Why such the "push" for WDW?

[keeperofzoo]

I have oberved lately that most of the commercials I have seen, advertisements I have seen and even at McDonalds the Happy Meal Toys; are all advertising WDW. Anyone else notice this? Is attendance down there low or something? Just wondering.

 

[ORMom2Four]

Perhaps it will help the crowds will thin out at Dinseyland.......

Wouldn't that be nice

 

[HydroGuy]

I have TiVo and never watch commercials. And my kids have outgrown McDonalds.

But if the WDW advertising has indeed increased, my bet would be Disney is trying to deal with the economy and convince people to come even when finances for many have tightened. I would also bet they would be pushing harder in Europe where the strong Euro vs. weak dollar makes a WDW more attractive.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Perhaps it will help the crowds will thin out at Dinseyland.......

Wouldn't that be nice

It would be very nice.. I always say thank goodness for WDW , because if not DLR would be way way way too crowded for me..

 

[spazzyjazzy]

That's ok, let's get the crowds over to WDW. That way it keeps it nicer over here at DL.

 

[stopher1]

I have oberved lately that most of the commercials I have seen, advertisements I have seen and even at McDonalds the Happy Meal Toys; are all advertising WDW. Anyone else notice this? Is attendance down there low or something? Just wondering.

When we lived in CA (most of my life) we didn't see too much WDW advertising, but some here and there. We've been in the midwest for 8 yrs now, after moving to the midwest for my employer. Here in the midwest the advertising IS dominated by WDW - but surprisingly there are many occasions when it's DL that gets promoted and not WDW.

Up until about a about a decade ago, the Disney marketing machine for the two resorts was basically directed according to which side of the Mississippi River - DL on the west of it and WDW on east of it. That started to change during the Pressler era when WDW was getting lots of new attractions, and DL was getting new shops. When DCA opened, what SHOULD have generated a lot of buzz ... didn't. The sheer size of the property alone - with all of the additional parks and resorts make it such a vacation destination ... Burbank started to view it more as the flagship. It certainly draws more visitors annually, and generates more cash. The success and capcaity crowds of the 50th did help put the focus back where it once was though - DL. But, as Hydroguy points out, the economy is a big concern. DL has an almost built in audience, with so many locals with AP's returning regularly shopping and dining - but FL doesn't have the same kind of mix AT ALL. WDW is much more dependent upon the once a year family-type of visitors to fill the parks, beds and tables. Even with all of the marketing, though, disposable income is key. Putting off vacations is typically a first choice when the economy takes a hit. That's part of why Disney has also beefed up their DVC presence and advertising since the last recession of 2001. Until the new DVC rooms at the GCV open in 09 - DL has been left in the dust of the DVC success. WDW has 7 DVC resorts to DL's -0-, + one at Vero Beach and one at Hilton Head. DVC has been an excellent way for Disney to somewhat recession-proof themselves by getting rooms sold - almost guaranteeing return visitors year after year...visitors who will enter the parks, buy the food and the merch.

 

[DoomBugger]

I don't know, the million dreams commercial spots air everywhere all day and to me the big highlight ultimate dream prize they tout in the commerical is the dream suite, "originally intended for Walt himself" big prize, which is at Disneyland.

I think both resorts get advertising and no doubt neither place is struggling for patronage.

 

[audrabolster]

I always assumed it was a regional thing? Here in southern california, I do so more ads for WDW, but I thought maybe it was to get the DL locals over there instead of here.

As far as theMCD's things, I'm just not sure why. I grew up on the east coast, and never heard much about DL. Everyone just wanted to go to WDW...

 

[Tink208]

I haven't noticed the McDonald ads, but I see the million dream ads all the time and I think they equally promote both DLR and WDW.

 

[bumbershoot]

I haven't noticed the McDonald ads, but I see the million dream ads all the time and I think they equally promote both DLR and WDW.

And confuse the heck out of the people who don't know the differences between the resorts!

 

[disneychrista]

I don't know I have always seen a bigger push for WDW (and i live in california).

 

[tnd]

The cynical person in me thinks they probably promote WDW more because they make more money from visitors there. They have 25+ hotels there, as opposed to 3 in CA, so I think more people stay on-site there, which is better for their bottom line.

 

[mommyof2boys1girl]

I thought perhaps it was just me, but I notice more ads here (in Canada) for Disney vacations (both DL and WDW) lately too - it's more affordable for us Canadians now with our dollar being almost equal to the US dollar, so perhaps they are doing more of an international push to get more of us foreigners to visit the parks! Most travel agencies around here are advertising fabulous low prices to DL and WDW, cruises as well, and CAA (Canadian version of AAA) was promoting with a whole "Disney Month" in Feb.
I'd like to say it worked for us, but I've been planning on taking this vacation ever since DS1 was born 5 years ago!! So the stronger dollar is a plus, but not the reason we are going. That plus the sales to promote airlines (like Air Alaska's 'kids fly free' promo) are probably making it more affordable for families from further afield to travel to Disney vacation spots.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

And confuse the heck out of the people who don't know the differences between the resorts!

You're right. I was just thinking that as I reading about this.. I actually was having a conversation the other day with a co-worker saying her Aunt wants to take my co-worker's son to DLR and stay in the Castle.. Woah woah.

But, watching it, I can see how people who don't know can get that confused..

 

[jessica52877]

To me it only makes sense to push WDW more, more hotels owned by disney, more theme parks, water parks, bigger downtown disney. Much more cash flow! Also have people coming for the week just for disney, where as at DL people come for a couple days there and then usually another couple of days other places.

I also think with the economy they are pushing the "affordable" vacation.

 

[biolabetty]

I don't know I have always seen a bigger push for WDW (and i live in california).

I agree. I've felt like there has been a larger promotion of WDW for years now. We used to get a magazine about the Disney parks with our DL AP, and it was basically about WDW, with maybe 1 or 2 pages here or there occasionally about DL. I know that the "higher-ups" were pretty amazed to see that people actually wanted to come to DL during the 50th, but I don't think they were ever really looking before.

 

[MommytoaSweetie]

We're East Coasters (near DC) and honestly, when others have heard that we're planning a Disneyland trip, EVERYONE assumes we mean WDW (regardless of whether or not they know that we've been there before). When we've told others we're going to California, and we sometimes get a question of "oh, there's a Disney there, isn't there?" Definitely, here, there is pretty much NO advertising for DL - obviously it's a long plane ride to DL, vs. a short one or long car ride to WDW, so it makes sense, besides all the reasons like WDW was made to be a resort vs. DL that started out just as the one park, they have all the hotels/dining areas there, etc. Either way, though, we're excited to visit DL!

 

[Diznygrl]

I just wish they would stop with those "one size fits all" commercials they've been doing. You know, the ones where instead of showing one specific resort, they just have a mish mash of attractions from both and make it look like it's all in one place and it's up to you to decide which one they're talking about. The same commercial that tells you about the Disneyland Dream Suite also shows you Cinderella Castle. No wonder there are confused people on the east coast who think you can stay in the suite "originally designed for Walt Disney" AT WDW, and people on the west coast who think you can stay inside the castle AT DL! The YOAMD marketing campaign gives me a headache.

 

[mariezp]

Here in Texas they are always pushing WDW. I would guess that 9 out of 10 ads I see in our area are for WDW. It seems most people I talk to go there which is okay with me. I'd rather them make less crowds at DL.

 

[AmericanItGirl]

WDW is more expensive overall, from the ticket prices to the fact that you're in a compound and not able to just walk to the nearest grocery store or stay offsite (that is, without being inconvenienced...when I went to MK it took my group about 45 minutes from our hotel to the place where we were dropped off by our hotel shuttle, def not the walking distance that can be experienced for you stay offsite at DL). So why wouldn't they promote the bigger cash cow? I wonder if things will change when DCA completes its makeover (can't wait for them to bring back the red car...wonder if they're making fake ones or using the real deal).