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

[Dreamytime]

> Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:58:37 -0700
> To: ***********@hotmail.com
> Subject: Re: WDIG Guest Mail
> From: topic@disneyonline.com
>
> 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

 

[Narnian_Princess]

That just dashes my spirits even further.

 

[SkippyPaul]

I just received the same email.
Looks like we lost the battle after all.

 

[Imagineer_Tech]

There road blocking us. We need to get media in and keep sending. After were done we'll have vmk in 2010.

 

[Fonna]

OH, I just got it too!

They just don't get it, they are taking a game away that we love. We never asked for something new, we are content with the new items and things we experience daily on VMK!
They don't get it!
Nice of them to decide for their fans what they want WITHOUT ever asking the actual players.
Man, now I am just so mad!

 

[bevgray]

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.

 

[Kasiks]

If they think I would pay for another game than VMK they really can dream.
Toontown is not the game I would pay for, POTC I played it, I would never put my money in it, Disney fairies I cant play it because they are blocking the access of the Disney.com site to people outside the USA .. Club penguin I tried it and it is not for my age, ..

The mail I got was from Virtual Magic Kingdom <vmk@disneyonline.com

Maybe they are filtrating emails with the words vmk, .., maybe the best solution would be to send letters.

 

[Blumonkeyboy]

Where in the walt quote does it say " close the doors you open, so you can open more" ?

 

[ILoVePIRATES18]

This is not good at all!. Personally that just says how cold hearted these workers are(just these who are closing the magic). Sure..Walter might have said that quote but he would never say it in a way as to CRUSH a child/adults disney magic, that is just offensive especially to Walter Disney fans as myself. And to answer what they have stated in the letter NO I will not enjoy any other game as much as I enjoyed VMK, why? well because who knows if all of the friends I've meet and love will play these "great" new games, the experience the people will not be the same it is like saying we are closing WDW and DLR but we still have DL tokyo,Paris, Hon Kong that sadly are located at the end of the world for many of us I hope you get my point.

Thanks WDW for showing us the type of people that hide inside Disney, pretending to believe in the magic and not even leaving a VIRTUAL yet real game for us to enjoy. And please do not include Walter Disney in messages
that destroy his dream to share the magic in more than 1 place.

Gracias por nada!

 

[Fonna]

Let's all make copies of the auto response we just received from Internet Group.
Make lots of copies and FLOOD Igor's office with them!

We have to get him to take notice - OVER the heads of Disney Internet Group!

If you can do it - please do. Send a stack of letters daily to his office with your letter and a copy of the Internet Group Letter!

 

[StephenTXT99]

Dont be fooled people, this is standard company BS. They want everyone to lose hope and give up, so they dont have to deal with it. I was fighting for Jericho and we all got emails and letters from CBS saying the decision was final and set. I remember when Epcot 25th, Disney said no plans they wont do it and look they caved in and did a special 25th celebration just because of a few hundred people.

Disney is now getting worried and paranoid because we are fighting and becoming more and more organized and growing. They dont want it to reach thousands of people, so they are trying to quell people before the media and the general public find out and join us. Now its just us diehard VMK fans fighting, but wait until the world knows.

Dont be discouraged people, remember it doesnt cost you a dime to have hope and sign petitions and help Save VMK!! Dont let Disney take away the magic, dont believe the BS about future games. Fairies wont launch until 2009 and looks horrible, and Cars is due early 2009 and sounds corny.

We cant tolerate Disney creating online communities, then when they are tired, they want to shut it down and say it was a promo. So what, we all fall in love with their next project and after X years they can it too? NO way Disney. I will never support another Disney game again because you invest your heart, soul and time for what? They might close up shop.

FIGHT AND SAVE VMK!!!!

 

[bevgray]

Guys, the email came from VMK@ Disney. This means it is probably from the same group that staffs the game, might even be from some poor administrative assistant who was told to just send it out in bulk.

This is the first tier, not the corporate managers. Keep sending letters, emails, flats, etc. to the managers of Disney: Robert Iger, John Lasseter, any of the others on the contact lists. The campaign to save VMK is only three days old. It takes time to reach management level so don't give up at their first shot across our bow.

 

[Imagineer_Tech]

Lets kick some but!

 

[Imagineer_Tech]

Dont be fooled people, this is standard company BS. They want everyone to lose hope and give up, so they dont have to deal with it. I was fighting for Jericho and we all got emails and letters from CBS saying the decision was final and set. I remember when Epcot 25th, Disney said no plans they wont do it and look they caved in and did a special 25th celebration just because of a few hundred people.

Disney is now getting worried and paranoid because we are fighting and becoming more and more organized and growing. They dont want it to reach thousands of people, so they are trying to quell people before the media and the general public find out and join us. Now its just us diehard VMK fans fighting, but wait until the world knows.

Dont be discouraged people, remember it doesnt cost you a dime to have hope and sign petitions and help Save VMK!! Dont let Disney take away the magic, dont believe the BS about future games. Fairies wont launch until 2009 and looks horrible, and Cars is due early 2009 and sounds corny.

We cant tolerate Disney creating online communities, then when they are tired, they want to shut it down and say it was a promo. So what, we all fall in love with their next project and after X years they can it too? NO way Disney. I will never support another Disney game again because you invest your heart, soul and time for what? They might close up shop.

FIGHT AND SAVE VMK!!!!

Lets kick them where it hurts!!!! In The Wallet/Media/Company Dynamics!

 

[Narnian_Princess]

Ok, thanks guys. Back to work on that letter, then. -weak smile-

 

[Imagineer_Tech]

Ok, thanks guys. Back to work on that letter, then. -weak smile-

Yup they are only saying this because they are beginning to squirm. Keep the letters going!!

 

[bevgray]

No worries, Princess. We're all here to encourage each other.

 

[ScooterJake]

I got the same message too.... 2 times. One came from Virtual Magic Kingdom and the other came from DOL Producers. Both emails said basically the exact same thing. Things dont look good but we can't give up the fight yet. We still have over 5 weeks to make a difference.​

 

[bopper]

My response to their response:

The whole "moving on" thing is cool for you, but not to the thousands of players who have worked hard in the Virtual Magic Kingdom to collect and obtain items, create rooms, quests and friends. Will you set us up with as much stuff as we had? As many credits?
No, you are telling me to throw away my hard work and PAY to start over! You have got to be kidding! WHy would I play any of your disney online games now that I know that they can be taken away at any time with no notice?


and also


Imagine your employer took your job away and said "That is nice you got up to Senior programmer or VP or manager, but we are arbitrarily telling you that you get to start over as a new employee." Everything you worked for? Gone. Oh, and you get to pay us to start over. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Would you stand for this?

WALT WOULD NEVER DO THIS. NEVER.

You have "new paths" in the Parks, but I missed where you every CLOSED DOWN AN ENTIRE PARK! A new ride? Take away an old one? Sure. You did that in VMK too. Some rooms came, some left (Discovery Island), but the virtual park was always there!

 

[Cheops]

Got the same letter too..