WDW Social 'Media' and Conspiracy

Originally Posted By vbdad55

Here's a perfect example of how DVC works for me..and remember I got in right away- approaching 20 years ago soon- so the ifrst 7-8 years my family also got feee admission to the parks which we used on 11 trips !

my daughter will be playing in an AAU Championships @ WWoS and OCCC coming up. I was not going to attend this year between work schedule and the house needing work instead of feeding the mouse for one year. However the cost of airfares for my wife and daughter- cab to and from hotels, 6 nights hotel for my wife etc.-- I could drive to WDW- stay in DVC and buy 5 day hoppers for 3 of us for less $. Hence I will be back and spending money there eating etc. --

Without DVC I would not be going this year....

 

Originally Posted By vbdad55

btw- with the size of accomodations- a few of her teammates will stay with us for a few days also..nice to offer that.gratis

 

Originally Posted By ReelJustice

<<I’m afraid even now the only interest in IOA would be the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and would we really want to spend that much money to be part of a massive crowd trying to make its way through a relatively small “land”?>>

Please, do tell how it's not a proper land (you know, minus the snarky quotation marks)

On what planet does a groundbreaking attraction, 2 thrilling coasters, a family coaster, a themed restaurant, a themed bar, themed shops with unique merchant, and other small diversions not
constitute a true immersive land???

 

Originally Posted By HokieSkipper

<<I’m afraid even now the only interest in IOA would be the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and would we really want to spend that much money to be part of a massive crowd trying to make its way through a relatively small “land”?>>

ReelJustice already said what I wanted to say about this, but there are plenty of ridiculously awesome rides and experiences at IoA than coasters and soaking rides.

1. Jurassic Park River Adventure. Yea, it's a water ride, but I've never come off it soaked.

3. Jurassic Park in general. Terrific theming, some great exhibits, etc.

2. All of Suess Landing. Yea, Cat in the Hat is the only terrific ride, but I can walk around Seuss for a good hour and just look.

3. Spider-man. I could ride Spider-man all day and be happy.

4. Dinner at Mythos. Amazing food and atmosphere.

5. Poseidon's Fury. Great walkaround attraction that's incredibly unique.

6. And even if you don't like water rides, I can't recommend Popeye enough. Yea, you'd be dryer if you jumped into a pool, but the ride is spectacular. It quite literally blew me away the first time I rode it.

And even if all that only takes 3-4 hours, you can easily spend that much time in WWOHP and not be bored.

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

OK... your snarky comments aside...

The "" was not meant to be snarky. It's just an indication that no area of a theme park can truly be called a land. Much as I would say Tomorrowland is my favorite "land" at the Magic Kingdom.

As for it being relatively small, I've heard from those who have visited it that the area is physically quite small for the number of people attempting to visit it. Hopefully that would get better as the initial crowds decrease. Your description of the area also answers exactly why I'm not sure it would be worth my time. If you had been able to look past the "land" thing you would have noticed that I said my family does not like coasters. Which means for us the WWoHP would be "a groundbreaking attraction, a themed restaurant, a themed bar, themed shops with unique merchant". And I'm not at all certain my wife would ride the groundbreaking attraction... I would have to ride it first myself to see. Now I'm sure with the level of detail presented the rest would be really cool. The question for me is "is it worth $90 per person for me to spend a day there?"

I'm not sure it is.

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

HokieSkipper,

Thanks for giving me some good information rather than just replying with a nasty comment. You've given me something I will definitely think about. Ann is also a little more adventurous than Rosie was, so it may work for us now.

I also checked the web-site and found that they now offer a one day two-park pass which was not the case the last time I was at Universal Florida. Since I already know we could happily spend a day at the Studios, it seems much more worthwhile.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<I read an article in the newspaper today (unfortunately not available online and would be in German anyway) about how adidas, Puma and Nike are changing their marketing strategy. According to that article they are no longer using normal advertising as much, but are trying to create an emotional bond with the consumers via social media. The consumer should no longer just view himself as consumer, but as fan. Did sound rather familiar to me. >>

Think about it, outside of Disney ... what company has best been able to make an emotional/psychological bond with its customers? No ... not another entertainment company ... and not even Walmart because many folks shop there because they believe they have no other choice, not because they've bought into the company's hype.

Still wondering ...?

I'll give you a hint, the head of said company owns the largest block of shares in TWDC.

Yeah, that's right, it's Apple.

Remember, when you buy a MacBook, iPhone or iPad, you aren't simply buying the latest technology, but you're buying into something much bigger: The Apple Lifestyle (cue creepy happy music). And all is good and MAGICal in the Kingdom of Job ... well, until it isn't.

For the company, it's all about profit. But for the consumer, it's about something personal, very personal. So, as long as you provide a consistently superior product and reach for that next innovation, they'll be lined up in lawn chairs around the block a night before your next toy goes on the market (and even buying a pricey Apple toy is costing far less than a vacation for a family of four to WDW for a week). Stop, or worse, show signs of a diminished product and it's not just about profit and loss anymore ... because your Apple fanboi has made some kind of weird bond with the product. This doesn't begin to address the more sinister aspects of what some are calling 21st century advertising, but certainly feels more like propaganda.

And that's where Social Media comes in. It fires up the base, the people who are already buying your product. Everything is just fine on the climb up the hill, but what happens when, inevitably, there are bumps? (Apple has already had quality issues with its products of late ... and Steve isn't going to live forever) When there are problems, those rabid fans can turn on you in a hurry. After all, you're capitalizing and you've monetized their emotions.

As someone who recalls the fan community back when the Internet was in its infancy and you just had anything-goes newsgroups, the precursor of 'Social Media', the current strategy of Disney (and other companies as well) isn't a long term winning one.

It's almost like a spouse ... or a really hot hook-up ... all relationships don't last forever, few do.

Someone page Duncan Wardle.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74


<<I remember starting at my first job in 1988 and talking with a woman who had been to WDW a few years before. Now remember, this was 1988, in Perth, Western Australia - about AS FAR FROM ORLANDO, physically and from a "knowing what was there" perspective as you could get! No internet, no cable tv to spruke the parks. Yet she KNEW of WDW, she went and she told me(word of mouth)that she LOVED IT. Further, and this will back people like Spirit and Dave, this simple, clueless Australian woman told me words to this effect,

"I think adults would appreciate it more than children because adults would understand what went into the place."

Nothing about corporate synergy or toons everywhere. Just an appreciation of a sophisticated place that adults could enjoy.>>

NOW ... that is REAL social media.

It's the oldest kind. And it's still the best and most effective. It's word of mouth.

No need to put a copyrighted by Disney on your forehead ... unlike all those bloggers and podcasters and webmasters.

And it will never go out of style and never move to another platform.


<<WDW circa 1985.

Sounds like a classy place, doesn't it?>>

Yep ... I think there's still another thread on that if it hasn't morphed into what EPCOT eateries you can get into tonight! ;-)

 

Originally Posted By ReelJustice

<<OK... your snarky comments aside...>>

So, you're allowed to be snarky, but I'm not? Noted.

Back to topic before Spirit yells at us.

Disney could learn a thing or two from how Apple markets and presents itself.

 

Originally Posted By SpokkerJones

"This doesn't begin to address the more sinister aspects of what some are calling 21st century advertising, but certainly feels more like propaganda."

It's kind of alarming.

All advertisements are propaganda and they always have been. But in the past, it was very easy to tell when you were being advertised to. There was a break between the entertainment and the advertisement/propaganda. Even when you saw advertisements within the content of the show, it was pretty obvious when they were in ad mode and when they were in show mode. "We'll pause here to tell you about Charleston's Chew!" or something like that.

On the Internet we see traditional ads but it's also alarming when something we thought was genuine turns out to be an orchestrated and scripted display of propaganda, and it's getting harder and harder to tell the difference.

Then there's the social networking stuff.

When companies like Disney start their official blogs and social network ventures, it's almost as if participants are paying someone to be their friend. And as long as you feed them presents (in this case cash) the company will keep telling you what you want to hear.

In a way, this is very similar to what we would traditionally call prostitution. The johns in this case are the fans.

I wouldn't be surprised if the end goal is to take eyes away from the more objective and critical sites that cover Disney and focus them solely on the official blogs and Twitter feeds and other PR-safe areas.

They probably know it's unrealistic to do away with the critical web sites in general because there will always be people like us that tend not to change their minds, but they certainly want to get people who are on the fence and/or those who have not been on the Internet that long.

It's no surprise that Kevin Yee didn't get media access. His audience is what they are trying to diminish with their blogs and social networking efforts.

NASA did land on the moon and JFK was murdered by Oswald, but I do believe in this, haha.

 

Originally Posted By SpokkerJones

"Disney could learn a thing or two from how Apple markets and presents itself."

Apple can't control everything... yet. Only so many Chinese people can blow themselves up before we see an impact.

A few more explosions and maybe consumers will demand change.

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

<<Yep ... I think there's still another thread on that if it hasn't morphed into what EPCOT eateries you can get into tonight! ;-) >>

Just can't stand that I was able to show the LP "conventional wisdom" regarding getting same day reservations with the DDP in place was not always correct, can you? Expressing your displeasure with it was fine, but to end half your posts with it? Come now Spirit.

I don't like the DDP. Unlike you, I've never used the DDP. But let's not exaggerate its negative impact on the table service restaurants. It has also brought customers to deserving restaurants like Marrakesh that previously were largely ignored and perhaps in danger of closing.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<So much to comment on, and I'm extremely late to this cocktail party. I think I'll content myself with the observation that Spirit is, of course, correct in his observation that I have asked Disney to be included in their media list (did we talk about this on the phone, Spirit? I rather think we did). I've been covering this coast since 2002 but resisted asking until early 2010, since I felt I would be better paying my own way. But the tsunami of smaller sites suddenly reporting on Disney events starting last year made me wonder if I should be reporting on these events too.>>

Welcome to the party! Mai Tais are being served by Mrs. Lee under the tiki torches we picked up at Home Depot and all burgers are cooked medium well and include pineapple unless otherwise noted.

I don't recall when we discussed your particulars, but I'm fairly certain they've always come up when we've hung out. I don't even recall mentioning you here specifically, but with 400-plus posts, well, somethings can be forgotten.

As you know, I greatly respect people who wish to 'pay their own way', but being in O-Town and having admission paid for, it would be hard for you not to. And you just don't seem like the type who can be bought off with free food and booze and some swag ... or even a two-day preview cruise of a new ship.

And, please correct me if I am wrong, but I don't see you leaving puddles just because Danny Cockerell or Tom Fitzgerald talked to you!

That said, it astounds me that totally insignificant sites run by people lacking your academic and professional pedigree are treated like royalty, while you can't even be included on a basic invite list. While you evaluate the product, they espouse it. 'It's everything Disney says it is and more.''

I read Tweets before the Dream launch where people being flown in with their families from other countries and the west coast were talking about how they felt like they had won the lottery and were going to gush about everything. Some actually put it in those words.

Again, I just don't think that's you, and I say that as a compliment (even though we certainly don't see eye to eye on everything Disney does). I think they look at you as someone who's going to write about them no matter what. And since you desire to be fair and balanced, too much so in my opinion, they feel whatever positives you bring to the table is just gravy and can't overcome the biggest negative giving you credentials/access would: an independent and less corporate voice.

They don't want to just control the message, they also want to control the messenger too. That's just how WDW Co's Social Media Dept operates.

<<Long story short: Disney replied back "we'll keep you in mind" and promptly never communicated with me again. In many ways, I'm honored and touched. It validates my independent reviews, I think, that they feel I'm not the appropriate audience for such events. At the same time, it's a bit vexing. It would be nice to have access to Imagineers and managers, in order to hear from the horse's mouth (so to speak) about Disney offerings.>>

I'd have to say, on some level, you are right. They are validating you more by giving you the cold shoulder than they ever could by inviting you into their ever-growing online cabal. At the same time, it sure shows a lack of confidence in their products that they are afraid to have you. And, you aren't alone. It should make you warm and tingling that it's easier for some Mommy blogger who lives in Naples or a fanboi podcaster in New Jersey to get an invite/access/cooperation from WDW than it is for some big fish ... like say the NY Times or NBC.

Social Media knows who it can and can't control. It's just that simple.

The media strategist in me just can't figure how it is good for the brand to simply be going fishing in a small aquarium ... or really a fishbowl. How does that grow your business?

No one has ever been able to answer that question. Anyone want to give it a shot? Hey, Thomas Smith ... hey, Gary Bu...

You can sure see how it devalues the Brand, easily enough, though.

 

Originally Posted By Bolna

<<Remember, when you buy a MacBook, iPhone or iPad, you aren't simply buying the latest technology, but you're buying into something much bigger: The Apple Lifestyle (cue creepy happy music). >>

Good, I bought an IMac, that's not on your list and I did not find any The Apple Lifestyle in the box - so it sounds like I am safe so far!

<<And that's where Social Media comes in. It fires up the base, the people who are already buying your product. Everything is just fine on the climb up the hill, but what happens when, inevitably, there are bumps? (Apple has already had quality issues with its products of late ... and Steve isn't going to live forever) When there are problems, those rabid fans can turn on you in a hurry. After all, you're capitalizing and you've monetized their emotions.

As someone who recalls the fan community back when the Internet was in its infancy and you just had anything-goes newsgroups, the precursor of 'Social Media', the current strategy of Disney (and other companies as well) isn't a long term winning one.>>

But isn't it just Disney's strategy to prevent exactly this from happening by trying to further those who bring along the happy, magical company line?

I think it speaks volumes that Kevin Yee did not get any access from Disney as he wrote a few posts ago.

And Duncan Wardle sounded quite proud when he stated: "For every one negative comment about a Disney theme park experience posted in the blogosphere, 18 people came to our defence without us lifting a finger." And that's what Disney's strategy is about: getting that number even higher.

So I don't think social media will turn against them anytime soon. They are trying their best to train their baby tiger to prevent it becoming aggressive once it grows up - but perhaps you are right and they aren't as safe as they think they are...

<<As someone who recalls the fan community back when the Internet was in its infancy and you just had anything-goes newsgroups, the precursor of 'Social Media', the current strategy of Disney (and other companies as well) isn't a long term winning one.>>

Was the talk back then that much more negative??

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

<<Was the talk back then that much more negative??>>

Ummm... yes. The venom that dominated the old Usenet new groups was so extreme that it makes World Events here look like an absolute love fest!

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

new groups should be news groups...

 

Originally Posted By Bolna

<<It's kind of alarming.

All advertisements are propaganda and they always have been. But in the past, it was very easy to tell when you were being advertised to. >>

SpokkerJones, great post and that's exactly what worries me as well: how this strategy sets out to replace real content with company PR.

 

Originally Posted By DDMAN26

Well this has certainly been an enlightening discussion. I'm sort of meh on the whole social media thing from an individual standpoint. I certainly understand companies using it to get their brand out there to people. And for that it has a valid component.

I have a FB account, I liked Disney so I get updates. But truthfully it's not something I check everyday. Maybe once a month now.

Twitter on the other hand is the Macarena. Something that will be remembered in a VH1 I Love the 10's by ironic C-list comedians.

 

Originally Posted By Bolna

<<Ummm... yes. The venom that dominated the old Usenet new groups was so extreme that it makes World Events here look like an absolute love fest!>>

But was it directed at Disney or at each other? I did lurk on Usenet news groups now and then, but can't remember whether it was so negative about Disney.

Oh, and RoadTrip: If you are thinking about visiting Universal, wdwinfo.com has a deal for the two-park-one-day ticket which includes return shuttle transfer from a WDW hotel for just a few dollar more than the normal ticket price would be.

 

Originally Posted By DDMAN26

In regards to the "Apple Lifestyle" I've had Apple as my home products since the 80's. Have an iMac at home. And my iPod is probably amongst the top 5 gifts I've received. So I will happily be part of that cult.