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?

Im 28 and last year started collecting Disney figures, i randomly saw them in a shop and thought they looked nice so thought why not. So i guess because i like to?

I love Disney. I saw the movies and was lucky enough to go to Florida twice and Euro Disney twice as a child. Now I have a DD I can't wait to take her (neither can my parents!). It is magical and you can't let yourself forgot all the adult day to day crap and have fun. Most of all is the delight on childrens faces

Fridaysgirl.. I've grown up with siblings who loved Disney, but it was never for me. My father passed when I was young and I lived with an abusive family, so always saw the darker side that it was all an illusion that some prince would come along and save you and that life would all work out in the end.

At 18 I met my (now) fiancé, and his family were heartbroken that I had such a hatred for Disney! 8 years later and I've watched every Disney film ever released with a man, and a family, that I love dearly. They've shown me the meaning of love, trust, hope and family and I have really learnt to love the magic of Disney. We went to Disneyland two years ago and I sobbed my heart out infront of the castle. It made me realise just what I had missed out on as a child- not just Disney, but life itself.

So.. I guess that's my reason.

I kind of get what you mean because I do find it childish and ridiculous, likewise people who obsess over Harry Potter and stuff, but you know, whatever.

As long as they don't bother me with it, they can do what they like. No doubt they find some of the stuff I like pointless and shit too.

I like Disney because I grew up watching the Mickey Mouse Club on TV in the late 50s and the 60s. The song was great!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/TheMickeyyMouseClubb
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickeyy_Mouse_March

"Who's the leader of the club that's made for you and me? M I C K E Y M O U S E. "

I thought Annette Funicello was awesome.

I actually found WDW quite depressing. So many of the people serving food were of an age where they should be taking life easy. Instead they are on their feet, almost certainly with strict rules about how many meals per minute they deliver and then they have to wish me a 'magical day'. Probably because they need healthcare so can't retire.
And it is just so fucking all-encompassing. Even the holes in the shelf brackets are shaped like Mickey ears. DD was about 9 when we took her, and even she was kind of over it after 3 days.

We may go one more time for Star Wars, but we also kind of hate how much Disney is buying so many franchises so it feels like the whole world is becoming part of Disney.

@Skinidin - thank you for that excellent article.

I'm in Florida now. DS and I decided to come here because our holidays here when DH was alive were the happiest times and it just felt right to go somewhere that is special to us. We have had fun spotting "t shirt families" who have matching outfits, some of them are quite witty but we wouldn't wear them. We love Disneyworld exactly because it is escapism into something artificial, where we can do something other than feel shit with grief. We can smile and say that DH would have enjoyed it too.

We don't come very often because we like to visit other places in the world. But there's room for Disney alongside the rest of the world.

I agree with you OP. I don't get it, especially recently with all the remakes. Disney seems to be focused on cashing in on nostalgia rather than making new art/content.

Each to their own, certainly. We don't have to all enjoy the same holiday, but I don't understand spending thousands to immerse yourself in something artificial. But if that's your escapism, crack on

I feel sad that anyone feels that Disney is something sinister and is creeping around in costumes Disneyifying the world into some dystopian horror. Seriously? There is good and bad in everything. Walt Disney was a man like the rest of them, he just had the talent to create cartoons and characters that people loved.

Enjoy your visit, AndNoneForGretchenWieners. You so deserve it. I am so sorry for your loss. You are awesome.

"I feel sad that anyone feels that Disney is something sinister "

Disney is a huge marketing company designed to make money. That is all it is.

Yes, you are right. But it markets a certain sense of magic that is inter generational. I was referring to the academic papers/article seemingly suggesting it is much more. I am not a complete crazy Disney fan. Not even remotely close. But I see the "magic" it markets make young and old happy, at least for a little while. Worth the cost, maybe?

I don’t get it either tbh
Reminds me of that creepy American family that chained their kids up.

"But it markets a certain sense of magic that is inter generational."

I'd rather have my magic actually magical and not dependent on me buying a heap of plastic and polyester shite.

I'm an overthinking idiot who finds it difficult to live in the moment and enjoy things.
I envy people who enjoy disney
It means they're enjoying life and reminiscing about good times they've had
They're happy. Let them be.

I give up. I am clearly misguided.

I have not experienced a Disney park except twice in my life. Once as an 8 year old, and once with my grandchildren who were about 6 and 3. I remember more than anything riding the "Matterhorn" with my Dad. And "soaring over California" with my grandson.

Honestly, I have not experienced the plastic shite.

I agree real magic is great, but I have a shortage of it in my life right now.

"I give up. I am clearly misguided."

There's no need to be like that. We are allowed to have different opinions.

Yes, good point. But in all honesty I can see the alternative argument, and it has merit. I can be a bit naive despite myself, and maybe you are right. I do agree commercialism is not a good thing.

I've been to Disney three times this year and I'm from Ohio. My love from Disney was inherited from my mother. I grew up with Disney, it's tunes are the soundtrack of my life. Princesses were never my thing, I do not have snow white skin or blond hair. Only recently have I wanted to dress up like a princess since Moana came out. Minnie always seemed like she was for everyone. For many of us who grew up Disney, visiting the park and putting on those ears is like turning back time. Also, the ears changed over the years. Souvenir ears change yearly marking special periods of time, over decades of memories for millions of people. Every time I step into a Disney I remember the trips I took with my mother. For me a Disney vacation was a magical time when I was allowed to set the pace. For one glorious week I would have my mother's undivided attention. We sang the songs, rode the rides, and watch the shows. My favorite place growing up was Epcot, because of the world showcase. I remember at age 9 telling my mother that I was going to see every country in the world showcase. So far I'm only missing Japan and Norway. Disney sparks dreams and makes the impossible possible. Now that my mother is gone every time I step into a Disney park, I feel like she's with me.

Although I don't have children, I still watch Disney movies even the cartoons. I can tell that you're not really a Disney movie buff or you would know that they speak not only to children but resonate with adults. My husband doesn't understand my love for Disney but he accepts it just like I accept his love of soccer.

We go quite a lot purely because there is so much to do, we hate lounging around. We've been on other activity type holidays but Disney combines millions of things to do with ease of doing them. Disney is also the most accessible holiday I've ever been on in terms of disability and they cater brilliantly for food allergies, which are issues that stop us going to many other places.

Severely bullied as a child. Disney was my escapism from what was happening to me. I still love it now as it helps me to unwind, the films make me smile and remind me of a time when I used to curl up on the sofa with my mum after a terrible day at school. I have a Belle tattoo as I related to her and her love of books, have nightmare before christmas memorabilia all round the house as that is my favourite disney film (love Halloween and christmas, so it's a perfect film for me). The artistry of the films is also what attracts me. The award winning songs. And the fact that I'm a grown adult who can choose whatever I want to watch and do and until now believed that no one would judge me for those choices, as I'm not harming anyone by making them.

"until now believed that no one would judge me for those choices, as I'm not harming anyone by making them."

If you live in a world where you think no-one is judging you, I think you're being a bit naive. People judge people for everything.

The key is to shrug and accept it. I have no doubt that people think I'm a grumpy old cow or that I only like stupid boring shit or that I should lighten up. It doesn't affect me that they think those things as long as they don't actively start attacking me.

But yes, people are judging and sticking in boxes every time they speak to you. That's human nature. But it doesn't mean we can't also live and let live.

No judgement here, at all. You are a critical thinker. You challenge the ordinary and the status quo. Never, ever, stop.

Talk about sucking the life out of everything/everyone 🙄

I love Disney! As does my DH and parents. That’s not to say we don’t enjoy ‘real’ things too. We’re all well travelled and have experienced plenty of different cultures across the world. I’m sure I could find fault with something you like OP but honestly, I don’t care enough about what others choose to do with their time.