[EmpressJenny]

Originally Posted by MerlinMatt

OK Jenny. It think it's time that Pete send you to charm school.

BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURP!!! *scratches self* What're you talking about, Matt?

[roxie]

Nice mental picture!!

[MerlinMatt]

Originally Posted by aecox

Nice mental picture!!

No kidding. I'm getting an image of an otherwise attractive young woman with a sleeveless t-shirt and a 5 o'clock shadow.

LOL!!!

[roxie]

I'm seeing a Skull and Crossbones tattoo somewhere, also.

[MerlinMatt]

Well, clearly tragic is a much better internet marketer than I am.

Here's the latest tally:

Villain Character Meal: http://www.petitiononline.com/VillMeal/petition.html 213

Boy's Character Meal: http://www.petitiononline.com/wdw929/petition.html 1044!!

So, hopefully, Disney will listen to at least ONE of the petitions.

Good luck Tragic!

[missy131]

Just signed think its a great idea. Hope you can find someway to make them listen.

[KentB3]

I still think that it's extremely sexist to consider certain character meals, and even certain characters for that matter, to be just for one sex; but anyway, good luck on the polls!

As for the Villians meal, that that would be something, as long as the characters didn't make bad character choices and act unneccesarily rude and intimidating, especially with younger children. Personally, I think I'd enjoy it myself!

[KentB3]

Originally Posted by MerlinMatt

Do we really need to continue to debate about this?

I mean, clearly, there are people that can't discern the difference between acting and reality. I've seen plenty of people get accosted by the Queen of Hearts and 99% of them think it's funny. Personally, I think it's hysterical. But, if a kids gets scared, the handler is always quick to jump in and the Queen's attitude changes abrubtly. I've seen this happen.

Kent, while I agree with your comments about whether certain events should be considered "sexist," I think you're missing the point about a Villains meal. Bear in mind that the Unofficial Guide has a bit of an edge to it and sometimes, they go out of their way to cast Disney in an unglamorous light. Can you really imagine a character chasing a scared child? Please. That CM would be fired on the spot. Lawwin's characterization of the event is much more plausible and consistent with the behavior of a minority element of people that like to spoil the fun for everyone else.

Does the Unofficial Guide really try to deliberately deglamorize Disney? If that's so, why do they do that, especially for people who are planning what is often the biggest vacation of many people's lifetimes?

Inquiring minds would like to know!

[KentB3]

http://www.disneycentral.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=13608

I have here at the above weblink a list of character meals I had planned for a Disney theme park I was designing on WDWMagic's Imagineer forum. In case you're not familiar with WDWMagic, it's another WDW/Disney website with a list of forums like DisneyCentral. This park I create is a mock proposal for their Imagineer forum, where dozens of others like mine have been created!
I also have my park posted to the WDW Theme Parks forum at DisneyCentral, in case anyone wants to know more!

This may be a bit off-topic, but what I have in the above link shows, IMHO, a better character lineup for each of the character meals, even though I have fewer character meals in my proposed Disney theme park than WDW has.
In other words, characters or types of characters are balanced out a little better, and rare characters show up more often!

Just thought you'd like to know!

[Princessfooh]

The only "BOY" thing I know of is the Pirate Adventure cruise, where they can go on a treasure hunt. But from what I found out it is only offered 2 or 3 times a week, and limited to 20 kids - I haven't been able to get a reservation for Dec, but maybe someone will cancel

I agree - they need more non-princess thing! (and that is coming from a true princess...

[Erin]

Well, I have to respectfully disagree with Kent. The meals already are sexist, in that they completely exclude boys and girls who aren't exceptionally frilly. Neither of my children are interested in any princess meals, and they think they are too old for Pooh. This leaves me only a few other choices of character meals. We've actually settled on Hoop De Doo, because this is where I think they'll have the MOST fun. But, if there was a Peter Pan meal, or Buzz and Woody - I think that would balance it more.

[MerlinMatt]

Originally Posted by Erin

Neither of my children are interested in any princess meals, and they think they are too old for Pooh.

Erin:

Any chance you can get them to think outside the box? I mean, I'M not too old for Pooh, how would your kids be?

The 1900 Park Faire CB isn't exactly frilly and Tigger/Eyeore and the Mad Hatter certainly make it a lot of fun. Pooh is more of a large teddy bear (duh), so it's tough to interact with him, but it's still a lot of fun.

Also, Chef Mickey's is ANYTHING but frilly.

Lastly, DS12 and DD8 are both looking forward to CRT. Honestly, none of really care about the princesses, it's more the novelty of eating in the castle. So even though this is technically a princess meal, that's not how we're treating it.

[woohoo]

My kids ds9 dd7 ds1 are so excited to go to crt. Its about the food and the castle and yes the 7 year old is excited about the princesses but its eating in the main castle that is the biggest part. We also do Donalds breakfast and that is totally not for frillies.
As far as the villian meal? That would be neat because you are expecting it if you go- you dont have to go but to see stitch and hook and all the bad guys in one place and have the kids get excited to booooooooooo- that would be lots of fun.

As for the unofficial guide?? Well I read it and it is negative- but its a nice balance to read after reading Birnbaums guide. Two extremes. I personally liked the Frommer(sp?) and the Fodors guides- more honest with neat tips.

[KentB3]

Originally Posted by Erin

Well, I have to respectfully disagree with Kent. The meals already are sexist, in that they completely exclude boys and girls who aren't exceptionally frilly. Neither of my children are interested in any princess meals, and they think they are too old for Pooh. This leaves me only a few other choices of character meals. We've actually settled on Hoop De Doo, because this is where I think they'll have the MOST fun. But, if there was a Peter Pan meal, or Buzz and Woody - I think that would balance it more.

I also said that saying that certain characters, themselves, as being for one sex, as well as being frilly members of that sex for that matter, was very sexist as well! In other words, enjoying and being a fan of certain character(s) is not entirely the same as wanting to BE those character(s) and/or dressing up like them in frilly dress! Just my 2 cents worth!

[KentB3]

Originally Posted by KentB3

I also said that saying that certain characters, themselves, as being for one sex, as well as being frilly members of that sex for that matter, was very sexist as well! In other words, enjoying and being a fan of certain character(s) is not entirely the same as wanting to BE those character(s) and/or dressing up like them in frilly dress! Just my 2 cents worth!

As for the father who wouldn't let his son eat at CRT character breakfast and took his son to the now-gone country dancing show at Diamond Horseshoe, perhaps since it had Woody from Toy Story and his co-stars (considered BOY characters), I would've taken it as a personal insult if I were his son! FYI, even though the princesses, as a group, never were my all-time favorite Disney Characters (I am male, BTW, and always have prefered the more comical, or "cartoony" characters, since those films seem more like real cartoons to me!). First of all, Cinderella was the very first book I ever read (when I was 2 1/2!), as I just started reading aloud on my own as the book was being real to me, causing a REAL surprise to every else around me! Secondly, country music is one of my LEAST favorite types of music (especially old-style country and bluegrass), but I am a relatively tolerant person when it comes to different types of music!

Speaking of sexism, three characters; Tinkerbell, Wendy Darling (from Peter Pan), and Pocahontas; are marketed this way, even though none of them are technically princesses! Just thought you'd like to know!