You know, you can learn some pretty amazing things while poking around dailychanges.com. You know, that website where the Walt Disney Company registers all of the domain names that it eventually hopes to use?
I mean, some of these names are rather self-explanatory. Take – for example:
NATIONALTREASURE2MOVIE.COM
And:
NATIONALTREASURE2DVD.COM
Just the fact that the Mouse bothered to register these two domain names tells me that Disney Studios execs are finally getting serious about putting a sequel to Nicholas Cage’s November 2003 blockbuster, “National Treasure,” into production.
Then there are the domain names like:
DISNEYFOODANDWINEWEEKEND.COM
DISNEYFOODANDWINEWEEKENDS.COM
DISNEYSFOODANDWINEWEEKEND.COM
DISNEYSFOODANDWINEWEEKENDS.COM
DISNEYCALIFORNIAFOODANDWINEWEEKEND.COM
DISNEYCALIFORNIAFOODANDWINEWEEKENDS.COM
DISNEYSCALIFORNIAFOODANDWINEWEEKEND.COM
DISNEYSCALIFORNIAFOODANDWINEWEEKENDS.COM
Copyright Disney Enterprises LLC
DISNEYFOODANDWINEFESTIVAL.COM
DISNEYSFOODANDWINEFESTIVAL.COM
DISNEYCALIFORNIAFOODANDWINEFESTIVAL.COM
DISNEYSCALIFORNIAFOODANDWINEFESTIVAL.COM
Which suggests that — should everything go well during the inaugural edition of Disney’s California Food and Wine Weekends (Which is currently scheduled to run from April 28th through May 21st) … Well, the folks in the Team Disney Anaheim building would not only love to make this an annual event, they’re also looking to expand the original “weekend” concept out into a full-blown “festival.”
Then there are the domain names like:
BEATTHEROBINSONS.COM
And:
Copyright Disney Enterprises LLC
LEROYANDSTITCHSWEEPS.COM
That obviously suggest that – just like that “Countdown to Cars” contest that State Farms Insurance is currently sponsoring in order to help promote the upcoming release of “Cars” – in the weeks & months ahead, there will be sweepstakes that help promote the June 2006 launch of the “Leroy & Stitch” DVD and the March 2007 theatrical release of “Meet the Robinsons.”
But then there are the names like:
DISNEYMAGICALBEGININGS.COM
DISNEYSMAGICALBEGININGS.COM
DISNEYMAGICALBEGINNINGS.COM
DISNEYSMAGICALBEGINNINGS.COM
That initially sound rather bland & innocuous. But then – were you to do any poking around the Disneyland and Walt Disney World websites – you’d discover that “Magical Beginnings” is actually this brand-new vacation package that’s just being rolled out at these two resorts. One that will cater exclusively to parents with extremely small children. We’re talking toddlers here, folks. Kids three & under.
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The Disneyland version of the “Magical Beginnings” vacation package includes a special character experience for your child as well as preferred seating for kid-friendly shows as “Playhouse Disney – Live On Stage!” at DCA. The Walt Disney World version of “Magical Beginnings” offers the same sort of assortment of age-appropriate attractions & experiences. But the real incentive for booking this particular WDW vacation package by June 4th is that your child (3 – 9) then dines for free.
To learn more about the “Get Free Dining during Little Ones Travel Time” packages that Disney World is currently offering, I suggest that you click on this link. And – speaking of “Little Ones” – given that the Walt Disney Company also just registered these domain names:
DISNEYLITTLEONES.COM
DISNEYSLITTLEONES.COM
I would imagine that the Walt Disney Company is about to get extremely aggressive about going after parents with children 3 and under and trying to convince these folks that they really owe it to their toddler to take them to a Disney theme park. To give their child a dream Disney vacation.
Speaking of Disney dreams, Mickey also just registered these particular domain names:
MYDISNEYDREAMS.COM
MYDISNEYDREAMS.NET
Though – to be honest – I don’t have a clue as to what the Mouse intends to do with these web addresses.
Now, if you want to talk about Disney nightmares … Particularly my own Disney-related nightmares … Well, the following three web addresses come pretty darn close:
WATCHJIM.COM
JIMTIME.COM
TIME4JIM.COM
Now I’m hoping that the real reason that the Walt Disney Company registered these particular domain names is because “According to Jim” (You know? That hit ABC sitcom that airs on Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. ?) goes into syndication this coming fall. And that Disney intends on using this web sites to help promote that program during its national roll-out.
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But — that said … You know, in the almost eight years that I’ve been writing for the Web, I’ve managed to p*ss off an awful lot of people who work for the Walt Disney Company. And when I see a web site with a name like:
WATCHJIM.COM
There’s a tiny (admittedly egotistical) part of me that thinks: “Gee, I hope that this newly registered web site isn’t part of some covert surveillance initiative on the part of Disney Security. Just so they can keep tabs on yours truly.”
Okay. That’s enough with the stupid “Disney Security is watching me” jokes. Let’s get back to the more serious question that was raised by today’s article. Which is:
Do you think that it’s fair (or should I say “ethical”) of the Walt Disney Company to start marketing vacation packages that are specifically aimed at parents who have children that are 3 and under? I mean, is a child that young really going to appreciate or even remember a high priced trip to a Disney resort?
Your thoughts?