Disney Pulls Starbucks Mug from Epcot Shelves

[JohnD]

This is already being discussed in merchandise but I think it warrants being moved up to the "News" thread.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/trav...cot-starbucks-mug-monorail-20150128-post.html

 

[JohnD]

I'll start.

It's sensitivity run amok. The entire mug had a purple theme. The monorail stripe is purple because of the entire palette. It would be no different if the mug was B/W. A black stripe on the monorail wouldn't mean it was supposed to represent "Monorail Black." It would be a completely different matter if the mug used a full color palette. That isn't the case here.

To those who have already bought the mug, I suggest you keep it in the package and don't open it. It will be worth A LOT.

 

[Bolt]

This is just stupid. The purple monorail was also in existence for 40 years and part of the company history. Over sensitive.

 

[ford91exploder]

This is just stupid. The purple monorail was also in existence for 40 years and part of the company history. Over sensitive.

Agree - Plus purple is a REALLY popular color these days!

 

[JohnD]

So what color is the monorail stripe on this mug?

 

[yedliW]

To those who have already bought the mug, I suggest you keep it in the package and don't open it. It will be worth A LOT.

They are already going for around $200 on eBay.

 

[monorail81]

So what color is the monorail stripe on this mug?View attachment 80886

Looks like Red.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Eh, why shouldn't Disney be a bit sensitive. An employee died, only 21, they decided to honour him by pulling the purple monorail. Personally I wouldn't have done it like that, but at least they are actually putting their money where their mouth is.

Incidentally, great choice of colour for EPCOT! I just might get that mug, sans coloured monorail, it looked good!

 

[unkadug]

How long do they have to avoid the color purple? The color purple did not kill Austin . If they want to put their money where their mouth is they should get rid of the monorails...not the color purple.

 

[flynnibus]

An angle people overlook is.. this isn't trying to scrub the EXISTENCE of purple... but simply avoid using it in promotional/merchandise.

I would agree it would be over the top if people were all upset over it - I don't think its over the top for the company to wise up and say "no a good choice" and simply change it.

Imagine the naive kid going 'wow, a purple monorail.. I wonder why they don't have one of those? Dad: They did johnny, until some kid got killed in it". Disney is an idealized world... no need to bring tragedy to the forefront.

 

[mousehockey37]

Really? It's a mug with a color scheme. Now if the family of the CM decided to sue over this, that's a different story.
This is a sad pathetic world we live in.

 

[mousehockey37]

An angle people overlook is.. this isn't trying to scrub the EXISTENCE of purple... but simply avoid using it in promotional/merchandise.

I would agree it would be over the top if people were all upset over it - I don't think its over the top for the company to wise up and say "no a good choice" and simply change it.

Imagine the naive kid going 'wow, a purple monorail.. I wonder why they don't have one of those? Dad: They did johnny, until some kid got killed in it". Disney is an idealized world... no need to bring tragedy to the forefront.

Here I thought all of this purple nonsense was going to a gender related issue. So what's wrong with history? Yes, it's sad there was a fatal accident involving the monorails. Is that a reason to shy away from it? No.

 

[flynnibus]

Yes, it's sad there was a fatal accident involving the monorails. Is that a reason to shy away from it? No.

Is there a REASON to draw attention to it when the company has a multitude of other colors to use? No

 

[tirian]

I'll start.

It's sensitivity run amok. The entire mug had a purple theme. The monorail stripe is purple because of the entire palette. It would be no different if the mug was B/W. A black stripe on the monorail wouldn't mean it was supposed to represent "Monorail Black." It would be a completely different matter if the mug used a full color palette. That isn't the case here.

To those who have already bought the mug, I suggest you keep it in the package and don't open it. It will be worth A LOT.

I agree 1000% (is that possible?). It's a color scheme on a cup.

 

[flynnibus]

At the end of the day.. it's a stupid mug. Why taunt faith when the easiest thing to do is just pull it and do something else. It's not like there is some strong affinity or NEED to keep it as it was. It's a blip on the spreadsheet and Disney moves on.

The only people who will even care about it 6 days from now are those who hoard Disney merchandise.

 

[unkadug]

Is there a REASON to draw attention to it when the company has a multitude of other colors to use? No

They are drawing attention to it themselves by pulling it. Most people would have never noticed or made the connection. I know I didn't and I call myself a fan.

 

[mp2bill]

They are drawing attention to it themselves by pulling it. Most people would have never noticed or made the connection. I know I didn't and I call myself a fan.

Streisand effect. I had no clue what the problem with monorail purple was until I read the article...

 

[flynnibus]

They are drawing attention to it themselves by pulling it. Most people would have never noticed or made the connection. I know I didn't and I call myself a fan.

Drawing attention to it in a very finite audience. Disney didn't make noise about doing it (promoting or not) - they simply did it. It's the Disney stalkers making news of it. It's just good business sense to just pull it and move forward.

Think of the alternative... they don't do it.. and later down the road someone gets their feathers riled up about it.. what's Disney to do then? Defend the choice and tell them 'get over it'? No, Disney would then have to play sympathetic then too.. and be right back in the same spot. There is ZERO upside for Disney sticking with the design.. only risk. So write-off a few grand in merchandise and get on with life.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Streisand effect. I had no clue what the problem with monorail purple was until I read the article...

Even if everyone knew, it is time to move on. It was tragic and the loss of a young life in an accident is awful, but, it has been treated like that was the only fatal accident that happened that entire year. The monorail is an inanimate object operated by people. The monorail regardless of the color did not cause this young mans demise, it was just as much a victim as he was. Just that we don't really care about the Monorail, rightfully so, and enough time has passed since the incident to just let it fade into an unpleasant memory.

That same year I knew someone that was killed in a car accident. The car was red. Should I now be offended every time a red car is depicted anyplace? As said, over-sensitivity concerning this event. Yes, it was a big deal, yes it was traumatic to a number of people that had never really witnessed a fatal situation, but, has been a long time since that happened, in relative terms. Not having a purple Monorail does not make everything OK now or bring the boy back. 2000 people were killed when planes ran into a couple of highrise buildings, should we now never acknowledge that highrises exist or demand that they be eliminated from our skyline? Many very good people have died in plane crashes, should we never again be exposed to airplanes? It is time to get over it. I doubt if Disney would have pulled them or had them pulled unless someone complained about it. That is a very high cost and waste of resources. Not to mention the fact that a segment of the population is now able to cash in handsomely because of a tragedy. Not much of a tribute in my opinion. Misplaced sentimentality!

 

[kap91]

I think it was a smart choice, you know in today's social media age someone would have started making a huge fuss over it, this thread and the coverage it's been getting (really Orlando sentinel? A company deciding to not sell a coffee mug is news worthy?) proves it.

Better to be on the proactive side than at the mercy of an angry facebook mob that turns it into a national headline. Cause that's never happened before.