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In Defense of Adulting at Disney Parks
Friday’s New York Post released an article, “Sorry, childless millennials going to Disney World is weird,” commenting on a rant by an angry mom who is clearly morally superior based on her obscenity-riddled Facebook post that has gone viral. The story was that a childless young woman was in line ahead of a mom and her 3-year-old son to get a pretzel, and because it took too long and the mom got frustrated, her child cried. Lady, nobody made your child cry but you, when you told him, “no,” because you did not feel like waiting. Perhaps you should have used this as a moment to teach your child how to wait in line and how to be patient. Rather, you post a vicious attack on Facebook that anyone without a child should be banned, blaming them for entitlement and creating long lines… all while strongly believing you should be able to skip ahead – how ironic.
Johnny Oleksinski laments in his article that people between 23 and 38 (mostly millennials) have an “unhealthy” relationship with the biggest corporation geared towards children in the world. The claim is that adults are “throwing their money away” on frivolous things meant for children. Certainly there are some that are a bit… overboard… on the Disney stuff. You know the ones – they have the full-on Little Mermaid themed bathroom, or Mickey ears for every single occasion… it’s a little weird, but what really is the harm in capitalism?
By the way, my husband and I are 37, childless, and Disneyland Annual Passholders.
According to Oleksinski, it is causing us to miss out on seeing different places around the world, which is not true at all. I will be the first to admit that we are lucky, since we have the luxury of driving to Anaheim and spending a couple hours at Disneyland. This also has not hindered our ability to watch great films or read good books. Sure, we will be entertained by the latest Marvel or Pixar flick (Spider-Man was fun, and Toy Story 4 was very cute and clever, by the way), but this is only part of our lives, and we pursue many different interests. Nor has enjoying Disney “infantalized” us – my husband and I work extremely hard at our jobs to the point we have each gotten praise and promotions. We maintain several responsibilities (fiscal and otherwise), and I just put myself through graduate school on my own dime while I ran for local office (and won) while full-time. What’s it to you – or anyone – if I want to relax and have fun as a kid at heart after mentally exhausting myself?
None of what I just said does not mean I cannot appreciate the meaning of the Disney Parks for children because I do not have any of my own – several of our friends have had babies in the last year or so, and we have been trying for our own, and cannot wait for them to be old enough to take them and see their little faces light up with joy!
Here is where I do find myself agreeing with Oleksinski and “Mother Gothel,” though. Between the recent brawl in Disneyland’s ToonTown a few weeks ago, someone punching an employee on Orlando’s Tower of Terror, and the grossly inappropriate dress of (mostly female) guests needs to go (to note, most of these people were there with their kids). It is still a family park and adults need to act with decorum in public – I do not think any child needs to see a woman wearing shorts with her butt-cheeks hanging out (and, frankly, neither do I).
Disney knows what they’re doing. Nostalgia in any form brings feelings of happiness. The redesign of California Adventure park has turned it from “cheesy” to a beautiful trip to Old Hollywood, which is lovely to stroll through on a summer evening (oh, have I even mentioned the exercise benefit? We usually get about 7-10 miles in each visit!). The Food & Wine Festival showcases tons of great local and international flavors. But the best thing about Disney Parks? Every time we go, we know we will be welcomed by a pleasant experience every single time in terms of cleanliness and customer service that truly is second-to-none. In the gift shops, the restaurants, snack stations, rides… everyone is pleasant and has a great attitude. It is refreshing, as many places of business the service has continually gone downhill.
Regardless of the negativity, adults are still going to come in droves to Disney, so as Elsa sings… LET IT GO.
Published in Entertainment
This is exactly how we feel – you can enjoy it without being rushed – sometimes we go and don’t ride anything… just walk around and people-watch, or look at how smartly done the forced perspective is.
And what a great group of kids you all were to say goodbye to the guests!
It annoys me a lot – I’m on the cusp of millennial-hood, and can’t stand it. I’ve known how to be responsible since I was probably six years old – from military parents and being a latchkey kid. When people my age and younger can’t cook or clean for themselves, make a doctor appointment, or balance a checkbook, it scares me to think they are starting families or could potentially be my boss.
Epcot is very Adult friendly on the Expo side.
It is fascinating to study how Disney gets the eye to focus on certain things, to hide certain things, and to make sure people see only what they want. A careful examination of ToonTown in particular reveals that a lot of what is there (architectural details and signage in particular) is for adults.
As teens, we were at Disneyland so much, and many of our peers were seasonal employees, that we took a rather proprietary interest in keeping up the place. Plus we wanted our bands and choirs to keep getting invited to perform, so we wanted to build up a good image with the park employees and management.
What I think is weird is verbing the word adult.
I would hazard that a contributing factor to adults being childish is adult spending so long being childless.
Eh. I don’t think that’s much of a factor. Sure, the responsibility of another human life can bring growth, but it’s hardly the only growth catalyst. I could as easily say a smaller percentage of men going to war is why people are not growing up. Probably two larger factors are single-parent homes and single-child homes. Children need both male and female adult role models. Nature has attempted to equip us with those through needing a mother and father to start the whole process.
As for only children, the problem is not the child, but the parents. They make the decision to have only one child, and then invest all their hopes and dreams and money and time in their precious, little baby. Spare the rod, spoil the child. The kids are never taught to grow up. They don’t have to compete. Now, that doesn’t mean all single children are that way, but it has become more prevalent in our very rich society.
And my point is that for a commodity that is aimed at families, that usually have limited incomes and strapped budgets, it costs a bunch. Alsmost to the point that only DINKs can afford.
Verbing weirds language.
Why would grown-ups want to go hang around with Mickey Mouse and Goofy? I don’t know, but if they are willing to pay for it, who cares?
And just as some might think certain people are too old for Disney World, some kids are definitely too young. For instance, if your kid has a melt down over the shape of a pretzel . . . maybe wait till next year.
Your cavalier attitude toward Pretzel Trauma is why so many people have to suffer in silence. Educate yourself!
The Mouse serves beer these days. I wonder how much beer that facebook poster’s kid drinks.
Agreed, @arahant – not sure going ballistic on FB as a mom is exactly acting like an adult…
Well, as long as they drink it through the right straw . . .
I will say that once I had children, I was essentially able to re-experience childhood, albeit through their eyes. Having kids allowed me the luxury of being able to do kid stuff again.
As to whether childless couples should be able to enjoy Disney Parks . . . who cares? Let them have fun. I can’t help but be reminded of Mencken’s definition of Puritanism: “The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.”
This writer is one of our new breed of Puritans, traditionally found on the right side of the political spectrum, these days they seem to be almost entirely on the left.
I’m not quite sure why childless adults going to Disneyland needs to be defended.
Shortly after marriage, my wife made me go to the Orlando Disneyworld for the first time. I thought it was OK, but I wished I was drinking more or consuming heavy doses of recreational drugs. Didn’t really get it , or understand why an adult would go there voluntarily. Really didn’t care if other adults wanted to be there, or why, I just wondered why I was there. A number of years later, my wife and I took our three year old there, and I had an outstandingly wonderful time. Disney is wonderful with a child.
And let’s remember that when it comes to Disney parks, “child” is a small portion of the population. Adult ticket prices start at age 10.
OK, so maybe after my son was born I asked, “How long until I can buy Legos?”
I think I bought the first Tonka truck before he came home from the hospital.
I love the mouse!
People-watching at the Disney parks can be just as fun when taking a break, and sometimes the parents are the worst part.
From hearing older adults say “you should not bring children to this place,” or parents saying “I spent XXX dollars, so YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE FUN,” to watching the little girls leave the Bibbidi-Bobbidi Boutique screaming to get out of the cheap dress and glitter that their moms insisted on, one can have a fun time. I saw one girl practicing her handwriting on the Monorail ride back to the Transportation and Ticket Center. She was practicing her “P”s. The only word she was writing was…princess. I’m sure she is a handful now.
Having said that, I love going down to Florida for the same reasons stated earlier; their hospitality is first-rate. My family and I got to see the difference last Christmas staying at one of the hotels that is on the Property, but not Disney owned. The difference in service was marked and really made us appreciate the quality of service that Disney provides. BTW – I don’t have kids, but since I’ve probably been going to Disney parks longer than this woman has been alive, I’ll keep going and enjoy watching the people and evolution of the parks.
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My first trip to Disney World was in 1974 or so. Space mountain was almost completed. My next trip was in 2012 right after finishing a Disney cruise. I thought my wife was nuts for scheduling those back to back right after my overseas deployment, but I really loved it!
What was amazing to me is how little the place has changed. Just a few things were different.
PREACH!!!
My first trip to Disneyland was right after the moon landing. I was learning to walk when Neil and Buzz were on the moon. When my Dad came back from Vietnam, he (and all servicemen) were given two books of tickets for Disneyland. We still have them, albeit used. (We found them when Disney went to the Pass system and was allowing old Letter tickets to be cashed in.) A few years later, we went to this new place called Walt Disney World in the first year it was open. When my dad came back from a 1 year overseas assignment, he and my mom stayed at the Villas at Lake Buena Vista. I was upset because I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t stay :)
ftr, I have been to Disneyland as an adult – unaccompanied by children. I had not only zero sense that this was in any way wrong, but no sense that anyone there thought it was wrong.
I’m not sure why it needs to be attacked.
I imagine it would be pretty good with recreational drugs as well, but I’m not advocating it.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with Dick Van Dyke is an absolute wonder while inebriated.
(I don’t think that’s Disney, but it is still true.)