Orange Bird Ad 1973

The Orange Bird returned to Walt Disney World last week.  The news of this has a number of the Disney fan blogs buzzing.  It's nice this little bit of WDW history has returned, but personally it's not something I can get too excited about.  The Orange Bird was a Disney designed mascot for the Florida Citrus Growers, and was used in ads for Florida orange juice - like this magazine ad from 1973 that entices you to save 50¢ on your next juice purchase...

... but saving that 50¢ wasn't so straight forward.  First here's the 10¢ coupon to use in the store...  

... and then to collect the other 40¢ you needed to fill out the 40¢ cash refund form and send in various proofs of purchase.  Mail-in refunds aren't done much anymore, and especially not for 40¢.

Although to be fair this is 1973, and according to an Internet inflation calculator 40¢ in 1973 is worth $2.07 in 2012.  However collecting the refund is going to cost at least one first class stamp.  So using 2012 numbers again, a first class stamp is 45¢, and therefor your net refund is actually $1.62.  I don't know if  that's really worth the trouble.

Aggh, writing about that Orange Bird has me doing financial calculations. Who would have thunk it.

Let's forget about that Orange Bird because there's another Disney designed advertising mascot (who also happens to be a bird) who I'd truly like to see make a return - it's 7-Up's Fresh Up Freddie...



The ending of that commercial looks like it could have influenced the Pixar movie Up (2009).