Official Airline of WDW

[Cfabar1]

For many years, Delta used to be the Official Airline of Walt Disney World. Is there an official airline currently? Delta used to have an even bigger base of operations in MCO, which allowed for a great partnership with WDW…. Does Disney have an air carrier partnership at present, and if so, what tie-ins are there?

If not, what would it take for Delta to be back into the fold? Seems to me it would be a great fit! Maybe Disney would pay for them to expand the SkyClub at MCO and make it even better!

 

[The Foolish Mortal]

Not aware of any currently

 

[lockets]

Does Disney have an air carrier partnership at present, and if so, what tie-ins are there?

Not sure if it’s a partnership, but they wrapped a Southwest plane for 50th anniversary.

https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2021...isney-world-southwest-50th-anniversary-plane/

 

[_19disnA]

Even when Delta used this term seemed like more of a marketing pitch that didn't really mean anything to the customers. Disney pays to also put their name/logo on several products I see in the grocery and not really sure what that accomplishes either.

 

[Lewisc]

If not, what would it take for Delta to be back into the fold? Seems to me it would be a great fit! Maybe Disney would pay for them to expand the SkyClub at MCO and make it even better!

I think being an official airline would require the airline paying Disney not Disney paying for airline services.

Delta would have to pay $$$$.

Edited to add 19disnA also has it reversed. Pretty sure food companies pay Disney a licensing fee.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I am going to guess the new 100th Anniversary will increase partnerships . Ultimately the guest customer pays .
Wouldnt you love to know the agreement with Starbucks on property?

 

[sam_gordon]

If not, what would it take for Delta to be back into the fold? Seems to me it would be a great fit! Maybe Disney would pay for them to expand the SkyClub at MCO and make it even better!

First, I agree 100% with @Lewisc... DELTA paid Disney to be the "Official Airline". Disney isn't paying them (and yes, same with the food). Second, 99%+ of every business decision is decided based on money. That's why ME went away. That's why there's no "official airline". For ME, the amount of money Disney would need to spend on the service wasn't "worth it" to continue. For the airline, the amount of money Delta spent to be called the "official airline" was no longer worth it.

I'm guessing between the advent of the internet (people can make their own plans, no longer needing a travel agent who would put a package together) and so many airlines, Delta just didn't see enough advantages do being the "Official Airline" to fork over the $$.

 

[_19disnA]

Regardless of who pays and the specific marketing arrangement, my main point was that I don't see what this accomplishes. Am I more like to fly Delta if they advertise Disney or buy some brand of cookies with a Disney logo???............probably not.

 

[OKW Lover]

The "official airline" (or "official car rental") companies are simply those that paid a fee to Disney to market themselves that way. Before Delta the official airline used to be Eastern. Right now there isn't one.

 

[OKW Lover]

Am I more like to fly Delta if they advertise Disney

That's what the airline would hope would happen. But since they decided to drop the affiliation it might be that they didn't see the advantage.

 

[Stratman50th]

The "official airline" (or "official car rental") companies are simply those that paid a fee to Disney to market themselves that way. Before Delta the official airline used to be Eastern. Right now there isn't one.







I was just thinking that. When I was younger, it was Eastern like you said. Wow I feel old!

 

[Lewisc]

Regardless of who pays and the specific marketing arrangement, my main point was that I don't see what this accomplishes. Am I more like to fly Delta if they advertise Disney or buy some brand of cookies with a Disney logo???............probably not.

Some people might think Disney branding on food suggests Disney requires a higher quality. Some kids might be more likely to eat a Mickey shaped food item. I'm probably not more likely but if my grandkids ask for a Mickey ice cream sandwich....

Most posters don't remember, or weren't around, when Disney first had an official airline. Fares were regulated. We had a lot more airlines. Multiple airlines were flying the same route at about the time. Airlines were competing who had better food or prettier stewardesses. In that era being the official airline might have had some value.
Today the vast majority of leisure flyers book based on schedule (including number of stops) and price. I'm talking about airlines in the same category. Some people avoid ULCC such as Frontier for a variety of reasons.

 

[LadyBeBop]

However, being the official airline of Walt Disney World did mean something. Do y’all remember the dark ride in Tomorrowland, “If You Had Wings?” Sponsored by Eastern Airlines, it was one of my favorite rides. It was replaced in 1989 by “Delta’s Dreamflight,” sponsored by Delta. That was replaced in 1998 by the Buzz Lightyear ride.

 

[sam_gordon]

However, being the official airline of Walt Disney World did mean something. Do y’all remember the dark ride in Tomorrowland, “If You Had Wings?” Sponsored by Eastern Airlines, it was one of my favorite rides. It was replaced in 1989 by “Delta’s Dreamflight,” sponsored by Delta. That was replaced in 1998 by the Buzz Lightyear ride.

I remember the rides. They were basically ads for the airline IIRC.

 

[supersnoop]

Can you still book a whole trip, including airfare, through the Disney site? My understanding is that the "official" airline gets premium placement in the booking process. That's worth something to them.

 

[jo-jo]

However, being the official airline of Walt Disney World did mean something. Do y’all remember the dark ride in Tomorrowland, “If You Had Wings?” Sponsored by Eastern Airlines, it was one of my favorite rides. It was replaced in 1989 by “Delta’s Dreamflight,” sponsored by Delta. That was replaced in 1998 by the Buzz Lightyear ride.

Thank you. Racking my brain trying to think of Eastern Airlines. Remembered the ride, but not the name.

 

[kylenne]

Thank you. Racking my brain trying to think of Eastern Airlines. Remembered the ride, but not the name.

That song was such an earworm, just seeing the name of the ride put it in my head again.

 

[Cfabar1]

With the 100th Anniversary, I haven’t heard any news of Delta being the Official Airline…. Was hoping the 100th might have been the motivation for them to come back! I know they are expanding operations at MCO, which is wonderful… Maybe they won’t need to be official to make the sky club bigger and better…..

 

[beccasmom]

I had to laugh when I saw Eastern Airlines mentioned. We flew them from Philly for our earliest WDW trips in the early 80’s and the planes were wide-bodied L-1011 “Whisperliners”. In retrospect it was a larger than necessary aircraft for such a short flight (and no doubt eventually contributed to their later financial and operational issues), but it was nice. A far cry from today’s flights.

 

[fly girl]

I was working for said company at the tail end of the partnership with WDW. The only thing I remember sporadically seeing was Mickey masks for the kids. (They could have had more earlier, but I wasn't employed with them during the partnership.)

In today's world, being the official airline of anything sadly doesn't extend to significant perks for the passenger. It means an airline plunked down money for advertising. You may get some bundle deals, but the discounts likely won't be stellar.

Airlines know what customers want -- who is going to get them from Point A to Point B the fastest and cheapest. Being official airline for a theme park is not conducive to their bottom line. Similar to the same reason why so many sponsors have left Disney. They don't profit from it.

Delta won't leave MCO. Although after losing Delta Express and the short lived Song, the growth has not been huge. But, they have added international routes. My best guess, I would not expect exponential growth as their home is only a hour flight away in the busiest airport in the world, ATL.