DCA awareness.

[dshimel]

I live in Colorado Springs, and thought Dsiney had done a pretty good job of getting out the word on DCA. Guess I was wrong.

Today I was at the dentist. I was wearing one of the dozen WDW shirts i picked up at Belz mall last November. As I was leaving the dentist asked about it.

I told him I'd spent 8 days in WDW in November. He'd spent 4 days there some 6-7 years ago. The assistant then asked if 8 days was too much time at WDW. "Well, with 4 theme parks, 3 water parks, and a bunch of other stuff, no 8 days isn't enough."

She was shocked there were 4 theme parks at WDW. The dentest didn't know they'd opened one since he was there.

Here is the really shocking part. The assistant then said, that she'd seen a commercial where they'd opened yet another park in WDW just last month.

Um, no. That is California Adventure that they opened next to Disneyland in California. "Really?!?", was the response of both of them.

Is Disney really doing that bad of a job, or have people just gotten SOOOOO used to tuning out commercials?

 

[ChristaMcD]

I think it is people just tuning out commercials. I for one am amazed at the amount of publicity there has been for DCA. I guess it is just you pay more attention to things when you are intersted in it.

 

[Greg K.]

Here in New York, we're blitzed with DCA commercials -- Buzz peering over the hedge, the McDonald's tie-in with the mother and son screaming on the coaster -- but I don't think it's quite sunk in.

It's the first time I can remember EVER seeing commercials on the east coast for Disneyland; it's always Walt Disney WORLD that's being trumpeted. And people may just ASSUME it's another WDW park.

You also bring up an interesting point about perceptions of Disney World. Most of my friends can't BELIEVE my wife and I spend, on average, 10 - 14 days in Orlando each trip. Isn't it just for kids? What on earth do you DO? Then I tell them and they're FLOORED. Four parks? Twice the size of Manhattan? Nightclubs? Water parks? Golf? Shopping? You're kidding, right?

I can only shake my head in disbelief.

<font color=blue>
<font face="Alaska">"It's the time of your life, so live it well..."

Greg K.
Forest Hills, NY
Grand Floridian: '96,'97,'99
Disneyland Hotel: '00 </font>

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font face="Comic Sans MS"><font color=#6600CC>
::::hanging head::::

Okay, I admit it. Before I began planning our one & only trip to WDW in earnest back in '98, I had no idea what to expect when going to WDW. I was amazed to realize that Disneyland only fit in part of the Magic Kingdom, and that the parks were so widespread, and that there were so many resorts, waterparks, golf courses, etc. I was looking for a value resort, and thought the Wilderness Lodge was perfect since it was so rustic... then I saw the price.

I've come a long way since I saw the light.

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[Greg K.]

When my wife started planning our first trip, back in '96, she was SURE all the parks were within walking distance of each other. Just stroll over to Epcot from the Magic Kingdom! Ha!

Imagine her surprise -- and disillusionment -- when we got on property and went for MILES without seeing anything. "I feel like I'm on the New Jersey turnpike," she whimpered. "I had no idea!"

<font color=blue>
<font face="Alaska">"It's the time of your life, so live it well..."

Greg K.
Forest Hills, NY
Grand Floridian: '96,'97,'99
Disneyland Hotel: '00 </font>

 

[Judy from Boise]

well, my shock was a little different. Having grown up going to DL, we fantasied about someday going to WDW. We assumned that everything would be twice as good. It was such a shock to find out that many things were better at our little DL. we waited over 4 years to go back!

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[LuvTigger]

I think all of you have very valid points on this one!

I think that a lot of people who aren't the Disney fanatics that most of us are have a totally different perception of things. For example, I went to WDW with a group of friends in 1999, and as little as two weeks after returning, one of my friends was talking about Islands of Adventure (a Universal Park) as if it were part of WDW, and she'd just been there!!!

I've also heard a lot of people go into the Disney Store and ask for Tasmanian Devil or Bugs Bunny things.

Seems like some people just lump all theme parks and characters as one, regardless of the amount of advertising they do.

 

[DonnaRy]

Sounds like those people live in a cave and don't get out much! Don't they own a TV?? Here in Phoenix, if feels like they are running the DCA commercials twice every half hour or so.

Or maybe since we are all such big Disney fans, we're just more aware in general of what's going on with Disney.

Seems like the average non-fan, just doesn't care that much about it.

 

[swinginevilmike]

When I first started working at Universal I got a negative guest complaint because I didn't know that Space Mountain was originally a Universal ride!

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