Originally Posted By Monty Cristo Has anyone caught the new Universal theme parks commercial? They have a series of kids telling their parents that they're "tired of hugging princesses" and "don't believe in faeries anymore". One kid said something weird - "Who goes to bed at 7pm?" - I have no idea what that's supposed to refer to. It's pretty funny but unfortunately for Universal a sign of desperation. Their attendence dropped while DL's went through the roof. Apparently, they're severly overestimating just how tired children are of faeries.
Originally Posted By Elderp BIG oversight. If I was Universal I would be producing princesses and faeries like crazy but whatever their loss.
Originally Posted By getnby I saw those commercials too--to each their own, I guess. Poor show by Univeral.
Originally Posted By Alyssa3467 The only thing I can think of would be the current weekday park operating hours, with DCA closing at 6:00 and Disneyland Park closing at 8:00. That, however, wouldn't make sense, given that Universal Studios Hollywood closes at 6:00 all week this month. Heck, they close before Disneyland even during the summer, according to information on their web site. ::shrugs::
Originally Posted By belle42 They may be referring to Orlando/Lake Buena Vista, where the latest the parks are open (except for the special hours for resort guests) is Epcot closing at 9 pm. The earliest close time if I recall was Animal Kingdom which closed at about 5 pm.
Originally Posted By ghoofie I remember six flags doing an add which included "...we don't have mice". Or something like that.
Originally Posted By Alyssa3467 >>They may be referring to Orlando/Lake Buena Vista, where the latest the parks are open (except for the special hours for resort guests) is Epcot closing at 9 pm. The earliest close time if I recall was Animal Kingdom which closed at about 5 pm.<< I thought about that, but then, this thread is in the Disneyland General forum.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>Apparently, they're severly overestimating just how tired children are of faeries. << Very interesting, especially now that new Six Flags management has announced that they are now going to target families as their primary demographic. SFoT is going to install several "non-thrill" rides (mostly tea-cups and Dumbo type rides). They have also announced that they will be doing parades, have plenty of walk around characters (mostly WB types) and will be giving Mr. Six his walking papers. Back to Universal, I remember a commerical for their Florida resort that took a jab at Disney: Are you tired of pixie dust?. They wish.
Originally Posted By YourPalEd I took a year off from disneyland before getting another premium pass before Disneyland's 50th. I went to Universal 10 times or so. The subway goes right there, never took the car once. I forgot to renew and instead of a $20 renewal for a full year without any blackouts, i ended up paying $49 for a full year with no blackouts. Let's see that's almost $300 less than a disneyland resort pass with not blockouts for year also. Gas to disneyland and back now costs me about $8 for 66 miles or so. The subway is $1.25 one way. I might get a $99 disneyland pass this year, but with the cost of gas and stuff, i might just stay closer to home and do more walking. Disneyland has taken all of the tourist trade and is too crowded pretty much, for the moment. I don't mind letting other people enjoy it. The thing i don't understand from your description of the ad (i don't watch tv) is the 7:00pm thing, since universal, during the slow season, closes during the week at 6:00pm. I think it's only open til 8:00 pm right now, on saturdays anyway. I went once on a saturday or sunday and it was as crowded as disneyland at that time.
Originally Posted By Monty Cristo I just caught another commercial - this one's tag was "Your family has grown up - time for your vacations to grow up". Absolutely bizarre campaign. Very mean spirited and not quite the "cool" they're going for. (By the way, they enforce how "grown up" they are by displaying grown men dressed as Spider-Man and Dr. Doom. Yeah...that just SCREAMS grown up.)
Originally Posted By Westsider Six Flags is going to have "parades"? I can't wait to see all of those low-rider Impalas driving around Magic Mountain this summer. Both Universal and Six Flags seem to be getting desperate. The Universal ads in particular seem to lower themselves into simple trash talking, instead of taking the higher road and just explaining to the public what product they have to offer. I'm kind of embarassed for Universal. What are they thinking?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I've seen several commercials for Universal Orlando (since I'm on the east coast) that are respectable. They really don't make me want to find out anything else, but they do a good job of keeping you interested and sort of leave that interest in your mind. These commercials with the kids just leave a bad taste in your mouth. Like the Capital One commercials, which are very funny, which make you immediately think of sleazy workers when you hear Capital One. They work in the time the commercial is running, but give it an overall bad ora around it. But I geuss they have nobody to blame but themselves.
Originally Posted By smeeeko I love IOA! =) whoo hoo.. and yeah not all kids dig princesses... it's not a crime. and yeah, my mom used to make me go to bed at 7pm (even at MK!) I got woke up at least to see the fireworks from the Days Inn or whatever in my nightgown.. sheesh.. that's what afternoon naps are for.. so you don't miss the fun! (or pass out on Main Street USA with your parents yelling at you). The commercial makes sense to me (although is that little boy wearing a wig??)
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>What are they thinking?<< They're thinking they'll never be able to out-Disney Disney, so there's little point in trying. So in order to differentiate themselves, they're targeting teens and kids who feel too cool for Disneyland. It isn't a bad idea -- strange to us Disney addicts as it may seem, there is a natuaral stage for most adolescents to reject anything deemed too cutesy or wholesome. It doesn't last long for most, but Universal is trying to grab the attention of pre-teens and teens who would be embarassed to tell people they were going to Disneyland/Disney World. Yes, it's innaccurate to paint Disneyland/WDW as nothing but "pixie dust and princesses", but I can see those ads connecting very much with that demographic. Iron rides and more "grown up" attractions have their appeal, especially among that age bracket, who might brag about a vacation to Universal or a thrill park, but would be a bit shy about sharing the fact that they enjoyed family time at Disneyland. (I'm really broadbrushing here, but I think by and large, it's true.)
Originally Posted By knoxvelour "Absolutely bizarre campaign. Very mean spirited and not quite the "cool" they're going for. (By the way, they enforce how "grown up" they are by displaying grown men dressed as Spider-Man and Dr. Doom. Yeah...that just SCREAMS grown up.)" I'm 31 years old and I still dress up as Cobra Commander from GI Joe from time to time and stomp around my house plotting world conquest.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>Like the Capital One commercials, which are very funny, which make you immediately think of sleazy workers when you hear Capital One.<< That's a good thought, Ferret. I knew there was something about those commercials, which are funny, that didn't have that "payoff" for me. I think you hit it.
Originally Posted By smeeeko maybe this thread should be in theme park other?? It really has nothing to do with Disneyland General.. it's about Univeral/IOA Orlando commercials.. that said let's get further offtopic with.. I don't care for this new Geico gecko selling insurance. Sure he's got that new English accent but he's not as funny as the one that got his arm bit off by some ladies cats. (I miss Kelsey Grammer! and the road-tripping gecko!)
