Apple and Disney

[Joben]

Not sure if this belongs in rumors but I remember reading about some people suggesting that Apple needs to team up with Disney in Epcot.

This morning my Ipad said I need to update my OS and now I have a widget to a Disney page when I open safari.

Is there something in the works between these two companies? or am I really behind in my software updates?

 

[panixx]

You are probably seeing a disney bookmark you had on another device that synced through iCloud. I dont recall bookmark tiles on iOS 6, but they are like that in iOS7 in safari. That may be what you are seeing.

 

[Joben]

I don't think so. I'm not the most technical, and barely know apple, however when I open safari I get a plain white page. There are four buttons on there: the apple logo, a blue square with Disney on it, a red square with ESPN, and a purple square with a y for yahoo on it. Just find it odd. I've never book marked any of those things.

 

[lnv1122]

I get the same on mine as well

 

[WDWChloe]

I wondered this too. Everyone who updates to iOS 7 has the Disney quick link when you load up safari... Hmmmm

 

[JesimaGomes]

I think it would have been a big news if there were any rumors of both such big companies teaming up. And my safari looks like everyday one. No major changes.

 

[Joben]

I wondered this too. Everyone who updates to iOS 7 has the Disney quick link when you load up safari... Hmmmm

I was thinking it was the iOS 7 update, I just wasn't sure.

To me this partnership makes sense. Apple is flush with money looking to invest and diversify. Disney is a solid investment (as long as your not a western film) Disney just spent what was it two billion on technological upgrades with the magic bands. I know marketing information is valuable, but two billion seems like a pretty big chunk of change. And of improvements in the park, Epcot is the only one left standing without a commitment to improvement.

I'm a big fan of the world of Epcot, and it bothers me that it has fallen to the wayside for so long. I have no big love for Apple or their products(yes I see the irony here, but so you know my I-pad was free) but I do recognize that they are a company who believe in imagination and innovation. (See what I did there, totally unplanned)

I remember I think it was skierpete here on the boards suggesting this partnership before. When the update came out, I thought maybe it really was happening. It is reasonable to think that Apple made an agreement with Disney, that if they invested enough in a tech upgrade Apple would come on board and utilize that upgrade. However Disney wanted to wait on the announcement(for whatever reason, or just they seem to move really slow at this) however Apple has their stuff together and they are ready to roll out their new OS so oh we'll here we go.

I can speculate all this but I wonder what Apple would do. The one thing I just did think on now is to take over the imagination and innovation pavilions. Just please don't put a stem on spaceship earth

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I can see some strategic agreements between Disney and Apple, although nothing serious at Epcot as long as the Disney-HP alliance is in force.

I absolutely can not see an actual Apple-Disney merger, even though Apple is loaded with cash. The two companies are in fundamentally different businesses. Wall Street likes companies that stick to one area of business and do it well.

 

[Virtucomp]

Disney has been big into the Apple platform for a while. I get emails constantly about new Apps, Storybooks, Games, and video. All require a minimum of Apple OS. Some are just starting to support Android.

My guess is Disney sees Apple as a big marketing platform so they convinced Apple to include their link in the new update.

 

[dawnhaze]

Those tiles you see in Safari are a default "bookmarks bar" - they're pre-bookmarked on a lot of PCs and mobile devices because they're sites that are considered popular. And any manufacturer usually bookmarks their own website for you.

 

[wiigirl]

I wondered this too. Everyone who updates to iOS 7 has the Disney quick link when you load up safari... Hmmmm

Just noticed that....

 

[Joben]

Disney has been big into the Apple platform for a while. I get emails constantly about new Apps, Storybooks, Games, and video. All require a minimum of Apple OS. Some are just starting to support Android.

My guess is Disney sees Apple as a big marketing platform so they convinced Apple to include their link in the new update.

I was not thinking of anything as big as a merger, just a collaboration.

with Samsung galaxy rolling out their little blue tooth watch phone, wouldn't Apple be interested in introducing their own too.

using the new Disney wristbands as a first gen model, I could see them upgrading to something to compete with Samsung. (I know big stretch here)

I remember taking trip to WDW and my nephews having these things called mix masters from Disney loaded with games and videos. My nephews were entertained by these little one inch screen devices for hours at a time.

We just got our wristbands in the mail and I was surprised that these things are just given away to every customer. They even have our names printed on them. It seems like a lot more money to put into something than a simple card with a magnetic strip. And If I'm not mistaken these wristbands have to be reissued every time you come back to the park

If Apple were to make a wristband like Samsung's, which of course would be reused, loaded with all the goodies of the magic bands and the mix master. I could see it as a good ROI for Apple. It gets kids used to their platform, and once you get a kid started on a piece of commercialism, they tend to stick with it for life. For example how many of you use the same toothpaste you grew up with.

Maybe I'm beating a dead horse(sorry Horace) I'm just trying to kill time before my trip (IN FOURTEEN DAYS!!!)

Plus I really want to see some improvements done at Epcot. I have a sneaking suspicion that some suits at Disney look around here to try and find some good ideas for themselves(yes I'm that naive) to pitch in their meetings and take the glory for themselves. So I would love to get any idea going for some re-investment into one of my favorite spots in WDW

whoops I meant to quote Horace on this reply, apologies

 

[jennyerin]

When we were there in August and I was having some issues with the MDE app on my Galaxy S3, the CM at the MB kiosk told me that the app worked better with iphones and that another upgrade was needed for Android. They all have ipads at the kiosks and ride entrances so Disney seems to be heavily into Apple products even without an official collaboration.

 

[Loftin716]

I was thinking it was the iOS 7 update, I just wasn't sure. To me this partnership makes sense. Apple is flush with money looking to invest and diversify. Disney is a solid investment (as long as your not a western film) Disney just spent what was it two billion on technological upgrades with the magic bands. I know marketing information is valuable, but two billion seems like a pretty big chunk of change. And of improvements in the park, Epcot is the only one left standing without a commitment to improvement. I'm a big fan of the world of Epcot, and it bothers me that it has fallen to the wayside for so long. I have no big love for Apple or their products(yes I see the irony here, but so you know my I-pad was free) but I do recognize that they are a company who believe in imagination and innovation. (See what I did there, totally unplanned) I remember I think it was skierpete here on the boards suggesting this partnership before. When the update came out, I thought maybe it really was happening. It is reasonable to think that Apple made an agreement with Disney, that if they invested enough in a tech upgrade Apple would come on board and utilize that upgrade. However Disney wanted to wait on the announcement(for whatever reason, or just they seem to move really slow at this) however Apple has their stuff together and they are ready to roll out their new OS so oh we'll here we go. I can speculate all this but I wonder what Apple would do. The one thing I just did think on now is to take over the imagination and innovation pavilions. Just please don't put a stem on spaceship earth

Hahahahaha a stem on Spaceship Earth! Thank you for that laugh! That would just be horrible!!

 

[Wenny]

Steve Jobs was on the board, wasn't he? I was at wdw a few weeks after he passed and flags were at half mast for him. The collaboration goes way back.

 

[poly54111]

Allot of people aren't actually aware at how many apple products disney use and have contracts for, for example all major cast members i.e. some managers, executives and everyone behind the scenes swoped out their Blackberrys for iPhones earlier this year. They have also had a contract for 15 inch macbook pros for years now again major staff like people who are in sales and bigger roles are all given a macbook pro to work from. The new mac pro's which were realised are rumoured to be used with pixar which is very likely and not forgetting the trusty iPads which are popping up all over property. so yes iOS 7 does have a bookmark for disney to say thanks basically for their contracts they have together and you can be expecting more stuff in the future

hope this helped

 

[chrispeto]

Steve Jobs use to own Pixar, he sold the company to Disney and part of the payment was Disney stock Steve Jobs used to be a major share holder in Disney and Apple. I assume his family inherited his stocks. Maybe that is the reason Disney uses Apple products as well as Pixar.