Another article on the reaction to runDisney's new Tinker Bell Half

[Mouse Skywalker]

Tuesday, April 19, runDisney announced the newest race in their endurance series. The Tinker Bell Half Marathon will debut in Disneyland on Sunday, January 29, 2012. As September’s Disneyland Half Marathon filled in record time, the new California race will be another option for those looking to run through Walt Disney’s original theme park. Similar to Walt Disney World’s Princess Half Marathon, the Tinker Bell Half Marathon will celebrate women athletes. However, Disney’s announcement was not without criticism; many runDisney fans were upset with the way Disney built up hype for the race via their facebook page. Once the Disneyland race was finally revealed, comments on runDisney’s wall ranged from excited to openly hostile. Check out the link below for Disney’s video of the race announcement as well as my thoughts on the new race and controversy.

DIS Unplugged: New Disneyland Tinker Bell Half Marathon Incites Vehement Response

 

[SAHDad]

Yeah, there are quite a few blogs out there talking about it. Sadly, a lot of them boil down to "Guys are whining, and need to man up, because women need women-centric races, and any guy who wants a men-centric race is a neanderthal."

 

[FireDancer]

Very well written blog Dave. While I disagree with parts I appreciate the well thought out point of view.

 

[timmac]

Very well written blog Dave. While I disagree with parts I appreciate the well thought out point of view.

The biggest part I disagree with is the connection between increasing numbers of women's runners and the need for a women's only race. 2011 Marathon weekend numbers demonstrate pretty clearly that women are not underrepresented at all (was just over 50% women between the half and the full)

Although I agree it's well written and well thought out, I'm disappointed that it only glosses over the exclusion of males. While I appreciate the intent to maintain a certain tone to the blog as a whole, and concede that an outright rant would be inappropriate, I also don't think it's right to sugar coat it either. The "impossible to please everyone" excuse doesn't hold up when nearly 50% of potential interested individuals are ousted from the start. Likewise, writing off the frustrations as simply the "incivility bred by the internet" is just an attempt to skirt the validity of the underlying issue.

In particular where there's clearly more demand than supply for something that's arguably overpriced, and in this case clearly overhyped, finding out it's not even a race I'm invited to enter is like reaching down to pickup a dollar bill that someone pulls away on a string.

To be clear, I think the blog post does do a good job of initially presenting the community feedback in a way that accurately reflects the overall response; unfortunately, though, the sugar coating comes off as overly forgiving, and even a bit disingenuous.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

To be clear, I think the blog post does do a good job of initially presenting the community feedback in a way that accurately reflects the overall response; unfortunately, though, the sugar coating comes off as overly forgiving, and even a bit disingenuous.

Interesting point of view... hmmm, I didn't think I was sugar-coating, and I disagree with being disingenuous. I don't have a problem with the women-focused event. I find it interesting the outcry over this Tinker Bell Half Marathon, but yet there's no one making a big deal over the women-focused Princess Half Marathon or the Minnie's 15k that preceded it. I'm sorry, I don't think that everything can be (or maybe even should be) all things to all people.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

The biggest part I disagree with is the connection between increasing numbers of women's runners and the need for a women's only race. 2011 Marathon weekend numbers demonstrate pretty clearly that women are not underrepresented at all (was just over 50% women between the half and the full)

I was refering to the increased number of women runners in the sport overall - not just at Disney races. I never said or thought women were underrepresented at Disney races.

 

[stampingoddess]

Personally I don't think that the point of having a women's race has anything to do with an perceived underepresentation of women in these races. Instead, it's just the opposite. (1) Women are the majority of half marathon participants; (2) women are ASKING for women's focused races (as evidenced by how many of these races are reaching capacity)

Disney being a for profit corporation see adds 1 and 2 together and comes up with the new Tink race which is marketed to women. Essentially giving women what they want.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Disney being a for profit corporation see adds 1 and 2 together and comes up with the new Tink race which is marketed to women. Essentially giving women what they want.

I agree with this 100%, and was trying to get at that in my article. It's a marketing strategy, and Disney knows it's prime audience.

 

[ludari]

Just taking it all in. I have to say I am a little surprised at the reaction/feedback this race is getting. Has this type of reaction happened before?

 

[FireDancer]

I posted what my biggest objection to the race is here. I really don't want to retype it.

I'm not trying to change minds or anything. I'm just trying to put into words what makes me so mad about the whole concept.

 

[CrystalCastle]

Just taking it all in. I have to say I am a little surprised at the reaction/feedback this race is getting. Has this type of reaction happened before?

I was wondering that as well. Mouse Skywalker pointed out the Princess and former Minnie race. I'm curious if they were met with the same reaction too.

 

[FireDancer]

I was wondering that as well. Mouse Skywalker pointed out the Princess and former Minnie race. I'm curious if they were met with the same reaction too.

I was always pretty annoyed by the whole concept with the Princess as well but could (barely) justify it to myself as a one-off. Two, however, is a pattern and add to that how long we were strung along just to be told at the end that we weren't welcomed, at least not as equals.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

My issue was as much with the theme as the gender specific race. Tinkerbell isn't a role model in the same way the Disney princesses are. In the original Peter Pan movie, Tink doesn't even talk. (Yes, I know the same can be said for Dopey).

But, I mean, going back to the original Barrie book, Tink is a spoiled brat. Is that how Disney sees us? LOL.

 

[stampingoddess]

I agree with this 100%, and was trying to get at that in my article. It's a marketing strategy, and Disney knows it's prime audience.

And as a shareholder, I am thankful.

 

[CrystalCastle]

I was always pretty annoyed by the whole concept with the Princess as well but could (barely) justify it to myself as a one-off. Two, however, is a pattern and add to that how long we were strung along just to be told at the end that we weren't welcomed, at least not as equals.

I see your point and agree they should not have strung us all along. I am still with those that feel Disney did this to give the West Coast a more equal share of the races. WDW - Princess, now DL - Tinker Bell. It really doesn't feel like they want to totally cut out the male population. It seems their intent was more innocent than that.

roomthreeseventeen, I agree with you on Tink totally! I know they call it sass but where I'm from it's called something else not so "nice".

 

[Hey Mickey]

Tinkerbell isn't a role model in the same way the Disney princesses are. In the original Peter Pan movie, Tink doesn't even talk. (Yes, I know the same can be said for Dopey).

But, I mean, going back to the original Barrie book, Tink is a spoiled brat. Is that how Disney sees us? LOL.

Seriously, I have to agree that Tinkerbell is a poor choice if Disney is trying to provide a role model for a women-bonding and empowering ecent. Tink tries to off Wendy because she is jealous of her. Go, females, go!

Though, i have to say, some of the princesses aren't exactly great role models. Too many fo the stories revolve around female jealousy and revenge. And the whole sleeping beauty thing gets to me -- the only thing she needed to do was not prick her finger before she was of age. And those (female) fairies just had to keep her secreted away in the woods one more freaking day. But they were too busy arguing about fabric colors to pull it off. Another tribute to female pettiness leading to disaster.

Nala. Now there is a female role model.

 

[jeanigor]

I agree with this 100%, and was trying to get at that in my article. It's a marketing strategy, and Disney knows it's prime audience.

And while this may be their choice and goal (as it also seems to be the trend for theme park marketing as well), it does not mean that we need to like it, agree with its implementation or sit idly by being disenfranchised.

Be the change you wish to see. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Nothing changes if nobody speaks.

 

[timmac]

Interesting point of view... hmmm, I didn't think I was sugar-coating, and I disagree with being disingenuous. I don't have a problem with the women-focused event. I find it interesting the outcry over this Tinker Bell Half Marathon, but yet there's no one making a big deal over the women-focused Princess Half Marathon or the Minnie's 15k that preceded it. I'm sorry, I don't think that everything can be (or maybe even should be) all things to all people.

Dave, my words were a bit harsh, and I ask your forgiveness for that. I enjoy your blogs, and know you're trying to keep a more upbeat tone, and wouldn't want you to change that. Some of it just read (to me anyway) like a brush off of perhaps the biggest single complaint.

While I would agree it's ok that not everything be all things to all people, I think there's a lot of things going on in this case. The princess half in Florida is much less a bit deal because of the larger selection of races offered, and also the timing. The west coast now offers only two races, one of which isn't for me. After their statement about how fast the September half fills up, I don't see how the added race for only half the population helps that issue much. Just doesn't make sense. More to the point in this case though, there was a considerable length of time spend building artificial hype; the last minute bait and switch to find out it's a women's event was at best ill considered.

Again, I think it was the phrase "can't please everyone" that I most disagree with. That might work to explain away when a lot of people nit pick over lots of little issues. It might also work when people have to cast an up or down vote, and the result is going to annoy nearly half of voters no matter the outcome.

But the point is, in this case, at least so far as the biggest complaint, it absolutely would have been possible to please everyone. I'd argue that few women would have been put off by a gender-neutral event (perhaps Peter pan theme as has been suggested), but instead, a great man males are put off by the unwelcome mat left at runDisney's doorstep.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

There are some awesome female role models in the Disney cannon. Mulan. Mary Poppins. Esmerelda. Wendy. Tiana. Nala... on and on.

And yes, I do see the irony of having Tink on my ticker.

 

[timmac]

I was refering to the increased number of women runners in the sport overall - not just at Disney races. I never said or thought women were underrepresented at Disney races.

I definitely understood what you meant, and it's a fair point. Also wasn't really my intention to put words in your mouth (though I did, inadvertently)... was just acknowledging the increase in women by noting that they're already there. And given that, why have a women only even?

You are 100% correct in that it's a marketing based decision, and sadly, runDisney doesn't really care, since they'll be plenty of women to sign up (most likely), and there's too much demand anyway.