Disneyworld advert - not fair...

podperson

My parents never had a great deal of money when I was growing up and sometimes I would feel a little jealous of friends who were off to Disneyland and going abroad while we would end up going to Pontins or a b&b. But I figured out pretty young that a lot of these friends might have fancy holidays but they would hardly see one or other of their parents the rest of the time whereas we got to spend a lot of quality time together as a family. I look back now and have great memories of those cheap holidays and have a really close relationship with my parents - I know that some of those old friends who had all the expensive holidays don't have that.

shellsuit

What's not fair about it, some familes can afford to go and others can't.

Some parents can't even afford cheapo toys which are advertised on the TV, so how do they feel?

Some people can't even afford food which is shown on the TV, let alone Disney holidays.

Caroline73_2

If my kids (and husband) ask for something we can't afford I explain it too them in terms of what we would go without and for how long. EG if you go without food and electricity for a year, we can go for a fortnight in disney.

Molly41

Its all about choices and how you budget your money. We have never had a lot of money but I made a conscious decision that I wanted to give my children the disneyland experience whilst they were young. I remember that one child went free with every full paying adult, we drove and self catered. Took food and drink on-site with us. The kids had a fab time and we all have happy memories. I went without in order to achieve that. Perhaps I dont live in an expensive area, perhaps I budget carefully? Whatever I do that's my decision and I live with that. Instead of moaning at the advertising! My DD has very happy memories and that advert prompted her regarding them.

Caroline73_2

shellsuit wrote: »

What's not fair about it, some familes can afford to go and others can't.

Some parents can't even afford cheapo toys which are advertised on the TV, so how do they feel?

Some people can't even afford food which is shown on the TV, let alone Disney holidays.

Some people can't afford the TV to see the advert.

SonjaLiK

shellsuit wrote: »

What's not fair about it, some familes can afford to go and others can't.

Some parents can't even afford cheapo toys which are advertised on the TV, so how do they feel?

Some people can't even afford food which is shown on the TV, let alone Disney holidays.

Yeah, well life's not fair, it's not fair that kids get ill or that people die young. A lot of things are not fair but the point of this particular statement, I suppose, is the moral right to hurt kids by stupid adverts like that (that I was lucky enough not to see).

What I was trying to say earlier might be easier to understand summed up in one basic thought; the character, emotional stability forming memories respond to the questions "what" and "in whose company" rather than "where".

nzmegs

Shellsuit you are right - but are there advertisements asking parents about when they will tell their kids they are having steak for dinner? I think the aim of this ad is to make parents feel guilty for not providing a memory such as this for their kids. it deliberatel;y pulls at the heartstrings and makes children especially feel like they are in the minority if they cannot go. it doesn't have a little footnote pointing out that most families cannot afford this by the way....

I would even go so far as to say it is irresponsible given the current economic climate. it really makes you feel like you "have" to do it and hang the consequences.

But it opens a wider debate about what is important. Kids under the age of 10 or 12 don't really understand about the importance of money and being together as a family. they just want to be like their friends.

Esoog

nzmegs wrote: »

Shellsuit you are right - but are there advertisements asking parents about when they will tell their kids they are having steak for dinner? I think the aim of this ad is to make parents feel guilty for not providing a memory such as this for their kids. it deliberatel;y pulls at the heartstrings and makes children especially feel like they are in the minority if they cannot go. it doesn't have a little footnote pointing out that most families cannot afford this by the way....

I would even go so far as to say it is irresponsible given the current economic climate. it really makes you feel like you "have" to do it and hang the consequences.

But it opens a wider debate about what is important. Kids under the age of 10 or 12 don't really understand about the importance of money and being together as a family. they just want to be like their friends.

It's hardly irresponsible to be fair, its an advert..and advert for a business? Just like any other advert for any other business..or like all the adverts on a saturday morning advertising all the latest toys inbetween kids TV.

If it really makes you feel like you have to do it and sod the consequences I would suggest a) It's a good advert and b) you need more willpower

shellsuit

nzmegs wrote: »

Shellsuit you are right - but are there advertisements asking parents about when they will tell their kids they are having steak for dinner? I think the aim of this ad is to make parents feel guilty for not providing a memory such as this for their kids. it deliberatel;y pulls at the heartstrings and makes children especially feel like they are in the minority if they cannot go. it doesn't have a little footnote pointing out that most families cannot afford this by the way....

I would even go so far as to say it is irresponsible given the current economic climate. it really makes you feel like you "have" to do it and hang the consequences.

But it opens a wider debate about what is important. Kids under the age of 10 or 12 don't really understand about the importance of money and being together as a family. they just want to be like their friends.

I disagree.

Disneyland/world is meant to be a magical experience (to be honest, walking around all day is not my idea of a holiday) and the advert says that the magic starts once you tell your kids, which if you think about it, it's true.

I never went on holiday with my parents ever. Didn't bother me, because I knew my Mum and Dad worked hard to provide a lovely home for us.

I only ever remember getting jealous once as a kid, when a friend went to America on British Airways. I wasn't jealous because she'd been to the USA or because she went on a plane, I was jealous because of the cool British Airways pen she got! :rotfl:


You could say the same about adverts at Christmas. Wii, PS3, Xbox, DS, bikes, character toys etc etc ~ some kids want these because their friends have them, but they're not going to get them because Mum and Dad just can't afford them which must make some parents feel sad and awful for not being able to give their kids what they would like.

No advert makes me feel like I HAVE to do anything. If an advert did though then it's obviously doing it's job.

Mrs_Arcanum

nzmegs - We are in a very similar situation (good area, low crime, good schools & a relatively low income). Our children do not get the latest, this that or the other. Nor do we have holidays, just days out as a family or watching DD play cricket. My DD had a holiday in Devon by going with her Best Friend to stay at her granddads. Her Best F goes off to Switzerland (dual nationality) to Swiss camp & they generally have a good family holiday every year. They have got used to this and accept the limitations our circumstances dictate. They are smart and have good friends who DO have all the material things which they go and play on so really don't miss out that much.