When a Super Bowl MVP yells, 'I'm going to Disneyland!' it's more than a celebration. It's a tradition born from a clever marketing idea.

So, Why Do They Visit Disneyland?

The answer is simple. It’s an old Disney marketing stunt that turned into a beloved post-Super Bowl tradition, part promo, part celebration. The tradition dates back to when Disney CEO Michael Eisner and his wife, Jane Breckenridge, hosted a promotional dinner at Disneyland.

Among the many celebrities present were aviators Rutan and Jeana Yeager, who had just co-piloted Voyager, the first aircraft to fly nonstop around the world without refueling. As noted in Eisner's 1998 memoir, Breckenridge asked the two what they were going to do next.

"Well, we're going to Disneyland," Rutan replied. These 5 words by the aviator sparked the idea in Breckenridge's mind of the new marketing campaign, which she pitched to Eisner.

A few weeks later, Disney launched its now-legendary “What’s next?” campaign, organizing for the Super Bowl MVP to deliver the famous line right after his team’s win.

New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms had just thrown for 268 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI to not only win the game with a 39-20 score but also earn MVP honors.

As he celebrated on the field, a group of cameramen approached the QB and asked him what he would do next. The Giants QB gave an answer that would go on to become a tradition followed by every NFL QB: "I'm going to go to Disney World!"

And It's Been an Ongoing Tradition Ever Since…

Super Bowl MVPs, typically quarterbacks, have continued the tradition ever since. However, there have exceptions, like there was no “I’m Going to Disney World” commercial after Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005.

Tom Brady gave his spot to James White, who had scored three touchdowns in Super Bowl LI and played a big role in the team’s victory. Brady won his fourth Super Bowl MVP trophy in this game, but he had already enjoyed a celebratory trip to Disney World before.

Interestingly, Patrick Mahomes was a fan of this commercial way before he became one of the best QBs in NFL history. “I bet it feels amazing to be the quarterback who says 'I'm going to Disney World' after winning the Super Bowl #Qbs,” he tweeted back in 2013 when he was 17 years old.

He got to say that line after winning in 2020, 2022, and 2023. Most recently, Sam Darnold and Kenneth Walker III did it too after winning Super Bowl LX. What do you think about the tradition? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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Written by

Reyansh Dubey

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar