Merida's New Look

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Tim_4

Well-Known Member
I agree with almost everything you said. My one disagreement is below in red.
Monkee Girl said:
I understand what you are saying. The problem is Disney thinks a different way then I do. Here is how I think as a consumer. I could be the only one, but this is just my opinion:

I am a hard core Disney fan. I have loved the princesses since I was a child. Aurora was my favorite and I called her 'Sleeping Beauty' before we even knew her name. She wore a blue dress and I still have my original doll with her featured in it. The pink was the secondary color.

So...here I am, 31 and still in love with Disney. I go every year. I spend close to 2,000 to 3,000 dollars every year on just Disney trips. I am going again in October after just coming back in April. So I am a repeat customer. When we go, we stay at the Polynesian Resort. I would think Disney would prefer my business to a family that could only afford to go every 3-5 years. If they choose Disney at all.

Also on that note. When we, as fans, wear a shirt, or carry a bag or sport any other merchandise, we are giving Disney free advertising. I am more than happy to give Disney free advertising because I love them and want to show my support. However, I, as a customer, do not like their new product. Because of this, I will not buy the product. I can't remember the last time I bought a doll, or card, or bag, or shirt, or anything princess related when I use to a lot. For the Disney Halloween Party, I was thinking of going as a princess. But the redesigns have annoyed me so much, I think I will go as something else. I haven't even gone to a princess meet and greet since Cinderella was changed. I refuse to meet her in the new look. Basically, I will not advertise the redesigns because I do not support them.

It starts with little things. How soon before I am done with Disney all together. Then the repeat customer becomes a customer who goes somewhere else instead.
This. Disney is betting that the answer to "How soon before I am done with Disney all together?" is "You'll never be done with Disney all together." You said you no longer purchase Princess-line merchandise, but you DO drop $3K every year on your WDW trip. There are a lot of people saying "how much more of X, Y, or Z can Disney do before they start losing customers," but the fact is that Disney ISN'T losing customers. They're growing on just about every front.

Sure, it sounds petty to many people but if we just subside and don't voice our opinions or displeasure, then we might as well not fight for anything. What is happening with Merida shows that, as customers, we do have a right to have some say in what we are purchasing. Disney did wrong and if they want to keep their dolls selling, then they should listen to people. Whether they are a casual Disney fan or a hard core one. Our opinions matter.
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Monkee Girl

Monkee Girl

Well-Known Member
Tim_4 said:
It's the most recent info I had with a quick search but my main point wasn't "the redesigns are good" but that "marketing and consumer products know what they're doing."
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I don't doubt they know what they are doing. They are paid to make a company money. I am just saying that they aren't always right. No one is perfect. I actually haven't seen (didn't really bother to look) any reports to see if there were any changes in merchandising. But I do feel the redesigns were a miss step. Changing what people know never goes well unless it is a real positive change.

I guess my way of thinking is if it's not broke why fix it? Cinderella will always sell. She has been selling since 1950. She's probably one of the most iconic characters ever designed So why bother to alter her look? It makes no sense to me because I don't see it making a difference in income.
 
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Tim_4

Well-Known Member
Monkee Girl said:
I guess my way of thinking is if it's not broke why fix it? Cinderella will always sell. She has been selling since 1950. She's probably one of the most iconic characters ever designed So why bother to alter her look? It makes no sense to me because I don't see it making a difference in income.
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Heck if I know. I'm sure they have a reason but it beats me as to what it might be. They focus-group the heck out of these things and they wouldn't have issued the redesign if it had come out of initial studies with unfavorable results. My guess is they were completely blindsided by the Merida backlash.
 
Monkee Girl

Monkee Girl

Well-Known Member
Tim_4 said:
This. Disney is betting that the answer to "How soon before I am done with Disney all together?" is "You'll never be done with Disney all together." You said you no longer purchase Princess-line merchandise, but you DO drop $3K every year on your WDW trip. There are a lot of people saying "how much more of X, Y, or Z can Disney do before they start losing customers," but the fact is that Disney ISN'T losing customers. They're growing on just about every front..
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You're probably right. I sit her so annoyed that I almost don't want to go. But I will. But I am also in the group of people that do believe Disney will push it's limits a little too far one day. Pricing people out of trips or by just making the trip no longer worth it for the people that go for nostalgia. What's the point of seeing a character if they no longer look like we remember them?

That's why I feel we need to voice our opinions. They won't always change EVERYTHING people grip about. They do the best they can though to please everyone. But sometimes, they do wrong and I am glad people voice their opinions. Again, it's a little thing; princess designs; but tomorrow, it could be a whole park dedicated to Twilight. Disney won't care if it's a horrible franchise (sorry twilight fans, but I needed something :cool: ) because they know people will go and won't complain. I just think checks and balances are in order. Especially when it involves my money.
 
Monkee Girl

Monkee Girl

Well-Known Member
Tim_4 said:
Heck if I know. I'm sure they have a reason but it beats me as to what it might be. They focus-group the heck out of these things and they wouldn't have issued the redesign if it had come out of initial studies with unfavorable results. My guess is they were completely blindsided by the Merida backlash.
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I wish we could be a fly on the wall of these focus groups. I wish I were in the focus groups. did they just test 5 year olds? or a general audience.

Either way it reminds me of a great Monkee's episode about toy manufacturing. I think Disney should take a look at it one day.

 
englanddg

englanddg

One Little Spark...
Monkee Girl said:
They already are. It's called "Princess Redesigns"

It's going very well amongst the fans....:rolleyes:
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You can't "re" design something that is not designed...words, I know, they are confusing. Re is a latin prefix that means again or anew...hence the term.

I said, as you quoted "The LAST thing you want is the marketing department designing characters."

I didn't say redesigning. So we agree!
 
englanddg

englanddg

One Little Spark...
Monkee Girl said:
I wish we could be a fly on the wall of these focus groups. I wish I were in the focus groups. did they just test 5 year olds? or a general audience.

Either way it reminds me of a great Monkee's episode about toy manufacturing. I think Disney should take a look at it one day.

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That is awesome!
 
HMF

HMF

Well-Known Member
I despise Disney's Marketing Department because of these type of bone-headed ideas. They are probably the most clueless marketing department in the country.
 
Monkee Girl

Monkee Girl

Well-Known Member
englanddg said:
You can't "re" design something that is not designed...words, I know, they are confusing. Re is a latin prefix that means again or anew...hence the term.

I said, as you quoted "The LAST thing you want is the marketing department designing characters."

I didn't say redesigning. So we agree!
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Don't worry. We agreed the first time. I was just being ironic since, in essence, that is what the marketing people are doing. changing the characters or designing them to their specifics.

I just hope they stop at the princesses and not other characters like Pinocchio or Peter Pan.
 
englanddg

englanddg

One Little Spark...
Monkee Girl said:
Don't worry. We agreed the first time. I was just being ironic since, in essence, that is what the marketing people are doing. changing the characters or designing them to their specifics.

I just hope they stop at the princesses and not other characters like Pinocchio or Peter Pan.
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You can't stop marketing! <grin>
 
Padraig

Padraig

Well-Known Member
Victor Kelly said:
Rolls eyes.............really?

I think the mommy bloggers need to go get jobs and maybe fight for something a little more important than how a cartoon looks.
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I loathe these type of comments. They ignore the debate, and instead of focusing on the issue at hand resort to nasty supposition, Ad Hominem attacks and crass stereotypes. Tell me Victor, what important causes were undermined by the dissenting voices?
 
Dads 2 Boys

Dads 2 Boys

Well-Known Member
ChampDisney said:
Disney has finally listened in the form of...

314ytrb.jpg
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If u ever use this again, I will find you and force u to listen to his voice for a week straight tied up....and then will beat you with this poster. LOL :D
 

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