- Super Bowl MVPs get paid to say they’ll go to Disney after winning the game.
- The marketing campaign dates back to 1987 and two famous drivers.
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Super Bowl MVPs are asked to declare “I’m going to Disney World” or “Disneyland” after winning the big game, but how did the famous marketing phrase come about?
As TikTok user Frank Hrelja explained in a recent viral post, the seed for the renowned campaign was first planted by pilots Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager in early 1987.
The year before, Rutan and Yeager made history by completing the first nonstop, non-refueling flight around the world and returned safely to Edwards Air Force Base in California after the nine-day journey.
Shortly after their historic trip, Rutan and Yeager (no relation to pilot Chuck Yeager) found themselves at dinner with Disney executive Michael Eisner and his wife, Jane, who asked them about their future plans: “What are you going to do now? ?”
In a moment of humor, Rutan and Yeager said they were going to Disneyland, which gave the Eisners an idea.
Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager were the first pilots to circumnavigate the world on a single tank of gasoline.
Phil Simms became the first to say ‘I’m going to Disney’ after Super Bowl XXI
“That phrase would make an incredible marketing slogan,” Hrelja said.
With weeks to spare before Super Bowl XXI, Disney reached out to the two quarterbacks competing in the big game: John Elway of the Denver Broncos and Phil Simms of the New York Giants.
The offer was simple: the winner of the game would get $50,000, as long as they agreed to deliver the now-famous phrase to a Disney camera crew after the victory.
So when Simms’ Giants cruised to a 39-20 victory at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Disney cameramen approached him and asked, “What are you going to do now?”
Tom Brady appears at Disney in 2004 after winning the Super Bowl MVP days before
Mickey Mouse with Super Bowl MVP and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes
Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Mickey Mouse in 2006
Simms delivered his line perfectly (“I’m going to Disney World”) and a legendary marketing campaign was born.
Nowadays, Super Bowl MVPs participate in a parade at Disney World or Disneyland after winning.
However, Super Bowl XXXV MVP Ray Lewis was not asked to participate in the campaign after being tried (and acquitted) of murder charges in Georgia.
Instead, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Trent Dilfer took the honors.
Tom Brady turned down the trip to Disney after Super Bowl LI and instead passed the opportunity on to running back James White.
