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Disney "influencers" are such a scourge on theme parks. Normal visitors take loads of photos and videos, often at inconvenient times, but when it comes to being
by HEHENE 4y ago
Disney "influencers" are such a scourge on theme parks. Normal visitors take loads of photos and videos, often at inconvenient times, but when it comes to being in/on the attractions, they usually put their phones away and shut up.
Most rides at Disney parks have pre-shows about 3/4 of the way through the line that set up the story for the ride. Sometimes these are audiovisual, sometimes animatronic, but always with audio and almost always dark.
Likewise, most Disney rides are "dark rides" where the ride is primarily in the dark with animatronics and the scenery lit by carefully designed show lighting.
Influencers have seen these pre-shows and rides a thousand times and don't care about them. They keep there full-brightness phone up and filming for them and talk over them to their audience. It's incredibly distracting and immersion breaking.
I imagine Disney sees them as a net-positive though, as I'm sure they drive tons of ticket sales. Most influencers are travel agents who get paid by Disney, or are affiliated with a travel agency.
- wishfish 4y agoI could see that. I enjoy the live cam tours because my partner is immunosuppressed and we're not going anywhere for a while. So it's nice to visit virtually. But I hadn't thought about the actual visitors and what they would think about it. I could see how they'd loathe these people constantly recording and being obnoxious about it.
- flutas 4y ago> I imagine Disney sees them as a net-positive though, as I'm sure they drive tons of ticket sales. Most influencers are travel agents who get paid by Disney, or are affiliated with a travel agency. FWIW, I dug into this a while back because I was curious. Most of them don't get 'paid' by Disney in a traditional sense, but will get things like exclusive access to press events/rides, free upcoming products, or in the case with that flop of a star wars hotel a "free $7,000 hotel stay." All of which lets them technically say "I'm not paid by Disney, they just gave me this to show all of you!" Most of their money comes from donations/stickers/whatever the latest term for it is from the livestreams. Usually the order with Disney showing off new stuff goes something like - Travel agents - Social Media Influencers - EDIT: Club 33 - EDIT: Timeshare suckers (DVC) - Passholes - D23 (aka pay $100/yr for access) - Joe Shmoe
- WaitWaitWha 4y ago> ... I'm not paid by Disney, ... The IRS have a completely different point of view.
- flutas 4y ago> The IRS have a completely different point of view. Oh, I fully agree and I would bet a majority of them know that as well, they just have figured out a way to use some weasel words to act like it's not a payment to the general public.
- drawingthesun 4y agoIt's because there is no exchange, if I give you a birthday gift can that be considered income? Obviously not as I am not asking for something in return. However: If I buy you a gift and we agree for the gift you do task x for me. Now that is income and the value of the gift must be considered income on your tax return. Disney isn't saying "here is a room for free if you do x, y , z" Disney is saying "here is a room for free" and that is the end of it. Of course the obvious issue for Disney is that the influencer might never do the review of the park and never in a million years could Disney take them to court complaining services were not rendered. You cannot give a gift with expectation of return. So it's not income. But it's limited because the one giving you the gift really has to trust that you'll do the thing you do. I am surprised Disney would bother to be honest. I thought their theme parks were popular enough already.
- fencepost 4y agoTalk with people around you and try to get agreement that if there's a disruptive influencer you'll all chant "Turn off the phone! Turn off the phone!"?