Playhouse Disney to be known as Disney Junior

[crltkcagle]

Why must Disney always change things? I love PLAYHOUSE DISNEY! Why change the name to Disney Jr? And I have to agree the shows five years ago were better. Rollie Pollie, Stanley, PB&J Otter, JoJo, Out of the Box and Bear were awesome shows for the kids! Its almost like Disney isn't being very creative with the shows they have on now. I'm not saying my kids don't enjoy them but I find they are not a good as the older shows.

[brownie]

I think it's a poor decision. Keep it Playhouse Disney and make it better. They could bring back some of the old shows like Bear in the Big Blue House and Rollie Pollie Ollie. Changing the name gives the appearance of doing something without really doing anything other than spending money. It's not the name of the block that's the problem, it's what's on during the block.

[Mammabruski]

Maybe it would have been better just to leave the word stupid out of it - but I totally get what he's saying....

I agree that Ian's post would have been fine if he had left out the part about calling people "stupid". Everyone's entitled to their own opinion.

Peace.

[dixielandings]

Having a one year old, I'm just now getting introduced to Playhouse. And I gotta say - I'm kinda ticked with this rebranding thing. And my first thought was - why follow in the footsteps of Nick by using the name Junior? Disney is supposed to be a leader, not a follower.

One thing I like a lot - the idea of this programming getting its own channel. It always bums me out when the programming switches suddenly from MMCH to Phineas and Ferb. Major whiplash!

[AgentP]

One thing I like a lot - the idea of this programming getting its own channel. It always bums me out when the programming switches suddenly from MMCH to Phineas and Ferb. Major whiplash!

I completely agree. Although Phineas and Ferb is my personal favorite cartoon, there doesn't seem to be enough for little kids in the afternoon. To be honest, I think that PBS has the best lineup right now of educational cartoon shows (Clifford, SuperWhy, Curious George). It is certainly as good as Playhouse Disney. What I find really tiring is how Hannah Montana takes over after 3PM. I think having a Disney channel for Preschool should help this problem.

[Ian]

I agree that Ian's post would have been fine if he had left out the part about calling people "stupid". Everyone's entitled to their own opinion.

Peace.

Again ... you're sort of missing the intent of my post. I didn't call anyone stupid. I was sarcasticly implying that Disney management treats their customers as if they're stupid.

I apologize again if you misinterpreted what I said, but I honestly felt like it was pretty obvious that I was being sarcastic.

But just so we're clear and there's no hurt feelings, I was not calling anybody stupid. In fact, my intent was the opposite ... I was trying to say that I don't feel like Disney's audience is stupid and that they're not going to fall for simply slapping a new name on the same (IMO) sub-par shows. It was a "lipstick on a pig" reference.

Hopefully that will clear things up so we can put this whole thing to bed.

[BrerGnat]

So, I guess what no one has bothered to point out is, this isn't just a "rebranding" of the current line up. Disney Junior is the name of the ENTIRE CHANNEL.

Disney XD is the "new" channel for older kids.

They obviously had to create these new names to distinguish the two channels. They couldn't continue to call it Disney Channel. And, I can see how naming a channel "Playhouse Disney" would not be so smart. After all, the first word in the name of the channel should be indicative of what the channel is all about, for "search" purposes. I.E. FOOD Network, DISCOVERY channel, HOME & GARDEN t.v., etc.

Could they have come up with a better name? Maybe. But, I think it's a decent attempt and does convey what the CHANNEL is all about.

I'm happy they have decided to dedicate programming to this age group for the entire day/night. My kids don't typically watch "morning" television. They watch t.v. towards the late afternoon, while I am making dinner, and they are winding down and tired. I hate that they watch the same stuff over and over that we have on dvd and/or on our DVR (playhouse disney shows!). The availability of appropriate programming in the late afternoon hours is just horrible. This is going to change that. Not all little kids watch Japanese anime or garbage like "Hannah Montana".

[BrerSchultzy]

Quick story:
My son (almost 3) loves the Imagination Movers. No, let me rephrase that...my son loves the Imagination Movers the way 15 year old girls loved the Beatles and Elvis. When they come on, he jumps up and down, grabs his toy guitars and drums and starts singing along. Unfortunately, they've moved them to his nap time. BUT, when we were in WDW this summer, we were at the store across from the Playhouse Disney Live show, and asked FIVE different cast members if there was any Imagination Movers merchandise, and none of them had even heard of the show. I think Disney's commitment to Playhouse Disney/Disney Jr. is clearly a low priority. And this rebranding, along with Chuggington, Jungle Junction, Timmy Time...it just makes it obvious that cutting corners and doing things on the cheap is the modus operandi. And guess what...they won. They were right. We still watch. Now, if Disney Jr. brings back classic cartoons, House of Mouse, Out of the Box...then we're talking. Of course, getting Disney Jr. is going to cost us more money, but that would make it worth it.

[BrerGnat]

BrerSchultzy...you need to take your son to an Imagination Movers concert if you can. We saw them last year in Dec (our kids were 5 and 3) and it was AWESOME! Great show, even for us parents.

[Ian]

So, I guess what no one has bothered to point out is, this isn't just a "rebranding" of the current line up. Disney Junior is the name of the ENTIRE CHANNEL.

A fair and important point. And I agree ... I'm also happy that they're fully separating the "junior" content from the "tweener" content.

Quick story:
My son (almost 3) loves the Imagination Movers. No, let me rephrase that...my son loves the Imagination Movers the way 15 year old girls loved the Beatles and Elvis. When they come on, he jumps up and down, grabs his toy guitars and drums and starts singing along. Unfortunately, they've moved them to his nap time. BUT, when we were in WDW this summer, we were at the store across from the Playhouse Disney Live show, and asked FIVE different cast members if there was any Imagination Movers merchandise, and none of them had even heard of the show.

Yeah I have to say ... I've always found it completely mystifying how slow Disney is in bringing merchandise to market.

I distinctly remember when JoJo first got hot DD wanted JoJo anything and you couldn't find a single, solitary toy, doll, playset, or toy anywhere. It took months for it to hit the stores and by then she was kinda like, "Eh"

[Kim Possible]

A fair and important point. And I agree ... I'm also happy that they're fully separating the "junior" content from the "tweener" content.

Yeah I have to say ... I've always found it completely mystifying how slow Disney is in bringing merchandise to market.

I distinctly remember when JoJo first got hot DD wanted JoJo anything and you couldn't find a single, solitary toy, doll, playset, or toy anywhere. It took months for it to hit the stores and by then she was kinda like, "Eh"

Disney always likes to release stuff, but never have the merch ready to do it! sorta drives me insane but i know it'll never change

[Ian]

Disney always likes to release stuff, but never have the merch ready to do it! sorta drives me insane but i know it'll never change

I know ... it's maddening as a parent.

I feel the same way about the theme parks. By FAR Cars has been one of the most successful Disney/Pixar animated films of all time. So why in the world is there not a single Cars themed attraction anywhere in Walt Disney World??

[sportsguy2315]

So if they're separating Disney Channel and Disney Jr, would the morning Disney Jr block stay or would Disney reprogram the block?

[BrerGnat]

I know ... it's maddening as a parent.

I feel the same way about the theme parks. By FAR Cars has been one of the most successful Disney/Pixar animated films of all time. So why in the world is there not a single Cars themed attraction anywhere in Walt Disney World??

There's plenty of Cars merchandise though...

Why not an attraction? Because they are probably going to use DCA as a guinea pig to see how successful (or not) CARS Land will be. I sort of wonder if they've been secretly plotting to throw a Cars land into DHS in the near future. That park needs some serious help, and Pixar seems to be slowly taking over in the back. I, for one, would not mind the completely gutting the back of the park, removing the Motor stunt show and the entire Backlot tour attraction. That would be plently of space for Cars Land.

[Joannelet]

I sort of wonder if they've been secretly plotting to throw a Cars land into DHS in the near future. That park needs some serious help, and Pixar seems to be slowly taking over in the back. I, for one, would not mind the completely gutting the back of the park, removing the Motor stunt show and the entire Backlot tour attraction. That would be plently of space for Cars Land.

I highly agree!!!! That would be so great to do that there!! I don't know anyone who wouldn't be happy with Cars Land!

[Ian]

There's plenty of Cars merchandise though...

Why not an attraction? Because they are probably going to use DCA as a guinea pig to see how successful (or not) CARS Land will be. I sort of wonder if they've been secretly plotting to throw a Cars land into DHS in the near future. That park needs some serious help, and Pixar seems to be slowly taking over in the back. I, for one, would not mind the completely gutting the back of the park, removing the Motor stunt show and the entire Backlot tour attraction. That would be plently of space for Cars Land.

I definitely agree that they're using DCA as a test bed (albeit an expensive one).

Not sure I see them ripping out LMA, though. They just installed that not all that long ago. Also, I don't have any real insight into how popular it is. We went once, find the entire process sort of annoying, and haven't been back since.

But I do agree it would fit best at the Studios. I wonder if they chucked the Backlot Tour area (which is sort of silly anyway now that the place is no longer a working studio) if that would give them enough space to do something Cars there.

[Savvy]

Who cares what it's called. I actually think Disney Junior is better than Playhouse Disney. I mean, WHAT playhouse? There is no playhouse...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0Qk6...eature=related

When Playhouse Disney first came about, this was the 'playhouse'.

[Goofster]

I agree with Ian. Playhouse Disney has been in a downward spiral over the last few years, while Noggin/Nick Jr. and Sprout have skyrocketed past them as the channel for younger kids. My daughter (7 now) loved Playhouse Disney when Bear, Rollie Pollie Olie, little Einsteins, JoJo and PB&J Otter were on. My son (5 now) watched some of those, but then started watching Sprout and Noggin instead (he liked Max and Ruby, Backyardigans, Wonder Pets and the other Sprout stuff). My 3 year old son only watches Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and prefers everything on Nick Jr. In fact, our TV in the kids playroom rarely changes from Nick Jr. except for the occasional viewing of Little Einsteins on On Demand. PH Disney's programming started to lack quality and started to rotate out too much that none of my kids could really count on their favorite program being on there or even consistent time....especially in the evening hours. Now, they think of Nick jr. and Sprout for those shows and not Disney, which is kind of sad that Disney let itself be squeezed out of the marketplace like that.

[BrerGnat]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0Qk6...eature=related

When Playhouse Disney first came about, this was the 'playhouse'.

Wow...that was annoying.

But thanks for clearing that up for me. That always bugged me!

[AgentP]

Wow...that was annoying.

I am speechless. I wish that I had never watched that. Yikes.