Originally Posted By wonderingalice <<There is no intentional disrespect to Disneyland being directed by the powers that be. They are making a business decision and for stockholders of Disney it is the correct business decision.>> They may not be 'intending' disrespect, but that doesn't change the fact that is IS disrespectful. I understand that Disneyland doesn't NEED the advertising (it's going to be VERY clear to me next week when we visit... ;-) And I understand the concept of mass advertising (and find it a stupid way to do business. My company is nationwide and international, but we don't air commercials in Las Vegas that specify Orlando (another of our markets, coincidentally). My feelings are that Disney COULD have the commercials state something more like this: "Walt Disney's original theme park, Disneyland, is celebrating it's 50th birthday this year and you're cordially invited to join this magical celebration! The Happiest Celebration on Earth will be taking place at Disneyland, Walt Disney World <etc., etc.> You'll be treated to bright new fireworks, parades and attractions at all of our resorts, so plan your vacation now!" Not my best work, but ya'll get the gist of it. *L* Bottomline, no, Disneyland doesn't NEED the advertisement, but it IS Disneyland that is being celebrated... period.
Originally Posted By jmuboy I have only bought DL related 50th items. I understand WDW's need to make money and its position as the Disney Company's powerhouse operation - I'm in theme park mgmt myself. But on a personl level as a Disney fan, I won't be fooled by the WDW marketing ploys.
Originally Posted By bean well southern california is being bombarded with WDw comercials showing Walt Disney give the opening speech on mainstreet USA with WDW castle in the background. (This part of the comercial is in black and white) then they say something like '50 years ago we opened ......... then Walt Disney says its speach. I found it insulting for WDW to think we were stupid enough to fall for their hoopla. i spoke to people in management in WDW and they just shrugged it off.
Originally Posted By Imagineer This WDW makes tons of money too. Does it need the advertising and the other parks don't? Look at Disneyland Paris. It winds up in financial trouble sooner or later and I never see ads telling American tourists to please go to Paris Disneyland's "50th" celebration?
Originally Posted By 50 years of magic you guys said you are hardly see disneyland commercials well i gues i can call myself lyucky because i see a disneyoland commercial like 20 times a day and i dont watch tv alot
Originally Posted By wonderingalice ^^But are they REALLY focused on Disneyland or is it Walt Disney World being shown and 'pushed?' We see tons of ads - all trying to get folks to visit WDW to celebrate the 50th - and those don't even mention the word "Disneyland."
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Of course WDW needs more advertising than Disneyland. WDW has to fill something likely 30,000 guest rooms a night. That is no easy task even with the economy bouncing back.
Originally Posted By planodisney So DLR and WDW resort dont do any of their own advertising? Do al advertising dollars come from Disney corporate headquarters? If this is the case, then it realy answers alot of questions i have had for a while now. I couldnt understand why DLR was marketed so terribly. i thought they should be advertising in Denver, Dallas, Boise, Salt Lake, Albuquerque and many other places. I guess it isnt their fault.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice If WDW needs more advertising, fine... Let them focus on their OWN merits. My only gripe is that this is NOT WDW's birthday, but one sure wouldn't know by those commercials.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "Now, selling Disneyland merchandise at WDW is a bit of a stretch...I'll grant you that. But, if that merchandise ends up in Florida outlet stores I might by some just for the nostalgia of the 50th." However, I did find 50th DL merchandise at DLP and had to buy it. It broke my heart that I couldn't go home this year, so as a California native, living in Europe, I was tickled pink that I could buy a 50th t-shirt for my son!
Originally Posted By teachin The thing I do not understand is that this is Disneyland's 50th why is it a worldwide celebration? When it was Walt Disney's Birthday everything was centered in Florida, that should have been the world wide celebration.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice That's neat, davewasbaloo! teachin, that's a good question about Walt's birthday. I don't have a particular problem with Disneyland's birthday being celebrated worldwide... as long as they make it clear in the parks that it is, indeed, DISNEYLAND's birthday. It's the misleading advertising that bugs me.
Originally Posted By JeffG >> "The thing I do not understand is that this is Disneyland's 50th why is it a worldwide celebration?" << Disneyland's 50th birthday is also the 50th anniversary of the Disney theme park in general. I really don't think it is at all unreasonable that they are celebrating that milestone throughout all the parks. I do think that the WDW commercial that suggests Walt giving his opening day speech at WDW was tacky, but otherwise I really think most of the handwringing about the promotion of WDW is pretty silly... -Jeff
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo We had a celebration of Walt's 100th at DLP. Nothing as big as DL, but they had 100 Disney Characters in Fantasyland blow out the candle on a birthday cake on his birthday. They then turned the picture into a poster and gave them away as freebees to AP holders and people wearing birthday badges that year. Also, there were little leaflets about Walt in the park. It was during his birthday they also announced that the Parisian studios park would be named in his honour. I have to say, I think it's great that it is a global celebration. It makes it easier for me to not hate living in Europe, missing DL!
Originally Posted By wonderingalice That's really a cool celebration, dave! 100 characters together at once is awesome... must have been BEYOND colorful! And if it's appropriate... Hope you're able to come home soon...
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Thanks Wonderingalice. I suppose England is home now, but we are considering taking the kids to California in 2008 and me thinks there will be an LP meet Bay Area and DL!!!
Originally Posted By wonderingalice It's great that "home" is just a ride on an airliner away... And the Net definitely shortens those miles. And 2008 will be here in no time at all!
Originally Posted By AladdinAZ I agree with you, wonderingalice. The WDW world commercial is an abomination. It is blatantly disrespecting both Walt and Disneyland. And I've stated several times over and over again, WHY do they finally decide to make DL's 50th a worldwide celebration? It make NO logical sense. Disney has had so many opportunities to market other anniversaries as Worldwide, BUT THEY COMPLETELY BLOW IT! Disney Co. 75th Anniversary (there were one or two pieces of merchandising at the Disney Stores) THE MILLENIUM! How in the World did Disney miss this opportunity to market ALL of the Disney Theme Parks. They totally focused on the celebrations at WDW ALONE. See any mention of any of the other Disney Theme Parks or even the most remote form of Millenium Celebration at the Disney Parks other than WDW, ANY kind of merchandise? NO!! C'mon! THE WHOLE WORLD WAS CELEBRATING! But somehow the Idiots in charge at Disney MISS this opportunity!!! And even moreso, as someone mentioned, Walt 100th Birthday was nearly forgotten by ALL the Disney Parks, (Except WDW where they added the hideous Sorcerers Hat at Disney Studios.) This Had such GREAT possibilities for an ENTIRE WORLDWIDE CELEBRATION, with 3 new Theme Parks opened that year!! BUT of course THEY decide to focus the attention on the one area, WDW that doesn't open a new Park. IT would have been SO EASY TO make WALT's 100th a Worldwide Celebration, and harldy any effort, BUT ONCE AGAIN, the IDIOT in charge at Disney Blows IT AGAIN!! How could they have done it: Advertise the Holiday Season at Anaheim, Orlando, Tokoyo, and Paris at the Kick Off to the Worldwide Celebration of Walt's 100th ~ The Announcement would be made on Dec 5 2000 (Walt's 99th Birthday) With an Announcement of Preparing to Celebrate Walt's 100th with opening 3 new Disney Parks Worldwide: DCA in Feb 2001 Disney Seas Tokyo in Sept 2001 Disney Studios Paris March 2002 All would mention Celebrating Walt's 100th ~ Celebrating Imagination (or a similar message) Of course all Parks would have a huge celebration on 12-5-01 for Walt's 100th. It really could have united ALL the Disney Parks, instead of the trying to force celebration DL's b-day at WDW. Now it appears because WDW is celebrating DL's 50th, WDW is going to miss out on their OWN 35th Anniversary. HOW STUPID IS THAT!
