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

[bluejasmine]

Ok just wanted to let everyone know I just spoke with my mother about this thread and she was telling me that growing up (she will be 70 in a few weeks) they had to take English in school, so its like our kids having to take a language in school. Alot of European Countries have this requirement in their schools. Does that make anyone feel any better? lol

 

[DeluxePrincess]

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.

My thoughts exactly!

 

[snusnu]

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.

But that's where you're wrong. English was spoken in America because the Puritans brought it here, but they were not the only refugees who fled to these shores. German was a hugely dominant language in Wisconsin and Minnesota, French was (is) the language of diplomacy, which was spoken by Jefferson and Franklin in many of their business dealings. And who on earth is asking you to learn Spanish? Just because a few people are indignant that you don't speak Spanish, it doesn't mean that you are being forced to learn it. If all of the signage in the US, all of the books, newspapers, menus, etc were being replaced with Spanish language equivalents, then you could claim this.

 

[njchris]

What's immigration have to do with a bi-lingual character at Disney World?

I'd be happy if I went to another country and someone there I interacted with also knew English. Although I wouldn't expect it, it might make me pick that place again to go to because it would help with my enjoyment of the place.

This is a TOURIST spot - not limited to just the United States.

I don't get the hostility here. Cinderella isn't going to speak spanish to you unless you speak it.

Really unfounded, unjustified fears running rampant.

 

[ChrisFL]

But that's where you're wrong. English was spoken in America because the Puritans brought it here, but they were not the only refugees who fled to these shores. German was a hugely dominant language in Wisconsin and Minnesota, French was (is) the language of diplomacy, which was spoken by Jefferson and Franklin in many of their business dealings. And who on earth is asking you to learn Spanish? Just because a few people are indignant that you don't speak Spanish, it doesn't mean that you are being forced to learn it. If all of the signage in the US, all of the books, newspapers, menus, etc were being replaced with Spanish language equivalents, then you could claim this.

A few people? They're everywhere around here, and they get upset when I can't speak Spanish.

 

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

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...

YES lets cram these poor children full of the English language,dont let them eat sleep or use the restroom for months before they get here, until they have mastered the English language so that for the week they are here we wont have to "deal" with their stupidity of not knowing English... I mean HOW DARE THEY NOT KNOW ENGLISH, IT IS AFTER ALL THE SUPERIOR LANGUAGE!....

comments like yours are ignorant and HATEFUL..

Like someone else has said almost all other countries have AT LEAST 2 primary languages...whats so wrong with America being a Bilingual country? I think it says alot about us as a Country when so many people arent willing to even try learning another language, and even worse are upset when a person who doesnt speak English should dare cross their American paths...those of you who feel like this are really loosing out on not just a beautiful language but alot of wonderful cultures. ( I say this because each Spanish speaking country has its own brand" of Spanish, and a wonderful culture, and history) I personally am of Cuban decent was born in Miami was raised in Tennessee from a very young age, and moved back to Miami about 8 years ago, I came back to Miami not knowing how to speak Spanish because my primary language at home was English, let me tell you I did struggle to communicate, but I learned! I Learned! I did not resent the Hispanics here for forcing me to learn in order to communicate with them...I am greatful to them beacuse they have made me a more intelligent person, a more informed citizen. It has not made me less of an American to speak Spanish, if anything it has made me MORE American. This country wasnt made for us all to be "one" way..this country was founded on the beliefs that we could all be WHO WE WERE without fear of persicution. I am not angry that they dont speak English, because I am good enough to speak Spanish.

**RANT OVER**

 

[Feralpeg]

Folks, I think this thread has become a little hostile. That was not my intention. I'm going to ask the mods to lock the thread. Thank you.

 

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

A few people? They're everywhere around here, and they get upset when I can't speak Spanish.

I have a ? for you..not to be getting smart with you or anything, but why dont you take the time to learn Spanish? I mean, If I had a business with SO many people calling who only spoke Spanish, and I couldnt serve them because I only spoke English, I think I would try to learn Spanish to better my business (and myself!) can you imagine the business that must be loosing since i couldnt speak to them and take their orders?

 

[ChrisFL]

comments like yours are ignorant and HATEFUL..

No, it's hateful if someone comes into your house uninvited and starts to demand things that you don't have

I think it says alot about us as a Country when so many people arent willing to even try learning another language

Right, so if they're coming to the U.S. why can't THEY learn the language of our land instead of us having to learn their language?

 

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

No, it's hateful if someone comes into your house uninvited and starts to demand things that you don't have



Right, so if they're coming to the U.S. why can't THEY learn the language of our land instead of us having to learn their language?

They could and most DO, it just takes them awhile...even longer when there is no-one willing to speak to them in their language to show them ours...but would it be SO BAD for a person to learn Spanish, its not making them any LESS of a person..

 

[disneymama73]

I think comments like these are making people think posters would be upset is a CM spoke in Spanish:

Flame away all you want - it certainly won't change my perspective that a Cinderella in the United States should speak English.

Snow White to me saying Bueno Dias Muchacho doens't seem to right to me

When go WDW I no expect anyone speak Russian. I understand it is America, speak English.

We are an English speaking culture and anyone travelling here should expect to hear English being spoken and all signs to be in English.

I just believe that just as Spanish should be spoken in Mexico, English should be spoken in the United States.

If speaking to the Princess' is so important then maybe these little girls parents should work on a few key phrases before they leave.

Thank you for clarifying that for me.

 

[mking624]

No, it's hateful if someone comes into your house uninvited and starts to demand things that you don't have

I don't recall anyone here owning this country...therefore it's a little bold for you to state they're uninvited.

 

[ChrisFL]

I don't recall anyone here owning this country...therefore it's a little bold for you to state they're uninvited.

its an analogy, and what do you consider illegal aliens?

 

[Cool-Beans]

No, it's hateful if someone comes into your house uninvited and starts to demand things that you don't have

They aren't uninvited. Lady Liberty and I are hosting a Tea Party. We invited them.

Is it really as bad as all that for you that you begrudge little kids a bilingual Princess?

 

[mking624]

its an analogy, and what do you consider illegal aliens?

Analogy or not, you're making a comparison. A house can be owned by you...but you can't own this country.

I wouldn't consider illegal immigrants uninvited. They ARE invited to come to the country in a legal manner. But they're status here doesn't change how one should treat a human being in terms of respecting them and helping them to be able to speak...instead of demanding it from them like you're saying they do to us.

 

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

its an analogy, and what do you consider illegal aliens?

I call them what they are, people who came to America to try to do better for themselves here than what they could in their own country..OH BTW did you know that the largest group of Illegal Aliens in the US are not Mexicans,...they are Canadians.

 

[Tink522]

No, it's hateful if someone comes into your house uninvited and starts to demand things that you don't have



Right, so if they're coming to the U.S. why can't THEY learn the language of our land instead of us having to learn their language?

Since 33% of the U.S. population are of hispanic origins and spanish is rapidly becoming the nations second language (already there are dual language counties, Miami - Dade being one of them). Don't you think it's wise the government start to implent programs for Spanish speakers since at some point Spanish speakers will out number English speakers. Whether it's wrong or right it's gonig to happen. How do you think English became the official language of the US? The number of immigrants that spoke English outnumbered the immigrants that spoke French, Dutch, et al. It's your right not to have to cater to immigrants since the spanish speakers anger you so much why not put up a, "No hablames espanol" sign (We do not speak spanish).

 

[Hixski]

I work at a company where I speak with our plants in China, Manila in the Phillipines and several plants in Mexico. I have a phone friend named Ignacio. I am helping him with his English and he is helping me with my Spanish. Too bad we can't all be a little more tolerant.

 

[Tink522]

I call them what they are, people who came to America to try to do better for themselves here than what they could in their own country..OH BTW did you know that the largest group of Illegal Aliens in the US are not Mexicans,...they are Canadians.

Really, never knew that. Do you know where you got that information from?

Just for clarification: This is not a sarcastic post. You never know what people are think when they read a post.

 

[LizinSTL]

I didn´t schedule any princesses meals this coming september because last year when we had lunch at Akershus it was quite difficult for dd and she was confused as to why the princesses didn´t understand her and logically there was a lot of interactions in the other tables and not so much as ours (she was a few days shy of her 3rd birhtday), because she couldn´t understand what the princesses were saying.

Though I must say that Cinderella spoke a little spanish and she really made an effort with my dd who has now her as her favorite princess.

To a pp who said that foreing speaking people shouldn´t expect to have the characters speaking their own language, you are right. We never expected them to do so, but it is so more magical.

And if you are traveling with small children, princesses are princesses to them, and they don´t have to understand why the princess speaks another language when they, as another pp wrote, DO speak spanish in most of the movies that they watch (though my dd has a few princess movies bought in the US that are only in English and she does understand that she can choose the language for some movies and not for others).

I just think that this will make meeting the princesses a lot better for spanish speaking little girls.

Does anybody know when and where are these princesses going to be?

TIA

Julie

2.5 years ago, we visited Disneyland. I heard Snow White, Princess Aurora and Belle speak Spanish to little girls who spoke no English. I thought it was incredibly sweet. Snow White was particularly talented because she also communicated in sign language to a hearing impaired child. I don't see why it's a big deal. If Cinderella speaks English to your English speaking child, why do you care if she can speak Spanish to the next child in line or French or Japanese??? I think it's magical.