Eli Manning’s going to Disneyland / Walt Disney World

Update: Superbowl MVP Eli Manning is a no show at Disneyland parade in his honor.

Superbowl MVP Eli Manning. You’ve just won Super Bowl 42. What are you going to do next?

I’m Going to Disneyland! I’m Going to Disney World

Yep. Eli Manning uttered those famous words last night after captaining a rousing come from behind win for the underdog New York Giants.

Sometime today, Manning is scheduled to live out another dream – heading to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., for a celebratory parade down Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland Park. Manning’s visit to Disneyland will include a dream-come-true meeting with young football players from the Tustin (Calif.) Pop Warner football team. The Tustin team also will be part of the gala parade down Main Street, U.S.A.

Also see this great story in the SF Gate about the man who captured the moment on film. What a great job to have.

The full press release is below the cut.

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DREAMS COME TRUE AS SUPER BOWL XLII MVP ELI MANNING PROCLAIMS, ‘I’M GOING TO DISNEYLAND!’

GLENDALE, ARIZ. – From the Super Bowl “field of dreams” to the place “where dreams come true,” Super Bowl XLII MVP Eli Manning of the New York Giants Sunday night became the latest sports hero to seal victory by shouting the famous phrase “I’m going to Disneyland!”

The pronouncement, captured on tape at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., just moments after the Giants’ dramatic 17-14 upset victory over the previously undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, became the latest episode of the “I’m going to Disneyland/I’m going to Disney World” commercial produced over a 22-year span.

Manning led his team on an improbable, 83-yard drive where he scrambled, broke tackles and completed clutch passes before tossing a 13-yard touchdown pass to receiver Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds left in the game.

When the first of the series appeared in 1987 (featuring New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms following his team’s triumph in Super Bowl XXI), the commercial was instantly  regarded as a groundbreaking concept – a produced national commercial involving a current event, airing on major networks hours after the event.  Since then, the commercial has created a national catchphrase, shouted by people of all ages following moments of great accomplishment.

With Manning’s appearance, the commercial that started with a member of the New York Giants has come full-circle, featuring the latest New York Giants Super Bowl hero.

This latest installment – the 38th in the long-running series – continues in the tradition of  airing only hours after the conclusion of Super Bowl XLII.

On Monday, Manning is scheduled to live out another dream – heading to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., for a celebratory parade down Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland Park.  It’s all part of Disney Parks’ Year of A Million Dreams celebration.

Manning’s visit to Disneyland will include a dream-come-true meeting with young football players from the Tustin (Calif.) Pop Warner football team.  The Tustin team also will be part of the gala parade down Main Street, U.S.A.

Manning joins a star-studded lineup of sports heroes such as Tom Brady,  Emmitt Smith, Michael Jordan, Kurt Warner, Coach Jon Gruden, Joe Montana, John Elway, Jerry Rice, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Doug Williams, Magic Johnson, and Super Bowl XLI winning coach Tony Dungy, who have been featured during the two decades of “I’m going to Disneyland/I’m going to Disney World” commercials.

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“I’m Going to Disneyland/I’m Going to Disney World” Fact Sheet
Chronology of “I’m Going to Disneyland/I’m Going to Disney World” Commercials:

2008 Super Bowl XLII (Eli Manning, New York Giants)
2007 Super Bowl XLI (Tony Dungy and Dominic Rhodes, Indianapolis Colts)
2006 Super Bowl XL (Hines Ward, with Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh Steelers)
2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII (Tom Brady, New England Patriots)
Major League Baseball World Series Champions (Curt Schilling, Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox)
2003 Super Bowl XXXVII (Jon Gruden and Brad Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
2002 Super Bowl XXXVI (Tom Brady, New England Patriots)
2001 Super Bowl XXXV (Trent Dilfer, Baltimore Ravens)
Major League Baseball home run record (Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants)
2000 Super Bowl XXXIV (Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams)
1999 Super Bowl XXXIII (Terrell Davis and John Elway, Denver Broncos)
Women’s World Cup (United States Championship Team)
1998 Super Bowl XXXII (John Elway, Denver Broncos)
Major League Baseball home run record (Mark McGwire, St. Louis Cardinals)
1997 Super Bowl XXXI (Desmond Howard, Green Bay Packers)
Holiday Gift-Giving (Santa Claus)
1996 Super Bowl XXX (Emmitt Smith, Dallas Cowboys)
1995 Super Bowl XXIX (Jerry Rice and Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers)
1994 Super Bowl XXVIII (Emmitt Smith, Dallas Cowboys)
Olympics (Nancy Kerrigan, U.S. Figure Skater)
1993 Super Bowl XXVII (Troy Aikman, Dallas Cowboys)
Stanley Cup (Patrick Roy, Montreal Canadiens)
1992 Super Bowl XXVI (Mark Rypien, Washington Redskins)
1991 Super Bowl XXV (Ottis Anderson, N.Y. Giants)
NBA (Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls)
1990 Super Bowl XXIV (Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers)
Graduation (Jim Thompson of Temple University, and
  Matt Kaldenberg, Phyllis Kaldenberg and Laura McEwen of Simpson College)
1989 Super Bowl XXIII (Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers)
NHL (Al MacInnis, Calgary Flames)
NBA (Joe Dumars, Detroit Pistons)
1988 Super Bowl XXII (Doug Williams, Washington Redskins)
Miss America (Gretchen Carlson)
World Series (Orel Hershiser, L.A. Dodgers)
NBA (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, L.A. Lakers)
1987 Super Bowl XXI (Phil Simms, N.Y. Giants)
America’s Cup (Dennis Conner)
NBA (Magic Johnson, L.A. Lakers)
World Series (Frank Viola, Minnesota Twins)

Quick Facts:
-First Commercial: Super Bowl XXI (Phil Simms, New York Giants)
-Number of Commercials Since Inception: 38
-The Super Bowl has been the catalyst for the most “I’m going to Disney World” spots (21)
-There have been four “I’m going to Disney World” repeaters: Joe Montana (1989 and 1990),
Emmitt Smith (1994 and 1996), John Elway (1998 and 1999) and Tom Brady (2002 and 2004).
-“I’m going to Disney World” spots immediately following the Super Bowl have featured non-Super Bowl MVPs eight times:  1989, 1995 (shared), 1996, 1998, 1999 (shared), 2001, 2003 and 2007.

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