Originally Posted By FerretAfros I think it's really neat that they're also including some references to anniversary celebrations of the past. It seems a little strange that they chose 30 years to do that (it seems like 25 or 50 would have been bigger milestones to begin the retrospective), but it's pretty cool nonetheless. It's neat to see how the costumes have changed through the years. I'm partial to the 15th anniversary ones myself, since that was when I first visited TDR
Originally Posted By leemac <<I think it's really neat that they're also including some references to anniversary celebrations of the past. >> They have done it before - merchandise during both the 20th and 25th featured past logos, merchandise etc. This is definitely not something new for TDL. They had a really cute range of stuff that had the various Mickey costumes from past celebrations. This time around the new parade is the focus as it is almost the sole new product so they are producing a lot more merch than they ever did for Jubilation during its launch.
Originally Posted By Megara Glad to report that the Tokyo Disney website has been updated to include 30th stuff. There is an icon on the top left hand corner. Even though its in Japanese, just click on everything. Opens up some great stuff. <a href="http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/special/about/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.tokyodisneyresort.c...dex.html</a>
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>>This time around the new parade is the focus as it is almost the sole new product so they are producing a lot more merch than they ever did for Jubilation during its launch.<<< Lee you say this as if it was the most horrible thing. Of course, I am not biased enough to agree that even this anniversary offering is more than what your pals in Imagineering have done for WDW and DLR lately on milestone anniversaries, but still... At least we are getting something new. When was the last time WDW actually gave us a totally new parade to enjoy? Like 15 yrs ago? No? How many new parades have we enjoyed at TDL in that same frame of time? And yes, Ferret... OLC has always banked on nostagia and have re-visited the previous anniversaries on their merchandise during these special ocasions. To me that means RESPECTING THE TRADITIONS AND HISTORY OF THE PARKS. Something that the stooges (oh pardon, crap members) working for Disney now a days have forgotten.
Originally Posted By schnebs FA, anniversaries with a "0" tend to be a bigger deal for the Japanese than anniversaries with a "5"; I can't tell you why, except to note that the number 5 is close to the number 4, and the Japanese are a little skittish about the number 4 because the word for "four" in Japanese is also the word for "death". Total guess, though... As far as the focus on the retro merch for the aniversaries, I'm totally cool with it. I thought the notepad that looked just like a TDL ticket book (as opposed to the notepads at DL and WDW that only sorta looked like ticket books) that they sold for the 25th anniversary was awesome.
Originally Posted By Dreamerica Ive never been to Tokyo Disneyland, but i have seen enough pictures and videos on the internet to see that it's a first class operation. They seem to do holidays and anniversaries in a spectacular manner. Disneyland in Anaheim does a good job, especially with Christmas. And they've done some spectacular anniversaries in the past, (i still have the 30th tv special that i recorded on vhs from 1985.) Now on the other hand, Magic Kingdom in Orlando seems to drop the ball. The 40th anniversary was totally ignored which was a big mistake. 40 years is one of those milestones that shouldnt go without something. And they cant seem to do Christmas right. They put out the same old stuff year after year. The Christmas tree in Town Square probably has the same ornaments from 1971, and the garlands hanging over Main Street are really in need of a change. The rest of the park with the exception of Frontierland pretty much gets nothing. And by the way, i'm an American and i'm not fat.
Originally Posted By schnebs Dreamerica, all I can say to you about TDL is "go" - it is a first-class operation, and any photos you've seen don't entirely do it justice. I sorta agree on decorating the MK during the holidays - it seems like more and more, the budget goes toward decorating Main Street for the initial "wow" moment, but the rest of the park doesn't seem to get much love (but I think I could say that for all the Florida parks). As far as their not doing much for the 40th of the MK: Anniversaries have pretty much fallen out of favor with the Florida folks as far as events. They almost had to be shamed into celebrating Epcot's 25th by the fan community, and ever since, they've put forth half-hearted efforts at each of the milestones for each park to keep the fans... Satisfied? Quiet? Take your pick. I suspect we won't see a big anniversary celebration in Florida until WDW's 50th.
Originally Posted By Dreamerica Schnebs, I would absolutely love to see Tokyo Disneyland in person, (as well as the city of Tokyo!) I will have to put some savings aside for a trip. As for WDW not celebrating anniversaries, it's almost as if they dont want people to know how old the place really is. Maybe they're afraid people might find it to be too dated, which is funny because most of the Magic Kingdom is in fact dated looking!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros The logic I've heard is that WDW celebrated too many anniversaries in a row, to the point that they became meaningless (partly because they kind of were meaningless). In the course of 10 years, they had the following anniversary-based 18-month celebrations: WDW's 25th Anniversary - 1996-1997 Millenium Celebration - 1999-2000 100 Years of Magic (Walt's 100th birthday) - 2002-2003 Happiest Homecomings on Earth (2005-2006) While only one of those was technically an anniversary of WDW, they all sort of played on the same basic theme. First the park was turning 25, then 2000, then 100, then 50...it got a little monotonous, and confusing for guests who didn't exactly know that each celebration wasn't really a WDW anniversary, despite how they were billed. So instead, we've gotten into a never-ending rut of meaningless celebrations that aren't even tied to an arbitrary anniversary. While I guess I appreciate the 'variety' of not just doing anniversaries, these promotions are just as meaningless and monotonous as ever.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Sorry, that should say that the Happiest Homecomings on Earth was in celebration of Disneyland's 50th anniversary, which they spun off to make it the 50th anniversary of "DisneyParks", despite that brand only being about a year old at the time, and there had only been plural "parkS" since 1971. (Side note: remember when they decided to make all the merchandise "DisneyParks" branded, with that really generic and ugly logo? And nobody bought any of it! Instead, we now have a lot of stuff that is co-branded both WDW and DL, but it's better than the icky corporate feel of the DisneyParks stuff)
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< remember when they decided to make all the merchandise "DisneyParks" branded, with that really generic and ugly logo? >>> I hope the fired whichever b-school genius came up with that, or at least moved them to a position where they can no longer do any damage.
Originally Posted By Megara It's sad when I save for four years to travel 30 hours to Florida from Australia to walk into the disney shops and walk out empty handed coz the souvenirs are horrible. I hate the loud primary coloured patterns on the t-shirts. What woman would honestly wear those extremely ugly T-shirts. Obviously ones that have given up. The entire merchandise team needs to be sacked, or at least taken to Tokyo Disney to see the best park souvenirs ever.
Originally Posted By schnebs Amen, sister. I'm just as disappointed in the merchandise selection, and I'm just driving in from 90 miles away.
