And now they LIED about the Mickey Statues?

[UltimateWDWFan]

(first, let me say that I'm going to change my User ID; I'm no longer a fan of anything Disney, and I don't care what happens to it; like Alexander and his terrible, horrible, no-good, very-bad day, I think I'll go to... Australia!)

I just read that someone pulled the plug on the 75 Mickey Statues at WDW after Disney had widely advertised that they would be there until April. That is absolutely unimaginable and unconscienable! What about all the people who booked their non-refundable transportation plans (and who knows what else) in the expectation of seeing them? Do they think I'm just going to go to WDW anyway and have a good time without the constant cloud over my head that, after all, I don't get to see the Mickey Statues? What a monstrous bait-and-(not even a "switch," just nothing)!

I feel really sorry for all the cast member who are going to have to put up with all the unhappy unsatisfied "guests" who will have their bubble burst. (In an attempt not to take it out on the wrong person, can someone please tell me WHO at Disney I should vent this frustration at? It seems that, unfortunately, whoever it is doesn't care a wit!)

And don't tell me that I can see them "on tour." I just got the mailing on that, and it seems that they will be in several different cities at the same time, which only stands to reason that there will not be all 75 Mickeys in one place "on tour."

I'd like to try to catch them at Disneyland, but... why in the world would I get a second plane ticket and all that? Who's to say they wouldn't pull them again? "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me!"

Sign me

Used2BultimateWDWfan
goin' to Sydney instead!

 

[Planogirl]

Uh-oh. When are they actually leaving? Any explanation as to why they changed the dates?

I feel for you and be sure to let Disney know how you feel about this.

 

[caseymaureen]

That's just rediculous. It's one thing to cancel something that people didn't like, but a totally different thing to cancel something that was highly advertised and that people had made plans on. Shame.
Definitely make your feelings known to the company, but don't take them out on any unsuspecting CMs, some of them are probably as dissapointed as you.

Just to clarify: I had only heard a little about the statues and had not made any plans based on them, I was just saying that at least one person, the original poster, had made plans, and that the statues were advertised as being a large part of Mickey's birthday celebration. They are also featured in the company's 2003 annual report, in a photo and caption on page 5. It all comes down to the fact that things shouldn't be advertised until a certain date and then ended early- if the dates are not firm then do not put an ending date so that people will know that whatever it is is not guaranteed to be there forever.

 

[Traveliz]

Where is the information about the statues leaving early?

Liz

 

[Dznefreek]

They are now leaving February 24, 2004. It is listed on the 75 Years of Mickey website. Click <a href="http://licensing.disney.com/Login/apps/loginpages/jsp/dcpdl/splash/MickeyCalendar.jsp"> here</a>. It now says 02/2004, but several CM's have posted the 24th as the last day.

Remember. . . . . . . . . Attraction times and availability are subject to change without notice.

So . . .<a href="http://licensing.disney.com/Login/apps/loginpages/jsp/dcpdl/splash/MickeyAllStatues.jsp"> take</a> a good look. . . .

 

[Chuck S]

The site you listed is licensing and press releases, probably a site intended for use by the media. Disney.com still lists the event as being through April 2004 at WDW. Now the question is which is the more accurate site? Since Disney.com actually lists the tour schedule, it is probably more accurate than a marketing/press release area.

Disney.com site

 

[cristen]

Where exactly are they all going to be on display? It just says WDW resort.

 

[OnWithTheShow]

Looks like someone called from upon high and requested the statues....(ME? The shareholder meeting?) Doesnt sound like WDW Management is happy about their departure...




Mickey statues to depart property on Feb. 24
Date: 02/20/2004

Below is a message from Disney Consumer Products regarding the Celebrate Mickey: 75 InspEARations tour's departure from the Walt Disney World Resort on Feb. 24. (The statues originally were scheduled to leave property at the end of April.)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In November 2003, The Walt Disney Company kicked off a celebration of the 75th anniversary of Mickey Mouse's debut in Steamboat Willie by unveiling Celebrate Mickey: 75 InspEARations, a collection of 75 six-foot, 700 pound Mickey statues decorated by Disney Legends, musicians, athletes, actors and artists.

The statues have been on display at the Magic Kingdom Park Main Entrance since Nov. 18, and will leave for a special event before embarking on tour of several U.S. cities. Company leaders will announce details of the tour in early March.

While the statues have been wildly popular with our Guests and Cast, all 75 have been invited to a very special event at another location, which has resulted in their early departure.

The last day to view the statues at the Walt Disney World Resort will be Feb. 24th.

We are thrilled with how the statues have been received at Walt Disney World by our Guests and our Cast. Their presence will be missed.

The Mickey statues will begin their U.S. cities tour in May, the details of which will be announced by leaders in early March.

Guests and Cast Members will have another opportunity to view the statues when they visit the Disneyland Resort during the tour.

At the conclusion of the tour, the statues will be auctioned off to raise money for each artist's selected charity.

 

[KNWVIKING]

The obvious bet is ME is putting them on display in Philly, but I'm wondering if there isn't a military connection.

 

[Chuck S]

I forgot about the stockholder meeting. Yes, that would be a logical reason. However...it is too bad they won't be returned to WDW after the meeting for display until the end of April. Maybe they'll be going through a touch-up and refurbishment prior to departing on the tour. I know here in Texas we have the "Cow Parade"...similar idea with bovine statues, and the abuse some of these take being on display

 

[OnWithTheShow]

military connection????

 

[hulabird]

I know the statues are coming to Chicago because it has been advertised here for the last couple of weeks.

 

[HauntedMansionFan]

So the OP is getting all worked up over statues? Am I understanding this correctly? I've seen the statues, they are interesting, and by interesting I mean "oh look we are on our way out of the park let's look at those as we walk by", but certainly nothing to plan a vacation over as the OP implied. There was an article that mentioned they were

wildly popular with our Guests and Cast

I didn't see any lining up to look at them, to be honest I didn't see anyone else looking at them period. Besides me and my partner on the way out of the park.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I always see guests having their pictures snapped with the statues. Usually that is the first oooohhhhh and aaahhhhhh from guests at MK.
But someting to plan a vacation around? Interesting, but not stupendous. To each his own.
Disney's plans and policies are as firm as jello. I wouldn't want to plan any vacation around one particular thing they promise.
I don't agree with what they do and how they do it. Unless something foreseen happened I think they should have left them until their designated time also.

 

[Dznefreek]

The site you listed is licensing and press releases, probably a site intended for use by the media. Disney.com still lists the event as being through April 2004

The licensing site had April 2004 up until Friday, then it changed.

 

[Cris]

I never knew they were "highly advertised". Only if you are a disney fan would you know about them.

 

[Lewisc]

I can't imagine it would have cost very much money for Disney to just produce a second set of Mickey's. Let the original stay in WDW (even longer than planned) and let the second set go to the board meeting and then travel.

 

[Chuck S]

By producing a "second set" they would be of less value to the bidders. They would no longer be unique and "one of a kind".
By displaying them at the stockholders meeting...it may actually help the charity for which they are being auctioned. Often it is these large investment corporations, or the "upscale" individual investors that bid on these type of objects.

 

[Another Voice]

"So what if they go away. I don’t want to see a bunch of statures. Who cares?"
Chip

"Wonders of Life is boring, so it's okay it's closed most of the time. Who cares?"
Chip

"Big deal – you have to wait a couple hours for Adventureland to open. Who cares?"
Chip

"I can see everything I want to see in six hours, only spoiled people complain about the park closing early. Who cares?"
Chip

"You're just nit-picking about burnt out light bulbs and peeling paint. Only negative people see those things. Who cares?"
Chip

"If you don't want to wait an hour for a bus with your kids, don't whine - leave before the fireworks. Who cares?"
Chip


Yea – you don't care.
Just wait a bit and Disney will get around to you too.

 

[tfc3rid]

I agree that its not a good move...

Maybe they are going to the Oscars...