Disney- a load of fun, or a load of merchandising?

[Diamondsbylauren]

Maybe I'm a little skeptical because my guys are too young to really "get into" it....but what do you guys think?
Before I write another word- Squig! I know you're a real Disney Devotee.....so I hope you're not mad I'm writing this....but aren't the parks a bit heavy on trying to sell the whole concept of buying Disney to the kids?

[clgwli]

We do go often and even honeymooned there.  In fact my son has been 3 times in his 4 years of life (with our next trip in May).  I can't tell you how often we have gone and now with family near by it's going to be a regular for a while.

I am actually a brat about some things with Disney.  We don't go there to buy things and we just walk out of the shops that they have there at the end of some rides.  However I do the same at all amusement/theme parks we go to.  I also do not "buy into" the whole Disney food thing that many push.  Their food is mediocre at best definitely over priced.  Sadly that seems to be true of all parks I like.  Like for Cedar Point  I spent almost $10 for a piece of pizza and something to drink my last visit!

So I am with you, a lot of parks like Disney, Universal or even your Six Flags type places try to nickle and dime you to death even after you pay through the teeth to get in the park.  It's something I don't think is unique to Disney though.  Universal was equally as bad the last time I went, but I still want to go back once DS is older to check out Harry Potter.  I'm a cheapskate and mean mom though, so I have zero issues saying no or walking quickly away from the gift shops in the first place.   It seems all the theme parks in particular have a shop at the end of every single ride.  I do dislike that, particularly when the merchandise is all the same.

After our last trip when DS was 3.5 I had a whole new love for it.  He really got into everything and the look on his face visiting with Mickey and Minnie was truly priceless.  Seeing him 6 months later talking about his favorite rides (a roller coaster was his favorite along with Nemo and Figment)

However I don't think if you won't be going often, it is wise to wait to take kids under 5 or 6 really.  That's as a huge fan here

So nope, not offended at all by this.  I am actually not one of the Disney "kool aid drinkers" that think Disney can do no wrong.  I'm quite vocal about my displeasure of the food and how almost every single gift shop is exactly the same.  It used to be they would have unique merchandise at least for every gift shop which made browsing at the end almost fun even if not buying.  Now it's all generic cheap crap.  We literally spend about $20 max on gifts for the kid if that because I am very much against the prices they charge.   We also don't spend much money on food there.  Bring in our own snacks, eat meals in the villa etc because I can't stomach the prices.  Or I buy a kids meal for myself since it is about half the price if not more.

Magic is still in the air for me, but I spend less and less money once I am in the parks now.  So really I do think it is both

[Mrs Mitchell]

Don't stone me, but I loathe all things Disney.  I really want to keep my kid away from all that for as long as possible. The whole princess and happily ever after thing just rubs me the wrong way and that's before you even start on the corporate elements.

I have to say though, in that photo, it looks GORGEOUS! As in, I kinda want to go. 

Yes. I can hold entirely contradictory views at one time... 

[dovesgate]

I took my oldest daughter to DisneyWorld when she was a year simply because I happened to be in Orlando visiting my ex's parents. I was not impressed with the Magic Kingdom portion and I didn't like the idea of paying admission to 5 separate parks to ride my favorite rides from Disneyland.

We've taken both our girls to Disneyland once when my oldest was nearly 4 and our youngest a few months old. We decided then that any more trips there needed to happen when they were older. I think this spring or summer would be a good idea while our oldest is young enough to appreciate it and our youngest finally old enough to enjoy it.

My favorite park growing up was always Knotts Berry Farm followed by SeaWorld. Universal had so many broken rides I have only ever been on the tram that takes you through different movie sets and even then, Jaws was in pieces at the bottom of his empty pool. Haven't been back since.

All amusement parks try to get your money in any way they can so we always take snacks and water in with us and we give our girls an amount they can spend on souvenirs. Depending on what they want of course - if we do hit up Disney this year embroidered Mouse Ear caps shall be deemed necessary for pictures by Mom and so wouldn't come out of their budget.

[clgwli]

Jen I admit I am not a fan of some of the princesses myself.  Helpless ladies is not my cup of tea.  I like the newer movies where it isn't just about a girl needing to be rescued.  Of course DS loves the princesses because they are pretty   The castle is gorgeous though.  You should go sometime just to take that in

I grew up going to amusement parks and theme parks as a kid.  I didn't care for Universal in California but the one in Florida is much better.  Though Dovesgate I have noticed that those grew up with Disneyland don't like Walt Disney World as much for a similar reason.  I went to both as a kid so I have my favorites based on what park feels I like the best.  We'll take DS when I can knock myself out for that flight.  I hate flying more than 2 hours.  I don't know if I had a favorite as a kid.  I had several I liked for their own reasons.  Sadly a few have closed down in my state.  Sea World though I was stunned at the prices.  I didn't realize they had gone up so much

[Mrs Mitchell]

We don't have theme parks in Scotland. Unless under age drinking in the open air is a theme...

[Sanchica27]

I never went to Disney as a kid.  We used to go to more local places like Dutch Wonderland in PA I think.  I won't be bringing my kids there either, I never caught Disney Fever.  I would rather support local places or really travel with my kids when I have them.

[Diamondsbylauren]

There's a place in south Florida called "Monkey Jungle"

Now THAT is an amusement park- lots of fun, plus a monkey might poop on your head- can you beat that?

[clgwli]

We don't have theme parks in Scotland. Unless under age drinking in the open air is a theme...

LOL!  In my state alone we have two awesome amusement parks full of some of the best roller coasters in the world (literally).  I was always shocked to hear how far people would travel to one in particular.  We also had a Sea World for a portion of my childhood and a handful of other small amusement or theme parks.

So we did local as well as traveled for the bigger ones.  We're waiting on confirmation that DS loves coasters and can handle them as much as I do before we take trips to the big coaster parks here.  He's been on one and loved it, but it was a baby coaster at WDW (Big Thunder Mountain for those who know). 

We also did some more smaller parks & the like while traveling in FL as a kid.  One is now Legoland but used to be a favorite of mine before it was so commercialized.

[sherylsbuys]

We went to Disney when our daughter was 5, and our son 8.  Their favorite thing to do was breakfast with the Disney characters!  They have very fond memories of this trip (they are now 21 and 24).

This past August we visited Universal Studios to see the new Harry Potter theme park - and it was AMAZING!  Universal Studios hit a grand slam with it.  And the butter beer was even good!

Have FUN, David!!! And enjoy the nice weather!!!

[DiamondsAreForever]

I've never been to Disney.  Never really been a big fan of theme parks, really.  Couldn't handle rides and well, I group up in a house where we had very little money and a vacation was a day at the Jersey Shore.

I think Disney is selling the experience, making kids feels as though they are part of the lives (yeah, I know they're not alive) of the characters they've seen in the Disney movies.  Think about when you were young and had imagination.

Zoos, on the other hand, I could do.  I love animals.  Next trip to South Carolina in April we're going to an animal preserve where I'll get to hold a tiger cub.  How cool is that?

[oldmancoyote]

There once was a lady from Niger
Who smiled as she rode on a tiger
They came back from the ride
With the lady inside
And the smile on the face of the tiger

[clgwli]

We love zoos too and are absolutely spoiled by having one of the top zoos in our own back yard (last year it was #1 yay!!)  We go often - though not lately LOL - and it really is one of my favorite places to go.  I've had a zoo pass long before my son was born too

I'm jealous of the tiger thing though.  We had a place like that like an hour away.  Just when I was going to do it, the person decided to give up running the place and the tigers went elsewhere  Where in SC is the place you are going?

[Trinkette]

I am not a theme or amusement park person – too much concrete and too many lines; I care not for hype and overblown marketing, especially to kids; and all the Disney movies made me cry when I was little... always about poor, innocent, orphaned, baby animals... made me heartsick... still does...

 

[Trinkette]

OTOH, a place you can go and have a MONKEY POOP on your head...
 THAT'S MY KIND OF PLACE!
 

[sherylsbuys]

Disney does do a good job of separating you from your wallet! 

[lovecolor]

I'm not a fan...I'm not into crowds and rides get me sick...however, when my two year old son saw Winnie the Pooh in a restaurant, the look on his face was worth every bit of my discomfort.  He ran into Winnie's arms and hugged him forever!  The ahhhhhhhhhhhh's that I heard around the room, coupled with my son's expressions, put tears in my eyes.  When he was 5, we were in a restaurant with Tigger and that was just as amazing for him and my youngest son, then age 2 1/2...Tigger bounced almost into their laps and posed for pictures and played with them both for a while.  Those were the only times I went there, but for the kids...it was priceless!!!        

[DiamondsAreForever]

We love zoos too and are absolutely spoiled by having one of the top zoos in our own back yard (last year it was #1 yay!!)  We go often - though not lately LOL - and it really is one of my favorite places to go.  I've had a zoo pass long before my son was born too

I'm jealous of the tiger thing though.  We had a place like that like an hour away.  Just when I was going to do it, the person decided to give up running the place and the tigers went elsewhere  Where in SC is the place you are going?

[/b]

It's around North Myrtle Beach.
http://www.myrtlebea...wbandwidth/main.html

[DiamondsAreForever]

Disney does do a good job of separating you from your wallet! 

Yep!

[DiamondsAreForever]

There once was a lady from Niger
Who smiled as she rode on a tiger
They came back from the ride
With the lady inside
And the smile on the face of the tiger

OMC, they're only CUBS.  I should be safe, but thank you for your concern.

[clgwli]

Darn it, I doubt we'll be making it to that area of SC any time soon. You'll have to tell us how it went.  I am really very jealous

Lovecolor the looks on the kids faces are awesome aren't they?  I was just talking about it elsewhere and posted photos of my son all happy looking with the characters.  I also had one from when he was 5 months old getting kissed by Sleeping Beauty - OMG it was priceless. 

Now he's older he bugs us about going a lot.  Makes me smile to think how happy he'll be though

[saqsay1]

I live 90 minutes from Disney and absolutely love it. However, i am more than a little dismayed at the price of anything in a Disney theme park or even their hotels. Last time I was there, I paid $4.00 for a bottle of water 16oz. You would think it would be enough to pay the entrance fees, but no............ they squeeze you for every nickel and dime. All said though, there is still no place in the world like Disney and everything is so clean..... I still love it.

[oldmancoyote]

[snip] they squeeze you for every nickel and dime. All said though, there is still no place in the world like Disney and everything is so clean..... I still love it.

Sounds like Switzerland...