Why not Olaf, Kristoff and Sven?

[TDC Nala]

There would be. But not as many.

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

I dunno if kids are going to analyze his intent as much as just identify him as a bad guy. But as cruel as Gaston was, his over the top ego, naivety and self absorption was comical (the way they presented him in his musical number) and they've leveraged those traits into a great meet & greet.

Then again, they have a successful character in Lady Tremaine, who I thought offered nothing fun. This past trip the one I saw at 1900 Park Fare was the first one I've met that was interesting; she played up her ego & vanity well enough to be enjoyable. The ones I saw before were just creepy.

I can see how Lady Tremaine can play up her personality good....not to mention- that I would love to meet her and the step-daughters. I really can't argue your points about Hans...I can't say if Hans would really add to the experience. Disney should just add Kristoff, Olaf and Sven-----that would be so awesome.

 

[Lolsmum]

That's so weird to me. I can't imagine my daughter being uninterested in a character meeting because it's a boy character.

In general, males have a harder time relating to female characters than vice versa. Look at films made for adults. Regardless of genre, if the main character is female, the vast majority of the time the film is considered a chick flick. If the main character is male, it often appeals to both men and women.

I don't think it's that surprising that an 8 year old boy isn't excited to see fairies and princesses, while his 6 year old little sister is over the moon. Of course some boys will be happy to meet princesses, and some girls will have no interest in dressing up as one at all, but for the majority the boys are pretty left out once they are a bit older.

For the record, she would totally wait in line to see Kristoff, Sven and Olaf.

 

[delyrium]

In general, males have a harder time relating to female characters than vice versa. Look at films made for adults. Regardless of genre, if the main character is female, the vast majority of the time the film is considered a chick flick. If the main character is male, it often appeals to both men and women.

Yeah, that's not something I particularly enjoy about our society. I'm doing my best to instill different perceptions in my son.

 

[JanaDee]

As the father of 2 boys, I agree with the general premise. WDW has always had a focus on very young children and girls. Boys at age 4 would not really care about boy/girl distinctions, but by the time they reach age 8 or 9 they want to see and do "boy" things. WDW loses boys at a much earlier age than girls. My teen boys are tired of WDW, and mostly because they are just not the target audience.

I don't have a problem with it (Disney has to make choices) - but it is very true.

I have a son (17) and daughter (12) and I completely agree with you about losing boys at a much younger age.

 

[Lolsmum]

Yeah, that's not something I particularly enjoy about our society. I'm doing my best to instill different perceptions in my son.

I do work on that through the books he reads, and he watches all the same movies and shows his sister does. I can't make him love princesses and fairies the same way he loves superheroes and frankly I can't blame him since I was the same way, despite being a girl.

 

[MomtothreeEs]

My older two really want to meet Olaf. That would be fun and so cute!

We've never been to Disney, but my kids keep expecting to meet all of the male characters. I'm struggling to explain why they can meet Rapunzel but not Eugene and Merida but no bears. I've read that these characters used to show up for meet and greets. It's too bad they don't anymore. My 5 year old son has learned at preschool that boys shouldn't be interested in princesses, so even though I'm sure he'll love meeting them, it would be nice if he could meet the male characters as well.... just as an "excuse" to make it okay for the boys to meet the princesses too. He is THRILLED that we will be meeting the Beast at BOG for dinner.

 

[nancipants]

Yeah, that's not something I particularly enjoy about our society. I'm doing my best to instill different perceptions in my son.

You are my new best friend.

The idea that boys do not associate with female characters is flawed and mostly perpetuated by out-of-touch marketing executives. The highest-grossing film of 2013 was Catching Fire. Times are changing.

 

[Angel Ariel]

You answered your own question. Boys just don't seem as in to meeting characters as girls. Just a generalization I know there are boys who like to meet characters. Girls go all in with dress up and all that. My daughter had the best birthday dressed as Cinderella. Don't think my son would get the same feeling dressed as prince charming

He might dressed as darth vader, or a stormtrooper, or olaf, or a pirate though...I said this in another thread recently, but my 2 nephews went *nuts* when I gave them Star Wars PJs a few weeks ago. If they could have met DV or a stormtrooper dressed like that, I'm pretty sure they would have loved it

I mean, yeah, I wouldn't think most boys are interested in meeting most of the characters currently, because *most* (with the exception of the Fab 5/Winnie the Pooh) are geared towards girls...change the dynamic up a bit and maybe that preference changes a bit too

 

[Lolsmum]

You are my new best friend.

The idea that boys do not associate with female characters is flawed and mostly perpetuated by out-of-touch marketing executives. The highest-grossing film of 2013 was Catching Fire. Times are changing.

That had absolutely nothing to do with the weapons, the fighting, the whole action genre, right? Aliens had a female protagonist but still drew in a lot of male viewers. It also had aliens and violence, which was probably a bigger influence.

Boys can associate with female characters, of course, and girls with male characters. I actually think that the way those characters are presented is the biggest reason they don't though. My son is more interested in watching superheroes, male or female, than princesses or princes. He'll happily watch Winx Club, despite it being about a group of female fairies, because they are often involved in fighting and action. He is much less interested in watching most of the "girl" things because they don't have the action he likes.

Bring Black Widow in and my son (and my husband ) would stand in line to meet her. He wouldn't mind meeting Elsa either. Snow White or Cinderella? He'd have no interest at all. He has no interest in waiting to be rescued or marrying a prince, so his lack of interest is hardly surprising.

 

[EMode]

That had absolutely nothing to do with the weapons, the fighting, the whole action genre, right? Aliens had a female protagonist but still drew in a lot of male viewers. It also had aliens and violence, which was probably a bigger influence.

Boys can associate with female characters, of course, and girls with male characters. I actually think that the way those characters are presented is the biggest reason they don't though. My son is more interested in watching superheroes, male or female, than princesses or princes. He'll happily watch Winx Club, despite it being about a group of female fairies, because they are often involved in fighting and action. He is much less interested in watching most of the "girl" things because they don't have the action he likes.

Bring Black Widow in and my son (and my husband ) would stand in line to meet her. He wouldn't mind meeting Elsa either. Snow White or Cinderella? He'd have no interest at all. He has no interest in waiting to be rescued or marrying a prince, so his lack of interest is hardly surprising.

If only WDW could bring in some Marvel characters. My youngest ds would wait in line to see any male or female.

 

[ucfknight]

Why not Olaf, Kristoff and Sven?

Olaf keeps melting in the Florida heat. He finally found out what happens to solid water when it gets warm.

And don't get me started on Sven. Do you know how hard it is to cast a reindeer who both looks and acts like Sven? It takes months to get one of them show ready.

 

[ucfknight]

If only WDW could bring in some Marvel characters. My youngest ds would wait in line to see any male or female.

If only.

Unfortunately, we will never see that day.

 

[MichiganDVC]

Snow White or Cinderella? He'd have no interest at all. He has no interest in waiting to be rescued or marrying a prince, so his lack of interest is hardly surprising.

But girls should and do want to be rescued and marry a prince?

And why is it only acceptable for boys to be interested in female characters when violence ("action") is involved?

 

[nancipants]

That had absolutely nothing to do with the weapons, the fighting, the whole action genre, right? Aliens had a female protagonist but still drew in a lot of male viewers. It also had aliens and violence, which was probably a bigger influence.

I'm not saying they liked the movie because of Katniss. My point is that female-led movies can appeal to everyone. Look at Gravity, and of course, Frozen. Those films made tons of money. But some people still perpetuate the belief that males cannot identify with female characters, so they don't want to make female-led movies of all genres. I think that's wrong, which is why I react strongly to the idea of marketing entertainment to specific genders at an early age.

Bring Black Widow in and my son (and my husband ) would stand in line to meet her. He wouldn't mind meeting Elsa either. Snow White or Cinderella? He'd have no interest at all. He has no interest in waiting to be rescued or marrying a prince, so his lack of interest is hardly surprising.

I understand your point, but here is mine: there isn't nearly as much Black Widow merchandise out there as there are for the rest of the Avengers. Why? Because "they" believe boys (and girls) don't want it. She's not even included in some of the general Avengers merchandise, like wrapping paper. Kind of sad. Is she not part of the team? (The same thing happened with Avatar: The Last Airbender action figures. They didn't have any for the female characters, until the awful movie came out.)

I don't think all boys have to like Princesses, and I know most of them don't, but it just makes me sad when I hear people making assumptions about what kids will like based on the child's gender. It's one of the reasons why I, a 33 year old woman, still get people telling me that I'm not supposed to like Star Wars. And then there's the stories about little boys getting bullied for liking My Little Pony, which just breaks my heart.

 

[delyrium]

I'm not saying they liked the movie because of Katniss. My point is that female-led movies can appeal to everyone. Look at Gravity, and of course, Frozen. Those films made tons of money. But some people still perpetuate the belief that males cannot identify with female characters, so they don't want to make female-led movies of all genres. I think that's wrong, which is why I react strongly to the idea of marketing entertainment to specific genders at an early age.



I understand your point, but here is mine: there isn't nearly as much Black Widow merchandise out there as there are for the rest of the Avengers. Why? Because "they" believe boys (and girls) don't want it. She's not even included in some of the general Avengers merchandise, like wrapping paper. Kind of sad. Is she not part of the team? (The same thing happened with Avatar: The Last Airbender action figures. They didn't have any for the female characters, until the awful movie came out.)

I don't think all boys have to like Princesses, and I know most of them don't, but it just makes me sad when I hear people making assumptions about what kids will like based on the child's gender. It's one of the reasons why I, a 33 year old woman, still get people telling me that I'm not supposed to like Star Wars. And then there's the stories about little boys getting bullied for liking My Little Pony, which just breaks my heart.

I like you, too.

 

[delyrium]

That had absolutely nothing to do with the weapons, the fighting, the whole action genre, right? Aliens had a female protagonist but still drew in a lot of male viewers. It also had aliens and violence, which was probably a bigger influence.

Boys can associate with female characters, of course, and girls with male characters. I actually think that the way those characters are presented is the biggest reason they don't though. My son is more interested in watching superheroes, male or female, than princesses or princes. He'll happily watch Winx Club, despite it being about a group of female fairies, because they are often involved in fighting and action. He is much less interested in watching most of the "girl" things because they don't have the action he likes.

Bring Black Widow in and my son (and my husband ) would stand in line to meet her. He wouldn't mind meeting Elsa either. Snow White or Cinderella? He'd have no interest at all. He has no interest in waiting to be rescued or marrying a prince, so his lack of interest is hardly surprising.

My daughter is more interested in "action" characters, as well. She's just that kind of kid. That's why she's gaga over Anna and Elsa, more so than any of the other Disney princesses, with the possible exception of Merida. Actually, Merida's been usurped, poor thing.

 

[karly05]

I would love to meet Olaf, but a walkaround/m&g Olaf might be difficult because of his little twiggy arms.

 

[surferdave]

I would love to meet Olaf, but a walkaround/m&g Olaf might be difficult because of his little twiggy arms.

They manage the Sorcerer's Apprentice brooms, they can manage Olaf.

 

[Lolsmum]

I'm not saying they liked the movie because of Katniss. My point is that female-led movies can appeal to everyone. Look at Gravity, and of course, Frozen. Those films made tons of money. But some people still perpetuate the belief that males cannot identify with female characters, so they don't want to make female-led movies of all genres. I think that's wrong, which is why I react strongly to the idea of marketing entertainment to specific genders at an early age.



I understand your point, but here is mine: there isn't nearly as much Black Widow merchandise out there as there are for the rest of the Avengers. Why? Because "they" believe boys (and girls) don't want it. She's not even included in some of the general Avengers merchandise, like wrapping paper. Kind of sad. Is she not part of the team? (The same thing happened with Avatar: The Last Airbender action figures. They didn't have any for the female characters, until the awful movie came out.)

I don't think all boys have to like Princesses, and I know most of them don't, but it just makes me sad when I hear people making assumptions about what kids will like based on the child's gender. It's one of the reasons why I, a 33 year old woman, still get people telling me that I'm not supposed to like Star Wars. And then there's the stories about little boys getting bullied for liking My Little Pony, which just breaks my heart.

I don't disagree with you. It's one reason I loved X-men as a kid. They had girls, and more than one! I didn't mind playing with male toys, but I really liked seeing female heroes too.

I was not at all the stereotypical girl while my sister completely was. She was all about Barbies and other dolls while I loved my Tonka dump truck. I've done what I can to support the idea that boys and girls should both be free to like what they choose with my kids, They have turned out to have pretty stereotypical likes and dislikes anyway, though my girl has been told she "plays like a boy" by boys who were impressed by it.

It's hard to deny that Disney does have a character gap for boys past preschool age. A few will be happy with princesses but many aren't. Disney made the choice to market to young girls and effectively ignore boys in this range in the parks (though of course Disney merchandise still has plenty for them).