As Christians, Any WDW attractions to AVOID?

[Gymbomom]

As interesting as this is, and I have read the entire thing and see many interesting points being made... the original OP hasn't responded since the 3rd page, so at this point we are obviously just debating amongst ourselves and she has gone on with her life.

Yes, the OP private messaged me and told me she would not post anymore as the topic had gotten off topic and had taken a direction she had not intended.
Who could blame her????

 

[Puffy2]

For the OP: Get a travel book and figure it out for yourself; how are strangers supposed to know what would offend your religious beliefs?

 

[rapriebe]

Gymbomom,
What did the OP expect, everyone to have the same beliefs as her? Sorry if she felt that this post got off track but . . . . I believe that there were alot of posters that strongly disagreed with her views and that is our right to express our opinions also. I would have hoped that she would have listened to some of the comments made on this board so that her kids could get the most out of their Disney trip.

Also wanted to say - TigrLvsPooh, I totally agree with your posts, you added some interest to this thread!!!

 

[dalt01]

i got through about half of the posts and just one comment to the OP, public discussion of ones faith has kept the world at war since the begining of time, if you dont believe that take a quick trip to the middle east, what makes anyone think this group is any different. i keep my beliefs to myself except in groups of people who are like minded. your question is valid you should just ask others like yourself who have been there to get the kind of answer you are looking for. just for a LOL, a friend of mine at work goes to a church whos pastor told the congregation to boycott disney because they employee about 65% gay and lesbian people. im sure the mouse will miss those 65 people. "if we were all the same, who the heck would we complain about"

 

[Lewski709]

I really think the OP would be better off not going to Disney. I agree with the poster who said it would be like taking a kid to an ice cream parlor and then telling them they couldn't have ice cream. I never heard of Christians having problems with Disney so this is quite a surprise. I'm a CHristian and I always knew that SOrcerer Mickey was a fantasy. As for not going to the Universe of ENergy because of Ellen I'm sorry but I think that's the more intolerant statement I've ever heard on these boards.

ITA and I love RoyalCanadians post.

If you worry too much about what you may encounter on a trip, you won't enjoy it and maybe shouldn't even attempt to try, fearing you will over analyze it all and then tell everyone what a horrible, very bad, no good time you had.

How about a trip to the promised land instead?

 

[Sandyincanada]

I found this to be a very interesting thread. I was brought up Luthern, my kids (one is an adult now) were brought up learning about everything so they could make up their own minds. They were also brought up to respect all colors, races, religions, sexual preferences, etc. They turned out pretty darn good

I never thought of Disney as anymore than a Theme PArk ( a magical one, yes but still a park). All cartoon charactors, fantasy, make belief. A park created for fun! To make little kids dreams come true. It just never, ever crossed my mind that people would look deeper than that. Please, I am not meaning to disrespect the OP in anyway but this whole thread really surprised me.

Thanks to all those who replied. I really did find it interesting.

 

[sk!mom]

She does not ride Universe of Energy because of Ellen.

Wow! As a Christian I am astounded by the lack of tolerance in that statement. My DH and I are raising our children with the very basic Christian principle to love and respect others whether or not they live their lives as we do.

We love WDW and have never been offended by any rides. We ride and enjoy everything! In fact in four adult trips to WDW none of this ever occurred to me.

My children have been taught evolution as part of a well rounded education.

Our last two trips to WDW were during Gay Days and that was of no concern to DH and I either. We went to E ride night at the MK on Gay Day a few years ago. It was magical as always and we never considered not going. Our children certainly know that some people are in same sex relationships and they deserve the same respect as all other people. It's all about tolerance, folks! My children have been raised Christian but they are also raised to understand that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. Our beliefs are "our beliefs" and not necessarily the beliefs of the rest of the world.

I have to agree that if you have problems with magic than you might want to consider a different vacation.

One more comment and then I'll stop rambling- My dad is a fundamental baptist minister and Dh's dad a Southern baptist minister so I do understand about people with very rigid, legalistic beliefs. My parents love WDW by the way, took us to DL often as kids and never kept us off any rides, but they also love Harry Potter so maybe my tolerance comes from them.

 

[elaine and the boys]

Let's all remember to thank God for the gift of free will. We can make our own personal choices. Asking for advice enables us to make informed decisions...whatever our belief system may be.

 

[Cyndiu]

Despite being a Jew (gasp) and a lesbian (gasp) and one who accepts evolution as fact (gasp), and therefore precisely the sort of influence the OP would probably wish to shield her children from, I was going to suggest that she try to see WDW the way Jesus would in order to ease her fear and aversion, i.e. with merciful love and acceptance and joy. But then I pictured JC whirling around on Dumbo, kind of blissed out and waving with his hair flowing behind him, and realized that he would probably never visit WDW in the first place unless it was to minister to others. I therefore suggest that she either go elsewhere or come and be open to everything, or perhaps come to help others in some capacity.

In the end this post sounds more LSD-inspired than sage, so I leave it here as a humble and hopefully humorous if mildly offensive musing.

Love you Mama!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

As a pagan I have to say this has been most enlightening to me! I love to learn about all religions and theories. I love to know what people believe, because I am much better at sorting out what I don't believe versus what I do. DS is learning about all points of view. He is 9, and when he is older and feels he has all the information he needs to make a choice about religion then he may do so. For now we are gathering information and stressing the importance of tolerance, acceptance, and respect.

It never occurred to me that families might be offended by references to magic, etc. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised since Harry Potter offends so many people. I can see where the OP is coming from, however, because I would be uncomfortable anywhere with intense Christian theming.

I think the bottom line for ANY family wanting to experience WDW is to GO. After an attraction ask the children what they thought about what they saw. Few 5-year-olds will launch into a discussion about creationism vs. evolution. I think as adults our thinking tends to be clouded by our inability to filter out our adult perceptions. Children pay attention to things in a totally different way than adults do, but none of us could ever approach anything from a PURELY 5-year-old view because we aren't 5 anymore! Most kids won't associate anything at WDW as being at odds with their theological teachings. If they do, then the parents can explain why the image is at odds with the family's beliefs. I wouldn't approach a vacation with the intent of heading off everything objectionable before we arrived. Address issues as they come up - if they never come up, lucky you!

 

[sk!mom]

Also, the people who suggested that a Disney vacation may not be right were simply giving their opinions given the OP's self-imposed limitations. That is also not a flame.

It is not a flame to post opinions that do not conform to the OP's. You cannot control a thread once it's out in the public domain, no matter how hard you try.

ITA. I only suggessted a different vacation because it sounded like the OP has serious concerns about her children being exposed to "magic". There is so much "magic" at WDW that I don't think it could be avoided.

 

[Dobie]

No offense intended, but I honestly think if you are worried that you might see something anywhere that might possibly offend you, you would probably be happier staying home and going to church.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

I looked for more posts from the OP of this thread and found she is booked at ASMo. If Sorcerer Mickey offends her, the WHOLE WING of the resort themed for Fantasia with the SORCERER MICKEY pool area would not be a good idea. Also, as for the whole dinosaur thing, how can people not believe in dinosaurs? We have fossils around to prove it? I agree with everyone who says just stay home.if you are going to skip more than half the attractions at the park, why spend that much money? I was raised Catholic (so not in any way similar to what this person believes) but nothing at WDW offends me or my family. Sorry that she has opted out of this thread that she started, there's been lots of input since she left.

 

[Mama Twinkles]

Love you Mama!

Love you, too, Cyndiu! Thanks.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

Also, someone mentioned Festival of the Lion King. The OP has said in another thread that she has tickets to see the Broadway show when it comes to her town. Isn't Rafiki practicing some sort of "magic" in this story?

 

[DLKT]

So I guess we won't be seeing too many Christians at the Dracula theme park in Transylvania?

It's an on again off again project.
This one gives the best description I could find:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian/issues03/apr03/dracula.html

The developers used to have an official site here:

http://www.draculapark.ro

But now it's password protected.
Too bad.
It was very imaginative.
They even had an attraction map.
Very "Disneyish" looking!
I saw it when it was first proposed.
I loved it.
It's funny though. Travel was the big concern initially not the environment.
It's really tough to travel to Transylvania.
Not direct flights to say the least.
Coming from America it was a very big deal.
Oh well.

 

[madge]

whatever happened to the OP, anyway? I haven't seen her for pages and pages....

I think it's time to stick a fork in this thread and call it done, LOL.

 

[eeyore0062]

whatever happened to the OP, anyway? I haven't seen her for pages and pages....

I think it's time to stick a fork in this thread and call it done, LOL.

She stopped posting at about page 3. I don't think she expected anyone but those who were of a like mind to answer the thread and when she realized what had started she stopped posting.

I agree, this thread is a bit well done and probably needs to be taken off of the flames... so to speak!

 

[joshsmom]

Has anyone ever looked in a childs face in the morning as they start up Main Street and got their first glimpse of the Castle?

Has anyone every seen MY face in the morning as I start up Main Street and get my first glimpse of the Castle??? I'm 36, a Christian (Catholic), and I stand in the middle of Main Street with the sun and tears on my face. It's like entering a completely different world--one in which I can forget my daily stressors and troubles and just be a kid again. I use teaching moments with DS9 when we are at Universe of Energy (Big Bang Theory) and any time there are things that represent teachings different from our own. At the same time, we go on all the rides, talk to each other, skip with each other, and see other families doing the same. I love WDW and am not offended by any of it at all!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Has anyone every seen MY face in the morning as I start up Main Street and get my first glimpse of the Castle???

Me too!!!! Maybe that's why I'm so easily riled up when it comes to my favorite little mouse. It just makes me sad to see Mickey lumped into a category of things un-Christian. He has brought so much joy and hapiness to our family. I have to stick up for the little guy.