New Universal Commercial? Kinda Rude...

[Sylvester McBean]

I haven't seen the commercial but I will be looking forward to it since sometimes I think those things (but would never say them). Personally if I see one more character autograph book it will be one too many!!!! Just one more of those things "I just don't get!". My family enjoys the active entertainment, thrill rides activity at Universal these days since my kids are older now. As far as offending Disney loving people "you can only be offended if you allow yourself to take offense." A little sarcasm or cynicism is what really will appeal to this older child, teenage, young adult target market that they are looking for. I really doubt that the slight bratiness will make people not go to Universal. In the big scheme of things there are so many truly offensive advertisements out there that a little bit of faux bratiness seems like nothing to get worked up about.

So now the big question, why do so many people feel so defensive about anything and everything Disney.? The fact is that it is a highly profitable commercial entity. I would feel worse about how little they (as well as all theme parks) pay their employees. Could someone support a family while playing Mickey Mouse or any character for that matter? I think of the billions of dollars that are spent on all that warm fuzzy Disney advertising while the CMs aren't paid enough to support families. That is what I find really annoying and offensive about all of those Ads, Universal as well as Disney!

so right on many levels. I'm at work right now, and I love this thread because I knew this commercial would upset people for whatever reason. my team is working on a new summer advertising campaign for a large home improvement chain. the first rule is 'sell your product every second, because someone is out there unselling it every second". UO is simply 'unselling' WDW. one of the greatest commercials is from pepsi. 2 delivery drivers sitting next to each other at the holidays. coke drivers offers a drink to the pepsi driver. pepsi driver offers a drink to the coke driver. coke driver refuses to give the pepsi back, and a fight ensues. it all falls back to 'try it, you might like it'.

 

[jctwizzer]

[QUOTE.? The fact is that it is a highly profitable commercial entity. I would feel worse about how little they (as well as all theme parks) pay their employees. Could someone support a family while playing Mickey Mouse or any character for that matter? I think of the billions of dollars that are spent on all that warm fuzzy Disney advertising while the CMs aren't paid enough to support families./QUOTE]

Many of the most visible CM's are in entry level positions and, like most
places, those jobs don't require much experience or skill and naturally
wont pay enough to support a family. Looking around a many of the CM;s these days, it's opvious they're supplementing retirement income!!

On the other hand, I know of one ten year food service employee who supports himself quite well; and another who appears as several characters in the shows and does really well/
And if you think Disney is highly profitable, perhaps you should buy the stockand participate in all those profits. --- it's the American way.

 

[jarestel]

The Universal spot is supposed to be funny, so no need to take it too personally. Actually, it is kind of true that many kids don't give a hoot about princesses or storybook characters and rides like those in FantasyLand. And the Disney parks do tend to close somewhat early most of the year. So, point made ( and taken ) with a bit of humor.

But it hasn't convinced me to go to Universal on my next trip!

 

[d4est]

This is all too funny. I obviously like Disney...going tomorrow (yay!). But honestly, to get so worked up over a commercial? Just seems like a waste of energy. I did laugh at it. Thinking of DS who is 8 & hates anything pink, princessy, or barbie related. Of course, he is out-of-his-pants CRAZY-excited about our trip, princesses or not.

 

[Pluto14]

Honestly, my first thought was "maybe Disney will come out with a great package to counter this deal", after I heard the part in the UO ad that said, "Kids stay, play, and eat FREE".

Yes, I thought there was a little "jab" at WDW, too.

 

[Tinkim]

I have to admit I didn't really like it either when I saw it today. I think it was because I would be very sad to hear any of those sentiments coming out of my kids' mouths. I think people are offended because even though Disney is a multi-billion dollar company it still holds a special place in Disney lover's hearts who know the story of Walt Disney and grew up watching The Wonderful World of Disney and Disney movies and dreamed of going there one day. I think Universal would be a nice place to go but I haven't been there yet because it just lacks that "something special" that I find in Disney. Hopefully my kids won't ever get sick of going there because then I will have to take my best friend who gets Disney and leave the kids at home.

 

[kimbac3]

I wasn't really offended by it. I was just stunned at the outward-ness of it. Isn't Shrek a fairytale...and Dr.suess...I was just kind of like.."Oh no they didn't" (to steal a phrase from my kids).
By the way.. the parents in superhero costumes...not a pretty sight!
Kimba

 

[Kimberly815]

I haven't seen it yet. But you can bet that I will be looking for it now!

 

[peter11435]

And the Disney parks do tend to close somewhat early most of the year.

Um, just so you know the Universal parks close earlier than Disney nearly every night of the year. Tonight for example Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure both close at 6.00 pm. While Magic Kingdom is open untill 8, Epcot 9, and MGM 7. The only Disney park that closes earlier than Universal tonight is AK.

 

[WaltD4Me]

This is all too funny. I obviously like Disney...going tomorrow (yay!). But honestly, to get so worked up over a commercial?

I don't think anyone is worked up...I did laugh at the little girl going to hurl,
I was just commenting on the commercial, but am nothing close to "worked up about it."

I'm not defensive towards Disney either. I would have thought the same things if the Universal commercial would have been directed at Sea World and I've never even been there. I only posted about here because it was about Disney.

Also, I agree the Disney Superhero commercials are pretty lame, but I didn't even think about Universal, I thought the commercials came out of the Sky High movie, you know super hero parents who send their kids to Sky High to be become super heros?

 

[cruiserkaren]

I haven't seen it yet. But you can bet that I will be looking for it now!

No kidding, I'm going to turn on the TV and just let it play. I want to see what all the fuss is about.

 

[liznboys]

I haven't seen that exact commercial, but didn't Universal have other ones in the past with the same goal (to make Disney sound bad)? I remember seeing atleast one. I understand what you mean, Lisa, I don't like them either. For me it has nothing to do with being defensive about Disney, I'm just turned off by anyone cutting down on others to make themselves look better...what a turn off! I am with you, it sure doesn't make me want to go there! I wouldn't like it if Disney did the same thing. I've seen the super hero Disney commercials, and I never thought they were making fun of Universal?? I don't see that at all. Disney has super heros just like Universal does.

 

[GalDisney]

Universal does this because. They are trying to compete with Disney. they know they cannot ever compete with the popularity of WDW, so they have to make a "dig" at them. UO attendance was down 8 percent this year, while WDW was way up, so Universal has to do something the get people in their gate. Let them try, but they will never beat WDW.

 

[ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!]

Also, I agree the Disney Superhero commercials are pretty lame, but I didn't even think about Universal, I thought the commercials came out of the Sky High movie, you know super hero parents who send their kids to Sky High to be become super heros?

there you go, that makes a lot of sense too...

 

[peter pan217]

i hate universal even though i haven't been i am 12 and about the age UO targets and i rather hug a princess then go on one of there rides anyway i can't go a day in orlando without going to wdw

 

[Dznefreek]

It is a commercial and nothing more. It did its' job and it at least got non-USF folks talking about it.

I take great offense at the WDW commercial saying be a hero to your kids blah, blah, blah. . . . . Does that mean my kids will think less of me if I do not take them?!?!?!?! Talk about pressure.

 

[grimley1968]

I haven't seen the ad, so obviously I can't be offended by it. But listening to the description of it, it sounds like another lame UO ad to me. I've never seen an ad of theirs that makes me want to go to UO. For one thing, they are negative about WDW. Negativity about competitors gets you nowhere with me. Sell me YOUR product, and don't say a word about the competitors, or even imply it. Also, I can't remember a UO ad I've seen that actually touts their actual experience the way WDW does. I mean, remember those ads a couple of years ago with a) Frankenstein's monster painting some woman's toenails by the pool, or b) these women that turned into some sort of superhero on some made up picture of a ride? Those ads made no sense to me. The Frankenstein one I actually found a bit icky, to be truthful. The superhero moms, to me, had nothing to do with making me want to go to UO. I just found the commercials to be too obnoxious to try to decipher whatever message they were imparting. The only thing I like about some of the UO commercials is the cool Cheap Trick song they play. But no amount of Cheap Trick songs is going to get me through UO's gates. Disney commercials are much more simple, direct, obvious and tout their own product better. I don't think the recent "hero parents" commercials are a dig at UO. However, at least those commercials advertise a week's stay at a Value for $1500.

I don't think most people are "offended" by the UO commercials. I'm not, but I do find them annoying. Again, sell your product without demeaning the competition and you'll do much better. I love the Capital One commercials with David Spade in them, although he is certainly obnoxious. But you know what I think now as a knee jerk reaction when I hear the name Capital One? They are the company with all those people that say "no", because that is the theme of their ads, even though they try (unsuccessfully) to show that that is what other credit card companies do. I think UO is running into the same problem. That is a shame, actually, because I do think they offer an experience unique from WDW and could sell it if they tried. But I haven't been there in about 8 or 9 years since we've had kids, and UO started their obnoxious commercials.

 

[d4est]

That's a shame, to "hate" something without trying it. Open-mindedness, pretty-pretty please...Universal is NOT a dirty word.

 

[bellelinus]

Personally I like WDW and UO (although I find that there is more at WDW to keep us entertained more often and for longer stretches of time). My kids and I have commented while at UO that they seem to make a lot of cracks about Disney (insulting people who are wearing WDW shirts, etc.) and we wish they wouldn't -- they are neat parks in their own right and shouldn't have to put another down to promote themselves.

That being said, I can certainly see that the point of advertising is to attract people's attention, and this might work for them.

 

[I_Believe_In_Faries]

i thought it was horrible. i wasnt amused at all. i thought it was bad marketing for them and gave diseny a bad name. i mean really if disney wasnt here do you think THEY would have been? who started this orlando thing? Walt DISNEY (yes folks disney) and a little help from a mouse name Mickey did. Universal needs to come up with something that markets towards there park not towards others.

-DISNEY WORLD VACATION IN 15 DAYS-