Fantasyland Expansion "Downsizing"

[mom2rtk]

Hence the expanded arcade near Space Mountain!

I HATE those arcades. You pay all that money for admission.... then that's all the boys want to do! They'd be happy to hang there all day..... Fortunately they are teenagers now, so they are better at the games and the quarters last longer!

 

[FigNewton]

Gender Non-Specific.

Princesses on the other hand.

I maintain that it is possible to present princesses in a way that isn't distasteful to little boys. However, that doesn't appear to be part of Disneys
marketting strategy much to my disappointment.

 

[WDSearcher]

I maintain that it is possible to present princesses in a way that isn't distasteful to little boys. However, that doesn't appear to be part of Disneys
marketting strategy much to my disappointment.

Judging by the number of little boys shyly meeting princesses and fairies or the number of little boys walking around WDW with great big red kisses on their cheeks and foreheads, I'm thinking that princesses aren't as universally distasteful as you think. I was with a family a few weeks ago that had 7, 9 and 11 year old boys. The 9 and 11 YOs had no problem whatsoever with princesses. They happily met Snow White. They enjoyed VOLM and other princessy stuff. And then they went off and watch LMA and had a great time there too. The 7YO decided Snow White wasn't to his liking. I think a lot of the "distaste" comes from parents who think that their boys only want "boy things". Up to a certain age, little boys don't seem to care. Over a certain age, little boys don't seem to care. I think there's a window where "girls are yuk" and it doesn't matter who the princess is or what they're doing. But that's why there are pirates!

As for Fantasyland -- there's still the new Gaston's Tavern and all the stuff that appeals to both genders (Pooh, PhilharMagic, small world, Peter Pan, Teacups, Dumbo ... even Snow White's Scary Ride is less princess than it is scarier themes). The new storytelling experience that is about to replace Belle will feature both Rapunzel and Flynn Rider. The current castle show has both princes and princesses, as well as pirates, villains and Mickey & The Gang. I do think that Disney has done a lot to appeal more to boys in Fantasyland.

YMMV

 

[FigNewton]

Judging by the number of little boys shyly meeting princesses and fairies or the number of little boys walking around WDW with great big red kisses on their cheeks and foreheads, I'm thinking that princesses aren't as universally distasteful as you think. I was with a family a few weeks ago that had 7, 9 and 11 year old boys. The 9 and 11 YOs had no problem whatsoever with princesses. They happily met Snow White. They enjoyed VOLM and other princessy stuff. And then they went off and watch LMA and had a great time there too. The 7YO decided Snow White wasn't to his liking. I think a lot of the "distaste" comes from parents who think that their boys only want "boy things". Up to a certain age, little boys don't seem to care. Over a certain age, little boys don't seem to care. I think there's a window where "girls are yuk" and it doesn't matter who the princess is or what they're doing. But that's why there are pirates!

As for Fantasyland -- there's still the new Gaston's Tavern and all the stuff that appeals to both genders (Pooh, PhilharMagic, small world, Peter Pan, Teacups, Dumbo ... even Snow White's Scary Ride is less princess than it is scarier themes). The new storytelling experience that is about to replace Belle will feature both Rapunzel and Flynn Rider. The current castle show has both princes and princesses, as well as pirates, villains and Mickey & The Gang. I do think that Disney has done a lot to appeal more to boys in Fantasyland.

YMMV

For starters you're a little off base in your interpretation of my statement. I did not state that they are "universally distasteful" nor would I as when it comes to matters of taste, nothing IS universal.

My statement concerns Disney's (as a company, not Disney Parks and Resorts) marketing of The Princesses as a franchise in recent years. Look at just about everything they do with Princesses. Lots of pink, pastels, frills, all ancillary presentations (and by that I mean everything but the original films they are taken from) of The Princesses are clearly and unquestionably aimed at girls. This practice contributes to a perception that anything to do with princesses is for girls, boys need not apply. Do note that my response was in opposition to someone who felt that Princesses were gender specific - clearly I do not agree with the idea that they are.

I don't need convincing about FLE and boys. I honestly believe once FLE is completed a lot of the boys vs girls argument is going to go away and what we are seeing currently is a product of the aforementioned perception combined with a healthy dose of FUD.

 

[WDSearcher]

For starters you're a little off base in your interpretation of my statement. I did not state that they are "universally distasteful" nor would I as when it comes to matters of taste, nothing IS universal.

My statement concerns Disney's (as a company, not Disney Parks and Resorts) marketing of The Princesses as a franchise in recent years. Look at just about everything they do with Princesses. Lots of pink, pastels, frills, all ancillary presentations (and by that I mean everything but the original films they are taken from) of The Princesses are clearly and unquestionably aimed at girls. This practice contributes to a perception that anything to do with princesses is for girls, boys need not apply. Do note that my response was in opposition to someone who felt that Princesses were gender specific - clearly I do not agree with the idea that they are.

I don't need convincing about FLE and boys. I honestly believe once FLE is completed a lot of the boys vs girls argument is going to go away and what we are seeing currently is a product of the aforementioned perception combined with a healthy dose of FUD.

Sorry ... I obviously misread you. You seemed to be talking about the parks, not the Company as a whole.

But even there, my response pretty much stays the same. Until boys consume at the same level as girls, Disney will continue to push the girly side of princesses more than the boy side of anything. Cars toys -- of which there were many, from hot wheels-style collectibles to remote control to plush to race track sets, and pirate toys -- action figures, role playing sets, board games, card games, models and fake swords -- simply did not sell at the level that "anything pink with ribbons" does. If boys were snatching up pirate, prince and car gear at anywhere near the level where girls are snatching up tiaras, dolls, dress-up kits and fairy wands, Disney (as a company and as a theme park) would be reacting accordingly. Maybe Phineas and Ferb will change that.

Again ... sorry for the misread.

 

[WEDWDW]

The most interesting information from Tom Staggs was:

"I think we've added some things that aren't just princess-focused, and that's a good positive."

Does anyone have the "inside info" as to what exactly these new additions are?If not,when do you suspect the info will "leak" out?Thanks.

 

[appletini]

WOW, ALOT of gruff there, How bout the new room ideas, in particular the Prince/ Princess' rooms? To me it seems that they will be incorporating "boys" interests into the mix. Maybe what they're talking about is more Princely things in Fantasyland. It sounds as if Disney is taking a hard look at the early response and adjusting to it in mid-stream as any good, quality company does. I trust in Disney enough that they'll do the right thing and not dissappoint us at all. It is Disney afterall.

 

[mousermerf]

I just have problems with the statement that the original plans were good and the new ones are just more good/great, etc..

Life is not some up-with-people positive action session from preschool. The first idea had serious flaws that were obvious to anyone without their head up their butt. Were they smart enough to see the reaction was poor? Yes, but they should of had their heads slightly less far up their butts and known that presenting those ideas was going to have a negative reaction.

What does that tell us? They're out of touch - they have to be told they have a bad idea. Obviously there's no internal checks and balances and instead a bunch of people singing each other's praises in a brown-nosing-lovefest. That's not "great" Mr. Staggs.