Vent re: Dumbo and adult only riders

[*Dizney*Princess*]

I would just like to start out by saying that, yes I have ridden Dumbo the Flying Elephant. I would also just like to add my 0.02 cents and say that NO ride at WDW is specifically for children.

There is a commercial for visiting Orlando, and in this commercial it shows a mother and daughter at WDW. The mother is transformed into a kid but whenever she walks by a mirror you see her as an adult. Hense, a kid at heart (mind actually...).

 

[MNWDWMANIAC]

I did read the entire thread and I got sick of the "you don't get the Disney magic" judgment going on in it. Not just from you, you were just the point I said "arrrggggghhhh!"

I think everyone should enjoy Disney they way they want to and not judge others. The OP should understand that some adults feel the magic at Disney - want to ride Dumbo and want to see princesses and want to have their hair done at BBB - and unless Disney says "sorry, kids only" (which I hope they never do) they are entitled to all the joy that brings them. And those attacking her should understand that some people have no desire for that experience for themselves - they want their kids to feel the magic. Neither is wrong. She does Get It - just not the way you Get It. And that is OK. Or maybe she doesn't Get It at all - and you know what - that's OK too.

Attack her arguments - that's fine. Disney is not just for kids and these activities bring plenty of grown ups joy - grown ups are no less entitled to that joy than the children. Don't attack her intelligence or question her emotional capacity because her reactions are different from yours.

Except I didn't say anything about "Disney Magic" I said she didn't get what Disney was about.

My exact quote "Oh.... so now that there are (as you say) "FAKE" princesses inside the "FAKE" Castle it's ok now compared to when it was just the "FAKE" Castle?

With every post you make it becomes more and more clear that you just don't get Disney for what it really is."

There is a VERY big difference. The point of her not getting what Disney was all about goes back to the very heart of this entire thread. Telling people they shouldn't ride Dumbo because it's just for kids for the reasons she was giving doesn't fit in with what Disney is all about. Looking at just the comment regarding the castle and princess OUT OF CONTEXT changes the entire meaning of what was being discussed.

Saying she doesn't get what Disney is about isn't really a judgment. Based on the simple fact that Walt Disney himself made it clear that he wanted EVERYONE to enjoy EVERYTHING it seems to be pretty factual to me.

And I again I will point out, I never attacked her intelligence or questioned her emotional capacity. I questioned the way she was attacking others for not agreeing with her and her idea on how people should step aside for children for a ride. She made it clear that not Doing so was the same as not standing up for someone who needs to sit down or not holding a door open.

Clearly from the other 500 Plus posts you can get the general idea that the majority (notice I say majority, not everyone) agrees with me to some degree.

I'm sorry you aren't seeing that aspect of the conversation. But most people were not attacking HER... just the reasons she was giving to support her opinion and the manners in which she was giving them. Those very reasons in themselves were attacking everyone else.

 

[james'mommy]

We always ride Dumbo, he's usually one of the first stops so we don't have to wait in that never ending line. We are a family of 3 and can no longer cram all of us in 1 elephant. So 1 of us ends up riding solo. It's usually me, which is fine because I like to play with the controls.

 

[Disney8704]

Wheres Robo? Im surprised he hasnt gotten on here and said something about this.

 

[patsal]

WDW is great for adults, but without the children wanting to go back year after year, it couldn't exist. It really is first and foremost for children.

No, not really. See I never went as a child, my parent's never went as children and with or without my children I will still go. It isnt' my children who necessarily want to go back year after year it is me who wants to go 3-4 times per year. It is my preferred vacation destination. So without the adults who will pay year after year none of it would be there. Besides, OP you just got back and it wasn't like it was 100 degree heat yet. If you were in line at opening you shouldn't have waited more than 15 minutes. That really isn't any wait at all--have you seen the lines at Peter Pan? I for one dislike the parks where adults are even prohibited from riding with their children and I am pretty sure Walt's vision was one where adults and children could share time together so banning adults (the source of the income stream) would be bizarre.

 

[lacy1101]

DH and I were at the MK in March (our first trip without the kids) and we rode Dumbo. I have passed by Dumbo many times on previous trips because the wait was 45 minutes or more; however, this time it was only 15-20 minutes. I just couldn't pass that up!

 

[PAcpl]

I couldn't disagree more.

First of all, I rode dark rides as a very, very small child and enjoyed them. It might have had something to do with my parents not being "worriers"--I had no idea that I was "supposed" to be scared, so I wasn't. That carried over to the thrill rides as soon as I was tall enough to ride them. All of my siblings were the same way.

Second, rides without age limits are open to everyone. Dumbo is not a kid's ride. Just as it may be the only ride an overly easily frightened child might be able to ride, that may just be the only ride some adults are able to handle. It's some people's favorite ride, regardless of age. I never "got" Dumbo myself, but I would never suggest that someone should feel guilty about riding one of the most internationally recognized and beloved rides anywhere because they didn't have children with them. It makes about as much sense as telling parents they shouldn't let their children ride because they can't appreciate it, and the ride should be reserved for adults only.

Bravo!! I couldn't have said it better myself!

I have no intention of riding Dumbo, but why should I feel guilty if I wanted to? The first time DW and I went to Disney we skipped all of the character meets. I felt bad taking time away from the kids meeting the characters when we didn't have any children. We came back home and read all of the posts from adults w/o kids who plan their trip around meeting characters. Needless to say DW busts my horns till this day and I will never feel guilty again waiting in line for something that seems "childish". EVERYONE in Disney is childish, thats what Walt wanted!

 

[disneyfan61]

I mean adults without a child. Of course an adult with a child would be okay -- the adult is not taking up a Dumbo all to themselves.

I don't care if you mean adults only or not I totally disagree!! I am on vacation just like everyone else, I paid my park tickets just like everyone else & I will ride whatever I want to ride just like everyone else. I think some people post on here just to get a rise out of someone. We are a family of 4 considered all adults by Disney standards & if we want to ride Dumbo we will get in line & wait just like everyone else & have our turn.

I won't even comment on the character meals.

 

[VMK_Mouse]

Wheres Robo? Im surprised he hasnt gotten on here and said something about this.

He would not do that. He wants to be a moderator so bad he cannot stand it. With that being said, he would avoid debate for that reason.

 

[mrcricket]

Oh, maybe that's why there was an opening -- because there were no characters. We were just, like, "Why do we want to eat at a fake castle?"

As others have stated, by this statement you just don't get Disney and the Zone. WDW is for everyone young at heart. It seems you aren't. That's okay, but please let those of us who are, enjoy our time away from the stresses of life at our favorite "kids" place. I feel 10 years old when I go under the Train Tracks and feel like I can do anything. It's my happy place. I wouldn't be happy if I felt that I was being discriminated against because of my age.

Disney even made a commercial showing a mom and her daughter going to the Parks. The mom at one point turns into a girl the same age as her daughter. That's what Disney is all about. The inner child. Some of us still like to touch that inner child, let it out and play. And the one place where it is safe to do that is at Disney.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

Muhammed Ali went to Disneyland after becoming havyweight champ of the world. He always said Dumbp was his favorite ride and was pictured on Dumbo, at least in his hometown paper, the Courier Journal. This was about '64. Dumbo has always been for everyone and should always remain for everyone.
I've bought tickets many times and watched others buying tickets and I've yet to see one child fork over the money. Adults pay, so adults play.

 

[tflood]

I just wanted to say that when DH and I were planning our honeymoon many years ago, truthfully we hadn't even thought of Disney until I saw an ad in one of my Bridal Mags touting WDW as the number one honeymoon destination in the world. Want to know what the picture in the ad was.....a couple...on Dumbo with a "Just Married" sign draped across poor Dumbo's toosh and the Castle in the background We did honeymoon at WDW staying in a Honeymoon suite at the WL. We also had lunch in the "fake" castle, but sadly Cindy wasn't home at the time . Now i'm not going to wait in a 90 min line for Dumbo (Heck, I won't wait 90 min for Space Mtn) but the last time we were a WDW in 2004, in between all those hurricanes, we walked by Dumbo around noon with not more that 15-20 people in line and guess what, I dragged DH on Dumbo and loved every guilt free minute of it. We don't have kids and its not by choice, so I hope the OP knows how lucky she is to be able to take her DD to WDW. I would gladly give up every ride in Fantasyland for the rest of my life to be a mom, but thats neither here or there. By the way, we have adr's for 3 character meals this trip and we are going to our first MNSSHP. Just a couple of 30 somethings who believe in Walt and his dream.

 

[mefordis]

Oh, my. I've sure stirred up a bigger hornets nest than I could have imagined. I don't have time to read the entire thread as I just returned from vacation and have a lot of catching up to do.

The purpose of this post was to ask adults to step aside and allow children on the Dumbo ride a shorter wait since it does seem to have the longest wait in the park and in my opinion it is geared toward children more than most of the rides there. I'm not talking about any other rides. I'm not talking about closing the ride to anyone, either. Of course if you want to ride, you will ride. You don't have to agree with me. This was my opinion.

I also believe that Disney World is first and foremost for children. Most of you who have replied to my post believe it is just as much for adults as children. Fine to disagree.

If I have a vacation away from my kids, I will choose somewhere else to go. There are so many places in the world to enjoy besides Disney. WDW isn't the only place where adults can have fun.

I don't need to be in an amusement park to feel young. I play Barbies with my daughter, run around the park, imagine we are in Pooh's hundred acre wood, and do all sorts of play acting all on a daily basis.

I don't need to go to an amusement park in order to feel young.

And whoever said they feel sorry for my children... that was an extremely low blow and I will say to you that you are wasting your pity -- my daughter has a great life and we have a lot of fun together on a daily basis.

Enjoy the parks, with our without kids. And thanks for such interest in my thread.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I also believe that Disney World is first and foremost for children. Most of you who have replied to my post believe it is just as much for adults as children. Fine to disagree.

Believe whatever you want. WALTER ELIAS DISNEY - the man whose name is on the park - disagrees with you.

I don't need to be in an amusement park to feel young.

I don't need to go to an amusement park in order to feel young.

Yeah, you said that already. For the record, Walt Disney World is a theme park (as is your ShangriLa, Universal Studios), not an amusement park - and there IS a difference.

 

[Jedi_Galvatron]

WDW isn't the only place where adults can have fun.

And it isn't the only place kids can go for fun either, for that matter Dumbo isn't the only ride kids can go on to have fun. This may come as a shock to you but even if you were right and Dumbo was primarily for kids, every single adult single rider could never ride Dumbo again and the line would still be just as long because it's primarily for kids. So even if you're right you still lose, and you're not right, but thats besides the point it still invalidates everything you've said.

 

[sue Z]

i totally agree Dumbo is for all ages and as much as I love dumbo then why havent I taken a ride on Dumbo since 1973 when I was 6 yrs old! In 2006 i finally rode on astro orbiter for the first time> I still have 2 rides that i have never been on this includes all the rides that no longer exist but did in the 70's and 1980.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

For the record, Walt Disney World is a theme park (as is your ShangriLa, Universal Studios), not an amusement park - and there IS a difference.

I think that's where the OP got a little lost...seeing WDW as an "amusement park." With that outlook she just will not get it...

 

[AGlassSlipper17]

I have to admit that I have been lurking on the this thread on and off all day . . .

AND I am taking my boyfriend to WDW for the first time in 2 weeks. I wasn't planning on riding Dumbo . . but now because of this thread . . It is going to be our first stop!!! And I will insist that we be "rude and self-ish" and take up two separate dumbos . . . just to annoying people like the OP.

 

[La2kw]

The topic of this thread is what our society has come to these days. It's all about "I've got kids so get out of my way." So many kids have this "me first" attitude. And guess where they're learning it? Waiting a few extra minutes in a line while anyone and everyone is allowed to ride is a good lesson for them.

I love Dumbo. I love the movie. I love the ride. My kids are on the older side (12 and 9) and they still love to ride Dumbo. We will get in line and wait our turn. We'll probably do it more than once on our trip, too. Everyone else is welcome to do the same.

As a teacher, I deal with this every day. Patience and taking turns is something that needs to be taught to children. Waiting in line for a simple ride like Dumbo is a perfect way to begin this lesson. Expecting everyone else to cater to a specific child just because the parent feels the need to cater to them is ridiculous. I can always peg those children who haven't learned this on my first day with a new class.

 

[EltonJohn]

And I will insist that we be "rude and self-ish" and take up two separate dumbos . . . just to annoying people like the OP.

Now that is just immature