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

[*~ellagirlsmama~*]

Signing is one thing that child doesn't have a choice on if she can hear or not. Speaking a differant languauge is another. The closest you will get to a black princess is going to be jasmine who is indian. Unless disney makes a movie with a black princess i dont see that happening..that will confuse everyone. Including your daughter who has seen all the movies where they are white.

 

[Silvite]

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

Most places in world people speak English, it language of business.

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

Ok, I know that speaking another language is a choice, and my dd who will turn 4 on sept. while on a Disney cruise, attends a bilingual school, but she is only 3, and many of the foreign spanish speaking children are just preschoolers, so even if they are learing english at school, obviously they can´t be fluent at such a young age, and by the time this children will be fluent in english (around 7 or 8 years old), they probably wouldn´t believe that characters are real, so the magic wouldn´t be there as much as it is to preeschool age children.

Probably most of the parents of this children are fluent in English or at least have the basics, because believe me when I tell you that airline tickets from Mexico to Orlando start at about 450 dollars per ticket, so it is not easy at all for most people to go there, and we must have a Visa, which is really hard to obtain (must prove that you have a steady job, that you earn more than x, that you have real state, good credit, so you must present the deeds to your house, American Express statements, among many other things) (and btw I completely understand, with all the illegal immigrants why they must be careful while handing out the visas, and of course it is not like anyone is making us go to the US, we travel there by choice). These people don´t expect the characters to speak spanish, but I am sure that they will be very happy that they do, since this will probably make the best memories for our children.

And after all, WDW is a business, and if they are thinking of doing this it might have something to do with the money spanish speakers are spending there. Why not have them speak french or german? mmmm probably because not that many french or german speaking people in the park as spanish speakers.

And even if we have taken dd a couple of times, and are planning on taking her on many more trips to WDW, and the speaking english only princesses wouldn´t dissuade us from going, it DOES make for a more magical trip for my dd, and for that I am grateful.

Julie

 

[daisy_77]

Signing is one thing that child doesn't have a choice on if she can hear or not. Speaking a differant languauge is another. The closest you will get to a black princess is going to be jasmine who is indian. Unless disney makes a movie with a black princess i dont see that happening..that will confuse everyone. Including your daughter who has seen all the movies where they are white.

I thought that Jasmine was a princess from Arabia

 

[Fitswimmer]

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!

 

[luvchip]

I agree totally!!

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Well, what about all the poor little girls who watch Cinderella in French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Mandarin, Hindi, etc.

When I travel to other parts of the world where English is not the native language, I don't expect people to speak English. I make it a point to learn a few important phrases in the native language and carry an English/whatever language dictionary with me. Why should anyone travel to WDW and expect to hear anything other than English I wouldn't expect to hear English in Disneyland Paris or Tokyo (although you probably do.)

For me it isn't a matter of intolerance of other cultures - it is their intolerance of ours

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

I could not agree with you more !

The thought of this is totally offensive to me.

Flame away.

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

Ummm, I don't understand why anyone would begrudge a child a magical experience
If the princesses are speaking to YOUR child in English, whats it to you what language they speak to another child?

THANK YOU Ellagirlsmama!

Julie

 

[amy4bruce]

Many, many years ago, I went on a singles tour to Europe. My roommate would loudly proclaim that, if a restaurant wanted his business, they should speak English (we were not in English-speaking countries at the time). I felt he was highly overstating the case, especially since these weren't tourist spots we were trying to eat in. Disney, however, is a major tourist spot. It makes total economic sense for them to post signs and have CMs, including characters, speaking other languages.

Another thought - isn't Belle French? Isn't Ariel Danish? (Okay, so she's probably Atlantean, but no one I know speaks that.) Cinderella, Aurora, Snow White are all generic European. Jasmine should be speaking Arabic or Farsi. Only Pocahontas should be speaking English, and hers was a second language. Why shouldn't a princess speak something else?

Btw, neither DW nor I speak anything but a few words and phrases of other languages, but we certainly wouldn't be upset if DD6 should hear it.

 

[disney09]

.............I post something but I deleted it, no reason to keep the flames.

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

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!

I completely agree with you, if you move to another country you must learn that language and must not expect people to learn your language to communicate with you.

And it is a great idea if they learned those phrases in various languages.

And definetly WDW is a tourist destination, so why can other posters be so mad because they do something good for the foreing tourists?

I know in the tourist areas in my country, lots of people try to learn english and make go to great lengths to explain or understand foreing speaking people. I have never seen a tourist angry because the salesperson was able to communicate with them, so, kind of quoting a pp "why does it make you angry that a character may be giving my child a magical moment?

Or do you think only english speaking children deserve those magical moments?

And just repeating what I already posted "I don´t expect this, I am just happy they are doing it".

Julie

 

[HayGan]

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!

Exactly!

I don't have a problem with any of the characters being able to say a few basic phrases in different languages. I do have a problem if Cinderella (or any other character) is expected to speak only Spanish. Any of the CMs can be taught a few basic phrases in multiple languages that make it special for any child.

I do have a serious problem with the amount of people that come here expecting our English speaking culture to cater to them. This is America and we speak English here. You can't expect another language to be spoken. If someone is able to speak you language then great but why should we have to speak their language My great-grandparents didn't speak a word of English when they arrived here and they learned English. They didn't expect anyone to speak to them in their native tongue.

Why is Disney catering to the Spanish speakers As we all know there are plenty of people from other cultures that travel here. What all CMs working while the Brazilian teenagers are in the park are going to have to speak Portuguese

 

[disneymama73]

Well, what about all the poor little girls who watch Cinderella in French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Mandarin, Hindi, etc.

When I travel to other parts of the world where English is not the native language, I don't expect people to speak English. I make it a point to learn a few important phrases in the native language and carry an English/whatever language dictionary with me. Why should anyone travel to WDW and expect to hear anything other than English I wouldn't expect to hear English in Disneyland Paris or Tokyo (although you probably do.)

For me it isn't a matter of intolerance of other cultures - it is their intolerance of ours

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

You took the words right out of my mouth. Well said.

 

[Todd&Copper]

Instead of face characters speaking other languages, why not hire multi-lingual handlers or whatever the "character friends" are called?

 

[disney09]

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.

I couldn't agree with you more! Let them be multilingual, just a few phrases, that'll do the trick!
It's not a matter of we foreign turists wanting to hear them in our language, I mean, I'm writting here in English am I not? Everytime I go to the US I speak in English, and now that my kids are going also, I'm encouraging to do it also. I'm already telling them that everything is in English, and practicing with DD7 to order her meal in English. We are also learning how to say Hello in the different languages of the Epcot "countries".
So, don't worry too much. It's still the US and will ever be.

 

[jenks0718]

I dont know about hiring spanish speaking princesses, but I would LOVE to see a black princess come out from Disney.

 

[Annam26]

Ummm, I don't understand why anyone would begrudge a child a magical experience
If the princesses are speaking to YOUR child in English, whats it to you what language they speak to another child?

Right. It is not going to affect anyones experience, so why the anger?

 

[disneymama73]

Let them be multilingual, just a few phrases, that'll do the trick!

I think that is an excellent idea.

 

[disneypookies]

Well, what about all the poor little girls who watch Cinderella in French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Mandarin, Hindi, etc.

When I travel to other parts of the world where English is not the native language, I don't expect people to speak English. I make it a point to learn a few important phrases in the native language and carry an English/whatever language dictionary with me. Why should anyone travel to WDW and expect to hear anything other than English I wouldn't expect to hear English in Disneyland Paris or Tokyo (although you probably do.)

For me it isn't a matter of intolerance of other cultures - it is their intolerance of ours

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

Exactly!

I am of hispanic parents, BUT I feel that anyone who comes here should adapt to the English language and not the other way around. I believe they did the same thing with the US Anthem and made a spanish version which really pissed me off.

but if it magicfies the children, fine. So long as everything is not changed.

 

[HayGan]

I completely agree with you, if you move to another country you must learn that language and must not expect people to learn your language to communicate with you.

And it is a great idea if they learned those phrases in various languages.

And definetly WDW is a tourist destination, so why can other posters be so mad because they do something good for the foreing tourists?

I know in the tourist areas in my country, lots of people try to learn english and make go to great lengths to explain or understand foreing speaking people. I have never seen a tourist angry because the salesperson was able to communicate with them, so, kind of quoting a pp "why does it make you angry that a character may be giving my child a magical moment?

Or do you think only english speaking children deserve those magical moments?

And just repeating what I already posted "I don´t expect this, I am just happy they are doing it".

Julie

It is not that they are trying to give your child a Magical Moment it is that is only Spanish. Disney isn't saying let's teach our characters to say hello and my name is in various languages. It is that it is only Spanish.

We are an English speaking culture and anyone travelling here should expect to hear English being spoken and all signs to be in English. Just as I wouldn't expect to go to Chichén Itzá and expect anyone to speak to me in English. It is great if they do but I certainly don't expect it to happen.

I'm not against anyone travelling here to enjoy WDW. I think that it is wonderful to have children from around the world come and enjoy such a magical place. I know how hard it is for many Ameican to afford a WDW vacation. I can only begin to imagine how hard it is for families in other nations to travel here.

The English/Spanish issue is a cultural change that is being forced upon us (and mostly by illegal means) and unfortunately has made many of us very sensitive to the topic.

Please do not take my comments as a insult to anyone of a different culture. I just believe that just as Spanish should be spoken in Mexico, English should be spoken in the United States.