WDW Social 'Media' and Conspiracy

Originally Posted By vbdad55

misguided ? Social media dalmatians

 

Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer

>>>How does Disney getting in bed with certain online folks help them expand their customer base?<<<


How? I think it's a lot more simple than what we think. I think they are actually hiring these people.


Also, get my email? I've been having internet problems, so I'm not sure that it went out.

 

Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer

>>>But those people were getting their fixes in the past from more traditional sources, like Disney Magazine and the Disney Channel and Vault Disney, et al. They are addicts, after all. They will seek it out and eventually find it.<<<

Yes, but were those devices as potent and dangerous, back then? The internet is all encompassing, addicting... I don't think very many people obsessed over those mediums the way some obsess over the internet.

 

Originally Posted By DDMAN26

It's funny but I would have never discovered the now infamous(?) WDW Radio if I wasn't perusing the net for some Disney Theme Park music.

 

Originally Posted By Fe Maiden

<<Yet, no one has been able to simply 'splain to me how Disney engaging in very unethical, at best, behavior with bloggers/podcasters/webmasters somehow adds new customers and adds value to the Brand.>>

You already explained it with a quote from Duncan Wardle about 10 pages back.

<<Duncan Wardle: Many companies are scared of loosing control of their brand. They fail to understand that they never had control of their brand.

That has always resided in the hearts and minds of their consumers. What is changing now is that brands no longer have control of the message. However, what brands gain in return, is the ability to leverage the passion of their brand advocates to reach people they cannot reach in a credible and relevant manner.

Consumers are today’s publishers. By providing platforms that allow them to share their passion and content with yours, brands will be able to extend their reach in a much more meaningful way.>>


The last paragraph I think sums up why this is their focus, "Consumers are today's publishers".

Back in the olden days I think we used to call it "word of mouth".


In those days getting the Sunday Philadelphia Inquirer with the special travel section devoted to WDW was like Christmas morning. The travel writer wrote how awesome WDW was and revealed all the new and cool things you could do. They even had color pictures which was still rare in newspapers. And while word of mouth was and is powerful, back then it was slow relatively speaking to major advertising efforts. Maybe it's catching up, fast.

 

Originally Posted By -em

>>>But those people were getting their fixes in the past from more traditional sources, like Disney Magazine and the Disney Channel and Vault Disney, et al. They are addicts, after all. They will seek it out and eventually find it.<<

There is a definite place for disney media esp "authentic" disney media. As artificial as it can be, the disneyparks blog, D23, disneypins.com etc fill a necessary hole. So do larger "fan sites" like LP, DIS etc.

The problem IMO is that instead of limiting media access to the larger established web sites who have proven followers, proven quality, proven professionalism etc they have chosen to ignore them and give the access and increased access (and giveaways) to sites that only give the same pixie dusted accounts the official disney sites give.

-em

 

Originally Posted By Expo_Seeker40

What concerns me is people becoming attached to a brand not affiliated with Disney. Why would Disney allow right under the nose, people in the fan community to "trust" other fans with tours, photos, videos, insider info, etc?

I feel besides social prostitution, getting people away from "official" Disney blogs, posts, and clubs is exactly when happens with social media. Fans...as much as they enjoy Disney....find something else because they feel exclusive and even personable following some other person or figure within the community.

I feel the whole thing is subject to backfiring on Disney.

 

Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer

>>>What concerns me is people becoming attached to a brand not affiliated with Disney. Why would Disney allow right under the nose, people in the fan community to "trust" other fans with tours, photos, videos, insider info, etc?<<<<

The core of it is still DISNEY, though. It's just brought to them by someone else. New mediums, same topics.

 

Originally Posted By Dis-Philip

<i>The problem with the Disney Parks blog is that it's so...fake.</i>

But it's not!

<i>With this Disney Blog, it all positive, positive, positive -- like a chirpy press release or something. Are the 'bloggers' employed by the Disney Company?</i>

It's supposed to be!

<i>I find the Disney parks blog, and the D23 stuff all so shallow.</i>

No, they are not! You, Spirit, etc. are the ones who are shallow!

 

Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1

Seriously?

Wow.

Just.............WOW!!!

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

Constant MAGIC and Pixie Dust is tiring, but so are people who can say NOTHING good about WDW. That is why even though we frequently disagree (especially about the impact of DVC on WDW) I have a good deal of respect for The Spirit's posts. He doesn't hesitate to criticize WDW, but on the other hand he makes very complimentary posts when he has a good time in one of the parks.

davewasbaloo's posts sometimes get to me because they are ALWAYS negative about WDW. I really like the guy though and can put up with it because I know he is going through a really tough time. He looks for WDW to give him hope when he doesn't have much for the future and of course WDW falls short. That is a lot to ask of any themepark.

On the other hand, I can certainly understand his wanting to concentrate on themeparks closer to home if he is disillusioned with WDW and I have immensely enjoyed the trip reports on his recent European vacation.

I guess that is my long-winded way of saying that either all Pixie Dust or all Gloom and Doom get to be tiring after a while

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

Yep, it does. And FWIW, I will compliment WDW if I see something worth complimenting. For example I think Sanaa is a terrific addition. Yak and Yeti also seems to be a great addition too. And I love the new Lego Disney figures in DTD (the sleeping beauty Dragon is magnificent - but then Maleficent always is).

I am frustrated with all the Disney resorts though. Since Iger has come on board, it seems like playing it safe and tooning everything is all that is getting green lit, and that annoys the hell out of me. I am worried that the kids going today will outgrow the place and will not be touched in the same way we (and in some of our cases the way our parents were).

I also see most of the defenders speaking from a position of little experience of other Disney resorts around the globe, and the biggest critics are the ones who have. And why? Because we actually want WDW to be the best (or at least equal).

But when European parks have more regular service of monorails, better enterainment, and maintenance, the DIsney fan in me gets really upset. I want DIsney to be the leader across the board. I know I should be happy that there are cheaper, closer options, but I would rather Disney knock it out of the park than always bunt.

And WDW has the worst track record of late. It is sad.

But I have been defending Liberty Square (my favorite part of the Magic Kingdom), I adore Illuminations, I think California Grill is a terrific dining experience. But how many of these things are new? None of them.

If I see something new that I think is a great idea, I will say so. After all, I used to like WDW. I'd like to again.

 

Originally Posted By Bolna

<<I guess that is my long-winded way of saying that either all Pixie Dust or all Gloom and Doom get to be tiring after a while>>

Yes, and that's why the whole initiative to drown out anything negative in social media does not make sense. People might end up bored and look for more interesting hobbies or vacation destinations - totally different from Disney.

 

Originally Posted By DDMAN26

<<D23 stuff all so shallow>>

Well it is the official Disney fan club so I wouldn't expect much in the way of negativity.

 

Originally Posted By Dis-Philip

Actually, Spirit of 74 NEVER has fun at WDW. And it's obvious.

He's such a chauvanist pig that needs to be banned from the parks ASAP!

 

Originally Posted By davewasbaloo

Jealous much???

 

Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer

How come Dis-Philly only comes out to rant and rave about one person? Very tiresome.

Phil, you'd be taken more seriously if you didn't get personal, and actually voiced a opinion every now and then, besides your usual rants.

 

Originally Posted By DDMAN26

<<Actually, Spirit of 74 NEVER has fun at WDW. And it's obvious.>>

Have you gone to the parks with Spirit?

<<He's such a chauvanist pig that needs to be banned from the parks ASAP!>>

He's just offering his opinion, that doesn't necessarily warrant a ban.

 

Originally Posted By vbdad55

<<I guess that is my long-winded way of saying that either all Pixie Dust or all Gloom and Doom get to be tiring after a while>>

Yes, and that's why the whole initiative to drown out anything negative in social media does not make sense. People might end up bored and look for more interesting hobbies or vacation destinations - totally different from Disney.
---- if the majority of the poublic was using social media for thei Disney info I might agree with this- but again what % are we talking about here. Certainly nowhere near a majority of the visitors... and most vacation destinations one looks up that actualkly have social media attached are also viewed thru rose colored glasses.

I think DIsney wants to control the content- but the benefit or damage from social media to WDW I believe is minimal either way-- just MHO

 

Originally Posted By DlandDug

>>Yes, and that's why the whole initiative to drown out anything negative in social media does not make sense.<<

For a corporation to do this makes complete sense. Viral marketing has been a huge game-changer for well established companies. The big idea now is to co-opt as many bloggers/web sites/online personalities as possible to spread a positive message to counteract any negative ones.

For the average consumer, this may seem deceptive. But honestly, would you expect a web site called "Magical Mouse Minions" to offer an objective look at Disney? Conversely, would you expect the same from a site called "Disney World Sucks?"

There seems to be an attitude that anyone who enthusiastically supports Disney just cannot be in any way professional or honest-- but fierce critics are given a pass. I didn't know much of anything about the various online personalities that cover WDW before reading this thread. Based on the content, the "magical" folks are all uniformly dismissed as some sort of nasty leeches. But after a bit of checking up on the 'net, I find that many of them work hard, do their homework, and have a pretty good following. They may not be appealing to me, but... so what?

I absolutely agree that anyone engaging in commerce on Disney property should be stopped. And I am uncomfortable with the over-the-top, pixie dusted "true believers," just as I don't care for the nattering nabobs of negativism who are lauded for their "guts" and "honesty" in taking on The Mouse.

There's got to be a balance in all this. But it isn't the Walt Disney Company's duty to find it. Their task is to leverage every possible bit of positive publicity that's out there.