Why Super Bowl champions exclaim, ‘We’re heading to Disney!’

Every Super Bowl has its own story, but some traditions remain unchanged. This year, the Kansas City Chiefs have emerged as champions once again, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes set to visit Disneyland.

Creating the iconic 'I'm going to Disney' commercial right after the game wraps up is no simple feat. There are edits to complete, contracts to finalize, and the game's outcome is often uncertain until the last moment—especially during overtime, as we saw on Sunday night.

The hustle involved in quickly producing the 'We're going to Disney!' ad is now a staple of the Super Bowl experience, right alongside dazzling halftime shows and mountains of chicken wings.

Curious about the origins of this tradition? The famous commercial first aired after the 1987 Super Bowl, when winning quarterback Phil Simms was the pioneer who received a hefty payday (reportedly $75,000 in 1987) for delivering a few lines and enjoying a trip to Disney World.

This commercial, mostly retaining its original format, has been aired nearly every year since its inception.

And yes, when players utter that enchanting phrase, they truly do visit Disney World or Disneyland, typically the very next day after the Super Bowl. This year, Mahomes and his family will be heading to Disneyland, which is the nearest park to Las Vegas, where the 2024 Super Bowl took place.

If you find yourself at Disney World or Disneyland the day following the Super Bowl (the park closest to the game's location is usually chosen), there's a good chance you might spot a few representatives from the winning team in a festive parade along Main Street, U.S.A., scheduled for Monday at 2 p.m. Pacific time.

Typically, though not always, the MVP of the game is the one who appears at either Disney World or Disneyland the day after the event.

If this sounds like an experience you'd like to join, it's never too soon to begin planning for next year when the Super Bowl takes place in New Orleans, making Disney World a likely spot for the post-game parade celebration.