I haven't heard it discussed here, but I saw a lot of people complaining very loudly on Twitter about it when it was first announced. Although, honestly, I think most of those complaints were along the lines of "WHY DIDN'T I GET AN INVITE, I AM A SUPER-FAN?!?! I DESERVED ONE!!!"
That must have been hillarious.:ROFLOL:
Will someone wake me when the whining starts regarding the Fantasy launch ... and especially for the DCA 2.0 party time? I can't wait to hear who gets freebies from Disney for their fair and balanced coverage and value to Disney's consumer base.
But I really would love a thread where we put their whines out for people to see in order because I'm not sure many casual fans have any idea what these folks are like or how they respond to perceived slights from the Mouse.
My guess is that Disney is trying to marginalize forums like this one even more in favor of one where the company can control the message. Obviously, that is not a good thing. Sure, this forum and Disboards will still have their existing userbases, but I'd bet this new "forum" will suck a lot of new growth from the other major forums.
DING-DING-DING. We have a winner.
Despite some folks (like old pal Merfie) talking smack about this site and its owner, it's pretty obvious by the content of these boards that Disney in no way controls what is discussed and how it is.
So, what can Disney do when we start talking about Splash Mountain Ghetto Edition, Disco Yeti, LessThanFantasmic etc? Well, they can just drown us out ... Duncan Wardle doesn't care about legit complaints from guests/fans. He has said for every negative WDW comment online there are 18 positive ones (whether those metrics are true or how he came up with them -- or Voce did -- is another matter). Now, in the past ... back when Disney cared about you know ... being Disney, someone like Duncan wouldn't have been hired and if he had been, he'd have been fired for comments like his becoming public.
But now? Now, it is how WDW Co operates in 21st century America. Ignore, discredit, shout down your biggest critics (even if they happen to be your biggest fans and know the most about your product) and then co-opt some weak-minded others, who wish to make a buck or many off your company and live Disney Lifestyles, to join a Pixie Dust Brigade and make sure when folks want Disney talk, they head over there ... no thinking allowed. Just pure MAGIC.:hurl:
As the OP knows, I've defended Disney's social media moves to some degree, but I don't like this.
Ah, Tom, but in the end it is all so dangerous because the point is to simply make propaganda the only voice that matters. PR Spin 24/7. That's the goal of the Celebration Place Cabal.
And they are paying obscene amounts of money to consultants who tell them this is the wave of the future. Like an Orwellian world where only one viewpoint is heard.
(Although I will concede that I think it's a smart move from Disney's perspective--if the message is predominantly a bad one on the unofficial forums, why not try to control the message yourself by marginalizing the unofficial forums? Of course, the best solution is to fix the things that cause the message to be negative in the first place...)
Why not spend billions on soda cup chips, interactive queues, datamining from guests and consultants who push all of the above instead of simply providing the best immersive themed family entertainment in Orlando ... you know ... like UNI. Funny how they don't try and play by Disney's Social Media playbook. Look at the Potter opening ... look how many online whores were invited to the opening, to the parties, given access to the creators and celebs from the films.
Now ... wait for Disney's party invites. Not all, but largely a group of dysfunctional, disturbed individuals who are trying to relive a childhood that never was and never will be.
It would be simply sad if the whole thing wasn't helping to drag WDW down along with it.
~How come they flew your entire family in and gave you five nights at the Grand when they told me I couldn't bring anyone and put me at POP for two nights? OH WHHHYYYYYY!?!??!!?~