) ... we know there are those families out there in the world who do fail at it, and don't teach them anything beyond the superficial.
Originally Posted By oc_dean I dare to point in my 9 years here at LP, I've witnessed many times, posters who get anywhere from a little to extremely sensitive. Why take so much offense just to some written text you see on your computer screen?
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Wow! This debate is so hot that wangaroa came out of the woodwork!
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<lets just all admit ... while some parents raise their children with the right kind of parenting, (and I don't doubt many LPers who have families are) ... we know there are those families out there in the world who do fail at it, and don't teach them anything beyond the superficial.>> Are you saying that "good" parents are having deep discussions about IaSW with their kids, and "bad" parents are not? Or that somehow if someone likes the new IaSW, that person can only appreciate the superficial? <<Why take so much offense just to some written text you see on your computer screen?>> Who is taking offense? I'm certainly not. Just having a good debate here is all.
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones Thank you for the debate, trekkeruss. "but why all the hating on children?!?!" I'm not hating on children, I'm advocating the idea that we should treat all children as if they had the capacity to understand things on a higher level. "Are you saying that "good" parents are having deep discussions about IaSW with their kids, and "bad" parents are not?" Good parents talk to their kids about everything. When kids and parents get off a ride, the parents expect the kid to be having fun. How about in addition to asking them, "Well, did you like it?" ask them, "What specifically did you like about it? Was there anything you didn't? What made it good and what could be improved?" In such a way you teach your kids to be analytic people, not just about theme park rides but life in general, who reach for a deeper meaning in the things they see and do. All too often, however, I see parents getting mad at their kids because the kids aren't having fun. I don't think it's hard to understand why they aren't, and why the situation will never fix itself. People often go to Disneyland and Disney World and they have no idea why.
