Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <It's always interesting to me to see people really dig in and try to convince everyone that their experience is the only one. The beauty about Disney parks is that everyone can have their own experience. My friend the Spirit can go to the MK and see nothing but wood rot, and I can go and still see nothing but magic. His experience has no lesser or greater value than mine (although mine is MUCH more fun!).> Ah! But aren't you suggesting that YOUR way is the better way?
Originally Posted By leemac <<On another subject, I'd love to hear more of Lee's musings on his Disney Dream experience (did you just do the first 'real' cruise or some of the short freebies?) ... the point you made about the boorish behavior of some guests over merchandise resonated with me as I've seen that too.>> Sadly I was in Shanghai for the christening voyage so I had to hand over my invite to someone else (although I wasn't aware of how many freeloaders were invited so I think I had a narrow escape). I opted for the maiden voyage instead (alternate 4-day Bahamas) - and it was paid for by me. Happy to add to the article that I posted if there is interest.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<It's always interesting to me to see people really dig in and try to convince everyone that their experience is the only one. The beauty about Disney parks is that everyone can have their own experience. My friend the Spirit can go to the MK and see nothing but wood rot, and I can go and still see nothing but magic. His experience has no lesser or greater value than mine (although mine is MUCH more fun!).>> Danny ... I see reality, good and bad. We've had this discussion ad nauseum, but I don't shut my mind off because I'm in my MAGICal place. I want to see nothing but good. But I won't ignore the bad, and sadly there's plenty. I remember my grandmother used to always say my grandfather 'hears what he wants to hear' ... usually that meant he heard things like when the football game started and not why don't we take the grandkids out for dinner? ... But I think that point is very valid with many WDW fans ... it's like they stick their fingers in their ears and pretend the problems don't exist ... all the while, the place we all love just gets worse. I do think my life would be happier if I could shut my mind off like the typical American. I can't ...
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Sadly I was in Shanghai for the christening voyage so I had to hand over my invite to someone else (although I wasn't aware of how many freeloaders were invited so I think I had a narrow escape). I opted for the maiden voyage instead (alternate 4-day Bahamas) - and it was paid for by me.>> Sorry, to hear that. I wasn't aware Disney let people pass invites around, but maybe things have changed. They certainly have changed with regards to the type of 'freeloaders' that Disney feels it needs to whore up to ... and I'd love to hear your perspective on that one. I've been asked by Doobie to stay clear of that topic myself, although I am not quite sure why since if anyone should have gone on the Mouse it would be him and the family ... but I have some pizza waiting. <<Happy to add to the article that I posted if there is interest.>> I am very interested in anything DCL related (although I did spend two weeks with some scary Mouse can do no wrong kool-aid types from the DISBOARDS on my trip) ... I am very close to booking another crossing right now!
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt <<I am very interested in anything DCL related (although I did spend two weeks with some scary Mouse can do no wrong kool-aid types from the DISBOARDS on my trip)>> I was checking out The DCL section on DisBoards... those people are NUTS!! to much time on their hands are sumptin!
Originally Posted By leemac <<I wasn't aware Disney let people pass invites around, but maybe things have changed.>> Purely a guess but I'd guess that press invites were not transferable. <<They certainly have changed with regards to the type of 'freeloaders' that Disney feels it needs to whore up to ... and I'd love to hear your perspective on that one. >> I honestly don't have an opinion. Ultimately it is up to Media Relations as to who they invite. I think that the launch of the Disney Dream is a little unique - there were 1250 staterooms to fill with execs and press - so if that meant inviting some folks that wouldn't normally be invite then so be it. There does appear to be a lack of consistency in the approach across the three key businesses though - WDW, DLR and DCL. I don't know if that is good or bad.
Originally Posted By leemac <<I wasn't aware Disney let people pass invites around, but maybe things have changed.>> Purely a guess but I'd guess that press invites were not transferable. <<They certainly have changed with regards to the type of 'freeloaders' that Disney feels it needs to whore up to ... and I'd love to hear your perspective on that one. >> I honestly don't have an opinion. Ultimately it is up to Media Relations as to who they invite. I think that the launch of the Disney Dream is a little unique - there were 1250 staterooms to fill with execs and press - so if that meant inviting some folks that wouldn't normally be invite then so be it. There does appear to be a lack of consistency in the approach across the three key businesses though - WDW, DLR and DCL. I don't know if that is good or bad.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I am very interested in anything DCL related (although I did spend two weeks with some scary Mouse can do no wrong kool-aid types from the DISBOARDS on my trip)>> <<I was checking out The DCL section on DisBoards... those people are NUTS!! to much time on their hands are sumptin!>> I want to, in all seriousness, give you fair warning: many of those folks are nuts and not in the funny way, but in the real world needing serious psych evaluations and treatment way. I had a phenomenal time on the Magic to Barcelona last year, but there were a few moments when i thought I might get tossed overboard. Like having a conversation about DCL and praising nine things, but then taking issue with the 10th. These people view Mickey as their God and they don't take criticism of him and his company in any normal adult way ... Too much time and too much money (even though many come off as if they lived in trailers ... that should get me unfairly flamed but it is true).
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I wasn't aware Disney let people pass invites around, but maybe things have changed.>> <<Purely a guess but I'd guess that press invites were not transferable.>> I have no idea how they differentiated invites on the Dream at all. Did LP.com have anyone on the christening/media cruise? <<They certainly have changed with regards to the type of 'freeloaders' that Disney feels it needs to whore up to ... and I'd love to hear your perspective on that one. >> <<I honestly don't have an opinion.>> everyone always has an opinion about everything ... most especially when they say they don't have one and start with the word 'honestly' ... but if you don't want to talk about it then I'll have to honestly take you at your word <<Ultimately it is up to Media Relations as to who they invite. I think that the launch of the Disney Dream is a little unique - there were 1250 staterooms to fill with execs and press - so if that meant inviting some folks that wouldn't normally be invite then so be it.>> I dunno. I heard they still sailed with 'plenty' of space, which was obvious from the pictures and 'coverage' sent back. I'm just trying to figure out from a corporate business perspective (forgetting the inherent negatives that many of these folks bring from being in places they clearly don't belong/fit in) in giving some blogger (let's say this one gets 555 hits a day) a $6,000 vacation (when you add airfare, nights at the GF, tix, meals, swag)for free when the only folks who will pay attention to the 'coverage' are the same folks who would have already done so anyway. You grow a business by attracting new audiences. Not by preaching to the choir. <<There does appear to be a lack of consistency in the approach across the three key businesses though - WDW, DLR and DCL. I don't know if that is good or bad.>> I dunno. I recall being at a real media event at WDW in 2003-04 and talking with two high level officials (will call them Graig and Lessie) and was told that 'those people' (basically meaning folks like YOU in those days ... real sites that covered Disney and had well-earned reps) would not ever be welcome at media events. Flash forward now and they'll take truly anyone (unless they actually are fair and balanced with their coverage) and hand them freebies. It's just so obvious and slimy, but again, it also seems like very bad business because the folks who frequent those sites are the nutiest of the Disney nuts and they're buying anything you sell anyway. Have these folks at TDO ... and in Burbank even thought this through?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros "Did LP.com have anyone on the christening/media cruise?" Denise (nobodyhome) put up a bunch of photos from the first cruise, but her pictures often end up on a couple other sites, in addition to LP. If you check out the DCL section of the boards, there are a ton of threads discussing the various photo updates.
Originally Posted By leemac <<I have no idea how they differentiated invites on the Dream at all. Did LP.com have anyone on the christening/media cruise?>> Unfortunately LP wasn't able to find someone that could cover the christening cruise. <<everyone always has an opinion about everything ... most especially when they say they don't have one and start with the word 'honestly' ... but if you don't want to talk about it then I'll have to honestly take you at your word >> Honestly take it from me - I don't have an opinion. )) <<I dunno. I recall being at a real media event at WDW in 2003-04 and talking with two high level officials (will call them Graig and Lessie) and was told that 'those people' (basically meaning folks like YOU in those days ... real sites that covered Disney and had well-earned reps) would not ever be welcome at media events. Flash forward now and they'll take truly anyone (unless they actually are fair and balanced with their coverage) and hand them freebies.>> LOL - well-disguised names! I do have a lot of respect for both. I've met a lot of poor WDP&R Media Relations folks in my time but those two in particular have always been very good to me - I appreciate their honesty and ability to deliver. I can't remember when the WDW policy began to morph - I think they would admit that they didn't really know how to handle online media and the fanbase in particular. A veep moved from Anaheim to the swamps and everything began to change. I really don't envy what they have to do - media is so fragmented these days that trying to reach audiences is getting harder and harder - particularly new audiences.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 "Did LP.com have anyone on the christening/media cruise?" <<Denise (nobodyhome) put up a bunch of photos from the first cruise, but her pictures often end up on a couple other sites, in addition to LP. If you check out the DCL section of the boards, there are a ton of threads discussing the various photo updates.>> Um ... ah ... yeah ... how to respond to this? I'll just say there are folks out there who 'supply' numerous sites with pictures and/or video. It may give the false impression that far more people are viewing the material when it's really the same folks seeing the same stuff in different places. It's kind of like all of social media today ... FB friends who would never associate in the real world ... folks who reTweet and link to others etc. It gives folks in 'new media' departments of corporations the false premise that a whole lot more people (i.e. unique individuals with money and credit) are seeing their message than truly are. I keep hearing how traditional media is dying and, of course, we all know the Weatherman believes people will soon be getting/viewing all their content on freaking iPhones ... but somehow when a record 111 million tune in to the Super Bowl or the Grammys put up their best numbers since 2004 etc ... I just have one helluva hard time believing that folks are deserting old platforms like they're rotary phones or eight-track tapes. New media is a supplement to existing platforms. Plain and simple. And when folks start adding up what they're paying for all these toys (platforms) they wind up being quite large. They're disposable. When times get tough, people give those things up ... not the cheap 32-inch LDC they bought two years ago. But I'm sure Apple is working on a low cost version of the iPhone just because Steve Jobs cares about all those poverty-stricken folks who can't afford his overpriced toys. Now ... what were we talking about?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Unfortunately LP wasn't able to find someone that could cover the christening cruise.>> That is truly amazing ... and sad. There had to be some O-Town LP members that could have gone and taken some photos and put together a few coherent paragraphs. <<everyone always has an opinion about everything ... most especially when they say they don't have one and start with the word 'honestly' ... but if you don't want to talk about it then I'll have to honestly take you at your word >> <<Honestly take it from me - I don't have an opinion. ))>> It's taken <<I dunno. I recall being at a real media event at WDW in 2003-04 and talking with two high level officials (will call them Graig and Lessie) and was told that 'those people' (basically meaning folks like YOU in those days ... real sites that covered Disney and had well-earned reps) would not ever be welcome at media events. Flash forward now and they'll take truly anyone (unless they actually are fair and balanced with their coverage) and hand them freebies.>> <<LOL - well-disguised names! I do have a lot of respect for both.>> I did a great job there, didn't I? I too have a great deal of respect for both of them (something I can't say for many at TWDC). Two genuinely nice folks and pros at what they do. <<I've met a lot of poor WDP&R Media Relations folks in my time but those two in particular have always been very good to me - I appreciate their honesty and ability to deliver.>> They have an interesting motley crew, that's for sure. Some of them make me cringe when they simply open their mouths. <<I can't remember when the WDW policy began to morph - I think they would admit that they didn't really know how to handle online media and the fanbase in particular. A veep moved from Anaheim to the swamps and everything began to change. I really don't envy what they have to do - media is so fragmented these days that trying to reach audiences is getting harder and harder - particularly new audiences.>> Agreed. And that's the point I've been trying to get to ... their social media strategy seems 180% opposite to where it should be. They aren't reaching new audiences by whoring themselves out to bloggers. They are just reinforcing the same fans that already will buy anything and everything they sell. How does that grow a business? Now, do I think they have a goal of killing sites like this? Not outright. But they do want to stifle the often critical discussions of the company, its leadership and products and you do that by helping to splinter the fan community into cliques ... and that is certainly what is happening. I feel badly when I come to the LP and there isn't much action on the boards because cliques have taken their discussions to FB ... there's no fun in being told you're right all the time. That's not discussion. That's sitting in the same church or going to the same political club meeting.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Guess that explains why the owners of Budweiser locked up its position as the only national beer advertiser on the Super Bowl thru 2014. Of course Disney doesn't have to pay for advertising since we all know they are going to WDW immediately after winning the Super Bowl.
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt <<Unfortunately LP wasn't able to find someone that could cover the christening cruise.>> I watched it live on Facebook... you didn't miss anything! Bad enough some of you hate on Mickey but, now you're hatin' on Doobie too! GOOD GOD!
Originally Posted By Manfried It makes you wonder how many actual people go to these Disney fan sites. I am sure advertisers would like to know too. I have to think that there's a way to find out individual IP addresses. (See, I'm more sophisticated. Though I don't know what IP means. I've heard the term used in conversations and on television news programs.)
