Disney’s Digital Shift: When “Real Magic” Becomes Just a Social Media Post – Opinion. A week where Disney Parks’ biggest and only competition, Universal Studios, opened the first major theme park in over 25 years, Epic Universe, Walt Disney World could have made news of their own, making fans happy, and creating another one-of-a-kind event, but instead decided to cheapen out with what looks like an AI made social media post.
The official Disney Parks Blog and the Lilo & Stitch social media accounts posted images of Cinderella Castle appearing “toilet-papered” by Stitch, a nod to the character’s mischievous nature, and a tribute to the opening of Stitch’s Great Escape ride/show at Disney’s Magic Kingdom that opened November 16, 2004. However, park guests, and I, present at Magic Kingdom yesterday, which coincided with the images being posted, saw a different reality: Cinderella Castle was the same, untouched, beautiful, and magnificent Castle we see every day.
We are asking the question, why did Disney Parks just release a digitally altered photo of Stitch TP’ing Cinderella Castle, instead of, you know, actually toilet-papering the Icon of Walt Disney World like they once did? Is Disney shifting from physical advertising inside Disney Parks to save money, and going toward a cheaper alternative, like having an intern throw in some keywords into ChatGPT, probably saving millions of dollars? This massive difference between the digitally promoted event and the on-site truth suggests a shift from the overlays and physical installations that once characterized Disney’s promotional efforts within its parks.
The most recent incident highlights a growing disconnect between Disney Parks’ online marketing and the actual guest experience, prompting discussion about where the company now focuses its creative and financial efforts.
The new Disney Lilo & Stitch film is projected to have a significant opening weekend, potentially earning over $165 million and becoming another Disney Studios billion-dollar box office hit. Furthermore, Disney Parks now makes up over 59% of The Walt Disney Company’s profits, according to Sherwood.News with almost $9 billion! Given this financial success, the decision to use a digitally altered image for promotion, rather than executing a real-world, temporary display on Cinderella Castle, prompts questions, especially when the resources to realize such a physical stunt are comfortably within Disney’s vast corporate structure and means.
Choosing a digital product over a real-world change means you care more about getting online attention. While digital campaigns are fast and reach many people, they might not feel as real as a physical event, or create the memories Disney is known for.
If park visitors expect to see the advertised magic in person, and only find it as a social media photo, it can make Disney’s unique experience less special, and ticket prices seem less worth it. This approach suggests a focus on creating online buzz without enough real-world investment in the parks.
Disney’s Digital Shift: When “Real Magic” Becomes Just a Social Media Post – Opinion
