A Little Unsettling

[disneydude91]

Does anyone think that Disney has gone too far with the 50th aniversary? Now I am almost positive that the only Disney theme park that opened 50 years ago was Disneyland in Anaheim, California. The next park to open was the Magic Kingdom which did not open for another sixteen years if I'm not mistaken. So the only park to have a true 50th anniversary is the original Disneyland.

Another thing that upsets me is that in one of the commercials for Walt Disney World they edited in the first few lines from the opening day speech of Diseyland CA, in a WDW commercial. I don't know it just seems like Disney is milking this 50th anniversary for all it's worth. I have always loved Disney from the movies to the theme parks and I always will, but is it really true? Has it all become about the money?

 

[Chuck S]

Disneyland started it all, it is, in a sense, the 50th Anniversary of Disney Theme Parks..the unique concept of the "theme park" vs. an amusement park. I think that is what they are trying to market. But it does look a little odd to "see" Walt dedicating WDW.

 

[Planogirl]

I think that Disneyland is being sadly overlooked in this celebration. Sure there are a few things happening at the original themepark but it's not getting the big blow out that it deserves. JMHO.

 

[Olaf]

Of course it's all about money, and has been for a very long time. What's wrong with that? If they weren't making money, and thinking of more ways to make money, the parks wouldn't continue to improve. It doesn't dimension my enjoyment in the least.

As far as Disneyland goes, when I was there, they had all kinds of things going on celebrating the anniversary. I really love what they've done with the castle.

I've always said that Disney has perfected the art of separating you from your money and making you feel good about it.

 

[safetymom]

When we went to Disneyland there were lots of ads promoting DL and none for WDW. I guess it depends where you are. DL is doing a lot for the celebration. Part of the event is that DL gave gifts of certain attractions to the other parks.

 

[bicker]

It is important to remember that the folks who run Disney have a legal responsibility to make all decisions in the best interest of long-term shareholder value. Satisfying us, the audience and guests, is part of a strategy to serve long-term shareholder value. If the folks who run Disney started varying from those kinds of strategies, you can rest assured that Disney would decline and perhaps eventually die, as almost happened in 1984.

 

[Missy1961]

I'm kind of glad they extended it to all the parks. I won't be able to go to Disneyland for the celebrations there, but I was able to get to Florida and celebrate there.

And I think some of us Disney fans forget that it was ALWAYS about the money. Disney is a corporation with shareholders & employees. If they want to survive, they have to make money. And yes, Walt wasn't there to dedicate WDW, but it was his plan. If he hadn't died prematurely, he would have been there. (BTW, I love that commercial)

 

[pixiemomma]

I went to WDW in 01, 03 and 05. Each time they were having some sort of celebration. I like the idea of celebrating these events in Disney history but I think one every other year is a tad ridiculous.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I'm kind of glad they extended it to all the parks. I won't be able to go to Disneyland for the celebrations there, but I was able to get to Florida and celebrate there.

And can you imagine the fuss here if they hadn't included the rest of the parks? Someone would have definitely brought up "Oh...why couldn't they celebrate the anniversary at all of the parks?!!?" As a fan and as a shareholder, I love that Disney handled it this way. What's wrong with new attractions and festivities at all of the parks so that everyone can enjoy? If on my birthday, the rest of the world could get a birthday present as well, I'd be thrilled! And BTW, even though I know that he wasn't there for WDW's grand opening, I also love that WDW commercial with Walt, narrated by Kelsey Grammer.

 

[DVCLiz]

I went to WDW in 01, 03 and 05. Each time they were having some sort of celebration. I like the idea of celebrating these events in Disney history but I think one every other year is a tad ridiculous.

That's the marketing plan for the Disney company. Can you imagine their advertising if they didn't have a "special" event to promote? "Come to WDW - not much new but you'll still have fun!!!" Disney, as has been pointed out on several posts, is a money-making company. There will always be a marketing campaign going on, and it looks like the current 18 month cycle is working well for them. After the 50th anniversary stuff is over, there will be a new promotion, and so on, and so on..

Not that I'm complaining - I love Disney and don't mind any of their advertising!!!!

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I agree that all the "Special Anniversaries" have gotten silly. They quit being special years ago, because there is always one being celebrated.

 

[bicker]

That's really a philosophical question: Would you ever want to visit anyplace when it wasn't "special"?

 

[Bob Slydell]

That's really a philosophical question: Would you ever want to visit anyplace when it wasn't "special"?

But if it's always "special", isn't that, by definition, just any other day?

 

[minniecarousel]

Being in California, we see more Disneyland commercials anyway, but I am kind of offended by their using the tape of Walt dedicating Disneyland - intimating that he's dedicating WDW. The Disneyland Resort was very festive and full of Anniversary stuff when we were there in September.

 

[Olaf]

Offended? Really? Why? If he'd been alive, he'd have been there--with bells on.

 

[bicker]

But if it's always "special", isn't that, by definition, just any other day?

Again, would you go if you thought it was going to be "just any other day"? When you're talking about something like this, every year has got to be pretty-much the same, or you'll end up causing additional inefficient demand cycling, above and beyond what the normal business cycles cause themselves. That would result in terrible sub-optimization: Inadequate capacity when you evoke the abnormally high demand and inadequate utilization when you evoke the abnormally low demand. That's not a sane way to run a business.

 

[Eeyorecln]

For Disney, there is enough people out there who love to go and experience the "magic" (I mean everyday Disney Vacation magic) that they really don't need to fake some "special" anniversary to get guests. As a child in the 80's my family went several times. Never coordinated with any "special occassion" just wanted to go. I, too , struggle with the whole WDW commercial. I think DL's charm and reason people visit is the fact that it's Walt's park. The one he walked through, stayed at (he had an apt. on Main street) so fans of DL might be upset that WDW is trying to "steal" DL's unique history and big draw. But, WDW can handle far more guests so economically this is why they're also celebrating the 50th anniversary of DL at WDW and promoting WDW so much. Still, I think that if you really want to celebrate do it at DL. We've been twice this year. It is truly magical and you can really "feel" Walt's dream.

 

[poohkie]

It all comes down to you can't please all of the people all of the time. We're not always going to agree with something Disney does. But we're still here and there's a reason for that. If Disney wasn't making money off of this and off of other special events they wouldn't be able to put in all the new things they have. Which would make it less likely for people to come and keep it out of date. Which would at some point mean no more WDW or DL. You go to these places for the magic having something special going on just means even more magic. So why not put it in all the parks?

 

[DebbieB]

There's always some kind of celebration going on. Before this it was the Millenium, Walt's 100th Birthday, 75 years of Mickey. They need to have a marketing theme which not only gets people to come but also buy theme merchandise.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Offended? Really? Why? If he'd been alive, he'd have been there--with bells on.

But he wasn't there. He dedicated DL, not WDW.