Angry, Entitled Disney Adults Are the Heart and Soul of the GOP

[JoeOtterbein]

Daily Beast

The anti-”woke” movement is disproportionately focused on cartoons, theme parks, picture books, movies that feature talking snowmen and magic mirrors—things that are for children.

Erin Gloria Ryan
Updated May. 08, 2021 4:26AM ET / Published May. 08, 2021 12:01AM ET

An immutable fact of childhood is that if kids love something enough, adults will eventually ruin it. My generation would know; we witnessed Cabbage Patch Kids mania, Tickle Me Elmo frenzy, Beanie Baby mayhem, and parents getting into actual fistfights over PlayStations. Saturday morning Pop Tarts commercials stacked between 22-minute advertisements for dolls and action figures masquerading as TV shows were correct: adults are the enemy of fun.

I’ve always read toy trends that turn into national embarrassments as generously as I could. In many cases it seemed like parents simply wanted what was best for their kids, and then got a little carried away, and then got a lot carried away. But a new generation of adults who are a little too invested in cultural products for children seems unconcerned with children’s enjoyment entirely, and seems to think that things made for America’s children—from Disney World to Dr. Seuss—should actually be tailored to the tastes of middle-aged white people.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with adults who haven’t lost touch with their inner child, adults without kids who do things like vacation at Disneyland or collect illustrated children’s books. There’s everything wrong with expecting children’s media and spaces to cater to the tastes of adults, just as it’s inappropriate for parents to expect adult-focused media and spaces to cater primarily to children. It’s as stupid for parents to get angry at the content of an R-rated film as it is for adults to get angry that Pepe Le Pew won’t be appearing alongside Bugs Bunny in the newest animated Warner Brothers film. An adult throwing a tantrum about Walt Disney World is as obnoxious as a toddler throwing a tantrum in a bar.

snip

more at link

They need to grow up ASAP.

[Takket]

1. this is what spurred this on...

This op-ed appeared in the Orlando Sentinel a few weeks ago. The writer of it has been, quite justifiably, ROASTED across the internet for this horrible piece.

I think this op-ed inspired the DB piece linked in the OP. it is behind a paywall (as is the DB piece LOL) so in accordance with DU rules I'm only copying the first 4 paragraphs. But if you google it you'll find about a million OTHER follow up pieces picking apart what this VanBoskerck said.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/guest-commentary/os-op-disney-wokeness-ruining-park-experience-20210423-y6i6ofah2bfzfcbauj4rdurjoy-story.html


I love Disney World, but wokeness is ruining the experience | Commentary
By Jonathan VanBoskerck
Orlando Sentinel |
Apr 23, 2021 at 9:00 AM
A guest columnist who wrote that Disney World's politically correct changes were ruining his theme-park experience got readers talking about diversity.

My family and I have been loyal Disney customers for decades. We vacation at Disney World every year. We take a Disney cruise every year or two. Consequently, we spend way too much money in Orlando.

Unfortunately, I am strongly rethinking our commitment to Disney and, thus, Orlando. The more Disney moves away from the values and vision of Walt Disney, the less Disney World means to me. Disney is forgetting that guest immersion is at the core of its business model. When I stand in Galaxy’s Edge or Fantasyland, I know I am in a theme park but through immersion and my willingness to set the real world aside, something magical happens.

That spell is broken when the immersive experience is shattered by the real world. And boy, has Disney been breaking the immersion. Recently, Disney announced that cast members are now permitted to display tattoos, wear inclusive uniforms and display inclusive haircuts. Disney did all of this in the name of allowing cast members to express themselves.

The problem is, I’m not traveling across the country and paying thousands of dollars to watch someone I do not know express themselves. I am there for the immersion and the fantasy, not the reality of a stranger’s self-expression. I do not begrudge these people their individuality and I wish them well in their personal lives, but I do not get to express my individuality at my place of business.

[JoeOtterbein]

2. Funny!

I don't it. I get that kids like Disney, but as an adult, it's the last place I would want to go.

[XanaDUer2]

3. I work with a 59 yr old Disney fanatic

drives hundreds of miles to Disney World several times a year.

Wants to move to Celebration soon. Nice lady. We're close in age, so we talk.

Had a boss who got a lifetime pass to DW. Went on her daughter's honeymoon with her and SIL to DW.

[Deep State Witch]

4. Yeah

The only reason why I want to go there now is because of the Star Wars thing.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

13. Rise of the Resistance is amazing

[mopinko]

5. i went once. it was enough.

only had 2 kids at the time, too.

[Happy Hoosier]

6. People have different tastes.

I still very much enjoy Disney. I enjoy the nostalgia and imagination. Some “adult” things like golf, or pro sports, or gardening, bores me to tears. But people are different.

[Initech]

8. I'd rather have my teeth pulled than watch professional golf!

[Happy Hoosier]

9. SAME! But my Dad would watch it for HOURS.

I didn't get it, but as an adult, I don't have to!

[madinmaryland]

16. I went to Disneyland with my family when I was 12. I never had any interest in going to

There again. I’m 60.

[Sibelius Fan]

7. As long as we're busy growing up, can we dump religion? All religion?

[Silent3]

10. +1 n/t

[Claire Oh Nette]

11. Does he object to It's a Small World, too?

"permitted to display tattoos, wear inclusive uniforms and display inclusive haircuts."


I grew up 20 minutes from Disneyland. Love it. Half dozen of my buddies worked there in college. Bestie's mom was a nurse @Disney.

Pretty sure Cast Members who do sport tats aren't wearing sleeves and gang tats.Every cast member has a uniform, so wtf is an inclusive uniform when Disney provides costumes for every freaking ride and attraction and eatery?

Bigger point: wtf is an inclusive haircut?

I spend way too much money , he says. Ah. He thinks because he pays more voluntarily, he should be treated differently? Um, no.

He didn't really see this, he read something about changes in Disney Policy and is attention whoring.

[marye50]

12. I went to WDW for my honeymoon back in 1999 nt

I’m not a huge disney fanatic anymore but I’d like to go to Japan(it’s on my bucket list) and visit Tokyo Disneyland as part of my trip.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

18. My firm had a former associate who has visited every Disney Park

He married into money (they had Carnival Cruz as a guest for one of their Seders).

[LetMyPeopleVote]

14. I am headed to WDW

It is a family thing, I was at WDW last year in January just before COVID. My son is taking his siblings and brother in law to WDW in July They were at WDW in March of last year just before the park closed.

The Star Wars rides at Hollywood Studios are amazing.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

15. I dunno, plenty of #Resistance Twitter can't wait to tell you what Hogwarts house they're in.

[uriel1972]

17. In part may be related to this...

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/may/07/snow-whites-kiss-is-far-from-the-dodgiest-disney-moment


A minor post on the internet turned into a conservative feeding frenzy of "OH noes the feminists are coming for Disney."