40th anniversary program - Wow, that's so...underwhelming

[Spike-in-Berlin]

I will be in the MK on October 1, 40th WDW anniversary, and I have to confess I expected a LITTLE more. Extended opening hours, a stage presentation in the morning, a different ending for Wishes, some artists, oh yes and cupcakes.
That's all? Wow, that is soo...underwhelming.

Am I the only one who expected MUCH more? At least a special parade or something on a larger scale?

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I expected less. :shrug:

 

[ChristianG]

I expected less. :shrug:

Me too...

It may be WDW's birthday, but 40 really isn't a "special number", if you will. Just wait until the 50th!

 

[DisneyFan 2000]

Was about to say the same thing. 40 means a lot to us fans, but really it's just a middle-way milestone towards the big 50. 40 really isn't something to write home about, at least not in my opinion.

 

[DMC-12]

I wanted the "castle cake" to come back :lookaroun


A cup cake will have to suffice I guess. :slurp: :king:

 

[SeasonPass2]

Maybe not to you, but...

My wife and I were at Disney in October of 1971 and we also celebrated our 40th anniversary this year. We were looking forward to something from Disney in October for the parks 40th, but all we received was a offer to buy over $500 in new 40th anniversary pins and other 40th merchandise. We will not be purchasing any of it. It seems that the only way Disney cares about the 40th is to try and squeeze more money out of their guests.

To all those who are disappointed, please boycott the 40th merchandise. Leave it were it is and make you feelings known to the management types not the cast members. Walk up to them and vent your frustration at their greed.

Walt would have done better.

 

[Monty]

My wife and I were at Disney in October of 1971 and we also celebrated our 40th anniversary this year. We were looking forward to something from Disney in October for the parks 40th, but all we received was a offer to buy over $500 in new 40th anniversary pins and other 40th merchandise. We will not be purchasing any of it. It seems that the only way Disney cares about the 40th is to try and squeeze more money out of their guests.

To all those who are disappointed, please boycott the 40th merchandise. Leave it were it is and make you feelings known to the management types not the cast members. Walk up to them and vent your frustration at their greed.

Walt would have done better.

Disney is a business. They market merch.

40 is an important number in a marriage [congrats!] but pretty insignificant in a property. :shrug:

 

[sublimesting]

I expected jello shots....way to go Disney.....

 

[BigTxEars]

1st, 10th, 25th, 50th those are the biggies IMO.

 

[Master Yoda]

I honestly do not know why you expected more. The 40th is really a minor anniversary and nearly every insider said there would not be much.

 

[dvcbeachclub]

not in business these arent the only ones. Disney missed out, again on a perfect oppportunity to draw more guests, a milestone birthday party.
They blew it with epcots and here again.

Also if you say that the 25th is a biggie in your mind, they how let down were you for the garbage we got for epcots 25th? In comparison actually the Magic Kingdom is actually doing more activities than Epcot did for their 25th even though both are duds

1st, 10th, 25th, 50th those are the biggies IMO.

 

[dvcbeachclub]

Older diehard fans expect more because Disney used to deliver more, period.

I honestly do not know why you expected more. The 40th is really a minor anniversary and nearly every insider said there would not be much.

 

[menamechris]

Unfortunately, most who have posted speak the truth. The hard reality is that all of the birthday celebrations are nothing more than marketing ploys for the company. With the MSEP still bringing in some people, as well as the FLE beginning to open next year - there was no reason to spend even more money on a 40th celebration. These celebrations (in the eyes of the company) have little to do with us fans who go to WDW over and over - it is more targeting those people who are otherwise putting off a trip.

 

[LuLaSue]

Monty, I agree, it is a business. This is what they do, a little bit of hype, a little bit of merchandise a few cupcakes and lets call it a day. If I get a little something extra thrown into my park admission, I am a happy camper.

 

[dvcbeachclub]

True to the T, and to add to it , Its just yet another notch in the belt that
I think we can say that Disney rarely thinks of its devoted fan base and only think of the so called bottom line.

Unfortunately, most who have posted speak the truth. The hard reality is that all of the birthday celebrations are nothing more than marketing ploys for the company. With the MSEP still bringing in some people, as well as the FLE beginning to open next year - there was no reason to spend even more money on a 40th celebration. These celebrations (in the eyes of the company) have little to do with us fans who go to WDW over and over - it is more targeting those people who are otherwise putting off a trip.

 

[Kamikaze]

I will be in the MK on October 1, 40th WDW anniversary, and I have to confess I expected a LITTLE more. Extended opening hours, a stage presentation in the morning, a different ending for Wishes, some artists, oh yes and cupcakes.
That's all? Wow, that is soo...underwhelming.

Am I the only one who expected MUCH more? At least a special parade or something on a larger scale?

I'm surprised at the cupcakes and the Wishes ending. Thought all that would be done is something in the morning and thats it.

 

[WDWFigment]

You all can say "40 is inconsequential" until you're blue in the face, but look at what Walt Disney World used to do for "less significant" anniversaries, and look at what the global parks still do (heck, even Disneyland did more for its 55th, which is without a doubt "smaller" than the 40th).

I do agree that Disney is a business and should be run as such, especially with regard to merchandise, but I don't see how it would have been a bad "business decision" to do more for the anniversary. Spend a few hundred thousand for a great amount of business goodwill--that seems like a bargain to me. :shrug:

 

[aladdin2007]

I'm surprised at the cupcakes and the Wishes ending. Thought all that would be done is something in the morning and thats it.

The whole cupcake thing is pathetic sounding, The Wishes ending is a nice surprise though. It would be fun if just for that day they would bring back the Remember the Magic soundtrack from that parade, that was the best!!!

 

[Tigger1988]

My wife and I were at Disney in October of 1971 and we also celebrated our 40th anniversary this year. We were looking forward to something from Disney in October for the parks 40th, but all we received was a offer to buy over $500 in new 40th anniversary pins and other 40th merchandise. We will not be purchasing any of it. It seems that the only way Disney cares about the 40th is to try and squeeze more money out of their guests.

To all those who are disappointed, please boycott the 40th merchandise. Leave it were it is and make you feelings known to the management types not the cast members. Walk up to them and vent your frustration at their greed.

Walt would have done better.

Yes boycott the anniversary merchandise people here begged for and complained there wasn't enough of. That makes sense.

If you don't like something, don't buy it, but don't expect droves of people to boycott along with you.

 

[Master Yoda]

Older diehard fans expect more because Disney used to deliver more, period.

True, but the simple fact is all the information was leading toward less that what will actually be happening. I can expect my wife to buy me a Ferrari for Christmas but doing so is just setting myself up for disappointment because I know it is not happening.