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Original poster

to not understand why anyone would ban Disney?

97 replies

ScrotalPantomime · 31/05/2011 09:32

Thread about a thread about a thread - the debate was getting lost among the main debate so I thought it could continue here... I guess each to their own, if you want to ban it then it's your choice - I admire such tenacity, as I've failed miserably at a Nestle boycott Blush - I'm just a bit Confused as to why.

I understand that Disney is very different from the original stories but I don't see the harm - when they're really little would you want to let them know the darker versions? It is a good 'safe' way of introducing classic stories, and IME children will cope with gradually learning the proper endings.

I totally get that most some Disney things are sexist, but it's not all princesses is it. There's much more to Disney than that. Of course if you expose them exclusively to the princess stuff it will warp their views, and I do frequently introduce my face to my palm when I see all the merchandise, but I don't think it's inevitable if there is balance. You don't have to buy into all the crap.

DD's favourite is Hercules, which I bought for DH as he loved it. She now demands that DH tells her all about the Greek Gods at bedtime. This has led to an interest in the past, so as part of her 4th birthday present we are getting her some books - one of Greek mythology stories, and one about life in Ancient Greece. I'm hoping this will be a good opportunity to then introduce other ancient cultures - Rome, Egypt etc, but right now Greece is the word (geddit?) :o

Other favourite is Fantasia, which I preordered the second I found it on Amazon as I absolutely adored it as a child. Really thought DD as a modern child would be Hmm at it but she adores it and sharing it with her has been incredibly special. It built on her love of the Nutcracker (she learnt the music from the Barbie version! Shock) and thanks to Fantasia 2000 we've also gone onto reading bible stories and the darker version of the tin soldier story. She's been exposed to classical music from babyhood anyway, but Fantasia has really cemented her love for it.

I'm waffling now, but I just wanted to say that I really feel Disney has added a lot to my DD's life - more than other stuff she sometimes watches which just seem so bland. Although - bad mother alert - she does sometimes watch Futurama Blush and is now fascinated by space and time travel...

As I said, each to their own and if you've got a strong enough conviction then fair enough, but I'd like to hear more about why. Enlighten me - I feel there's an interesting debate to be had here :)

OP posts:
AmazingBouncingFerret · 31/05/2011 13:06

They are just cartoons.
I must of watched The Little Mermaid, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty hundreds of times when I was a little girl.
Didnt do me any harm...

Just a little something I like to roll out on any Disney thread

Like I said... didnt do me any harm... Grin

WhataWitch · 31/05/2011 13:21

Have any of you anti-disneyland actually been there, and I dont mean the half hearted french attempt...if you have and still hate it then there is certainly something wrong with you all....I bet you all hate Father Christmas too and your kids all know that he doesn't actually exist (apparently, but quess what, I'm a believer at heart, go Buddy the Elf too!)
To see how excited a child is at Disneyland is just amazing and anyone who denies thier child this magical experience will never themselves experience the feeling like your heart is going to burst!

AmazingBouncingFerret · 31/05/2011 13:25

"anyone who denies thier child this magical experience will never themselves experience the feeling like your heart is going to burst!"

MUWAHAHAHAHAHA!

That was you making a funny right? You werent being serious were you?

BeerTricksPotter · 31/05/2011 13:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

silverfrog · 31/05/2011 13:33

I am not quite as pro-Disneyworld as the last poster, but it is a bloody good holiday.

yes, it was themed.

but it wasn't any more themed than, say, Alton towers, or Legoland.

we had a blast.

we went becase we happened to be in the States anyway, and thought the girls would enjoy it.

the whole thing just works.

brilliant rides; excellent restaurants; fantastic customer service; friendly people - the lot.

but bollocks ot the whoel "magical experience" - it was pretty magical overall, and the dds thought they were royalty, the way they were treated everywhere. but it was not magical because it was Disney and Princesses and Glitter and all that jazz - it was magical becuase it is well thought out, well planned, and nothing was too much trouble - and given we have multiple food allergies, and behavioural issues (dd1 is severe ASD) - that is saying somethign, tbh. the hwole week was jsut as it should be - a holiday, adn relaxing for all of us, instead of stressful for me and dh...

AmazingBouncingFerret · 31/05/2011 13:33

But Beer! dont you want your heart to burst with the sheer joy that is overpriced crap and teenagers in mouse suits?

Think of your kids Godammit!

WhataWitch · 31/05/2011 13:35

Take it you haven't been then......you haven't sampled a Disney Dollar, or had a cuddle frim Tigger or Pluto...deprived to say the least...bet you hate Santa too, and the Easter bunny!

I would suggest you get yourself to the most magical place on earth and get down with the peeps at Smallworld!

AmazingBouncingFerret · 31/05/2011 13:38

Neh not yet. We're still saving up! Grin

Only taking them because I want to go to Harry Potter land.

and i'd probably punch tigger if he tried to cuddle me

BeerTricksPotter · 31/05/2011 13:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BulletWithAName · 31/05/2011 13:38

Oh some of you really are miserable bastards! Grin

FWIW I never got to go to Disneyland as a child, but when I take my DC there, I am almost 100% I'll get just as much if not more enjoyment out of it when they will. I'll be living a childhood dream...albeit 10 or so years late... Blush

BeerTricksPotter · 31/05/2011 13:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rhian82 · 31/05/2011 13:41

We have more of a ban on buying Disney products. They're an incredibly unethical company on a lot of levels (read No Logo), and we point blank don't want to give them our money.

It's an incredible shame that such classics as Winnie the Pooh in particular now come under the Disney umbrella.

BUT - we do acknowledge that they are very good at making things that kids will love. So we have a fair few things that have come from charity shops (so our money went to a good cause rather than directly to Disney), such as Winnie the Pooh books and Toy Story DVDs.

(We also boycott Nestle and a fair few other companies)

WhataWitch · 31/05/2011 13:43

It doesnt matter how old you are, its amazing! We have been fortunate to go several times, dont bother with France though, it has to be Florida all the way, atmosphere so much better and you dont get grief for not speaking French all the time.
Harry Potter Land or not, mark my words, your cinicism will disappear when you get there, just hope you have a relatively small child who is still a beliver in all things magical to take with you....
Enjoy :)

SomekindofSpanish · 31/05/2011 13:43

Hate Disney, love Pixar and that's about as 'Disney' as it gets in our house.

However, I do plan on taking my children to WDW as I think it will be a bloody good holiday.

''But Beer! dont you want your heart to burst with the sheer joy that is overpriced crap and teenagers in mouse suits?

Think of your kids Godammit!''

Love that, Ferret Grin

BeerTricksPotter · 31/05/2011 13:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LittleMissFlustered · 31/05/2011 13:58

No cartoon feature films allowed in the house. Disney or otherwise. Can't chuffing stand them. they can watch them at other people's houses, cinema etc. Not in my house though.

WhataWitch · 31/05/2011 14:04

I feel sorry for your kids and you if you cant enjoy the sight of a child having the time of their lives, and if you deny them that out of sheer spite.....Losers in life! So what if you spend a bit of cash on the way, its not like you can spend it when your dead.
And, those teenagers have a godd damn hard day, you worked in a 'mouse suit' in that kinda heat before?
Anyway, we love WDW so there!

munstersmum · 31/05/2011 14:14

No princess rubbish here as no DD but was not personally scarred by Cinderella as a child.

But who cannot love the jungle book? Also under the radar look out for Fox & Hound 2 - good music & I crack up everytime at en-tou-rag-e.

Continuum · 31/05/2011 14:20

I don't get why people go ra-ra over Disney! But I guess it's just like any other brand name really that lots of research and advertising has gone into to persuade people that it is somehow a necessary childhood experience, a necessary emotional experience etc. etc. when it's just movies, toys and a theme park!!

exoticfruits · 31/05/2011 14:24

Banning it will be one way to make it really desirable. They will see it anyway-at friends houses, taken on birthday parties, even school- end of term or wet playtimes.

exoticfruits · 31/05/2011 14:25

I must say that if I had a DC around I might ask the mother some things, but it wouldn't occur to me to ask 'are they allowed Disney films'!

psiloveyou · 31/05/2011 14:32

LeQueen 10:53:51

Well said.

LadyBeagleEyes · 31/05/2011 14:47

How can you not love Lady and the Tramp and The Jungle Book.
They're cinema classics.
Snow White was made back in the 1930s, the first ever cartoon feature film and still looks wonderful and can stand up equally with with the CGI fims of today.
I watched them as a child and so did my son. My 80 year old mother watched Snow white and it's still going strong.
Disney made some classic cinema, that has survived for many years. I would never ban it.

ManicAnnie · 31/05/2011 14:48

Have only skim-read this.

I havent banned Disney and we have been to Disney World and are going again this summer - great fun.

I don't like all the Disney princess guff, though. It's not even the films, it's all the merchandising that goes with it. So bad for little girls self image, especially non-white children.

MonstaMunch · 31/05/2011 14:52

However, I do plan on taking my children to WDW as I think it will be a bloody good holiday.

it will be, ive been a few times - prefer Universal tbh but they both are quite spectacular for all ages.

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