An artist’s impression of ElecTRONica, promoting itself as a dance party with cast performances and high-tech laser shows. The new California Adventure fixture is scheduled to remain in place until summer. | Photo courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
Many students at Biola University love Disneyland and are pass holders or regular attendees. Most people believe the park lives up to its reputation of the “happiest place on earth”–– whether it be for the childlike wonderlands or the family friendly atmosphere.

TRON continues fun

In Disney’s California Adventure park, the fun continues with an interactive nighttime dance party called “ElecTRONica.” It’s meant to promote Disney’s newest film “Tron: Legacy,” but is that the only message Disney is sending? Some debate has erupted about whether the newest attraction takes the household name of Disney from nice to naughty. Does this “rave-like” party in the Hollywood backlot really hurt Disney’s reputation?

Allowing alcohol adds to bad image

Missy Bierend, a Disney cast member, who has been employed at the Flynn’s Arcade during ElecTRONica said, “I think the fact that they serve alcohol makes it kind of a bad thing…they don’t restrict people on how much alcohol they can buy. I think they’re kind of facilitating people to get drunk at the park and they shouldn’t.”

She expressed her distress when guests of the park come in drunk and she “has to deal with them.” Bierend is also a college student attending a private Christian university. According to her, “It’s still a really fun thing if you do it responsibility … It’s not exactly hurting [Disney’s] image, it’s just adding to the bad image they already have.”

She has a point there. The attraction itself hasn’t ruined Disney’s reputation. The sheer number of park visitors will prove that, and they have only gotten more business over the last six months since ElecTRONica opened. Not to mention, were Disney to muddy up its name, it would have done so already with its political bias towards homosexuality or for the fact that it’s a capitalistic super power. But back to the issues at hand: The Disneyland alcohol policy has always been, at all of their parks, that no alcohol is allowed. So is alcohol the only downside to this glow-in-the-dark dance party?

Dancing is welcoming and not provocative

ElecTRONica begins after dark–– long after the fireworks show and the World of Color water show have ended; most little kids have gone home already. The dancing by Disneyland cast members and the people around them is in no way provocative, only somewhat futuristic and robotic. The Hollywood Pictures Backlot, luminescent with glow lights, looks more like a laser tag arena than a nightclub. It isn’t threatening in the least, but rather welcoming and fun. It is geared more towards teens and young adults who might find Disney’s other attractions too young for them.

Whether you agree with Disney’s latest glow fest or not, there’s no doubt that Disney’s reputation is not on the line–– at least from a secular view. TRON is bringing more people in, and very few have complained about it not being family friendly. Business is better than ever. Maybe the happiest place on earth is just creating a little more fun for everyone.