‘Once Upon a Time’, ‘Be Our Guest’, and ‘Pixie Dust’ all evoke the magic of Disney storytelling – and, as a former ‘cast member’, the principles of Disney entertainment excellence and the value of maintaining iconic status remain embedded for me in how business and brand experience endure globally.
As one of the most prolific and best-known brands on the planet, significantly, Disney boasts enduring commercial success and cross-generational appeal unlike any of its competitors.
From its launch in 1923 to the present day, this industry-leading name in entertainment has led the way in terms of immediately recognizable visual identity, innovation, storytelling, and consumer engagement, imprinting its values into the hearts and minds of all types of families from every corner of the globe. And it’s as relevant and fresh today as it ever was!
Here, we take a deep dive into Disney as a brand, both in an online middle east mobile number list and offline context, based on historical milestones as well as the personal insight I’ve gained during my time with the company at headquarters on the ‘Lot’ (studio) in Burbank, California.
About Disney
Disney is a longstanding entertainment brand with its roots firmly planted in animation from the mind of founder Walt Disney.
Dedicated to creating happiness by providing the best in entertainment for people of all ages, no matter where they may be in the world, the brand excels at making magical memories for the visitors of its various Theme Parks and beyond. It’s these core values of family entertainment that have enriched the brand with power to thrive decade after decade, generation after generation.
Founded by Walt Disney in 1923, Disney began its life as a what an editor does cartoon and animation studio, developing iconic characters that appealed to children and adults alike – many of which are still revered by families today.
In the years that followed, the company would gain critical acclaim with beloved ‘core’” characters including Pluto, Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse, followed later by the release of its first feature-length film, Alice in Wonderland, and so the legacy usa ceo began.
Over the years, Disney’s popularity was propelled to dizzying heights with a flurry of animated shorts, television series, and epic movies: an entertainment colossus was born and embedded further with ‘appointment to view’ Sunday night family television as part of the ABC Television network to brands within a family of brands that includes ESPN and the recent acquisition of 20th Century Fox which was sealed in March 2019 at $71bn.
To remain relevant and offer its ever-growing fan base a meaningful multi-dimensional experience, Disney has, over the years, seamlessly evolved with the times, expanding its empire into the world of TV broadcasting, cutting-edge theme parks, collectibles, digital media, sports, retail, cruise ships, education and beyond, based around a synergy model founded in world class entertainment.
Here is a small selection of Disney facts to broaden your insight into the brand:
- Disney operates more than 223 official stores in North America alone. (Source: Disney News US)
- Disney employs in excess of 195,000 people, or ‘Cast Members’, worldwide. (Source: Disney News US)
- Disney UK’s Facebook following stands at over 50 million, and counting. (Source: Disney UK’s official Facebook page)
Evolution of the Disney Brand
Disney has its origins in animation, serving as the acorn from which an innovative multichannel leader in entertainment developed.
However, over the years, the Disney brand has evolved with the landscape around it, to provide families worldwide with memorable, meaningful, and cutting-edge experiences, while maintaining its core values from past to prese