Does this happen on any Disney ship, ever?

[squirk]

I do see what you're saying, but DCL is hardly alone in this...

Universal is just as guilty with their Harry Potter lands advertising. Can pretty much guarantee you're never going to see this...

or this...

or even this...

which is nowhere NEAR as crowded as I've ever seen it.

Absolutely. I did not mean to imply DCL was alone in this.

The low (not non-existent) crowds pictured at WWoHP - I guess I find that less egregious because that isn't a black swan event. That can happen (at least for an hour or two) many mornings if you go at rope drop and/or use Early Access, especially during non-peak season.

The Santa thing? I guess I find it worse because it is so prominently displayed on the DCL site to hawk the Very Merrytime cruises, yet really does appear to be a black swan event that could only happen if all eight planets aligned during a full Moon on a Leap Day that falls on a Thursday. Maybe I am wrong?

I don't see the burger analogy as the same. With the burger, you do get a bun, the meat, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, ketchup, etc. It's just not packaged as attractively as the photo. With Santa, you don't get extended one-on-one time like that, curled up on a deck chair enjoying a cookie and chatting away with no one else in sight. If seeing Santa is the "all-beef patty" in the analogy, I submit that the odds are infinitesimal that you will also get the "bun," "cheese" or any of the "condiments".

I grant you, the line between puffery and deception is a subjective matter of degree. All I am saying is that, for me, this photo crosses that line, especially when directed at kids.

If DCL is using that large-and-in-charge photo to boost VM bookings, that is unrealistic to the point of being dishonest. And if that photo has no real impact on bookings, then why use it at all?

 

[Dug720]

Absolutely. I did not mean to imply DCL was alone in this.

The low (not non-existent) crowds pictured at WWoHP - I guess I find that less egregious because that isn't a black swan event. That can happen (at least for an hour or two) many mornings if you go at rope drop and/or use Early Access, especially during non-peak season.

The Santa thing? I guess I find it worse because it is so prominently displayed on the DCL site to hawk the Very Merrytime cruises, yet really does appear to be a black swan event that could only happen if all eight planets aligned during a full Moon on a Leap Day that falls on a Thursday. Maybe I am wrong?

I don't see the burger analogy as the same. With the burger, you do get a bun, the meat, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, ketchup, etc. It's just not packaged as attractively as the photo. With Santa, you don't get extended one-on-one time like that, curled up on a deck chair enjoying a cookie and chatting away with no one else in sight. If seeing Santa is the "all-beef patty" in the analogy, I submit that the odds are infinitesimal that you will also get the "bun," "cheese" or any of the "condiments".

I grant you, the line between puffery and deception is a subjective matter of degree. All I am saying is that, for me, this photo crosses that line, especially when directed at kids.

If DCL is using that large-and-in-charge photo to boost VM bookings, that is unrealistic to the point of being dishonest. And if that photo has no real impact on bookings, then why use it at all?

Perhaps the last picture at their early openings. But the ONE family with NO ONE ELSE in the picture? Or the one on one attention in the store with only a couple of others? Maybe if you are the very first one and get it in like one minute.

I guess it just doesn't bother me because it would have never occurred to me even as a kid that I'd ever get one on one time - even at the mall there are others around. And there are plenty of other pictures for everything that show things idealized. Even on college promotional literature which I know first hand from being part of a shoot for my campus. I can tell you we NEVER had little study groups under trees - and definitely not dressed as we were in the pictures. And the dorm set they used? No way was that accurate.

 

[bbel]

I don't see the burger analogy as the same. With the burger, you do get a bun, the meat, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, ketchup, etc. It's just not packaged as attractively as the photo. With Santa, you don't get extended one-on-one time like that, curled up on a deck chair enjoying a cookie and chatting away with no one else in sight. If seeing Santa is the "all-beef patty" in the analogy, I submit that the odds are infinitesimal that you will also get the "bun," "cheese" or any of the "condiments".

You could use your own argument about the burger for Santa: You do get Santa, in a chair, one on one with a child, and you could get a cookie and take it with you...Its just not packaged as attractively as the photo...

Just saying...

 

[squirk]

You could use your own argument about the burger for Santa: You do get Santa, in a chair, one on one with a child, and you could get a cookie and take it with you...Its just not packaged as attractively as the photo...

Just saying...

Fair enough. Again, a matter of degree. At what point do they push it across the line between "acceptable" and "unacceptable"?

You know what else I find unacceptable? The amount of energy I've expended on this today.

 

[bbel]

I think if someone goes on a cruise and expects everything to be exactly the same as they see in the promotional photos, then they're probably gonna be pretty disappointed.
I think if someone goes about life, expecting everything to be as it is in adverts, then they're gonna pretty disappointed.
I think if we're all honest - we see that photo and don't expect it to actually happen...

 

[Weedy]

I worked in EPCOT Guest Relations many moons ago. This picture was in the guide book it was a scene from the Horizon pravillion. You wouldn't believe the number of people who thought they could do this. We loved these people. NOT!!

 

[ElenaRN]

Plus, kids see this stuff, too. DCL shows these ads on all the various Disney channels, and even at the movie theaters now. And I don't think the kids should be held to the same level of savvy consumer as their parents might.

I understand marketing. But my 5yo DD was confused when I told her she was not going to be building sand castles with Captain Hook and Mr Smee like she saw on the commercial. Granted once we got on CC she was having so much fun she didn't even think about it.

 

[squirk]

I understand marketing. But my 5yo DD was confused when I told her she was not going to be building sand castles with Captain Hook and Mr Smee like she saw on the commercial. Granted once we got on CC she was having so much fun she didn't even think about it.

I know, right? CC is awesome enough - you don't need to use misleading advertising as a "lure".

They could show something more realistic in terms of character interaction and it would still look fantastic.

 

[over50visits]

I agree that we, as adults, have accepted that advertising is dishonest in the sense it does not represent what you are truly receiving.

The sad thing is that children have a trust that has to be slowly evolved into accepting advertising that is not honest. They see something like this on TV, believe that is what will happen, experience profound (in their young minds) disappointment, and have to learn that adults will deceive them to manipulate their wants.

Wish it weren't so. But as an adult I now understand and accept deceptions that I wish I didn't have to. We treasure our DCL cruises, and wish I didn't have to think about this.

 

[mmouse37]

Just to be rather picky - those chairs are from deck 4 (minus the comfy blue pads) and, clearly the photo was taken deck 12...so even without Santa, the photo is not possible
creative staging though

That was the first thing I noticed in the photo...those chairs are never seen on upper decks!!

MJ

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

This is all advertising everywhere. Please don't be those people who don't understand the difference.

 

[OrcaPotter]

Sure, the ads showing perfect temperatures with non-sweaty guests in a non-crowded scene chilling wth characters irk me, but I know they are staged ads. I saw a photo shoot at EPCOT actually a few years ago and a lot of work goes into these picturesque photos. It was a nuclear hot day so there were a ton of handlers with fans, cooling mists, and umbrellas to keep the actors looking clean and fresh.

Because the reality of sunburnt skin, sweat soaked hair, exhausted faces, all while cheek to cheek with a couple thousand other equally suffering tourists doesn't sell tickets. So DCL is no exception and it should be explained to kids what to actually expect.

 

[squirk]

I agree that we, as adults, have accepted that advertising is dishonest in the sense it does not represent what you are truly receiving.

The sad thing is that children have a trust that has to be slowly evolved into accepting advertising that is not honest. They see something like this on TV, believe that is what will happen, experience profound (in their young minds) disappointment, and have to learn that adults will deceive them to manipulate their wants.

Wish it weren't so. But as an adult I now understand and accept deceptions that I wish I didn't have to. We treasure our DCL cruises, and wish I didn't have to think about this.

Exactly. Thank you.

 

[wilkeliza]

Although that photo is totally staged, I do have photos with just me and stitch on deck 4. I was out there for awhile just relaxing and no one else was there. Stitch was headed back to break or end of shift so in no real rush.

On one of our cruises Peter Pan was running around the atrium.

I have also seen those that never happens photos at the parks to. It rarely happens but I've seen characters ride with kids or a special photo op by the castle but it still
isnt exactly like the promos. Heck in one they had main street completely backwards to the castle in the shot. So yes that one was impossible to ever make happen.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I think as adults we understand advertising vs reality. I just don't get worked up over it nor does it even enter my mind to expect things to be exactly as advertised no matter where I go. BTW, it's a great picture!

 

[lillygator]

This has to be a joke..

Come on.

 

[Dug720]

This has to be a joke..

Come on.

That or someone testing the waters to see how many would jump on a class-action suit.

(To note: I mostly kid. I don't think that was what @squirk meant to do. I just happened to read it the first time after hearing about the people trying to sue Chipotle because they couldn't read that it was the chorizo that was only 300 calories - or figure out that it would be absurd for a meat to make a burrito fewer calories than even a veggie one.)

 

[peter11435]

I think as adults we understand advertising vs reality. I just don't get worked up over it nor does it even enter my mind to expect things to be exactly as advertised no matter where I go. BTW, it's a great picture!

I think these are the types of people who need those "enlarged to show detail" disclaimers on food packaging.

 

[wombat_5606]

I think what @squirk is trying to point out is the fact that the illustrated situation is never going to happen and since Disney cruises are so popular(?), why advertise this bit of fantasy?

I don't think many adults believe this advertisement but I do believe some children do.

Thus, really the sad part about Disney advertising in this way.

The brand is unique and their target is children and their families. So sad they feel the need to dupe some people.

Perhaps if their advertising budget were less, they could cut families some relief in relation to their cruise fare.

 

[Saimaeve]

I think what @squirk is trying to point out is the fact that the illustrated situation is never going to happen and since Disney cruises are so popular(?), why advertise this bit of fantasy?

I don't think many adults believe this advertisement but I do believe some children do.

Thus, really the sad part about Disney advertising in this way.

The brand is unique and their target is children and their families. So sad they feel the need to dupe some people.

Perhaps if their advertising budget were less, they could cut families some relief in relation to their cruise fare.

but people still pay the fare. Why should Disney "relieve" the fare? You don't have to cruise so there is no reason a company should relieve the burden.