Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees going to Walt Disney World

If you watched the Super Bowl tonight you saw a hard fought game between two deserving teams. But one team had destiny on their side, and a city on their backs. That team was the New Orleans Saints the champions of Super Bowl XLIV.

So how is New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees celebrating his heroic play in Super Bowl XLIV? He’s going to Walt Disney World

In the frenzied moments just after his team claimed the National Football League championship Sunday night in South Florida, Brees stood in front of a TV camera and shouted five words that have become an almost iconic reaction to milestone achievements: “I’m going to Disney World!”

Brees’s pronouncement, part of the production for one of TV’s most enduring and celebrated commercials, was captured after the Saints’ 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts – a game during which he earned the MVP honor, completing a Super Bowl record-tying 32 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. He was 16-for-17 in the second half, twice leading the Saints from behind. It added up to be a catalyst for the Saints’ first Super Bowl celebration in team history.

On Monday (Feb. 8), Brees is scheduled to go to the place where millions of vacationers celebrate their personal milestone moments – Walt Disney World Resort. He is to be joined in the Magic Kingdom by NFL Youth Football players, who will participate with the Saints star in a Super Bowl celebration parade down Main Street, U.S.A. The parade is scheduled for 11:55 a.m. at the Magic Kingdom.

This latest commercial is the 42nd of a series that began in 1987 following Super Bowl XXI. The first “I’m going to Disney World” commercial, featuring New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, was regarded as a groundbreaking concept – a produced national commercial involving a current event, airing on major networks within hours of its conclusion. Brees joins a lineup of people from sports and beyond who have celebrated milestone accomplishments in “I’m going to Disney World” commercials.

follow below the jump for a history of the “What’s Next” commercial:

First Spot: Super Bowl XXI (Phil Simms, New York Giants)

Number of Spots Since Inception: 42

Chronology of “I’m going to Disney World” Spots:

2010 Super Bowl XLIV (Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints)

2009 Super Bowl XLIII (Santonio Holmes and Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers)
“American Idol” Season 8 (Kris Allen, singer)

2008 Super Bowl XLII (Eli Manning, New York Giants)
“American Idol” Season 7 (David Cook, singer)

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)
Winter Games XVII (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)

The Super Bowl has been the catalyst for the most “I’m going to Disney World” spots (23)

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 nine times: 1989, 1995 (shared), 1996, 1998, 1999 (shared), 2001, 2003 and 2007 and 2009 (shared)