Originally Posted By vbdad55 I believe the name change coincided with McDonalds dropping their funding for the attraction ( and closing their corporate hospitality center there - much to my chagrine ) - I wonder if they still have any claims on the CTX name ?
Originally Posted By irishfan ^^I could have sworn McDonalds was still the sponsor for the attraction when I went on it back in March.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Can you still buy 'Countdown to Extinction' merchandise in The Adventureland Bazaar in Disneyland? Talk about convoluted...
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I liked CTX better when they still had Indy there. Indy and the elephants spraying water. That was really cool.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad There is a big ol' McDonald's sign hanging on the FRONT of Dinosaur. I specificlly remember this because I too thought they had pulled out. Maybe Mickey D's funded some of the actual construction of the ride and maybe in that deal they have to let the Mickey D's sign hang on the ride for X years. I don't see FedEx on Space Mountain though, and I don't see any EXXON signs on UOE will Ellen, so who knows?
Originally Posted By irishfan I dont mind the McDonalds sign outside, it's just that irritating annoncment made between the pre show and the loading area..."This was made possible by a generous grant from the McDonalds Corporation"...or something along those lines. I cringe everytime I hear it.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <^^I could have sworn McDonalds was still the sponsor for the attraction when I went on it back in March.< <There is a big ol' McDonald's sign hanging on the FRONT of Dinosaur. I specificlly remember this because I too thought they had pulled out. Maybe Mickey D's funded some of the actual construction of the ride and maybe in that deal they have to let the Mickey D's sign hang on the ride for X years< Okay, part of the love-hate relationship between McDonalds and Disney complicates this. McDonalds was the major sponsor of the Sue the dinosaur dig ( the T Rex located outside the ride is a copy of the original that resides at the Field Museum in Chicago ( not coincidentally McD corporate home city ( all apologies to the suburb of Oak Brook ). Disney was a smaller corp sponsor of that expedition. See not so long ago, where Disney went - so did Coke and McD. The executive relations shall we say between the 3 link them together everywhere. Well the relationship - like any relationship - has had it's ups and downs lately, highlighted by the non renewal of the 10 year exclusive happy meal rights McD had w/ Disney. McD in turn shuts their corporate suite, not totally thrilled with things like changing the name of CTX to Dinosaur tolink to a movie that did little - and sold very few happy meals. Then there's this little issue of Fast Food Nation vs. the healthy line of foods being promoted by Disney...healthier menu's etc. Now the two are like Liz Taylor and R Burton -- apart - together - apart etc... But much of the funding my understanding is stopped a few years ago - but there are agreements in place that supercede some others. So while McD's name is on Dinoland on total, I believe Dinosaur the ride gets all it's cash from the Mouse. splitting hairs --maybe, but worth watching where this all heads. Still plenty of ties at high corp levels - but as people retire, etc -- will the loyalty always be there - either way ?
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA While I always thought that the McDonalds Happy Meal toys tied to Disney Animated Features was well done, I never liked seeing McDonalds restaurants and food in the Disney Parks. Why? I don't really know. But I never liked the 'Westward Ho, the French Fries!' in Frontierland, or the Burger Invasion in Paradise Pier. The junky burgers and fries at Tomorrowland Terrace have always been pretty junky, and quality-wise are probably on par with McDonalds so, I it's not based in any sort of logic. Corporate sponsorship at EPCOT was always a cool thing. Seeing AT&T, Unisys, Kraft, Kodak, Exxon, GE, GM, MetLife and the rest of those companies all lined up in Future World was a pretty impressive feat. But I digest...
Originally Posted By SuperDry ^^^ I know exactly what you mean. That's one thing that really stood out to me when I went to USH a few years ago: there were all sorts of external food service providers that set up shop inside USH, much as if it was the food court at the local mall. There was a Panda Express, a Cinnabon, and all sorts of other things. It really detracted from their being any sense of place within the park, although I guess there really isn't any to start with at a studio park other than being at a movie studio.
