Does anyone remember Nahtazu? About This Page:

[Tere WDW]

I will always remember the first time I went to Animal Kingdom several years ago. I wasn't sure what to expect, but as I first walked into the park and saw how many trees and plants there were and all the animals, I fell in love! Does anyone remember how it was advertised as "Nahtazu"? This was before Expedition Everest and Finding Nemo the Musical. I don't quite remember when they stopped using Nahtazu, but I always thought it was clever...

[coffeechef]

I do remember and it used to be on the AK Park maps too. I still say it once in awhile... but having been a child of TV jingles. I often find a song will trigger a commercial jingle. even ones from the 60's.

[chezp]

I remember that clearly as well - I think it was being advertised that way when we were on our honeymoon in 1999.

[Colexis Mom]

I remember seeing it!

[OneLittleSpark]

In 2005, my first trip in 16 years. Nahtazu was in use...I remember our bus driver telling us about that, and seeing it at the park. I don't recall seeing it in 2009 when we went again.

[Cinderella072004]

I LOVED that ~remember the girl on the TV channel ever time you turn on the TV in your room. She would have that whole "Nahtazu" segment. I still think of that everytime someone says we are going to the zoo thing at Disney-NAHTAZU!!!!!!!

[Tere WDW]

Originally Posted by Cinderella072004

I LOVED that ~remember the girl on the TV channel ever time you turn on the TV in your room. She would have that whole "Nahtazu" segment. I still think of that everytime someone says we are going to the zoo thing at Disney-NAHTAZU!!!!!!!

Yes, I remember the girl on the TV channel. I don't remember her name but it's not the girl they have now. It is such a fun word - Nahtazu!

[Dave Marx]

Nahtazu doesn't go nearly as far back as '99, the park's second year of operation. The campaign came a little while after that (earliest reference I can find is during the 100 Years of Magic, which started in late 2001). I thought it was clever, though it's always a risk in advertising when you say what your product is not. The ads were very visual, and those images communicated a very positive message. But the audio... It was hard for me to think, "Not a zoo? Then what is it?" "What it is" wasn't clearly and succinctly communicated in the sound track. It's always risky to depend only upon visual, or only upon audio in a TV ad.

My biggest issue, though, was that I've always thought the park is a great zoo. I wasn't thrilled that Disney thought they had to market such a great park as being something other than it is. I think it also begged the question, for folks who aren't zoo-lovers, whether the parts that aren't zoo are enough for a day of fun. Those were the folks who kept insisting that AK was a "half-day park." All the Nahtazu in the world didn't change their minds. Only the opening of more non-zoo attractions did that.

Before the opening of Chester and Hesters and Expedition: Everest, the balance really did tip towards zoo. My own feeling was, find a way to embrace that.

Going back either farther, 7-UP was the "uncola" with great success. "Funny, it doesn't look like a cola nut!" Less successful was, "Not your father's Oldsmobile." First, they didn't manage to persuade the youth market that Olds was cool. And they alienated their loyal, core market. While we can't blame the end of Olds on that campaign, it sure didn't help.

[WillCAD]

I sure remember Nahtazu. I thought it was clever; I still use it when I try to describe AK to people who have never been.

"Is it a zoo?"

"Nahtazu! That's the park's slogan."

"Then it doesn't have real animals? They're all animated?"

"No, not, it has lots of real animals, in real environments, like a game preserve or safari park. But it's not a zoo."

"Then what is it?"

"It's a THEME PARK. The theme is animals."

"Oh... okay. I don't know if we'd like that. We have a zoo at home and never go there."

Oy. Sometimes it takes five minutes of describing the rides and shows to really communicate what AK is and what it isn't. But it's worth it; it's a great park, and most people who go there really enjoy it.

But it's Nahtazu.

[CinderAbby]

It's funny you should ask this - I was just reading about it somewhere (I'll see if I can find it) but I'm pretty sure that Nahtazu was used before the park opening until 2006.

[CinderAbby]

I was somewhat right

Shortly after the park opened, Disney advertised the park using the fictional word "nahtazu".[3] Pronounced "not a zoo," the word emphasized that the park was more than animal displays found in a typical city zoo. Disney stopped using the phrase in January 2006.

Here's the page the quote came from Disney's Animal Kingdom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Tim Sullivan]

I always considered that advertising line to be more of a "methinks thou dost protest too much" type of thing...as AK was always to me, a zoo.... mind you done in the amazing style that only Disney could do. I thought it was kind of cute, but really didn't like it, because it made me think of a magician's misdirection... trying to sell us that it isn't a zoo...when, at it's heart, it is about the animals (gee, wonder if that's why it is called the Animal Kingdom???)

Tim

[Luvsun]

I do remember that!
I love AK!! It is my favorite park! I like what Will said!
It is a THEME park - the theme is ANIMALS!!

[mechurchlady]

Nahtazu - The DIS Discussion Forums - DISboards.com
That was 1999 posting about seeing the advertisement on local news.
I remember the nahtazu and wondering what was it if not a zoo.

[yalibrarian]

I LOVED that ~remember the girl on the TV channel ever time you turn on the TV in your room. She would have that whole "Nahtazu" segment. I still think of that everytime someone says we are going to the zoo thing at Disney-NAHTAZU!!!!!!!

Stacey. We haven't really arrived until we switch on the television and say "Hi, Stacey!"

I always considered that advertising line to be more of a "methinks thou dost protest too much" type of thing...as AK was always to me, a zoo.... mind you done in the amazing style that only Disney could do. I thought it was kind of cute, but really didn't like it, because it made me think of a magician's misdirection... trying to sell us that it isn't a zoo...when, at it's heart, it is about the animals (gee, wonder if that's why it is called the Animal Kingdom???)

Totally agree, Tim. My husband used to get very irritated and say "Of course it's a zoo, a really good zoo." He didn't get that others found zoos boring, or that they had an out-dated idea of what zoos today are like. And I think Disney realized that many people dismiss zoos as a few animals in cages, not knowing that modern zoos educate and entertain people, conserve endangered species, and research animal's health and habitat needs and their place in the ecosystems of the world. But I also think that most people didn't get the slyness in "nahtazu" that was trying to make people laugh and come see the not-a-zoo.

My biggest issue, though, was that I've always thought the park is a great zoo. I wasn't thrilled that Disney thought they had to market such a great park as being something other than it is. I think it also begged the question, for folks who aren't zoo-lovers, whether the parts that aren't zoo are enough for a day of fun. Those were the folks who kept insisting that AK was a "half-day park." All the Nahtazu in the world didn't change their minds. Only the opening of more non-zoo attractions did that.

Animal Kingdom is our favorite park (well, our son might say MK), and we spend at least one full day per visit there, and usually go back for another day. There is so much to explore, and the CMs are so knowledgeable and eager to talk with visitors. You can't say you have seen it all, since the fluid nature of the animals makes it a sure thing that something different will be going on whenever you visit. We have experienced something new each and every time we visit! Too many people rush through and miss out on what could be their most memorable experiences. I'd like to see more effort on Disney's part to persuade people that this park is most definitely worth a full day of its own.