Does this happen on any Disney ship, ever?

[squirk]

'Cause if it doesn't, this photo really irritates the crap out of me. I have never done a Very Merrytime sailing, but I strongly suspect that this photo is 100% b.s.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

'Cause if it doesn't, this photo really irritates the crap out of me. I have never done a Very Merrytime sailing, but I strongly suspect that this photo is 100% b.s.

Well, don't know that Santa roams the ship like the other characters, he is onboard.

That being said, I don't know why you couldn't see Santa in some random spot. Unlike the parks where the characters can appear magically in random spots around the park (those tunnels they use), the characters on the ship must use public areas to get from one place to another.

 

[DisneyWonder'09]

'Cause if it doesn't, this photo really irritates the crap out of me. I have never done a Very Merrytime sailing, but I strongly suspect that this photo is 100% b.s.

Well, don't know that Santa roams the ship like the other characters, he is onboard.

That being said, I don't know why you couldn't see Santa in some random spot. Unlike the parks where the characters can appear magically in random spots around the park (those tunnels they use), the characters on the ship must use public areas to get from one place to another.

Yes the photo is for marketing purposes only! No way a deserted deck, one child with santa!

princesschmoo I've seen the characters appear from crew only areas before so they do not have to just walk thru public areas to get everywhere. it is not like they walk from he theater to the restaurants! The crew only areas and corridors are the same as the parks tunnels!

 

[Sytrace]

On Deck 4 midship starboard side (by the Connect at Sea desk but outside by theloungers) they have a cast member only entrance and exit where the characters step in and out of. I have seen, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Maxx, Pluto, Donald, Jake (Disney JR) Sophia, Peter Pan, Capt Hook and Smee come out to walk around to their meet and greet destinations. They stop along the way to high five, shake hands and give hugs...but must be moved along quickly.

 

[dclpluto]

On one of my merry time Christmas cruise santa was in a stateroom a couple doors down from me. Instead of saying hi, he will say merry Christmas. He had on regular clothes except at the events they had santa at. It was the same person.

 

[squirk]

Well, don't know that Santa roams the ship like the other characters, he is onboard.

That being said, I don't know why you couldn't see Santa in some random spot. Unlike the parks where the characters can appear magically in random spots around the park (those tunnels they use), the characters on the ship must use public areas to get from one place to another.

Yes, I am aware that Santa is on the ship. "Seeing" him is one thing, but I highly doubt anyone gets to kick back with some leisurely one-on-one time with Santa, enjoying cookies while lounging in a couple of deck chairs on a deserted Deck 12.

Just like how the WDW commercials show a kid holding hands with Mickey, skipping toward the castle in an empty Magic Kingdom. Disney marketing would probably say they are trying to be "evocative". I would call it "manipulative", which wouldn't be so bad if it weren't also patently deceptive.

 

[OKW Lover]

...and to burst yet another bubble, you won't see Mickey waterskiing at CC.

 

[Sytrace]

...and to burst yet another bubble, you won't see Mickey waterskiing at CC.

That would be something though.

 

[squirk]

...and to burst yet another bubble, you won't see Mickey waterskiing at CC.

What?!?

<lower lip trembling, eyes welling up>

THERE IS NO GOD!!!

 

[over50visits]

Unlike the parks where characters walk through public areas unless they come in from the park public boundaries, shipboard characters have the choice of walking around (I have seen princesses use the decks to visit folks), or they can use any of many crew area entrances. If they use one of those, they just seem to materialize (we saw Peter Pan literally come out of nowhere once).

Only one park has "tunnels" of course, and there are not very may tunnel entrances at all. They also require climbing some stairs, something some costumed characters can't always do.

Santa walking around? Yep. Been there. But, unlike this really deceptive photograph, he had a lot of rug rats following him around and a LOT of cameras snapping away.

 

[professorandmom]

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

 

[PurplePencil]

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

Good point, after looking at the pic a little more it appears more of a green screen effect. Whoops, someone in marketing didn't do their homework

 

[squirk]

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

Good point, after looking at the pic a little more it appears more of a green screen effect. Whoops, someone in marketing didn't do their homework

I can forgive incorrect deck chairs. But why give kids false expectations about getting to hang with Santa like that?

 

[dclpluto]

I can forgive incorrect deck chairs. But why give kids false expectations about getting to hang with Santa like that?

$$$$$$

 

[squirk]

$$$$$$

Well, yes, but I guess I was speaking from a "truth in advertising" perspective. I wonder if and how often they get complaints about this kind of thing.

 

[Dug720]

I'd say I would hope most people know the difference with publicity photos (I know my food has never looked exactly the same at restaurants as the pictures I see in advertisements or even on the menu), but then again we are dealing with people who don't always think logically. (Otherwise there wouldn't be stupid things like "But they said 300 calories in the burrito" when it was clearly the chorizo as 300 calories is less than any other burrito offered. Or "there was too much ice in my iced drink" when you can ASK for light ice.)

 

[squirk]

I'd say I would hope most people know the difference with publicity photos (I know my food has never looked exactly the same at restaurants as the pictures I see in advertisements or even on the menu), but then again we are dealing with people who don't always think logically. (Otherwise there wouldn't be stupid things like "But they said 300 calories in the burrito" when it was clearly the chorizo as 300 calories is less than any other burrito offered. Or "there was too much ice in my iced drink" when you can ASK for light ice.)

Given how much DCL courts first-timers - not just first-timers to DCL, but to cruising in general - I am not sure DCL is banking on illogic or stupidity as much as inexperience and naiveté. I can totally see a DCL novice not understanding that crowds and lines and chaos are present re: characters on cruise ships just like in the parks (though admittedly at a lesser magnitude). I can see people underestimating how 4,000 is still a lot of people to co-exist with, especially when every kid on the ship wants to see Santa.

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.

Don't get me wrong - I know no one is going to be scarred for life by this false advertising. It's just that it's dishonest and wholly unnecessary. You could show 100% honest and realistic photos and videos of a Disney cruise, and families would still be beating a path to your door.

 

[Dug720]

Given how much DCL courts first-timers - not just first-timers to DCL, but to cruising in general - I am not sure DCL is banking on illogic or stupidity as much as inexperience and naiveté. I can totally see a DCL novice not understanding that crowds and lines and chaos are present re: characters on cruise ships just like in the parks (though admittedly at a lesser magnitude). I can see people underestimating how 4,000 is still a lot of people to co-exist with, especially when every kid on the ship wants to see Santa.

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.

Don't get me wrong - I know no one is going to be scarred for life by this false advertising. It's just that it's dishonest and wholly unnecessary. You could show 100% honest and realistic photos and videos of a Disney cruise, and families would still be beating a path to your door.

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.

 

[lillygator]

Yes, I am aware that Santa is on the ship. "Seeing" him is one thing, but I highly doubt anyone gets to kick back with some leisurely one-on-one time with Santa, enjoying cookies while lounging in a couple of deck chairs on a deserted Deck 12.

Just like how the WDW commercials show a kid holding hands with Mickey, skipping toward the castle in an empty Magic Kingdom. Disney marketing would probably say they are trying to be "evocative". I would call it "manipulative", which wouldn't be so bad if it weren't also patently deceptive.

We "opened" toon town (when it was still there) plenty of times with mickey Donald and goofy holding my kids hands skipping toward that area of the park, so yes it does happen.

Op, why would that photo piss you off?

 

[Saimaeve]

Ehhh, Is this a specific thing that happens? Doubtful. But I don't think even kids think; "Yes, I want exactly that situation to happen" Do unexpected things happen? Yes.

Last year I was on deck reading and not paying any attention to what was going on around me when Goofy sat in the deck chair next to me a quick minute and pretended to be reading something.

Another time, Donald was walking through the adult pool area and stood by the pool with his handler and teased me about my sunburn.

We were in line for something and Minnie came up behind my daughter and looked out on the crowd with her.

There is much more free movement for the characters on ship.

Complaining that exact situations in marketing material is just like those people that complain because their burger doesn't look exactly like it does in the photo...

I've seen several averts showing the pool empty during peak afternoon. Doesn't mean I'd assume it is exactly like that.