To not get Disney?

[Fridaysgirl]

I'm talking about adults here, not kids.

Why do grown men and women feel the need to wear Minnie ears, buy mugs, bags and T shirts of Disney related stuff?

And why in god's name would you pay £££££s to go and gawp and an artificial pink princess castle when you could pay far less to see something real? Or cuddle a Minnie/Mickey Mouse (or should I say a stranger dressed up)?

Please can someone explain all this to me?

Disney did hunchback of notre dame that dealt with exactly that issue

Yes - ugly old Quasimodo was left alone while Esmerelda rode off into the sunset with the handsome bloke. Quasimodo gets a Disney 'ugly pass' in any event because he's male.

kids enjoy heroes or heroines looking extra pretty or hamdsome because it is part of human nature.

Is it, though - or is it only people who consider themselves pretty and handsome who like to see this reinforced? Everyone else just gets used to it and puts up with it.

I enjoy the films, but have little desire to go to the theme parks. I tend to be put off by things that get hyped a lot. Some family went and we asked what the best thing was and she gushed "it's so organised" and I just can't share the enthusiasm for having a holiday timetabled out with military prescision.

If I did go, I'd go to Paris. The thought of constantly queuing from one thing to another in Florida's heat and humidity sounds quite tortuous. I'd probably enjoy it more without my DCs as they'd struggle with the queues, and one seriously loathes people in costume. They've never expressed any interest in going.

I like theme parks and will aim to go for a grotty day off season to cut the queues. I've kicked myself for the frustrating and expensive mistake of going to Alton Towers on a sunny Saturday before.

Particularly for further affield like Florida, it seems a massive financial commitment with too much emotional expectation to fall in love with the magic of it.

I'll stick with a good book in a tent for my escapism

Not my thing though it doesnt bother me that other people like it.

One thing I don't like though is this school of thought I hear quite often that taking your kids to Disney is somehow a childhood right of passage and people are depriving their kids if they don't go...I've heard of some people almost bankrupting themselves because they 'dont want their kids missing out'. I think most kids would enjoy it but this doesn't mean they are missing out if they don't go or that they wont equally enjoy much cheaper holidays

I am the youngest of 5 children, we were brought up in what might now be called “dysfunctional and chaotic” at best “abusive” at worst. Anyhow I can remember being at primary school at other children telling stories about their trips to Disney, and how magical it sounded. I loved watching Disney-time on a bank holiday Monday, sometime you would get to see the park and it looked like a fairy tail. It was such a place of escapism. We never went anywhere, between my mums emotional abuse, and the numerous bailiffs that were calling round the house, there was no chance.
Fast forward 30 years..
so 4 years ago an investment policy my husband and I had matured .. we had building work that needed to be done, but, we also had the money for a “holiday of a lifetime”, so we wen’t to Disney in Florida. DD was 9 at the time, so yea it was a bit like taking 9 year old me. We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge, overlooking Giraffes and Zebra walking round, we had a meal in Cinderella’s Castle, and dinner at Beasts Castie, we met all the characters, went to all the parks, saw the fireworks, the parades etc. It really was the most magical 2 weeks, and laid a few ghosts to rest for me. I did cry at the fireworks, but who cares.

It was an amazing 2 weeks. Only problem is that DD wants to go back for her 16th birthday .. so better get saving !

I love films with sub-titles, especially Chinese and Russian. I love the escape of them, the other worldliness. Most ppl would be bored to only watch this type of film.

Why is this relevant? People enjoy doing different things! My SIL loves Disney. We are just different! I don't think she's unreasonable at all and nor is Disney - they make enough money to demonstrate that a lot of people love this stuff.

@ScreamingValenta she loved Phoebus (who is no villain either) and Quasimodo understood that you can't help who you fall in love with. He does find love in the second film by the way

The point is not why Esmerelda chose Phoebus, but that Esmerelda was a slim, beautiful and able-bodied heroine - like every other Disney heroine !

@ScreamingValenta because she was described like that in the original story. Like they all are

because she was described like that in the original story. Like they all are

Yes, and of course Disney are known for their rigid adherence and utter fidelity to source material! They couldn't possibly change anything! Otherwise you might find odd things happening like the male protagonist of the Snow Queen becoming female in 'Frozen' ...

@ScreamingValenta frozen is inspired by the snow queen. It never claimed to be the traditional story that is why it is called frozen not the snow queen. The Hunchback of Notre Dame is as faithful to the original as you can get while still keeping a child audience in mind. It is supposed to be more or less the same story unlike frozen

There are more examples - What about 101 Dalmatians? Missus Pongo and Perdita merged into one character and half the supporting characters dropped? 101 Dalmatians was a children's book originally - it didn't stop Disney changing it to suit their needs.

The Little Mermaid - also aimed at children - in the original, Ariel was deserted by the prince and transformed into a wisp of foam. Disney's version - evil witch defeated, Ariel and prince live happily ever after.

Disney change whatever they like to fit with what they want from a story - and that in itself is fine - but they never deviate from the narrative that female beauty = good character; female ugliness (or non-conventional beauty) = evil or comic character; female disability = doesn't happen.

Are you the grinch 🤔

@ScreamingValenta beauty or handsomeness meaning good and physical unattractiveness meaning bad is hardly a uniquely Disney issue. Have you read any classic literature, or seen any classical art. It's the same pattern. People have always thought like this. Also how lazy is it to expect disney to parent the kids. It's up to the parent to have discussions with the kids about the inner moral message of the movie which is bravery, kindness, persistence and that the way the character looks is not the ultimate defining feature

Are you the grinch

Thankfully (to my knowledge) Disney haven't got their filthy paws on Dr Seuss yet! Otherwise we'd doubtless see The Cat in the Hat riding off into the sunset with a sexy female feline .

People have always thought like this

Why do you think that makes it OK? People are conditioned to put up with it and accept being marginalised if they don't fit with society's ideals. There has always been racism in society, but that doesn't make it OK and we wouldn't celebrate it in a children's film - even Disney (eventually) got round to having non-caucasian heroines.

Also how lazy is it to expect disney to parent the kids.

I agree, and the best thing parents can do is limit their children's exposure to this stuff. Unfortunately, it's available on tap nowadays with on-demand TV, the internet and I think Disney even has its own channels on some TV services. There's also the theme park in Paris now that's all too accessible to children in the UK.

@ScreamingValenta People aren't as stupid as you are saying. They KNOW its escapism lol! They like it. You don't. You are trying to bully them into not liking what you don't like. Why?

whatnow55 Where have I said anyone is stupid? And where have I bullied anyone? Trying to persuade someone to accept your opinion is not 'bullying'.

As for 'why' - because I'm sick of living in a society where people who don't measure up to conventional standards of beauty are marginalised. Early conditioning by the likes of Disney is a contributor to this.

You've wrecked the thread with your messages of hate!

because I'm sick of living in a society where people who don't measure up to conventional standards of beauty are marginalise

Then don't live in one. I don't.

You are part of the problem! Lighten up!

You've wrecked the thread with your messages of hate!

Wrecked the thread? It's an anti-Disney thread on which I've posted messages saying why I don't like Disney.

That was supposed to be a joke!

People need escapism because the world is also occupied by naysayers and pessimists who try to wreck other people's happiness.

Yes, people do need escapism - but why can't we have escapism where something nice happens to an unattractive character? Why should people who aren't conventionally attractive have to imagine they look different in order vicariously to enjoy a happy ending?

ScreamingValenta They don't all the time... what on earth do you watch?!