Spirited News & Observations II -- NGE/Baxter

asianway

Well-Known Member
Don't have MAGICal time today (or right now), but wanted to give props to 'pal' Merfie for taking apart Shel Holtz and Mark Ragan out in the Twitverse. Amazing how defensive they were and how quickly they shut up.

Of course, we all know that is the BRAND of social media they shill. A one way propaganda street and, let's face it, if people knew how much companies like Disney paid them for their self-created pseudo-science, they might not be so quick to believe a word these snake-oil salesmen are selling.

Someone long ago forgot that COMMUNICATION is all about a dialogue. Nt a one-way street of PR.

All you have to do is say "were done here" apparently and use the hashtag #axetogrind rather that answer a legitimate comment after your hand was caught in the cookie jar.

And these guys have tens of thousands of followers...
 

Lee

Adventurer
All you have to do is say "were done here" apparently and use the hashtag #axetogrind rather that answer a legitimate comment after your hand was caught in the cookie jar.

And these guys have tens of thousands of followers...
Wow...just went and read that exchange. He really called those propagandists out.
Well done, Merf...well done.
HatTipSmileyAnim.gif
 

WDW1974

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Just a quick thought that I meant to say this afternoon, but one thing Merf could have said that would have dead-ended everything was simply ''Do you currently or have you ever received monetary compensation from TWDC for consulting on social media?''

That would have done it. The man (Shel Holtz) promotes his work for Disney on his website. That makes a disclosure required.

I do hope Merf continues to go after them.

Oh, and what's this? Another social media starts a rumor based on info that others have put out months ago ... many months ago ... and the folks here are giving him the attention he craves?!?!? Not smart.
 

unkadug

Follower of "Saget"The Cult
Just a quick thought that I meant to say this afternoon, but one thing Merf could have said that would have dead-ended everything was simply ''Do you currently or have you ever received monetary compensation from TWDC for consulting on social media?''

That would have done it. The man (Shel Holtz) promotes his work for Disney on his website. That makes a disclosure required.

I do hope Merf continues to go after them.

Oh, and what's this? Another social media starts a rumor based on info that others have put out months ago ... many months ago ... and the folks here are giving him the attention he craves?!?!? Not smart.
Are you referring to the 500 million thread?
 

MerlinTheGoat

Well-Known Member
Just a quick thought that I meant to say this afternoon, but one thing Merf could have said that would have dead-ended everything was simply ''Do you currently or have you ever received monetary compensation from TWDC for consulting on social media?''

That would have done it. The man (Shel Holtz) promotes his work for Disney on his website. That makes a disclosure required.
But as slimy and deceptive as they already are, what would stop them from just lying and saying no? I mean surely lying to people by saying they aren't paid by Disney isn't going to make them feel any more uncomfortable than any of the other sleazy and deceptive things they post and do? They're already guilty of bending and breaking the facts anyways. I doubt being asked such a question would have really dead ended things, they can just lie and the dullards will believe them (I believe Mongello has denied being paid or compensated by Disney in the past for shilling for them).

Oh, and what's this? Another social media starts a rumor based on info that others have put out months ago ... many months ago ... and the folks here are giving him the attention he craves?!?!? Not smart.
You mean the 500 mil DHS makeover topic?
 

flynnibus

Premium Member
It's not difficult to do the math here. Once Den Dulk's visa expires, it will be up to the same leadership that kicked Baxter to the curb to keep Michel assigned to projects so his visa can be renewed. And I'm having a difficult time trying to imagine that happening.

It's not really that big of a deal to do (keep the visa). Sponsoring his green card? more involved and more money (also makes him portable so he isn't obligated to the company).. the real challenge is the limits on stay and extensions.. basically anyone staying around for awhile ultimately need to work towards the green card path. H1-Bs, Os, etc are not extendable forever. Given Disney's size and multi-national nature.. I doubt this is a high barrier for them. If they want to cut him loose, they'll do it regardless :)
 

PhotoDave219

Well-Known Member
Don't have MAGICal time today (or right now), but wanted to give props to 'pal' Merfie for taking apart Shel Holtz and Mark Ragan out in the Twitverse. Amazing how defensive they were and how quickly they shut up.

Of course, we all know that is the BRAND of social media they shill. A one way propaganda street and, let's face it, if people knew how much companies like Disney paid them for their self-created pseudo-science, they might not be so quick to believe a word these snake-oil salesmen are selling.

Someone long ago forgot that COMMUNICATION is all about a dialogue. Nt a one-way street of PR.

I have to give him props for that; calling people out on their unethical lack of transparency always amuses me. There's money changing hands here and people being shills for Social Media propaganda and no one is really paying attention.
 

George

Liker of Things
Premium Member
In four years, my AP has gone up by over 30% -- and I'm a Charter meaning I've had one since 1982 and should be getting the best price possible (but DVCers leaving WDW for UNI and SW wiped that away and gave them a $300 discount on PAPs for three months to end 2012 ... I think I saved less than the cost of a one-day ticket for my 31 years of loyalty!)

Oh, and I don't believe WDW has improved by 30% in four years at all!

Ha, Ha! Charter AP sucker! Plus, since my PAP is in the form of a voucher I'm not going to start my "use window", if you will, until mid late October. I've used my Foundation series* psychohistory skills to determine that by October 2014 (my expiry date) ticket prices as we know them will be gone. Instead, Disney will employ a team of house re-fi specialists to help guests take out second mortgages. They will also be trained in home finances so they can help the consumer calculate the precise amount of money they can send to Disney annually whilst still enjoying (for those north of the Mason Dixon line) extra heating hours (EHH) in the winter. If your direct to Disney (DtD, the reason for Disney Springs is actually acronym re-purposing) income stream exceeds 15K per year, you'll get 6 jaunty pins each annum (plans call for a reduction to 2 pins in 2018).

*- never really understood why imagineers reject my really kewl ideas for the Foundation series land.
 

Soarin' Over Pgh

Well-Known Member
Ha, Ha! Charter AP sucker! Plus, since my PAP is in the form of a voucher I'm not going to start my "use window", if you will, until mid late October. I've used my Foundation series* psychohistory skills to determine that by October 2014 (my expiry date) ticket prices as we know them will be gone. Instead, Disney will employ a team of house re-fi specialists to help guests take out second mortgages. They will also be trained in home finances so they can help the consumer calculate the precise amount of money they can send to Disney annually whilst still enjoying (for those north of the Mason Dixon line) extra heating hours (EHH) in the winter. If your direct to Disney (DtD, the reason for Disney Springs is actually acronym re-purposing) income stream exceeds 15K per year, you'll get 6 jaunty pins each annum (plans call for a reduction to 2 pins in 2018).

*- never really understood why imagineers reject my really kewl ideas for the Foundation series land.

I'd love to see a Foundationland. Can we add a Dune Universe while we're at it? And maybe a Hyperion universe (You have read, right? Dan Simmons. Get on it, if you haven't!)

It seems that Disney is actually trying to price themselves out of the 'lower-middle' class and be exclusively afforadable only by people who have money to burn and/or not enough common sense and max out credit cards for a vacation.

It's a shame, really. A patient in my office yesterday ran the RunDisney princess half marathon in February. She showed me her medal yesterday (very pretty!) and a ton of photos she took. I asked if by running the race, she got to spend the day at the parks. Her face went blank and she said "No. After all the money I spent on the race, you'd think they could at least give us a discount ticket offer or something, but no." I didn't ask what it cost to join the marathon, let alone hotel/transportation/flight- it wasn't my place.

Point is, she was at Disney for marathon only, and was peeved that no type of discount was offered to people who finished the race to encourage them to stay on property and spend money (entrance, food, drinks, etc).

She finished her trip with three days at Universal.
 

RyenDeckard

Well-Known Member
Soarin', I feel the MAGIC* after that post! :)

* Magic subject to change. Magic only applicable to those with MyMagic+ wristbands, staying on site at Disney hotels, and on a measurable amount of opiates. Please see your physician before subjecting yourself to Magic. If you make less than 75,000$ USD or the equivalent a year, please avoid Magic at all costs.
 

asianway

Well-Known Member
I'd love to see a Foundationland. Can we add a Dune Universe while we're at it? And maybe a Hyperion universe (You have read, right? Dan Simmons. Get on it, if you haven't!)

It seems that Disney is actually trying to price themselves out of the 'lower-middle' class and be exclusively afforadable only by people who have money to burn and/or not enough common sense and max out credit cards for a vacation.

It's a shame, really. A patient in my office yesterday ran the RunDisney princess half marathon in February. She showed me her medal yesterday (very pretty!) and a ton of photos she took. I asked if by running the race, she got to spend the day at the parks. Her face went blank and she said "No. After all the money I spent on the race, you'd think they could at least give us a discount ticket offer or something, but no." I didn't ask what it cost to join the marathon, let alone hotel/transportation/flight- it wasn't my place.

Point is, she was at Disney for marathon only, and was peeved that no type of discount was offered to people who finished the race to encourage them to stay on property and spend money (entrance, food, drinks, etc).

She finished her trip with three days at Universal.
Word on the street is 4 races this January weekend, $500+ to do all of them. Merch, meals, upgraded packages, tickets, are of course all extra.
 

MattM

Well-Known Member
... because now Disney feels a Mommy Blogger from Denver or Atlanta or Austin is more important than a reporter from the Miami Herald, Newsday or Time.

Have to disagree with you on this one. While those are all reputable organizations, they don't have the audience that Disney wants. The Mommy bloggers are more likely to have a loyal/returning readership that would be more likely to be in to a Disney vacation than someone who would read the Herald, etc. I'm not saying it's right, but that's the way we're heading...
 

MattM

Well-Known Member
I have to give him props for that; calling people out on their unethical lack of transparency always amuses me. There's money changing hands here and people being shills for Social Media propaganda and no one is really paying attention.

If one wanted to check out merf on the twitters, what would his h@ndle be?
 

flynnibus

Premium Member
Point is, she was at Disney for marathon only, and was peeved that no type of discount was offered to people who finished the race to encourage them to stay on property and spend money (entrance, food, drinks, etc).

Disney knows they don't need to offer a special discount to those folks... they are already on the hook.
 

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