DISNEYLAND GETS A MAKEOVER

‘Until a few years back, Disney was synonymous with princesses and castles. Now the company is taking extensive steps to appeal to a broader audience. Now it’s not just about the kids. It’s about the whole family.’
Disney began life as a company that made movies for kids. This was back during the era of Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Donald Duck and Goofy. But then came the era of animated features. When Disney took on the task of adapting fairy tales to the animated screen, like Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, it inadvertently became a movie maker that appealed more to little girls (and their mothers) than to little boys (or their fathers).
A whole generation of male children throughout the middle part of the twentieth century became disillusioned with Disney. Comics such as Superman and Spiderman appealed to them more. Now, in 2015, these very same children have become dads themselves, and when they’re asked to take their families to Disneyland, they hesitate. A part of them thinks that Disney has remained the same as it was in their childhoods.
But they couldn’t be more wrong. Disney has also changed with the times. Especially with the collaboration with Pixar, Disney has begun to make new, original animated films that have nothing to do with fairy tales. Even in the case of last year’s Frozen, when they now adapt fairy tales, they do so with subtlety. Many movies such as Toy Story and Monsters Inc have been made that appeal to young and old alike, to male and female alike.
So Disney is wooing not just kids but also their parents. When your children ask you to take them to Disneyland, don’t worry. You won’t be bored. There’s plenty to do over there.