Disney Does Songjiang
I know that every parent in the United States has his or her own Holy Sh__! moment when it comes to how deep under the skin American companies get in trying to sell their stuff to children (via their parents). McDonalds, the toy companies, the Cartoon Network, etc etc. Their marketing tactics are, depending on your point of view, insidious or ingenious (or, let’s be honest, both). I just had my own moment. But I don’t live in the U.S. I live way out here in the Shanghai suburbs.
June 1st, Friday, is children’s day in China, and my three year old’s school is celebrating by having the kids put on a pageant of sorts—singing, dancing, games, all with the parents involved.
The whole day is built around—surprise, surprise—Disney characters. Our little Abby, like about a billion other kids around the world, loves Mickey Mouse books and videos, has Donald Duck and Goofy bath toys, and was therefore thrilled when her teacher gave her a Minnie Mouse dress to wear on children’s day. She came home from school the other day and wanted to put it on immediately.
All well and good– and not particularly surprising. What WAS surprising was that tucked in her backpack—by her teacher– was a little flyer in the shape of Mickey Mouse’s head, telling us that we could take Abby to a live show downtown featuring the Disney characters. For the three of us, we could get in for the discounted price of 700 RMB (almost $90)!
Ninety dollars?? I’d balk at that price even if we were living in New York. In Shanghai? Forget about it.
Unless, of course, Abby throws a fit, and screams and cries and insists we go. In which case…
Like I said, Disney obviously knows what it’s doing—even in our little town, halfway to Hangzhou.