A Response from WDIG (Walt Disney Internet Group) - (Merged)

[BlueSneakerGal]

She started a separate thread about the call.

Thanks bevgray. Got it.

 

[ElectricLime]

I submitted a message to the Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) a few days ago, saying:

Please keep the Virtual Magic Kingdom alive!

That game has brought me so many friendships and given me the
opportunity for so many magical moments, both online and in the *real*
Disney theme parks. It's beautiful how the game gives me a better
appreciation of the real theme parks and makes me visit them more often.

It would be a real sadness if the game went dark forever!

Today I received a reply.

From: DOL Producers
Subject: Re: WDIG Guest Mail

Thank you for contacting The Walt Disney Company and VMK.

We have received an outpouring of feedback regarding our decision to
close VMK. We are overwhelmed by the responses and enthusiasm of our
guests, but unfortunately our decision to eventually close VMK is set.
We have explored many different options, including a pay to play model
but have decided to focus more of our time on our new virtual worlds
coming soon, which we are sure that you will love as much as VMK.

Deciding to close VMK was a very difficult decision for us because we
loved creating VMK just as much as you loved playing it. But in a
company that encourages innovation and creativity we have decided to
"keep moving forward" and exploring where the future takes as, because
in the words of Walt Disney, "We keep moving forward, opening new doors,
and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading
us down new paths."

Thank you for being part of this journey with us, and we hope we
continue to see you at Disney.com enjoying what we imagine next!

Sincerely,


Your friends at VMK

 

[Kasiks]

I submitted a message to the Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) a few days ago, saying:



Today I received a reply.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1787055

 

[MPhins13]

Yes that's the same reply as the thread listed above me.

I'm sure everyone who writes something to them will receive the same BLAH BLAH BLAH

 

[Sillyup2]

Check my inbox and here is my response:

"
Thank you for contacting The Walt Disney Company and VMK.

We have received an outpouring of feedback regarding our decision to
close VMK. We are overwhelmed by the responses and enthusiasm of our
guests, but unfortunately our decision to eventually close VMK is set.
We have explored many different options, including a pay to play model
but have decided to focus more of our time on our new virtual worlds
coming soon, which we are sure that you will love as much as VMK.

Deciding to close VMK was a very difficult decision for us because we
loved creating VMK just as much as you loved playing it. But in a
company that encourages innovation and creativity we have decided to
"keep moving forward" and exploring where the future takes as, because
in the words of Walt Disney, "We keep moving forward, opening new
doors,
and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading

us down new paths."

Thank you for being part of this journey with us, and we hope we
continue to see you at Disney.com enjoying what we imagine next!

Sincerely,


Your friends at VMK"

 

[MissAriel]

Eh that annoys me. They don't even take the time to write a personal letter to you. Just boring junk.
What do they mean by "new virtual worlds?"

 

[MPhins13]

Hmm, I wonder if Universal/Warner Brothers is watching all this? I'm sure a Harry Potter-Hogwarts-Virtual World would be a SUPERB promotion for the new Harry Potter land going into Islands of Adventure. Let's see, playing quidditch instead of pirates, magic wands instead of magic pins, having owls, cats, and toads as pets, riding on hippogriffs...oh yeah, that might be very cool. Anyone have an address of THEIR programming group? Maybe we should start suggesting that to them since Disney isn't that interested in "promoting" their own parks online any longer.

Universal would be smart if they jumped on this opportunity. They don't get as many tourists and make as much money. If they had an online game like this maybe kids would try and convince their parents to go. They could do something like the Pirate Q pins/cards to help make money. The best part would be sticking it to Disney for pushing away kids (who Walt was all for).

I have no interest in moving to another Disney game if there's no VMK, so I would give Universal a chance. But I want my VMK!!!

 

[ElectricLime]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1787055

Thanks for the link! Before I posted the reply I got, I used the DISboards search to see if anyone else had posted it yet, and it didn't find any others...

 

[taz]

I want to send something to this Iger guy or whatever his name is

What is his e-mail?

 

[mouseman68]

We can fuel ourselves with this response we all got. I have replied using that very same quote.

Also let us not forget Mr. Walt Disney wanted to build a park for every age to enjoy! We now have an internet version of what Walt designed himself.

Walt never closed a park rather build upon what he already established for those to enjoy in the future.

We can fight fire with fire by using other Walt Quotes that defend our position.

Keep up the fight peeps!!

 

[bevgray]

Taz, SaveVMK has a list of all the contacts. Robert Iger is the CEO of Walt Disney Company. Can't get any higher than that.

 

[taz]

Taz, SaveVMK has a list of all the contacts. Robert Iger is the CEO of Walt Disney Company. Can't get any higher than that.

 

[pinkgalYall]

Nowhere in Walt Disney's quotes do I recall him closing any doors.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Must be a mass mailing which tells me that they are at least starting to take notice. I just received it too. This was in response to a letter sent two days ago to the Internet Group. Don't give up. Keep writing any and everyone from Iger to Lassiter on down. Even "no" at this time after only a few days, means the letters are getting through to someone and questions are beginning to be asked in the company.

If the trouble is some sort of contract issue with Sulake (company that coded VMK), if nothing else, our letters may help push a decision for a future Disney Park game in the spirit of VMK with all the things we loved about the original. Might be fun to start all over again in a brand new beta version that is designed by Disney and run by Disney. If they realize the potential of the existing model, perhaps they will add the concept to future developments.

Also, keep in mind the Internet Group is not independent. They answer to someone higher up in the company too (Lasseter, I believe), so a "no" from then at this time, is not necessarily the ultimate "forever" no. This would not be the first division or group within a company that received different orders from their own management due to customer concerns so there is still a chance to change direction.

The more snail mail the better. It's easy to delete an email without reading. But if Iger and Lasseter and other managers start getting tons of real mail (such as our flats), that's a little harder to ignore since they can't tell the post office to not deliver the stuff.

For myself, I won't give up until the actual close happens.

ITA!

I'm only doubling my efforts now.

They say they are moving forward. Baloney.

Would they be "moving forward" if they shut down one of the real parks?
I don't think so.

I still stand by Walt's quotes about Disneyland: "Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world."

"It's something that will never be finished. Something that I can keep developing...and adding to."

Why is the vitual version so different from the real parks?

 

[CelebrationNM]

Why is the vitual version so different from the real parks?

Do you really want an answer to that?

 

[JessicaLMvmk]

Don't give up hope.. Walt didn't when he bought that land in florida!!

Jessica

 

[RaggedyAnnPrincess]

Is that email in the original post where I can send my response? If not, can someone please give me their email?

 

[VirtuallyMe]

Again, this is a canned response from the small fry. It will take a few days and a lot of emails and letters to reach the higher management who are in a position to countermand a division decision.

Hmm, I wonder if Universal/Warner Brothers is watching all this? I'm sure a Harry Potter-Hogwarts-Virtual World would be a SUPERB promotion for the new Harry Potter land going into Islands of Adventure. Let's see, playing quidditch instead of pirates, magic wands instead of magic pins, having owls, cats, and toads as pets, riding on hippogriffs...oh yeah, that might be very cool. Anyone have an address of THEIR programming group? Maybe we should start suggesting that to them since Disney isn't that interested in "promoting" their own parks online any longer.

Sign me up- I'll play- I've been looking into going to the Universal parks- never been- but hey- if I was playing a game from them that I'd love- I'd certainly visit their parks and cut my disney visit short...

 

[mouseman68]

Sign me up- I'll play- I've been looking into going to the Universal parks- never been- but hey- if I was playing a game from them that I'd love- I'd certainly visit their parks and cut my disney visit short...

I love that idea. I am in on that too. Bevgray do you work for Universal?

 

[bevgray]

Nope, I've never been to Universal. When they open Harry Potter, I'll probably make the effort because I love the books. Still, a Harry Potter online game could be very cool.