lacansmirror, 10/27

Eco and Dorfman critique Disney as being "a place of total passivity" (205).  I completely agree with their analysis.  The idea of paying to wait in lines for hours like sheep, forced to walk past rows of stores with only Disney merchandise, all to go on a minute long ride seems like an outrageous rip-off.  Dorfman argues that the construction of Disney is attractive because it allows us to turn off our brains and be in a fantasy world.  In order to create a quality space for fantasy, "Disney tells us that technology can give us more reality than nature can" (203).
When Disney's nature represents the reality we want, we are willing to pay a lot to pretend it actually exists.  Someone in a mental state of fantasy is also less likely to rationally think about their purchases.  That is why buying the silly hat that you will never wear again is popular and heavily valued in the parks.  When you are experiencing your own fantasy, that goofy hat may add to your experience.  In a typical fantasy, rules are defined by the individual.  A guest at Disney can imagine an unrealistic place, but they still need to "behave like robots" and follow Disney's rules (205).  Most rides take their guest on a journey, but the rider is simply a guest observing and absorbing messages.  Riders do not have control to create their own journey; instead, the fantasy is developed for them.

Rides like Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin allow riders to play a game by shooting at targets on the walls.  The car that takes you from room to room also allows riders to rotate it manually.  However, the car still goes down the same track each time.  No matter which way you rotate or where you shoot, Disney still has complete control.  Rides like these give the illusion of control by reinforcing the passive acceptance of rules from the patron.  The Disney experience is not about a personal fantasy, it is about experiencing their constructed fantasy.

The last time I went to Disney I felt like my freedom of expression was heavily censored and I felt forced to remain passive.  I was almost asked to leave the park because I "stuck my tongue out" when the automatic camera took my photo on a ride.  In this photo I had a smile on my face, my tongue was out, and I was simply enjoying the experience.  When I exited the ride, a Disney employee asked me to step aside to explain the inappropriateness of my actions.  When I attempted to defend my actions, I was interrupted and told to either follow their rules or I'd be escorted out of the park. :P