-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
UPDATE: ExxonMobil ends sponsorship March 13, 2004
- Thread starter General Grizz
- Start date
Well, AT&T is still there currently, and they are having some money problems. I don't blame them if they do pull out.
Exxon, I think should stay.
GE is the parent company of NBC and I believe is one of the final bidders for the Vivendi/Universal Assets. I'd think that Disney wouldn't really be too worried about losing the sponsorship of one of it's competitors.
Mickeyman819
Member
i really think they should just gut UOE. I dont like the attraction. Not many people go there to be educated. Alot of people will be mad at me b/c im saying this but i dont like the ride, but i dont want to see more attractions down for rehab or more rides going up. I hate those walls they put around the attraction.
I have also heard this, and, apparently, they have one more year left, thanks to a recent contract.
Don't forget Kodak still sponsors "Imagination!"
And the rehab for Universe of Energy is exterior work. The attraction is still open and completely functional.
prberk
Well-Known Member
I have said before in long-ago posts that I think the company did better with sponsorships overall when the company had tremendous goodwill, going all the way back to Disneyland and Walt's personal appeal. Companies wanted to be associated with it, and with "Uncle Walt."
It was made even greater by 1964, when G.E. ("Carousel of Progress"), Pepsi ("Small World"), Illinois State ("Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln") and others looked to Walt Disney and his imagineers not only to "imagineer" attractions for the at the World's Fair, but to add his personal credibility and reputation to their company by building and cross-promoting the attraction (on TV).
By the time EPCOT Center opened in 1982, these expectations and reputation were flying high. AND it was still promoted on television. AND the company was still revered as a technology company.
In the 2002 Annual Report, Eisner said he was surprised to see a survey that said that people put the Walt Disney Company on the short list of popular "technology companies." He has only really seen the company as an entertainment company. He missed what made EPCOT and other parts of WDW/DL special: it was both entertaining AND educational, as well as a technical marvel.
The sponsorships will return when the company pays more attention again to its reputation and its contribution beyond that of an entertainment company.
[This is, BTW, not so much a criticism of the entertainment as it is a reminder of the "marvel and wonder" that Disney used to inspire and can do again... Mostly through television, just like Walt did. A few "discovery" type shows with an Epcot or AK backdrop would go a long way.]
It was made even greater by 1964, when G.E. ("Carousel of Progress"), Pepsi ("Small World"), Illinois State ("Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln") and others looked to Walt Disney and his imagineers not only to "imagineer" attractions for the at the World's Fair, but to add his personal credibility and reputation to their company by building and cross-promoting the attraction (on TV).
By the time EPCOT Center opened in 1982, these expectations and reputation were flying high. AND it was still promoted on television. AND the company was still revered as a technology company.
In the 2002 Annual Report, Eisner said he was surprised to see a survey that said that people put the Walt Disney Company on the short list of popular "technology companies." He has only really seen the company as an entertainment company. He missed what made EPCOT and other parts of WDW/DL special: it was both entertaining AND educational, as well as a technical marvel.
The sponsorships will return when the company pays more attention again to its reputation and its contribution beyond that of an entertainment company.
[This is, BTW, not so much a criticism of the entertainment as it is a reminder of the "marvel and wonder" that Disney used to inspire and can do again... Mostly through television, just like Walt did. A few "discovery" type shows with an Epcot or AK backdrop would go a long way.]
They did do a "discovery" type show with the AK a few years ago, and it failed. There's just no interest in shows like that anymore. There's already enough "discovery" shows like that on PBS. It's also been found that tv hows that are constricted to the confines of a theme park just come off as a big commercial for the park, and not a TV show. Times have changed, and clearly so have the entertainment needs and desires of the general public.
prberk
Well-Known Member
This is in large measure a function of what is on TV at the time. Animal Planet and Discovery (and The Food Network and Home & Garden TV) all demonstrate that there is plenty of room for this type of television. Sponsors for these types of shows might be sponsors for attractions, too, if they can be seen daily and associated with progressive and goodwill, especially for daytime or weekend TV. You see, what Disney parks always had over stand-alone informational TV programs was that you could visit them on your vacation, and maybe attend a taping.
I do think that as for as EPCOT is considered, a good show there should be high-profile, and feature contributions from science and nature all over the world. The Disney Channel should host it.
It would of course promote the park, but the difference is that the park (and the company itself) does have a certain amount of goodwill that the public still does associate with it, especially for inspiring young children. This should be maintained, not given up just to fluffy entertainment.
That was my main point: that in the long run, the best interests of the company are served when the entertainment and goodwill (including emphasis on science and the wonder of discovery/learning) are balanced. It is what keeps it above the fray in the minds of the public and engenders loyalty. Otherwise, it might as well be Six Flags or Viacom.
Bravo. Excellent points, indeed! :sohappy:
careship
New Member
I second grizzlyhall.
Excellent points have been made. I truly would love a Disney Channel or Disney Channel Show that revolves around educational yet entertaining shows from the parks etc. I think they have to go beyond the norm though and make it extraordinary. They need to be innovative once again.
Excellent points have been made. I truly would love a Disney Channel or Disney Channel Show that revolves around educational yet entertaining shows from the parks etc. I think they have to go beyond the norm though and make it extraordinary. They need to be innovative once again.
imagineersrock
New Member
Disney is not about to chip in their $$ to come up with a new Energy movie/attraction when the one they currently put in cost them a lot (the audio animatronic of Ellen, alone, cost them over $1 million).
are you serious!? $1,000,000 for that 1 animatronic [IMO the WORST animatronic on property.....] you would think with $1 million, you could at least make it some-what resemble the person it is supposed to be. Perhaps Disney needs to bring in a few of those ''Madame Tussod's'' (sp) people....?
are you serious!? $1,000,000 for that 1 animatronic [IMO the WORST animatronic on property.....] you would think with $1 million, you could at least make it some-what resemble the person it is supposed to be. Perhaps Disney needs to bring in a few of those ''Madame Tussod's'' (sp) people....?