What a disappointment....

Originally Posted By Goofyernmost

I posted this in the "planning" section but apparently no one looks there and I really wanted other opinions. Am I all wet? Is this the greatest thing since slice churro's? Anyone that has seen it, please wade in.

Here it is...

I received the current Vacation Planning DVD this week and I am totally disappointed. Come on Disney, you have all the resources necessary to make a killer video and you can't do any better than a recycled version of the last three years?

The only thing that the current and recent video's have done is make me sleepy. There is no excitement, no concentration on actual attractions, nothing. Just peoples reactions and a very select group at that. I'm glad that the CM's get all choked up at certain generalized events but I want to know what Disney will make me feel like. The only way I have of knowing that is by seeing exactly what I am planning to witness in person.

A few years ago they came out with what I consider the best they had done. It was with the four people dividing up the special interests of the parks. The most controversial was "Luke", the hyper-active teenager that loved the thrill rides and typically over acted in his reaction to the mountains of MK. I was slightly annoyed by him but I'm here to tell you that the fun and energy generated by the film was really on the money. It made you want to go there and go right now. The current sad one, reminds you of a nursing home, safe but with no excitement at all...just emotional connections that don't quite connect.

When I planned to take my grandkids they watched that older video again and again and again. The current one wouldn't hold their attention for over 3 minutes.

Disney give me a reason to want to go there. Make me want to have an experience that will create my own emotional reactions. I really don't care what the CM's feel...what am I going to feel. Chances are pretty good they won't be the same, so stop trying to conclude what will attach to my emotions and hold on. Show me what there is to do. Make me want to do it. Let me hear the sounds and see the sights of the parks, not some group of surreal people standing on clouds waving ribbons. BTW, in all my visits, I have never seen that happen. It must have been on a day I wasn't in the parks.

 

Originally Posted By trekkeruss

So no comment on the TDS videos?

 

Originally Posted By Goofyernmost

Sorry, I haven't had the chance to look at them yet...I'll try tomorrow. Thanks for posting them.

 

Originally Posted By vbdad55

well I just received mine in the mail- now I'm not sure I want to watch it

 

Originally Posted By Goofyernmost

Well, these things are a matter of personal taste. What I dislike may be loved by many others.

The problem is that I spent many years in advertising and, frankly, there is nothing in this video that makes me want to buy. Those of us that are already sold, don't need it. I get them because it is the only record of the changes in Disney over the years that I can collect and not cost me anything. I can't get the old promotional mode out of my mind and the past few years have been anything but exciting.

Watch it and let me know what you think. I could be completely off base with the rest of the world. It is nothing new for me to be out of the loop actually.

 

Originally Posted By trekkeruss

I think if you get them every year "because it is the only record of the changes in Disney over the years," then you will be disappointed. Even though fans might want them to be unique and different every year, the videos aren't designed to be a souvenir; it's called the Disney Parks Vacation Planning DVD for a reason. It is primarily made for the newbie; for someone who has never been to WDW...at least I imagine so. Disney knows that there are fans like you getting it just to have them. But as a one-time, getting-it-because-you-know-nothing-about-WDW piece, If I were a noob, I think I would be pretty impressed.

The last one I got (was it last year?) may not be inspirational in an emotional sense like the TDS videos, but as a free promotional planning DVD, on a scale of 1-10, I'd give it a 7 or 8.

 

Originally Posted By Goofyernmost

I agree but they have a purpose beyond my collection and that is to entice people to go to Disney. I don't see anything in these that make me want to pack and go.

Believe me, I am trying to be objective and look for the "selling" points. They were few and far between in my humble opinion. Just no excitement is generated. Even for us older folks. The last thing I want to see, at my age, is a group of people standing in clouds. Hit's to close to home, if you get my drift.

 

Originally Posted By phineas1979

My wife and I were afraid that we were the only ones who felt this way. We too are big fans of the dvd with Luke, Dave, Erin and Stacie from maybe 2005. Even though we go to WDW annually, we pop these dvds in when we get really excited. I don't need the dvd to teach me anything new, I just think they can be fun to watch when your trip approaches. The last couple of years have been pretty lame...bring back the four musketeers and Luke's "triple-mountain-tri-fecta".

 

Originally Posted By Goofyernmost

Sadly, I let a first timer borrow my DVD with the fearsome foursome and I didn't get it back. So the only one that I have liked over the last few years, is out of my reach at the moment.

 

Originally Posted By Brandis

@Trekkeruss

Is there now an official Planning Video for Tokyo DisneySea? Where can I get it?

I do have a fan-made which is great, but it is a couple of years old and I would love to see a new one.

 

Originally Posted By -em

I gave up on the vacation planning videos back when they were on VHS and the name Disney MGM Studios was erased from all the pictures...

-em

 

Originally Posted By danyoung

I've been collecting these videos since the early 90's, and the current cloud-filled crop is really a snoozer. I agree with you, Goof, on the video with the 4 hosts. Dave, the leisure specialist, is here in the DFW area. I've done a couple of events with him, and he's told me some fun stories about working on that video. I'm totally in love with Erin. She no longer keeps her own web page, but you can see her on imdb, wikipedia, and on facebook. Or google Erin Cahill and see plenty of pics of her - what a sweetie!

 

Originally Posted By WDW1982

As far as the videos goes. Lucky for me I have worked in television for over 20 yrs. Have gone to WDW over 20 times. When I needed video I wasn't able to get I just called WDW public relations and tell them we are doing a story about their parks and a few days later I got professional video sent to me for that year. I edited to my videos and it looked great. Just one of the perks from being in the right place at the right time. I have video from the last 15 yrs all from them for free.

 

Originally Posted By danyoung

Very nice!

 

Originally Posted By demderedoseguys

> Hit's to close to home, if you get my drift.<

Now, that's funny.

I must say that I started a thread on the 2005 DVD saying that it was too over the top with Luke and all that craziness, but eventually it grew on me. The recycled DVD from the last three years is rather boring, so hopefully Disney will find a middle ground for upcoming DVD's...and yes , I know it's only a promotional video, but it shouldn't serve as a cure for insomnia. I've been going to WDW since 1975 and still need a good vacation planning video to get me pumped up for the trip.

 

Originally Posted By demderedoseguys

Funny thing, I just saw Dave, the lazy guy on that video from 2005, doing a commercial for Dish Network.

 

Originally Posted By leobloom

>> The recycled DVD from the last three years is rather boring <<

It would help if they had something to be excited about.

The new Fantasyland will be something to promote, but then again, how exciting can Meet-and-Greet-land be?

 

Originally Posted By trekkeruss

I posted this in the other thread Goofyrnmost started but that didn't get any replies. The videos are well worth watching if you haven't seen then before:

As usual, TDR does it better. Watch these "Sea of Dreams" short films and music videos made to promote Tokyo DisneySea's 5th anniversary. I didn't know these films existed until a few weeks ago. But after seeing them, they are by far the most compelling park films I have ever seen. They aren't traditional park guide videos, but they do show quite a bit of TDS, using stories that will tug at your heart and make you want to visit.

Music video:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...hQia9s8M" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...hQia9s8M</a>

Fan dub music video:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...MvSF6YA8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...MvSF6YA8</a>

The short films:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...zJS4xnkk" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...zJS4xnkk</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...N1QeV1bc" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...N1QeV1bc</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...PPJ4_gdI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...PPJ4_gdI</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...MfDnW3v8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...MfDnW3v8</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...uxJ-0AIw" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...uxJ-0AIw</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...2YPixqlI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...2YPixqlI</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...id3YfYls" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...id3YfYls</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...lLbEgMNo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...lLbEgMNo</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...NQz21ZQ4" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...NQz21ZQ4</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...UKo9x56E" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...UKo9x56E</a>

 

Originally Posted By Goofyernmost

OK, so I clicked on your links and all I get on any of them is like a home page for U-tube. The same page for every link. I don't know the identity of the particular one you want me to look at so I am kind of stymied.

Is that happening to anyone else or am I missing something?

 

Originally Posted By danyoung

>Funny thing, I just saw Dave, the lazy guy on that video from 2005, doing a commercial for Dish Network.<

I just saw that yesterday, on CNN no less. Nice job, Dave!