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Kinda interesting ... I'd be really interested in an exploration about how a sizable number of American adults have become Disney(land/world) fanatics. It strik

by 50208 7y ago

Kinda interesting ... I'd be really interested in an exploration about how a sizable number of American adults have become Disney(land/world) fanatics. It strikes me as very strange and regressive behavior.

majormajor 7y ago
Do you think it has a different underlying root than being a [whatever else] fanatic? There's been some research done into sports, for instance.
- dehrmann 7y ago
  Sports don't tap into tribalism in the same way Disney does. Sports also have loyalty to an inferior product. Disney would not be Disney if it were the media version of the Cleveland Browns.
  - armadsen 7y ago
    I assume you meant that the other way around? Sports fans are the definition of tribal.
    - dehrmann 7y ago
      I did; not sure how that edit slipped through, but now it's too late.
  - Stunting 7y ago
    That’s part of it. Disney’s brand is to be the elite of whatever it’s doing. I married into the fanaticism and have been mostly converted. My spouse essentially treats the trips like she is cosplaying being Royalty. She dresses to the nines, Everybody greets her with a smile and a friendly word and she “jet sets” to exotic locations. She takes in world class entertainment and cuisine, and has a grand ole time. For myself, I find always leave with motivation. Figment, the imagineers, and the endless pursuit to make the magical appear real never fails to make me believe in a better tomorrow. In short, the branding is truly a magical and motivating experience. The brand extends to the things you can do outside the parks like “the skyliner,” and even the stores in the malls.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
armadsen 7y ago
I'll bite. I think "fanatic" is too strong a word, but I enjoy going to Disneyland, and have occasionally bought an annual pass despite living a day or two drive from Disneyland. I've also made a point to visit other Disney parks when I've been near them (Florida, Paris, Tokyo). Fundamentally, it's fun escapism. You go spend a few days enjoying some of the same stuff you enjoyed as a kid. My wife enjoys going too, so it's something we can do together. For those of us with kids, it's a fun family activity. Walt Disney was explicit about making a place that was fun for both kids and adults when he conceived of the park. I'd say Disney has succeeded. I enjoyed going before having kids too, though. We don't take every vacation there by any means, but a couple times a year we go and have a blast. Personally, as an engineer, I really enjoy the work of the imagineers. It's engineering and art combined to bring joy to people, which to me is a pretty pure expression of my own reasons for being an engineer. Incidentally, I started my career doing engineering for effects for live theater, and I also spent time at a company that at one time was a major robotics subcontractor for Disney parks. So there's a component that is admiration for people that do the things I do, but are the best in the world at it. Beyond that, Disney(land/world) is unquestionably the highest-tier theme park in terms of quality. Everything is just top notch: customer service, theming, ride quality, immersion, cleanliness, etc. So, if the question is why Disneyland instead of Six Flags or even Universal, part of it has to be that Disney is the best in the category they're competing in.
- prawn 7y ago
  What makes you return there each year over other things you could reach with the same amount of driving? If you're near California or Florida, you are a day or so from a huge range of amazing places. Is it ease and familiarity? I'm Australian but have been to Disneyland (CA) twice and Disney World (FL) once; twice with kids, once without. It's a polished experience for sure, but we spent a lot of time baffled by people in themed t-shirts, spending days there or returning year after year in place of other holiday options.
  - chrisseaton 7y ago
    > If you're near California or Florida, you are a day or so from a huge range of amazing places. What makes you think they don’t go to those places as well?
analog31 7y ago
My experience with Disney resorts is limited to an evening spent on my company's nickel while at a conference. With that said, I could see that Disney sweats the details of entertainment in myriad ways to make the visit easy and pleasant for people. I left my jacket in one of their restaurants, called them when I got back home, and they had an entire streamlined system just for dealing with lost items. My jacket was at my doorstep the next day.
- mark-r 7y ago
  I lost my rental car keys somewhere at Disney World. The rental company was completely useless, so I asked for help from the Disney hotel we were staying at. They sent their private locksmith over to the car, and he spent over 3 hours trying to make a key that would work using the keycode. Ultimately he was unsuccessful because the key had an electronic component. He did get the doors open though, and his professionalism and dedication were top-notch.
fortran77 7y ago
I worked as a Disney "Imagineer" for several years. Don't underestimate the sophistication of Disney fans. I've met many elitists who look down upon anything that's popular. These people miss out on many great things, from profound art to good clean fun. Disney has both.
- theonething 7y ago
  I'm a developer and am interested in this job. Any tips on how to become an imagineer?
knolax 7y ago
> sizable number of American adults How much is sizable? Can you give an example of a specific Disneyland fanatic? Why only American adults?
therockspush 7y ago
I've worked with a few of them. This song sums it up pretty well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLIfkiF8NeQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLIfkiF8NeQ

by 50208 7y ago

majormajor 7y ago

Do you think it has a different underlying root than being a [whatever else] fanatic? There's been some research done into sports, for instance.

dehrmann 7y ago
Sports don't tap into tribalism in the same way Disney does. Sports also have loyalty to an inferior product. Disney would not be Disney if it were the media version of the Cleveland Browns.
- armadsen 7y ago
  I assume you meant that the other way around? Sports fans are the definition of tribal.
  - dehrmann 7y ago
    I did; not sure how that edit slipped through, but now it's too late.
- Stunting 7y ago
  That’s part of it. Disney’s brand is to be the elite of whatever it’s doing. I married into the fanaticism and have been mostly converted. My spouse essentially treats the trips like she is cosplaying being Royalty. She dresses to the nines, Everybody greets her with a smile and a friendly word and she “jet sets” to exotic locations. She takes in world class entertainment and cuisine, and has a grand ole time. For myself, I find always leave with motivation. Figment, the imagineers, and the endless pursuit to make the magical appear real never fails to make me believe in a better tomorrow. In short, the branding is truly a magical and motivating experience. The brand extends to the things you can do outside the parks like “the skyliner,” and even the stores in the malls.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]

armadsen 7y ago

I'll bite. I think "fanatic" is too strong a word, but I enjoy going to Disneyland, and have occasionally bought an annual pass despite living a day or two drive from Disneyland. I've also made a point to visit other Disney parks when I've been near them (Florida, Paris, Tokyo). Fundamentally, it's fun escapism. You go spend a few days enjoying some of the same stuff you enjoyed as a kid. My wife enjoys going too, so it's something we can do together. For those of us with kids, it's a fun family activity. Walt Disney was explicit about making a place that was fun for both kids and adults when he conceived of the park. I'd say Disney has succeeded. I enjoyed going before having kids too, though. We don't take every vacation there by any means, but a couple times a year we go and have a blast. Personally, as an engineer, I really enjoy the work of the imagineers. It's engineering and art combined to bring joy to people, which to me is a pretty pure expression of my own reasons for being an engineer. Incidentally, I started my career doing engineering for effects for live theater, and I also spent time at a company that at one time was a major robotics subcontractor for Disney parks. So there's a component that is admiration for people that do the things I do, but are the best in the world at it. Beyond that, Disney(land/world) is unquestionably the highest-tier theme park in terms of quality. Everything is just top notch: customer service, theming, ride quality, immersion, cleanliness, etc. So, if the question is why Disneyland instead of Six Flags or even Universal, part of it has to be that Disney is the best in the category they're competing in.

prawn 7y ago
What makes you return there each year over other things you could reach with the same amount of driving? If you're near California or Florida, you are a day or so from a huge range of amazing places. Is it ease and familiarity? I'm Australian but have been to Disneyland (CA) twice and Disney World (FL) once; twice with kids, once without. It's a polished experience for sure, but we spent a lot of time baffled by people in themed t-shirts, spending days there or returning year after year in place of other holiday options.
- chrisseaton 7y ago
  > If you're near California or Florida, you are a day or so from a huge range of amazing places. What makes you think they don’t go to those places as well?

analog31 7y ago

My experience with Disney resorts is limited to an evening spent on my company's nickel while at a conference. With that said, I could see that Disney sweats the details of entertainment in myriad ways to make the visit easy and pleasant for people. I left my jacket in one of their restaurants, called them when I got back home, and they had an entire streamlined system just for dealing with lost items. My jacket was at my doorstep the next day.

mark-r 7y ago
I lost my rental car keys somewhere at Disney World. The rental company was completely useless, so I asked for help from the Disney hotel we were staying at. They sent their private locksmith over to the car, and he spent over 3 hours trying to make a key that would work using the keycode. Ultimately he was unsuccessful because the key had an electronic component. He did get the doors open though, and his professionalism and dedication were top-notch.

fortran77 7y ago

I worked as a Disney "Imagineer" for several years. Don't underestimate the sophistication of Disney fans. I've met many elitists who look down upon anything that's popular. These people miss out on many great things, from profound art to good clean fun. Disney has both.

theonething 7y ago
I'm a developer and am interested in this job. Any tips on how to become an imagineer?

knolax 7y ago

> sizable number of American adults How much is sizable? Can you give an example of a specific Disneyland fanatic? Why only American adults?

therockspush 7y ago

I've worked with a few of them. This song sums it up pretty well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLIfkiF8NeQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLIfkiF8NeQ