D23 Anniversary Party News?

trentino

trentino

Active Member
I was at the event last night and have to say I came away disappointed by a few things. The main reason I attended was because I'm a big fan of collecting character photos and autographs (hey it's free and it's fun to see my family grow and the characters change over the years). So when I saw the promise of "characters who we haven't seen walking around the parks lately" I knew I had to attend -- even with the steep cost. Well the only "rare" character there last night was Gaston. My wife is now riding me that Gaston's photo and autograph cost us $280. They had Horace and Clarabelle but those characters met in the parks every day until like a year and a half ago -- I'm sure everyone there last night already had their photos which is why those 2 characters spent the night walking aimlessly with few people taking interest. They had Jiminy Cricket -- maybe he's rare in Disneyland out in California where D23 is based but he appears everyday at AK. I feel they really misrepresented the character experience last night. I had been especially hopeful for who we would see based on the rumors for who will be appearing at tomorrow's Princess half-marathon: including Ariel and *Prince Eric*, Tiana Naveen & *Louis*, Pocahontas and *John Smith*, *Maleficent* and *PHEOBUS*. NOW there's a character line-up!!!!!!! I can't believe they pull Phoebus out of retirement on Sunday for everyday fans running the marathon and not bother to bring him to the event for major Disney enthusiasts who would truly appreciate his appearance. Even if we had just a few of those "rare" characters who'll be at the marathon -- that would have made it all worth it to me. Gaston and Belle's antics were truly the highlight -- but there should have been two or three more similar appearances.

I was also bummed by how they used the Diamond Horseshoe. The other reason I went was because the event was in this venue and I figured they just HAD to make use of the stage for something even though nothing was advertised. I was hoping for entertainment like a mini Diamond Horseshoe revue experience (circa 1998) with someone singing songs customized for the group on guitar (ala John Charles). What we got was like 3 or 4 different slideshows / video presentations saying how great D23 and the Walt Disney Company are. How is that entertainment? I dreamt of a lot of different things I would be presented with at the Diamond Horseshoe (maybe the Dapper Dans?) but what I imagined was entertainment not a Powerpoint presentation and a portable screen. I don't come to the Diamond Horseshoe for what I can get in the office -- I come to be entertained.

The food was great -- both at the Diamond Horseshoe and the Dessert buffet. The Imagineer presentation was OK -- I never expected them to reveal anything. But what I did learn was that this far into the project they still have a lot of things to figure out. The letdown for me was the "entertainment". When I entered the gates and when they started the presentation at the Horseshoe -- they promised a lot of surprises throughout the night which got my hopes up. But there were no surprises for me other than total lack of entertainment. When they say "characters" that we haven't seen for a while I expect them to deliver that at that price point -- to me that implies more than one rarity.
 
krankenstein

krankenstein

Well-Known Member
trentino said:
I was at the event last night and have to say I came away disappointed by a few things. The main reason I attended was because I'm a big fan of collecting character photos and autographs (hey it's free and it's fun to see my family grow and the characters change over the years). So when I saw the promise of "characters who we haven't seen walking around the parks lately" I knew I had to attend -- even with the steep cost. Well the only "rare" character there last night was Gaston. My wife is now riding me that Gaston's photo and autograph cost us $280. They had Horace and Clarabelle but those characters met in the parks every day until like a year and a half ago -- I'm sure everyone there last night already had their photos which is why those 2 characters spent the night walking aimlessly with few people taking interest. They had Jiminy Cricket -- maybe he's rare in Disneyland out in California where D23 is based but he appears everyday at AK. I feel they really misrepresented the character experience last night. I had been especially hopeful for who we would see based on the rumors for who will be appearing at tomorrow's Princess half-marathon: including Ariel and *Prince Eric*, Tiana Naveen & *Louis*, Pocahontas and *John Smith*, *Maleficent* and *PHEOBUS*. NOW there's a character line-up!!!!!!! I can't believe they pull Phoebus out of retirement on Sunday for everyday fans running the marathon and not bother to bring him to the event for major Disney enthusiasts who would truly appreciate his appearance. Even if we had just a few of those "rare" characters who'll be at the marathon -- that would have made it all worth it to me. Gaston and Belle's antics were truly the highlight -- but there should have been two or three more similar appearances.

I was also bummed by how they used the Diamond Horseshoe. The other reason I went was because the event was in this venue and I figured they just HAD to make use of the stage for something even though nothing was advertised. I was hoping for entertainment like a mini Diamond Horseshoe revue experience (circa 1998) with someone singing songs customized for the group on guitar (ala John Charles). What we got was like 3 or 4 different slideshows / video presentations saying how great D23 and the Walt Disney Company are. How is that entertainment? I dreamt of a lot of different things I would be presented with at the Diamond Horseshoe (maybe the Dapper Dans?) but what I imagined was entertainment not a Powerpoint presentation and a portable screen. I don't come to the Diamond Horseshoe for what I can get in the office -- I come to be entertained.

The food was great -- both at the Diamond Horseshoe and the Dessert buffet. The Imagineer presentation was OK -- I never expected them to reveal anything. But what I did learn was that this far into the project they still have a lot of things to figure out. The letdown for me was the "entertainment". When I entered the gates and when they started the presentation at the Horseshoe -- they promised a lot of surprises throughout the night which got my hopes up. But there were no surprises for me other than total lack of entertainment. When they say "characters" that we haven't seen for a while I expect them to deliver that at that price point -- to me that implies more than one rarity.
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When I first heard about the event, I thought about going. Now, I'm glad I did not get a ticket to it. I'm sorry you were disappointed by the event. Did they happen to do a satisfaction survey at the end of the event?
 
B

Brian Noble

Well-Known Member
it's becoming more and more clear that Disney is paying off certain big names in the community with information and other incentives to get them to paint a pretty picture of the mouse and to discourage criticism.
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Wouldn't you? I sure would, and Mickey's more clever than I.

Heck this goes way way back---the ol' Mousetro himself wined and dined the press regularly, not to mention all those Florida officials who basically gave him his very own government to play with. This is the same thing, just with new media outlets.
 
D

DisneyNut2007

Active Member
trentino said:
I was at the event last night and have to say I came away disappointed by a few things. The main reason I attended was because I'm a big fan of collecting character photos and autographs (hey it's free and it's fun to see my family grow and the characters change over the years). So when I saw the promise of "characters who we haven't seen walking around the parks lately" I knew I had to attend -- even with the steep cost. Well the only "rare" character there last night was Gaston. My wife is now riding me that Gaston's photo and autograph cost us $280. They had Horace and Clarabelle but those characters met in the parks every day until like a year and a half ago -- I'm sure everyone there last night already had their photos which is why those 2 characters spent the night walking aimlessly with few people taking interest. They had Jiminy Cricket -- maybe he's rare in Disneyland out in California where D23 is based but he appears everyday at AK. I feel they really misrepresented the character experience last night. I had been especially hopeful for who we would see based on the rumors for who will be appearing at tomorrow's Princess half-marathon: including Ariel and *Prince Eric*, Tiana Naveen & *Louis*, Pocahontas and *John Smith*, *Maleficent* and *PHEOBUS*. NOW there's a character line-up!!!!!!! I can't believe they pull Phoebus out of retirement on Sunday for everyday fans running the marathon and not bother to bring him to the event for major Disney enthusiasts who would truly appreciate his appearance. Even if we had just a few of those "rare" characters who'll be at the marathon -- that would have made it all worth it to me. Gaston and Belle's antics were truly the highlight -- but there should have been two or three more similar appearances.

When they say "characters" that we haven't seen for a while I expect them to deliver that at that price point -- to me that implies more than one rarity.
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Regardless, the D23 Party and the Princess Marathon are seperate events.

Did you ever stop to think that maybe the D23 people didn't have enough money in the budget to have that many rarely-seen characters? Besides, we're still in the middle of a recession, you know, so they can't go around spending money willy-nilly all the time.

Also, only a certain amount of people came to the event, so they couldn't go crazy throwing money away.

Maybe they'll have more rarely-seen characters at future events. Just write them a letter and let them know how you feel. They WILL listen!
 
krankenstein

krankenstein

Well-Known Member
Brian Noble said:
Wouldn't you? I sure would, and Mickey's more clever than I.

Heck this goes way way back---the ol' Mousetro himself wined and dined the press regularly, not to mention all those Florida officials who basically gave him his very own government to play with. This is the same thing, just with new media outlets.
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I don't blame the Mouse or the people in the community either! If I could obtain exclusive interviews with people from WDI for a podcast or some early information on things like Nightastic for a website, I sure would take it in a heart beat. My problem is when they try to censor other people who do not feel the need to paint the pretty picture of the Disney Company and that is starting to happen.
 
B

Brian Noble

Well-Known Member
What evidence do you have that they try to censor them, as opposed to just cut them off of the river of milk-and-honey?

And, for what it's worth, cutting people off is also not new. Any competent examination of the Resort's history (e.g. Married to the Mouse) will document a few Orange and Osceola officials who, once they crossed the line, were persona non grata at Mouse boondoggles. Mickey knows who plays ball, and who doesn't, and rewards them accordingly.
 
krankenstein

krankenstein

Well-Known Member
Brian Noble said:
What evidence do you have that they try to censor them, as opposed to just cut them off of the river of milk-and-honey?

And, for what it's worth, cutting people off is also not new. Any competent examination of the Resort (e.g. Married to the Mouse) will document a few Orange and Osceola officials who, once they crossed the line, were persona non grata at Mouse boondoggles.
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Evidence? I know people it is happening to. I can't say names, but I know it is happening.
 
B

Brian Noble

Well-Known Member
Ah, another round of "I've got a secret..."

Someone covered under an NDA would, of course, have different liabilities than someone who isn't. Anyone who isn't is on relatively safe ground as long as they are not violating copyright or publishing information that they obtained through non-public channels. But, violating copyright is easier than it sounds. For example, I suspect anyone publishing photos taken inside any of the Parks on their blog or website is probably in technical violation of some ticketing condition printed in very small type somewhere.
 
krankenstein

krankenstein

Well-Known Member
Brian Noble said:
Ah, another round of "I've got a secret..."

Someone covered under an NDA would, of course, have different liabilities than someone who isn't. Anyone who isn't is on relatively safe ground as long as they are not violating copyright or publishing information that they obtained through non-public channels. But, violating copyright is easier than it sounds. For example, I suspect anyone publishing photos taken inside any of the Parks on their blog or website is probably in technical violation of some ticketing condition printed in very small type somewhere.
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It's not the bloggers or people operating there own sites that this is happening to. It's the people who visit forums and other sites that have a webmaster that are starting to have their posts edited and even losing accounts or having access restricted. I have friends that it has happened to.

I honestly could careless if you believe me or not. I've been around here long enough for people to know my reputation. I do not say things like this if I do not know it is happening. If you choose not to believe me, that's you, but I'm not the only one that knows it is happening. Nor, am I the only one that has seen the community change, greatly, since the Social Media/D23 stuff began.

And no, I do not have a secret. What you see is what you get whether it be here, another site or in person.
 
B

Brian Noble

Well-Known Member
It's the people who visit forums and other sites that have a webmaster that are starting to have their posts edited and even losing accounts or having access restricted.
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And that's at that webmaster's discretion. They own the site, they get to decide what is and is not said, for whatever reason they like, because the First Amendment doesn't apply to private speech. If they're editing posts so that they can get more swag from Disney, then that's their perogative---and I'd be a little suprised if anyone at TWDC was so ham-handed as to leave an identifiable trail that leads from a particular edited post back to them, but stranger things have happened.

If you don't like what a site owner will let you say on their site, spend your money to develop a site of your own---or you can go to the UNDis/CoS, where you can say pretty much anything you like beacuse the whole point of that site is to poke fun at "the community".

And, again, webmasters editing posts about things they don't like is *also* nothing new in "the community." Heaven help you if you criticize Dreams Unlimited over on disboards, even though the mods swear up and down that there is no connection between DIS and DU---except of course for the fact that the same guy owns both of them.

Edited to add: ultimately, though, Disney isn't in this for grins and giggles. They're used to playing hardball when it comes to managing their image. I'm surprised it took them this long to figure out that they needed a strategy to manage the online community in the same way they manage the press and local/county government.
 
krankenstein

krankenstein

Well-Known Member
Brian Noble said:
And that's at that webmaster's discretion. They own the site, they get to decide what is and is not said, for whatever reason they like, because the First Amendment doesn't apply to private speech. If they're editing posts so that they can get more swag from Disney, then that's their perogative---and I'd be a little suprised if anyone at TWDC was so ham-handed as to leave an identifiable trail that leads from a particular edited post back to them, but stranger things have happened.

If you don't like what a site owner will let you say on their site, spend your money to develop a site of your own---or you can go to the UNDis/CoS, where you can say pretty much anything you like beacuse the whole point of that site is to poke fun at "the community".

And, again, webmasters editing posts about things they don't like is *also* nothing new in "the community." Heaven help you if you criticize Dreams Unlimited over on disboards, even though the mods swear up and down that there is no connection between DIS and DU---except of course for the fact that the same guy owns both of them.

Edited to add: ultimately, though, Disney isn't in this for grins and giggles. They're used to playing hardball when it comes to managing their image. I'm surprised it took them this long to figure out that they needed a strategy to manage the online community in the same way they manage the press and local/county government.
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Never said it wasn't their right, did I?

But it does suck to have your opinion edited, yes?

And, who ever said I didn't have a site somewhere? Maybe this is a secret identity since you think I have so many. :drevil:
 

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