Originally Posted By trekkeruss ... and receieved the latest WDW vacation planning DVD. I haven't gotten one of these in years (the last one I have is not even a DVD, but one of those old-school VHS tapes.) Gotta say, it's really well done. I'd pay money for it even... but I am glad it's free! The DVD is _far_ superior to the old tapes, since they can pack so much more info on it. I like how they have packed it with "extras;" the trivia game is a nice touch. There's gotta be at least a couple of hours worth of material on it; I haven't yet gone through the whole DVD, and I only just went through the introduction on the CD-ROM. Lastly, there is something about the main hostess Erin... I kinda dig her.
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 Yea, if you sit down and watch everything with the extras, looking @ all the resorts it is 2 hrs. I'm one of thoses crazy folks that get one of the vacation DVD's every year. I just love to watch them, I only go every 3 years.
Originally Posted By MinnieSummer That's what my DD watches the entire week prior to our trips, on the drive up to WDW, and on the day we get home so shecan make a list of what we missed and need to do next time. I actually enjoy watching it just so I can get in the mood for a trip (alright I'm always in the mood for a WDW trip). But that one guy is so annoying -- the one that is always sitting down. After the first couple of viewings I tune out when he comes on.
Originally Posted By RangerPooh We order a new one every few months as ours always disappears. I ordered one for my parents a month ago for our upcoming trip this summer. The watched it the night it arrived. They called us afterwards asking f we could do this and do that. They were VERY excited. The planning videos are rather nice and is a great way to get you in the Disney mindset...er..if you aren't already.
Originally Posted By Faith Thanks for the recommendation- finally got a new DVD player last week (yes, I am way behind the times...)
Originally Posted By fundog58 I haven't seen the latest DVD but I understand it's basically an update of the previous. My only problem with these videos is that Disney should have a little more faith in its own product to let the parks sell themselves. We don't need hyperactive hosts, lame comedy and MTV-style editing to know that Disney World is a great place.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys I guess I'm in the minority here. I like the old corny, mushy, feel good videos of the past much better.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<We don't need hyperactive hosts, lame comedy and MTV-style editing to know that Disney World is a great place.>> Aside from my actually enjoying the hyperactive hosts and lame comedy, the videos aren't aimed at us Disney Geeksâ„¢ who already know it all.
Originally Posted By ChiMike Yes, but neither were the old ones. If someone is watching the DVD they obviously have already made the first step in ordering it. They obviously have an interest in visiting, why are the Poochie the dog antics neccessary? I agree, the parks did JUST FINE when the marketing simply let the parks sell themseleves.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<If someone is watching the DVD they obviously have already made the first step in ordering it. They obviously have an interest in visiting, why are the Poochie the dog antics neccessary?>> Maybe because some people found the old ones kinda stodgy? <<the parks did JUST FINE when the marketing simply let the parks sell themseleves.>> The parks did okay, sure, but how do we know that the marketing, specifically the videos they produced, were successful? We don't. FWIW, people here have commented on how much they enjoy the goofy hosts that are on the resort channel. I don't see how this is any different.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>Maybe because some people found the old ones kinda stodgy?<< Nevertheless. Does that justify patronizing the audience with hipster dufus attitude? If I am to understand your response, are there only two distinct approaches available to Disney? A Stodgy presentation - or - hyperactive hosts employing lame comedy? Actually, if they would have let the African American woman (who had the best material w/ the least screentime, IMO) and even the young woman be the guides it would have been a MUCH better production; again, imo. I rather see them play "up" to the audience rather than "down" to it. Well, I guess going back to how Walt did things isn't hip & edgy. I don't believe that allowing the parks to sell themselves must strictly correlate with a stodgy production. This is supposedly the most creative company in the world, hawking one of their most prized products. Yet, their approach to many things has been to market their products to different demographics and then dilute each product so it appeals to everyone in that demographic. A mistake I think they are finally trying to correct. It was much easier when they focused on things that had more of an universal appeal. This video is an example of that mistake; the idea that only mothers will "get" the African American woman, only fathers will "get" the caricature of their very own alleged oafishness, and of course that every teen will quickly realize how much they have in common with Narly Boy. That Narly Boy must certainly be an honest broker of what's kewl and what's not. The unabashed characterization of audience segments for the sake of connecting w/ the audience, for me, is insulting and annoying. Simply put, it tries to hard and does not come across as authentic or genuine. Not the best sales pitch. To me, such an approach signifies how they must regard their product and how seriously they take their own audience. A 14 year old boy or girl is going to smell the poser boy a mile away. So what's the purpose? Supposedly, the marketing of the parks will continue to be refocused and tweaked. I am of the mind that anything is better than what has been around the last few years. I am hopeful. >>The parks did okay, sure, but how do we know that the marketing, specifically the videos they produced, were successful? We don't.<< You're right. We don't. We do know however that for decades they let the place sell itself and it never played to an empty house. I guess it goes deeper for me: Cute girls don't get people to drop thousands of dollars on a theme park vacation. Attractions do. Resort Amenities do. >>FWIW, people here have commented on how much they enjoy the goofy hosts that are on the resort channel. I don't see how this is any different.<< I would beg to differ, I see just as many posts who can't stand the current girl or wish to have the old system back. I think Resort TV is a simple issue of taste and personal preference. I don't care what is on as long as it makes the property look fun and classy. The marketing DVDs are a different issue, at least for me, because I think they cause a needless sense of ridiculousness.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<If I am to understand your response, are there only two distinct approaches available to Disney? A Stodgy presentation - or - hyperactive hosts employing lame comedy?>> Didn't say that. Just that the old way was boring, IMO. <<I rather see them play "up" to the audience rather than "down" to it. Well, I guess going back to how Walt did things isn't hip & edgy.>> I don't see it as playing down to the audience, but just as a goofy presentation. WDW is kinda goofy. People pay thousands of dollars to hug a gal in a mouse suit? That's not high-brow art the last time I checked. <<Simply put, it tries to hard and does not come across as authentic or genuine.>> Again, a matter of interpretation, not fact. I don't view it as unauthentic or fake, just silly. It certainly doesn't cause me to think that WDW is not worth my visiting. <<A 14 year old boy or girl is going to smell the poser boy a mile away.>> Obviously an older child would find the schtick phony, but a younger one wouldn't. <<The marketing DVDs are a different issue, at least for me, because I think they cause a needless sense of ridiculousness.>> Nothing left to say except that I disagree that the DVD is ridiculous.
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>Didn't say that. Just that the old way was boring, IMO.<< So then you would agree that Disney could, and is capable of, in creating a DVD that is neither boring for folks like you and isn't remedial for folks like me. My point being that a company with the creativity and history of Disney should make it pleasing to both tastes... >>WDW is kinda goofy. People pay thousands of dollars to hug a gal in a mouse suit? That's not high-brow art the last time I checked.<< I agree, I never considered it to be high-brow art. Once again, because I don't like the so-called 'goofy' DVD that does not mean I think it should be some uppercrust, elitiest, propgranda piece. Disney became a success because it could play to the masses. If this drivel is what constitutes successfully playing to the masses then I am the odd duck out. >>>><<Simply put, it tries to hard and does not come across as authentic or genuine.>> Again, a matter of interpretation, not fact. I don't view it as unauthentic or fake, just silly. It certainly doesn't cause me to think that WDW is not worth my visiting.<<<< I think I made it pretty clear that I was speaking from opinion. Did the old boring films cause you to think that WDW was not worth visiting? I would guess no. I never said that the DVD is disuading people from visiting. I infered that, imo, there probably is a better approach, a better sales pitch. >>Obviously an older child would find the schtick phony, but a younger one wouldn't.<< See, to me, that's a problem. Keep it simple, stupid. Why limit the appeal to only the younger ones? >>Nothing left to say except that I disagree that the DVD is ridiculous.<< No worries.
Originally Posted By crazyformickey i'm so sad...I found a old planning video from 2000. It is amazing how much has changed in 6 years. I was sad they showed River Country. I miss that so much
Originally Posted By fundog58 There's definitely a middle ground between silly and stodgy. I think The Travel Channel does a pretty good job of presenting resorts and theme parks in a way that makes them fun and inviting, usually without all the over-the-top hyperkinetics. Hey, maybe Disney should hire Samantha Brown.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>I think The Travel Channel does a pretty good job of presenting resorts and theme parks in a way that makes them fun and inviting, usually without all the over-the-top hyperkinetics.<< I somewhat disagree... I feel their shows' script come across as "Disney approved" as possible but without the cutesy crap they do in their promotional video. Also, the special they did on TDS was one of the worst ones they ever did on a Disney park.... almost like someone from Disney told them to water it down for the US. After all, they would hate for people to see the harsh reality of WDW versus TDR.
Originally Posted By ChiMike ^^ And that I agree with also, especially about why the TDS special was so lackluster. But, nevertheless, the travel channel stuff IS WAY more easy to watch than the recent promotional videos, well and, the new Animal Kingdom DVD. Not to be confused with the old AK VHS. Where they did - - - - --- - - - Let the park sell itself!
Originally Posted By TDLFAN You should know all of those Travel Channel specials on WDW and DCL are on sale on dvd in Japan, and I have all 7 of them.
Originally Posted By ChiMike Please tell me you didn't buy the one that has tips from guests who were "wdw gurus" You know the one in which one guru lets us all in on her strategy to start in Adventureland first.
