Don't Fence Me In (Crowds or Behaviors?)

[Disneyphile]

Looking at all the cool retro pics of Disneyland during the 50's and 60's got me to wondering why fencing was not installed around every flowerbed/landscaped area in the park back then. The flowers are SO beautiful to look at unobstructed.

Which leads me to wonder - is it because of the amount of crowds that the park has in more recent times to stop the landscaping from being unintentionally trampled? Or, is it because today's society has become a lot less respectful than back then, and would just trek through the flowers to bypass a crowd or stand for a parade?

As much as I'd like to think it is the former, I can't help but think it is due to the latter, considering some of the behaviors that I have seen at the park in recent years, such as the parents who videotaped their toddler trampling on all the flowers around the flagpost after he had crawled in there. They never stopped to pull him out, and thought it was just "cute" to see him "play" like that. I don't think that kind of behavior would have been acceptable nor tolerated back in the days of yore, so why is it so acceptable and even "cute" now?

What do you all think? I'd love to here different theories and views, especially to those of you who were around the parks in the 50's and 60's. (Note from my regular posting, non-mod self: Please don't make it personal against each other - I'd love to see this thread stay as an interesting discussion. )

[Tinkerbelle]

Personaly I think it's because behaviors and manners have taken a nose dive.
Parenting styles in the general population have become too lieniant.
And the current popular attitude seems to be "I paid, I can do whatever I want."

I personaly find all 3 appalling, I wish we could get back to some old fashioned values
(and before I get slammed for that, I don't mean sex-role stereotypes, children should be seen and not heard, and the belt attitudes) I am certain you all know what I actualy intend by the above comments.

[desertdweller]

All I can say is that during the late '60s or early '70s the park reached its highest level of attendance which I think was around 65 or 70,000 in July and people were all over the flower beds and landscaped area. I don't know if that was the beginning of the fencing or not.

It was a very different era back then also. The average person wouldn't think of putting a toe or finger outside the walkways.

[figment1986]

one day.. people wanted to get around things more.... Heck.. When I was at Grad bash at Islands of Adventure in Universal Orlando.. we were all bottlnecked in the entrance at 2:05a.m.... trying to get out.. eventually everyone pushed and shoved everyone into everything. including the planters... I believe they have since replaced the flowers the next morning.. and on sunday morning...

[Flint]

too many rats in a cage == poor behavior.

Also, the most spoiled generation in the history of this country now have grandchildren. You do the math.

[figment1986]

too many rats in a cage == poor behavior.

Also, the most spoiled generation in the history of this country now have grandchildren. You do the math.

10 high schools in one park trying to get out of the park at once.... you do the math... esp with the crowding most FLA schools have now.. and half were FLA schools...

[Disneyphile]

This is really interesting to see how the reason lies somewhat on both sides of the fence (pun intended ). It's like "a little from Column A, and a little from Column B". But, I do think that today's society definitely feels more "entitled", and is definitely less disciplined (and no, I don't mean "by the belt" either).

And, maybe it's due to also the rise in local attendance, because Disneyland used to be somewhat a bit isolated, so to go was a "special occasion", hence why folks would also dress up a bit, etc. And now, it's very accessible to more people, so it brings up the crowds, and maybe also the lackadaisical attitude towards it.

This is a cool conversation so far.

I wish I could see DL without the fenced landscaping, even just for one day. It'd be nice to not have to bend over a fence for a close-up of the flowers.