More Wrapped Buses

[xdan0920]

I had to drive past it every day on my way from the All Stars to the park last trip. My kids begged to go to it. No kids. We are not going to McDonalds. We are going to Cosmic Rays where we can pay 2x as much for the opportunity to put our own pickles on our burgers!

The extra $8 per burger is because, theme. You are paying to eat in the second* most awesomely themed area in Walt Disney World!

*Future World being #1. If there's one thing WDW gets, it's futuristic theming!

 

[Phicinfan]

Who knows, if they start making donald duck shaped chicken nuggets or a Mickey shaped Quarter pounder, all will be well yes?

 

[George]

I hope the wraps don't make the buses less aerodynamic because if you get on the right bus it can take you where you want to go. For example, if you want to go to Disney's Hotel to sleep, you just get on the bus that says Disney's Hotel. If the wraps lowered aerodynamics then the mileage might be such that the whole fleet is retired and that would be a travesty!

 

[flyerjab]

So the rumors are true….this is the thread where disney fans come to get shamed.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I can't believe we are fussing about buses being used as roaming billboards, without also fussing about the immersive marketing experience from the posters inside of the buses.

They are bad and often forgotten so they advertise old events or cancelled shows. Just because something is not the topic of a somewhat related discussion does not mean it is a non-issue to all.

It still is a car service center, and offers care repair, car rental etc. it has had a gas station for at least 30 years.Prior to Hess, Exxon was a major corporate sponsor and all gas stations on property were Exxon branded. How far do we have to go back to show that management has always done this, not just today's management, but the management of WDW during what many consider a time with much better show quality.

Because Phase I was in the middle of nowhere. It was an amenity located as people were LEAVING. It wasn't just plopped down to sell Exxon gas.

 

[sshindel]

It's also shocking how some people can't grasp the fact that it is a different world today than in 1971. Those halcyon days of Mad Men advertising and Disneyland TV specials are gone. A simple Orange Bird face character in the park or in your face sponsor of Carousel of Progress are no longer anywhere near the standard for advertising. Sure, Walt could get away with his TV show to propose the Florida Project, some TV spots and a boatload of other mass media marketing. Today we're blasted with marketing every time we look at our phone, do an internet search, post on our favorite web forum, walk through the airport, etc. The minor, and very minor indeed, advertising that is a well-done bus wrap or monorail wrap is just not something to get worked up over. We praised the idea of TCM coming in to update the films in The Great Movie Ride, while adding their name and logo to the theater. Wrapping the busses is not one of the many ills of Disney World. It has many ills right now, but this just isn't one of them.
It's smart marketing. My kids wanted to wait and take the next bus, the one with Disney Infinity on it, when we were there. The busses themselves are and always have been filled with marketing materials. Every place that they can, Disney is self-promoting itself. This is not some poorly done sign on the side of a city bus.
Now, I know someone is going to say that you'd like to take a break from advertising while on a Disney vacation. It just isn't happening. Not in today's day and age. The world has moved on. Blame the world at large here, but don't say that Disney of old wouldn't have done this if the technology had been available. They would have. Ask Orange Bird. He'll tell you different.

 

[ShookieJones]

I actually remember reading somewhere that with his last breath Walt asked that the busses at the Florida project not have Disney Infinity promos on them. Walt was a purist.

Thanks! Finally someone chiming in with some good info. That's exactly what I remember heari........wait a minute! You too!??? Come on guys we've got interesting view points and some healthy debate going on and you guys are mucking it all up with your crazy sarcasm.

 

[arko]

Uhh.. I wasn't saying anything negative about the Service Center. In fact, the opposite. But McDonalds on the other hand...

But those deals were made in 1996, almost 20 years ago. Again not today's management (as much as I dislike everything else they have done).

 

[HRHPrincessAriel]

I can't believe we are fussing about buses being used as roaming billboards, without also fussing about the immersive marketing experience from the posters inside of the buses.

*mind blown*

 

[George]

One time I wanted to take the bus to Disney's Restaurant but it took me the the Universal Show instead. I think if there had been appropriate advertising the bus like say, Clarabelle Cow or Arnold Schwarzenegger machine gun robot guy, I might've figured out the difference.

 

[arko]

It's also shocking how some people can't grasp the fact that it is a different world today than in 1971. Those halcyon days of Mad Men advertising and Disneyland TV specials are gone. A simple Orange Bird face character in the park or in your face sponsor of Carousel of Progress are no longer anywhere near the standard for advertising. Sure, Walt could get away with his TV show to propose the Florida Project, some TV spots and a boatload of other mass media marketing. Today we're blasted with marketing every time we look at our phone, do an internet search, post on our favorite web forum, walk through the airport, etc. The minor, and very minor indeed, advertising that is a well-done bus wrap or monorail wrap is just not something to get worked up over. We praised the idea of TCM coming in to update the films in The Great Movie Ride, while adding their name and logo to the theater. Wrapping the busses is not one of the many ills of Disney World. It has many ills right now, but this just isn't one of them.
It's smart marketing. My kids wanted to wait and take the next bus, the one with Disney Infinity on it, when we were there. The busses themselves are and always have been filled with marketing materials. Every place that they can, Disney is self-promoting itself. This is not some poorly done sign on the side of a city bus.
Now, I know someone is going to say that you'd like to take a break from advertising while on a Disney vacation. It just isn't happening. Not in today's day and age. The world has moved on. Blame the world at large here, but don't say that Disney of old wouldn't have done this if the technology had been available. They would have. Ask Orange Bird. He'll tell you different.

The underlying truth though is that even in 1955, the advertising was in your face. In fact the TV show was created not to promote WDW, but to help pay for Disneyland. In fact I would say the only place where I have never seen ads for outside corporations at WDW is at the resort hotels themselves.

 

[sshindel]

So predictable... How many resorts do you know that include a garage with their hotel? Contrast that with FOOD and SUNDRY shops that every hotel worth it's tail has included. You don't need a grocery store when you are staying at a decent resort.. including the ones Disney had built. But you'd be hard pressed to find a resort that would be able to handle your tire needs upon arrival. The Service Center was another comfort factor Disney incorporated into the early site. Car issue? Disney has got a security blanket for you there too... Now lets get back to the vacation kingdom of the world.

No joking aside, I'd absolutely want a grocery store available on property. I don't NEED a grocery store available. I also don't NEED a spa available. I don't NEED mini golf available. They are things nice to have, as a grocery store would be. I'd love to pop over for a six-pack of my favorite beer, some bread to make some sandwiches, juice boxes for the kids, etc. Kid sick in the middle of the night, go get some 'Tussin from the Mickey Publix. That would be an amenity. In fact, I'll head off property these days, out of the bubble, to do so. If you'd use it is irrelevant, because I've thankfully never needed the Service Center. Doesn't make it any less of an amenity.

 

[jakeman]

This thread is my favorite...

 

[DVCOwner]

I say it again, Disney is always been about marketing and has always done it very well. The reason Disney got so much land and built the Magic Kingdom in the middle of it was for control. He did not want someone else marketing to his customers, just Disney. Why does Disney have it own government, control. Why is there Magic Express to get you from the airport, control. Disney is a money making machine. That said I love going there and always have a great time.

 

[arko]

No joking aside, I'd absolutely want a grocery store available on property. I don't NEED a grocery store available. I also don't NEED a spa available. I don't NEED mini golf available. They are things nice to have, as a grocery store would be. I'd love to pop over for a six-pack of my favorite beer, some bread to make some sandwiches, juice boxes for the kids, etc. Kid sick in the middle of the night, go get some 'Tussin from the Mickey Publix. That would be an amenity. In fact, I'll head off property these days, out of the bubble, to do so. If you'd use it is irrelevant, because I've thankfully never needed the Service Center. Doesn't make it any less of an amenity.

Can you imagine what a loaf of bread would cost at that grocery store.

 

[sshindel]

Can you imagine what a loaf of bread would cost at that grocery store.

The markup would be bad, but I think still cheaper than buying a sandwich in the parks.

 

[arko]

The markup would be bad, but I think still cheaper than buying a sandwich in the parks.

which is why you will never see a grocery store on Disney property.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I say it again, Disney is always been about marketing and has always done it very well. The reason Disney got so much land and built the Magic Kingdom in the middle of it was for control. He did not want someone else marketing to his customers, just Disney. Why does Disney have it own government, control. Why is there Magic Express to get you from the airport, control. Disney is a money making machine. That said I love going there and always have a great time.

And yet the idea of bus advertising was avoided for 40 years. Was Disney too stupid to mimic what was happening everywhere else for all those decades?

 

[DVCOwner]

No joking aside, I'd absolutely want a grocery store available on property. I don't NEED a grocery store available. I also don't NEED a spa available. I don't NEED mini golf available. They are things nice to have, as a grocery store would be. I'd love to pop over for a six-pack of my favorite beer, some bread to make some sandwiches, juice boxes for the kids, etc. Kid sick in the middle of the night, go get some 'Tussin from the Mickey Publix. That would be an amenity. In fact, I'll head off property these days, out of the bubble, to do so. If you'd use it is irrelevant, because I've thankfully never needed the Service Center. Doesn't make it any less of an amenity.

I would love to see a Publix on property in a proper location away from the Parks. May on Hotel Drive somewhere past Disney Springs. I usually stay in on of the 2-bedroom villas at a Disney Vacation Club resort. I do make my own breakfast everyday and keep the refrigerator stock with soft drinks and beer. Would shorten my one a trip restocking runs.

 

[sshindel]

And yet the idea of bus advertising was avoided for 40 years. Was Disney too stupid to mimic what was happening everywhere else for all those decades?

Maybe they were waiting until it could be done with more than just a cardboard sign on the side of the bus.