GSF speculation and discussion

Allie.Pin said:

That is a enourmous plaque stamp for ghirardelli . Can you post a pic from the front of the pin ? Love to see it !

Edit: sorry read that it was not your pic haha

Click to expand...

This pic is from Mayumi also...


The backstamp may say (c)ghiradelli because it has the logo on it... the normal releases may not??

I debated whether to start a new thread or not for this but I figure it is more speculation than hard information but I think the next ptd is going to be Ralph. If it changes today and I was correct, someone hook me up for sharing the tip off. If not, I'm sorry and please carry on with your day.

Thank you guys for crediting me when using my pictures ^^

And here's some more from today and earlier this week-

Diablo said:

We're never going to see "Ghirardelli" on the back of a PTD/PTS/PWP/WHATEVER. The pin and whichever character(s) are on it belong to Disney and not the chocolatier. Doing so just creates a sea of legal problems for Disney and I doubt they need to pay a team of property lawyers more then they already. do.

UNLESS, Disney has secretly purchased a portion of Ghirardelli and the chocolatier is now a member of the Disney family. I doubt it but you never know. :dunno:

Click to expand...

One only needs to step in DCA to see that this deal was on the way. So Sad to see the people running Disney make such bad moves. I know all they care about is the money but dam cant they think of ways to do it with out having to sell out and ask other people for help. Soon DLR and WDW will be like a big mall with a few rides. Starbucks was a bad move as was the first Ghirardelli and this one too.

OH on a side note I hear that CPK will be taking over the pizza shops in DTD. :anxious: Wow I just cant wait for some more cookie cutter brands to move in. :wavey: :nono:

As hard as it is to believe, but Disneyland and Disney Parks have long had commercial companies associated with them. In some cases they were disguised or more easily overlooked due to Disney window dressing. It other cases it was out in the open. Some of these companies are now gone, Kodak - film booth near Small World, McDonalds - French fry "chuck wagon", AT&T (the original "Ma Bell") - Indiana Jones ride/decoder, Lucas Films (Star Wars / Indiana Jones / Captain Eo), FedEx (Star Tours) and so many more that hard core Disney fans can easily name. And new ones arrive to take their place, Sylvania (now sponsoring Small World), Starbucks (over in DCA), Carnation ice cream and some remain Dole Pineapple.

In each case people claimed the park would be "scarred forever". Yet it continues to survive and grow. In time the licensing agreement will expire and a new name will come. Then people will lament how much they miss the "controversial" partner of today.

yup. I do recall all that stuff. I am a long time fan of all things Disney. I know what brands have been at the parks and what ones are gone. The only thing is that none of the places you named or any I can think of were ever as in your face as places are now. Like you said they had window dressing. We all loved the fries from Mc Ds. But it was not a full blown shop that had burgers and nuggets right? The Mexican food place by the gun range has had lots of diffrent companies sponsor over the years. But they never turned it in to a regular La Salsa or El Torito. I think the point is to stay Disney as much as you can. Why would I want to go to the same old shops that I can go to in any mall in any town. The sad part is when Disney sells out to other companies and lets them full on market to DLR guest. Kind of takes away some of the magic in my eyes.

KT07 said:

yup. I do recall all that stuff. I am a long time fan of all things Disney. I know what brands have been at the parks and what ones are gone. The only thing is that none of the places you named or any I can think of were ever as in your face as places are now. Like you said they had window dressing. We all loved the fries from Mc Ds. But it was not a full blown shop that had burgers and nuggets right? The Mexican food place by the gun range has had lots of diffrent companies sponsor over the years. But they never turned it in to a regular La Salsa or El Torito. I think the point is to stay Disney as much as you can. Why would I want to go to the same old shops that I can go to in any mall in any town. The sad part is when Disney sells out to other companies and lets them full on market to DLR guest. Kind of takes away some of the magic in my eyes.

Click to expand...

Wasn't the Mexican place only sponsored by salsa brands? Was Ortega forever and now la Victoria. (Wish it was Ortega again, way better taco sauce!)
A lot of rides are "Brought to you by" or "in partnership with."
I heard that Coke is the worldwide #1 brand over Pepsi solely because of their contract with Disney parks. I would think McDonalds would have a hand in that too, but the Disney park contract put them out of reach for Pepsi.

Naples pizza sucks. I wouldn't mind a new pizza place taking over. The other paces in downtown disney I usually skip, they aren't very good. Tortilla joes is bearable I guess. New Orleans Jazz Kitchen could be redone. Earl of sandwich is a hit, love that place.

But I'm not happy with the no substitutions, 20+ minute wait after I order my PTS. Crappy chocolate square, not a good one. Nowhere to sit, 60% of store is chocolate, price increases for inferior offerings, and the list continues.

I think it's been an interesting transformation from sponsorship to leasing space on Disney property. This allows Disney to maximize profits and bring in a brand, like Starbucks or Ghirardelli, and possibly provide services that they are incapable of providing or reproducing. I imagine this practice is very low risk, for Disney, and it would be interesting to know what things are different in a Disney location than a standard location. I would imagine the employees remain under the respective brands, which further maximizes profits for Disney. Shareholders probably love these types of business arrangements.

As for the Hollywood location, one has to wonder how much and who controls the PTD market. Is this something that Ghirardelli is testing to see if they want to continue or are they contractually obligated? Personally, I'm hoping that Ghirardelli has some measure of power over the PTD program and can do something about reducing the frenzy caused by the low LE sizes. It's not going to do the Ghirardelli brand any favors if they take excessive amounts of time to crank out sundaes. They have yet to experience the full brunt of a regular release where 500 people line up for the current PTD and then line up again, when the PTD changes in a matter of hours. As it seems now, Ghirardelli takes longer than DSF to turn around tables and produce sundaes, which makes for multiple hours to even get a PTD.

Regular releases should also be interesting, as I suspect they will be selling the pins from within the Ghirardelli store. Is Ghirardelli going to be happy with a bunch of pin traders basically taking their store hostage for several hours? The casual customer would likely be turned away or will walk on by because of the crowds. I think we will see changes, if Ghirardelli has some measure of management, for that location, themselves.

yes mark. everything you say sounds right on to me. it has always been salsa brands. so I guess they don't have stores. I was more trying to make a point that many big names are at Disney but never get top bill or a stand alone full on shop. Have you also heard about coke not being in the food court of Costco anymore?? Pepsi is taken over that job now. ( no mind to me either way, we don't drink soda)

yes most DTD shops suck. Jazz kitchen is real good if you always get the Black and Blue steak. I have had it ever time I have been there and each has been top notch. as far as the new GSF. Its sucks because it is cookie cutter shop. Like a mall shop that will give u the same thing and look no matter where you go to it. they add in sum Disney but that's not the same as being all Disney with a little something else on the side. That 60% you talk of is to high. I guess time will tell how long this will last. Oh... sad you get a cheap thin candy. if you walk in the DCA shop you get a nice think filled one or more if you are lucky. lol

KT07 said:

yup. I do recall all that stuff. I am a long time fan of all things Disney. I know what brands have been at the parks and what ones are gone. The only thing is that none of the places you named or any I can think of were ever as in your face as places are now. Like you said they had window dressing. We all loved the fries from Mc Ds. But it was not a full blown shop that had burgers and nuggets right? The Mexican food place by the gun range has had lots of diffrent companies sponsor over the years. But they never turned it in to a regular La Salsa or El Torito. I think the point is to stay Disney as much as you can. Why would I want to go to the same old shops that I can go to in any mall in any town. The sad part is when Disney sells out to other companies and lets them full on market to DLR guest. Kind of takes away some of the magic in my eyes.

Click to expand...

How about the 35+ years Pendleton Woolen Mills operated a store in Frontierland?
How about the Gibson Cards and later Hallmark shops on Main Street?
How about when Wurlitzer operated a show room, in the prime corner Main Street location (opposite the Emporium) for 13 years?

The reality is that a huge parts of Disneyland, historically, was possible because of sponsors operating out of storefronts in the park. A lot of this has faded into memory because when Michael Eisner took over as CEO, and started transforming Disney from what it was to the major corporation it is now the relationships that previously existed broke down, weren't prioritized, Disney started thinking they could do things better themselves and the other reasons that lead to sponsors becoming more "names on signs and park maps" that children of the 80s, 90s and later are now accustomed to.

What has changed is the "packaging." The look of the building, in particular. But the children of the 50's, 60's and 70's were most definitely being full-on marketed to when they drank their Welch's Grape Juice, got their bag of Fritos from the Frito Kid (speaking of sponsors of the Mexican restaurant) and ate their Chicken of the Sea Tuna Sandwich.

I have no problem with Disney having partnerships with other companies. I think it is great to be able to get a Starbucks in the park, loved the Delta Dreamflight ride, and think it is great Disney is teaming up with companies to provide bigger and better fireworks/light shows. What I do have a problem with is Ghirardelli. I just really do not like their chocolate. I would have preferred a Hershey Soda Fountain or Dove Soda Fountain or Lindt or Cadbury. Really anything else. But I guess as long they keep making pins with characters eating ice cream then I don't have too much to complain about.

Bring back the old DSF ASAP...Thankm