The Future of Disneyland
Since Disneyland opened in California in 1955, the Walt Disney theme parks have captivated the imagination of children and adults alike. They have withstood five decades of shifting culture and remain destinations though of as being full of wonder and magic. But will Disney’s theme parks continue to remain relevant in the future?
Disney is already, like most companies, struggling with the economic recession, having laid off 1,900 employees last April. (The Economic Times) But the more pressing concern to Disney could be, can they remain attractive and relevant to a new generation as they were years ago?
I remember visiting Disney World (the one in Florida) as a child, and while I had a lot of fun, I don’t recall being captivated with the characters I saw around me. I was familiar with Mickey, Donald, and the rest. But I was lacking that personal connection with them to make the Mickey ears and strange guys in suits truly special. To me it was a theme park, a great one no doubt, but perhaps “one among many”.
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Are you considering a trip to a Disney theme park? Do you have fond memories of visiting a Disney park (or a bad experience) you can share? And do you think they will remain relevant and popular in the coming decade? What was it about the Disney culture that captivated people?
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Image credit: Joe Penniston, used with permission, Creative Commons 2.0 License.
I’ve heard horror stories about people in costume not being allowed to take off their masks even to throw up, teen stars being told when and who they could date, and animators and writers pressured to sign contracts that make any idea they have while employed property of Disney. To me, that sort of thing is appalling. And it’s not behaviour that I’d reward by spending my money with them; like I said, there’s a whole big REAL world out there.
I can tell you from personal experience, being a cast member myself, the company is fantastic to work for and they do not treat their employees in a “frightening” way. There is no doubt that Disney is still popular. Although there have been many setbacks, we are still going strong. To Cat, I would suggest visiting one and perhaps your view will change. I have hardly met a guest who would disagree.
I think Disney’s been coasting since at least the eighties. Somewhere along the line, their focus went from doing quality films and television to marketing to a certain demographic. Even before that, they had really disturbing practices for maintaining their image. They treat their employees in a way I find truly frightening. And that whole princess thing? Just creepy.
Nothing I’ve heard about the Disney parks makes me the least bit interested in visiting them. There’s a whole big REAL world out there. Going to a Disney park instead is like running barefoot through Astroturf.