It seems to me like there is a war currently going on between different factions of discussion forums members on Disney fan sites. One group believes that we are on the verge of a renaissance of Disney theme park attractions, while the other group is dismayed by the lack of originality and the cartoonization of the parks. Consider me a member of the latter group. The biggest problem is that my group has a hard time making an educational argument for their position. We come across as whiny and afraid of change. The other group simply says, "Get over it," and "it's just a theme park." This mindset is a reflection of the current way of thinking at Disney, so it's no wonder these "fans" would think this way. Disney thinks of their parks as just theme parks whose sole purpose is to make money. While this is partially true, Disney does not give itself enough credit. Disneyland was dedicated as a source of joy and inspiration to all the world, not as a place to sell plush and DVD's of the cartoon characters on It's a Small World. Us hardcore fans would not be upset if we didn't know Disney could do better. Us fans wouldn't even exist unless Disney was capable of better. There was a time when Disney took pride in their work and never settled for simply making something that was a safe bet. If Walt only made what people thought they wanted, not what was best for them, Disneyland would have been a carnival. My goal is to add substance to the upset fans' argument, to explain what is wrong and why Disney needs to change to save itself from long-term brand erosion.
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