From The Jungle Book to Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. 70-year-old Rin van Willegen’s house is completely Disney. “I’ve been a fan of his since I hatched from the egg,” he told Editie NL. “Every room in my house is full of them. Sometimes one breaks and then I can buy a new one, which is great, of course.”
Almost every Disney story is acted out in his house. “I don’t have a favorite character, I love everything. I’m very proud of the Disney books that are no longer available anywhere.”
It was not difficult to fill his house. “The advantage of Disney is that it’s number one in terms of merchandise. If you walk into a store, you can decorate the house.”
Also striking: everything is dust-free. “Every day I have a fixed schedule. I wake up, drink coffee, read the news, exercise and then clean up. If you have a big collection, this is essential. The stamp collection is in a book, but this one is 3D. And then you get dust. It’s a big collection.” “Very, so it requires a little bit of work.”
According to Ren, his children and grandchildren can’t help but appreciate it. “Sometimes my daughters say, ‘Dad, shouldn’t you erase something?’ But then they come back with a new Mickey Mouse. That’s part of me.”
Live streams
Tom Quinnen is also surrounded by Disney stuff every day. He runs the Disney Store and Kings & Queens webstore and is also a huge fan himself. “Every month we have new things to buy and sell. We have a Facebook Live where we announce what’s coming. It’s also watched afterwards. This has been very popular, especially during the pandemic.”
Koenen finds Frozen particularly popular with children. But adults also still love Disney. “They often replace other characters. We outsell Stitch the most. They sell like hotcakes. Why? I have no idea.”
Nostalgia for the past
Media educator Jacqueline Kliger believes Disney’s power lies in nostalgia. “When you watch those old videos, you immediately see the logo that reminds you of the past. It’s kind of part of your upbringing. You step out of your own life for a moment and immediately receive a life lesson. And everything has changed.” Happy Ending If you grew up with Disney, you want one too For your children. Disney remains relevant.”
Disney stories have changed a lot over the years. “It was funny in the first place, but now it’s more like a fairy tale. It’s interesting that Disney has moved with the times, also in terms of pacing. But at the same time it has stayed true to its own form.”
“What I’m really excited about right now is The Little Mermaid,” Kleiger continues. “He’s adapted to the times. Ariel is now brown. That means a lot to some people.”
Disney theme parks, like Disneyland Paris, are also a smart move to strengthen the relationship with the brand. “Every kid wants to go there at least once. You can compare Disney a little bit to McDonald’s. It’s also a brand with a lot of merchandise, which you know from your childhood and pass on to your kids.”
