Why do Disney vacationers seem uniquely subjected to social vitriol?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Disney Adults need to get a hobby,” or visiting Disney is a “red flag”, these are common refrains. Yet comparable judgments are rarely, if ever, leveled at enthusiasts of other vacations: no one derides someone for frequenting Vegas, summering at the beach, touring Europe annually, or relaxing in Hawaii.

Disney visitors aren’t imposing on anyone financially, socially, or logistically—they aren’t asking anyone to fund their trip, accompany them, or manage their home in their absence. So why does this particular leisure choice provoke such disproportionate judgment, moral superiority, and indignation?

Because Hawaii, Europe and Vegas are not intrinsically thought of/designed to be kid centric destinations.

In contrast when you’re stuck waiting with your toddler in a long line behind large groups of child free adults to ride dumbo or it’s a small world it’s honestly pretty off putting….akin to a group of adults monopolizing the swing set at a local city park.

I mean, make up your mind. Is it “kid-centric” or is it overcrowded with adults? Which is it?

It is kid centric yet it is overcrowded with adults crowding out the kids in many instances. That’s the point.

[Anonymous]

It’s kitschy and fake. Like Vegas, I have no problem with someone visiting a couple of times throughout their life but to go year after year is just….strange. Also, it’s a big wide world out there with plenty of other things to see and do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because they push kids out of experience built and marketed for kids for generations. In our new only money is important world Disney is deciding to take easy dollars from adults recapturing the joy they had as a children (while ironically they steal t from the children of today).

This all day. And a large number of these people are very heavy users of Disney, used to claim disabilities to further cut the line, while kids there for their first visit have to wait even longer. I went to Disney once as a kid when I was like 4 and didn't go again until I had kids so I was unprepared for the volume of adults making it harder for little kids to enjoy themselves. You don't really need to ride Dumbo for the 3rd time in a week, using DAS. I'm glad Disney finally cracked down on those abusers who not so coincidentally have annual passes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think if you took away all their photos and social media the luster would be gone for them. They seem to want to be this way for online bragging rights?

It would be an amazing social experiment to black box anyone having an experience. You get to have the experience, but no recording. Still happy?

I lived it and it was amazing! The recent Cabaret staging in NYC included some immersive stuff, and they completely outlawed any pictures or recording, so 1) people were enjoying themselves without being concerned of how it may look on social media and 2) no one was hogging the space and blocking the views for taking pictures, you either participated or moved along. I wish every place did it.

[Anonymous]

I think it has to do to with the capitalist overconsumption pushed by Disney. It magnified dramatically in my lifetime.

I first visited Disney when I was about 3 and I had a mouse ear hat. My favorite experience was the Tiki Room show. As far as I know it only had a kid's record of the show songs as merchandise. As a kid I had a lot of Disney records.

Back then, Disney just made movies and was a vacation place. There were no mall stores, no concept of buying a full set of "Disney princess" dolls since many of them hadn't been created yet, no attempt to acquire and monetize a comparable male-appealing set of properties. Then with the movies that came out in my older years, they started adding really tacky elements. Like wisecracking comedic sidekick like Mooshu in Mulan and the genie in Aladdin.

It's the assumption that every one should just love this pumped out garbage that really gets me. Like when a family member gifted our newborn a 2.5 ft tall Mickey and a 2.5 ft tall Donald stuffie.

Disney attracts the vitriol because it is a single entity pushing purchases of proprietary IP-themed merchandise and experiences. A visit to a single geography such as Vegas is still more varied and less explicitly captured by a single for-profit entity.

Also I get kind of mad that they created a lot of their princess IP on top of copyright-free fairy tales.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Disney Adults need to get a hobby,” or visiting Disney is a “red flag”, these are common refrains. Yet comparable judgments are rarely, if ever, leveled at enthusiasts of other vacations: no one derides someone for frequenting Vegas, summering at the beach, touring Europe annually, or relaxing in Hawaii.

Disney visitors aren’t imposing on anyone financially, socially, or logistically—they aren’t asking anyone to fund their trip, accompany them, or manage their home in their absence. So why does this particular leisure choice provoke such disproportionate judgment, moral superiority, and indignation?

Because Hawaii, Europe and Vegas are not intrinsically thought of/designed to be kid centric destinations.

In contrast when you’re stuck waiting with your toddler in a long line behind large groups of child free adults to ride dumbo or it’s a small world it’s honestly pretty off putting….akin to a group of adults monopolizing the swing set at a local city park.

Europe not kid centric? Millions of kids grow up there year after year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Disney Adults need to get a hobby,” or visiting Disney is a “red flag”, these are common refrains. Yet comparable judgments are rarely, if ever, leveled at enthusiasts of other vacations: no one derides someone for frequenting Vegas, summering at the beach, touring Europe annually, or relaxing in Hawaii.

Disney visitors aren’t imposing on anyone financially, socially, or logistically—they aren’t asking anyone to fund their trip, accompany them, or manage their home in their absence. So why does this particular leisure choice provoke such disproportionate judgment, moral superiority, and indignation?

Because Hawaii, Europe and Vegas are not intrinsically thought of/designed to be kid centric destinations.

In contrast when you’re stuck waiting with your toddler in a long line behind large groups of child free adults to ride dumbo or it’s a small world it’s honestly pretty off putting….akin to a group of adults monopolizing the swing set at a local city park.

Europe not kid centric? Millions of kids grow up there year after year.

I assume you are trying to be difficult... the missing word is "destination". Visiting Europe with kids, which I've done several times, is very much different than going to an experience originally designed to be easy for them.

Disney should just ban adults without kids, at least one per pairing. Be amazing to see all the childfree disney bounders scrunching their faces up in agony watching non-adults have fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Disney Adults need to get a hobby,” or visiting Disney is a “red flag”, these are common refrains. Yet comparable judgments are rarely, if ever, leveled at enthusiasts of other vacations: no one derides someone for frequenting Vegas, summering at the beach, touring Europe annually, or relaxing in Hawaii.

Disney visitors aren’t imposing on anyone financially, socially, or logistically—they aren’t asking anyone to fund their trip, accompany them, or manage their home in their absence. So why does this particular leisure choice provoke such disproportionate judgment, moral superiority, and indignation?

Because Hawaii, Europe and Vegas are not intrinsically thought of/designed to be kid centric destinations.

In contrast when you’re stuck waiting with your toddler in a long line behind large groups of child free adults to ride dumbo or it’s a small world it’s honestly pretty off putting….akin to a group of adults monopolizing the swing set at a local city park.

Europe not kid centric? Millions of kids grow up there year after year.

I assume you are trying to be difficult... the missing word is "destination". Visiting Europe with kids, which I've done several times, is very much different than going to an experience originally designed to be easy for them.

Disney should just ban adults without kids, at least one per pairing. Be amazing to see all the childfree disney bounders scrunching their faces up in agony watching non-adults have fun.

Having worked at Disney, it's actually kind of a tough place for kids sometimes. Particularly the younger kids, Particularly in the summer. The heat and every day rain really are tough on the kids.

The idea of banning adults without kids is absurd, IMO, though. Disney makes a ton of money off adults and it would be an completely nuts business decision. Disney sells a lot of food, merch, and alcohol aimed at adults.

I also don't buy that Disney adults are the problem at the parks. I worked there and dealt with entitled people of all ages, those who don’t watch their kids (or try to dump them on staff), people who push their kids too hard and start screaming at them. People who outright abuse family members in the parks. Creepy people (including parents) who would hit on employees.

[Anonymous]

The reason people (here) hate it is because it is a cross section of the US population. They are forced to see outside their bubble and acknowledge that yes there are fat Walmart moms among us as well us unrefined slobs wearing shirts and people who yell at their kids. And adults who like rollercoasters and dole whips and parents who make vacation all about the kids. If you can’t unwind and enjoy for a couple of days then keep taking your kids to boring history museums around the world, we’re having way more fun at Disney.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Disney Adults need to get a hobby,” or visiting Disney is a “red flag”, these are common refrains. Yet comparable judgments are rarely, if ever, leveled at enthusiasts of other vacations: no one derides someone for frequenting Vegas, summering at the beach, touring Europe annually, or relaxing in Hawaii.

Disney visitors aren’t imposing on anyone financially, socially, or logistically—they aren’t asking anyone to fund their trip, accompany them, or manage their home in their absence. So why does this particular leisure choice provoke such disproportionate judgment, moral superiority, and indignation?

Because Hawaii, Europe and Vegas are not intrinsically thought of/designed to be kid centric destinations.

In contrast when you’re stuck waiting with your toddler in a long line behind large groups of child free adults to ride dumbo or it’s a small world it’s honestly pretty off putting….akin to a group of adults monopolizing the swing set at a local city park.

Europe not kid centric? Millions of kids grow up there year after year.

I assume you are trying to be difficult... the missing word is "destination". Visiting Europe with kids, which I've done several times, is very much different than going to an experience originally designed to be easy for them.

Disney should just ban adults without kids, at least one per pairing. Be amazing to see all the childfree disney bounders scrunching their faces up in agony watching non-adults have fun.

Having worked at Disney, it's actually kind of a tough place for kids sometimes. Particularly the younger kids, Particularly in the summer. The heat and every day rain really are tough on the kids.

The idea of banning adults without kids is absurd, IMO, though. Disney makes a ton of money off adults and it would be an completely nuts business decision. Disney sells a lot of food, merch, and alcohol aimed at adults.

I also don't buy that Disney adults are the problem at the parks. I worked there and dealt with entitled people of all ages, those who don’t watch their kids (or try to dump them on staff), people who push their kids too hard and start screaming at them. People who outright abuse family members in the parks. Creepy people (including parents) who would hit on employees.

An obvious solution would be lowering the drinking age so that children are more profitable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reason people (here) hate it is because it is a cross section of the US population. They are forced to see outside their bubble and acknowledge that yes there are fat Walmart moms among us as well us unrefined slobs wearing shirts and people who yell at their kids. And adults who like rollercoasters and dole whips and parents who make vacation all about the kids. If you can’t unwind and enjoy for a couple of days then keep taking your kids to boring history museums around the world, we’re having way more fun at Disney.

What this post reminds me of is that I don't think any rollercoaster is worth waiting more than 15 minutes for. I have read about the rise of bookable rides, special passes, and all the rest of the revenue extraction mechanisms. I think there is a very poor value for money at Disney on busy days. I remember as a kid deciding that Space Mountain wasn't worth 90 minutes of wait. I eventually got to try it years later and it was a dull experience. I do not like crowds and wasted time. And Dole Whip IS an inferior dessert.

[Anonymous]

It’s so generic and norm-core and honestly embarrassing for an adult to be into Disney. It’s like people who always have their TV on and don’t mute the commercials.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason people (here) hate it is because it is a cross section of the US population. They are forced to see outside their bubble and acknowledge that yes there are fat Walmart moms among us as well us unrefined slobs wearing shirts and people who yell at their kids. And adults who like rollercoasters and dole whips and parents who make vacation all about the kids. If you can’t unwind and enjoy for a couple of days then keep taking your kids to boring history museums around the world, we’re having way more fun at Disney.

What this post reminds me of is that I don't think any rollercoaster is worth waiting more than 15 minutes for. I have read about the rise of bookable rides, special passes, and all the rest of the revenue extraction mechanisms. I think there is a very poor value for money at Disney on busy days. I remember as a kid deciding that Space Mountain wasn't worth 90 minutes of wait. I eventually got to try it years later and it was a dull experience. I do not like crowds and wasted time. And Dole Whip IS an inferior dessert.

lol ok so basically no fun at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because it’s an easy way to elevate one’s own status by positioning people who enjoy mainstream things (Disney) as simple, low brow, and conformist.

+1

It is an easy and relatively socially acceptable way to throw contempt and hate around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s so generic and norm-core and honestly embarrassing for an adult to be into Disney. It’s like people who always have their TV on and don’t mute the commercials.

Oh gosh, how does one get to be over 30 and still think that calling something “norm core” and “generic” is an insult?