Has Disney Losts it's Magic??

Has Disney losts it's magic? A lifelong fan's Reflection 

For years, Disney was my world. The excitement of a new Disney princess movie, the timeless magic of their animated classics—it was something I lived for. From as early as 2008, I cherished every moment of watching these films, dreaming of being a princess, finding a prince, and experiencing the fairytales that felt so real in my childhood imagination.

But now? I feel like Disney is losing its magic. The creativity, the originality, and even the heart that once made it special seem to be fading.

The Disney That Was

Disney was founded in 1923 by Walt Disney and Roy O. Disney, originally as the Disney Brothers Studio. The first-ever cartoon that brought Disney into the spotlight was Steamboat Willie (1928), which introduced the world to Mickey Mouse. From there, they grew into an empire, giving us Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Cinderella (1950), The Lion King (1994), and so many unforgettable classics.

These movies had soul. They were made with passion, innovation, and a love for storytelling that made us believe in magic. Every film felt unique, with rich hand-drawn animation and characters that stayed in our hearts. Disney wasn't just a brand; it was an experience.

The Turning Point: Creativity or Repetition?

Then, somewhere along the way, things changed. Instead of new ideas, we started getting live-action remakes of movies that were already perfect. It started with Cinderella (2015), and then came The Lion King (2019), Mulan (2020), and now Snow White in 2025.

The Lion King remake was one of my biggest disappointments. The original Lion King (1994) was filled with love, soul, and energy, but the live-action version felt… empty. It was technically impressive with its hyper-realistic CGI, but it lacked the emotion that made the original so powerful. And now they’re making Mufasa? Why? Is there really no new story to tell?

And let’s not even talk about The Little Mermaid (2023). Disney decided to cast Halle Bailey as Ariel, and while some people cheered, many of us wondered—why? What was the need to change her? When I was a kid watching The Little Mermaid, I didn’t care what color her skin was. I cared about her personality, her dreams, her curiosity, and her love for adventure. Changing her appearance for the sake of diversity felt forced, not natural. It was the same movie, same scenes, same story—just a different skin tone. Did this really add anything meaningful to the story? No.

A Lack of Direction?

It’s not just about race-swapping or remakes. Disney as a company seems to be losing its identity. Once upon a time, it stood for family-friendly storytelling, something parents could trust to entertain and inspire their children. Now, they’ve allowed so many unnecessary themes to enter their movies, pushing agendas that young kids don’t need to be thinking about.

Take the LGBTQ content they’ve been adding. Whether people support it or not, the truth is that Disney is supposed to be for children. Kids don’t have the maturity to understand those topics, and they shouldn’t be forced into discussions that should be left to parents. But instead of focusing on the values that made them great, Disney has shifted its focus to pleasing certain groups, rather than the families that built this empire in the first place.

Is Disney’s Magic Gone Forever?

I won’t deny that Disney still has a strong legacy. The classics will always be the classics. But looking at where the company is now, I wonder—will they ever return to their roots? Will we ever see original animated films that carry the same heart and soul as Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, or The Lion King? Or are we stuck with an endless cycle of unnecessary remakes and forced changes that add nothing new?

For me, Disney has lost something. The spark, the originality, the pure love for storytelling—it’s disappearing. And unless they change course, I doubt they’ll ever get it back.

What do you think? Has Disney lost its magic, or is this just the natural evolution of entertainment? Let’s talk about it in the comments👇🏿

Sources

Barrier, J. Michael (1999). Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation in Its Golden Age. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-503759-3.

Barrier, J. Michael (2007). The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney. Oakland, CA: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-24117-6. Buckaroo Bugs'.

Beard, Richard R. (1982). Walt Disney's EPCOT Center: Creating the New World of Tomorrow. New York: Harry N. Abrams. ISBN 978-0-8109-0821-5.

Broggie, Michael (2006). Walt Disney's Railroad Story: The Small-Scale Fascination That Led to a Full-Scale Kingdom. Marceline, MO: Carolwood Pacific. ISBN 978-0-9758584-2-4.

Canemaker, John (2001). Walt Disney's Nine Old Men and the Art of Animation. Burbank, CA: Disney Editions. ISBN 978-0-7868-6496-6.

Ceplair, Larry; Englund, Steven (1983). The Inquisition in Hollywood: Politics in the Film Community, 1930–1960. Oakland, CA: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-04886-7.

Cohen, Karl F. (2004). Forbidden Animation: Censored Cartoons and Blacklisted Animators in America. Jefferson, NC: McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-0725-2.

Social Media is Ruining Our Lives… But We Can’t Stop Scrolling

Social Media is Ruining Our Lives… But We Can’t Stop Scrolling

Social media was supposed to connect people, but somewhere along the way, it became a 24/7 distraction. What started as a tool for staying in touch with family and friends has now turned into a full-blown addiction. People wake up and check their phones before even getting out of bed. Five minutes of scrolling quickly turns into an hour, and suddenly, they’re late for everything.

The problem isn’t just the time it consumes—it’s how it affects the way people think. Every post seems to be a carefully curated highlight reel, making everyone else’s life look more exciting. Someone buys a car, another one is on vacation, and someone else just announced a major achievement. Even when people know social media isn’t real life, the constant comparison can be exhausting.

Then there’s the issue of attention spans. People used to sit through long movies or read books without checking their phones. Now, if a video is longer than 30 seconds, it’s “too much.” The urge to constantly refresh, check notifications, and see what’s new has rewired how people focus—and not in a good way.

Ironically, social media is also where people go to “relax.” But is it really relaxing? Scrolling through endless posts, half reading, half watching, half replying—by the end of it, the brain feels even more drained. And let’s not forget the never-ending cycle of news updates, heated arguments in the comment section, and the pressure to “stay informed” even when it’s overwhelming.

Of course, quitting isn’t easy. Most people don’t even want to quit—they just wish they had better control. A complete detox sounds good in theory, but eventually, the boredom kicks in, and suddenly, they’re back online, promising themselves that “this time, it’ll be different.” Spoiler: it never is.

So, what’s the solution? Maybe it’s about setting boundaries, deleting unnecessary apps, or choosing when and how to engage. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s time to accept that social media isn’t the problem—we are. And until we figure it out, the scrolling continues.

The Journey to Getting My ID

The Journey to Getting My ID

It all started back in grade 10 when bank representatives came to our school to talk to us about opening a bank account. They promised that if we opened the account, they would help us get our ID, which sounded like an amazing opportunity. The thought of avoiding the long queues at Home Affairs was so tempting, and I volunteered right away to get my own account and start the process.

As the process went on, we were asked to bring important documents like our parents' IDs and bank statements to complete the account opening. Some students were unable to finish the process, so the bank representatives said they’d come back the next day. On that day, many of us brought our documents and stood in long lines, all hoping to get our ID. The South African citizens would get the new smart ID, while the permanent residents, like me, would be eligible for the book ID, but that was still something.

When I finally reached the front of the line, the bank representative told us there was a new requirement: our accounts needed to have at least R200 in them. So, we had to call our parents to add the money. I was lucky that my dad picked up the phone, and we managed to put the money in. It wasn’t until much later that I realized that this wasn’t clearly explained upfront.

After waiting for a week, the bank representatives returned to help with the ID process. I called my mom, and she came to the school with all the required documents. As I waited for her, I went to the secretary’s office to ask if the representatives were back. When I mentioned that I was there for my ID, both the secretary and the teacher’s assistant started laughing at me. They made fun of me, and their laughter hurt me deeply. I still regret not confronting them then and there. It was one of the reasons I grew to despise that high school. Their laughter made me feel small, like they knew something I didn’t. But I tried not to let it bother me too much because I still had hope for the ID process.

Eventually, my mom and I sat in the queue, waiting for the process to begin. It felt like it took forever, and many people around us were getting impatient, including me. But then, out of nowhere, load shedding hit, and everything stopped. Despite the fact that the bank representatives had laptops, they said they couldn’t continue the process due to the power outage. Everyone in the room was frustrated, especially because we were so close to getting our IDs, but we all went home that day without getting anything done.

The bank representatives had told us they would come back to finish the process, but they never returned, leaving us feeling abandoned. At that point, I had my bank account, but the ID was still out of reach. Years passed, and I tried applying for my ID on my own, going to Home Affairs with my dad. But no matter what, they kept telling me I wasn’t eligible for an ID despite being a permanent resident. It felt like I was being treated unfairly, and I started to realize how xenophobia can exist.

In the end, I decided to apply online, after hearing news about the online application process. However, when I tried, I discovered that only South African citizens could apply online. This was a major letdown. I had spent so much time waiting, relying on the false promises of those bank representatives, only to be told that permanent residents like me couldn’t apply online. That hurt, and I felt deceived, angry, and disappointed by the whole process.

As the years went by, I moved to a new school, and finally, I applied again for my ID at a Home Affairs office else where in South Africa. Thankfully, I received my ID, but now I’m considering changing it to a smart ID, as I am eligible because of my permanent residence status. Even though the process was exhausting and frustrating, I’m grateful I finally have my ID.

However, there’s one thing I’ve learned from all this: If you’re a foreigner with permanent residence in South Africa, and you’re in high school, make sure you’re aware of the full process when it comes to getting an ID. Don’t rely solely on what others tell you, especially when dealing with banks or government representatives. Do your research and be cautious, because I learned the hard way that not everything is at it seems❤️‍🩹