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?

Don't think I could hack Disneyland (will let the ilaws do that) but surely a little of everything in moderation is OK? We watch the films but don't go to the Disney Store or anything like that.

Mind you, I have boys. Have not experienced the princess thing at all. Seems to be a bit more extreme than the odd Toy Story sticker book or pair of pants or something.

Actually, yes, no girls in this house either...I concede it might be more annoying with the princess crap to contend with.

Some of these posts are quite depressing really ...

I dreamed of living in Care Bear Land when I was little

I unfortunately live in the real world now. Quite how I managed to come to terms with not fulfilling my childhood dream, I just don't know. Maybe I'm one of the lucky ones?

Oh, and what Silver said.

with boys, do you not get endless pirates of the caribbean instead?

Um, you were the one talking about depriving your child of the experience like it is an incomplete childhood if you haven't burst into tears of joy outside Cinderella's castle. Oh, and patronised everyone who disagrees with you, putting it down to a fashion stance. You're the one sucked in, not me.

silverfrog with my boys I got endless Thomas the Tank, power rangers, pokemon and toy story. I don't think either of them give a monkeys about Pirates of the Carribean. They are older though so may have missed out.

Jareth I love spirited away and howls moving castle - what else should we try please? :)

FWIW - I think Disneyland is a whole separate issue in a way. I love Disney movies (not really the princess ones though) and I did enjoy DLP, but I'm in no hurry to go to Florida. I doubt DD is aware of its existence TBH.

So, just because someone likes Disney films doesn't mean they are brainwashed into needing the magic and merchandise.

To be fair I have actually got DD a couple of Disney toys for the first time, for her 4th birthday - she's never had any before, but I've got her little figurines from Fantasia and Hercules as they are her two favourites. No pink, no tiaras. So just because I have a girl it doesn't automatically mean princess shite. :)

I expect it to get harder as DD grows and is more influenced by peers, but so far we've not found it too difficult to avoid the gender stereotyping, and it's mostly been natural, because DH and I don't stereotype ourselves.

DCs just don't view it in an adult way. They have their own likes and dislike. I hated Thomas the Tank Engine. DS loved him, got lots of pleasure out of him and passed on to other things. It would have been sad if he had been stopped because I didn't like it. If girls like princesses they like princesses- moralising mothers won't change it-except that they may have to just indulge at a friend's house instead.

DS1 is rather sensitive (!) and Pirates of the Caribbean would blow his tiny mind. Even the 'mild peril' parts of U films (the last example being the fight between the giant chick in Hop and the rabbit) send him into tears. He even cries in Shrek when Donkey and Shrek weren't friends anymore.

So no, it's not endless pirates but given half a chance it would be endless Toy Story, Cars, Jungle Book etc etc. I know not all girls are into the princess thing but I do see a fair few of our acquaintance enjoying the odd sparkly pink outfit. Actually, one of DS1's bfs (boy) enjoys nothing more than wearing a sort of Hawaiian flower fairy outfit to special occasions.

I digress. We love Disney films... and we also love Studio Ghibli, or Dreamworks or any other good quality entertainment that transports us for an hour or two.

ScrotalPantomime try My Friend Totoro.

FWIW I think things like peppa, roary, fifi, ITNG etc are just as bad for merchandise

Oh no, it's My Neighbour Totoro. Apologies.

Thanks I think I've seen a bit of that one!

What is wrong with Disney is that it is so big and wrapped up in a lot of people's emotions that it's hard to criticize part of without people thinking you are attacking the whole or rolling their eyes. Disney also doesn't seem to take criticism well and keeps making the same mistakes over and over in films/TV as well as their real life issues like poor treatment of employees. It's hard to have a rational conversation about its flaws (and every company, especially one that huge, has its flaws) and it's hard to see it ever changing or improving because it is Disney and people seem to love it whatever it does.

Personally, on a home level, I haven't banned it as a whole, but I probably have 'banned'/specifically chosen not to show my kids more of their films than those that I do choose to show them. But I am picky about movies/TV/media in general - there is far too much choice these days to deal with either crap media or to sit through something biting my tongue. And if they feel 'deprived' as adults for not seeing Peter Pan or whatever, I'd probably clip them upside the head and say that if I'd shown them everything that everyone says they 'need' to see, they would do nothing but watch TV.

ScrotalPantomime, try my neighbor totoro, the cat returns and ponyo. Avoid princess mononoke as its v violent. Laputa castle in the sky is amazing, DS is 3 and likes it but think its a but old for him. Kikis delivery service is another kid friendly one.

AHHH we love Totoro! :) Ponyo is v good too.

I don't have a huge problem with Disney. DS is really into castles, dragons, pirates, etc. I do have a problem with, say, the Native American characters in Peter Pan, so we haven't watched that one yet. He loves 101 Dalmations, Sword in the Stone, Mary Poppins, all the Pixars, etc.

If any DC of mine (daughter or son) wants to flounce around the house in a princess ballgown, I'm fine with it. As long as they got lots of outside time and other activities, I would think it was just a bit of harmless fun.

None of those Disney Princess books though! Not because of the sexism, it's just that the writing is total rubbish. I'll read the actual fairy tale version before I give them that nonsense.

Seeing my dd aged 4 meet ariel etc will stay with me for life. Her little face was priceless. My son aged 2 running from captain hook was also a great memory as Peter pan was his fave.

My dd now 5.6 is still a princess fan but she has moved on to Harry potter much to my glee so we spend happy afternoons watching hermonie and Harry etc I'm just gutter film 4 is a 12 so we will wait to watch that.

It's opened her imagination in all sorts of ways encouraging her writing and reading and drawing skills.

Film night is a regular treat for us family time with popcorn and maltesers :)

Long live Disney, magic, and fantasy of all types and long live keeping our children children! I want to keep them young as long as possible

Quite...I wanted to be a horse when I grew up....didn't get my dream, don't even own a horse, don't care ...now living new dream with lots of reality courtesy of 4 children ...we watch telly once a week and sometimes it's disney, we talk to each other and it's FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Jareth - my amazon wishlist will take some hits tonight! :o

I hate Disney - especially the hash they made of Winnie the Pooh.

Ugh.. I hate Disney pooh. I had the original books as a child and could never understand the annoying characters that Disney created from them.

Maybe your DC would love Disney Pooh. A lot of people seem to think that their DC will think the same as them-I don't know why.

I used to watch some of the 'new adventures of WtP' on video as a child in the 80s. Have recently got a few on DVD purely for nostalgia! Really dislike the recent movies and spin offs though. Ugh.

Maybe they would exoticfruits, I didn't say anywhere that I had banned it or that they would never be able to watch it, or that I assume that they think the same as me. Bugger off with your face.

Thats OK Jareth-if you are not forcing your opinions on your DC. Not liking Pooh and letting DC make up their own mind is fine. Not liking Pooh and telling your DC they can't watch it because you don't like it isn't IMO