Comments on: The four-billion-dollar Disney difference http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2007/11/26/the-four-billion-dollar-disney-difference/ Blog of Parents for Ethical Marketing Mon, 1 Dec 2008 22:42:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: magpie http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2007/11/26/the-four-billion-dollar-disney-difference/#comment-61 magpie Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:52:51 +0000 http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2007/11/26/the-four-billion-dollar-disney-difference/#comment-61 I love that she didn't know the Disney princesses. I did actually decline an invite to my child for a 4-y-o birthday party that was billed as "come as your favorite princess" - because it offended me, but also because I can't stand the kids or their mom. I guess I'm a mean mommy. But it comes back and bites me - this year, someone gave her a disembodied Ariel head for hairdressing. I love that she didn’t know the Disney princesses.

I did actually decline an invite to my child for a 4-y-o birthday party that was billed as “come as your favorite princess” - because it offended me, but also because I can’t stand the kids or their mom. I guess I’m a mean mommy.

But it comes back and bites me - this year, someone gave her a disembodied Ariel head for hairdressing.

]]> By: Mel Lipschutz http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2007/11/26/the-four-billion-dollar-disney-difference/#comment-45 Mel Lipschutz Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:35:59 +0000 http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2007/11/26/the-four-billion-dollar-disney-difference/#comment-45 My offspring are quite a bit older than yours, but what memories: All-time worst birthday party my daughter ever went to was a scavenger hunt at Mall of America. Use your imagination: Ten 10-year-olds running around like maniacs trying to find a plastic fork from the Rainforest Cafe, a Dairy Queen napkin, a Lego, and for all I know, a book of matches from Hooters. Let's count how many things were wrong about all that! On the other hand, you’ve reminded me of one of the better birthday parties we had, one that my daughter still remembers fondly: I hid some stuff in the woods by our house (I know, I know) and then during the party I gave the kids clues and they had to figure out how to go through the trails and find the junk I had hidden down there. (YES, I went with them.) I vaguely recall (gasp!) flashlights, so maybe it was around dusk. I really hadn't thought about it in these terms, but that was the kind of stuff we should have done more of--the anti-consumer-theme-based party. (Next year she turns 21, and I fear that the corporate sponsor will be Michelob or Bacardi.) My offspring are quite a bit older than yours, but what memories: All-time worst birthday party my daughter ever went to was a scavenger hunt at Mall of America. Use your imagination: Ten 10-year-olds running around like maniacs trying to find a plastic fork from the Rainforest Cafe, a Dairy Queen napkin, a Lego, and for all I know, a book of matches from Hooters. Let’s count how many things were wrong about all that!

On the other hand, you’ve reminded me of one of the better birthday parties we had, one that my daughter still remembers fondly: I hid some stuff in the woods by our house (I know, I know) and then during the party I gave the kids clues and they had to figure out how to go through the trails and find the junk I had hidden down there. (YES, I went with them.) I vaguely recall (gasp!) flashlights, so maybe it was around dusk.

I really hadn’t thought about it in these terms, but that was the kind of stuff we should have done more of–the anti-consumer-theme-based party. (Next year she turns 21, and I fear that the corporate sponsor will be Michelob or Bacardi.)

]]> By: Lisa @ Corporate Babysitter http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2007/11/26/the-four-billion-dollar-disney-difference/#comment-43 Lisa @ Corporate Babysitter Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:35:25 +0000 http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2007/11/26/the-four-billion-dollar-disney-difference/#comment-43 Navi, that's great. I think all kids should be taught the nature of commercials. It's the younger ones (less than 6) who can't fully understand that a commerical is trying to sell them something. Thanks for stopping by! Navi, that’s great. I think all kids should be taught the nature of commercials. It’s the younger ones (less than 6) who can’t fully understand that a commerical is trying to sell them something.

Thanks for stopping by!

]]> By: navi http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2007/11/26/the-four-billion-dollar-disney-difference/#comment-42 navi Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:50:03 +0000 http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2007/11/26/the-four-billion-dollar-disney-difference/#comment-42 hmm, I actually enjoy the disney stuff, had no problem getting my daughter the princess stuff, and, at 9, her favorite characters are still the ones she creates (and they aren't very girly at that). and most of the parties she's been invited to haven't been themed, except they tend to be at someplace, rather than at someone's home (chuck e cheese, red cedar gymnastics, there was one dress up party at Treehouse Toys, so I guess that's themed, a nature center, the zoo, YMCA...) But then, while I allow her to watch the stuff, I also have explained the point of a commercial to her, so she understands that its designed to make her think she wants something she doesn't need. And she's smart enough to get that. hmm, I actually enjoy the disney stuff, had no problem getting my daughter the princess stuff, and, at 9, her favorite characters are still the ones she creates (and they aren’t very girly at that).

and most of the parties she’s been invited to haven’t been themed, except they tend to be at someplace, rather than at someone’s home (chuck e cheese, red cedar gymnastics, there was one dress up party at Treehouse Toys, so I guess that’s themed, a nature center, the zoo, YMCA…)

But then, while I allow her to watch the stuff, I also have explained the point of a commercial to her, so she understands that its designed to make her think she wants something she doesn’t need. And she’s smart enough to get that.

]]> By: Lisa @ Corporate Babysitter http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2007/11/26/the-four-billion-dollar-disney-difference/#comment-40 Lisa @ Corporate Babysitter Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:46:37 +0000 http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2007/11/26/the-four-billion-dollar-disney-difference/#comment-40 Juliet, you've just made an excellent point -- why do the parties now have themes? And most are based on brand-extension characters (Disney characters, Nemo, Shrek). We can't get away from it! And you can be any Disney Princess you want to be (Ariel's a princess?) -- I have no worries about you. Juliet, you’ve just made an excellent point — why do the parties now have themes? And most are based on brand-extension characters (Disney characters, Nemo, Shrek). We can’t get away from it!

And you can be any Disney Princess you want to be (Ariel’s a princess?) — I have no worries about you.

]]> By: Juliet http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2007/11/26/the-four-billion-dollar-disney-difference/#comment-39 Juliet Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:35:03 +0000 http://www.parentsforethicalmarketing.org/blog/2007/11/26/the-four-billion-dollar-disney-difference/#comment-39 I don't think it sounds cruel at all. Horse parties can be totally fun. I can't even remember my parties having a theme, but I do remember them being lots of fun. Though now, I'm an Ariel girl (we both have red hair). I don’t think it sounds cruel at all. Horse parties can be totally fun. I can’t even remember my parties having a theme, but I do remember them being lots of fun.

Though now, I’m an Ariel girl (we both have red hair).

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