All in all I would say (to the chagrin of most and certainly to that of Betty, the Disney Certified Travel Planner) I don't appreciate Walt Disney enterprises. I know - I am not normal. I get it.
Don't get me wrong - I have fond memories of my dad taking my brother, two sisters and I on a vacation to Walt Disney World. I would guess his memories might be less fond, as he was driving the car on the 14-hour trip with a 6, 11, 12 and 16 year-old. No, we didn't stop - 14-hrs straight through. Yes, it was a faux-wood-paneled wagon. Yes, I did sit in the back pull-up half seat (the bane of all youngest borns) alternately creeping out the drivers behind me by forcing eye contact and believing I was amusing them with my floating feet trick.
But, all and all I don't care for the marketing machine known as Walt Disney. You have to take your ears off to them - they know how to capitalize on young children and families. The stores churn out inferior merchandise that is like crack to the 3-7 set and turns them into walking advertisements for their products. The radio component has more advertising than actual content, but is the bane for mothers of the 7-14 crowd. Let's face it how many times can you hear Lovebug or Cheetah Love before you want to drive your car into a brick wall? Don't even get me started on In Fuego by The Cheetah Girls, which took a horrible Lionel Richie song and did the impossible, made it worse. Really - was All Night Long the best piece of music you could sample from???????? Even for Lionel - it was a bad song.
And the Disney television channels wisely span 1 - 14 age range with mediocre programming (save one exception Phineas and Ferb - the only redeeming show in my household's viewing selections - I am a Dr. Doofenshimertz groupie) and serves as a beautiful platform for showcasing new Disney releases ad naseum. Hurry and buy this movie - it might go in the vault and not emerge for at least 2 months or until the next major holiday marketing cycle.
Despite all my protests and complaints - I must admit that I have a Disney Channel "artist" song on my ipod. So, I have it for you here today - maybe you will join me in my guilty little music pleasure.
I mean - the beat is good and it is a fun song to run to. Just ignore the mouse ears and move.
