Mary Poppins-Where's the love?

Vince3

Vince3

New Member
Original Poster
While shopping last week through out WDW I noticed there was not really any merchandise geared to MP. I purchased 1 coffee mug. That's all that I could find.
NO t-shirts,pins,posters.Yes,there are a couple of meet & greets.But, there are no attractions.There are rides for both Stitch & 2 for Buzz Lightyear.
Funny but I don't recall either of those characters winning an Oscar!
BTW, that ever so small scene in GAMR doesn't count...not big enough.
Forget these crazy "Tea Parties" across America.We need one for Mary Poppins! Who's with me?
 
SirGoofy

SirGoofy

Member
There's a ridiculous amount of movies this can be said for, especially at WDW.

Pinocchio
Hercules
Robin Hood
Lion King
etc.
 
Tom

Tom

Beta Return
Vince3 said:
While shopping last week through out WDW I noticed there was not really any merchandise geared to MP. I purchased 1 coffee mug. That's all that I could find.
NO t-shirts,pins,posters.Yes,there are a couple of meet & greets.But, there are no attractions.There are rides for both Stitch & 2 for Buzz Lightyear.
Funny but I don't recall either of those characters winning an Oscar!
BTW, that ever so small scene in GAMR doesn't count...not big enough.
Forget these crazy "Tea Parties" across America.We need one for Mary Poppins! Who's with me?
Click to expand...

While I like the movie a lot, it just doesn't seem to really fit anywhere.

The scene in GMR is a nice tribute, and Mary herself can be found in both DHS and Epcot (UK, I believe).

The problem is that it's too old. 20K was an awesome attraction, but if it were still around today, there's an entire generation of kids who would say, "Mommy, what's this ride about?" They've never seen the movie - so it's just a novel ride that occupies 10 minutes of their little A.D.H.D. minds.

It's kind of ironic though, since Mary Poppins played such a crucial role in the development of Disneyland (money-wise) and the trans/attraction fail-safe systems are called MAPO (MAry POppins), as a tribute.
 
ajrwdwgirl

ajrwdwgirl

Premium Member
We just went to see the Mary Poppins musical, it is currently touring in Minneapolis right now, and they were selling some nice Mary Poppins merchandise. A great supercali.... shirt, a replica of her umbrella, purse, and snowglobe. Maybe you could get that on ebay or if the show tours near you, go see it. It was excellent.

It would be nice if they would put some of that merch in the parks.
 
Vince3

Vince3

New Member
Original Poster
As a matter of fact,we have tickets to see the show here in Tampa next June.Very cool to hear that about the merchandise.Thanks!
 
SirGoofy

SirGoofy

Member
edwardtc said:
The problem is that it's too old. 20K was an awesome attraction, but if it were still around today, there's an entire generation of kids who would say, "Mommy, what's this ride about?" They've never seen the movie - so it's just a novel ride that occupies 10 minutes of their little A.D.H.D. minds.
Click to expand...

This is a terrible way of thinking, IMO and I pray that WDI does not think like this.

Kids don't know the Song of the South characters, but they still have one of the most popular rides in MK. And JC and HM don't have any characters and they make bank attendance wise.

Cute, cuddley, familiar characters don't always matter.

Quality does.
 
NewfieFan

NewfieFan

Well-Known Member
edwardtc said:
While I like the movie a lot, it just doesn't seem to really fit anywhere.

The scene in GMR is a nice tribute, and Mary herself can be found in both DHS and Epcot (UK, I believe).

The problem is that it's too old. 20K was an awesome attraction, but if it were still around today, there's an entire generation of kids who would say, "Mommy, what's this ride about?" They've never seen the movie - so it's just a novel ride that occupies 10 minutes of their little A.D.H.D. minds.

It's kind of ironic though, since Mary Poppins played such a crucial role in the development of Disneyland (money-wise) and the trans/attraction fail-safe systems are called MAPO (MAry POppins), as a tribute.
Click to expand...

My kids (boy 6 and girl 3) love the movie and meeting Mary Poppins on our recent trip was the highlight of the vacation for them. I guess my ADHD little kids have no problem sitting through the movie as well. Oh yeah, did I mention they can sing all the songs?

Just another point to throw out there!

I love Mary Poppins and I think she needs more than a M&G and a scene in the GMR! I also love Robin Hood... that's another one that Disney is missing out on. My 6 year old boy is all about Robin Hood right now... we couldn't find a single item in WDW to purchase! If they marketed Robin Hood right it would so take off with the younger boys! I want to give Disney my money but they just won't take it!?!
 
Tom

Tom

Beta Return
NewfieFan said:
My kids (boy 6 and girl 3) love the movie and meeting Mary Poppins on our recent trip was the highlight of the vacation for them. I guess my ADHD little kids have no problem sitting through the movie as well. Oh yeah, did I mention they can sing all the songs?

Just another point to throw out there!

I love Mary Poppins and I think she needs more than a M&G and a scene in the GMR! I also love Robin Hood... that's another one that Disney is missing out on. My 6 year old boy is all about Robin Hood right now... we couldn't find a single item in WDW to purchase! If they marketed Robin Hood right it would so take off with the younger boys! I want to give Disney my money but they just won't take it!?!
Click to expand...

Oops. I should have been more clear. I was trashing society in general. I know there are great families like yours whose children will love and appreciate ALL of the classic Disney films.

I wasn't arguing on Disney's behalf - I was venting about society in general and why Disney classics probably won't continue to be appreciated like they should.

Vince3 said:
Btw,Edwardtc it's not old...I prefer to call MP timeless!
Click to expand...

Touche!

SirGoofy said:
This is a terrible way of thinking, IMO and I pray that WDI does not think like this.

Kids don't know the Song of the South characters, but they still have one of the most popular rides in MK. And JC and HM don't have any characters and they make bank attendance wise.

Cute, cuddley, familiar characters don't always matter.

Quality does.
Click to expand...

Similarly to my response above, I agree. This IS a terrible way of thinking. It's not MY way of thinking.....it's the way of far too many other people.

Society has conditioned our children to only respect and appreciate "new fangled" media. If there isn't non-stop noise and action and flashing lights and an iPhone app for it - they're not interested.

Of course, I generalize....because there are many children (like my future ones) who will start out with "classic" Disney flicks and learn to love and appreciate those before anything else.

I think kids still like Snow White, Splash and other dark rides because they're stimulating by themselves. Whether they recognize the characters or not, the rides are fast, changing, and provide plenty of visual and auditory stimulation.

I suppose a MaPo ride or show could be done properly and grab the attention of young and old. I'd be all for it.
 
Animaniac93-98

Animaniac93-98

Well-Known Member
Bedknobs and Broomsticks did win an Oscar (for Visual Effects) and got 4 other nominations and Pinocchio won two.

But your so right that NOBODY knows who Mary Poppins is. That's why Disney has never put the soundtrack OOP, is having the Broadway adaptation on tour now, gave the movie another re-release to promote said tour, has the character as a regular for the 1900 Park Fare character breakfast. etc.

How the hell do you NOT know who Mary Poppins is? If you do you were likely deprived of the same childhood that included viewings of Wizard of Oz, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Facotry and the like. There's no way you can prove that a significant number of WDW guests do not know who she is when generations have made her film one of the biggest money makers of all time throughout the years. And God forbid that someone who didn't know who she was could learn on vacation.

But many, many, many Disney films are underrepresented at WDW, not just a popular title like Mary Poppins. It's very sad, but it's the franchise comes first age we live in now.
 
the-reason14

the-reason14

Well-Known Member
edwardtc said:
While I like the movie a lot, it just doesn't seem to really fit anywhere.

The scene in GMR is a nice tribute, and Mary herself can be found in both DHS and Epcot (UK, I believe).

The problem is that it's too old. 20K was an awesome attraction, but if it were still around today, there's an entire generation of kids who would say, "Mommy, what's this ride about?" They've never seen the movie - so it's just a novel ride that occupies 10 minutes of their little A.D.H.D. minds.
It's kind of ironic though, since Mary Poppins played such a crucial role in the development of Disneyland (money-wise) and the trans/attraction fail-safe systems are called MAPO (MAry POppins), as a tribute.
Click to expand...

While this is true and I agree with it, the same can be said about song of the south and splash mt. I know that 2 things help aid that, which is its never been released on DVD for x amount of reasons, and its a popular thrill ride, but most kids probably arent familiar with it.

I think that MP merch is not that popular because it is old. And yea, it may have won oscars and stuff, but that was back in the 60s. With Buzz lightyear and Stitch, those are newer movies that are marketable and can still sell even though the movies they're based on aren't entirely new, they're still relevent. And like others have said, a lot of disney movies get thrown under the bus. Its like, if it wont sell well, then they wont sell at all.
 
Animaniac93-98

Animaniac93-98

Well-Known Member
the-reason14 said:
While this is true and I agree with it, the same can be said about song of the south and splash mt. I know that 2 things help aid that, which is its never been released on DVD for x amount of reasons, and its a popular thrill ride, but most kids probably arent familiar with it.

I think that MP merch is not that popular because it is old. And yea, it may have won oscars and stuff, but that was back in the 60s. With Buzz lightyear and Stitch, those are newer movies that are marketable and can still sell even though the movies they're based on aren't entirely new, they're still relevent. And like others have said, a lot of disney movies get thrown under the bus. Its like, if it wont sell well, then they wont sell at all.
Click to expand...

But what of all that Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Mickey Mouse and friends, Oswald, Peter Pan and so forth merch that sells?

"Relevant" is a cheap Lindsey Naegle buzz word used to describe individuals to lazy to bother to try. There was a lovely MP snowglobe sold at the Disney Store years ago along with those paintings sold at Art of Disney and some WDCC figures. You can absoultely make merch for her film but generally it's more costly to produce since it's kind of hard to sell MP colouring books and glittery t-shirts. Since Disney has been going cheap on the merch for years now and catering to the 0-12 range (who obviously will never enjoy MP of course) it should suprise no one that MP isn't getting love in that department. At least her special edition DVDs have been actually special.
 
EPCOT Explorer

EPCOT Explorer

New Member
Animaniac93-98 said:
But what of all that Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Mickey Mouse and friends, Oswald, Peter Pan and so forth merch that sells?

"Relevant" is a cheap Lindsey Naegle buzz word used to describe individuals to lazy to bother to try. There was a lovely MP snowglobe sold at the Disney Store years ago along with those paintings sold at Art of Disney and some WDCC figures. You can absoultely make merch for her film but generally it's more costly to produce since it's kind of hard to sell MP colouring books and glittery t-shirts. Since Disney has been going cheap on the merch for years now and catering to the 0-12 range (who obviously will never enjoy MP of course) it should suprise no one that MP isn't getting love in that department. At least her special edition DVDs have been actually special.
Click to expand...
So using that in the future....:lol::sohappy:


Fantastic post.
 

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