Why does Epcot need sponsors?

[TiggerBouncy]

As another has pointed out, it's primarily Epcot now, but it hasn't always been that way.

In the past, there's been Space Mountain by RCA and later FedEx; If You Had Wings by Eastern Airlines, Mission to Mars by Rockwell Aerospace, Tropical Serenade by Florida Orange Growers, and Country Bear Jamboree by Pepsi/Frito-Lay.

This is important too. It's been a business model of Disney for a long time to have sponsers for the rides. They happen to be more noticable / prevelant at Epcot and that was the business model for the park, but Disney has always had sponsers as part of it's model.

 

[ttintagel]

This is important too. It's been a business model of Disney for a long time to have sponsers for the rides. They happen to be more noticable / prevelant at Epcot and that was the business model for the park, but Disney has always had sponsers as part of it's model.

Absolutely. Here are some interesting articles about sponsorships in Disney parks, past and rpesent.

http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Corporate_sponsors

http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2011/09/quiz_who_sponsors_disney_answe.html

http://www.mouseinfo.com/info/index.php/Corporate_Sponsors_(Disneyland_Resort)

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/list-of-disney-sponsors.33241/

 

[labattblue]

The sponsor excuse for the reason we are not seeng more new attractions is BS IMO.

 

[nansmama]

World Showcase was sold to the countries as a permanent Worlds Fair. It is a promotional tool to interest people in visiting the real place. That is what World Fairs do and that is what Disney said would happen in EPCOT.

It is a "showcase" promoting the counties. Like a Worlds Fair, the nations represented were asked to pay for their own pavilions and then a rate for yearly maintenance of those buildings. Disney, of course, had a certain amount of creative control as to what the pavilions would look like, but they were for and about the countries. Sort of a huge advertisement. Even Future World was set up that way because, again, like a World's Fair businesses had exhibits as well that promoted their product. Energy = Exxon, Imagination=Kodak, Horizons=GE, WoM=GM, etc. Since Future World was supported by business and usually were themed to compliment those businesses, when they lost the sponsor then Disney would be paying full bore for someone else's promotion. When Horizons lost GE's support Disney went out to find someone willing to pay the bills again. They found Hewlett Packard but they wanted a different theme so..bye bye Horizons, hello Mission Space.

I know that it is more complex than that but as a simple explanation, that's the best I could do.

Thanks! That makes sense. I don't understand why they need to continue on that way, though. It seems unlikely Disney would have contracted this arrangement to last in perpetuity... but maybe they did, and screwed themselves out of future expansion? That would stink.

 

[mm1971]

OP here. I guess where I am still a bit confused is why things at Epcot can't be done due to no sponsors but things at the other parks can be done with Disney money. Why can Disney invest in a new FL at MK but not invest in projects at Epcot? Now I would understand if it was just a matter of priorities, but the vibe I get here on the DIS is that they have to find a sponsor. I don't sense that sponsors are needed at the other parks, but almost required for Epcot.

Overall, I understand what you all are saying regarding partnerships and how sponsors help (whether it be for profit, education or mutual beneficial relationships between he companies). But I don't see why they are more needed at one park than another.

There is no reason that Disney CAN'T use it's funds to update or maintain the Epcot attractions, they have chosen not to at this time. If you could get someone else to pay for it, wouldn't you. They use special events like Flower and Garden, Food and Wine, Candlelight Processional, etc.... to keep everyone coming into the park. As long as gate admissions keep going up, they won't focus there. They will put any development into parks that need it to increase attendance and spending at that specific location.

DTD has been dropping so now they are updating it and changing the name in an attempt to draw more people to that area. There are projects in the works for AK and Rumored HS to draw more people into those parks. Epcot is currently doing well. No need to invest at this time. Hopefully when all the other project are done, they'll give a little more love to FW at Epcot.

 

[mm1971]

World Showcase was sold to the countries as a permanent Worlds Fair. It is a promotional tool to interest people in visiting the real place. That is what World Fairs do and that is what Disney said would happen in EPCOT.

It is a "showcase" promoting the counties. Like a Worlds Fair, the nations represented were asked to pay for their own pavilions and then a rate for yearly maintenance of those buildings. Disney, of course, had a certain amount of creative control as to what the pavilions would look like, but they were for and about the countries. Sort of a huge advertisement. Even Future World was set up that way because, again, like a World's Fair businesses had exhibits as well that promoted their product. Energy = Exxon, Imagination=Kodak, Horizons=GE, WoM=GM, etc. Since Future World was supported by business and usually were themed to compliment those businesses, when they lost the sponsor then Disney would be paying full bore for someone else's promotion. When Horizons lost GE's support Disney went out to find someone willing to pay the bills again. They found Hewlett Packard but they wanted a different theme so..bye bye Horizons, hello Mission Space.

I know that it is more complex than that but as a simple explanation, that's the best I could do.

Good explanation! With the economic environment, very few companies have the budget available for the limited exposure. You can spend 1/3 of the money on line and get more benefit. Epcot was built with technology at it's core. Funny that technology has now passed it by. We love Epcot, but I'm not sure it's what is was once intended to be.

 

[Buckeye218]

Sadly, with solidly rising attendance levels even in a depressed economy, I don’t think Disney feels any pressure to add new attractions or renovate existing attractions in Epcot. I’m sure the Parks Division has a certain budget for refreshing rides, but as a corporation, I don’t think they see any need to reallocate funds to support this, especially with money devoted to the cruise ships (updating the Magic and Wonder), DVC (GF) and the Avatarland project….and most especially the NextGen project.

I’m sure they regularly review long-term attendance trends for the parks and they must not be concerned with Epcot’s long-term outlook since any new project would likely take at least two years. While a new attraction might increase attendance and generate additional revenue, I think the company is too risk-averse in the current economy to initiate this until such time as they see it as a necessity in order to meet their business plan.

While this doesn't please me as a consumer, as a strong proponent of the free market and capitalism, I cannot fault them for choosing this course.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'm pretty sure DVC is in a different category when it come to corporate funding. It seems to me that Disney gets its funds returned almost immediately from sales of the new resort. On new attractions they recover their investment over many years through attendance increases.

 

[labattblue]

Sadly, with solidly rising attendance levels even in a depressed economy, I don’t think Disney feels any pressure to add new attractions or renovate existing attractions in Epcot.

You hit the nail on the head. As long as attendance is up, fewer attractions get refreshed and/or new attractions get built.

 

[michelle06]

OP here again. Thank you everyone for chiming in. I understand better now. I really appreciate the discussion!

You are right in that people still go that park. In fact, I am trying to figure out if we can ditch another park altogether so we can have more Epcot time. Of course, plenty of people were going to MK before they did the FL expansion. I didn't realize that it was supposed to be like a World's Fair and that explains a lot.

Thanks again, everybody.

 

[Planogirl]

Its simply a case of prioritization. Disney has plenty of plans for attractions "on the shelf". They prioritize construction projects based on their perception of what is needed in a particular park and how much money they have available to do it. To the extent they have available funds, the projects at the top of the prioritization list get built. If somebody comes along with money for a project further down the list, then it gets moved up.

The Wonders of Life must have been so far down that it was eventually buried.

 

[OKW Lover]

The Wonders of Life must have been so far down that it was eventually buried.

Exactly! If a sponsor had stepped up it would still be running.

 

[OhMari]

I miss the days when Fedex sponsored Space Mountain. You could flash your employee badge to get into a private lounge with drinks and snacks, and then have a guide take you to the front of the line. Or at least that's how I remember it. I, my dad, and my brother all worked for Fedex at one time or another, so we did this on a few trips back in the 90s and early 00s.

I did a "Behind the Scene's Tour" at Epcot and the only Lounge left that is sponsored is at the Aquarium. HP has a lounge right above Living With the Sea's Restaurant. We were told they average about 2 people a day that use the Lounge. They employee 2 CM's for 6 hrs a shift. We were told lots of HP employees will use the lounge for a wedding reception. They get married somewhere on Disney Grounds and then go up to the Lounge. The Lounge has a baby grand piano, food is brought up from the restaurant below. There was a total of 6 windows and 2 were under construction looking into the Aquarium. We could see people on the other side, looking toward us. Oh, it had great bathrooms too.

We were told once the contract is up with HP, there will be no more sponsored Lounges.