Siemens ends sponsorship with Disney

[Moliphino]

They make a lot of tech....things. Like how I specifically answered your question?

I know they make electrical contactors and stuff. They obsoleted a bunch of electrical components on us with little warning, which caused some panic where I work (our products are configuration controlled and we can't just switch out parts without jumping through a lot of hoops).

 

[semperwdw]

Why does a corporation as huge and profitable as Disney even need another corporation to sponsor attractions?

 

[jknezek]

Why does a corporation as huge and profitable as Disney even need another corporation to sponsor attractions?

This is my point about Disney needing to take responsibility for their own attractions and their own profit. They don't need to. They want to because it helps defray the cost, but it also means time spent on contracts, maintaining sponsorships, finding new sponsorships, compromising with sponsors on attractions, and what we have seen is the failure of this model in EPCOT. Kodak killed Imagination, GM's demands for more and more product placement killed World of Motion and has turned most of Test Track into an ad. The faith in the model killed off Wonders of Life and Innoventions. It's a mess. Disney has to take control and responsibility for itself. Sponsorship may defray costs, but it's not working and hasn't been working for 2 decades and EPCOT has suffered badly because Disney is too cheap to have done what they needed to do.

 

[rteetz]

I wonder how long it will take them to declare a refurb just to take down the signage. I don't think the ride or fireworks show will be pulled down extensively, but I could see them at the least to take down the signs. No idea how long that would take as I don't remember how extensive are the sponsorship signage and part of the soundtrack. But you could get unlucky and have it closed for that kind of refurb and cleaning maybe. They aren't going to want to leave it up when they aren't getting the money.

Signage can be easily done overnight.

 

[rteetz]

Why does a corporation as huge and profitable as Disney even need another corporation to sponsor attractions?

Epcot has always had sponsors because it was a worlds fair type place. Worlds fairs always had sponsors to promote their products.

 

[jknezek]

Epcot has always had sponsors because it was a worlds fair type place. Worlds fairs always had sponsors to promote their products.

Yes, but even the modern World's Fair isn't what it used to be because that model has failed. The current World's Fairs aren't the spectacles they used to be, now they are issue based, more with seminars and sessions than grand attractions promoting the future to the masses. The World's Fair has mostly moved on, Disney hopefully is finally ready to do the same. 20+ years late, and well after many attractions have suffered.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Why does a corporation as huge and profitable as Disney even need another corporation to sponsor attractions?

It another revenue source and ensure the best profit margin on each area to maximize return to shareholders

Yeah, they don't "need"!it and they don't "need" to charge what they do for tickets but it is all about maximizing revenue

 

[SaharanTea]

It another revenue source and ensure the best profit margin on each area to maximize return to shareholders

Yeah, they don't "need"!it and they don't "need" to charge what they do for tickets but it is all about maximizing revenue

Same reason they "name" arenas and add logos to the cups you buy there. Mo money.

 

[OKW Lover]

A few of the PPs have touched on this: What does Siemens get out of its sponsorship? Brand recognition? I ask those questions as a set up for my proposition that they simply decided it wasn't worth it.

I'm retired from the utility industry so I at least had some knowledge of Siemens before they became a sponsor at WDW. Still, other than their utility gear, I couldn't tell you what they make. I may not be their target audience. But who is? Is the average WDW visitor going to be in the market for Siemens products? Can anybody tell me the last time they spotted a Siemens name on something they were looking to buy? If you did, was their sponsorship of WDW a factor in your purchasing decision?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

A few of the PPs have touched on this: What does Siemens get out of its sponsorship? Brand recognition? I ask those questions as a set up for my proposition that they simply decided it wasn't worth it.

I'm retired from the utility industry so I at least had some knowledge of Siemens before they became a sponsor at WDW. Still, other than their utility gear, I couldn't tell you what they make. I may not be their target audience. But who is? Is the average WDW visitor going to be in the market for Siemens products? Can anybody tell me the last time they spotted a Siemens name on something they were looking to buy? If you did, was their sponsorship of WDW a factor in your purchasing decision?

The only thing I can think of is that it helps when they promote themselves to other companies (as I see them more as B2B rather than B2C) by having that connection to Disney and what they then provide to Disney for electronic components.

Perhaps that is one reason they pitched to pay for redoing the monorails - so they could then promote what great work and capabilities they have from that work.

But I agree, as far as individual consumers seeing "Seimans" sponsors something at WDW, not sure what that does vs a GM or AT&T or Kodak or whatever

 

[umichigan10]

I know they make electrical contactors and stuff. They obsoleted a bunch of electrical components on us with little warning, which caused some panic where I work (our products are configuration controlled and we can't just switch out parts without jumping through a lot of hoops).

They do medical stuff as well, like electric medical stuff, I see their name sometimes in the warehouse I work at. They seem to be kinda all over the place

 

[joelkfla]

But I agree, as far as individual consumers seeing "Seimans" sponsors something at WDW, not sure what that does vs a GM or AT&T or Kodak or whatever

IMO, their initial intent was to build name recognition and public support for their involvement in High Speed Rail. They were in one of the consortiums trying to get the contract for HSR between Orlando and Tampa, which was looking like a sure thing until it was deep-sixed by Governor Scott. They had also put up billboards in Tampa promoting Siemens HSR. They are a world leader in HSR, and are providing the rolling stock for the privately-financed Brightline "higher-speed" rail under construction between Miami & Palm Beach, and hopefully extending to Orlando & beyond in the future. (It's not quite fast enough to earn the "high speed" designation.)

Now that government-sponsored HSR in FL is pretty much a dead duck, the sponsorship has lost its purpose.

 

[OSUZorba]

I'll be honest - I wonder how good of a use of funds it is ... I guess I am not sure what products Siemans makes that I might by and be like "hey, Siemans sponsors SEE so I am going to buy their product instead of another"

Siemans makes a ton of electrical components like controllers, sensors, relays, circuit breakers, etc. Even though they aren't the thing typical homeowners would go buy, they are used in thousands of different companies' products, so it is possible that those people would get a good feeling about Siemans at EPCOT. For example, the electrician that wired my house used a Siemens circuit break panel, there are at least five other brands he could have used some of them cheaper, but for whatever reason he picked the more expensive Siemens.

At a previous job I spec'ed out a lot of electrical control components, and bought a lot of Siemans stuff, as well as Allen Bradly and Honeywell. The biggest reason to pick one brand over the other is your experience with them, cost and your general feeling about them.

They also make one of the most popular CAD programs (UG NX), when someone is deciding between UG NX and SolidWorks, it may help if they feel like they "know" about Siemens when most people have probably never heard of Dassault Systemes.

Anyways, I bet the real reason for their sponsorship was what someone else said, they were bidding on a high speed rail project in the state and wanted to get their name out there. Probably the same reason they offered to redo the monorails, get people to think of them as THE train company.

 

[Roxyfire]

Anyways, I bet the real reason for their sponsorship was what someone else said, they were bidding on a high speed rail project in the state and wanted to get their name out there. Probably the same reason they offered to redo the monorails, get people to think of them as THE train company.

This is all really interesting, especially the monorail/HSR stuff. Was that a recent offer/decision?

 

[DLgal]

Why does a corporation as huge and profitable as Disney even need another corporation to sponsor attractions?

Disneyland has had corporate sponsors since Day 1. Every theme park has them.

It's a way for companies to showcase their products, get effective advertising that reaches huge numbers of people, and helps defray operating costs. The most obvious example of this is the Coca Cola contract. As the exclusive beverage provider to the world's most popular theme park empire, it's a home run for Coca Cola. You get tons of people consuming your products every year, and associating you with Disney. On Disney's end, Coca Cola provides ALL the products to them at NO CHARGE. Disney marks them up, sells them, and gets 100% profit. It's a win win.

The other sponsorships work in a similar way. Sponsor pays $$$$$....millions of people see it, and it trickles down.

 

[firefly_ris]

Can anybody tell me the last time they spotted a Siemens name on something they were looking to buy? If you did, was their sponsorship of WDW a factor in your purchasing decision?

We use Siemens circuit breakers in our home breaker panel. My husband does all of our home's electric himself though so maybe the "average" homeowner might not recognize that. But no, them sponsoring at WDW does not influence my purchasing activity.

 

[danikoski]

My theory on the monorail deal not working is two words: Gondola and Dopplemayr. I personally believe that after the gondola gets up and going, Disney and Dopplemayr may be looking at the monorail. And there may have been some friction on the Siemens end with that. It's a theory, and I may be totally wrong.

Although I think Disney should be able to have world class attractions without sponsorship, I wouldn't mind seeing Google sponsor SSE. I could see them doing some cool interactive things with the ride and the after show.

As an aside, World of Motion was sponsored by GM, who also initially sponsored Test Track. Now it's sponsored by Chevy.

 

[Delano Fiedler]

I've read some great ideas in this thread, so I'll just add my 2 cents and move on. Imo Disney could modify SSE to a BB8 model, just add a second ball over and paint it orange.

 

[afan]

My theory on the monorail deal not working is two words: Gondola and Dopplemayr. I personally believe that after the gondola gets up and going, Disney and Dopplemayr may be looking at the monorail. And there may have been some friction on the Siemens end with that. It's a theory, and I may be totally wrong.

Although I think Disney should be able to have world class attractions without sponsorship, I wouldn't mind seeing Google sponsor SSE. I could see them doing some cool interactive things with the ride and the after show.

As an aside, World of Motion was sponsored by GM, who also initially sponsored Test Track. Now it's sponsored by Chevy.

Chevy is part of GM so it's not much difference.

 

[danikoski]

Chevy is part of GM so it's not much difference.

That is true...at any rate, World of Motion didn't change because of lack of sponsorship or change in sponsorship. I believe it changed more because Disney wanted a thrill ride at Epcot.