It’s been really hot in Minnesota recently and since we only have air conditioning in the upstairs of our home — in our girls’ room — I’ve been spending a lot of time there. One night I kicked C.L. out of her twin bed and onto an air mattress on the floor so I could sleep in the cool comfort, too. When I woke up I found myself face-to-face with a Disney Tigger smiling up at me.
We’ve been without Disney for almost eight weeks and hadn’t yet noticed that C.L. sleeps on Disney Winnie-the-Pooh sheets. Well, not any more.
C.L. was also busy reading a joke book one night when she brought it to me, handed it over, and said, “Look at the cover.” It was a book of Club Penguin jokes. We bought it last year from our not-so-favorite in-school advertiser, Scholastic. It went onto our shelf with the other temporarily banned books.
But my favorite recent Disney encounter came when C.L. was on the internet looking for suggestions to name her new gerbil. She was searching for a name that meant “brown” when she noticed the sidebar ad: Win a Disney vacation!
She read it out loud to us and said, “But we’re already on a Disney vacation!”
And we’ve welcomed little “Bruno” to our family.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
too funny!
OMG, if we had to purge everything in the house that was Disney, I think we might be a bare house. Hmmm…still might be a good idea.
Love the updates. And I love that the kids are being so awesome about this.
Hi there!
Your plan is brave and ambitious, and I truly wish you the best of luck with it.
As a Disney fan, I’m not sure I share your perspective or agree with all of your arguments, but I am entirely in favor of any decision that you make that helps your children become better citizens of the world, and I am certainly in favor of being wary of corporate monolithy.
Your comment about the Club Penguin book gave me pause, not because I think you erred but because it’s occurred to me to point out that Disney is very widespread. I know that you’re aware that Disney has its hands in many pies, but be wary nonetheless – film studios like Miramax and Touchstone, for example, are Disney-owned, even if they don’t announce that prominently. I encourage you to check out the corporate parentage of any company you do decide to patronize.
In the end, I hope your Year Without Disney is an educational and rewarding one, and my comment is made not to dissuade but in the hope that you won’t discover, at Month Six, that you’ve been regularly using products from a company owned by Disney, and become discouraged. Good luck and best wishes!
Thanks Chris, what a nice message from a Disney fan. Much appreciated. I hope that my list of What Disney Owns *is* all-inclusive (although Disney is selling off Miramax). If you know of anything that needs to be added, please do let me know.
Good for you on all this. I’ve tried to boycott Nestle for a million years, but I think they own everything Disney doesn’t! One dissenting note tho–please don’t throw out the original Winnie-the-Pooh that Shepard wrote, even if you only buy old books. It’s too wonderful to lose. Same with the original Mary Poppins.
Thanks Kip and no, I wouldn’t part with our real Pooh books. We have the complete collection, although I have to admit, I enjoyed them more than either of my girls did. I don’t think I’ve ever even seen the original Mary Poppins — have to look that one up.
And for all things Nestle — check out PhD in Parenting (if you haven’t already).
Thanks for writing.
I just read the article in the St. Petersburg Times Today, August 29, 2010, about removing Disney from your life for a year. I have been visiting Disney World Orlando, for many years with my family. I never realized I was endangering my son by allowing him to think he should not be thought of as a Prince, that is to marry the beautiful Princess…
My family went there for the wholesomeness of things like the Hall of Presidents and Main Street and Epcot’s learning Centers and to enjoy even if just for a day, visiting the countries represented at Epcot. I always saw it as a happy Oasis from the hardships we all witness in our everyday life. I also enjoyed it because my nephew who was stricken with Muscular Dystrophy and wheelchair bound could roam the park with ease and was welcomed at every ride, restaurant and event with a smile. I go there to be reassured that there are still people who are nice to each other and I enjoy seeing how one man’s dream became my reality, if even for a day.
Hi Tim, I’m not sure how you got the impression from the article that allowing your son to be thought of as a Prince would endanger him (I think that is what you were saying in your comment). In fact, I guess I didn’t even know that Disney marketed Princes to boys — I have daughters, so I don’t see as much of the boy products. I just checked Amazon.com and found 74 products when I searched for “Disney Prince” (under Toys and Games) — and 3,405 for “Disney Princess.” Guess that’s why I hadn’t noticed.
Disney World sounds like a wonderful choice for you and your family. I hope you continue to enjoy it.
It’s funny what you can miss that’s right under your nose!
The original Mary Poppins is worth searching for but just be aware she’s almost a different character in the books than in the movie. The movie alludes to some of her vanity and attitude but it’s much stronger in the books. In a way she’s less likable but more lovable.
I really admire what you’re trying to do and look forward to reading your adventures in it. And you’re in my hometown. I live in NH now but I grew up in SLP/Edina.