Change in perception of Disney?

[mshanson3121]

I've noticed a large switch in the perception of Disney over the generations. Quite honestly today, among many people - be they bra burning liberals or Bible pounding conservatives (though mostly the latter), many people today think Disney is just horrible. The liberals think they're not promoting strong enough female characters, the conservatives just think Disney is trying to lead our children straight to the flames of hell because of their lack of strong parental role models and disobedient youth in the cartoons and their inferential homosexual references in recent lives action movies.

Meanwhile, I would say that our generation was the golden age of Disney, I grew up a time that Disney was seen as producing quality, wholesome movies and television. And the generations before us, my parents and my grandparents typically held the same view. Disney was synonymous with family values.

In your opinion, what has contributed to this shift in perception of Disney in general?

Admins: I honestly wasn't sure where to place this, so move as you see fit.

 

[fhtpdw20]

There are very few if no individuals that worked for Walt left to carry on his vision of quality. Disney was a family company because it tried to cater to diverse interests and all ages not just one or two demographics of family. Walt also tried to educate while entertain. Now Disney is out for the almighty dollar only. Walt on more than one occasion risked everything on a innovative idea. Disney has devolved to nothing but a brand. During this holiday season just compare the Christmas Parades of the 90's to the infomericals for the parks and their recording/cable "stars" that are produced now. There was a time as you said Disney stood for quality and you could watch anything produced. Too bad for this and future generations those days are long gone. Thankfully, I collected a number of the Walt-era movies and treasures series that Roy E. Disney pushed to have made on DVD in the early 2000s. They are sitting on a gold mine if the had the sense to go to their vaults and archives to release the contents. Quality never goes out of style and it introduces the next generation to what made Disney great to begin with.

 

[Klayfish]

I've noticed a large switch in the perception of Disney over the generations. Quite honestly today, among many people - be they bra burning liberals or Bible pounding conservatives (though mostly the latter), many people today think Disney is just horrible. The liberals think they're not promoting strong enough female characters, the conservatives just think Disney is trying to lead our children straight to the flames of hell because of their lack of strong parental role models and disobedient youth in the cartoons and their inferential homosexual references in recent lives action movies.

Meanwhile, I would say that our generation was the golden age of Disney, I grew up a time that Disney was seen as producing quality, wholesome movies and television. And the generations before us, my parents and my grandparents typically held the same view. Disney was synonymous with family values.

In your opinion, what has contributed to this shift in perception of Disney in general?

Admins: I honestly wasn't sure where to place this, so move as you see fit.

OK, your take seems a bit odd to me....bra burning liberals and bible pounding conservatives?? Not quire sure where I'd fall in that spectrum.

But anyway, I don't see a change in perception of Disney. I love it as much as ever and more. Haters gonna hate, as the saying goes, so let them hate. Disney still is family values, IMO. Have they branched out? Sure, absolutely. I don't know how viable they'd be if they only did Bambi movies. However, I still think WDW is the most family friendly theme park anywhere.

 

[L&Lfan]

I think it’s the culture that has changed and Disney as a secular company where the dollar comes first only reflects what the culture has become. And today’s Disney is very aware of and concerned with identity politics.

 

[mshanson3121]

OK, your take seems a bit odd to me....bra burning liberals and bible pounding conservatives?? Not quire sure where I'd fall in that spectrum.

But anyway, I don't see a change in perception of Disney. I love it as much as ever and more. Haters gonna hate, as the saying goes, so let them hate. Disney still is family values, IMO. Have they branched out? Sure, absolutely. I don't know how viable they'd be if they only did Bambi movies. However, I still think WDW is the most family friendly theme park anywhere.

It's called sarcasm, hyperbole, whatever you want to call it...

Your perception may not have changed, mine may not have changed, but in general, on FB, I see a lot of people that are really anti-Disney these days. Not so much the theme parks, but the company as a whole. A lot more than I ever used to. And I find it surprising, as like you, I still find Disney very family-friendly.

 

[Klayfish]

It's called sarcasm, hyperbole, whatever you want to call it...

Your perception may not have changed, mine may not have changed, but in general, on FB, I see a lot of people that are really anti-Disney these days. Not so much the theme parks, but the company as a whole. A lot more than I ever used to. And I find it surprising, as like you, I still find Disney very family-friendly.

Well, there's the problem right there...I highlighted it above. I don't use FB or any of those sites, so I guess I'm blissfully ignorant to that nonsense.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

I don’t see a whole lot of Disney hate around me or on my social media; it’s mostly either love for it or ambivalence. I do hear criticisms of Disney (I also live in Orlando and work in the theme park industry, so it’s a common subject), but mostly how they are as an employer. I think most people are happy with the content they produce and are pushing for more diverse representation in their films. I’m a Millennial and most of my friends loved Moana, for example.

 

[mshanson3121]

Well, there's the problem right there...I highlighted it above. I don't use FB or any of those sites, so I guess I'm blissfully ignorant to that nonsense.

You are very wise! At least once a week I consider deleting my FB account, lol. The only thing that keeps me on there is a couple really beneficial support groups that I'm part of, and of course some long distance family. But man, sometimes... the crap on there.... oie.

This was all prompted by a post I saw on a Christian homeschooling group, asking about internet security, and said specifically that Circle is out of the question because they refuse to support such a horrid company as Disney who is always (and I quote) "pushing their leftist agenda on us"... and then all the bashers came on. I've seen it before, but I guess it just never ceases to surprise me.

 

[smiths02]

I feel it is just a reflection of our times. Disney is a company trying to make money. Because of this, business-wise, it probably behooves them to try to stay in the middle as much as they can (or to only lean slightly one way or the other). IMO, social media provides a voice for the opposite ends of the political spectrum, like your hyperbole suggests.

 

[mshanson3121]

I feel it is just a reflection of our times. Disney is a company trying to make money. Because of this, business-wise, it probably behooves them to try to stay in the middle as much as they can (or to only lean slightly one way or the other). IMO, social media provides a voice for the opposite ends of the political spectrum, like your hyperbole suggests.

Yes, that's true. The extremes seem to be the most vocal.

 

[neverlandsky]

Disney & Walmart have a lot of similarities. Bigger corporations in general are an easier bigger bullseye for negative publicity. Due to their sheer size alone they are under a larger microscope. Then factor in social media and well kaboom.

 

[Hikergirl]

Society has changed, everything is politicized and so polarized now. People can't just see the positive, they have to find what is wrong, and then go on FB and rant about it
Disney can't just be a company that entertains the masses. It either has to be a greedy money grubbing corporation who only cares about the almighty dollar at the expense of their employees and customers, or to others a company who shoves their agenda (which they feel lacks family values and morals) down the throats of people.

 

[fla4fun]

I feel it is just a reflection of our times. Disney is a company trying to make money. Because of this, business-wise, it probably behooves them to try to stay in the middle as much as they can (or to only lean slightly one way or the other). IMO, social media provides a voice for the opposite ends of the political spectrum, like your hyperbole suggests.

Isn’t there an old saying that if you try to please everyone you end up pleasing no one?

I agree with your post on two levels. One, that they do try to walk a line down the middle, which means people on the far ends of the spectrum won’t think Disney is doing enough to promote “their” particular agenda, whatever that happens to be. Second, I see a lot of social media as just a way for people to whine and complain, so we see that negativity more than we used to. People are much more likely to post about a problem (real or imagined) than they are when everything goes right. When you combine the two, it can be very volatile. I try to avoid most social media for my own sanity.

 

[mshanson3121]

Isn’t there an old saying that if you try to please everyone you end up pleasing no one?

I agree with your post on two levels. One, that they do try to walk a line down the middle, which means people on the far ends of the spectrum won’t think Disney is doing enough to promote “their” particular agenda, whatever that happens to be. Second, I see a lot of social media as just a way for people to whine and complain, so we see that negativity more than we used to. People are much more likely to post about a problem (real or imagined) than they are when everything goes right. When you combine the two, it can be very volatile. I try to avoid most social media for my own sanity.

Ooh I agree with this so much. Which in turn makes me wonder, maybe for the overall population, there really hasn't been that much of a change. We just hear more from the extremes these days.

 

[Jennasis]

I don't think anything has changed. Social media has just made it possible to instantly access EVERYONE'S opinion instantly. Same old opinions...you're just able to see them all now.

 

[Turn the Page]

There has always been a segment of society that didn't like Disney for the reasons the PP stated but also didn't like the parks because they were too expensive, lines were too long, weather too hot, too far away, insert reason here.

I think a big reason why so many controversies get blown up so fast is social media. Honestly.

Would the end of the GAC have been such an issue if not for social media where the few who were actually severely affected by it could whip everyone else up into an outrage?

Would the gay aspects of the live action Beauty and the Beast been such a big deal if not for social media spreading the hysteria? How many people would have noticed if not for FB and twitter posts about it? I never realized LaFou was gay in the animated version (psychophantic sure but not gay) until I saw posts about the live action and how he was gay in the original too. Then I went back and looked. I never would have noticed if not for people whipping up a frenzy online.

Not to mention the brouhaha over the Maui Halloween costume a few years ago. Pre internet days if someone dressed their child in a Maui costume a few people may have been somewhat offended but you wouldn't have the nationwide outrage that we saw.

People are just much more in each others business now than they used to be.

 

[smiths02]

I don't think anything has changed. Social media has just made it possible to instantly access EVERYONE'S opinion instantly. Same old opinions...you're just able to see them all now.

I think the voices are also singling out companies a lot more. I have family members on very extreme ends of the political spectrum.
For personal and professional reasons, I try to stay pretty neutral on FB. Just cute kid pictures. But it gets to the point that posting that we went to Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, or Disney or prefer New Balance to Nike becomes a political issue. I have friends on both sides who will also have posts denouncing whatever company and then proceed to criticize anyone who doesn't protest publicly on Facebook.

 

[rickybobby]

Sorry, but I cannot focus on Disney right now. I am busy being offended by Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

 

[L&Lfan]

And I just heard Baby It’s Cold Outside on the radio. I thought we’d gotten that song advocating date rape banned last year!

 

[mummabear]

Society has changed, everything is politicized and so polarized now. People can't just see the positive, they have to find what is wrong, and then go on FB and rant about it
Disney can't just be a company that entertains the masses. It either has to be a greedy money grubbing corporation who only cares about the almighty dollar at the expense of their employees and customers, or to others a company who shoves their agenda (which they feel lacks family values and morals) down the throats of people.

Here is the thing though...its both.
And it is important to think about the values of companies, just like you may care if a company has polluted the environment with a large oil spill or makes it clothes in a sweat shop.
I love Disney but csnt deny that I am uncomfortable with the fact that they so desperately dont want to pay a living wage to their CMs that they have cancelled an entire hotel to get put of a local law that would have forced them too