New York Giants Quarterback Eli Manning Super Bowl XLVI MVP at Walt Disney World Resort

After leading his team to a game-winning drive and the Super Bowl championship Sunday night, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning led another drive Monday: down Main Street, U.S.A. to cheering fans at Walt Disney World Resort.

 

"I’m going to Disney World!" proclaimed Manning Sunday shortly after his team scored a dramatic 21-17 win over the New England Patriots to capture Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis. In a gala parade Monday at Magic Kingdom, Manning made good on that promise, waving and smiling alongside Mickey Mouse from a red convertible in the shadow of Cinderella Castle.

 

Fans of the Giants and Manning, including those sporting team jerseys Monday, got to see their hero up-close in the place where memories are made. New York Giants balloons mixed in with red, white and blue balloons along the parade route, Mickey Mouse was joined by other Disney characters and confetti in the shape of the Lombardi Trophy (awarded to the NFL champion) rained down on the happy scene. Manning was joined in the Magic Kingdom by NFL Youth football players.

 

Manning – who was named the game’s MVP — is no stranger to storybook finishes. Sunday’s late, game-winning drive marked the seventh fourth-quarter comeback Manning led this season. His 15 fourth quarter touchdown passes set an NFL single-season record.

 

Manning’s "I’m going to Disney World!" — anchoring one of TV’s most enduring and iconic Super Bowl commercials — was captured seconds after the final whistle. Monday’s visit marked his second "What’s Next…?" appearance in the Disney commercial. In 2008, Manning was celebrated following the Giants’ 17-14 upset win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

 

This latest commercial is the 45th in 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. Manning again joined a lineup of people from sports and beyond who have celebrated milestone accomplishments in "I’m going to Disney World" commercials.

"I’m Going to Disney World" Historical Release

 

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

 

Number of Spots Since Inception: 45

 

Chronology of "I’m going to Disney World" Spots:

2012　　　Super Bowl XLVI (Eli Manning, New York Giants)

2011　　　Super Bowl XLV (Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers)

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

　　　　　　 "American Idol" Season 9 (Lee DeWyze, singer)

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 Champs (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)

DizFanatic co-founders (Michael DiMare, Anna DeGeorge)

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)

Notes:

• The Super Bowl has been the catalyst for the most "I’m going to Disney World" spots (25)

• There have been five "I’m going to Disney World" repeaters: Joe Montana (1989 and 1990),
Emmitt Smith (1994 and 1996), John Elway (1998 and 1999), Tom Brady (2002 and 2004) and Eli Manning (2008 and 2012).

"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, 2007 and 2009 (shared).