There are two points that Kidd made in his article that I thought were interesting...
The first point is that Kidd discusses that Disney's Animal Kingdom sends conservation messages and has several agencies and organizations to make contributions. (page 277) However, when Kidd asked cast members about the contributions and where the money was going, none of them knew anything about it. This surprised me because if people are contributing to these organizations in hopes to save the wildlife, Disney should have a clear cut answer as to how the money is allocated. If Disney is not using the money to save the environment like they say, then Disney should be ashamed to promote such a thing and then use the money dishonestly.
The second point that I found interesting was in Kidd's notes on his article on page 287. He makes comparisons between Busch Gardens and Animal Kingdom stating that Busch Gardens separates the animal exhibits from the rides & other attractions whereas Animal Kingdom intertwines everything and mostly focuses on its rides & entertainment. I found this interesting because it seems that Kidd is not entirely opposed to parks and zoos as he says in his article. I think he just feels that the Animal Kingdom overly popularizes the rides & other attractions rather than the wildlife itself.
I agree that it seems that Kidd presents a variety of viewpoints in his essay. I think it is true that he feels that many theme parks and zoos are overly commercialized, and don't portray animals as they truly live. If you look at it critically, he may be right. However, is it so crucial to only expose children to nature in its purest form that we strip them of the chance to live out their dreams and make-believe fantasies?
ReplyDeleteI have visited Animal Kingdon and have also noticed that Disney claims to donate money to environmental causes, however, I never asked a Disney employee to further explain. From a corporate perspective, the employees should be fully prepared to answer such questions in the case that if it were exposed to the general public that Disney may be falsifying claims, it could turn into a public relations nightmare. If Disney isn't donating money, they shouldn't misrepresent themselves.
ReplyDeleteI did notice his note about Bush Gardens and found that interesting. I never thought people might go there and purposefully skip the animal section because it was divided that way and easy to make that choice. I enjoyed how it was all "mixed together" at Animal Kingdom and thought that was a nice feature:)
ReplyDeleteAfter being a guest at Animal Kingdom myself, it sure does incorporate rides and animal life. However, I think this is a great aspect of the park. I was never one who was deeply into conservation and nature/animals, but after visiting Animal Kingdom, I got a new found appreciation for the world that we share WITH animals. As the other blog quoted, "we as humans can not think we are the center of the world". I myself may have not visited Animal Kingdom if it weren't for the "rides" that went with it. LOL.
ReplyDeleteJust as the chapter says, "zoo directors past and present admit that people come to zoos to be entertained and escape their daily routines" (page 275). This is no different than us as teachers. We need to engage the students before any active learning can happen. My hat goes off to the creators and brains behind Animal Kingdom! After all, on a slow day they are 6,000,000 visits!! (page 272)
On a side note about the employees not knowing where the money goes... what employee who is working in a theme park type atmosphere really knows where the finances of the operation go?? But I do agree Disney should put more effort into making sure all employees have a sense of what is funded and where certain money is allocated.
I spent the day at Busch Gardens yesterday in Williamsburg, VA. I'm presently sitting in a ultra-mod lobby that the Comfort Suites have provided me--and free WiFi.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the separate entrances for animals. Busch Gardens, VA is organized by countries: Italy, Ireland, France, etc.
We went on a ride that simulated the landscapes of Ireland, lush fields of England, the business of Paris, and the oceans off of Ireland.
The girls had a cute owl perched on their arms: they enjoyed the experience, and you didn't have to purchase a photo for them to do so.
The Clydesdale Horses were also exhibited; it was peaceful to experience them.
The girls had a blast at Jamestown Settlement--a remodeled museum that simulates the first interactions between the English and Native inhabitants along the James River. In regards to nature and trees: We walked paths and experienced the huts from the Native perspective and the last stop were the small ships that landed in 1607. It was peaceful, and as parents we made to sure to balance the experiences that our daughters had.