greenban POLL: Is big brother (DISNEY) watching us?

[greenban]

Oh my, how the floodgates have opened, yet another greenban POLL for January 2007.

So does Disney or the DVC or even both, know about fansites, do they monitor us, do they care?

What's your take?

-Tony

[bavaria]

Several travel industry companies officially monitor websites such as flyertalk.com

If Disney is smart they would do the same.

[isyt]

I hope they do ( Contemporary, Contemporary, Contemporary ). It can't hurt !:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[OneMoreTry]

Oh my, how the floodgates have opened ....
What's your take?

-Tony

Greenban should reduce his dose of Lasix.:wizard:

[WebmasterCricket]

I'll take the 5th ;)

[keys2kingdom]

I voted "Maybe. Definitely maybe, or perhaps, Perhaps." But in my feeble mind the real question is do they CARE what we have to say even if they are watching us. Sometimes it appears they've seen something on here and reacted, other times I think they just couldn't care less. In reality I suppose they must monitor this board even if just for kicks.

[DVCconvert]

Please type clearly into the computer.

While spelling correctly is not madatory,
please try to make it recognizable as 'The Big Cheese' is not omnipotent ;)

[Boston5602]

I know for absolute certainty that there is someone definitely and always possibly maybe looking at these boards possibly somewhere else and just about at least once a month or even less might be 1 time a year or less and they almost never check ...... BUT YEAH they might / might not read anything!

[Happy Birthday Cat]

While spelling correctly is not madatory

Ironic? Or not?

HBC

[Cruelladeville]

I know for sure that this site is monitored, but I am unsure whether it's done by off-duty personnel or if it's paid time. I have received several messages by phone from my guide about things that I posted on this site, especially if they were complimentary to my guide/DVC. He told me that the intelligent guide would of course want to monitor this site to find out any problems before they come back to bite you.:idea:

[CarolA]

Trust me. Big Brother is at his computer wearing mouse ears right now LOL!

[kimberh]

I do believe they do read the boards. Some people need to be careful with the ideas they give for free.

[jade1]

Ironic? Or not?

HBC

It is cold season.

[greenban]

It is cold season.


Yes, but according to all the Advil Cold & Sinus ads I hear ad nauseam (puns intended) many OTC cold remedies have dropped the 'good stuff' to stay OTC!

Such as the stroke maker NyQuil.

-Tony

[dianeschlicht]

I want the job!!!

[DVCconvert]

Ironic? Or not?

HBC


It is, perhaps, more in line with Socratic irony.
:p

[dumbo71]

I voted yes and people report back to DVC like the police or whatever that choice was.

Posters like (well, I better not use names) and others would like nothing more than to shut down the rental activities.

I love how those folks like to dictate what we all can do with OUR membership.

This site and many others are monitored. Sites like tripadvisor and others have had actual responses from GMs of the resort reviewed.

If WDW is not monitoring, then they should begin. Pretty sure they are.;)

[keishashadow]

imo disney is a govt think tank;)

they're everywhere, sorta like heffalumps & woozles.:scared1:

[loribell]

IMHO if Disney were the Government the world would be a much better place!

Lori

[Disney MAINEiac]

The BIG GIANT HEAD sees and knows all!!:rolleyes1 :scared1:

[disney-super-mom]

Why do I have the feeling that someone is watching me?:tiptoe: :magnify: :ssst:

[Mickmse2002]

No way. They couldn't possibly be watching. If they were then all of our sage advice as to how Disney should run WDW would have been implemented and it would be utopia. We wouldn't still be seeing pool temp threads, occupancy threads, the ever popular and vehemnet smoking on the balcony threads, and my perfsonal favorite, the taking towels from the pool area thread.

Cool poll though.

[drakethib]

If so I am going to moon Donald.

Never liked that duck.

[Evil Princess]

They definitely do.

[DisneyDreamingAubrey]

I sure would love that job, but looking at the number of posts from some people I can think of a few more qualified then myself!:lmao:

[mrsR123]

My money is on not just monitoring but actively posting as well. :wave2:

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Well, I would if I ran Disney.

Aw, rats, just outed myself....;)

[bighunter]

I do believe they do. If it were my company, I would.

[MommaX03]

I believe that Disney absolutely has to be monitoring these type of websites. It is a great venue for free advice, ideas, commentary, etc.

[Happy Birthday Cat]

It is, perhaps, more in line with Socratic irony.
:p


So I guess a bit of Cosmic irony on my part.

Great response!;) Touche'

HBC

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Three Points:

1. I know I'm in the vast minority on this one but I think we think too highly of ourselves. I don't for a minute think that Disney has anyone officially following Disney Web Sites and tracking thoughts and ideas. I think there are many CM's who follow along but IMHO it's not in an official capacity.

2. I might be wrong on my first point.

3. I can't believe that I gave a serious response to a greenban poll. I drank the GB Kool-aid and have been sucked into the delusion. I'm going to go medicate now.;)

HBC

[TammyAlphabet]

Most corporations, and most likely Disney is no exception, have at least one person in this type of position. They want to keep up with the information that is being circulated about their business. This is in addition to marketing information that is collected via surveys and so forth.

I wonder if there are any "We hate Disney sites?"

[greenban]

Three Points:

1. I know I'm in the vast minority on this one but I think we think too highly of ourselves. I don't for a minute think that Disney has anyone officially following Disney Web Sites and tracking thoughts and ideas. I think there are many CM's who follow along but IMHO it's not in an official capacity.

2. I might be wrong on my first point.

3. I can't believe that I gave a serious response to a greenban poll. I drank the GB Kool-aid and have been sucked into the delusion. I'm going to go medicate now.;)

HBC

:darth: (RASPY Breath) HBC, Welcome to the DARK side!

I can sense the DVC is strong in you, let yourself go to experience the power of the DVC! (Very RASPY Breath) :darth:

Have some more :drinking1 cool-aid and a cookie too! http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f312/snarfer1/iwantcookies.gif

Welcome again to the Dark Side, I can feel the Rental Force building inside of you.

-Darthban

[3DisneyKids]

My guide watches the DVC DIS boards, for sure. As do many other guides. As for the rest of Disney---yeah, they know. For example, remember a few months ago (October, I think) there was that awful scandal about DLRP characters doing unspeakable acts while in costume (they were in an off stage area, for sure, but someone had a video cell on them, captured the whole thing on video, and it ended up on the net). Well, try to find it now...nope. Nowhere. It was up for all of a few hours when Disney swooped in and got it off the entire internet. Now that is impressive.

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I wonder if there are any "We hate Disney sites?"

There are; but they're populated with very unhappy people with a generally poor grasp of grammar and irony...

[tubtruck]

I imagine it will be in the remit of some of the staff in the survey department, you know the ones who walk around with the palm pilot things asking people to take part in questionaires.

[UConnJack]

Considering Disney is constantly polling their customers (like the 7 layers of automated questions and polls before they will even let you speak with CRO), I would be surprised if they didn't have someone on the payroll to monitor websites. Even just a few people surfing all day could generate so much feedback for them, it would be cheaper than any marketing group could produce.

That said, the question is do they listen to the things they see on this (and other) boards? Sometimes I think so, sometimes not.

[Boardwalker]

I said "No.... why would they."
We spend our days watching them. You have it backwards.
And as facinating as we find ourselves, we rarely agree on anything except that no one understands our Disney obsession.
Even I don't listen to me, why would Disney?

[erikthewise]

Do they watch us? YES
Do they pay somebody to watch us? YES
(well, kinda, if $7.50/hr is what you call "pay")
Do they care what we think? MAYBE
(the ones who have the power don't, the ones who don't have the power do)

[raidermatt]

They monitor, and sometimes even participate... incognito of course. A lot of it is for PR purposes, to get the "right" side of the story out.

[dizfanz]

I know they monitor websites. How? I went to the tickets/concierge desk at the Contemporary and asked to see the menu for California Grill. The CM printed me a menu, from...allears.net! The CM said, "They are more up to date on our menus than we are."

[bigsmooth]

There is a huge difference between a guide watching the boards (who is a sales person) and a product/brand manager watching the boards.

I bet guides watch the boards to better understand who they are selling to. Good to learn tips from the power users on how to sell to their audience.

I'm sure product/brand managers occasionally watch the boards, but they would be foolish to spend too much attention. I'm sure their PMs have a pretty detailed segmentation of their user base, and believe that these boards represent a certain segment (in my industry they are the early adopters, the small but vocal percentage of users who follow your every move). The majority of buyers wont' fit into that segment. So it is good to watch these boards to see what your vocal minority is saying (or complaining about), but better to spend a majority of your time researching the broader market trends.

But sure, as the vocal minority we can feel self important and believe we influence everything. Or we can argue about the finer points of parking fees, pool temperatures, hallway lengths, elevator locations, poolside dining and vomiting clown pools and provide entertainment TO Disney, which is what I think Disney really views these boards as a source for.

But Disney, if you are looking. Rather then build a Contemporary DVC add on to the existing Contemporary, demolish the whole thing and start over.

:-)

[wdwstar]

I went with "Yes, I bet off duty CMs can and do report back items of interest " it seems Disney knows exactly how to "work" everything without putting out a Dime. ;) Look how DVC "worked" offered us a DVC members Cruise, the Dvc Members pay for the cruise and once we are aboard DVC put the "works into play" Sell SSR Points, Sell Add-ons, Sell, Sell. :lmao:

[spiceycat]

this was way before most of you. but I still get a little mad.

some disers were complaining about the high cost of the WDW resorts with points.

Disney hadn't (at that time) changed them from 1992 this was 2001 (maybe 2002). Well they did change the GF and added moderates - but that was all.

So I say hey they were a great deal. stayed at the Poly for 22 points when the regular rate was $335 - lagoon view at Tahiti.

within a few weeks Disney had changed their policy. Now they change the points each and every year for the WDW resorts. so no more deals at WDW resorts using points.

should learn to not post - yea - that will be the day.:lmao:

[erikthewise]

this was way before most of you. but I still get a little mad.

some disers were complaining about the high cost of the WDW resorts with points.

Disney hadn't (at that time) changed them from 1992 this was 2001 (maybe 2002). Well they did change the GF and added moderates - but that was all.

So I say hey they were a great deal. stayed at the Poly for 22 points when the regular rate was $335 - lagoon view at Tahiti.

within a few weeks Disney had changed their policy. Now they change the points each and every year for the WDW resorts. so no more deals at WDW resorts using points.

should learn to not post - yea - that will be the day.:lmao:

I remember that because it was just before I joined that they increased the rates. It was almost a deal-breaker for me because I wanted to use points to stay at the Polynesian too! Fortunately I was able to look past that and joined anyway. :thumbsup2

I don't think it was your fault, spiceycat. But I remember that Mousesavers (and no doubt other sites as well) recommended renting points to stay at deluxe resorts (non-DVC!) because it was such a good deal before 2002. I think that was becoming irritating for the resort managers who were probably losing money on the deal. Since then the points at the deluxes have been essentially rack rate + tax on weekdays (and completely outrageous on weekends).

[waltfan1957]

Please type clearly into the computer.

While spelling correctly is not madatory,
please try to make it recognizable as 'The Big Cheese' is not omnipotent ;)

i will if you will

[rwcmath]

I don't think that anyone/corporation pays a lot of attention to anonymous comments.

rwcpopcorn::

[rinkwide]

...But sure, as the vocal minority we can feel self important and believe we influence everything. Or we can argue about the finer points of parking fees, pool temperatures, hallway lengths, elevator locations, poolside dining and vomiting clown pools and provide entertainment TO Disney, which is what I think Disney really views these boards as a source for...To be fair; The BWV pool clown you see today is much different than the original design and that's a direct product of complaint threads started right here on the DIS. During the first two weeks the resort was open he had crossed-out eyes and a brown bottle labeled "XXX" laying next to him.

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

To be fair; The BWV pool clown you see today is much different than the original design and that's a direct product of complaint threads started right here on the DIS. During the first two weeks the resort was open he had crossed-out eyes and a brown bottle labeled "XXX" laying next to him.


Wow.

So who designed the pool orginally, Pee Wee Herman?

My kids still hate the clown; we haven't stayed at the BWV because of their affirmations that they will never be vomited up by the psycho clown.

[erikthewise]

To be fair; The BWV pool clown you see today is much different than the original design and that's a direct product of complaint threads started right here on the DIS. During the first two weeks the resort was open he had crossed-out eyes and a brown bottle labeled "XXX" laying next to him.

Well I'm glad we got THAT straightened out! :lmao:

[RweTHEREyet]

I don't know if it is a paid position or not, but I can tell you that it happens. I had a discussion with my Guide one day, a few years ago, don't even remember the subject, but I quoted him in my post. Evidently what he said was not exactly what he meant, and he called me within 30 minutes and said that his boss asked him to call me to have me edit my post to set the record straight.

[ckgplus3]

While I have no idea if a paid position exists, I believe there are CMs who browse the boards. I check blogs that regularly refer to my place of employment, just to see how things we do are perceived by others.

[Happy Birthday Cat]

My kids still hate the clown; we haven't stayed at the BWV because of their affirmations that they will never be vomited up by the psycho clown.

That's I have proposed for a long time now that they turn the clown around so that we all will be able to slide into the clown's mouth instead of out of it. Wouldn't that be fun?;)

HBC

[jjohnson]

I am absolutely positive that this board is monitored. ;)

:surfweb: :surfweb: :surfweb: :surfweb: :surfweb: :surfweb: :surfweb:

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

That's I have proposed for a long time now that they turn the clown around so that we all will be able to slide into the clown's mouth instead of out of it. Wouldn't that be fun?;)

HBC

Aaaaaah, Mom, the clown's EATING me!