Originally Posted By ssWEDguy I saw on the portal today that the Year of a Million Dreams has been extended through the end of 2008. So much for the rumors of it's early demise.
Originally Posted By -em yawn. It was so great the first time- we have to do it again? *sarcasm off* -em
Originally Posted By Elderp I was hoping to shirk off my year of a Billion Losers status but now I guess I will have to be a part of the 2 yrs of 2 billion loser club
Originally Posted By nbodyhome This has been talked about for a while - I didn't care about it for the first year, even less so now.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 How are they going to market this extension? Are they just hoping people didn't have a clue and will just say, "sure, ok, whatever you say."? I mean, now that it's two years and, what, two million dreams? They could just add the "squared" symbol, I guess.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 This has been in the planning stage for months. ... and despite the spin placed in the O-Sentinel yesterday, Sylvain's quotes are vomit-inducing, it has in NO way been a success at all in Anaheim and it hasn't been a driver behind the recent 4% increase in attendance in the last quarter at WDW. The bottom line is Jay Rasulo and Michael Mendenhall have nothing. Zero. Zip. Nada. Nothing. 2008 was quickly approaching and there was no major marketing celebration on the horizon, since they chose to ignore EPCOT's 25th ... which any smart markting honcho would have folded into the larger Year of a Million Dreams. There was some talk of doing DAK's 10th Anniversary as the tentpole of marketing for next year for WDW, but it didn't have enough pull ... and the nighttime additions (including Rivers of Light) have been delayed and won't debut next year from what I've been told ... likely due to financial reasons more than anything. So instead of just marketing the parks and resorts on their own merits, well ... the marketing folks don't ever believe in doing that ... so they quickly decided that due to 'overwhelming demand' and 'huge popularity' by guests to extend the celebration almost before it even began. Oh so typical.
Originally Posted By tonyanton Wow...remember when they knew how to market the parks on their merits alone? I don't think that's happened since the 25th back in 1996.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Maybe they should change it the way McDonald's changed their signs; "Million and millions of dreams served" or something like that.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer And actually it is now the 27 months of mostly low cost prizes giveaway, since the actual event started October 1st, 2006. It is getting old... Why not promote things like the individual parks and new attractions, shows and parades, and why it is worth attending the parks, instead of saying you might win a pair of ears....
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >>Maybe they should change it the way McDonald's changed their signs; "Million and millions of dreams served" or something like that.<< I received a lanyard with pins this year, and I'm not sure that was something I was dreaming of. Does that count as one of the million dreams, then? I'd rather have a box of popcorn. Popcorn doesn't collect dust on my shelf. But I'm not dreaming about that either!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Wow...remember when they knew how to market the parks on their merits alone?>> I can remember further back ... like the pre-Eisner days when WDW did no real marketing at all. They simply put out an amazing, high quality, premium product that was second to none and people showed up in droves. Funny how that works. And that was the days when you didn't have all the media sources you have now ... USA Today? CNN? Internet? I-phones? new 'platforms'? hah ... you had three TV channels and a few daily newspapers.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Does that count as one of the million dreams, then? I'd rather have a box of popcorn. Popcorn doesn't collect dust on my shelf. But I'm not dreaming about that either!>> Isn't that a possible prize too? Along with Mickey ice cream bars and bottles of Coke! Yeah, I go to sleep dreaming of that stuff every night!
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Of course in those days, they weren't so much in the hotel business, let alone the timeshare business. Now they've forced their hand, and pretty much have to advertise and market in order to fill all those rooms.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << I can remember further back ... like the pre-Eisner days when WDW did no real marketing at all. >> Lots of us can remember back that far. We can also remember back to when there was virtually no competition for the family vacation $$ in Florida and WDW desired to have 2 or 3 day visits instead of the 3 to 5 day visitor. It doesn't take a whole lot of marketing to convince someone to spend a couple of days at WDW while they're already in Florida with Grandma & Grandpa. It takes a bit more persuasion to convince someone to make WDW the focus of the vacation and cut the stop at Grandma's house short. What is left out of this discussion is the fact that WDW is getting an attendance boost from the international travelers who are finally returning to the U.S. for the first time since 9/11. It's all because of the weak dollar, but it's been filling up the hotels at WDW nonetheless (along with conventioneers who used to go to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast). To waste money on a new marketing campaign when the surge of Europeans coming to America isn't showing any evidence of slowing down is simply an acknowledgment that they might as well maintain the status quo with a marketing program that is already ongoing, rather than face start up costs from something new. I think these marketing programs are a waste, and would just as soon see them go away. I feel the same way about Nike tennis shoes -- how much of my money is paying some athlete a ridiculous endorsement fee instead of going into a shoe that fits me well?
Originally Posted By TDLFAN So, now we know the year of the ellusive gifts will continue until Mickey passes away... My question/concern is this: Will they replace the "Where Dreams Come True" sailing decorations they have planted all over the property? I mean... most of that decor is already looking shabby and torn/dirty in most places. I think they need to have the same good taste as DLR did and replace them with different banners that actually spell "Year of the Million Dreams" as opposed to the stupid Dreams come true catch phraze that no one can relate to.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<What is left out of this discussion is the fact that WDW is getting an attendance boost from the international travelers who are finally returning to the U.S. for the first time since 9/11. It's all because of the weak dollar, but it's been filling up the hotels at WDW nonetheless (along with conventioneers who used to go to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast). >> Absolutely. Great point. I was down on South Beach earlier this week and it was almost entirely Europeans and South Americans ... I'd estimate a good 90% of all the tourists I saw. I'm sure they have also been visiting The Mouse. Hell, if you're one of those pasty-white folks from the UK, going to WDW is like a half-price vacation! Who wouldn't want that? <<To waste money on a new marketing campaign when the surge of Europeans coming to America isn't showing any evidence of slowing down is simply an acknowledgment that they might as well maintain the status quo with a marketing program that is already ongoing, rather than face start up costs from something new.>> From a business standpoint, I see the logic in that and don't disagree. But even as a WDC shareholder (and not of the one-share variety), I didn't become a WDW lover because it was an incredible money-making machine. I became a WDW lover because it was simply an amazing place to visit. <<I think these marketing programs are a waste, and would just as soon see them go away. I feel the same way about Nike tennis shoes -- how much of my money is paying some athlete a ridiculous endorsement fee instead of going into a shoe that fits me well?>> Totally agree on both points.
