With apologies for historical nitpicking... Disneyland's canoes were the "Indian War Canoes" from their opening in 1956 until 1971, when they were renamed "Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes" -- long after the Davy Crockett craze had passed. The only Frontierland attraction that had any connection with Davy Crockett was the Mike Fink Keelboats.
There's no comparison between the style and amount of synergy Walt used and the relentless, in-your-face brand promotion of Eisner and Iger. Disneyland's original Frontierland is only one example. The Davy Crockett franchise was a monster hit in the mid-50s, a nationwide phenomenon, and yet the land was called "Frontierland." Today's Disney management would have made it "Davy Crockett Land." Check the lists of the original Frontierland's attractions, shops and restaurants -- Davy Crockett tie-ins were barely present. If today's Disney management had been in charge, there would have been no Mark Twain, no sailing ship Columbia, no Tom Sawyer Island, no Mule Pack, no Conestoga Wagons, no Mine Train, no Mexican restaurant, no quaint shops selling old Western Americana merchandise, no Golden Horseshoe Review -- nothing that didn't directly promote the Davy Crockett franchise.
Agreed. And therein lies the difference. In the first 30 years of Disneyland's existence, non-branded attractions 'way outnumbered the branded attractions. That all changed after Eisner arrived. Today's Disney Parks are run by the team Eisner built and their appointees, all of whom follow Michael's philosophy that Disney theme parks are "all about turning movies into rides." They long ago crossed the line from Walt's showmanship-style synergy to the blatant brand promotion of consumer product marketeers.
