Why do people look down at Disney?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does one really need to spend that much on hotel and food and souvenirs?

Yes. If one can afford it, why not?

Just asking in terms of the comparison between Disney and Europe.

But I guess if you live it up in Disney, you'd be doing the same anywhere.

[Anonymous]

I've traveled to off the beaten path Asian countries, alone; to various European countries; I've lived in a non-touristy Latin American country for brief periods; I'm not at all the "ugly American" sort of traveler.

Took the kids to Disney World and I'm a total convert. They LOVED it. It was so kid-centric, so well managed, and so entertaining that I actually want to return. I could force my six and four year old to enjoy the quaint culture of an old European city or explain to them the finer points of bushing teeth using only bottles water, but at this age, Disney is the way to go.

While we were there, we met up with a former classmate of my child and her family. It was for the Halloween party, and both parents showed up in full costume - really good ones that required time and effort - and proceeded to have a ton of fun. At first I thought it a little odd that these adults were acting like children, but it occurred to me that they were having a BLAST with their kids. Everyone enjoyed it. No one stopped appreciating fine art, exotic travel, or great literature as a result of their temporary foray into Disney fun.

So - my two cents is that people look down on Disney because they'd like to believe themselves better or more cultured than others. I on the other hand think they look down on Disney because they're just way too uptight. Go on a roller coaster and scream it out - you'll feel better!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've traveled to off the beaten path Asian countries, alone; to various European countries; I've lived in a non-touristy Latin American country for brief periods; I'm not at all the "ugly American" sort of traveler.

Took the kids to Disney World and I'm a total convert. They LOVED it. It was so kid-centric, so well managed, and so entertaining that I actually want to return. I could force my six and four year old to enjoy the quaint culture of an old European city or explain to them the finer points of bushing teeth using only bottles water, but at this age, Disney is the way to go.

While we were there, we met up with a former classmate of my child and her family. It was for the Halloween party, and both parents showed up in full costume - really good ones that required time and effort - and proceeded to have a ton of fun. At first I thought it a little odd that these adults were acting like children, but it occurred to me that they were having a BLAST with their kids. Everyone enjoyed it. No one stopped appreciating fine art, exotic travel, or great literature as a result of their temporary foray into Disney fun.

So - my two cents is that people look down on Disney because they'd like to believe themselves better or more cultured than others. I on the other hand think they look down on Disney because they're just way too uptight. Go on a roller coaster and scream it out - you'll feel better!

+1000

[Anonymous]

Crowds, heat, long lines, mediocre hotels and food, tv characters (not a TV person), the list goes on...despite that, I've taken DS many times. Our best stay was off campus at Ritz Carlton with a car service.

[Anonymous]

Maybe if you're not a kid at heart you look down at Disney? I honestly don't know anyone who does that. I haven't taken my kids yet because of the expense. They're happy to play in the backyard with friends.

[Anonymous]

Went to Disney as a kid and back in college, have truly had no desire to go since. But went this year with the whole extended family and the kids LOVED it, so I kind of get the appeal now.

Still not a place I want to go all the time as I'm neither a crowds or amusement parks person, but will admit Disney does a great job of creating a fun experience.

[Anonymous]

I personally can't stand Disney. It's okay once in a lifetime, but not more. We took my older child there because my DH had a business trip nearby. It's the most artificial, cheesey, phoney place and they just want your money. Most of the places were just selling souvenirs and there wasn't really anything of interest to see. The music gets so old and annoying. It takes all day, you're stuck in the heat, have to wait in lines, there's nowhere to breastfeed. We rode on some ride and at the end it acted like "it's a baby gorilla!". Well, who wants to see a stupid fake baby gorilla. For the amount of money we paid, they should have a real gorilla. And then there were all these people taking pictures so I get my camera ready to take a picture too, and it's like a huge stupid fake tree. I put my camera away. I'd rather see a huge real tree. The sad thing is when you see a lone grown ass man wearing Mickey ears who probably has no friends and can't get laid. For kids it's okay because they can use their imaginations and it seems all magical and crap, but I can't get over that it's all phoney. They start the marketing by putting Disney characters on diapers so your kids are hooked. The Disney princesses are over sexualized and getting more and more cartoony and unrealistic. I'd rather go to a National Park or another country and see the real world, not pay good money to see a fictitious sh!t factory. I'm dreading going back but will probably have to make the trip for our second child because the ILs live nearby and would pay us to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've traveled to off the beaten path Asian countries, alone; to various European countries; I've lived in a non-touristy Latin American country for brief periods; I'm not at all the "ugly American" sort of traveler.

Took the kids to Disney World and I'm a total convert. They LOVED it. It was so kid-centric, so well managed, and so entertaining that I actually want to return. I could force my six and four year old to enjoy the quaint culture of an old European city or explain to them the finer points of bushing teeth using only bottles water, but at this age, Disney is the way to go.

While we were there, we met up with a former classmate of my child and her family. It was for the Halloween party, and both parents showed up in full costume - really good ones that required time and effort - and proceeded to have a ton of fun. At first I thought it a little odd that these adults were acting like children, but it occurred to me that they were having a BLAST with their kids. Everyone enjoyed it. No one stopped appreciating fine art, exotic travel, or great literature as a result of their temporary foray into Disney fun.

So - my two cents is that people look down on Disney because they'd like to believe themselves better or more cultured than others. I on the other hand think they look down on Disney because they're just way too uptight. Go on a roller coaster and scream it out - you'll feel better!

My two cents? Your reading comprehension isn't great. Numerous posters have said the same thing: it's a corporate vacation. I don't like mega corporations getting money from my family.

[Anonymous]

With children, it is virtually impossible to not have fun in Disney. It is all too easy to not have fun in Europe with small children in tow.

[Anonymous]

We had the same reaction from people when we went on our first Disney cruise. Turns out, the cruise was the best time ever! The cruise sounds overwhelming because it's Disney, but in reality, it's designed for all ages. We just took a different cruise over the Holidays, and it didn't compare to our Disney's cruises - we were sorely disappointed.

Disney knows how to appeal to the masses. Disney does it up! Who cares what other people think???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I personally can't stand Disney. It's okay once in a lifetime, but not more. We took my older child there because my DH had a business trip nearby. It's the most artificial, cheesey, phoney place and they just want your money. Most of the places were just selling souvenirs and there wasn't really anything of interest to see. The music gets so old and annoying. It takes all day, you're stuck in the heat, have to wait in lines, there's nowhere to breastfeed. We rode on some ride and at the end it acted like "it's a baby gorilla!". Well, who wants to see a stupid fake baby gorilla. For the amount of money we paid, they should have a real gorilla. And then there were all these people taking pictures so I get my camera ready to take a picture too, and it's like a huge stupid fake tree. I put my camera away. I'd rather see a huge real tree. The sad thing is when you see a lone grown ass man wearing Mickey ears who probably has no friends and can't get laid. For kids it's okay because they can use their imaginations and it seems all magical and crap, but I can't get over that it's all phoney. They start the marketing by putting Disney characters on diapers so your kids are hooked. The Disney princesses are over sexualized and getting more and more cartoony and unrealistic. I'd rather go to a National Park or another country and see the real world, not pay good money to see a fictitious sh!t factory. I'm dreading going back but will probably have to make the trip for our second child because the ILs live nearby and would pay us to go.

What you really want to say is that you can't afford Disney.

[Anonymous]

Disney is a blast for kids and for fun parents who like to spend time with their kids. The people who hate disney fall into these camps: can't afford it, don't enjoy spending time with their kids, and/or take a bizarre philosophical stance against commercialism and corporate America (without recognizing how other things they do supports corporate America).

We've had a blast at disney world and on disney cruises. They cater to kids and make traveling as a family easy and fun.

[Anonymous]

I can see going once. But if you go every year, or if you go as an adult without kids, then you are clearly culturally impoverished.

[Anonymous]

Because its cartoon land. Take your chidren to real places. Not to places which artificially excite their senses. Take them to the mountains or the seas. Take them to culturally different places if you want to excite their senses.

Never take your children to places where they return home dumber than when they left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because it is artificial and empty.

+1