The "Lack of Imagination Generation"

[Jobie]

This response exactly highlights the point of those expounding the lack of imagination generation.

I would just like to say that I am kind of offended by that comment. You know nothing about me or who I am, and if you read my other posts maybe you will truly know what I was trying to say. Just to let you know I am studying web deisgn which requires a lot of imigination and artistic desing. On top of that, if you look at my journals from my child hood, you would see that I would spend many of my days sitting back and imaging up to rides and concepts, becuase my dream then and still now is to create myy own theme park. Maybe thoes dreams are not a possibility, but I still dream and use my imigination to create thoes dreams. My whole statement was that maybe that it wasn't really our imiginations that really got us in the first place, but the technology of the time that blew us away, but as we get older thoes memories stick (we could care less about the technology) and we make it into something more. That something more is our imaginations at work, but I was trying look at the young kids point of view. Basicaly you are only aware of the older technologies becuase they feel dated, but the newer ones are able to suck you into a story, becuase they feel fresh and fit within the times (even if the young person is not aware of the technology being used)
Don't mean to be nasty, but before you group someone into a particular group, I think you need to really know the person. My generation will be able to do great things, and why beuase we still do know how to use our minds in creative ways, maybe different than generations before, but the times has changed. This is an aurgument that will never end, and will continue for generations, becuase things changes. Kids changes, and nothing will ever be able to match your childhood, why becuase it is the best years of your life, where you had no worries no problems and no stress. When this current generation gets older, they will be saying the same things about the next. Just don't classify me or others into a group, when you do not know us.

Have a good one!
Jobie

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Kids changes, and nothing will ever be able to match your childhood, why becuase it is the best years of your life, where you had no worries no problems and no stress.
Have a good one!
Jobie

Best years of your life? No stress? Um...
Kids dealing with divorced parents, parents who abuse each other, parents who abuse their kids, parents who are alcoholics or drug addicts, single parent homes, guns in the schools, gangs running around the area, peer pressure, kids having to go home to an empty house after school, hardly any after school programs (outside of sports), going to bed hungry, kids having kids, terrorist attacks, etc.
I know of tons of kids these type things have happened to.
Kids don't really have it easy. Especially these days.

Which is another reason why I think kids are so jaded these days.

 

[Jobie]

Best years of your life? No stress? Um...
Kids dealing with divorced parents, parents who abuse each other, parents who abuse their kids, parents who are alcoholics or drug addicts, single parent homes, guns in the schools, gangs running around the area, peer pressure, kids having to go home to an empty house after school, hardly any after school programs (outside of sports), going to bed hungry, kids having kids, terrorist attacks, etc.
I know of tons of kids these type things have happened to.
Kids don't really have it easy. Especially these days.

Which is another reason why I think kids are so jaded these days.

WOW. People just do not try to fully understand what I am writting. BY no means was I saying that being a kid is a walk in the park. Thoes problems have been here for years, if not the same ones at least similar. (example kids who grew up during the height of the cold war was always afraid of the "red" invading and atacking with nuclear weapons. Now we fear other types of people, but still with massive weapons) The reasons why things look so bad is this, 1) things are more out spoken or in other words we are a more "aware" soceity. Things like that were just not talked about, but they still happened (turst me there many drunks then). Don't belive me, well then all of my grandparents are lirars. 2) With more and more media coverage, the world begins to shrink and everything seems to happen right next door. The meida covers anyting bad that happens but only some of the good is considered news worthy.(when do you ever hear good news?) With the constent feeding of bad into our brains, yup we are going to think that everything is going to the pits (I am not saying that it isn't LOL but the we are programmed to think that our lives are always in danger and that the good 'ole days were perfect)
The point of what I was saying though, is as a kid you do not deal with the stress of being an adult. There are not bills, no worring about brining home bread, no responsibliity. It is easier to let your mind go when it is like that. Thanks for the flames I was beginning to feel cold over here.



Now back to the actual topic of the board. I guess what I am trying to say, is that maybe we as kids were not using our imginations as much at WDW as we thought we were. People have been saying that when you ride Pirates you use your imgination and it is great. Well, I believe it is not just your imgination that does the trick. The goal of a good themed ride is to get you lost into the story. They do this by making things that effect all of your senses, this draws you in. As all your senses feels like you are there, not on a ride, but on a true pirate adventure, then your mind kicks in and the mechanical parts of the ride tend to disapeer. That is when an imagination kicks in. If it was only up to your imigination they would just put you in a boat, have go down a dark path, and tell you that pirates are around you, making your mind do the work. That is something truly that relies on imgination, sorry none of the rides do.

So my point is, is that the technologies used to suck in your senses has aged in pirates compared to the newer rides. If you have something that sucks you in more, makes things feel more real, then the older stuff does not seem as real, becuase you have now done something that is more "real." Kids are imeresed with technology every day, so it is easy for them to point out the dated stuff, this distracts their senses from enjoyihng the ride. But the newer rides are the opposite. That is why I said that Disney needs to do some major rehabs. They can keep the rides having the classic feel, but use the newer technologies to suck people in. It is not a matter of using your imgination or not. Example ride the tower of terror. You know the whole time that you are not in a real maintence elevator, you know there are no ghosts, and you know that you are not in danger. But with the wonderful themeing and use of technology, you feel as if thoes tings are real and you imigination kicks in. It is like an optical illusion.

If ya'll do not understand what I am trying to say by now, then I guess ya'll will never LOL. Maybe I just not good at typing LOL. Any way, the bottom line is this no matter what, we will always enjoy going to WDW!

Have a good one!
Jobie

 

[jann1033]

WOW.


But with the wonderful themeing and use of technology, you feel as if thoes tings are real and you imigination kicks in. It is like an optical illusion.

If ya'll do not understand what I am trying to say by now, then I guess ya'll will never LOL. Have a good one!
Jobie

I'm trying i really am ! could you maybe define imagination as you see it? my interpretation is having a story line( be it ride movie whatever) but then having to use your thought processes to really enjoy it by getting into the subject even thou you knw it isn't really real. i love the tot type rides but don't see why you think they take more imagination to enjoy than say pirates...(maybe to me since i take my glasses off on tot and have to "imagine" i'm "seeing" ( ) but don't think that would be the case with most) they are more technologically advanced but not more imaginative imo

as far as the rest goes, in everyday life. i just don't think it takes as much imagination to add a sequence to a video game as it does to make a cardboard box become aship, a house , a library ( one of kids' favorite games, the little nerds) ect. jmo which is not always as right as i like to think it is

 

[cteddiesgirl]

WOW. People just do not try to fully understand what I am writting. BY no means was I saying that being a kid is a walk in the park. Thoes problems have been here for years, if not the same ones at least similar. (example kids who grew up during the height of the cold war was always afraid of the "red" invading and atacking with nuclear weapons. Now we fear other types of people, but still with massive weapons) The reasons why things look so bad is this, 1) things are more out spoken or in other words we are a more "aware" soceity. Things like that were just not talked about, but they still happened (turst me there many drunks then). Don't belive me, well then all of my grandparents are lirars. 2) With more and more media coverage, the world begins to shrink and everything seems to happen right next door. The meida covers anyting bad that happens but only some of the good is considered news worthy.(when do you ever hear good news?) With the constent feeding of bad into our brains, yup we are going to think that everything is going to the pits (I am not saying that it isn't LOL but the we are programmed to think that our lives are always in danger and that the good 'ole days were perfect)
The point of what I was saying though, is as a kid you do not deal with the stress of being an adult. There are not bills, no worring about brining home bread, no responsibliity. It is easier to let your mind go when it is like that. Thanks for the flames I was beginning to feel cold over here.

Have a good one!
Jobie

I know many kids that get up early in the morning to work or work late at night. Where does their money go?? To the family to pay for food, utility bills and rent/mortgage. When my oldest niece lived with her father and step-mother, she was taken out of school so she could stay at home and take care of her younger siblings while the parents worked. (I didn't like it when I heard about it and it was years ago).

And I know the "good ole days" weren't perfect. I minored in History. Plus I watch almost nothing but PBS, History Channel, Discovery Times, etc.

I'm really not trying to flame you. I'm just trying to make a point. You act as if kids have it easy. In many ways, many of them do. But there are many, many more out there that don't. And I've seen the changes happen.

I probably have a slightly unique view from most posting here. I'm older than you, but more than likely younger than many of the others. And I myself have no children, but yet I am surrounded by kids of all ages.

 

[mscoryb]

I just wanted everyone to know that my first trip to the World was at 17... and I had the time of my life!!! For the next 15 years, I imagined taking my children there someday. I got the magic then, & I get it now!!! October will be my second trip w/ my kids, and they have been warned- if they don't "get" the magic, there are plenty of cousins/ friends/ less fortunate children that I would quickly take in their place.... because NO ONE is ging to ruin the magic for me!!!

 

[lauran cameron]

I know exactly what you mean. I think, as adults, we are able to appreciate the 'magic' and the effort which has gone into designing/theming the Dsiney parks.

My biggest fear is that, when we take our DDs next year, they will be terribly disappointed with it all - although it will be their first trip abroad and to any sort of theme park (not counting a rubbish little place near where they live) so I hope this will make it more cool for them.

It's a shame that a lot of kids just don't get the 'magic' of the place. But, then, I reckon a lot of adults don't get it either

Wow, I wish me and my friends could switch out with those kids lol...we come from a very acdemically demanding state (NY) where little to no creativity in the classroom is really allowed and we are just dying to burst out! In fact we are planning a trip to WDW in March together and we're all 17 & 18...

basically where we are from we are made fun of and looked down upon for being so creative and imaginative

 

[Jobie]

I'm trying i really am ! could you maybe define imagination as you see it? my interpretation is having a story line( be it ride movie whatever) but then having to use your thought processes to really enjoy it by getting into the subject even thou you knw it isn't really real. i love the tot type rides but don't see why you think they take more imagination to enjoy than say pirates...(maybe to me since i take my glasses off on tot and have to "imagine" i'm "seeing" ( ) but don't think that would be the case with most) they are more technologically advanced but not more imaginative imo

as far as the rest goes, in everyday life. i just don't think it takes as much imagination to add a sequence to a video game as it does to make a cardboard box become aship, a house , a library ( one of kids' favorite games, the little nerds) ect. jmo which is not always as right as i like to think it is

The thing is that maybe as kids we were not using our imginations as much as we thought. Like I said I just think that I am not saying all this correctly, so my whole point is lost LOL. I guess with what I am saying is that something that is old and out dated, like pirates, it is harder for thoes that are used to newer things to get into it, becuase they are distracted by the "oldness" LOL. It's as if you are drinking kool-aid. It is all nice and sweet and taste great! You just don't think anything can get any better. Well then you a big spoonful of ice creme, that is sweeter than the kool-aid. You are like wow, that's good. Now when you go back to take a drink the kool-aid, it does not taste so sweet, infact it is almost bitter tasting, because the ice creme's sweetness is so much greater than the kool-aids and still in your mouth that you no longer can taste what is so good about the kool-aid. You continue to drink the kool-aid though, knowing that it once was sweet to you, but the ice creme is more satisfying. This is the same with new and old technologies. The old ones are great, but as soon as you experience the new ones, it is hard to go back to the old. You know it is the same, you know there is some fun there, but it does not measure up to the new technology in rides. Becuase of the older technology not measuring up to the new, the kids are distracted, there fore there imiginations do go into effect. But on a newer ride, where it feels fresh and all, it is in full effect, just like when the old was new.

So basically I am saying that it is the lack of newer technologies in thoes rides that are distracting the kids. Of course most kids won't use the words old technologies, but you will hear boring and such because they do not measure up to the new, which to them is a lot more exciting and mind stimulating. I say that maybe we were not using our imginations as much as we thought we were, becuase it I feel it was the \technologies of the rides that actually blew us away as kids. Now as we are older we ride them again and thoes old feelings of excitment rises up becuase we have memories of that excitment as children, the mind never forgets . But for a youngster that has been exposed to newer and more "exciting" things, they do not get thoes same old feelings. They do though on the newer rides, and when they get older the same thing will happen. They will want to take their kids on their "classics" and their kids will be like "no way boring, I want to ride the attraction that really goes to mars, not just one that spins you in a room, BORING!" LOL

Well I hope that makes sense. If you do not belive me on the kool-aid thing, try it. Right after drinking something sweet, have something sweeter, then drink it again. Then you may get a better visualization about what I am trying to say LOL. Any ways, Ya'll have a great day!

Jobie

 

[Jobie]

Wow - I'm amazed at the number of deep responses to my original post. Didn't really mean to have a Philosophy debate - but I appreciate everyone's insight. I think that my original intent was just to convey sadness that I think my kids are missing out on things. Can't help but wonder if in a few years Disney will be passe? I love roller coasters, but is their room for both types of entertainment? Perhaps it's like the romance of train travel being replaced by airplanes. I think only time will tell.

I believe there is room for rollercoasters and theme park types rides. Especially if you look at Mummy at USF or the new Mt. Everest at Animal Kingdom. Thoes are roller coaster type rides but have elaborate theming and I know at least one of them tells a great story. That is why I think for most of Disney rides, they just need to re-hab them. NOt necessary replace them, but update them to a new modern feel. The other thing that I think that kids find boring about WDW is that if you go to an amusement, they usuallyy have thrill rides every where, and a good amuement park will still have good family rides as well. WDW on the other hand was not built on thrill rides, so it only has one maybe two in every park. So the older kids get to ride one, if lucky, two a whole day. To them it just does not feel balanced. I know others will say that a park like Cedar Point does not feel balanced either and that it is all thrill rides, but that is for another discussion and why WDW brings in more corwds (I am a Cedar Point nut though by thw way) Do not worry about the kids. Do kids miss out on some of the great things there yeah, but try to point them out to them. Show them the details of the place. Show them how WDW was groundbreaking in creating the themepark. Sure they will feel like it is un-balanced and old, especially Magic Kingdom, but they will have a better appreciation.

 

[bigmac5]

Technology and new things are great but we need to still stop sometimes and smell the roses.

We got to "It's a small world" and I wanted to go on. My kids, DS11, DS13, DS14 whined and said they didn't want to go on it. I just looked at them and said "Everyone has to go on this ride at least once in their life" I must say that I was quiet please with its new and fresh look, but it still had the slow down and appreciate things feeling> The boys looked at everything and pointed out interesting details. At the end of it they didn't complain about the ride or say it was lame or anything (They would say so if they felt it so) Even though the didn't say they liked it I knew they did.

Actually out of all the things we did the only ones they really didn't like were Jungle Cruise( maybe because we did it at night and the CM's dialogue/actions etc didn't go together--like it was her first time) and Astro Orbitor--that's not bad,especially since it didn't enjoy them either.

 

[Jobie]

Technology and new things are great but we need to still stop sometimes and smell the roses.

I do agree with you there.

Speaking of Jungle Cruise, isn't hard to ride it now with having KS at AK? It just dosn'e feel right anymore LOL. I know it is a classic, as a kid it was one of my fav's (LOL when I was three I thought the animals were real), but it makes you wonder how much longer it can last.

 

[Michelina]

I was 15 the first time that I went to WDW. (I'm 30 now.) I was definitely a jaded teenager but I thought that Disney World was the best, most magical place that I'd ever been to in my whole life. It was like everything that I'd imagined as a child was brought to life.
Small World was my favorite of all the rides.
Perhaps there's a difference if you've grown up going to Disney? Maybe by the time you hit the teenage years, you're just bored with going to the same place year after year?

 

[Uncle Servo]

Speaking of Jungle Cruise, isn't hard to ride it now with having KS at AK? It just dosn'e feel right anymore LOL. I know it is a classic, as a kid it was one of my fav's (LOL when I was three I thought the animals were real), but it makes you wonder how much longer it can last.

You know, I had thought just the same thing for a long time. One of my strongest memories from when my mom and dad took me back in the early/mid 70s was of the Jungle Cruise. That was the last time I rode it for roughly 30 years, mainly because I felt that with KS you got the 'expedition ride' experience a lot better.

Then, on one of our most recent trips, we said 'what the hey' and got on it late at night. I had a blast -- and it wasn't because of the 'expedition ride' experience! It was because while KS was completely serious and chock-ful of conservation/anti-poaching mentality (even though it strikes me as silly that the poachers can have/use guns but the park rangers couldn't), JC didn't appear to take anything seriously -- even itself! That flippant attitude IMO makes JC the perfect anti-thesis to the sometimes-borderline-preachy KS.

 

[PamNC]

We don't have kids, so I can't speak to this topic perfectly. But, I have been visiting WDW since 1971. My parents took me several times. Not every year, but at least 6-7 times. As a child, I LOVED it, cried everytime we left and definitely got the magic. When I became say 14-ish, the magic waned and I missed my circle of friends back home. I remember going when I was 17 and hating every minute of it. I went once in my early 20's...a girls only trip with my mom, aunts and grandmother. Had a great time. But, I stopped going until my honeymoon in 1994 (I was 32). The magic definitely came back and I am totally obsessed. So much so that we are considering buying into DVC. Just me and my DH.

I agree with a lot of the replies to this thread. Kids don't use their imagination like us 40-somethingers did. They have constant instant gratification thrown at them. Video games, crazy thrill rides, the internet, the list goes on. I ache for a simplier time, but that isn't going to happen. No, I stand corrected. It does happen...for me anyway. Kids sort of go "bezerk" around 13 or 14 and then they return to their senses around 18...so hold on. They'll be back.

PamNC

 

[homer424]

I just wanted everyone to know that my first trip to the World was at 17... and I had the time of my life!!! For the next 15 years, I imagined taking my children there someday. I got the magic then, & I get it now!!! October will be my second trip w/ my kids, and they have been warned- if they don't "get" the magic, there are plenty of cousins/ friends/ less fortunate children that I would quickly take in their place.... because NO ONE is ging to ruin the magic for me!!!

I am the exception as well-I went when I was 13 and 14(although not my first trips) and I had a ball. I loved it and we had a wonderful time. I was dying to go back and got to in '96 when I was 21. Everything was just as magical then as it was when i was a little kid.

I just hope my daughter-who is nearly 6-continues to have that magical feeling when we go!

 

[LadyDulcinea1]

I am the exception as well-I went when I was 13 and 14(although not my first trips) and I had a ball. I loved it and we had a wonderful time. I was dying to go back and got to in '96 when I was 21. Everything was just as magical then as it was when i was a little kid.

I just hope my daughter-who is enarly 6-continues to have that magical feeling when we go!

I actually begged my mom to take me to WDW when I was 16 I'll admit I did go through some jaded teenager stuff, but WDW still never lost its magic, and I definitely appreciate it even more now!

So, to the OP don't worry, your kids will come around, and they'll be itching to go back, b/c once you catch the magic, its almost impossible to lose it forever

 

[dyna]

I got several different directions to go in here.

1. Kids in general has very little imagination anymore most toys does everything for them leaving little to the imagination. Remember when you was 10 and built stuff from blocks usually domino's but any blocks would work. WHEN was the last time you seen a child older than 5 playing with any kind of blocks building anything? OH now we got legos some likes those kit things with legos. The blocks from hell.

2. Kids are so used to instant everything now it's hard for them to wait for anything. Remember when a quick dinner was mom fryin up hamburgers and putting a bag of chips on table? Mom even thawed the hamburger and made the patties herself. Now we want a quick meal we run out and get fast food. Not to mention microwaves and all that can be heated in an instant.

3. My DD noticed her last trip at age 13 that BELLE was not always the beautiful young lady she had thought she was. With that a lot of the magic was gone for DD I think.

4. Due to an illness my DD has lost all long term memory she does not remember ever going to disney tho she has been at least a dozen times since she was 7 yrs old. So hopefully her next visit will be a bit magical for her. If not I'm just happy she is as well as she is and is able to make the trip as when she was ill she was not able to travel.

5. Kids go and do much more now than in years past. If those of us over 40 made it to disney once in our childhood we was lucky now many goes every year or more often if not to disney than to other amusement parks etc we have the need to entertain kids in these places from the time they are very young then get disappointed when they don't enjoy it. (Been there with my older dd's)

Funny story....

When DD was 4 DH and I took her (just her no sissys along that day) to a local amusement park. This was DD's day to do what she wanted. She'd been to bigger and better amusement parks many times but this day we thought we'd stay local and just spend the day doing what she wanted.

We arrive at the park about opening time on a non busy day. DD rode all the kiddie rides at least once We rode a couple of things together as a family that was bigger rides. Then we went over to the water park side of the amusement park. DD played in the kiddie water park. We got in the wave pool played around some with her.

We'd been in this park less than 3 hours DD put her hands on her hips looked around asked IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE here to do? We said NO but you got time to do the rides again. She looked at us said IF this is all there is I'm ready and headed for the gate.

Sad in a way that DD was bored after such a short time. Yet this park was not as big as the other parks we'd been in.

DD does enjoy this park now that she's older and does ask to go at least once every summer. So sometimes the opposite happens as they get older.

 

[jann1033]

I got several different directions to go in here.

35. Kids go and do much more now than in years past. If those of us over 40 made it to disney once in our childhood we was lucky now many goes every year or more often if not to disney than to other amusement parks etc we have the need to entertain kids in these places from the time they are very young then get disappointed when they don't enjoy it. (Been there with my older dd's)

totally agree with this..as a kid we always took vacations to the beach or someplace similar and went to the local amusement parks but a trip to Disneyland would have been the ultimatevacation, a definite "once in a lifetime" deal ...very long way to Cal from the east and everyone didn't fly like they do now, it was just a different time. now kids are ''tired" of gong to the ultimate...wdw


think I finally get Jobie due to kool aid illustration and i do agree...( although i also think it applies to most a.parks vs disney) going on sp mt the first time not really "much " of a coaster compared to normal coasters but add the darkness, the flying cookies( teehee) the "stars" and it's impressive but go on it 50 times and you aren't as impressed with the effects and you are left with a hohum little coaster( compared to say Milleneium (sp)Force, the Beasts ect which are "tame" compared to the new dragstrip coaster type thing at cp...I forget the name but would never ever go on it ) imo you go to disney for a different experience though which i think is more fantasy oriented than most a/parks which are thrill oriented and i think kids( teens) brains are usually more geared toward the Thrill side so maybe that's why wdw is boring to some