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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Hiassen has an axe to grind about Disney and its effects on Florida, but he makes a good case for Disney as the evil empire. An interesting, illuminating, fast read.
There are reviews on this page from people who will clearly accept no criticism of Disney. Shouldn’t have picked up a book subtitled “How Disney Devours the World” hun. Please don’t tell me all the good Disney has done or how the Disney brand will never be defeated (that’s scary guys pls actually don’t say that). If you’re not ready for grownup discussions with nuance, just go back to posting Reylo gifs or whatever it is Disney Stans do.
Everyone else your takes are valid and i love you.
Everyone else your takes are valid and i love you.
A scathing dissection of the mouse in Hiaasen's distinctive voice. Read this and join me in calling in airstrikes on Disney resorts.
This book was... okay. Short, so more like an essay than a true novel. I love Disney, but I also love seeing opposing viewpoints, so my "meh" feeling of this book doesn't come from that, but from.. well, the strange-ness of the book. Some of the author's points didn't make sense. His story about the lion was not Disney's fault at all, so why include it? It had almost nothing to do with Disney, other than it happened in Florida.
That said, if you plan to read this book, I definitely suggest getting the audio version instead. It's short, less than 2 hours, and the sarcasm comes across so much better via the tone of the narrator. I did chuckle a few times, and the word play is excellent - though I would expect no less from such a well known and loved author such as Carl Hiaasen.
That said, if you plan to read this book, I definitely suggest getting the audio version instead. It's short, less than 2 hours, and the sarcasm comes across so much better via the tone of the narrator. I did chuckle a few times, and the word play is excellent - though I would expect no less from such a well known and loved author such as Carl Hiaasen.
I know Disney is a little evil, but I still love going to Disney World. I'm apparently not above being emotionally manipulated by a large corporation.
A bit dated now, as it was published in 1998, but no less true. And I say this as someone who is an annual passholder to WDW. I have a love-hate relationship with all things Disney, honestly. It helps me see both sides.
First, this is a very short book. It's critical. But it's not investigative journalism. It's a summary of what it's like to have lived in South Florida before, during, & after Disney bought land there. And how the tactics they have used have made people feel. It's also written in a hilarious style. If you like Hiaasen's other books you'll see that same style here.
He brings up a lot of troubling points, though he concedes he likes being at DisneyWorld, so it's not all bad! But I think his main issue--Disney making the fake experience more coveted than a real experience because real experiences might involve experiencing something ANYTHING even slightly unpredictable or negative--is 100% true not only at Disney but increasingly everywhere--cruises, Vegas, planned communities, etc. In many ways this is a very similar message to Rick Steves' "Travel as a Political Act."
Obviously this book is dated, but the things he talks about have become even more true. Does he footnote every story and reference tons of facts? No. Could someone make a book that does that which would be a better indictment of Disney? Of course. But he gets these messages across in a jokey, fast reading, fun way.
Also, for me personally, the fact that the Insane Clown Posse is frequently referenced was amazing.
He brings up a lot of troubling points, though he concedes he likes being at DisneyWorld, so it's not all bad! But I think his main issue--Disney making the fake experience more coveted than a real experience because real experiences might involve experiencing something ANYTHING even slightly unpredictable or negative--is 100% true not only at Disney but increasingly everywhere--cruises, Vegas, planned communities, etc. In many ways this is a very similar message to Rick Steves' "Travel as a Political Act."
Obviously this book is dated, but the things he talks about have become even more true. Does he footnote every story and reference tons of facts? No. Could someone make a book that does that which would be a better indictment of Disney? Of course. But he gets these messages across in a jokey, fast reading, fun way.
Also, for me personally, the fact that the Insane Clown Posse is frequently referenced was amazing.
There's a great deal that's wrong with Disney, and Hiaasen's book is a good, quick, easily accessible introduction. From there, though, you should move on to more in-depth criticism. The most recent thing I've read that I would recommend would be Henry Giroux's The Mouse that Roared.