The Disney tradition continues after the Seattle Seahawks clinched the Super Bowl title over the New England Patriots.
This year, it was Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III and quarterback Sam Darnold who announced they would be going to The Happiest Place on Earth. They led a cavalcade at Disneyland on Monday.
As Disney Parks Blog wrote, “Less than 24 hours after the Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl LX, Kenneth Walker III and Sam Darnold celebrated the achievement with a visit to the Disneyland Resort during its 70th Celebration! From riding an iconic attraction to parading down Main Street, U.S.A., and greeting fans, it was a magical day to remember."
Fans packed the parade route to cheer their team after their victory and second Lombardi Trophy.
The pair also squeezed in some rides, including the Mad Tea Party and a photo with Mickey and Minnie, taken in front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle.
So how did Disney and the NFL pair up?
The tradition dates back to 1987 when New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms said, “I’m going to go to Disney World” after winning Super Bowl XXI.
Simms, according to The Los Angeles Times, fought against doing the commercial that has since become a postgame staple.
“I was approached about it maybe the Tuesday before the Super Bowl,” Simms said, according to the Times. “My agent, David Fishof, told me and I said, ‘No chance. Don’t even talk to me about it. Not going to do it.’ I stood my ground until Friday night when I finally said, ‘Oh my God, fine. I’ll do it.’ He wore me down.”
Ken Rodgers, the commercial’s director for 10 years, told the Times how the commercial comes together within hours after the last second of the game, amid all of the on-field celebrations.
“The hardest thing about that commercial is the unpredictable nature, certainly in recent years, especially when the Patriots are involved,” Rodgers told the Times in 2022.
“It seems to never be decided until the final seconds. You have no idea as a director who you’re going to feature in the commercial. It’s being decided by a group over headsets. Disney executives are on site, NFL Films is on site, we’re all talking over the headset.
“The game will sometimes end, and as you’re running onto the field, you’re being told who to go find and shoot the commercial.”
It’s a multicamera shoot while video crews funnel the player or players into an area to get the shot.
As for this year’s commercial and subsequent appearance on Main Street U.S.A., it is a bit of a homecoming for Darnold. He grew up in San Clemente, California, and went to the University of Southern California, Disney said in a news release.
Walker and Darnold have another parade on their schedule. They and the rest of the Seahawks will be honored with a parade in downtown Seattle on Wednesday, KIRO reported. Nearly a million people are expected to attend.
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