I have no idea what forum this should go in, so mods feel free to move it.

Today I went to my local Six Flags, and I immediately found myself commenting on how hard and how much they fail at being Disney. I've always laughed at how hard the Houdini ride tries to be like Disney with it's preshow... Too bad it lacks any sort of magic or any sort of refurbishment ever.

I laughed when I saw that Six Flags had a pirate show; jumping on the pirate bandwagon that Disney seems to have popularized in the past few years. I had to check it out... Needless to say, as the show went on, I couldn't believe my ears: They were using the Pirates of the Carribean soundtrack! Later in the day I stopped in a gift shop to see a small table of Disney socks and some sort of Disney games; I wish I would have thought to take a picture. So what's going on? Does Six Flags and Disney have some sort of deal or is Six Flags just being as terrible as ever?

Hmmmmm...
That's really interesting...I would think they must have permission...
otherwise, wouldn't they be smart enough to know that Disney would hit 'em with a lawsuit?:confused:
but I just don't see Disney allowing Six Flags to use their material....:confused:

Baffling!!!:confused::confused::confused:

i've heard of the disney merchandise at six flags before..

haha.. actually.. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=%22disney+merchandise%22+%22six+flags%22&btnG=Search

We usually listen to Radio Disney, when the kids are in the car, and I noticed the other day that they had a commercial for Six Flags. We live pretty close to a Six Flags park (although I've never been), and hundreds of miles from Disney, but I thought it odd to have an ad for a competitor.

We usually listen to Radio Disney, when the kids are in the car, and I noticed the other day that they had a commercial for Six Flags. We live pretty close to a Six Flags park (although I've never been), and hundreds of miles from Disney, but I thought it odd to have an ad for a competitor.


I understand what you're saying, but I don't really consider Six Flags a true "competitor" to Disney (well, not to WDW anyway). Walt Disney World is a totally immersive, vacation resort experience--that encompasses multiple parks, resorts, etc, all highly themed by Disney Imagineers. No theme park, Six Flags, or anybody's--regardless of how high quality the "park" is--could hope to compete with Walt Disney World in providing that total resort experience.

Our "home" theme park is actually a very high quality park, and really does quite a good job carrying out a "theme." But it's one of these where you simply turn off the main road into the parking facility, take a tram to the gate & go in. Then when it's time to go home, you exit the turnstiles & you've exited the theme, the "magic" or whatever. As fun as it may be, park-wise, it is not WALT DISNEY WORLD. And I would not consider it a "competitor" except in the most superficial way.

All that having been said, I do agree that it seems a bit odd for Radio Disney to be advertising another theme park. I guess if Disney Radio is a separate profit center from the parks/resorts, then they've got to pay their own way. Selling advertising is one way to do it.

All that having been said, I do agree that it seems a bit odd for Radio Disney to be advertising another theme park. I guess if Disney Radio is a separate profit center from the parks/resorts, then they've got to pay their own way. Selling advertising is one way to do it.
When the different resorts are different profit centers (even if they are in the same larger group), I can't imagine that Radio Disney would be financial 'related' to WDW except at the very tip top of the org structure.

When the different resorts are different profit centers (even if they are in the same larger group), I can't imagine that Radio Disney would be financial 'related' to WDW except at the very tip top of the org structure.

I was shocked to learn recently that Disney doesn't even own the Disney store any more. I wonder if maybe Six Flags has a deal with the Children's Place (I think that's the one that owns the D Stores now.) They could probably easily work out a deal without Disney being involved.

It's true though. Six Flags tries to be Disney. And I won't even bash Six Flags because they are good amusement parks, especially if you're a coaster nut like me. But it really doesn't feel even close. They sure are getting close to charging Disney-like prices for an inferior product though.

Our local park opened an "Operation Spy Girl" stunt show this year. Looks like a low-rent cross between the Indiana Jones show and Lights, Motors, Action! But it is billed as "From the creators of 24."

I was shocked to learn recently that Disney doesn't even own the Disney store any more.


You beat me to it. I was going to say that no win days just because it has the Disney name, don't mean it's owned by Disney.

Well actually if you watch Disney's Vacation Planning Video the song from that and the website is actually called "Flying" by James Newton Howard and that is from Universal's 2003 movie Peter Pan. Disney is now using it for YOMD and this summer I heard it at my local Six Flags.

Well actually if you watch Disney's Vacation Planning Video the song from that and the website is actually called "Flying" by James Newton Howard and that is from Universal's 2003 movie Peter Pan. Disney is now using it for YOMD and this summer I heard it at my local Six Flags.
I thought that was odd too.

Typically, as long as someone's paying music rights, they can use whatever songs they wish. And similarly, with merchandise, they can buy from one of Disney's many licensees without getting direct Disney approvals as long as they're adhering to the rules of a retailer selling Disney merchandise. Not really any different from selling at Target in that scenario.

Six Flags is the one I'd question (as usual) for promoting their competitor in their own park.

But what is the competition?

Six Flags owns the right to Wiggles World Theme Park rights in the US. They bought them from The Wiggles.

Disney owns the right to show The Wiggles show on the Disney Channel, they bought them from The Wiggles.

Is Six Flags promoting its competitor?

Back before Jedi Training Academy, they had a DJ during the day playing music at Club Buzz, more than once did I hear "We like to Party", which is also known as the Mr. Six Theme Song. Was Disneyland promoting Six Flags? Or when Disneyland plays songs from Shrek, is that promoting Universal Studios?

I do find it ironic that the Year of a Million Dreams music is from Universal....

Businesses are that, and they will sell what will make them money.

Disney is in the exact same catagory as Six Flags, Universal, Busch Entertainment, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, etc.... No better, no worse in using music and selling merchandise.

Totally agree --- but there is a line. A fuzzy one, at best. Music is generally pretty ubiquitous to the general public (movie trailers are notorious for using some of the same tracks over and over for different films). Selling merchandise within a theme park should be a little cleaner, though -- you'd think they'd stick to the brands within the park.

I recall a time when Universal Hollywood sold Mickey mouse ear ice cream bars at the park. Upper management threw a fit when they saw it!

I have no idea what forum this should go in, so mods feel free to move it.

Today I went to my local Six Flags, and I immediately found myself commenting on how hard and how much they fail at being Disney. I've always laughed at how hard the Houdini ride tries to be like Disney with it's preshow... Too bad it lacks any sort of magic or any sort of refurbishment ever.

I laughed when I saw that Six Flags had a pirate show; jumping on the pirate bandwagon that Disney seems to have popularized in the past few years. I had to check it out... Needless to say, as the show went on, I couldn't believe my ears: They were using the Pirates of the Carribean soundtrack! Later in the day I stopped in a gift shop to see a small table of Disney socks and some sort of Disney games; I wish I would have thought to take a picture. So what's going on? Does Six Flags and Disney have some sort of deal or is Six Flags just being as terrible as ever?


It's important to keep in mind that such a comparison is pretty flawed. The Disney corporation has resources/cash that far outstrip any theme park operator in the world. To expect Disney level experiences at a regional theme park operator like Six Flags or Cedar Fair is to put it gently, silly. Honestly, if you attend any other park in the world not operated by Disney and expect them to be like Disney, they all would "fail." Better to enjoy the parks for what they are, instead of holding them to an impossibly high standard.

In terms of the merchandise question. Any retailer can sell Disney merchandise, and that's what the stores are in a SF park, retailers. Not every retailer or food operation in a SF park is SF Inc specific, and most of the parks have stores that carry non-park related merchandise.

The music licensing business of Disney would never turn down money, so for them to grant a the use of the POTC music only benefits Disney in the long run. I'm sure they would even consider the use of the music as continued promotion for Pirates DVD's and merchandise and would rather have broader exposure than less.