Writer’s Workshop: Questioning the Magic of Disney
The first time I’ve step into Disneyland was back in 2008 when we brought the boys to Hong Kong Disneyland. The theme park was newly opened and the kids were excited to have a chance to go to Disneyland and stay at the Disney hotel.
Growing up with Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and the gang I have been really excited as a kid to step into the magical world which they call Disneyland. I have always enjoyed watching Disney cartoons and movies on the television and love the fairy tales which they have created.
The boys are not really that into Disney and couldn’t name or identify most of the characters on display when we were there. They were thrilled to go on the rides and see the various decorations. We were lucky that we did not need to queue for a long time to get on the rides and the boys were able to go on all rides which they wanted.
They couldn’t really care about taking photographs with the dolled up characters unless I insisted on taking photographs so that we will be able to remember our time in Disneyland.
The magic of Disney also fell flat for me after entering through their gates. It was no long as captivating to me as and adult then it was to me as a child to visit Disneyland. The place felt so commercialized to me and a real good marketing strategy which has lasted for more then 50 years. The person who came up with the idea of Disneyland and open theme parks based on it all over the world was a real genius. It has been a real good money making idea with the franchising and patents.
I guess that Disney is a bit “dated” for me and my kids and we are more into Japanese anime/ cartoons then western characters.
Hello kitty still entices me and I’ll definitely visit the Hello Kitty Kingdom when we go to Japan. Even the boys love this cute cat with no mouth.
Are your kids still captured by the Magic of Disney?
Which characters are they into ? ( Disney or non Disney)
March 15, 2012 @ 8:20 pm
We took our girls to Disney in Florida when they were young and the whole place had a magic feel to it. Once is enough though.
March 15, 2012 @ 8:20 pm
no children here. I went to Disneyland in Los Angeles back in 1969. Have never returned. But I have friends that are crazy over it all, and go every year. I’d rather go to the beach! {:-D
March 15, 2012 @ 9:30 pm
@storybeader,
I would rather go to the beach too or visit another country.
March 15, 2012 @ 10:56 pm
We have year passes to Disney, and my kids love it! We do Epcot the most though, because they’re so hands-on, and we get to visit all the ‘worlds’ and do the Kim Possible Secret Agent which my 8-year-old loves 🙂
March 15, 2012 @ 11:39 pm
It’s funny what we remember as being amazing as kids and then we try to relive that moment with our kids and it isn’t quite the same. I would love to see the Hello Kitty theme park!
March 16, 2012 @ 12:44 am
I love Disney even now! I take my grandkids every couple of years and it’s so much fun!
March 16, 2012 @ 1:06 am
oh, i loved disneyland as child and i hope to take my boys there! but i have often wondered what it would be like for me as an adult. no doubt the rides will be better but will it feel too commercialized, less magical as it did for me waaaay back in the early 80’s?
March 16, 2012 @ 1:22 am
You have to go to the real Disneyland. I grew up there, my mom working there since I was a little girl. It’s a very neat place. I sadly think the other parks don’t have the same magic as the original Disneyland. You’re right, they are cookie cutter boxes.
March 16, 2012 @ 2:10 am
I totally bypassed the whole Disney thing. It wasn’t a part of my upbringing, so it didn’t become part of my daughter’s either, and it doesn’t look as though it will be for my grandkids. The photo of your son pretty much says it all…’if I close my eyes, maybe I can pretend I’m doing something I really like’…heehee. I enjoyed your post!
March 16, 2012 @ 2:36 am
My boys were completely taken by Disneyland. They were interested in just about everything, including the Rocketships, Mickey himself, and the Disneyland Railroad. We went back in October, and they haven’t stopped asking to go again!
I love Disneyland, and I want to make the most of it while the kids are young and really enjoy it, too!
March 16, 2012 @ 2:36 am
JDaniel loves Curious George and Star Wars. I think he would like parts of Disney, but what he is really looking forward to is Touch a Truck this summer in a local park.
March 16, 2012 @ 2:44 am
My family loved it when we were kids, and we still do! But we try to go on cloudy or even drizzly days to avoid the crowds.
=)
March 16, 2012 @ 3:01 am
I LOVE Disneyland. I grew up in SoCal and we would go every so often. Then, in college, Dumb Dad and I would go on dates their (our college was about 20 minutes away) and we loved it. It was so wonderful to be able to take our Dudes their last summer and show them where me & Daddy fell in love! I guess it will always be magical for us!
March 16, 2012 @ 4:05 am
I’m dreading the day I have to go not because of Disney but because of al the lines. I hate standing around waiting. BUt I will probably end up at Disney eventually and I hope my kids enjoy it. But it will probably be once only!
Leigh @oneandoneequalstwinfun.com
March 16, 2012 @ 7:42 am
Dominique, I think that many times the parents are more enthused by Disney than the kids. Unless the children have been exposed to a lot of them on TV or in their reading going there isn’t any more special than a regular amusement park.
Our youngest, two and a half, is in love with Mickey Mouse. She adores Minnie too!
Those are such pretty dresses that the ladies are wearing.
I’ve been to Disney California and Florida. They were just building Disney Hong Kong when we visited there.
..
March 16, 2012 @ 8:47 am
I have been to Disney in LA and HK. Love the one in LA. The one in HK is a let down
March 16, 2012 @ 12:40 pm
@Shook,
I haven’t been to the one in LA yet.. maybe we may go there one day but at present when we do go to Japan I think we will give the Disney there a miss too.
March 16, 2012 @ 10:29 am
they may not be into it, but that photo is cute 🙂 xo
March 16, 2012 @ 12:16 pm
I have never been to Disney but would probably go if given the chance. Although I do not like crowds much
March 17, 2012 @ 2:47 am
Glad you got to go and had a great time even though the boys didn’t really associate with a character.
I really hope we can get to go sometime.
At the moment my son is loving on the CARS (movie thing theme) and my daughter loves all things princess!
Have a great weekend!
March 17, 2012 @ 9:03 am
I still love Disney!!! a place of magic, a place of wonder!!!
March 17, 2012 @ 2:07 pm
My daughter and I love Disneyland! I live in L.A. so I’m pretty close, but I don’t go very often!
March 18, 2012 @ 10:52 am
I think there is a lot to like in Disneyland, not just the characters but also the rides, and the feeling of being in a place where things aren’t so real. It’s ok to get lost in fantasy land sometimes. The magic is the colors and the make believe things that the children get to touch and feel.
I went to dsiney quite a bit, and try to like it for the kids, it got old for me, but I still think it is super spectacular.
March 24, 2012 @ 7:39 am
I’ve only been to Disney once and it was too much for me. I’m not a big fan of huge crowds and hyper-commercialization!
I’ve seen pictures of Hello Kittie world and it looks so happy and colorful. I bet it would be more fun!
Thanks for quite a thought provoking link to the letter Q this week.
A+