Originally Posted By DlandDug In speaking to Imagineer Kevin Rafferty, who developed the new Pixar based attraction in Paradise Pier, the burning question of the official name was raised. The unhesitating reply was: "Toy Story Midway Mania." Rafferty explained that this title has been used universally from the attraction's conception. Indeed, this name is affixed to the entrance of BOTH versions of TSMM. The use of "Toy Story Mania" is for simplicity. In press releases and on the air, it is easier to say than the multi-syllabic official title.
Originally Posted By 2001DLFan ^^^^ “Simplicity†is bunk. When they opened Disney’s California Adventure, they put HEAVY PRESSURE on EVERY Disney employee – AND MARKETING - to use the FULL NAME and NEVER use the simpler “DCAâ€.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan So apparently Imagineer Kevin Rafferty wasn't in on the high-level discussions to devise a clever misleading campaign to confuse park goers into thinking the attraction name is Toy Story Mania instead of Toy Story Midway Mania and that it is located not at Disneyland as confusing TV ads would mislead you to believe but is in fact at Disney's California Adventure which is technically part of the Disneyland Resort but who knows that really?
Originally Posted By 2001DLFan ^^^^ Rafferty is an Imagineer. They were totally for using the proper name. It was Disney's (Disneyland's?) marketing that was running the discussions to devise the cleaver misleading campaign. They certainly would'nt be inviting any Imagineers.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan But you said his statement was bunk? Now I am very confused. Are you saying that Disney's marketing division intentionally called the attraction by a shorter name not for simplicity but for some other more diabolical reasons? Someone hold me. I am frightened.
Originally Posted By Westsider This is just a perfect example of how a left hand of the Disney Company have no idea what the right hand is doing. It happens all the time, even within the departments at Disneyland. Take it to a much bigger companywide angle, and you get muddled and messy marketing messages like this whole "Toy Story Mania! at DISNEYLAND Resort" screw up.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt You're right Toony. I'm so insensitive at times. Can I be forgiven?
Originally Posted By oc_dean >>The use of "Toy Story Mania" is for simplicity. In press releases and on the air, it is easier to say than the multi-syllabic official title.<< Sure didn't stop them from: Dis Ney's Ca Li For Nia Ad Ven Ture !!
Originally Posted By wonderingalice "Toy Story Midway Mania" - simply (heh ;-) - rolls off the tongue better and sounds better. "Toy Story Mania" (aside from being too flippin' blunt in tone) sounds like the toys just went ballistic or loopy. The Disney marketing guys were nuts not to use the full name.
Originally Posted By DlandDug There's also the very charming Midway Mania song that Boardwalk Barker Mr. Potato Head sings. It's a clever and alliterative name. Keeping "Midway" in the title is also more evocative of what the attraction actually is-- midway games.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice <<Keeping "Midway" in the title is also more evocative of what the attraction actually is-- midway games.>> Exactly!! I'm really having a hard time wrapping my mind around ANY reason they might have had to not include "Midway" in EVERYTHING to do with this great new attraction. I haven't had the opportunity to hear the song yet (guess I need to check out YouTube again... our next visit is still about 150 days away
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I thought the deal was it wasn't going to be called "Midway Mania" in Fla. because there was no midway at DHS. So the word "Midway" would have been out of place there. And Disney marketing, in all their wisdom and/or laziness and/or cost consciousness, wanted to promote the attraction on both coasts simultaneously, so referring to it as "TS Mania" was accurate for WDW and almost (?) accurate for DCA. Having all the marketing materials say one thing, presumably, was cheaper. Of course, the sign (and song) at DCA leaves no doubt as to what the attraction is actually called in California.
Originally Posted By Roger55 The sign in front of DHS's version also has the word "midway" on it. Mr. Potatohead also sings the same song at DHS. They aren't distinguishing factors between the two versions.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 That's lame that they couldn't even change the sign at DHS. The Buzz attractions have different names at DL and WDW - no reason they couldn't have left "midway" off the sign at DHS, since it's not set at a midway. But I guess the games themselves are the "midway."
Originally Posted By Roger55 It is true the could have used different names if that is what they wanted to do. DLP's Buzz in fact also has a different name, Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, although the ride is basically the same as all the other Astro Blasters versions of the attraction. Listening to the interview of Kevin Rafferty, it doesn't seem to me that it was just a matter of not changing the signs at DHS. The name of the attraction really is Toy Story Midway Mania. Changing the sign to something that isn't the official name would be more strange IMO.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 So according to marketing it's TSM on both coasts, and according to Attractions it's TSMM on both coasts? Not earth shattering in the greater scheme of things, but kinda lame.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>The Buzz attractions have different names at DL and WDW...<< There is actually a reasonable explanation for this. Florida had Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin first. When it was cloned to Disneyland, there was concern that the name was too much like Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin. So we got Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters instead.
