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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate the disneyland advert?

72 replies

superfanjo · 14/02/2011 21:13

The one where the kids are being told that they are going there. We don't have much money and probably won't have a holiday this year but this ad makes my kids stare at the screen with wistful looks on their faces...arrrgh!

OP posts:
sillymummy72 · 15/02/2011 19:24

southeastastra "is the real beauty of the world not enough for some?"

Of course it is BUT whilst we do a 'cultural' holiday every year (Italian Cities, Ski-ing in Austria, Safari in Kenya, Pyramids in Egypt, toured Brazil etc etc) we LOVE the pure escapism of Disney and go every year- where else can you sit in a little boat sipping champage watching the most amazing fireworks on earth on the same day you've had breakfast with Mickey Mouse, floated in a hot air balloon and been on an elevator that drops you 13 floors not once but 3 times???

I do get thought it's a love it or hate it thing -we love it because it's like being a kid again where your every need is catered for with amazig service,

MrsPennySworth · 15/02/2011 19:34

Grin at morloth

We went for the first time last and have to say it was so much fun with the kids.

But yaDnbu to hate the advert if you cant afford to take them and they want to go. Don't think we are going this year but we will be going back though.

Is it the advert with the boy gazing up at the castle as they walk in? That so chokes me up. And I don't know about my children, but I swear that was the look on my face when I first walked in and saw that castle

serin · 15/02/2011 20:11

You are not being unreasonable.

Advert is sentimental tosh, Disney would like everyone to believe that a trip to Disneyland is a rite of passage,almost neglectful not to take your kids.

We stopped off at the Paris one 2yrs ago as we were driving right past it. Our DC's hated it!! They are outdoor kids and just did not get the concept of queueing at all.

They all cringe when the ad comes on, give them sailing, skiing, canoeing, camping or building a den anyday!

BeWILDERwood is nice as an alternative Smile

mindtheagegap · 15/02/2011 20:37

YANBU to hate the ad - but YABU in your reasoning. Disney is expensive, commercial tat. Didn't take DS (now grown up and about to head off to India) and certainly won't be taking my DD (still a baby). I'm with Southeastastra on this one.

BlueberryPancake · 28/02/2011 16:15

I am going to complain to OFCOM about this advert. I think it's twisted. I think it's immoral use of children in advertising and raising emotional issues over a very expensive product aimed at children. I think it should be illegal to advertise such high price products to children, on children channels, at times that children watch TV. I really hate this advert I mean really hate this advert. I think it USES children to sell to other children.

Suchffun · 28/02/2011 16:21

Agree with the rite of passage thing - DD (4yo) asked me 'When are we going to Disneyland?' so it has obviously worked on her.

I do want to take them when they are older/we have the money - the ad says something like 'the magic starts as soon as you tell them you're going' - so I thought, would that still apply if I tell them we're going in 10 years time? Might be better value then, 10 years of magic for the price.... DH vetoed me!

BlueberryPancake · 28/02/2011 16:23

I mean advertiing standards authority

veritythebrave · 28/02/2011 16:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BlueberryPancake · 28/02/2011 16:46

I don't feel shit because I can't take my children, I'm sure that some people take their children there and can't really afford it but do it on credit or give it priority over other important stuff. An advert should not make people feel shit because they can't affort it. Something's wrong with this ad. Really morally wrong. Is it fair play in advertising to use such emotional strings in little people? Really, is it?

DurhamDurham · 28/02/2011 16:51

Center Parcs, Haven and even the dreaded Butlins have adverts which imlpy you have the chance to be a perfect family if you go on one of their holidays. The Disney one is no better or worse than those.I think as an advert it works, people want to take their children there. I don't mind the advert but then I've never felt guilty about saying 'no' to my children. If we can't afford it we don't get it

MilaMae · 28/02/2011 16:52

Good on you Blueberry I totally agree.

To be honest I'm a little Hmm at it being on Mumsnet especially at times like this when most families are struggling,should be tightening their belts and not dreaming of a right of passage holiday.

I also don't like it because of the points you've made and because of Disney's long history of aggressive marketing. It's hardly supportive on a sight that is supposed to support parents however I started a thread saying this and seemed to be in the minority.

sailorsgal · 28/02/2011 16:54

YANBU, especially as ds sees it regularly on one of the free children's channels.

Thankfully inlaws are taking us next year. I'd much rarther spend my hard earned cash elsewhere.

BlueberryPancake · 28/02/2011 16:54

Neither butlin not center parcs nor Haven are using live footage of children being told they are going. It's actors, pretend, and they don't raise such emotional issues in children. My 5 year old did cry when he saw the advert and I said that we would not go. Anyway, my kids have never asked me to go to butlins....

They sometimes ask me 'can I have this' when they see something on telly, but they've never cried about it. I'm going to try to think about this and formulate my thoughts better, but I am complaining for sure.

LessNarkyPuffin · 28/02/2011 16:59

I loathe Disney. All the crap they sell is made in factories staffed by children as young as 14- that's what they admit to.

LessNarkyPuffin · 28/02/2011 17:01

And they claim corporate ownership of fairytales that were around before old Walt was a fetus.

And that's not a fucking castle. Have they ever seen a real castle???

EleanorJosie · 28/02/2011 17:02

I can see it's very manipulative - but in a way I admire the advertisers for their evil cleverness.

It's like the We Buy Any Car earworm at the other end of the scale :)

melikalikimaka · 28/02/2011 17:02

I have been to Disney in Florida, it was great for us and DC and would not dream of going to Paris.

It's worth saving for the best.You can get good deals. The weather is brilliant most of the time.

I don't mind the ads, like any, they play on emotions. We had to go to Butlins and Centreparcs because of the DC pleading, never again!{hmm]

LessNarkyPuffin · 28/02/2011 17:03

I don't approve of advertising that directly targets children and guilt trips parents.

And Mickey Mouse is a creepy little rodent.

OTheHugeManatee · 28/02/2011 17:06

I'd rather drink a pint of my own diarrhoea than go to Disney Land. Ever. Enchanted looks on sweet little faces or no.

I detest all things Disney. So YANBU.

LeroyJethroGibbs · 28/02/2011 17:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

TheCrackFox · 28/02/2011 17:16

The children in the advert all look suspiciously like they have stepped out of a Boden advert.

DS1 (nearly 10) said he "would rather eat his own left leg than go to Disney" however, DS2 (5) looks all misty eyed when the ad comes on.

mummytime · 28/02/2011 17:24

I told my DC we're going to Disney. DC2 12 is excited and reading the Unofficial guide from cover to cover. DC1 14 was cool and grunted (is looking forward to it though). DC3 7 was worried and didn't want to go, wanted to be left at home; after a week of everyone telling her she will enjoy it and doesn't have to go on scarey rides, she is getting a bit enthusiastic.

Nothing is ever as good as ads on TV! We often discuss how kids on ads seem excited over the most boring games.

However quite possibly their longest memory from this year will be Mum getting them lost in the local forest just as it got dark.

Its time together that is important. And we do enjoy a wide variety of activities (last year they enjoyed climbing a peak in the Peak district as much as Alton Towers).

katedan · 28/02/2011 17:31

I hate the advert because whe we took DS to disneyland Paris 3 years ago he went round with a face like a wet weekend for the whole time (He was 5!) When I see the advert it makes me sad he did not react like that!!!

Deaddei · 28/02/2011 17:41

Mine have never asked to go - probably as they've always been told I would rather stick pins in my eyes than join the bigarsed crowds waddling round Disneyland.
There is something creepy about adults without children in Disneyland.
A load of marketing shite.

SunshineisSorry · 28/02/2011 17:42

I hate this too, HATE it My DD is DESPERATE to go to disneyland, and keeps telling me its OK because under 12's stay and play for free, and that we can use the money in her piggy bank to get there.

I tookd DD1 to disneyland when she was 7 (13 years ago!) and she loved it but she wasn't overwhelmed by the magic as i know DD2 (big girly girl girl who loves princesses) who basically tells everyone who will sit still long enough she is going because i made the mistake of saying "one day darling" :(

I know they have to advertise, but this advert upsets me because i know that the chances of us going while DD still thinks its all magic are pretty damned slim Angry

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