Do you think GM will stay at Test Track?

[elcheapo]

maybe a minor rehab to make it a Lightning Mcqueen/Cars test track....I think that would be kind of cool

 

[Spike-in-Berlin]

Just a basic question-

Why does there have to be a sponsor for some attractions?

Tower of Terror doesn't have a sponsor.
Dumbo doesn't have a sponsor.

Tks.

Dumbo is not a really good example. ToT is better. But in the 80ies when EPCOT opened all Pavilions had a sponsor. It helped Disney a lot to finance a project of this size. The Land - Kraft, JII -Kodak, Horizons (came later)- GE, SSE- AT&T, UoE - EXXON, WoM - GM and The Living Seas - United Technologies. Later came WoL - Metropolitan Life.

 

[mraw]

Honda is the big car sponsor at Disneyland. They sponsor the fireworks, and they have a big display in the Innoventions building in Tomorrowland. Honda also sponsors Grad Nite each year, and they park Honda cars and motorbikes all over Disneyland on Grad Nites for the kids to sit in and test out. Disneyland has a new 2009Honda Pilot on display this summer in the Esplanade with a contest to win stuff from Honda.

Honda is a much more stylish and hip and 21st century car company, and GM is very poorly thought of by California and West Coast consumers. No one drives a GM vehicle in SoCal, and if they do they are embarassed about it.

I realize there's a difference in consumers between Alabama and Ohio and Southern California, but for the long term Disney World would be smart to get with it and dump frumpy and trashy GM for a hipper and cooler car company like Honda. Or pretty much any car company besides General Motors.

It's funny that you mention that, because heads ALWAYS turn when I am driving my GM Roadster pictured below on the freeway. People won't stop stop looking at or asking me about my car.

 

[unkadug]

I highly doubt that the money GM has sunk/will sink into the pavilion will garnish enough good will/advertising returns to pull them out of their financial woes.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

mraw - Nice ride! Personally, I think the Sky is much nicer than the Solstice. Good choice!

And miles1, I agree that to label a car company's products as "trashy" when you haven't experienced their models is unfair, nor do I believe the products GM is putting out there are necessarily "trashy." However, you said yourself that their products are not tops in their market segments. There lies the problem! There is just so much competition right now that a product can't just be good, it has to be great. Right now, the foreign companies are simply producing better vehicles. When we were searching for a mid-size car a few years back, we did looked at GMs offerings. Its not there was anything wrong with them; they just weren't the best. I'd be happy to but a GM vehicle; but first, they need to step up their game another level and make something that is head and shoulders above the rest.

Oh, as far as the thread topic, GM has a contract they must fufill. Unless things are really bad for them (like they have to file Chapter 11 bad), I think they'll try very hard to keep their sponsorship of Test Track.

 

[MousDad]

Honda is a much more stylish and hip and 21st century car company, and GM is very poorly thought of by California and West Coast consumers. No one drives a GM vehicle in SoCal, and if they do they are embarassed about it.

Sweet! In one short paragraph you just gave me about 5 reasons to love GM!

 

[WDWFigment]

Honda is the big car sponsor at Disneyland. They sponsor the fireworks, and they have a big display in the Innoventions building in Tomorrowland. Honda also sponsors Grad Nite each year, and they park Honda cars and motorbikes all over Disneyland on Grad Nites for the kids to sit in and test out. Disneyland has a new 2009Honda Pilot on display this summer in the Esplanade with a contest to win stuff from Honda.

Honda is a much more stylish and hip and 21st century car company, and GM is very poorly thought of by California and West Coast consumers. No one drives a GM vehicle in SoCal, and if they do they are embarassed about it.

I realize there's a difference in consumers between Alabama and Ohio and Southern California, but for the long term Disney World would be smart to get with it and dump frumpy and trashy GM for a hipper and cooler car company like Honda. Or pretty much any car company besides General Motors.

So the best long term solution is to jump on the bandwagon of what's currently "hip and cool"? I can't say I think that makes much sense. Although Disney may disagree; but I'd imagine they'll wait until just after Honda crests in popularity, and starts declining (See American Idol Experience).

It's funny that you mention that, because heads ALWAYS turn when I am driving my GM Roadster pictured below on the freeway. People won't stop stop looking at or asking me about my car.

That is one sweet looking ride. They really have been doing a great job overhauling the image of Saturn (when I saw it for the first time, I was gawking, then I did a double take when I saw the Saturn emblem on the grill).

 

[PeoplemoverTTA]

I highly doubt that the money GM has sunk/will sink into the pavilion will garnish enough good will/advertising returns to pull them out of their financial woes.

No, PR doesn't "save" companies that put out subpar products or products that people don't want. However, branding and positive PR is important for any company, in particular ones that are struggling financially. I definitely believe that the amount of money spent as a sponsor for TT is a worthwhile PR investment that brings about returns I guess far surpass "every day" PR tactics for GM.

 

[bhg469]

It's funny that you mention that, because heads ALWAYS turn when I am driving my GM Roadster pictured below on the freeway. People won't stop stop looking at or asking me about my car.

or they could bring the european version and keep with the trend they have goin at LMA

My biggest beef with domestic auto makers is that they send their best products to europe. Perfect example the ford focus in europe is a million times better than a focus we will ever see in the US.

I am a proud driver of a subaru impreza WRX STi, and american car company has yet to produce a car even close to the performance and reliability of that car and keep it under 35k. I was shopping for cars with my friend, we were at a ford dealer and the were selling a shelby edition mustang (not the carol shelby one) for like 48,000 and that car will not touch mine in a real race. Subaru backs that car so much that it came with a membership to the SCCA knowing fully well I will race that car several times a month and if anything breaks they will fix it.

Anyway im done ranting. Anyone wants a ride and is in buffalo give me a call!

 

[eddy21]

I interviewed one of the leaders at the Epcot Leadership Center a couple years back and he said that GM's Sponsorship of Test Track is the strongest one that Epcot has. Note that they are the only ones who have sponsored an attraction at Epcot since 1982, except perhaps Kodak, although Kodak doesn't sponsor as much as they used to.

A couple of years back gas was not over $4.00 a gal
Siemens ,H-p, Nestles aren't Sponsors?

 

[scpergj]

I'm so glad the SoCal folks won't be embarassed when they're driving themselves to the unemployment office.

Sorry for the rant, but I think this import snobbery is completely out of control and will probably cause the end of our domestic auto industry unless it changes. Have you ever owned or driven a newer GM product? If not, how can you make the pronouncement that they're "trashy"?

I'll admit that not all GM vehicles are tops in their market segment, but they really are coming out with some remarkable products now that are neither "frumpy" nor "trashy". I think their sponsorship of Test Track is probably part of an effort to impress this on people.

Perhaps Honda is more "hip" for 21 year old street racers, but there are some of us that are not from Alabama that like some GM cars. And frankly, the one Honda Accord that I owned was a piece of junk.

The snobbery was well-earned. Remember the garbage that was coming out of Detroit in the '70's and '80's? I do...quite well. I've sworn off domestics many years ago. Some of the newer things seem a bit tempting, but I still go back to can I trust them...and for now, for me, the answer is no.

BTW, I'm not 21 (just hit 40 earlier this year), and I LOVE my 2006 CIVIC sedan. GM can brag about it's smaller cars getting 30 or 35 MPG on the highway, but I consistantly get 33 MPG mixed (total average mileage), and well in excess of 35 MPG on the highway. Add to that our two Hondas (the 9th and 12th in the family...there have now been 14) cost less than any domestic product, and I'll buy them all over again. My previous Civic had 186,000 miles on it when I traded it...on the original clutch, and the engine was NEVER opened...not once. The closest it got was when the timing belt was changed, and that is scheduled maintenance.

We've actually looked at the new Ford station wagon (or whatever it is they are calling it)...it gets basically the same gas mileage as a Honda minivan, looks pretty cool...and costs a couple of thousand dollars MORE...no thanks, I'll stick with Honda.

I for one would love to see Honda sponsor Test Track...but if GM stays, I'll still ride it. The sponsor means very little to me when it comes to weather or not I'll ride something, as long as it is fun!

 

[jmvd20]

Talking about domestic vs. foreign there are some very strange facts to it all...

I have a few co-workers and friends that drive Toyota trucks and cars - every single one of them that I know of is made in the US. I own 2 Ford trucks, one is from Canada and the other is from Mexico. :veryconfu

Talk about putting a new spin on foreign vs. domestic.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

I for one would love to see Honda sponsor Test Track...but if GM stays, I'll still ride it. The sponsor means very little to me when it comes to weather or not I'll ride something, as long as it is fun!

True. In the end, it does matter to the theme park and sponsor, but most importantly to the person riding the attraction.

 

[JWG]

Talking about domestic vs. foreign there are some very strange facts to it all...

I have a few co-workers and friends that drive Toyota trucks and cars - every single one of them that I know of is made in the US. I own 2 Ford trucks, one is from Canada and the other is from Mexico. :veryconfu

Talk about putting a new spin on foreign vs. domestic.

This is what I don't think people understand. Most "imports" are huge domestic investments that are mostly made and assembled in the US by US workers earning a US $. Often times more domestic than a domestic because of production in Canada and even Mexico.

Our Honda was 97% American made meaning even the parts used in assembly were from the US.

We also own a Chrysler, so we share the love.

 

[jmvd20]

This is what I don't think people understand. Most "imports" are huge domestic investments that are mostly made and assembled in the US by US workers earning a US $. Often times more domestic than a domestic because of production in Canada and even Mexico.

Our Honda was 97% American made meaning even the parts used in assembly were from the US.

We also own a Chrysler, so we share the love.

I go out of my way to buy products made in the US, even if it means paying a little bit more. In a number of things, such as replacement parts, the american made is far superior to the chinese junk and is worth the extra money. I avoid Mao-Mart at all costs, go to Sears/Kmart (Where you can find made in the USA items) whenever possible, and when comparing similar products I will check to see where they are made.

Years ago I was shocked when I found out Hondas, Toyotas, etc... are indeed more american made than the "american made" vehicles. However I have tried explaining that to some people before and I end up being the communist :lol:

 

[jonnyc]

My biggest beef with domestic auto makers is that they send their best products to europe. Perfect example the ford focus in europe is a million times better than a focus we will ever see in the US.

Go Europe! Are Focuses popular in the US? As they are a very common car over here which could be the reasoning for us getting a better car. And they may be better, but they are more expensive. If the drivers side was on the 'correct' side p) i am sure imports of cars from the US to the UK would be huge.

 

[TP2000]

I last drove a Chevrolet Impala as a rental car, and it was a piece of junk. The interior fit and finish was abysmal, and it just felt cheap. I had absolutely no status on the freeways of Southern California while driving a rental Chevrolet. It was not fun.

The Impala was made in Canada, as many Chevrolets are. Canadians are foreigners. They live in a foreign country. Tell me again how a Chevrolet is an "American" car?

My new Honda Accord Coupe was built in Ohio. I love it, and it never gives me any problems. Ohioans are Americans. They're probably very nice people too.

I also drive a Dodge Ram. It's pretty cheap and trashy, especially the build quality of the interior. But the Hemi engine pulls like heck and I need a truck routinely. According to the sticker on the window the Dodge was built in Mexico, by Mexicans. Mexicans are foreigners. They live in a foreign country. Tell me again how Dodge is an "American" truck?

Saturn sells cars made in Belgium. Belgians aren't American either. Pontiac's new G8 sedan is made in Australia. Australians aren't Americans either. The new Chevrolet Camaro will be made only in Canada. We already covered the citizenship status of Canadians.

Disneyland has taken the smart route and dumped GM as a sponsor about five years ago. Honda has infinitely more cachet and style than GM, and is just generally cooler. Can you imagine GM trying to sponsor Grad Nite at Disneyland?! The SoCal kids would laugh the cars right out of the park. Honda builds a lot of cars in the USA, and GM builds a lot of cars in Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Europe.

The old "Domestics Vs. Furriners" routine doesn't hold much water in the 21st century because GM, Ford and Chrysler sold out their American workers and moved their factories outside the USA, while Honda and Toyota and Nissan and Hyundai and BMW and Mercedes all keep building factories in America. Volkswagen, Audi and Volvo are currently scouting property to build factories in America, while GM, Ford and Chrysler keep moving jobs outside the USA.

The new 2010 Ford Ranger? It will now be built in Thailand instead of St. Louis.

It's now only about who is cool and who is not cool. And Americans build a lot of cool cars for Honda, Toyota, Nissan, BMW, Mercedes, etc., etc.

 

[TP2000]

I feel bad for you. I've never been to Detroit but I hear it's a dump/crime infested wasteland. And I recently lived in Orlando and I can tell you it's another dump/crime infested wasteland.

Per capita, Orlando is one of the most crime infested and most dangerous cities in America. Look at the crime statistics of Orlando compared to Anaheim!

http://orlando.areaconnect.com/crime/compare.htm?c1=Orlando&s1=FL&c2=anaheim&s2=CA

 

[MousDad]

I had absolutely no status on the freeways of Southern California while driving a rental Chevrolet. It was not fun.

That must have been tough. So, what does freeway status get you in SoCal these days? You have designated HSO lanes (High Status Occupant)? Toll holidays? Emission exemptions?

 

[jt04]

That must have been tough. So, what does freeway status get you in SoCal these days? You have designated HSO lanes (High Status Occupant)? Toll holidays? Emission exemptions?

I was thinking the same thing!

California..........