Dearest Disney,
I am writing to thank you for such a wonderful production of Disney On Ice: Princesses and Heroes. I took my 4 year old, along with six of her closest friends and their mothers and it truly was a splendid day out.
From the moment the lights dimmed – the audience hushed – and whoosh! – we were swept away on a magical adventure led by a sweet little Tinkerbell on ice skates.
Seriously – I love a good kid’s show – and this one had it all: singing princesses, dancing princes, fire-breathing dragons and a giant, evil octopus.
A few thousand of us had trudged out to Sydney Olympic Park for the day of magic: little girls were dressed head to toe in their shiny polyester princess gear, topped off with their gaudy sparkly crowns and Rapunzel hair extensions.
The tickets weren’t cheap, but the show was highly produced; the actors well-trained and true performers. We loved it, and didn’t want it to end.
And then… the merchandise.
Most children’s performers have a stall or two outside their venues selling their music or DVDs. Maybe a few stuffed toys and a t-shirt thrown in for good measure. I get it, they’re a commercial enterprise and are there not just to entertain, but to make a profit.
But…Disney. You should be ashamed.
From the Princess themed fairy-floss (with obligatory crown), to the $22 program, to those irritating flashing light spinning wands (which fairytale do they feature in again?)… It was major sensory overload.
And there wasn’t just one stall, or two. That, I could have coped with. No, instead from the moment you set foot in the Arena it was wall-to-wall merch.
I’m no concert tightass. I had coughed up for the ticket, my daughter had her official Disney Princess dress on, with matching Barbie, and I was willing to pay for the overpriced program because I know she’ll read it again and again.
It was the cup of ice that made me angry, Disney. You know the ones: shaved ice, flavoured with cordial in a plastic cup. Total cost to make: maybe 20 cents? The cup had a picture of a princess on it (you can buy those in supermarkets in packs of 3 for $3). So let’s make it total cost $1.20.
Disney: you tried to sell this tiny cup of ice to me for $15. Come on. $15 for sweetened ice in an ugly mug, with a dysfunctional straw.
I said ‘no’ to the repeated requests for said mug of ice, and my daughter lost it. It had been a long day, an early start and a thrilling show. She didn’t get that a cup of ice wasn’t worth ten times its value. She didn’t get that Disney was trying to rip me off.
Next time, my friends and I agreed, we would pack a small themed toy in a homemade showbag to present after the concert. It will save us money, and the angst of negotiating with headstrong toddlers.
In the meantime, Disney, maybe you can try being a little less greedy. We love your shows, your films, your toys. But not at their highly inflated prices. Your blatant money grabbing marred a beautiful day out, and that’s a shame.
**Yours in fiscal fairness,
Zoe**
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