To not understand what's so wrong with Disney??

[Anythingwithagiraffeonit]

I keep reading on other threads about a great dislike of Disney.

On the 'expectations of myself as future mum' thread one of the points the OP makes is that she won't allow anything Disney, and this is just one of many times I've read this.

Am I missing something? I can't wait to show DD Disney films, take her to Florida and make her an amazing dressing up box including princess clothes.

AIBU to not get what's so wrong with it?

[bubblecoral]

There's nothing wrong with Disney. Disney is fabulous.

Slagging off Disney is just one of those wierd MN 'things'.

[Flippingebay]

I love Disney stuff and have the DVDs to prove it :o my DS loves them too..

Just seems to be a bit unfashionable to like Disney at the moment - if they were that disliked they wouldn't be in business.. I reckon there's loads of 'Disney in the closets'

[joruth]

I don't get it either...I mean it's fun no??? I wouldn't want a diet entirely made up of Disney any more than I want to read Mr Men books all the time...but a bit of fantasy, glitz and glamour seems fine to me. My guess is it's all about the feminist backlash to the excessively girly role model thing....but I let mine watch films about animated trains without worrying that they are going to become one.....Balance in all things I say!

[Parietal]

I worry that Disney is too good at what they do (entertain & SELL STUFF) and is a bit like cocaine for kids. Once they start, it sucks out your money and your chances to do other stuff. Now I realise that is a bit extreme, but I still prefer to limit the Disney where possible to allow space for other things.

[libbylobs]

i have 3 adult children and all watched disney and have been to florida
and they are all well rounded adults its not done them any harm, we now have aDDof 6 and cant wait to take her.x

[AbsDuCroissant]

There was an AIBU thread about two days ago asking the same thing.

In summary:

• materialistic, cynical marketing
  
• treating employees really, really ridiculously badly (referred to by an ex employee as "mousechwitz")
  
• terrible, stereotypical role models for girls
  
• under-reprentation of minority groups
  

and, as strandedbear said, Walt himself was a Nazi-sympathising anti-semitic fuckwit

[bitofthisandthat]

Walt Disney hated jews.
Disney stuff is over-the-top and over-priced crap.

Disney tells little girls that their lives will be perfect once they have met their quoiffed-haired, veneered-toothed, perma-tan prince.
Disneyland looks like a plastic arcade of over-priced crap, where adults melting inside stupid dog costumes get to make their living by shaking the hand of yet another over-excited 5yr old.

[bitofthisandthat]

Damn, I missed the other thread on this, must find!!!

[FreudianSlipper]

they produced hannah montanna do i need to say anymore

but i love the jungle book and earlier disney films

[papermate]

It's about magic and dreams coming true, they can plug over priced merchandise all they want, but whilst my 4 year old daughter wants to be a princess when she grows up, and thinks cinderella, belle and snow white are AMAZING, I will continue to believe the dream!!

[charley24]

110 Days to go and I can't wait to visit Florida for the first time, I have wanted to go since I was 6 and now at 36 I have worked my ass off to pay for a dream 2 weeks with hubby and our girls. Life wouldn't be as good if everyone had the same dream!

[jesterjangles]

Can't understand it myself either. Disney is a lot more than princesses (although me and DD love those ones too). What about 101 dalmations, lady and the tramp, cars, monsters inc, mary poppins, bedknobs and broomsticks, aristocats, fox and the hound, bambi and Sword in the stone to name......well quite a few.

[overmydeadbody]

I don't get it, why would you want your DD to think that dreams can come true and she will grow up to be a princess? hat'a just setting her up for failure from the start (her dreams won't come true and she won't ever be a princess).

[mycarscallednev]

.... yes but Mr Depp as Captain J. S - you can't help just loving him, can you? The only decent film Disney ever made [waiting for backlash now!].............

[shirleyshortcut]

Disney is lovely and magical

but not for everyone i spose

disagree with telling kids their dreams cant come true though, of course they can if they work hard enough

[overmydeadbody]

[overmydeadbody]

[MissPenteuth]

I hope you have an amazing time charley, I went four times when I was younger and I'm currently waiting till DD is old enough to take her

I like Disney stuff (the classic films anyway, not so much your Hannah Montana et al). I can see the arguments from both sides, but personally I'd rather let DD watch it if she wants to, and educate her on any issuses that should be explored further. I loved Disney films as a child and I certainly didn't grow up to have racist or misogynistic views. I think some of the films have healthy messages too (be yourself, it's what's inside that counts etc).

[MissPenteuth]

P.S. One of my DD's first words is 'Baba' for Bambi

[sue52]

I've taken my DD's to Florida Disney in the past. It always cost more to get out than get in because of the junk we were pestered into buying. Thank goodness they are over that stage.

[mycarscallednev]

...advise from Captain J.S - drink up me hearties yo ho - allways works for me!

[overmydeadbody]

Shirley, it doesn't matter how hard a girl works, if her dream is to be a princess it's very very very unlikely to come true is it?


If you want your girls' dreams to come true you need to give them realistic dreams to have, not 'happily ever after once a dashing young man has saved me' dreams. There is no happily ever after in life.

[silverfrog]

a little simplistic, overmydeadbody, surely?

my 4 year old dd2 loves Disney princesses. and has probbly at some point said she would like to live in a castle/marry a prince/grow up to be a princess etc etc.

shoudl I really be sitting he rdwn and telling her that:

castles are big and draughty, you wouldn't believe the Listed Buildings issues, can't afford the ocuncil tax etc
princes are all feckless wasters
being a princess is a life of boredom and being unable to live oyur own life freely

etc etc

or shoudl I let her twirl around for 5 minutes, happily playing at being a princess?!

she (naturally) does a load of other stuff too - all the running about (but she'll never win th eolympics, so maybe I should knock that on the head), being a pirate (surely I should tell her that piracy is no way to make a living!), she was pretending to be a giraffe this morning - she's not tall enough, and doesn't like greens - she'll never survive

honestly, lighten up a little (generaic, not aimed at anyone in particular)

I can understand the nazi/homophobic/under-represented minorities angle - but again, this is easily enough counter-able - my dds do not watch constant Disney, certainly have a wide range of books, and do no exist in an isolation bubble - I do actually talk to them about stuff!

[buxomwenchonapony]

I work hard to make sure my dds get as balanced a set of influences I can give them as far as their aspirations and understanding of the world goes... I can't stand the simpering Disney princess stuff, and am very conscious of the aggressive marketing associated with Disney (and everything else on TV). I want my daughters to have good, feminist role models etc etc.

That said, they love Disney. Disneyland does feel a bit magical when you are there and it is fun. I think we should be careful not to burden our children with our perceptions of things, but should understand that the responsibility is ours to balance it out.

Fwiw, dd doesn't aim to be a princess anymore than she aims to be an enormous talking mouse in the future.