Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of: <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Blogs/FanBoy/View-230.asp" target="_blank"><b>9/30/08 What I Will Celebrate (FanBoy's Blog)</b></a>
Originally Posted By magnet The name, "What will you celebrate?" for some reason makes the "What's in your wallet?" Capital One ads spring to mind. There's no connection there admittedly, but the content of the new campaign leaves me wondering, "Where's the beef?" OK, so you get in free on your birthday. That does promote one type of celebration within the park, but overall that's a rather meager portfolio of offerings. Sure, there are thousands upon thousands of people who have birthdays everyday. Ostensibly that could represent Disney giving away a lot of money. However, it's not a celebration if you just go in by yourself. So, if you bring friends with you -- are you just going to spend one day in the park with them? Probably not. So, they are going to buy multi-day passes and unless the birthday-person is only going to go in on one day, the amount of money he/she saves by chopping one day off a multi-park ticket for four or more days at the park is actually a very small savings. Plus, do you get park-hopper options for that free day or is it just a one-park ticket? Well, if it's just a one-park ticket, now just outright buying the multi-day park pass with the hopper option for the entire stay looks even better. So, "Where's the beef?" Disney? How is this celebration really making it easier for a real celebration to take place. Why not, in addition, give the birthday guest and his entire party a dining discount at the park so they could all have a meal together at a place they otherwise might not be able to afford? Oops, that might mean Disney is really giving something away rather than hooking you in with a promotion that really isnt't a deal. What's in your wallet, Disney? In the end, I don't want this to sound like sour grapes. I am glad that Disney goes as far as they do to have quality experiences for guests (and it's the quality that's most important to me), but the promotion that goes a long with this campaign really doesn't support the goal of establishing the resort as a place to hold a celebration. Party of one? Anybody? BTW, this chihuahua movie is really growing on me the more I see the ads. I know it won't be a great movie, but I think it will have some of the kind of foolishness I like.
Originally Posted By ChiMike Magnet- You must not have children. Children love birthdays. Maybe you wouldn't be so negative if you had children. Sarcasm ^ if anyone can't tell. Great thoughts on a not-so-great promotion. Well said.
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt ^^^Adults love birthdays too!! I celebrated my B-day at MK this spring, I had a blast!! Saturday we're going to see Beverly Hills Chihuahua movie, I'll let you know how it is..DD's 8 B-day tomorrow!!
Originally Posted By matthewdort The reason it sounds like a Capital One promotion is because the people who came up with the Disney campaign probably read the same pointless trend reports as the Capital One people. Vague, open-ended questions are big in marketing right now -- it lends itself to personalization and empowers the individual consumer, you know. The gimmick behind the campaign is terrible too. Part of the appeal of the Disney parks used to be that they were slightly unattainable for some -- that's good business. Now with all the emphasis on value and this "anyone can experience the magic" mentality it's cheapening the image of the parks down to something really very common, which is the kiss of death long-term.
Originally Posted By MPierce Nice blog Fan Boy, I certainly agree with you. The never ending Year of a Million Dreams was starting to get old before the first year turned into the second year. I don't think the General Public gets as tired of these endless promotions as some of us Disney Geeks do. I do believe, at least for me, never ending promotions have distracted from meaningful celebrations such as WDW 25th, and DL 50th. I can no longer get enthusiastic waiting to here what the next catch phrase promo is going to be, and what they are going to give away. I definetly agree with you on wanting quality over a value experience.
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt <<I don't think the General Public gets as tired of these endless promotions as some of us Disney Geeks do. >> I think the General Public is 2 paychecks away from filling for bankruptcy..sorry can't spell
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Thank you Fan Boy and Matthewdort for showing me I am not alone. I fell in love with Disneyparks because they were the fillet mignon of the industry. They are now the rump steak (maybe sirloin), but they seem to be headed for ground chuck. I am really nervous about Disney's direction of travel, they seem to be going for commoditising the parks (or Walmarting) and that is a huge mistake. One that would be very difficult to recover from.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^Be careful, Dave. I'm (stealing) and trademarking WalMarting for my own spiritual purposes!
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>The gimmick behind the campaign is terrible too. Part of the appeal of the Disney parks used to be that they were slightly unattainable for some -- that's good business. Now with all the emphasis on value and this "anyone can experience the magic" mentality it's cheapening the image of the parks down to something really very common, which is the kiss of death long-term.<< Awesome to read this! Not only does it cheapen the image to something very common but it enforces that notion among the employees as well as reinforcing that image towards management when they decide to cut here and cut there.
