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

[JulyGirl]

I see nothing wrong with princesses being bilingual. I saw a wonderful Sleeping Beauty last month who obviously whispered something Spanish into a little girl's ear last month. You should have seen the delight on this girl's face! A good portion of WDW's visitors speak Spanish. What's the harm in that?

 

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

oops double post!

 

[Squirlz]

Trying to accomodate guests from all over the world? How could anyone have a problem with that?

It's a small world, after all.

 

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

Thanks, I was just lucky (and not that I came from a wealthy family - each trip was just something I happened upon). I'm jealous of me too, now. I had 2 kids and haven't traveled outside of the country since. Heck, my poor kids are 6 and 7 and are finally just about to have their first Disney trip.

I try to stay out of these hot topics (I'm here to talk about the Happiest Place on Earth and plan my trip there - if I want to debate issues, I'll go read forums on MSNBC, FoxNews, CNN, etc - so for me I just avoid posting in the debate topics).

But since I opened my mouth and jumped into this thread, I should have mentioned - I agree that Disney is a business and they are trying to provide that magical experience to everyone who walks through their parks. I think this is a great thing (and I'm about as Anglo as they get - give me 10 minutes in the sun and I look like a lobster), and I also agree that they should expand it to include other languages as well. At least some catch phrases, though I think knowing a bit more of the language would be good - because English speaking little girls ask a question and get a response even if it is short, it is clear that the princess knows what she is saying - if the princess just knows a few catch phrases, that look of "I have no idea what you just said" would give it away and kill some of the magic.

Exactly! If a little English speaking girl goes to say Akershus, and has a conversation with a Princess about her exciting day, and pretty dress and answer questions about her little brother Bobby, why cant Aurora turn to the next table and talk to the spanish speaking girl about her zapatos, Hermanito, Escuela ? ....It wouldnt hurt anyone but sure would give that little girl (and her parents) a BEAUTIFUL memory about that time at the resteraunt with La Bella Dormiente(Sleeping Beauty) .... Or La Sirenita ( The Little Mermaid) or Senicienta (Cinderella) ... a lot more magical than just "Hola, vamos a tirar un foto?" (one of those quick phrases people are mentioning teaching the princesses)

Its one thing to know a few phrases but a whole other thing to be able to respond to these little girls when they ask a question, or carry an actual conversation.

 

[mking624]

Trying to accomodate guests from all over the world? How could anyone have a problem with that?

It's a small world, after all.

Speaking of small world...I wonder why there aren't threads about why that song is sung in different languages in a country where English is the primary language?

 

[Linxzy]

Speaking of small world...I wonder why there aren't threads about why that song is sung in different languages in a country where English is the primary language?

 

[mgpan]

I have to say I cannot believe what this post has turned into. Is it a full moon because it seems like every post today is turning into a war zone. I believe the OP posted this because it is an interesting bit of info. I am a child of two immigrants and both parents believed in speaking English and "doing as the romans do while in rome" but I think its very courteous of WDW to employ biligual (sp?) princesses, while it may seem strange to us to see Alice in Wonderland say hola it would be another little girls happiest moment.
Spanish is Americas second language and I think its small minded to think everyone should just speak English.
On closing my own mother now wishes she would have kept up in speaking Dutch with me as I now cannot speak it at all and cannot converse with my own family..

This did get out of hand unfortunately, just like the post i referred to.

 

[KevinM]

Trying to accomodate guests from all over the world? How could anyone have a problem with that?

It's a small world, after all.

If the rest of the world spoke only Spanish, that argument would make sense.

I have seen large areas in the southern US where the economy and quality of life have literally been destroyed by illegal immigration. Let's keep catering to these people! Great idea! More money for the suits!

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

I think its wonderful for every child to have a magical experience. I also thought of the Santa in "Miracle on 34th Street" that spoke the languages and used sign language. That was awesome!! That part always makes me tear up. I think it would be wonderful for all the characters to learn a few key phrases. Who knows though, maybe some already have taken steps in doing just that.

My guess is that they wouldn't have a princess who only spoke Spanish. She would probably speak both languages and decide what language to use for each child.

I think the hesitance of some people does not have to do with them wanting to take a memory away from a child but it has more to do with what is happening in our country right now. I can understand that. Right now it appears to many that our country is cattering and almost trying to adapt itself to another language. English is our national language yet I think right now that fact feels threatened. I think that is where the hesitance lies here, not in trying to take magic away from anyone. It may appear to some as one more step toward the loss of our language.

As for a black princess... I know they are not always this way but I have had my picture taken with a black Jasmine, and a black Pocahontas before. I know you probably meant a Princess with her own story but in the mean time I just wanted to let you know there are some out there sometimes.

Disney broadway does have Aida, but I don't think she would ever walk in the park. It would be cool though.

 

[Squirlz]

I have seen large areas in the southern US where the economy and quality of life have literally been destroyed by illegal immigration. Let's keep catering to these people! Great idea! More money for the suits!

If illegal immigrants only spoke Spanish, that argument would make sense.

Wait.....no...it still wouldn't.

 

[snusnu]

I went to France, and guess what? I was mocked for my pathetic attempt at ordering in French, and NO ONE offered to speak english to me. Get real. WDW was founded by an ENGLISH SPEAKING man. I believe they have translation sets for foreign visitors. If speaking to the Princess' is so important then maybe these little girls parents should work on a few key phrases before they leave. I am tired of everything in this country being adjusted to accomodate non english speaking visitors. In all my travels to other countries I have never seen anything like what we are doing in this country. It is an embarrasment. We even have the ACLU suing Americans on behalf of foreigners, illegal aliens and terrorists. It's a long slippery slope my friends. As for princess' of different races, absolutely, a great story with an African princess.....as long as it's a good story, and not just in place to fill a void, would be great.

This is the post that's made me the most angry. I've been to France and many other countries a number of times, and I've NEVER been mocked for speaking the language. I've been greeted with appreciation and respect for making the effort, and most tourists do make a concerted effort to learn some phrases applicable to the country they're visiting, foreign tourists in America included. But what a relief it would be for them and what a joy it would be to their child to have a beloved character speak to them in their own tongue. How special would it make them feel? I would love to see French, Russian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Portugese, German etc. speaking characters and princesses. There are many multi-lingual people in the US, and aren't we supposed to be a melting pot, with no one nationality prized above any other?

We are a global society. Air travel has led to tremendous cross-culturalization and I welcome those from other countries to this one as they welcomed me into theirs. While I appreciate an effort made by tourists to speak English, we have ridiculously high expectations for those visiting this country that we don't hold ourselves to when visiting theirs. The ugly American is not just a stereotype, and from these posts, I see that the behavior so feared by other countries is not confined to travel abroad. Some of these comments are disturbingly ugly.

 

[Shubunk]

If the rest of the world spoke only Spanish, that argument would make sense.

I have seen large areas in the southern US where the economy and quality of life have literally been destroyed by illegal immigration. Let's keep catering to these people! Great idea! More money for the suits!

And while we are at it, we should make disney not let any spanish people in the parks. After all they are "destroying" our economy! We shouldnt cater to THESE people!

After this i am not going to post anymore on this thread. there are just too many people who will get offended if a Disney princess spoke any other language besides english. That is such a liitle thing and people get all worked up about it If any of you go to church just ask yourself WWJD? would he cater to all or just US citizens?

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

I think a little girl would think the princesses were even more talented if they are bilingual. Speaking english to english speaking children and spanish to spanish speaking children. It would seem that to be a wise , kind princess you must also be smart enough to be bilingual. That would make for a good role model I think.

I agree with that completely. Since when is it bad to be more educated. I'm all for taking a "world" view, rather than protecting my comfort zone.

 

[snusnu]

English speaking people made America the world power it is today. English speaking Americans fought a war of Independance for our freedoms. What bothers me is that there are people BORN in America who don't speak English, and get upset when I don't speak THEIR language. Don't call my office, in America, and get mad that we don't speak YOUR language. Unfortunately this is what is happening in this country. We are no longer a "melting pot" we are "diverse". Don't get me wrong, every has their own culture, and they should celebrate it. But if you want to be an American, you have to be an American first- not Brazilian-American, or Italian-American, or whatever. And if you come to America, we speak English. Again, I believe Disney has translators, just like they do at Stonehenge, Notre Dame, or any other "tourist spot" . I don't mean to pick just on Spanish speaking people, but that is language I run into trouble with the most.

I'm speechless. Well, not really, but I'm pretty infuriated. Do you mean that the Chinese and Africans who built all of the railroads were English-speaking? Those who fought the war for independence were English, German, Italian, French, you name it. They came here to be free of religious persecution, not to have their own culture subjugted. There was no American culture then. Those from the same country banded together and formed their own communities, speaking their native languages and marrying from other families from the home country. I have NEVER in my life had anyone call my office and get angry because I couldn't speak their language. I simply cannot believe how intolerant you are of other cultures. Do you want all Americans to practice one religion, eat one food or buy one car?

 

[Dare2Wish]

Some comments on this thread are downright racist. I'll refrain from posting my true feelings about some posters on this thread.

 

[mill4023]

If the rest of the world spoke only Spanish, that argument would make sense.

I have seen large areas in the southern US where the economy and quality of life have literally been destroyed by illegal immigration. Let's keep catering to these people! Great idea! More money for the suits!

Last time I checked, we were talking about princesses who could speak Spanish. How does that have anything to do with illegal immigration?

Oh yeah, I guess hiring a bilingual Cinderella is pretty much the same thing as encouraging illegal immigration.

Not that it would make it much more relevant anyway, but I highly doubt that the majority of Spanish speaking WDW visitors are illegals.

 

[Cool-Beans]

We have a lot of people in the USA who speak Spanish. While I can't agree that they are entitled to (or should sue for lack of) Spanish signs, etc. ...I don't think it is ridiculous to have things in Spanish for them.

I kind of like having a mix of languages/cultures in the country.

I'm all for Princesses speaking Spanish in addition to English. If they spoke 10 languages, I'd think it was 10 times as good.

 

[ChrisFL]

I have NEVER in my life had anyone call my office and get angry because I couldn't speak their language. I simply cannot believe how intolerant you are of other cultures. Do you want all Americans to practice one religion, eat one food or buy one car?

You're lucky, I used to get those calls ALL THE TIME...FROM IN THE U.S.

Whats intolerant about having a main language here that 99% of people speak for 200+ years, and suddenly if enough people hop across the border, many illegally, we're supposed to all change our ways, and learn another language to accomidate JUST them? What if millions of Brazilians started to jump the border, do we have to all change everything to portugese also?

Those analogies are deeply flawed...communication is how everything works between people, if you can't communicate you cant get things accomplished.

 

[gbanton]

THIS IS AMERICA - I AGREE ENGLISH ONLY. This is ridiculous that they would even consider it! I have a better idea...maybe the kids should learn how to speak/understand English...wow, what a concept...

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Ok, I didn't read this entire thread but I will say I had an entirely different experience at Disneyland Paris than another poster, in fact I loved visiting France, didn't have a bad time with anyone while there.

I've had one semester of college level French. Went to Paris for our honeymoon 12 yrs ago. Ok, it's been awhile but when we went people seemed to delight in the fact that I tried to speak in their language, even if I did it badly. In fact in Paris and at Disney Paris there were A LOT of people that speak English, not so much in the countryside.

DH and I actually met a Disney Paris CM the night before we were going to the park, at a restaurant in Paris. The reason we met was because the couple sitting next to us spoke such great English - we thought they were American. Turns out she was Dutch and he was I believe German. She explained that she had attended an "International School" and was taught English, and she was a CM at one of the hotels. She actually offered to get us into the park for free but she couldn't do it until she got off work in the afternoon. We declined because we wanted to spend the entire day there. Nice of her though, I've never forgotten that.

I don't know why experiences can be so different. I do present myself as respectful and friendly, with a smile, maybe that helps.