Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV

[skippyrules104]

Dave and I say the former (or at least an aspiring professional); Englanddg appears to be saying the latter. It's an interesting debate. Neither side particularly has your husband's back, I'm afraid.

It's OK not to have his back. It's just, what would you do in his situation? Apparently PhotoDave wouldn't have attended the media preview for California Grill, or free cruises, or get into D23 expo for free, but there are others that would feel that they'd be crazy not to enjoy that perk.

 

[nytimez]

He definitely gives his honest opinion. If you can give an example of a review that you find questionable, I'd love to see it. What do you think he said was good but really wasn't?

Here's a better question - and I am asking this honestly because I am not a frequent visitor to his site, nor do I listen to his podcast (although I have in the past): When has Rickey used his voice to demand a better product from Disney?

(I mean publicly, not literally pulling a "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM???" in the parks and demanding free stuff.)

Just as an honest positive review can help people make a decision about how to spend their vacation dollars, an honest and constructive negative one can help a company to improve its products and respond to its customers.

 

[Stevek]

That's just pathetic. Never heard of him but how is this leech part of that event?

To be fair, you guys are mixing Jeff up with the wrong guy. Disney has turned a blind eye to Jeff selling his own filmed videos. It's a grey area as technically, they likely own the rights to all of the music used during the live shows he records. Lots of people record for their own purposes but selling them crosses a line IMO. Thankfully we have guys like Martin who put great effort into their films and make them freely available to all.

 

[bhg469]

It's OK not to have his back. It's just, what would you do in his situation? Apparently PhotoDave wouldn't have attended the media preview for California Grill, or free cruises, or get into D23 expo for free, but there are others that would feel that they'd be crazy not to enjoy that perk.

my guess is @PhotoDave219 wouldnt make the list due to his integrity.

There is a pesky I word that apple will never own.

 

[englanddg]

Here's a better question - and I am asking this honestly because I am not a frequent visitor to his site, nor do I listen to his podcast (although I have in the past): When has Rickey used his voice to demand a better product from Disney?

(I mean publicly, not literally pulling a "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM???" in the parks and demanding free stuff.)

Just as an honest positive review can help people make a decision about how to spend their vacation dollars, an honest and constructive negative one can help a company to improve its products and respond to its customers.

A very good question. As a consumer, I found the info there lacking...hence why I moved to forums.

I wanted to do well on each trip, be the most informed consumer I could be...and yet, I've learned more from forums than I ever have those sorts of sites. And, the people who turn to me for Disney planning...find these sites, and parrot what they say...and I'm left fighting them...then...when they go to Disney, and have a terrible time because they went ignoring my advice...they blame me and will never go back.

This is the long term impact that these sorts of "rah rah" bloggers have.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Here's a better question - and I am asking this honestly because I am not a frequent visitor to his site, nor do I listen to his podcast (although I have in the past): When has Rickey used his voice to demand a better product from Disney?

To add, in regards to something of consequence. That's what has turned me off the show, and I love podcasts too. It seemed like there would be plenty to say about something like less than tasty foods at the Food and Wine Festival, but with anything of note a disagreement will be stated it is quickly dropped. I recall even hearing something like "so not to be negative." Rants, to me, add interest as they show a multifaceted approach.

 

[skippyrules104]

Following up.... Since he's not a professional journalist, why should he be treated as such With media accreditation and access?

Why should he get treated better than the average guessed that actually pays $95 to get in the Magic Kingdom everyday?

We buy our annual passes. We don't get in for free unless it's for an event.

 

[PhotoDave219]

We buy our annual passes. We don't get in for free unless it's for an event.

You didn't answer the question.

Why should someone who is not a professional journalist insist on being treated as though he is?

 

[Stevek]

It's OK not to have his back. It's just, what would you do in his situation? Apparently PhotoDave wouldn't have attended the media preview for California Grill, or free cruises, or get into D23 expo for free, but there are others that would feel that they'd be crazy not to enjoy that perk.

That's a very fair question and I'm not sure everyone here could answer honestly. I sure as heck would have a hard time turning that down and it would likely be more difficult to do after years of being fed by Disney.

 

[skippyrules104]

A very good question. As a consumer, I found the info there lacking...hence why I moved to forums.

I wanted to do well on each trip, be the most informed consumer I could be...and yet, I've learned more from forums than I ever have those sorts of sites. And, the people who turn to me for Disney planning...find these sites, and parrot what they say...and I'm left fighting them...then...when they go to Disney, and have a terrible time because they went ignoring my advice...they blame me and will never go back.

This is the long term impact that these sorts of "rah rah" bloggers have.

Maybe the confusion is that you consider Inside the Magic a travel planner site. Obviously it isn't. He usually just talks about what is new in the parks. He's usually pretty quick about updates on twitter and facebook. Do you not find those updates useful?

 

[skippyrules104]

You didn't answer the question.

Why should someone who is not a professional journalist insist on being treated as though he is?

Maybe they think he does a good job of getting information out there. They can't think everyone is a professional. Don't they have a blog for just moms or something? And they get invited to things.

 

[englanddg]

That's a very fair question and I'm not sure everyone here could answer honestly. I sure as heck would have a hard time turning that down and it would likely be more difficult to do after years of being fed by Disney.

I don't think anyone should be uspset that he has freebees.

Plenty of people turn to travel agents...and they get said freebees.

That being said, most travel agents don't give a flip about your trip and will allow it to devolve into chaos.

If you view him as just that...a travel agent, he really isn't that bad. In fact, his youtube posts are quite informative.

 

[skippyrules104]

I have no idea who he is, I may have found his website, but it's not the bearded guy, so I'm confused. Was he the one with the camera making the video?

If he, or anyone else at the event, isn't a journalist, or something similar, what's the point in inviting him to a media event?

ETA: Dave beat me to it, and said it better.

Also, his site, if I'm in the right place, clearly has a column labeled "news." So a non-journalist who reports news? That's oxymoronic.

So, you can't report news without being a professional journalist?

 

[skippyrules104]

I don't think anyone should be uspset that he has freebees.

Plenty of people turn to travel agents...and they get said freebees.

That being said, most travel agents don't give a flip about your trip and will allow it to devolve into chaos.

If you view him as just that...a travel agent, he really isn't that bad. In fact, his youtube posts are quite informative.

Which is why I started posting this evening. He was being called a for accepting freebies. LOL!

 

[englanddg]

Which is why I started posting this evening. He was being called a for accepting freebies. LOL!

I, personally, am not upset that he accepts them.

It merely drove home to me that he is a shill of the company, and I should take his commentary as such.

 

[englanddg]

Just like I don't trust travel agents.

 

[skippyrules104]

To add, in regards to something of consequence. That's what has turned me off the show, and I love podcasts too. It seemed like there would be plenty to say about something like less than tasty foods at the Food and Wine Festival, but with anything of note a disagreement will be stated it is quickly dropped. I recall even hearing something like "so not to be negative." Rants, to me, add interest as they show a multifaceted approach.

Oh we definitely had less than tasty foods at Food and Wine last year. That peach dessert from France was the most rancid thing we've ever eaten there. I definitely know he had to mention that. LOL! There's no way he would forget to tell people to steer clear of that.

 

[skippyrules104]

I, personally, am not upset that he accepts them.

It merely drove home to me that he is a shill of the company, and I should take his commentary as such.

And that's fine. Hopefully, you'll find some truth, even to one thing, that will help you out in some way.

 

[vagabondarts]

Sounds like some of you have some real jealousy going on. Why don't you make a YouTube channel holding Disney's feet to the fire, routinely denying any freebies and marching down Main Street with your ticker tape parade?

For all the allegations against Ricky not being a journalist, I honestly have to ask, did you genuinely think he was one?

The reason he gets perks and invites is he has a lot of viewers and listeners to his hobbyist enthusiast site. So start your own and maybe you will get perks too and maybe even called a by the forum guru of the day.
Everyone wins.

 

[skippyrules104]

So, you can't report news without being a professional journalist?

I also forgot to mention, "the bearded guy" was not invited to the media event. He attended the parks blog meet up.