Guy E wrote:Siren wrote:Part, or perhaps all, of Disney's genius is that they create "family entertainment". Sure you have to let the magic work on you, but for the most part anyone can watch a classic Disney film and be entertained, and anyone of any age can find quite a lot to enjoy at one of the theme parks.
That may be true... I always enjoyed the films. Animated features from other production houses could never touch the hem of the Disney garment.
I am cynical about the commerce of it. A friend with slightly older kids took the family and said his wallet was in his hand more than his pocket. If you want autographs from the silent costumed characters you have to buy official Disney autograph books, etc. He said there were long lines and the overpriced restaurants were crappy and yadda-yadda. They did it the one time, but there was never any consideration of a repeat visit.
If my wife or I enjoyed carnival rides we might have considered it. I took my daughter to waterparks a number of times... water slides are big fun as far as I'm concerned.
Well I haven't tried it with say 10 year olds. At the moment when little dude asks for anything and we say no, he doesn't ask again - though each time we have been with him ot a Disney theme park we buy him one thing.
I would say the themed meals are actually pretty good value, but you have to book them in advance.
I'm not a big fan of big rollercoasters, but my wife is. Little dude liked meeting the characters, and the small rides, particularly the ones like Peter Pan, Pinnochio or Snow White, which sort of tell the story of the film. I like these too.
But I also like the marginal entertainment - the Barbershop Quartet singing on a four-seater bike, the sea-shanty singers etc etc. And then there's a parade and fireworks.
I kept thinking "swim as far as you can, swim as far as you can".