The "Lack of Imagination Generation"

[cteddiesgirl]

Yes. It is a shame that kids today are becoming more increasingly "worldly", as shall I put it.
They really don't have the immagination they did when even I was a kid. I blame it partly on the government and cutbacks made to art programs. Lets ramp up those sports programs tho.
I also blame it partly on society and partly on parents. Yes, video games do take more immagination than they did 20 years ago, but they should still be limited on time spent on them. The same with computers and tv/video/dvd.
And this is from a person who owns over 1600 movie titles.
Many parents today also leave the tv/pc/games to babysit thier kids. (I'm not accusing any parents here of doing that). But it's a fact. And kids also influence other kids. It's a wonder kids have any immagination of their own these days. I remember constantly reading since I was very young. I remember looking at clouds and immagining shapes and things in them. How many kids these days do that? Everything these days is geared towards learning math and science and following what other people say. Kids today are not leaders, their followers. They have to dress like everyone else, listen to the same music as everyone else, play the same games as everyone else. And do all the other things that everyone else does. This has become a part of the problem.

O, and Jobie. Disney did not create the first steel roller coaster. There have been many steel coasters since as early as 1901. I'm an ACE (American Coasters Enthusiasts) member. Check out www.rcdb.com.

 

[katjenlilly]

This is an interesting post and a very valid one but being in that age bracket myself I do not agree with that all teenagers I like that. It all depends where your coming from. I seem to grow more obsessed as I get older and deeper into this age, but most of my friends think Disney's ok but not anthing compared to the beach or Hershey Park. They are all very Imaginative in other things, just not Disney. They don't get it just like I don't get AIM or Xanga. They don't have a lack of imagination just a different kind.

 

[opal]

Dd is 23 (grad student) and still has the Disney magic. When we told her we were going for a few days this fall for F&W, her face fell as she said "But I want to go". She still buys each new Disney movie release....only after she has already seen them at the theatre. She has a Stitch cookie jar in her kitchen.

Every time we plan yet another trip we have friends that say, WDW again!!!???? It is just not everyone's cup of tea and for that I am glad. Just imagine how crowded it would be if everyone loved it as much as we do! I think it is the same for kids. For some it is enough to go once and experience it. For the rest of us, it is an addiction.

 

[donac]

I think it depends on how your kids are raised. We are not into roller coasters so the kids don't go to Great Adventure that often. They are allowed to play video games but only on the weekend. We finally got a portable DVD player but since they watched it on the trip to DW they have not used it. But we also go on simple vacations and usually camp. My boys have been brought up on Disney and still really enjoy it. My 15 year old and hisa cousin were by themselves in Mk and what did they do but BTM, SM and the TIki Bird house.

We went with some friends and their children did not vacation at DW that much. The teenage son who has not been there in a long time was bored. They also do a lot of camping but their last two trips have been to Alaska and then a cruise where the kids could do whatever they wanted.


My 20 year old asked us if when we go again could we please stay in a hotel. Not if but when we come back.

You never know.

 

[DisneyMim]

I think it depends. My kids still love Disney and we travel a lot to many different places. We have revised and "updated" the way we do Disney so maybe that could be why they still enjoy it. We became DVC members in 1991 and I did worry that my kids would "outgrow" it, but it never happened. They are now 17 and 21 and think of Disney as their second home. We just came back from a two week trip and they LOVED Soarin!! We never get up early anymore, but we stayed late for every Extra Magic Hour. We eat a late dinner every night in restaurants that they pick and we usually close the place down! We seem to be able to just talk and talk during these vacations. I will have to say that both my kids have great imaginations and neither one of them ever liked places like 6 flags, ets. I have 2 neices and a nephew who are into Disney as much as my kids are. They were with us for part of our vacation. This is great too, for cousins to be together. Disney isn't for everyone. Some people, teens and/or adults would rather do another kind of vacation. As opal said it's a good thing everyone doesn't do the same thing or nobody would ever get reservations!!

 

[lovethattink]

My ds(11) had declared he was too old to go to MK anymore. Then VMK came out, and now we go to MK all the time. He's done the quests, tour, played computer there and bought the merchadise to get the codes. He enjoys walking around and looking at the signs and trying to decide what he should name his next room. When his friends ask him why he likes Disney when the rides are lame. He tells them that they are attractions. They are more like mini-shows than rides. When we want to do coasters, we go to Busch Gardens. It would be great is Disney opened a thrill park at WDW. I know they tried with California Adventure, which isn't that big of a hit with locals out in CA. But we'd love to see a real thrill park at WDW.

My son's favorite park at WDW is Epcot. He goes on Mission Space and Test Track, but he doesn't really care for them all that much. His favorite thing at Epcot is Innoventions. We've already gone after church on a Sunday and spent the entire day at Innoventions. He loves the Toon Town Tag, Total Treevia, Fantastic Plastics, the fire game, the jumping game, and the dance game. We've also spent most of a day at the Living Seas. Both my kids love to watch the fish.

The biggest lure to WDW for my son is the pin trading. He loves to look for pins. He's always on the lookout for Chip and Dale pins and lanyard series pins.

 

[LadyDulcinea1]

So to sum it up:
What you remeber as imigaination, was really you being blown away by the technologies of that era. You were too young to realize it was technology; you thought it was "magic." This generation needs some new "magic," not some 50 year old pixies dust that is loosing its ability to make us fly, but the new stuff that makes us think happy thoughts and makes us rush towards the sky!

Jobie

I tend to disagree, I know the technology behind these rides because I need to know how things work, and I don't find them any less magical. I think it TAKES an imagination to look past the technology and think of them as real characters, which to me is the point of attractions like Pirates, Haunted Mansion, etc. I don't think technology means that the rides need to be all roller coasters and thrill rides, b/c not everyone likes those kind of rides. Personally, my favorite attractions are the ones that make me forget about everything else, simply b/c they have so much imagination, like Pirates, Peter Pan, and Philharmagic. The ability to forget about the reality of what you're looking at is the heart of imagination.

 

[ECurto]

I agree. I did my thesis on this. Our kids our being raised in a world where everything they want can be obtained instantly. Tv, Internet, Games. Any bit of information, anything. Its scary to think how this will effect our society’s future. Its obviously creating impatient, unimaginative, children.

 

[Paisleyjane]

Okay, we started taking my daughter when she was 9 months old, and our sone was 9 weeks his first time (hey, back then, if you wanted to stay on property, you had to make reservations a year in advance, and he was a little suprise baby - I wasn't giving up those reservations!) We have gone once a year since then. Yes, there were a few of those teenage years when they just wanted to shop at DTD and lay around the pool during the day and sit around the hot tub talking to other teens at night, but you know, now that they are 22 and 21, they love to go! They enjoy everything there, but of course they usually want to spend at least one day just lying around Typhoon Lagoon, but they do come around again!

 

[Uncle Servo]

When I was a kid, I had to go and make my own fun using -- guess what -- my IMAGINATION. I didn't have a PS2 or computer when I was growing up (the Atari 2600 didn't come out until I was pretty much a teenager).

Now, I play my PS2 and computer games quite a bit. I don't have to use my imagination nearly as much. No need to try and visualize in my mind what a character or setting looks like when it's right there on the screen. If I'm having a rough time with Final Fantasy, there's no need for me to use my imagination to come up with an answer -- I can download a walkthrough or cheat code online.

Obviously, I'm not an anti-gamer... but I do seriously believe that with entertainment options such as DVDs/computers/game consoles kids simply aren't having to rely on their imaginations anywhere near as much.

 

[disgram]

Begining to think that I was the only one that was sinking!! We are going to WDW next August, just DD, her friend, both 14 then, and me. I have tried to get them interested in the planning but the eyes start to roll and it is that " Oh No here she goes again", look! I know that once we are there they are going to enjoy my "happy place" but not like I will. And that is sad. I have been "addicted" to DisneyWorld since the first time I stood in the building and there was nothing to see but the roads and where things would eventully be!! That was in June of 1970!! Maybe it is because they have the tv and the computers. When you stop to think, when we were younger, there was no microwaves to make meals instantly, no cell phones that connect you instantly. The teenagers are living in an "instantly done" age and are used to getting instant gratification. Maybe when they are older, they will begin to stop and smell the roses and take time to see the magic. Just hope that I am still here to say "I TOLD YOU SO!"

 

[skyhawk]

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.

 

[YCFAN]

I think it's just that your kids are "that age". All kids go through it and it's not always the same age for all of them. My son who absolutely loved Disney his whole life around the age of 14 started becoming too cool for the whole place. When he was 15 he was absolutely bored with it (except the Hoop De Doo which he was so upset about being "forced" to go to until he and his friend got there and they couldn't stop laughing no matter how hard they tried). So this year he got left at home while I took only his 4 year old brother. BLOWED UP LIKE A BALLOON!! Wanted to know why he wasn't going!? Well he's already planning a trip for next year and taking his cousins with him to boot!! They'll come back around....don't worry.

 

[Jobie]

I tend to disagree, I know the technology behind these rides because I need to know how things work, and I don't find them any less magical. I think it TAKES an imagination to look past the technology and think of them as real characters, which to me is the point of attractions like Pirates, Haunted Mansion, etc. I don't think technology means that the rides need to be all roller coasters and thrill rides, b/c not everyone likes those kind of rides. Personally, my favorite attractions are the ones that make me forget about everything else, simply b/c they have so much imagination, like Pirates, Peter Pan, and Philharmagic. The ability to forget about the reality of what you're looking at is the heart of imagination.

True, but you also need to understand what I am trying to say. Take a look at the special effects in movies. Look at a lot of the stop-motion "creatures" that used to used back in the day. During their time, they were the cutting edge and most realistic looking things out there. But when you compare that kind of stuff, to let's say a Jurrassic film, it just looks fake. Even if you look at the first Jurassic Park movie, which was one of the first films to use CG characters throughout a movie, and compare that to the newer films today. Back then, way back in 1990s , that was the most realistic looking effects, they tottallt impressed us. But now when you look at it compared to the newer films, you can tell that the dinos are CG, becuase our eyes are now trained to seeing better CG. You can even see some of the pixles in some of the shots! The first time you watched it, you never saw it, but now that you have seen movies that have taken that technology and has grown with it, when you look back to the old, it just does not seem as real.
It is hard for a young person to look at a priate that does not even have a "realistic" looking face, run around on circles that they can clearly see is on a track, and get into it as if it is a real experience. It is hard to use your inmgination, when you know there is something better and more realistic out there.
I am not saying that all of new rides need to be thrill rides, becuase that is not the case. They just need to use newer technologies that make them seem more realistic. I know many of you will disagree with me, but it is the truth. Here's another thing, compare older motion simulators to newer ones. You see that it feels like you are more really moving in the newer ones than the older ones, is it becuase it is requiring you to use less of you imagination, no. It is becusae of advancements in technology. Even look at Disney's Jungle Cruise to Pirates. Pirates seem more real than Jungle cruise, why? Pirates uses Disney's more advanced technology of audioanomatroincs (sp).

 

[NeverlandClub23]

My brother has always acted like this when we go to WDW. He never looks like he's excited to do or see anything. And I would've put money on that once my parents stopped paying for him to go he wouldn't pay for himself. Boy would I have lost! He's 26 now and he's paid the past two times and the trip coming up and I asked him why he wants to go and he said "Because I like Disney World, it's the only place you can always feel like a kid" What?!?! Who are you?!?! So maybe your kids just didn't seem excited, and either way I'm sure they'll always love the memories they had from the trip. I'm 23 and I've never been quiet about my love of WDW. I've always been that way though. But you can always look forward to future trips with your kids and maybe some grandkids!

 

[LadyDulcinea1]

They just need to use newer technologies that make them seem more realistic. I know many of you will disagree with me, but it is the truth. Here's another thing, compare older motion simulators to newer ones. You see that it feels like you are more really moving in the newer ones than the older ones, is it becuase it is requiring you to use less of you imagination, no. It is becusae of advancements in technology. Even look at Disney's Jungle Cruise to Pirates. Pirates seem more real than Jungle cruise, why? Pirates uses Disney's more advanced technology of audioanomatroincs (sp).

I did understand what you were trying to say sorry if that wasn't clear in my original response

I think saying that new technology makes imagination easier is the "truth" is being a little judgemental. To you it may be easier to "imagine" that something is real when it looks and sound more real, but to some people, myself included, the characters in Jungle Cruise are no less real than those in Pirates. Yes, I know how they work. Yes, and I can hear some of the buzzing and such as they move, but isn't THIS where your imagination kicks in? If they look and sound extremely realistic, well then imagination just isn't THAT necessary (unless you define imagination in a different way than I do) although some is needed since no matter how well done and advanced the technology you know that what you're looking at isn't really REAL.

As for movies, I know that every Christmas I watch the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer from the 1960s, which is obviously very old stop motion technology, yet every year I find myself getting lost in the story, and not noticing the imperfections in the film itself.

Just my two cents!

 

[cleo]

Does it help to think they'll be sayingthe same thing you're saying, 20 years from now? I know my parents were probably bummed when my brother and I didn't 'get' the cool places they took us, but as adults we cannot wait to take our kids to those very same places.

It all goes in and when they're adults it comes back out. That's why we have grandchildren....to enjoy the look of delight and wonderment before they become teens!

 

[firemanx]

while im 21. 22 on sunday 9/11,but let me get to my point i was raised in a disney family from the time i was born we would go minimum of 3 times a yr, Always @ a delux, and always with full packages (my parents saved like crzy for these trips. The thing is I always had a blast when i was there until i was about 17, and thats when it became boring, and the rides no fun. Until this last weekend when i decided what the hey i havnt been on vacation with my parents and whole family in yrs. (plus that whole dining plan was a great thing) But while i was there i experienced something. I saw all the little kids having fun, and let my guard down and somehow it was one of the greatest trips i have been on inawhile. I think all kids hit that age when they want to go hang out w/friends and do stuff like that and think there to cool to hang out with mom and dad. But parents dont worry your kids will return to that age around 20-25 when they relish the time they spend with there parents and the vacations and fun that you have. We already started planing our next trip where we will be @ the contemporary and will be staying for 7-10 days i cant wait.

 

[Jobie]

I did understand what you were trying to say sorry if that wasn't clear in my original response

I think saying that new technology makes imagination easier is the "truth" is being a little judgemental. To you it may be easier to "imagine" that something is real when it looks and sound more real, but to some people, myself included, the characters in Jungle Cruise are no less real than those in Pirates. Yes, I know how they work. Yes, and I can hear some of the buzzing and such as they move, but isn't THIS where your imagination kicks in? If they look and sound extremely realistic, well then imagination just isn't THAT necessary (unless you define imagination in a different way than I do) although some is needed since no matter how well done and advanced the technology you know that what you're looking at isn't really REAL.

As for movies, I know that every Christmas I watch the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer from the 1960s, which is obviously very old stop motion technology, yet every year I find myself getting lost in the story, and not noticing the imperfections in the film itself.

Just my two cents!

Sorry, I wasn't clear about the stop-motion. A movie entirely done in stop motion is great, it is an art form. What I was refering to was live action movies, that used stop-motion to add in monsters or other creatures (like the thing that Luke Skywalker fights in The Return of the Jedi, the origianl not the edited version!). True about Rudolph, always love him! I guess what my whole thing about the technology is this, maybe we weren't using our imginations like we thought we were, and when we ride these old rides we still get a good feeling, becuase it brings back thoes feelings when we were young. But for thoes that are young now, that technology is outdated. Anyway I do also understand where ya'll are comming from to. No matter what, when kids get older they will want to be anywhere but where their parents are. If their parents think that one thing is cool, well then it isn't, especially if they are around their freinds. So I do sort of agree on your point of views, but I also think that the technologies have a lot to do with it as well.
Jobie
Have a great one!

 

[k5thbeatle]

It is called advances in technology. Back in the day when Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, etc. they were the most technological advanced rides. They were the most realistic "robots" during that time. Remeber this was before CG graphics and such. Infact, Disney developed the first steel roller coaster, Matterhourn as DL. Any way, as Disney decided to keep these rides, and not advance their technology too much, other parks took what Disney started and advanced it. Just take at IOA's Spiderman. That is this generation's Pirates. 7 year olds nowadays gets the same type of thrills that the 7 year olds in the 70s did with Pirates. It is called progress. Preteens and teens are exposed to more and more technology everyday, so it will take more to impress them. Thoes 7 and under crowd, do not see technology on Pirates, but the original Magic. As kids get older they see more technology than "magic". Does that make sense? I grew up going to WDW, then when I got older I went to Cedar Point every year. It was really hard for me to go to disney and take what they called thrill rides as a thrill. Sure it is fun, but not nearly adrenoline pumping. Then when you go to a newer park, like USF and IOA, they do great theming and tell stories with their rides, just like WDW, but with the updated technology. So guess what, that impresses the pre-teen teenager group a lot more than WDW. I know for the older ones out there this is a hard pill to swallow, but Disney really needs to do a major Re-hab to their parks, especially Magic Kingdom. They need to find out some way to be able to keep the classics or a classic feel, but implement the newer, more thrilling, more adventerious technologies.

So to sum it up:
What you remeber as imigaination, was really you being blown away by the technologies of that era. You were too young to realize it was technology; you thought it was "magic." This generation needs some new "magic," not some 50 year old pixies dust that is loosing its ability to make us fly, but the new stuff that makes us think happy thoughts and makes us rush towards the sky!

Jobie

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