Since the process is (to put it lightly) somewhat less than transparent, you have created an unobtainable standard. Short of obtaining internal memos or the like from Disney, no one can prove that the process is unfair.
Hi SAHDad,
Ah, how about innocent until proven guilty?
What do you have that makes you say the process is less than transparent? We were asked to write 100 words on three questions and those answers from up to 20,000 people were read and on some basis, "
three brief essays - about his or her family, why he or she is a great Walt Disney World vacation planner and his or her favorite Disney vacationing tip", up to 200 were chosen to move on to Round 2. I have seen nothing to indicate that anything other than that was done.
As to an unobtainable standard, maybe so; but right now, things are being moved into the realm of being factual without any standard other than repetition, even from previous years.
But - do you really think that there will ever be a time when Disney Dads make up more than 1 slot per year on the panel?
I have no idea, but I have read good points both ways on that. My personal feeling is that it is unlikely; and I was a bit bothered the first year that it was not made clear that us mere males could even apply, though a careful reading of the rules didn't rule it out. I was shocked when I read that first year that there was a Dad on the panel! Arg!!! Why wasn't I told!!! I coulda binna contenda!
Likewise, we don't know whether or not there are hidden standards.
So why assume that there are? Or assume 'facts' with no evidence? Do you not realize how many thousands of fully qualified people applied?
If current panelists (who are active on Disboards, facebook, etc) are reading most of the applications, then there is going to be a natural tendency for them to select people with whom they may feel a natural affinity. (This is not meant to impugn them - people have a natural bias toward the comfortable and familiar - if you're on the Disboards, but not Intercot or MouseJunkies, then someone who is an active poster on Disboards is more attractive than someone who is equally as active on Intercot or MouseJunkies.)
That could be true, but as pointed out in another response, the current panelists had nothing to do with it. So, another assumption being presented as fact and opps! Nothing there. This is what I am speaking of on this matter.
They may have wanted more people this year who use facebook or blog, and while they did not set a de facto quota, screeners were told to look for applicants with those experiences.
They were??? Where did you get that??? They did specifically ask about blogging in question three so what's the problem? And that idea that that was a deciding factor has been shot down by several of the 2nd Rounders who responded recently regarding that.
I don't know of anyone who is saying that the Round 2 people aren't qualified. There is just a feeling that some buzzwords are worth more than others, and yes, not knowing what to try and shoehorn into 100 words in order to get noticed is annoying. Maybe I should have mentioned my blogging, instead of my Small World dance.
There's that 'buzzwords' idea, again a 'fact' picked out of previous years' discussions of the panel hopefuls and not based on any evidence. See how it becomes 'fact'? Next year everyone will 'know' that it was because people twittered; and networked with somebody on the panel; and used the right buzzwords, because someone will pick up on those posts on this thread and not read the whole thread (how could anyone??? Egads!) and not see that these were simply suppositions that were unsupported by any facts- and actually contradicted by several 2nd Rounders.
Is there a vid of this 'Small World dance'? URL?
I have no problem with expressing disappointment. I am disappointed- much more so than I expected to be. My only issue is with granting and presenting supposition as 'fact' (News background); and with the posts that have suggested Laura and Leanna of acting with less than honor in their job: a reputation is easily destroyed and very near impossible to retrieve once done.
That applies equally to the whole process.
I had my own theory- post count- first broken by the low posts count of many, and then the massive post count of another!
I think it simply comes down to the fact that there are just too many knowledgeable and skilled communicators who love Disney! I think everyone who didn't make round two should be required to go to Universal and Sea World from now on to thin out the field a bit for next year!
Jud