WDW Social 'Media' and Conspiracy

Originally Posted By SpokkerJones

Well, I've always thought that if you're going to have passion for something like Star Trek or Disney or whatever nerdy thing, it should be based on a genuine passion and not because you're getting freebies or special perks or making money off the existence of the thing you are a fan of.

A similar situation exists in the video game industry. It's very difficult to trust "professional" video game reviewers because when they review a game, they get the ultimate collector's edition for free and a bunch of other crap they get to keep.

And if they give a bad review, they won't get the exclusive first look or a VIP trip to the developer's studio.

There are very few Roger Eberts outside of film criticism. We don't really have a culture of theme park criticism (using the true dictionary definition of criticism).

 

Originally Posted By SpokkerJones

And those that do engage in Disney theme park criticism are "haters" and or have an "attitude" or something inane like that.

 

Originally Posted By Bolna

<<So typically 21st century USA that a company decides what theft they'll allow based on the perceived value of the thief's PR. ;-)>>

Or based on their fear of negativ publicity if they actually do something against it?

I agree with Road Trip that the issue of the tours is a grey area. It isn't as easy an issue as counterfeiting pins which clearly is against the law and hence going against those people is easy to do. With regard to the tours Disney of course has the right to formulate rules on what you are allowed to do on their private property. But it appears that WDW has been too lazy to actually come up with these rules. DL on the other hand appears to have them according to what Westsider wrote in the "No Pirates?" thread. They might have been forced to look into that issue due to the Jim Hill incidence. And from what Westsider wrote, they still haven't a clear rule on how to deal with a certain type of tour guides. And I think that WDW really needs to come up with clear cut rules because that will enable them to enforce them.

It isn't uncommon either that outside tour guides aren't allowed to conduct tours on private property. It is that way at many tourist sights where tour groups will require an officially accredited guide.

 

Originally Posted By MPierce

>> Is it just me or does anyone else actually think there's an issue here? <<

I believe it's an issue for Disney. How they present, and protect their properties is strictly their business, and their business alone.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<Is it just me or does anyone else actually think there's an issue here?>>

<<I think there's an issue, only because of the selective enforcement of intellectual theft.>>

I'd agree ... either theft of the Mouse's property is OK or it isn't. If it is, then I'd suggest everyone here who wants to make a quick buck while doing very little (nothing these bloggers/photogs/podcasters do constitutes work in ANY real world sense) get their arses down to WDW.

<<Disney doesn't allow everyone to do these tours. And because they don't allow everyone to do it, and definitely turn a blind eye to those bloggers who give Disney nothing but praise praise and more praise whenever they're tossed a few freebies and special event tickets, it does tick me off. >>

It's crazy ... and as the well-respected Westsider said in another thread here (wish I could find the post) this is NOT something that happens or would be tolerated in Anaheim.

It absolutely reeks of payolla ... but want to bet Gary Buchanan and Thomas Smith make sure 'The Mongello' gets to speak with Tom Fitzgerald and Jason Surell this week for his podcast ... anything to help make it seem legit in exchange for gushing praise.

At least Burbank knows what's up ... and unless they'd like to see legal action from other spirits when they see a market and Disney tries to shut them down, it might be very wise to shut all these guys down now.

It really must suck when you have to pay for your 187 days a year in WDW parks and nights at WDW resorts.

<<Disney is essentially being disingenuous and allowing these amateur cheerleaders to prostitute themselves in exchange for park perks and goodies. What happened to journalistic integrity? Oh yeah... that went out with financial regulations and realistic CEO compensation.

If Disney needs these people so much, they should put them on the payroll and make them conform to the guidelines that all other CMs are required to adopt. By allowing third party tour guides to conduct for-profit business on Disney property, they are diluting the brand. They're obviously doing this because it's cheaper than enlarging their own labor pool, which also ticks me off. Disney should be creating good jobs for Florida and California residents instead of limiting them in favor of cottage industry hucksters whom they have zero control over regarding their operations and/or messages.>>

Ethics? HAH?!?!?

In Disney fan circles in the 21st century? When the company has helped turned whoring into an art form?

Surely you jest ... and I will call you Shirley!

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<I'm not a lawyer, but it seems a gray area to me. I do think the guys doing this are slime and among the many in America that will put aside ethics in order to make money.>>

Nothing gray about it (really wish I had Westsider's post here).

Disney is private property. Company policy expressly says people aren't allowed to conduct business in its parks. Disney offers tours, including VIP Tours. Some slimy characters have figured out they can make a lot by offering them on their own ... sure, it's against policy ... but Disney can claim to not know (just like they don;t know folks are selling DVD's of their IP/copyrights and keeping 100% of the profits, yet they are able to make daycare centers take down hand=painted murals of Pooh, Tigger and Roo). And if those same people have nothing but positive spin (and hit on everyone of TDO's current talking points) about WDW, then it's much easier to ignore what is happening. ... And perhaps slip a $500 gift card here or a meal at Jiko there or a few hours parasailing there etc.

<<But is giving an un-official tour of WDW that different from a person who's staff spends hundreds of hours on-site every year so that their observations can be reported in "An Unofficial Guide to DisneyWorld"? Either way you are making money off Disney intellectual property in a way that has not been approved by Disney.>>

Yes. A guidebook is a different animal. Although so many are now being produced by folks with online ties, one would also wonder if something less than kosher is going on there too. But I still don't view that as the type of behavior as these tours.

~Shut them down!~

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<And those that do engage in Disney theme park criticism are "haters" and or have an "attitude" or something inane like that.>>

Tell me about it.

That's what the MAGICal fanbois have called me for years because WDW should never be criticized and should be graded on a curve because of the pixie dust.

I'm trying to figure out as someone who has gone to every Disney Resort on the planet since Fall of 2009 (with multiple trips to WDW, DL and HKDL) and taken a two-week cruise with DCL and stayed on property at WDW twice (once with Disney, once at the DD Hilton) and dined at Disney hotels in HK and Tokyo and Orlando multiple times ... just how I am a hater and not a lover.

Oh, but see the dirty little secret about Disney is they can't handle ANY criticism at all ...let alone some serious stuff that goes to the heart of how they showcase their products and manage WDW.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<So typically 21st century USA that a company decides what theft they'll allow based on the perceived value of the thief's PR. ;-)>>

<<Or based on their fear of negativ publicity if they actually do something against it?>>

I dunno. I doubt any of these podcasters/bloggers/photographers/whores would strike back at Disney. That's just why I don't get this. They are insignificant. The biggest among them doesn't get the type of viewership that would barely register as a blip on Disney's internal ratings. And they ARE PREACHING TO AN AUDIENCE THAT IS ALREADY HOOKED ON THE PIXIE DUST!

Again, this isn't even smart on the most basic business level yet Disney persists.

I wish Leemac were around, because I'd love to know his thoughts on some of these low lifes.

<<I agree with Road Trip that the issue of the tours is a grey area. It isn't as easy an issue as counterfeiting pins which clearly is against the law and hence going against those people is easy to do. With regard to the tours Disney of course has the right to formulate rules on what you are allowed to do on their private property. But it appears that WDW has been too lazy to actually come up with these rules.>>

I have been told they do indeed exist and they are no different from Anaheim's at all. If Disney chooses to ignore them, then that's their issue ... much like the folks who tend to ignore their policy on refillable mugs! (do I miss Nikki? should I answer that?)

<<DL on the other hand appears to have them according to what Westsider wrote in the "No Pirates?" thread.>>

Ah, that's where that post is. Wish I had read yours first

<<They might have been forced to look into that issue due to the Jim Hill incidence. And from what Westsider wrote, they still haven't a clear rule on how to deal with a certain type of tour guides. And I think that WDW really needs to come up with clear cut rules because that will enable them to enforce them. >>

From what I gather, much like DL it is cut and dry ... whether they enforce it (or just do it selectively ... like say stop my 10 Ways Phil Holmes Has Screwed With The Spirit of the MK Tours -- only $675 for up to four people, including TWO rides where the Spirit will tenderly hold you as safety permits and sing Disney showtunes, booking now for a 6/31 start!)

I'd love to know Jim Hill's take on this, although I imagine he'd still like to be giving the tours himself. Maybe someone will contact him for an opinion?

<<It isn't uncommon either that outside tour guides aren't allowed to conduct tours on private property. It is that way at many tourist sights where tour groups will require an officially accredited guide.>>

With Disney, this has always been a case where the only tour guides allowed where basically for non-English speaking guests to help organize and plan meals and chaperones for school trips ... not grifters looking to make a quick buck (or thousands).

 

Originally Posted By MPierce

>> I wish Leemac were around, because I'd love to know his thoughts on some of these low lifes. <<

He's probably sitting in a public house right now complaing about the blown call that lead to Liverpool's 2-0 defeat to Tottenham at Anfield.

 

Originally Posted By MPierce

>> From what I gather, much like DL it is cut and dry ... whether they enforce it (or just do it selectively ... like say stop my 10 Ways Phil Holmes Has Screwed With The Spirit of the MK Tours -- only $675 for up to four people, including TWO rides where the Spirit will tenderly hold you as safety permits and sing Disney showtunes, booking now for a 6/31 start!) <<

Does that price include admission, and ECV rental?

 

Originally Posted By RoadTrip

Hey MPierce... with you in Texas and me in SW Missouri, I figure we could write "The Redneck and Hillbilly Guide to WDW". I think there is money to be made there... especially if we could get WalMart to put coupons at the back!

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

So ... started to listen to a certain podcast tonight ... apparently, he had some issues earlier today, although I have no idea why an upstanding individual trying to spread the MAGIC would ever encounter problems while 'working tirelessly'

Anyway, after watching it for 15-20 minutes, all I was left with was a feeling of abject embarrassment, both for me for wasting time that I won't get back at the end ... and for TDO, which for some unknown reason thinks the other 217 people listening somehow are worth pimping the MAGIC out by giving God knows how much to said podcaster and others of that ilk.

It really made me feel dirty. Kind of a like a fanboi the morning after ...

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

>> Is it just me or does anyone else actually think there's an issue here? <<

<<I believe it's an issue for Disney. How they present, and protect their properties is strictly their business, and their business alone.>>

I disagree. I'm a shareholder of a public company, so therefore it effects me.

As someone who has been told by some top execs past and present (some lifers) that 'you know more about the company than I do', maybe I'd like to 'work' by giving MAGICal tours instead of having to go all the way to China to be paid close to what I am worth ... and there are others that could do so, I'm sure ... like say BOTH Lee's here just to start.

Disney endorsing individual webmasters, bloggers, podcasters and general whores places them in a very bad light. Especially when they are paying off these folks with invites, hotel stays, cruises, tickets, meals and swag.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

>> I wish Leemac were around, because I'd love to know his thoughts on some of these low lifes. <<

<<He's probably sitting in a public house right now complaing about the blown call that lead to Liverpool's 2-0 defeat to Tottenham at Anfield. >>

Were you at the 'football' match?

And I have no doubt Lee has read this or will ... but it is a tough position for him to discuss here if he is still working for Disney, and even if he is not because of Tales.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

>> From what I gather, much like DL it is cut and dry ... whether they enforce it (or just do it selectively ... like say stop my 10 Ways Phil Holmes Has Screwed With The Spirit of the MK Tours -- only $675 for up to four people, including TWO rides where the Spirit will tenderly hold you as safety permits and sing Disney showtunes, booking now for a 6/31 start!) <<

<<Does that price include admission, and ECV rental?>>

No ... and most definitely, not.

I will throw in a 2000 Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand WDW logo pin since I have a bag of 231 in my garage.

 

Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer

>>>So ... started to listen to a certain podcast tonight ... apparently, he had some issues earlier today, although I have no idea why an upstanding individual trying to spread the MAGIC would ever encounter problems while 'working tirelessly' <<<<


I can not listen to the things. It's just so uncomfortable, and corny, and egotistical and contrived. Not to mention boring.

The only one I have listened to was the one that we were privy to hearing recording by a certain fountain.


And that was a experience in itself!!!!

 

Originally Posted By ReelJustice

Our good friend Lou was privvy to a lavish assortment of free Disney dining samples today and he got a sneak peak at the new princess rooms at Dixie Landings. He assures that the rooms look even better than the concept art.

What a guy!


/sarcasm

 

Originally Posted By Bolna

<<I will throw in a 2000 Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand WDW logo pin since I have a bag of 231 in my garage.>>

You have 231 pieces of the same pin and then are talking about other people being nuts????

 

Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1

Glad to see other people are now starting to see what I was telling you all about a year ago.

Feeling "dirty" is EXACTLY the way I used to feel when I would listen to those podcasts. The one that made me stop was the annual episode where said "host" has all these Disney soccer mum "web personalities" over at his house and they all get swag together for his private auction for charity - a good enough cause on its own.

Thing was, this guy was the only guy there(with all these dweeb Disney soccer mums)and the recording ended up sounding something between an awkwatd sleepover where the ugly girl is hosting and has booze, good food and the new David Cassidy album and something like a strange flirting session where the women felt they had to play up to the guy with the microphone because he held their future showbiz careers in his hand.

All the way through, as the recording became more and more bizarre and made me feel more and more uncomfortable(and I am a very liberal guy!)I just kept thinking, "Where is this guy's wife and where are these womens' husbands?"

It felt creepy, awkward and icky in that way where people gush over each other and its very disingenuous.


I remember that being my very last episode I ever listened too and I NEVER regretted it!

 

Originally Posted By fkurucz

>>He's probably sitting in a public house right now complaing about the blown call that lead to Liverpool's 2-0 defeat to Tottenham at Anfield.<<

Irrelevant ... Man U won all the marbles. Go Chicharito!