I heard the GE

[NHMickey]

was no longer going to sponser Illuminations. Any one hear this and who will take it over? I have also heard Fed Ex is no longer going to do Space Mountain. looks like Amex and ATT have started a trend...

 

[caseymaureen]

Somewhat related...what is the deal with the sponsors anyways? Sure, they get their name on the sign and they get to place their products in the attraction, but do we really need that? There are too many commericlas as it is, we don't need them when we're just trying to ride a roller coaster, etc. Why doesn't Disney sponsor their own things instead of always leaving it to someone else to write the check? Disney's getting the money at the ticket booth, not the sponsors. Stop selling out on the Disney name or eventually we'll all be going to GE, Microsoft, FedEx, American Express, McDonalds World.

 

[Spectro is #1]

Here is the story from the orlando paper

http://www.orlandosentinal.com/business/custom/tourism/orl-cfbtoursty24022403feb24,0,6535393.story?coll=orl%2Dbusiness%2Dheadlines%2Dtourism

The sponsorship of Disney attractions is nothing new.
Walt couldn't have built Disneyland without sponsors.

Sponsorship of an attraction is no different than that of a sporting event. How many people choose to use UPS because they sponsor a NASCAR team?
Do you go to Staples because they sponsor a stadium?

It is simply about exposure

 

[caseymaureen]

True. I've never really thought about stadium and team sponsorship in the same way before, however, the stadiums at least are usually either going to be built by a cash strapped local government or a corporation. I understand why the government would want to hand the payments off to a company in exchange for a name change. And, I understand that Walt needed spnosorship to get Disneyland off the ground, but the parks could certainly support themselves now. The parks, and Disney in general, isn't a cash-strapped municipality. Sure, they've got a tight budget, but they make millions and probably billions every day.

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by caseymaureen
Somewhat related...what is the deal with the sponsors anyways? Sure, they get their name on the sign and they get to place their products in the attraction, but do we really need that? There are too many commericlas as it is, we don't need them when we're just trying to ride a roller coaster, etc. Why doesn't Disney sponsor their own things instead of always leaving it to someone else to write the check?

Weren't sponsors a "Walt thing?" There were sponsors at Disneyland when it opened, weren't there? Monsanto, etc.

 

[WDWHound]

Originally posted by WDSearcher
Weren't sponsors a "Walt thing?" There were sponsors at Disneyland when it opened, weren't there? Monsanto, etc.

Yup, Walt was big into sponsors. In fact, he probably couldn't have afforded to build Disneyland without them. Sponsorship brings valuable dollars to help build and maintain a ride and the sponsor gets to associate his name with your happy vacation experiences. Its a win/win when done well.

Sponsorship of rides does not have to be a bad thing . The original version of Space Mountain was one big RCA commercial, but they mixed the message so well into the theme of the ride that it was not offensive. Remember that perky chorus singing "Here's to the future and you!" and "RCA leads the way" as you exited the house of future living at the end of Space Mountain?

Unfortunately, Disney has decided sponsors should have to help a whole lot more. So much so, that they expect sponsors to pay for all or nearly all of an attraction's construction and maintenance costs, while declining crowds means the sponsor gets less exposure in return. In short, Disney is charging more and offering less. Is it any suprise sponsors are jumping ship in droves?

 

[Spectro is #1]

Also from the story I linked:

Disney recently signed two new sponsors for Wide World of Sports facilities that didn't previously have advertisers. The baseball field where the Atlanta Braves play their spring exhibition games was named Cracker Jack Stadium for Frito-Lay's famous snack.

And the Milk Council, a national trade group, has become the nearby gymnasium's recent brander -- paying to have it named "The Milk House."

The Milk House? YUK

 

[KMovies]

It really isn't just at Disney parks either, it is at the regional Six Flags and Paramount Parks as well. I really don't mind. If GE doesn't want it's name announced every 10 mintes ... Because GE brings good things to light, Reflections on Earth will start in 10 minutes. that's OK.

 

[Dznefreek]

Every major park has sponsors, WDW, DL, TDS, SW, IOA, USF, all SF Parks, all Busch Parks.

It's nothing new just a way for the parent company to defray costs.

 

[Spectro is #1]

Yes but remember

"It was all started by a mouse"