Disney Fan vs. Disney Dork
When does being a fan turn to fawning? Can a legion of always-loyal fans turn out to be a *bad* thing for a company? Or are those who criticize some Disney fans for being too loyal just as pig-headed and biased themselves?
I've heard the term ["Disney Dork"] many times on this site
[Thanks to Kevin...--Ed.] and would like a little clarification as to whom they are.
So how about completing this sentence: "You might be a Disney Dork if...."
A few more questions to consider:
When does being a fan turn to fawning?
Can a legion of always-loyal fans turn out to be a *bad* thing for a company?
Or, are those who criticize some Disney fans for being too loyal just as pig-headed and biased themselves?
And finally, at what point have you bought too darn much theme park merchandise?
Have at it.
Dinsey is the only company that has "fans and fanactics (me)." You can buy too much but hey, it's your money. You can spend your whole day thinking of Disney and not get tried of it. Me dreaming of rising up the ranks to CEO, while it may not come true, dreams do come true, thats why you go to Disney. I think fanactics can get bad sometimes but you discuss ideas, it's what you do. I don't think it hurts Disney. I see Disney as my place to escape from the real world. Being loyal to Dinsey would be like someone being loyal to other company, having stock in the company before the market went down 5,000 points.
I think you would fall under teh Disney Dork catagory if you denied the fact that Disney's magic is losing its power. A fan of Disney would be able to detect and accept the problems of Disney, but a Disney Dork would deny these problems. Hopefully the Disney will finally reconize that Disney isn't perfect and that the Mouse is deteriorating.
I never much cared for the Mouse. However ...
I know I'm a Disney Dork because ...
... at the age of eleven I re-created the Haunted Mansion in my back yard and charged neighboring children 25¢ to experience "the magic."
... at the age of 13 re-created Big Thunder Mountain Railway in my back yard. This attraction yielded me 50¢ per guest.
... at the age of 16 sent my résumé to WDW but could not travel there [on my own] to respond to their call for an interview : (
... at the age of 21 graduated college with a degree in audio/visual arts, and dreamed of putting one of my light shows in Space Mountain. I ended up designing lighting and sound systems for night clubs and theatre.
... by the age of 25 had sold 3 ride ideas to amusement vendors. All are currently operational. Non are Disney : (
... by the age of 40, I'm still dreaming up ideas, all of which have Disney in mind, however, I will sell out to any bid : )
Okay, send your resume to Michael Eisner *now* Coaster Enthusiast!
Not just because you recreated Disney attractions in your backyard. But because you *charged* for them!
If that doesn't qualify you for a corner office at Team Disney Anaheim, I don't know what does! :-)
Turning serious for a moment.
One of the distinguishing characteristics of the theme park business is the extreme loyalty that many consumers feel toward their favorite theme park company.
For a huge percentage of the market, theme parks are Disney parks. Anything that's not Disney simply isn't worth visiting to these people.
At the same time, many Six Flags fans won't step foot in a "wimpy" Disney park, instead preferring the high-speed, high-G roller coasters that Six Flags offers.
And I don't need to tell anyone who's been on this board a while about the loyalty that Cedar Point fans feel toward their favorite park.
This segration extends online. The Disney fans tend to stay on the Disney sites. The Six Flags fans stick to the Six Flags and roller coaster sites. Now and then, Six Flags and Cedar Point fans will end up on the same coaster site--and they'll smack-talk each other.
That leaves relatively few neutral places online (of which this is one) where agnostic fans, if you will, get together.
I wrestle with the challenge of how to make this site interesting, rewarding and fun for Disney fans, as well as coaster fans, while not driving away fans of other types of theme parks. (I know, allowing a thread that calls some Disney fans "dorks" probably doesn't help, but hey, this is a real issue to some people, so let's discuss it.)
That said, getting back to the topic....
You might be taking your theme park allegiance a bit *too* far if:
Every room of your house is decorated as a a different Disney park "land."
You got married at a theme park.
You named your children after a theme park character or ride.
You've started a theme park Web site. (Hey! Wait! Forget that one!)
You wear a pin lanyard to the park and actually trade pins with cast members.
If every outfit you've worn over the past seven days has included some reference to a theme park ride.
From Tom Hash
Posted October 6, 2002 at 9:35 PM
The reason that I like Disney is that I do not like wild rides ; so there is something to do while the rest of my group goes on the rides.I do like the occasional splash Mountain but thats about it.
When I go to a park like Cedar Point It just seems like I have wasted my money as all there is to do is sit and wait the 2-3 hrs while somebody goes on the ride.I think the have a nice park, but It is not a Theme park just a "Ride" park
You might be a Disney Dork if you don't realize Mickey Mouse and Satan are one in the same.
I think it needs to be said that there is a difference also between "Dork" and "dork."
For example, I am a HUGE Simpsons dork. Someone actually asked me if all my shirts had Simpsons characters on them! I answered, quite snottily, "No! Some have Dr Seuss stuff on them!" I also buy all the playsets and all the action figures that go with them. I worked my butt off to get as many of the Halloween toys they sold at BK last year. Someone even noted my devotion by asking, "And you HATE BK food, don't you?" Do I!
BUT, I am still a lower-case dork because I freely admit that last season was not a banner year for the show. I bought the Season One DVD and only watched the extras. (I have pored over EVERY SECOND of the Season Two DVD though!)
So there are Disney dorks out there who buy lots of Disney crap and buy WDW APs even though they live in CALIFORNIA. And then there are Disney Dorks who have no problem paying full-price for DCA. Or gladly fork over the extra cash when Disney increases ticket prices again without increasing their attraction numbers. Or who live their lives on Disney sites posting thread after thread of "The Best Disney Attractions EVER!" Or whining if anyone should EVER complain about something - ANYTHING - in a Disney park.
I just realized I may be a Disney dork. Everytime someone mentions they are going to Disney I fall in to a somewhat dream state, remembering my visits there. My kids have been a Disney character several years for halloween. I save every penny we have extra, planning for our return visits. I wont change my cable company because the others dont have a package that includes the Disney channel. I guess I thought that letting my kids have the Disney magic in their lives was a good thing, just as my parents did.
If that makes me a dork then so be it!!
Is there a flip-side to being a Disney dork? Perhaps an Embittered Anti-Disney Crusader?
(oh boy...am I going to get into hot water for that comment)...
From Anonymous
Posted October 7, 2002 at 5:35 AM
You are definitely a Disney Dork if you can still recall the "E" coupon spiel from the Jungle Cruise..."Please remove and "E" coupon; that's "E" as in "eighty-eight enchanted elephants excitedly eating Easter eggs" and present it to the operator upon reaching the turnstiles!
"Recall," hell! You ain't a DD unless you still HAVE an "E" ticket sitting around!
From Anonymous
Posted October 7, 2002 at 10:01 AM
There used to be an unmarked Disney parking lot ticket lying around on the floor before I moved. I wonder what happened to it? From looking at it, it seemed to be from a time when parking was fifty cents.
You are a DD if you believe Disney can never do wrong in anything they do.
But this can apply to any other park. I'm sure there are Universal Dorks and Six Flags Dorks, as well. :-)
Um ... Ps ... Not to play indifferently on your witticism, Robert, I *charged* for the rides as it was part of Ronald McDonald's Back Yard Fairs to help build Ronald McDonald House. [Remember those?] In all the years I participated, I was the number one money maker in my region and had only one incident of injury on one of my "attractions." A nickle-per-ride, single rider Tilt-A-Whirl. My operator allowed a rider who was well over the weight limit (which was posted). He busted his eye up good, I removed the ride.
In my opinion, there's a big difference between Disney's value going down and it losing its magic. I have been going to WDW since I was a small child and I have seen the slow but steady deterioration of the parks (I do have a pair of eyes), yet Disney World has not lost the magic for me. I still feel an incredible rush of emotion when I turn the corner onto Main Street, I still get a bit teary-eyed when we reach the top of Spaceship Earth and I hear the little melody. I have not been married in a theme park, but that's just because I haven't been married yet. I want to do the big Disney wedding with the Prince Charming get-up and everything. If that makes me a Dork (what do I mean, "if?"), then so be it.
I know Universal Orlando is kicking Disney's butt. I definitely appreciate and marvel at what they've done with IOA. I don't automatically knock everything that's not Disney, I just happen to prefer the Mouse above all. I've never understood the people who go to Disney and can only comment on how much they're trying to exploit children and enthusiasts. If you can't allow yourself to have fun in a theme park, where else could you possibly go?
Good point. A true DD is someone who can only enjoy time in a Disney park. Now how lame is that? If you can't go to IOA and find fun stuff to do, then there is something seriously wrong in your wiring. If I can find something fun and worthwhile in MK, which I hate with a venomous passion, then these DDs should be able to do the same with a SUPERIOR park, shouldn't they? ;-)
Also, let's not get our words mixed up! Like I said, there is a difference between dork and Dork.
A shrine to Michael Eisner? Now that would be a Dork!
I have been thinking about people who simply refuse to see when Disney is wrong. I cannot fathom seeing something that I should detest and finding an excuse for not detesting it. Most Disney dorks I know LOATHED Superstar Limo. But the Disney Dorks couldn't find anything bad to say about it.
That's when I realized that the Dorks aren't in love with the parks. They are in love with the Disney NAME. For if they really loved the parks, they would understand what Walt was trying to create and they wouldn't accept anything less. If people loved the parks, they would want what's best for them. And what Disney is doing to them right now certainly is not what's best.
I guess you must be a Disney Dork if:
You call MIB a knockoff of Buzz Lightyear and rate it a 4.
You don't feel cheated when a company pays their CEO nearly $500 million dollars in one year yet can't seem to find the money to maintain the parks or build new parks with enough attractions to keep you there the entire day.
You pan any other park simply on the basis that "They're not Disney!" or "I don't feel the Magic!"
You rate a bunch of mid-level movies and dark rides at Disney parks higher than you rate Spiderman.
You can't read any of Kevin Baxter's postings without disagreeing with him. (Wait a minute! That's most of us on this site.) OK, scratch that last one out.
How's this?
"Dorks" have no sense of humor, and are highly offended by this thread and anything else critical of Disney.
"Geeks" have a sense of humor, and can laugh about this thread.
Call me a geek.
new thread, difference between Dinsey Geek and Dork.
From Anonymous
Posted October 8, 2002 at 3:13 PM
A dork is a male whale sexual organ. I've seen them at the museum (ripleys). Yes im a disney dork and proud of it. Disney is the muse of the military industry complex. It goes way beyond the theme parks. My beliefs are that this country would not exist without the disney corporation. Without the nature films groups such as greenpeace would not be here. Without the ward kimball articles in collers their would be no space program. Without the studios help during world war II we would be speaking german now.
It's a disney nation now. I for one want abc to buy cnn then it would a disney world.
mickey rules.
From Anonymous
Posted October 8, 2002 at 5:43 PM
I've been to disney twice this year and going a third. Ive stayed at the best and the cheapest disney resorts cheaper was much friendlier
and we had a better time. I've been going to disney for 19 years so I am a disney dork
I must truly state that disney qaulity has very sadly went down I watch our old video's before eisner took over and the parades were simplier but the magic was there thats what we go for I must say the personnel are not as friendly and so happy that they made you happy they can be out right rude. training programs have went down. but that eisner's cut backs. If enough of us complain maybe we'll get a little bit more magic back and walt can stop turning over in his grave. I can also state we make our own magic while were there. twice this year I walked my boys six and thirteen up those steps on main street looked at the castle and said goodbye as we cried we had to leave the magic. I can tell you the horror story about tickets not working sandals stolen picture problems food problems so on and disney didn't care after seven days in december new years and 10 days in june and july value customer yeah right here's one free day ticket for all your
problems after all I spent
disney definatly needs to wake up. but I am ill an it makes my boys happy so we go while the magic is still there for us and as for disney or dork. My thirteen year old said at christmas he didn't want to go It was going to be his first time he said it for fairy's we he cried when we left and had ball in june but he loves it but it doesn't have all the magic it had went I first went
that's when roy hadn't let eisner in yet bad bad move!Its really sad that my boys don't see it through the old disney glasses there not so rosie anymore!
I think, no I know I'm a Disney Geek. I have been to Disneyland 7 times, not much I know but I do live in Australia so I think it does count. I wear those shirts with rides on them. even Donald Duck. My house has too many items from Disney, no other park seems as good to Disney. Yes I am a geek,Dork and PROUD of it.
Okay, maybe we should switch the wording around. I am fine with Disney geek pertaining to those who just have Disney obsessions but who still have working brains about the whole thing. In fact, that's usually the term I use for my Simpsons/Dr Seuss obsessions.
So let's keep Dork for those who are total Pollyannas about the awful stuff going on at Disney right now. So don't proudly proclaim you are a Disney Dork. Hopefully the world will soon treat them with deserved scorn. BWA HA HA HA! Oh... pardon my evilness!
I think Disney fans are dorks because most Disney movies and shows are aimed at 6 year olds, and most of the attractions at Disney parks are based on these movies and shows.
On the other hand, Universal Studios themed attractions are usually themed on regular adult movies.
So therefore....
Disney Fan = dork
Universal Fan = Cool
That was DUM, Scooby! Most of Disney's entertainment is aimed at families. Yes, some of it fails miserably to appeal to adults, but look at the Toy Story movies. Furthermore, look at Touchstone or Miramax, both Disney companies which certainly don't make movies that appeal to kids.
But I will admit that one of the biggest problems with the Anaheim parks lately is that Disney is forgetting that it needs to create attractions that appeal to families. Instead, we get Flik's, which appeals to kids. Or California Screamin, which doesn't. There aren't enough attractions in DCA for so many of them to appeal to one demographic or another.
I'm a Disney Geek and proud of it! I'm glad that distinction was finally made, because while I would consider myself a Geek, there is no way I would consider myself a Dork.
- I do own a large collection of Disney films on video or DVD, but I only buy the ones that I truly like. That makes me a Geek.
- I do not obsessively buy every Disney title just because it's Disney. That would make me a Dork.
- I do have Disney passes for my fiance and I. we love to just hop in the car and go over there for a day or a weekend. (we live less than 2 hours from WDW) It makes for a relatively cheap getaway since you can come and go at all the parks whenever you feel like it and not feel like you have to get every single minute out of your day's admition price. throw in a night or 2 at a moderately priced hotel and you have a full fledged vacation.
- I do not however limit myself only to Disney. I love all theme parks (well most of them anyway), and also have Busch Gardens/Adventure Island/Sea World passes, and have in the past had Universal passes (we wnet there a lot the year my fiance worked HHN and needed to take a break from that park).
- I do have one room set aside in my house for Disney stuff we've collected (it was a gift to my fiance), but only nice stuff like artwork and plush toys and collectibles. I think that makes me a geek.
- I do not have millions of tacky Disney related items strewn about my entire house. That would make me a Dork.
- I do have some Disney pins, but only the ones that I really like, and I put them on display in my Disney room.
- I do not wear them around and voraciously trade them with other people. the ones I've purchased are the ones that I want to own and look at.
- I do have a couple items of clothing which are Disney related and which I where from time to time. But I only like the stuff that I would consider kinda classy. A nice blue dress shirt with a small simple Mickey embroidered on it for example.
- I do not own a thousand Tacky, Touristy Disney shirts in hideously bold colors with goofy looking (no offense to the actual character Goofy) Characters and cheesey logos plastered all over them which I where every day. Now that would make make a Dork for sure!
I could go on and on, but I'll wrap it up now by stating again that I am a Disney Geek! I enjoy many of their movies, but hate others, I love getting away for the day to enjoy some time at the parks, but I'm just as likely to go to a different park, I like to collect classy memorabilia, but loathe cheap toursity crap. That my friends makes me a Geek, but certainly not a Dork!
From Mike Doyle
Posted October 12, 2002 at 11:16 AM
I dunno. I think the overarching trait of a Disney dork, like me, is that we don't care what you label us because we're having such a rediculously good time being Disney park enthusiasts, we kind of feel sorry for people who just don't "get it".
For me, spending a weekend at a Disney resort (Anaheim, Orlando, you pick) is like how other people spend a week on a beach. I'm relaxed, I'm recharged, I'm grinning. You never hear people say, "Why did you want to go and spend another week lying on that same beach in the Bahamas?". So I always think it's hypocritical that the same people will ask, "Why would you want to go back to Disney for a week?".
Kevin Baxter says it best:
"That's when I realized that the Dorks aren't in love with the parks. They are in love with the Disney NAME. For if they really loved the parks, they would understand what Walt was trying to create and they wouldn't accept anything less. If people loved the parks, they would want what's best for them. And what Disney is doing to them right now certainly is not what's best."
When I have warm feelings toward Disney, they date back to the days of Walt. Today, the company is like a virus, and it is spreading everywhere. If Disney would stop its crusade to take over the world and go back to being what it was in the fifties and sixties, I would stop making snide comments every time their name gets mentioned.
I will count myself proudly as a "Cedar Fair Geek"! I will take one of their parks over Six Flags, Paramount, Busch or Disney anytime!
"If Disney would stop its crusade to take over the world"
Wait...are you saying that Disney is, in actuality, being run by...Pinky and the Brain? (Which, of course, leads us to the obvious question--was Eisner Pinky or the Brain?)...or, perhaps even more insidious, perhaps Mickey isn't Mickey at all...but an impostor! A cleverly disguised white lab mouse!
Narf!
From Anonymous
Posted October 14, 2002 at 4:31 PM
Has anyone heard thatdisney is threating to sue LAUSD?
Gawd I miss Pinky and the Brain! Thanks for reminding me!!!
Having just gotten back from DCA, I have to say that ANYONE who defends that park is definitely a Disney Dork. I have never seen such a collection of ho-hum in one area in my life! I will be attempting a thread that tries to go into a little more detail into that park's myriad problems. (Not that it is the only park. As far as I am concerned, all the LA area parks have major problems they need to deal with.)
A Disney dork is someone who defends DCa, eh?
Well, didn't you say on another thread that "Now that I have seen the park [DCa] in person, I have figured out what could make it work. It would take a major investment, and a return to Disney excellence, but it could be done"--now, that almost sounds like a defense of DCa...as though you're arguing that DCa has potential...
...so, logically, by your own argument, YOU are a Disney dork!
*shakes his head*...who would've thought?...
I totaly agree with Mike.
That is how I feel when I go to Disneyland, just to wander around and take in the feeling that Walt built it is amazing. Yes I still buy my t.shirts lol.
One last thing although he died 3 months befor I was born Walt Disney will always be my hero. Disney fan/geek down Under
What a lousy argument, Francois. EVERYTHING has potential. And saying that it COULD be a decent park down the road is NOT the same as saying "Give it a decade!" like the DDs do. Given free rein and the money to do it, I was saying that I PERSONALLY could turn DCA around. That doesn't mean I think it will happen.
*lol*...don't try to weasel out of it! We now all know your secret--you're a closet Disney Dork masquerading as an IoA devotee to mask his true, Disney dorkiness (or, perhaps, in denial of his dorkiness?) ;p
There once was a man named Walt Disney,
Who had dreams and imagination and visions of glee.
"Where's the
magic?" you ask.
It's firm in the grasp ...
Of a wallet now owned by a man named Eisner, you see.
Hmmm...looks like we need a new thread to go along with our haiku thread...perhaps a metered verse thread? Maybe we need a free verse thread too? Themepark sonnets, pantoums, odes, ghazals...hehe...j/k...
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