Spirited Thursday Musings:
As I sit here in my second week of the worst illness I have had in many years, I try and wrap my head around people who make lots of money passing judgment on folks stuck in $8 an hour jobs and not having any clue why that can be a toxic quicksand-like existence. It must be fun to get paid $30-40-50 an hour from your employer to sit on a computer and post on a Disney discussion forum. A little compassion wouldn't hurt, people. And the understanding that no matter what you say, there is no such thing as a self-made man. Everyone gets help from family, friends, teachers, government programs etc ... Nobody does it alone. If you believe otherwise, you are delusional.
Moving on ... all you Pepsi lovers can rejoice provided you'll be visiting SDL whenever it opens. Today Disney and Pepsi announced a major multi-year contract making Pepsi the official exclusive soft drink of SDL and meaning no Coke for you there. Coke remains the official beverage at WDW, DLR, DLP and HKDL and one of two (along with Kirin) at TDR.
This puts Pepsi back in a MK for the first time since 1982 when Coke became exclusive for both DL and WDW just in time for EPCOT's debut. It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who follows China. Pepsi has a huge market in the mainland due to it getting a huge advantage/head start via KFC and Pizza Hut (two brands that are HUGE -- yes, bigger than McD's or Starbucks), which were owned by Pepsi for decades before being spun off into YUM Brands (also including Taco Bell). There is no market in the world as open in the 'soda wars' and this really is a coup for struggling Pepsi.
To put this in perspective, 20 years ago Pepsi was the official soft drink of all UNI and SW parks and all Wendy's and Burger King locations. They've all since gone over to Coke.
Here's the Reuters piece on it:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/27/us-pepsico-idUSBREA1Q13020140227
This is also part of SDL partnering with big names in Chinese business ahead of the opening of the park to engage in synergistic marketing opportunities. One such recent move was with China Eastern Airlines:
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/busine...promotion-agreement-with-Disney/shdaily.shtml .
Oh, and, no, it wouldn't shock me to see a KFC pop up as either part of Disney Town or adjacent to it.
Great to see rain FINALLY heading to my beloved California.
So, cops again bullying people videotaping them (this time in Baltimore). What a shock in today's Amerika.
Did you see UNI raised prices yesterday too? Did you also see how classy they were and didn't raise them for APers? Yeah, Disney would never do that.
If you call to a WDW exec with a problem, then you are likely to speak to the lovely Joan Martin. Never has an individual gotten smarmy condescending PR spin down to such an art.
Scary rumour that crossed my desk while I was having a scary lunch of my own: TDA and Colglazier would like a Marvel character meal added to DL. Really!
OK, so I am an APer and it is now going to be March of 2014 and I have yet to be included in MM+ in any way at all, but my pass has gone up over 40% since the NGE was approved.
I love when Disney has exclusive merchandise, be it DVC, AP, a special location, event etc., and instead of destroying what it can't sell or giving it to CMs, it sticks the stuff in outlet stores and warehouses.
Do I dare play Fun With Tweets today?
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