A tale as old as time. A simple question that contains so much positivity and magic that is asked at the conclusion of every NFL Super Bowl. And no, it’s not “Are you coming back next season?” Both Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski squashed that rumor immediately after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV last night. So Comedy Chair, will also squash that thought in your head as well. The magic question happens, and only happens, when you hear that peaceful song sang originally by the cricket himself, Jiminy Cricket, in the 1940s Disney Classic Pinocchio: When You Wish Upon A Star… Fun Fact, the song “When You Wish Upon A Star“ was the first Disney song to an Oscar. In 1940, “When You Wish Upon A Star” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. I know, stay on topic Kwasmoney. I’m sorry. I’m a big Disney fan, everyone knows that about me. In fact, I actually have a Mickey Mouse tattoo. But I finally (😉) digress, the magical 7 word question is…
“Hey, Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, you and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers just won Super Bowl. What are you going to do next?!” – Mysterious Man of Positivity
”WE’RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!!” – Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski
How Did Disney Link Up With The NFL?
One of the most memorable childhood memories I have growing up is waiting to the end of every Super Bowl with my Mom for the Super Bowl MVP to say, “I’m Going To The Disney World”! While waiting for Super Bowl LV MVP Tom Brady (and bonus Rob Gronkowski) to say those words every child and adult’s inner child wants to scream at the top of their lungs, I thought how and when did Disney come up with this yet again brilliant marketing strategy.
Flashback to 1987, Michael Eisner, the CEO of Disney, reached out to the starting quarterback of the New York Giants Phil Simms and paid him $75,000 to say “I’m going to Disney World” in a Disney commercial that aired after Super Bowl XXI. But how did this simple marketing strategy come to be?
Well, like the old saying goes, “behind every great man is a great woman”. Eisner states in his book that the simple yet powerful marketing strategy came from his wife, Jane Eisner. Disney was set to open the much anticipated Star Tours attraction at Disneyland and, the Eisners’ were at dinner with the two pilots who flew the first aircraft around the world without refueling or stopping when Jane asked what was next on the agenda for the two pilots. Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager replied, “Well, we’re going to Disneyland”. As soon as those words were uttered from the two pilots’ lips, the light bulb went off in Mrs. Eisner’s mind and she told her husband, Michael, that simple phrase would make a tremendous marketing campaign.
Fun Fact, Disney has the superstar record two different versions (Disney World and Disneyland) so it can be marketed in the different areas around the United States.
Fun Fact Number 2, Tom Brady has said “I’m going to Disney World” (or a version of it) 4 different times: Super Bowl XXXVI, Super Bowl XXXIII, Super Bowl LIII, and Super Bowl LV.
Super Bowl LV Results
As I am sure you already know, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won Super Bowl LV against, the defending Super Bowl Champions, Kansas City Chiefs 31 to 9. This Super Bowl victory is Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ second Super Bowl Championship and Tom Brady’s seventh Super Bowl Championship. Tom Brady and the Buccaneers must have “wished upon a star” because it didn’t make a “difference who you are” for them as the underdogs in Super Bowl LV. “Anything your heart desires, will come to you”; Tom Brady reportedly texted his teammates every single night since the NFC Championship victory over the Green Bay Packers, “We will win”. And, their wish came true!
