Theme Park Headlines – Commuppety Service

Image © Disney.

Disneyland and Walt Disney World announce their 2010 celebration.



By Blake



Originally posted October 3, 2009.




What did you celebrate with Disney in 2009? Was it a birthday? Anniversary? Graduation? First Disney trip?


Whatever it was, the feel-good vibe in the Disney parks was kicked up a few notches this year to help guests really get into a celebratory mood.


I admit that when I heard that Disney Parks’ 2009 themed campaign was “Celebrate Today,” I was very skeptical and just saw it as an excuse to bring more people through the gates. However, after experiencing a Walt Disney World vacation in the midst of their year-long celebration, my view changed completely, realizing that even when it’s not a special occasion, there’s always SOMETHING in life to celebrate. It seemed that Cast Members were especially enthusiastic, characters were extra cheery, and the new live entertainment encouraged celebrations of all kinds.


Something that Disney hasn’t been advertising but that guests really feel as they experience Disney Parks is that every moment is precious, each day is a blessing, and enjoying time spent together as a family is a priceless gift.


Last Tuesday, September 29, 2009, Disney announced that the celebrations would continue in 2010 with a “spin-off,” so to speak, of Celebrate Today called “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day.” The program involves one million people volunteering through HandsOn Network and receiving a free ticket to any Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme park. Like with 2009’s “free on your birthday” promotion, there are alternatives if you’d like something other than a free ticket (like a special Fastpass or a Disney gift card). New for 2010 is the option of Disney giving your ticket to charity.

Mickey Mouse helps volunteer in Chicago, IL on September 29. Image © Disney.

I really admire Disney of having a year-long celebration that means much more than earning a profit from theme parks. Providing community service is an excellent opportunity to help others, and even though volunteering itself should be its own reward, the incentive of a free Disney ticket will hopefully encourage more people to get active in their community.


Although “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” won’t officially begin until January 1, 2010, several Disney personalities got started a little early last Tuesday. HandsOn Network co-founder and Points of Light Foundation CEO Michelle Nunn, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Jay Rasulo, Mickey Mouse, and Minnie Mouse helped at Bethune School of Excellence in Chicago, IL; chief of staff of HandsOn Network and Points of Light Foundation Tracy Hoover, president of Walt Disney World Meg Crofton, Donald Duck, and Daisy Duck volunteered at the Miami River in Miami, FL; Chip and Dale appeared at the Toronto Zoo in Canada; and Goofy and Pluto participated in some community service at Butler Street YMCA in Atlanta, GA.

Goofy helps out in Atlanta, GA on September 29. Image © Disney.

The campaign was announced in Los Angeles, CA by president of HandsOn Network Amy Smith, president and CEO of the Walt Disney Company Bob Iger, actress Teri Hatcher, actor James Denton, and the hilarious Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.


What’s more, Disney is really making excellent use of the Muppet characters for this campaign. Several commercials (which I’ve already spotted on a few major networks) have been produced showing the Muppets volunteering, and then celebrating their work by heading to the Disney parks. This is one of the first times that I’ve seen Disney truly utilize the fact that they own the Muppets in a way that no other company could, which is fantastic. You can see two of the excellent commercials on the new Disney Parks blog.


Some of the footage seen in the ads was filmed on location at Disneyland in August. A few guests saw the Muppets on the Mark Twain Riverboat, Dumbo, and elsewhere throughout the park and now we finally know what Kermit and the gang were up to.


And that’s not all! Disney has also created an all-new intro to DisneyParks.com that features even more Muppet videos. Additionally, a “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” tour sponsored by Southwest Airlines has begun, which is currently roaming the nation and stopping at surprise locations. The tour’s new Muppet-themed website includes some special Muppet goodies including photos, information, downloads, and more. See if you can spot Gonzo in a reference to The Muppet Movie.


So what does this new promotion mean for the park attractions? Since this is an extension of “Celebrate Today,” we can GUESS (but not be sure) that the new entertainment that was introduced in 2009 will remain in place at least through 2010. This includes Celebrate! A Street Party at Disneyland, Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade at Magic Kingdom, and Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party at Magic Kingdom. The American Idol Experience also premiered at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2009, though it’s more of a permanent addition, so I think it’s safe to say that it’s at WDW to stay for a while.


As for new attractions in 2010, Jim Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3-D Remastered and the Muppet Whatnot Workshop were already announced at the D23 Expo to be coming soon to Disney’s California Adventure and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Those will both tie in very nicely with the Muppet theme going on in the “Give a Day” promotion. I can see some sort of special volunteer-geared attraction fitting in at Animal Kingdom to coincide with the campaign. It would fit right in the Rafiki’s Planet Watch or Camp Minnie-Mickey areas of the park (though that’s just my idea and nothing of this sort has been announced by Disney yet).


The new “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” theme for 2010 is a great initiative that will hopefully inspire many Disney guests to get into the volunteer spirit. Using the Muppets to deliver this exciting new plan is a very smart move on Disney’s part; they’re excellent spokes-monsters. There’s only one thing left to say: Get volunteering!





Reated BlakeOnline articles:

• Theme Park Headlines - Celebration Central (posted June 16, 2009)
• Disney Talk - Movie Mania and Muppet Mayhem (posted September 19, 2009)
  
  
  

By Blake; posted October 3, 2009. All images © Disney.