Disney Parks emailed me!

[srferson]

I wasn't able to listen with the volume real high, so I couldn't hear your DH very well. Where did the girls think you were going for vacation?

 

[DizBelle]

I have a video on youtube showing where we surprised our kids with a Disney vacation :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxQXi7fU-oE

I got an email from someone who is in broadcast marketing wanting to use our video for "future promotions".

When I spoke to him on the phone, they are looking at making new tv commercials that show real families surprising, enjoying, etc...Disney parks. So, they want permission to use my video. They said they'll send me documents to look over and in return, we will receive a limited edition lithograph. They won't be sold but only used for this ad campaign.

What are your thoughts?

I guess I had my hopes up a little for something more than a lithograph. I mean maybe AP's or a vacation at least if my video is used in their commercials? I don't know. I get that it's an honor and all, but idk....

Ouch! You could have warned me. That hurt my ears...

 

[Geoff_M]

First off the poster who equated this type of litho with the free litho's when you buy a dvd is absurd. Limited edition ran litho's from disney can fetch 100's to well over 1000's of dollars.

I would agree it depends on what type of lithograph they are talking about. However, Disney pretty much markets every type of litho (even the free ones with DVDs) as "limited". As we say "Yeah, limited to as many as we can print!" Here's an example.

And no, I wouldn't put it past Disney to effectively offer next to nothing for the use of the video. Companies have gotten quite good at pulling off "rights grabs" for nothing. Read the fine print of the submission page for the next fan photo contest you see. You can almost bet that by making the submission you will be granting the owner of the site a permanent license to use your image free of charge for anything they see fit. Heck, even non-Disney run WDW-centric sites have gotten into the act.

 

[Mary•Poppins]

Really cute video! ... well, at least something is better than nothing

 

[foolishmortal]

I would agree it depends on what type of lithograph they are talking about. However, Disney pretty much markets every type of litho (even the free ones with DVDs) as "limited". As we say "Yeah, limited to as many as we can print!" Here's an example.

And no, I wouldn't put it past Disney to effectively offer next to nothing for the use of the video. Companies have gotten quite good at pulling off "rights grabs" for nothing. Read the fine print of the submission page for the next fan photo contest you see. You can almost bet that by making the submission you will be granting the owner of the site a permanent license to use your image free of charge for anything they see fit. Heck, even non-Disney run WDW-centric sites have gotten into the act.

true true, i guess i would give them benefit of the doubt

 

[krcit]

I would think of it this way...you made the video to capture a great moment and you did. It cost you nothing and now Disney wants to showcase your beautiful kids and the pure joy of the moment. I agree that they could offer you more than a lithograph but they didn't and if you decline there will be hundreds of other families who will gladly accept. My fear is that if you want to do this but try to play hardball Disney will say 'thanks but no thanks.'

 

[cappygirl]

Awesome video!! Your girls are adorable and that pizza was awesome!!

 

[sbell111]

I would think of it this way...you made the video to capture a great moment and you did. It cost you nothing and now Disney wants to showcase your beautiful kids and the pure joy of the moment. I agree that they could offer you more than a lithograph but they didn't and if you decline there will be hundreds of other families who will gladly accept. My fear is that if you want to do this but try to play hardball Disney will say 'thanks but no thanks.'

Agreed.

It should also be noted that the OP has already released the video to the world for free.

 

[WDSearcher]

I would think of it this way...you made the video to capture a great moment and you did. It cost you nothing and now Disney wants to showcase your beautiful kids and the pure joy of the moment. I agree that they could offer you more than a lithograph but they didn't and if you decline there will be hundreds of other families who will gladly accept. My fear is that if you want to do this but try to play hardball Disney will say 'thanks but no thanks.'

Agreed.

It should also be noted that the OP has already released the video to the world for free.

Both of these. Yes.

The OP's video is on YouTube -- it's already out there for free. Who knows how many people have watched it, shared it -- others probably even used your ideas in telling their own kids. OP put the video out there so people would see it, right? Now they have the option of having even more people see it on a nationwide scale. Isn't that kind of what they wanted when they put it on YouTube in the first place? But now, it's coming down to "what Disney owes me for my video."

If you want to make a counter offer, then make a counter offer. But realize that there are a whole lot of videos on YouTube, and that Disney may well say no. And when you see the finished commercial next year with everyone else's videos, you may regret not having yours be part of it.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I would ask for money or no deal, but that's just me.

 

[Stitchfans]

Wow, imagine that being asked to use your video Congrats.

 

[ccgirl]

I love it! I really wish I could keep a secret and surprise my DD. Each trip I plan I say I am not going to tell then as soon as I plan it I spill the beans.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

No advice, but that was too cute! Love their reactions!!! What adorable daughters you have!

 

[goofy4tink]

Cute video...wish I had thought of the MM pizza, very cool.
I guess I'm going to be in the minority and say that it's not as if Disney ran a competition and asked people to submit videos. Then, you would get something more than a lithograph for your 'entry'.
I've seen people being stopped in the parks and interviewed..my mother was one of them years ago. They told her she was just the right demographic for the 'older' guest, that takes the grandkids. She signed some form and that was that.
SO....you made a video, on your own, for your own use. You posted it on YouTube....someone at Disney saw it and would like to possibly use it in the future. If it were me, I would be thrilled just to have the video noticed and then possibly used. But, I wouldn't be playing 'stick-em-up' with Disney, trying to get as much as possible from them.
But, like I said, I'm in the minority here. If you feel that your video is worth more than what someone wants to 'pay' you for it, then don't do it. Or, you can ask for better compensation and see what they will do.

 

[Avalon_toon]

Really cute video! Wow, the screaming, lol! I think its understandable to wish for free tickets to the park, or something, but just seeing your girls' excitement on a Disney commercial would be cool in and of itself. A limited edition Litho is just a bonus, imo. Hope you have a great trip, and hope to see your girls screaming on TV sometime soon!

 

[Feralpeg]

I have a video on youtube showing where we surprised our kids with a Disney vacation :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxQXi7fU-oE

I got an email from someone who is in broadcast marketing wanting to use our video for "future promotions".

When I spoke to him on the phone, they are looking at making new tv commercials that show real families surprising, enjoying, etc...Disney parks. So, they want permission to use my video. They said they'll send me documents to look over and in return, we will receive a limited edition lithograph. They won't be sold but only used for this ad campaign.

What are your thoughts?

I guess I had my hopes up a little for something more than a lithograph. I mean maybe AP's or a vacation at least if my video is used in their commercials? I don't know. I get that it's an honor and all, but idk....

Sorry, but Disney is incredibly cheap when it comes to making their commercials. I don't mean that they are cheaply made commercials. They just don't want to pay anything for the people used in the commercials. Actors in Florida have very mixed feelings about booking with Disney. First of all, they make very little for a lot of work (often less than $300 for a several day shoot). Second, they must sign a total buyout contract. That means that Disney can use their image forever and they will never receive any additional compensation. To top it off, they often require the talent to sign saying they will not work for another Florida theme park...forever! They don't want their commercials to appear to use actors. Thus, they don't want the actors to work for any other park for fear someone might recognize them. Disney will only use the Florida talent once.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Sorry, but Disney is incredibly cheap when it comes to making their commercials. I don't mean that they are cheaply made commercials. They just don't want to pay anything for the people used in the commercials. Actors in Florida have very mixed feelings about booking with Disney. First of all, they make very little for a lot of work (often less than $300 for a several day shoot). Second, they must sign a total buyout contract. That means that Disney can use their image forever and they will never receive any additional compensation. To top it off, they often require the talent to sign saying they will not work for another Florida theme park...forever! They don't want their commercials to appear to use actors. Thus, they don't want the actors to work for any other park for fear someone might recognize them. Disney will only use the Florida talent once.

As far as not filming with competiton...I thought that was a rule most major clients had. I thought that is because of being prominently featured. So if one "stars" in a Universal Studios commercial, thye couldn't be featured in Sea World same as if they starred in a coke
commercial, pepsi can't use them.


As a side note for comparison, a student in dd's gymnastics class filmed a commercial for universal for Harry potter. She did a 2 day shoot and was paid $1000 per day plus overtime.

Disny definitely cheaps out on their talent.

As it stands--to get a free vacation for a commercial,you have to win the
superbowl and get MVP. They make you work really hard.


Op loved your video. Kind of extra funny to me since we are going to Williamsburg in September. Since I showed the kids your video, I think we will have to skip pizza before the trip. Because we are going to Williamsburg.

 

[sjs314]

I would be thrilled with Disney wanting to use my video, but on the same hand I feel a free litho is not much of an incentive to releasing the rights to said video. What would it cost Disney to offer a night in Cinderella's Castle, or rooms at a resort and park entrance for a few days, not a thing , I am not talking transportation to Florida or food, just a room and passes.

In any case enjoy your moment in the spot light and I will be waiting to see the next commercials, btw your girls are adorable and have good lungs

 

[DisneyJen0504]

I got the same email asking to use our disney video from youtube.

 

[Geoff_M]

But, I wouldn't be playing 'stick-em-up' with Disney, trying to get as much as possible from them.

It's not a matter of attempting "highway robbery". Disney didn't connect the OP because they were being friendly or just thought the video was "cute". They are interested in it because they realize that it has potential value to them. They hope to use it in their marketing in an attempt to get more people to visit their parks so they can make more money. It's about trying to get some "fair" compensation. Disney may say "no" and move on the next person who may be eager to give Disney valuable footage for free or next to free, but I noticed they don't have a problem asking people to pay to walk through their gates.

Also, remember that the video doesn't just save Disney some money (low) paying actors. It also saves them the cost of the production crew for that portion of any commercial they'd use it in.