Originally Posted By sun-n-fun I agree with gooyernmost. My boys walked by Jack Sparrow doing some kind of show outside PoC, but didn't care to stop. They have never asked why girls seem to have different options, they just are not interested. They want to ride and get to as many attractions as possible. I don't think the demand is there. BUT as a parent it would be nice to go into a shop and see more "boy" clothing. Maybe the parents want more boy options than the boys do? At home my boys never want clothes (or the "soft" presents) as much around a holiday. They want more Wii (yes we have PoC game for the Wii and it is a blast!!) and Playstation games, music downloads and sports equipment.
Originally Posted By jonvn "I just don't see Disney catering to gay men." Yeah, well, it kind of does. Have you noticed the number of gay men on Disney boards? Not a knock to them at all, but Disney does cater to that in their offerings, more and more. Boys generally don't want clothes, period. Boys would run around naked and coveredin mud and manure if they could. Disney should be selling fake guns, knives, electronics, and other boy things so that they can have a memory of positive fun so when they grow up they won't think the place is lame or girly. That's a good way of destroying the interest in the place when they are adults with their own kids.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost You know, I was thinking...everyone that knows me knows just how rare that is, but, I'm thinking that it is just the opposite. I think it caters more toward boys then girls and that is the reason for the Princess dinners, and BBBQQQ or whatever it is. When you think about it almost all the rides with the exception of those geared for the very young are more male oriented. Space Mtn, Splash Mtn, Thunder Mtn, Pirates, Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion and the list goes on and on. Although, they are enjoyed by both sexes, they are all themed in a male dominating way. I know the world is wide open now for equality of the sexes but a lot of the attractions at the parks were designed and in operation long before the modern attitudes prevailed. As I stated earlier, I believe that the "boys" are getting the lions share of the adventure heavy attractions. I will give the girls IASW, and the Carousel just off the top of my head. Don't worry about the boys, we are doing quite well.
Originally Posted By jonvn You know, the newest ride you mentioned is about 20 years old now...and it's a bit on the girly side. Splash Mountain's content is not very adolescent boy friendly.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <The process starts early. Mommies train their daughters to want bunches of stuff so that they will grow up to be women who want bunches of stuff. Mommies train their sons to not want much of anything so that they will grow up to be men who will spend all their money buying women bunches of stuff and spend very little on themselves. Or something like that. ;-) < I am assuming Mr's RT never reads these boards
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 <<<Maybe the parents want more boy options than the boys do?>>> My guess is, you hit the nail right on the head. Seems like it's the boys who just want to have fun.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>You know, the newest ride you mentioned is about 20 years old now...and it's a bit on the girly side. Splash Mountain's content is not very adolescent boy friendly.<<< I can't say because I never noticed its gender before. I think it is neutral inside. It's the adventurous drop at the end that is the target for the boys.
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle My nephews (6 and 4) have never been to a Disney park but are obsessed with going one day ... they've seen all my pictures and videos and think it looks like heaven on earth! They want to meet Buzz, Woody, Captain Jack, Mickey and the rest of the classic characters, and they're really excited by all the rides and shows. They would LOVE Jedi Academy. I know they're a bit younger than what most people are talking about, but they probably won't get to go till they're about 10 and 8 or something and I'm sure there'll still be plenty to hold their interest - I think you could take away all character meals and merchandise and they'd just be overly excited by the rides! I agree with Goofyernmost, a lot of the rides would appeal more to young / teenaged boys than to young / teenaged girls.
Originally Posted By magnet The reason that bars have ladies' night is not to be nice to women -- it's to get more women in there for the guys to check out. Hey, if WDW is sucking up little girls everywhere, then in a few years... BAM! Hot college girls running all over the place. Now that's a Disney World for guys.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Yeah, well, it kind of does. Have you noticed the number of gay men on Disney boards? Not a knock to them at all, but Disney does cater to that in their offerings, more and more.>> Well, Jon, have you noticed how many Imagineers and execs play for their own team? and let's not even talk about the CMs at WDW. But I don't think it was all that different years ago ... especially at WDI ... and they still were able to make toys and attractions that boys (straight or gay) enjoyed. I think they're just lazy now. It's Piartes for boys and Princesses for girls. No imagination.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Magnet - you made me laugh out loud!!!! Fab. Personally, I used to think Disney park experiences were very musculine, only recently has it been froo frooed and dumbed down. But we have had sword fights with pirates, met Buzz, and cowboys. Now I agree, bring back guns, and swords, and in DL hula dancers and cancan dancers. Back to when real men could enjoy Disney even more.
Originally Posted By sun-n-fun While my boys enjoy seeing some of the characters we don't stop too often. But they do notice them when we walk by. Being the only female in a houseful of boys I'd like to see a princess once in a while, but the only boy who wants to go with me is DH!! lol
Originally Posted By Kimrue Ok, so it seems like everyone is pretty much in agreement that the boys are fine with the rides and passing by of the characters, etc. Speaking of Imagineers, I saw that one very eccentric looking guy with the tribal looking earrings and facial hair walking around Animal Kingdom with a bunch of 'suits'...I nearly LOST MY MIND!!! I wanted to ask him for his autograph and take a picture with him and my husband practically took me down trying to stop me from making a jackass out of myself!!! LOL! I have seen famous people in the past but I've NEVER gotten that bizerk! I don't know why either, weird!
Originally Posted By jonvn "Well, Jon, have you noticed how many Imagineers and execs play for their own team? and let's not even talk about the CMs at WDW." Actually, yes. I think that has a huge amount to do with what I'm saying. I don't know how gay the population of Disney was in Walt's time. But they were artists, so who knows. Things were much more closeted then. I think it's pretty lazy, too. But it's not just that. The sub voyage, a peeve of mine, was turned from a dramatic sort of experience where you see deep sea divers menaced by sharks into one where animated clown fish sing a happy song. This is very femme. What used to be a boy sort of thing is now a girl thing or a very young boy thing. Or a gay man thing. They seem to like musicals. "DL hula dancers and cancan dancers" God yes. Those were great fun. LIke entertainment an adult might enjoy. Where the heck has all that stuff gone? "I saw that one very eccentric looking guy with the tribal looking earrings " Joe Rhode I think his name is. He's the head imagineer of that park. It's pretty much his vision and his baby. It's turned out to be pretty good having been run that way.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I totally hear you. DAK and Epcot still jst about deliver on the adult front, but I miss the days DL/MK did too. In fact, even as a kid I enjoyed them.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Of course WDW is gay. Everything the uber-fans think WDW should be is gay. Everything perfectly painted. Streets power washed every night so they are squeaky clean. Beautiful and meticulously groomed gardens. Beautiful and meticulously groomed cast members. Tasteful and varied merchandise in the shops. Attractions that tell a story rather than provide a thrill. GAY, GAY, GAY... Live with it. WDW is gay whether you like it or not. It is a plot by liberals to make everyone catch the gayness. I think. ;-)
Originally Posted By jonvn You know, I bet that has something to do with it. And why some of them get so prissy mad when it's not up to their high standards, and why the rest of us are defenders of mediocrity.
Originally Posted By wendebird What about the pirate cruises the hotels have for kids? It's not a character meal, but it's sure not girly. My girls (who are into KP & not princesses) LOVED it!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I don't know how gay the population of Disney was in Walt's time. But they were artists, so who knows. Things were much more closeted then.>> They were more closeted, no doubt. But many of the great ones also went to bat for their own team then. Walt didn't care. He just cared about the product and making money. <<I think it's pretty lazy, too. But it's not just that. The sub voyage, a peeve of mine, was turned from a dramatic sort of experience where you see deep sea divers menaced by sharks into one where animated clown fish sing a happy song. >> Yeah. I didn't ride until a month ago ... I was glad to see the lagoon alive again. With the lighting at night, everything was so kinetic. But the ride is nothing more than a D-Ticket type experience for me, and one I wouldn't wait an hour for again. It's not bad at all. It's just not my thing. <<This is very femme. What used to be a boy sort of thing is now a girl thing or a very young boy thing. Or a gay man thing. They seem to like musicals.>> You don't have to be a gay man to like musicals ... although I do think it helps! "DL hula dancers and cancan dancers" <<God yes. Those were great fun. LIke entertainment an adult might enjoy. Where the heck has all that stuff gone?>> How about the empty Diamond Horseshoe at WDW? I loved that show. Then they turned it into a foamhead country line dancing deal. Then we got a character greet. Now, we have another empty facility (thanks Erin and Phil -- yes, a shot at two very lousy Disney execs!) "I saw that one very eccentric looking guy with the tribal looking earrings " <<Joe Rhode I think his name is. He's the head imagineer of that park. It's pretty much his vision and his baby. It's turned out to be pretty good having been run that way.>> Yep. As`far as I'm concerned the man is the closest thing to a creative genius/visionary that WDI has. There's a reason why DAK opened as terrific park and has only improved ... and it isn't the recently promoted Dr. Beth Stevens (although she was/is a very good Disney exec!)
