The Disney Transformation

Imagine this: ten years from now, your hypothetical kids beg you for that dream vacation to Disney World. Not only do you give in to their big, innocent, yet manipulative, eyes; but you also remember the happiness that moved through your body when you first experienced the “Disney magic.” After 8 hours in the car and sing-a-longs, you’re finally there. The kids race into the park and you drag behind. You can see their little bodies jumping up in excitement. You decide to join the hype too. At any minute you’ll be hugging Mickey Mouse, or not. To your surprise Disney World has been taken over by teenage celebrities: boy band heartthrobs and fashion fads. What happened to the Disney that you knew and loved?

That is the question that some young adults are asking today. With such celebrities, such as, Miley Cyrus and The Jonas Brothers, being the faces of Disney, some feel that they will take the place of Minnie and Mickey Mouse. On the other hand, some think that Disney is unforgettable.

“It’s always been known for celebrities. What do you think Donald Duck is?” Shawn Williams explains with a little laughter, “That Cyrus girl is just an actual human.”

The next generations may have to get used to seeing “actual humans” if they plan on sticking with Disney as their choice of entertainment. Television shows like “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” and “Wizards of Waverly Place” are constantly played on the main Disney Channel. Old school cartoons and other animation can be found on special channels like Toon Disney and Playhouse Disney.

When asked about the Disney image during her childhood, 20-year-old Sharon Lewis said “Mickey Mouse and great movies, but now it is all about the bubble gum pop type shows.”

Watchers of the Disney Channel believe that Today’s Disney stars have it made.
“They do everything!” yells 20-year-old Zimone Mincey, “They get movies with sequels, music videos, and a clothing line. I want a Disney contract!”

Some even compare today’s “real celebrities: with the Mickey Mouse Club, but with a twist.

“Well it’s way before my time,” claims A’jai Alexander, “but wasn’t it just a bunch of kids that can act and sing, just like now?”
Artists, such as, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Justin Timberlake were once Mouseketeers.

“I only watched the re-runs once I found out that Justin was on it,” admits Lewis, “Disney knows what they’re doing! They give us these sexy stars, and we have no choice but to watch everything they’re in.”

Alexander thinks that Disney is just giving their best audiences what they want. She doesn’t think that cartoons and cool movies are disappearing, but Disney is altering how they do things because of who their audience.
“It’s the same as MTV and BET. Remember when it was all music videos?” Alexander said, “Now it’s a lot of dumb reality shows with maybe an hour of music at 8 A.M!”

Antoni Deas, 20, enjoys today’s Disney Channel stars “new Disney,” but at the same time she feels that the 1990’s is the image that her generation will always love the most.

“Who can forget about the awesome movies of the 90’s, like Pocahontas and Toy Story?” said Deas, “But I do listen to my Hannah Montana 2 CD a lot.” For those of you who are unaware, Hannah Montana is the alter ego of Miley Cyrus. It started off as a television show about a young girl who has two lives: a regular kid and a superstar. The show has exploded over the years by creating a movie, dolls, music, and clothing.

Disney has had its share of stars that are in the spotlight for a few years, but slowly fade away as their fans get older. Mickey and his gang have been around for over 70 years. Will these current pop stars’ legends be around for that long?

“They can’t replace Donald, Goofy, and Mickey with some Jonas Brothers. Those boys are irreplaceable.”
Don’t worry people; you won’t be paraded with teenagers and guitars during your dream Disney vacation in ten years! Just be prepared to deal with the temporary stars, and know that the Disney that really matters will be here forever.