Mods: Please Close This. Let's Think Happy Thoughts!

[tinker&belle]

Like it or not....look at the change in this country (and this hasbeen something people knew would happen for many years). The percentage of population of people of hispanic origin is growing at a much faster rate than any other group in this country. As the population changes, things will change. Change is scary, especially for people who are part of the current dominant group. That doesn't mean the change is wrong.

As for the princess thing: for my honeymoon we went to Cancun and wanted to learn Spanish beforehand and everyone told us we wouldn't need to and they were right. Besides knowing Thank you, and bathroom that was it. And we were so much more comfortable. That doesn't mean I wouldn't be willing to travel somewhere that didn't speak English, but when you are more comfortable you spend more money because you are comfortable with what's going on and feel relaxed. You can bet Di$ney'$ betting on that.

 

[disneyjunkie]

It's pretty simple,

Disney should have the princess characters at the Florida park remain as they are portrayed in AMERICA. I.E. speaking english and appearing ONLY as they are drawn in the films.

There does not need to be a 'black' princess, a 'green' princess, blah blah blah blah.

If she's white in the movie, she's white at the park.
If she's a Native American Indian, she NAI in the park.

For people who don't want to be singled out some of you sure are doing a great job doing it yourselves!!!

This is America, our first language is english and THAT is the language that should be FIRST and FOREMOST on any signs. I personally am sick and tired of now seeing spanish FIRST on food packaging, signage in buildings, ETC. It has gotten out of hand.
If you don't speak the language, LEARN IT or at least get a phrase book like we do when we go to your country!
Ok I'm done, this country is going to pot if we keep giving in just to not 'offend' anyone. Not EVERYONE can be your friend!!!

Flame Away

I would LOVE to see disney add a black princess.

How about a movie based on the tale "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters"?

You have a king, a good princess and an evil princess and a prince.

Here's a link to give you an idea about the story.

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/omc/kidsphil/questions/Mufaros/mufaros_daughters_questions.htm

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

Exactly! It's not expected, but it's a nice, magical touch! I'm glad your daughter and others will benefit from this change.

Thank you. I hope that this new princesses will be at the parks next month, my dd will love it if Cinderella can understand her when she tells her that she is her favorite princess and to not be afraid of the step sisters because they will come to love her in the end, and a couple more things. It will definetly make for a more magical experience for her.

Some of the posters here seem to forget that this is an unilateral decision made by WDW, and that we, spanish speaking people (since we are the only ones attacked) never expected it. I have never heard anyone say that Disney should have bilingual princesses, it was their idea.

And just so all people know, I would never think bad of all americans after reading many of the posts made to this thread, unlike many seem to do because a few non English speakers don´t understand them.

Julie

 

[LBelle]

There is a vast difference between a tourist that speaks a different language and a resident of this country that has not learned English. I think the two issues are being confused here. I see no problem having Princesses that speak more than one language, it makes it more magical for the children. It would be nice, however if Spanish was not the only language being considered. What about French, Japanese or Chinese? Don't those children deserve a little magic too? I would rather see them learn some general phrases in several languages-hello, goodbye, nice to meet you, stuff like that. These are short autograph, character greet sessions-there's not a lot of time for long conversations in any language.

Don't get me started on people who have lived here for YEARS and still do not even have the most basic command of the English language. I would never move to another country, even for a short period, without learning at least the basics!

Now how can anyone argue this????

Well said indeed!

 

[isyne4u]

I think having bilingual princesses would be fantastic! More magical memories for those little girls and families.

Sometimes I'm embarassed at the way other Americans act. I can't understand why anyone would not want a character to speak another language to a child. Those children don't know about politics and such, so why should we hold their language against them.

I hope Disney gets bilingual princesses and I can't wait to see the look on a child's face who has never seen a character speak "their" language!!

tara

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

Here's another way of looking at it:

Does anyone think that seeing a bi-lingual princess in the park may inspire a child to want to learn another language? Or allow a child to practice a language they are learning? Isn't that a good thing?

 

[Meezers]

Let's see if I can get my rambling brain to make a coherent sentence.

This thread has gone way off subject...as happens quite often...sometimes good...sometimes bad.

I live in the Metro Atlanta area. There are many areas of the county I live in that have signage in languages other than English. Businesses are required by law to be labeled in English...some place...usually not the large sign. This was done because police officers could not respond to businesses they could not find. There is no way the average police officer could be conversant in the 5 languages that are used within 2 miles of my home.

The increasing language barrier in this country is causing emotional upset to alot of people...I am one of them. If I really take the time to think about it....it is because I am afraid. There are many work environments that are requiring employees to be bi-lingual (and my conversational German doesn't count).

The only time people not being able to speak English bothers me...is when they are in trouble and cannot give even basic information to a 9-1-1 operator (me). We have language line...but it time consuming...and is very difficult because first you have to figure out what language is needed (especially hard with Asian callers).

So....I admit it...I am frightened....which has nothing to do with bi-lingual princesses.

 

[LBelle]

It's pretty simple,

Disney should have the princess characters at the Florida park remain as they are portrayed in AMERICA. I.E. speaking english and appearing ONLY as they are drawn in the films.

There does not need to be a 'black' princess, a 'green' princess, blah blah blah blah.

If she's white in the movie, she's white at the park.
If she's a Native American Indian, she NAI in the park.

For people who don't want to be singled out some of you sure are doing a great job doing it yourselves!!!

This is America, our first language is english and THAT is the language that should be FIRST and FOREMOST on any signs. I personally am sick and tired of now seeing spanish FIRST on food packaging, signage in buildings, ETC. It has gotten out of hand.
If you don't speak the language, LEARN IT or at least get a phrase book like we do when we go to your country!
Ok I'm done, this country is going to pot if we keep giving in just to not 'offend' anyone. Not EVERYONE can be your friend!!!

Flame Away

I'll probably be flamed also, hopefully not for my view that follows, as I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion WITHOUT being flamed, but because my post doesn't really ahve to do with the OP but instead with alot of the posts that followed. For me, at least, language is a SMALL part of the problems:

Oh, if you think you have it bad in the U.S.A...come up to CANADA!!! We are pretty well known as the land where everyone who comes to 'our' country, in time, can force us to ADOPT their cultures while ours is 'offensive' to so many of them in sooo many ways!!! It drives me NUTS!!!!

Can't say "Merry Christmas", have Xmas pageants at elementary schools, kids can no longer where Halloween costumes to school, no more Easter decorations, even the 'Salvation Army' can no longer do their Xmas collection plates, veterans are getting a hard time about Poppy sales for Rememberance Day....the list goes on and on!!! Yet...Sikh CHILDREN are permitted to wear their CEREMONIAL DAGGERS TO SCHOOL as this is part of THEIR RELIGION, don't you know????!!!! The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has ALWAYS had a VERY strict policy re: no facial hair allowed...UNLESS, you are a Sikh, and of course they MUST have the full beard, etc. and wear their turbans with their uniform. A non-Sikh guy was FIRED when he grew some facial hair and refused to shave it off!! Go figure!!! Don't forget also that Big Brother is keeping his eye on certain hiring practices..eg: our Fire and Police Depts...."must employ x # of women, handicapped and visible minority"..forget about who is BEST QUALIFIED for the job!!!! Hiring in ANY sector should have the right to choose any candidate who is BEST SUITED for whatever job it is!!!

Hold on to your seats....we even had to CHANGE THE WORDS IN OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM, as some found it 'offensive' to them!!!!

I am not PREDJUIDICED in any way,I have plenty of friends AND family members of different races/religions, etc. but I do TAKE GREAT OFFENCE at being considered "OFFENSIVE" anything that we feel/practice, etc. for over 200 years in this country!! I could NEVER EVEN IMAGINE wanting to move to another country and force my beliefs on them (NOT like that would happen anywhere else but HERE!!!)

Sorry for the (LONG) OT rant but I couldn't hold back!!!

 

[Groovee]

When we got to Disneyland Paris we find an assortment of characters with new accents. We have it on video that Peter Pan was Irish and recgonised our dd's Christmas Belle dress too as being from the UK. A lot of characters don't speak anyway but why should it be discrimatory to little children who watch disney all over the world or is it just for Americans?

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I'll probably be flamed also, hopefully not for my view that follows, as I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion WITHOUT being flamed, but because my post doesn't really ahve to do with the OP but instead with alot of the posts that followed. For me, at least, language is a SMALL part of the problems:

Oh, if you think you have it bad in the U.S.A...come up to CANADA!!! We are pretty well known as the land where everyone who comes to 'our' country, in time, can force us to ADOPT their cultures while ours is 'offensive' to so many of them in sooo many ways!!! It drives me NUTS!!!!

Can't say "Merry Christmas", have Xmas pageants at elementary schools, kids can no longer where Halloween costumes to school, no more Easter decorations, even the 'Salvation Army' can no longer do their Xmas collection plates, veterans are getting a hard time about Poppy sales for Rememberance Day....the list goes on and on!!! Yet...Sikh CHILDREN are permitted to wear their CEREMONIAL DAGGERS TO SCHOOL as this is part of THEIR RELIGION, don't you know????!!!! The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has ALWAYS had a VERY strict policy re: no facial hair allowed...UNLESS, you are a Sikh, and of course they MUST have the full beard, etc. and wear their turbans with their uniform. A non-Sikh guy was FIRED when he grew some facial hair and refused to shave it off!! Go figure!!! Don't forget also that Big Brother is keeping his eye on certain hiring practices..eg: our Fire and Police Depts...."must employ x # of women, handicapped and visible minority"..forget about who is BEST QUALIFIED for the job!!!! Hiring in ANY sector should have the right to choose any candidate who is BEST SUITED for whatever job it is!!!

Hold on to your seats....we even had to CHANGE THE WORDS IN OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM, as some found it 'offensive' to them!!!!

I am not PREDJUIDICED in any way,I have plenty of friends AND family members of different races/religions, etc. but I do TAKE GREAT OFFENCE at being considered "OFFENSIVE" anything that we feel/practice, etc. for over 200 years in this country!! I could NEVER EVEN IMAGINE wanting to move to another country and force my beliefs on them (NOT like that would happen anywhere else but HERE!!!)

Sorry for the (LONG) OT rant but I couldn't hold back!!!

and I was hoping to move to Canada!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

will no one hear the OPs plea and close this thread????? please???

 

[LBelle]

and I was hoping to move to Canada!

Wanna trade spots??

Canada does have alot of benefits....one would be that if you're not crazy about our anthem..you can have it changed more to your liking!!!

I'm kidding ( )

 

[WebmasterPete]

Hi everyone:

I know this is a heated issue, and that some would like to see it closed.

I'm hoping that we can all agree that it's a very divisive topic, and a very relevant one given recent news and events. But we are all adults here, and I'm really hoping that everyone can avoid the rhetoric and flaming, and keep the discussion honest and considerate. I don't think we need to always trade civility for honest dialogue.

Thanks,
Pete

 

[Bambi5826]

I'm hoping most can agree with this statement. How many people think we speak English here in America? Not I. We speak American. The cultures here are so diverse that we have a little bit of all languages in out everyday conversations, even if we don't realise it. It's all kind of meshed togther.

 

[CaipiraBob]

Seeing as how I'm married to a Spanish-Speaking Princess, this isn't too much of a change for me.

English is our primary language, nothing changes that. Disney is a business, and a good business will cater to certain needs of it's customers.

I like the thought that our Spanish speaking guests will be able to share a magic moment with their young children as they meet a "real Disney Princess" who will speak to them in their own language if need be.

Again, we're not talking about English being tossed aside or the overthrow of American culture. Not gonna happen...

Just an American business responded to the potential for some of their paying clients to have a special experience in their own native tongue.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I do not see what the big deal is about casting princess or other characters with bi-lingual or multi-lingual castmembers. Guest travel from all over the world to visit Walt Disney World. For a pricess or other character to be able to speak to a little boy or girl in his or her native tongue would be such a magical experience even if it is just to say hola, bonjour, etc.

I do not understand why so many people take this as a personal affront. It's not, it's a business decision and I think a good one.

As an aside, I swear the USA is the only country that does not promote learning second or third languages to children when they are in the language development stage. We are now a global community (if you don't realize that, take a spin on Spaceship Earth), we should be able to speak more than one language. We expect everyone to know English, maybe we should know some other language or languages as well.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Well I never said anything about not liking anyone...

Where are you getting the info that they are "technically & scientifically" caucasian? I've never seen that. Because from what I've always seen and researched, race is more of a social definition than an actual scientific one...which is why even the definition of "Caucasian" differs depending on where in the world you are. Ethnicity and Nationality are really the only two that actually have a more solid "definition"....because those can be geographically placed. Race really can't be...it's relative to the individual.
And being Hispanic myself, I've never met another Hispanic person who has taken umbrage to the remarks that they are not caucasian...quite the opposite in fact.

Talk about taking a spin off the debate going on here...kind of nice to break away from the chaos, though.

Just a little OT: When I was in college taking a class in Diversity (not the big wooden ship ) we were taught that there are only 3 races in the world; Black, White and Asian (forgive me for not using technical or PC terms). After those three races, it is all about ethnicity.

I thought this was interesting considering how so many people classify themselves. I certainly don't mind if the princesses are able to speak to children in another language. I agree that it can only enhance the magical experience for those children.

 

[momof2inPA]

As I see it, Disney World is a private business that is geographically positioned to serve both North and South America. If they want to have bi-lingual princesses instead of building Disney Uruguay, I think it's their call.

Now, I do have a problem with our public schools in the U.S. requiring that teachers are bi-lingual to be hired. The U.S. school systems should be teaching in English, and Spanish speaking parents should be expected to prepare their kids for entry into an English-speaking school system. A lady from Colombia I know, was shocked and horrified that the teachers here are not bi-lingual, and I live in Pennsylvania.

In summary, there is a difference between our country catering to illegal immigrants and Disney accommodating guests. The illegal aliens are being imposed on our system, the Disney guests are being invited.

 

[goofy4tink]

Yikes....Feralpeg seems to have hit a collective nerve here!! I think, that for the most part, most of us wouldn't want to deny any child a magicial experience. I know I wouldn't. I am one of those Americans that feel that if you come to this country, you are best served by learning the language we speak so that you can be a productive member of society. Sure, speak your native tongue at home, but out in society, it would be nice if English (American) were spoken. Now.....Spanish speaking Princesses? I don't think they would be speaking Spanish to everyone, or have such a heavy accent that you couldn't understand them. Just as long as my dd's magical experience isn't taken away, I don't care if the Princess is talking to the next little girl in Swahilee (okay, I know I didn't spell that right, but you get the idea).
I don't ever want the attractions to change. They are fine. The opening instructions are given in several languages already. As an American, living in this country, attending a park in America, I would be greatly offended if the attractions were in a different language. If those that are enjoying the parks speak no English (and I truly believe there are not all that many) then surely there are alternatives.
This country was built on the backs of many diverse cultures. Those cultures shouldn't be treated any differently in the theme parks. However, you shouldn't expect that Chinese, Polish, German, Japanese, Spanish, etc. are going to be languages of choice in the parks. I have to imagine that the majority of people enjoying WDW already have enough of a command of the English language to enjoy themselves.

My problem??? Being able to take your drivers license in Spanish because you can't speak good enough English to understand the test. What the heck happens when you get on the road and everything is in English? Now, that's worth getting in a tizzy about, not some Princess talking to a 5 y/o Spanish girl for a minute in the line ahead of you. I just don't see it as 'anther nail in the coffin' for the USA.

 

[salmoneous]

Disney should have the princess characters at the Florida park remain as they are portrayed in AMERICA. I.E. speaking english and appearing ONLY as they are drawn in the films.

There does not need to be a 'black' princess, a 'green' princess, blah blah blah blah.

I find this attitude interesting. The park princesses differ from their movie counterparts in dozens of different ways. And that doesn't seem to bother you. But a change in skin color does. Funny how important skin color is.