Its Not Fair

[newtodis]

I think maybe if we stop thinking of it simply as "boys" or "girls" things to do, that might help too. Kids are pushed too much to do something or not do something because it's a "boy" or "girl" thing...if my son wants to eat with the princesses-we're going. I don't care what I have to do to get the ADR. If he doesn't, that's ok too. I was just reading a thread about Cinderella's Castle and a good number of posters on there mentioned that their boys played with it too! I agree that CRT is totally aimed at girls but boys should (and do!) go there and should have something to enjoy. I personally think that Disney should just spice things up a bit more-look at the experiences they have right now and how they could improve them as well as adding new experiences-both dining and other activities (BBB-pirate or something like that).

I know not everyone shares my opinion so I'm putting my flame suit on just in case!

 

[mommytoone]

OP - What's the Hannah Montana BBB package? I think I need to find out about that. Daughter's booked for the basic package for our upcoming trip.

It is at DTD only, they will make over you over to look like hannah Montana. The get shirt, purse, headset, photo, hair pc, some other things too, I think. its $109. My DD7 is so excited, we have it booked for Sept. We have so much Hannah Montana stuff, I swear I put her grandchildren through college

 

[donaldseeyore]

When I e-mailed Disney I used the contact us form on the WDW site. I wish I still had a copy of the e-mail. I saved it for awhile thinking I would call the woman, but I didn't. I basically wrote that my observation since my first visit to the park was their marketing was pushed more towards a family with girls. I explained that my oldest 3 were daughters and my fourth was a son. That I will continue to bring my family there, but my son will notice soon that their are a lot of meals with the princesses and his sisters get to dress up and have their hair done, but all he can get is a mouse on the back of his, some colored gel and mickey head confetti. I also explained that they may indeed have the fab 5, the basis of most things Disney; but they are EVERYWHERE. And the Fab 5 are very gender neutral. Girls like them just as much as boys. I explained that yes, there are little boys who like the princesses, which at times can be apparent why (think Jasmine) and girls like the characters from Toy Story, Monsters Inc, Meet the Robinsons, Ratatouille and Cars too. But to face the reality, that these movies were made more towards a young male audience since Princesses are shoved down our throats. I explained that they have many places in WDW that they could turn into a character meal geared more towards boys by using what they already had. The characters from Indiana Jones, Monsters Inc, Star Wars and Toy Story alerady have the costumes made and that they ahd a lot of pitiful counter service spots (The Commissary) that could be made into a character meal. I told them that I hear this complaint from parents quite often and the tables would sell. They just need to do it.

 

[kurt90]

I think maybe if we stop thinking of it simply as "boys" or "girls" things to do, that might help too. Kids are pushed too much to do something or not do something because it's a "boy" or "girl" thing...if my son wants to eat with the princesses-we're going. I don't care what I have to do to get the ADR. If he doesn't, that's ok too. I was just reading a thread about Cinderella's Castle and a good number of posters on there mentioned that their boys played with it too! I agree that CRT is totally aimed at girls but boys should (and do!) go there and should have something to enjoy. I personally think that Disney should just spice things up a bit more-look at the experiences they have right now and how they could improve them as well as adding new experiences-both dining and other activities (BBB-pirate or something like that).

I know not everyone shares my opinion so I'm putting my flame suit on just in case!

Honestly, I couldn't agree with you more! Even when I get a something as simple as a Happy Meal I hear...."Boy or girl toy?" We really need to stop this gender association because clearly it's causing problems.

Maybe the complaint shouldn't be "more boy's meals" but just "different" meals. As previous posters have stated, many girls enjoy Buzz Lightyear, Star Wars and Pirates just as much as any boy would.

 

[mavslab]

I know boys can go in there and get some sparkle or something BUT I know mine wouldnt do this on a dare just beacuse of all the "princess focus" in there.. But, if there was a special "pirate boutique" or become "Anakin" or something- he would be all over it..

I seem to recall reding somewhere that you can go to the Barber Shop on Main Street and get glow in the dark hair gel put in your hair for $5. I know my boys would love that. It's not much, but it's something

 

[Briggidge2]

I think maybe if we stop thinking of it simply as "boys" or "girls" things to do, that might help too. Kids are pushed too much to do something or not do something because it's a "boy" or "girl" thing...if my son wants to eat with the princesses-we're going. I don't care what I have to do to get the ADR. If he doesn't, that's ok too. I was just reading a thread about Cinderella's Castle and a good number of posters on there mentioned that their boys played with it too! I agree that CRT is totally aimed at girls but boys should (and do!) go there and should have something to enjoy. I personally think that Disney should just spice things up a bit more-look at the experiences they have right now and how they could improve them as well as adding new experiences-both dining and other activities (BBB-pirate or something like that).

I know not everyone shares my opinion so I'm putting my flame suit on just in case!

We try not to do the "boys" or "girls" thing...especially now since my DH has been deployed for almost a year and there is only one of me. I am all for neutral, BUT we are dragging my sons to the Akershus breakfast (the oldest son is not happy about it) because their little sister wants to see the Princesses. When my oldest son found out, he said "Mommy, why isnt there anything for me like there is for her?" That hurts my heart because if there was something I would take him ya know? It's hard to explain to a little kiddo because they don't understand the whole business/marketing side of it all. He just has to deal with it. Maybe he'll get a job with Disney when he gets older and changes it for all the children in the world because of this experience. LOL!

 

[copper0426]

I am kind of tired of people complaining about the "no boys meals" thing. First of all - in answer to your thread title - life's not fair.

Second - Disney is a business. The Princess meals are some of the most expensive on property and are consistantly booked solid so why would Disney not want to continue to offer the same or more of these meals. The crown package at the Bibbiddy Bobbity Boutique costs over $150.00 and judging from the parks plenty of people are booking these too. These are the reasons Disney has "princess" offerings.

Lastly - I can't think of anything that appeals ONLY to boys like, or even to the same extent as the princess do to girls. Girls would love pirates, monsters inc, pixar, toy story, star wars and all the other things that people ask for for boys. Disney hasn't ignored these things there are several pirate cruises at different hotels, there is the jedi training academy and there used to be a pirate tutorial (not sure if its still there). When the families of boys book activities (like the pirate cruise) and buy merchandize about "boy characters" at the same rate as the families of girls book activities and buy merchandize about princesses I bet Disney will add more opportunities.

WOW!! that was not only harsh but really I think uncalled for. We all know disney is a business. We all also know that the PRINCESS thing is out of control. I know if Disney started a bunch of specialty events geared only to boys like a Monster B-fast with green snot on pancakes where burping and scratching were at the forefront, with nothing for the girls to do people would freak. Your point about the girls would go to a Star wars, Monsters ,Pirates ect only makes the point that these Special things where we make little girls feel like they are more special in life than other people are unneccesary. What really bothers me about this post is the venim it is ok for people to have differing oppinions

 

[Tink888]

I am kind of tired of people complaining about the "no boys meals" thing. First of all - in answer to your thread title - life's not fair.

Second - Disney is a business. The Princess meals are some of the most expensive on property and are consistantly booked solid so why would Disney not want to continue to offer the same or more of these meals. The crown package at the Bibbiddy Bobbity Boutique costs over $150.00 and judging from the parks plenty of people are booking these too. These are the reasons Disney has "princess" offerings.

Lastly - I can't think of anything that appeals ONLY to boys like, or even to the same extent as the princess do to girls. Girls would love pirates, monsters inc, pixar, toy story, star wars and all th other things that people ask for for boys. Disney hasn't ignored these things there are several pirate cruises at different hotels, there is the jedi training academy and there used to be a pirate tutorial (not sure if its still there). When the families of boys book activities (like the pirate cruise) and buy merchandize about "boy characters" at the same rate as the families of girls book activities and buy merchandize about princesses I bet Disney will add more opportunities.

Yes, you are most certainly entitled to your opinions and you made some valid points but I agree with some of the other posters who thought this post was kind of rude. From what I've read in some of the threads, moms of boys and the lack of experiences geared toward boys make up very little of the complaining that goes on in the boards. The OP was just saying there aren't many things geared toward boys only like there are for girls. As a mom of boys myself - she's right.

I don't think Disney is entirely to blame though. So many of the activities that you could gear toward boys ARE appealing to both boys and girls while my boys and most boys I know wouldn't be caught dead in BBB. Disney can't officially call an experience "girl or boy only" because then you have a discrimination issue.

I definately think Disney should add Pirates or Star Wars character meals or interactive experiences (on top of the free ones in the parks where getting chosen to participate is a matter of sheer luck). Boys would love that type of thing and even though it would also appeal to girls and even adults, boys would feel like there was something geared towards them. Disney would make a lot of money as well. I think the merchandising opportunity is there also. I can't speak for all moms of boys but I do know that I've personally spent a ton of money on pirate stuff, Star Wars figures and Disney video games. It isn't that parents of boys are spending less money on their sons, we're just spending on different things.

The one experience my boys would absolutely go crazy for would be no lines at the Mountains of MK. Like that will ever happen! LOL

 

[Magic Mom]

LOL My husband and 16 YO son both asked to go to the Princess breakfast.......they say its for the food....yeah right!

My daughter would gladly go to a pirate meal, but my boys will not go near a princess meal. It would be fun if the castle alternated princess and pirate meals.

 

[srdipert]

LOL My husband and 16 YO son both asked to go to the Princess breakfast.......they say its for the food....yeah right!

I guess we should have stated we need some boy meals for the preteen boy!

 

[Briggidge2]

LOL My husband and 16 YO son both asked to go to the Princess breakfast.......they say its for the food....yeah right!

Boys will be boys. (no matter how old they get! )

 

[glitzybabes]

At BBB They do have the "COOL Dude" hair do. They spray mickey shapes in their hair and add mickey confetti.

And my OP of the boy type meal that ppl have suggested is this:

Disney does not own star wars or any of the pixar characters, pirates yes. So Im sure that they would have to pay more money to use those character. I dont see them doing that. I think a pirate meal would be great for boys and girls. In my op they should have already done this while pirates is hot.

 

[MHolleman]

I agree that a more boy oriented meal would go over well. I would imagine that they're toying with the idea. I would personally love a Pirates, Toy Story, or Monsters Inc. meal etc. I don't have any kids, but looking at the options for character meals in general it would make sense to have a little more diversity.

Again I'm pretty sure they're probably toying with the idea. Though I can see how it would be difficult to choose a location. Buzz and Woody are great, but there's already Pizza Planet.... Monsters Inc. wouldn't slip seamlessly into any of the already existing restaurants, neither would Pirates. Basically, they would have to create an entirely new restaurant somewhere, or replace one of the existing ones, which might not go over so well. I'm sure they try to balance the number of Character meals with non-character meals. However, maybe such a Character Dining Experience is in the plans for the future.

Actually, it wasn't that long ago that they made Norway into a Princess location. So it can be done, they just need to get creative. I could def. see a Pirate themed location in one of the World showcase rest.

 

[jamstew]

At BBB They do have the "COOL Dude" hair do. They spray mickey shapes in their hair and add mickey confetti.

And my OP of the boy type meal that ppl have suggested is this:

Disney does not own star wars or any of the pixar characters, pirates yes. So Im sure that they would have to pay more money to use those character. I dont see them doing that. I think a pirate meal would be great for boys and girls. In my op they should have already done this while pirates is hot.

I didn't think about that, and you have a point. However, Peter Pan, Captain Hook, & Smee do belong to Disney and are some of my two young grandsons' favorites. Add Wendy, and you've got something for everybody. I also don't see why Aladdin & Jafar couldn't appear with Jasmine--again, something for everybody

 

[EnnEss]

I think maybe if we stop thinking of it simply as "boys" or "girls" things to do, that might help too. Kids are pushed too much to do something or not do something because it's a "boy" or "girl" thing...if my son wants to eat with the princesses-we're going. I don't care what I have to do to get the ADR. If he doesn't, that's ok too. I was just reading a thread about Cinderella's Castle and a good number of posters on there mentioned that their boys played with it too! I agree that CRT is totally aimed at girls but boys should (and do!) go there and should have something to enjoy. I personally think that Disney should just spice things up a bit more-look at the experiences they have right now and how they could improve them as well as adding new experiences-both dining and other activities (BBB-pirate or something like that).

I know not everyone shares my opinion so I'm putting my flame suit on just in case!

Your points are valid but you're not addressing some of the key issues, such as BBB and all the other merchandise that is very definitiavely gender directed. Would your son be likely to buy some princess shirts, merchandise etc.? They do very little geared towards boys. Do you think your son wants to go get dressed as princess at BBB? Visiting characters isn't the issue here. I don't think cindy's castle has anything to do with the original topic. Your points are valid, but they're not related to the ops concern really. The dinner is really geared at girls, boys may like it too, but there is no similar thing geared to boys. Saying you don't take it that way doesn't mean that is not the intent by Disney, even you admit that in your post.

There is definatly room for other meals. As a couple, me and my girlfriend went to Cindy's because she wanted too, I didn't care one way or the other. But, we would also go to a star wars or whatever one too, as it is we just did that once and not again.

 

[Katiebell]

Picture this. Your family boards a pirate ship outside of DHS captain Jack is stearing the ship from there he takes you an a boat ride to the Beach Club where on the beach Captain hook and other pirates there having a BBQ. I don't know about you but sign me up.

Haha... that would be absolutely awesome. You should develop a presentation and present it to Disney.

Actually, this was an idea that Disney reportedly kicked around. They considered opening a pirate themed restaurant, "Tortuga" in Adventure Land, in the Veranda. They idea has been shelved for the time being because the costs have made the project not feasible, and the funds are needed for refurbs and updating existing MK food locations. It may resurface in the future, though...

Lots of good info here:
http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_h...et-sales-for-wdw-s-pirate-princess-party.aspx

And in 2006 it was reported on a Disney Blog that there was a survey given out to a select group of guests asking them how interested they would be in a meal like this (remember this is NOT something that there is any evidence of planning, just an idea):

"Board a pirate vessel from a resort and sail to Pirate’s Cove, where
Captain Jack Sparrow and his band of bandits have cooked up a beach
barbecue. Salty songs, tall tales, delicious food, and a hunt for the
fabulous Tortuga Treasure spice up this fun-filled evening under the
stars. Guests are given a clue-filled treasure map, and friendly
competition is held to find the priceless prize."

The thought was that this would be an outdoor beach BBQ style meal near the old Discovery Island. Now, wouldn't THAT be awesome!

LOL My husband and 16 YO son both asked to go to the Princess breakfast.......they say its for the food....yeah right!

Yeah, you know...DH liked the Princess Storybook Breakfast at Akershus just fine. Yep, he posed for pics with all the princesses, and seemed to enjoy himself immensely

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

First off, as for some of the characters suggested for the meals keep in mind that the costume must lend itself to the character meal setting. That would eliminate some of the characters I've seen in this thread suggested right off the bat. Others it wouldn't. Secondly, they do a lot geared towards boys. But they don't do much geared towards only boys. But that's because there is virtually nothing they could do that would be geared towards only boys. It's just a simple reality that girls can cross the gender barrier more easily than boys can. For example, a girl in a polo and shorts won't get a second look. A boy in a dress on the other hand would be photographed and posted on this website in one of those can you beLIEVE what this kid's parents did threads faster than you can say Bibbity Bobbity Boutique. It's a simple reality. There isn't much geared towards only boys because there is virtually nothing that Disney could have that would be geared towards only boys. I think Disney is good at making everyone feel like they had a special, magical time and I've never had my boys leave dissatisfied. My biggest beef regarding things for girls only has to be the very limited selection of character shirts for males. How many Grumpy shirts do I really want? And some characters that I would view as fairly gender neutral are only on female shirts. And I think even a shirt with a female character with my kind of woman as the caption might be ok for a male. I'm sure Jessica Rabbit with something like that on it would sell.

 

[mello]

My point about the moms of boys not buying merchandise the way moms of girls buy princess stuff is that Disney has no business reason to make more boy activities because there moms aren't buying the merchandise in large quanties. Princesses were just idea at some point, but they became very popular with lots of activities available because of the demand shown through sales. I was in no way insinuating that boy moms couldn't afford the merchandise, just that they don't buy it in as large of quanities as girl moms buy princesses.

I can see why some people may think that is the case, but as a mom of 2 boys and 1 girl, my view is a bit different. We try to treat our children equally, and for every major item or experience our dd gets, we do something for the boys too. But what we have encountered is that it isn't as easy to find things that are special just for boys as it is to find things for girls. We have to work much harder at it.

For example - we went to MNSSHP a couple years ago, and wanted to get each of the kids a costume. DD chose a Belle dress. Easy to find, not a problem. DS 9 wanted to be Jack Sparrow. We had to work a bit harder to find all the parts at various places, but still it was pretty easy. We actually spent more on his costume than on his sister's. DS 11 wanted to be Mickey Mouse. Now mind you, there are Minnie Mouse costumes in every shop, but no Mickeys. Just ears and hats. We had to really search high and low to find enough parts to put together a Mickey costume. Overall we noticed many, many more costumes and accessories for girls than for the boys.

Another example: meals - DD wanted to eat in the castle with the princesses, so we booked it and the boys duly went along. DS 9 asked if there was somewhere he could eat with pirates. "Sorry hon". I don't even remember what he chose for his special meal. DS11 wound up choosing Sci Fi for his choice - not quite the same category as CRT!

This coming trip - dd is doing BBB. The boys have outgrown the pirate cruises (they're 12 and 14 now) or we might have done that for them. They chose the Polar Expedition tour at Sea World where they get to pet a penguin.

My point is, we're every bit as willing to shell out for the boys, it's just a bit harder to find stuff to shell out for!

I wouldn't go so far as to say it isn't fair, because as you rightly pointed out, life is not fair, nor should we expect it to be. I assume there is some reason Disney hasn't done a "boy" character meal, but I really can't fathom what that reason might be. I bet if they tried one, it would sell out as quickly as the princess meals - particularly if the venue was as spectacular as CRT's.

 

[zulaya]

It's just just the boys ~ pre-teen and up ~ but pre-teen girls as well. I have a DD11 and DS12. Both have been to WDW many times and umpteen character meals. We don't do princesses because DS12 is not interested and DD11 is not either. They'd much prefer something along the lines of Pirates or Peter Pan or something adventurous.

Not that they won't go for Mickey and the Fab 5...they tolerate it because it's better than princesses.

I wish Disney would recognize that they are missing a significant demographic in the pre-teen set. My kids have their own money and pretty much buy their own stuff, within reason. So it's not like Mom and Dad are holding the purse strings completely.

And honestly, while I'd love Star Wars or Indy, there is that licensing issue that probably would never get resolved for a character meal.

 

[Lady V]

i agree!!! my son would love a boy themed meal...or even justs why a meal that was for both and not primarily a girl meal....and I would spend just as much for him to eat with a pirate as I would for my daughter to have tea with a princess (which was over 200 for one hour!)

also-that is why we also started adding US/IOA days to our trips. they have a spiderman breakfast and my son adores it!!!