Disney has a secret army...

[BugsDaddy]

Yes, those nasty opposing viewpoints will get you every time.

But back on topic, it wouldn't surprise me if Disney and other companies don't have people who visit websites such as these. There's no proof of course but why not?

I will say that no one has to pay me to like Disney. I like Disney because it brings joy to my children, friends, family. I have seen more pain and suffering in this world than I will ever talk about in a public forum and I find it very difficult to be a harsh critic of a place where the biggest complaint might be that I couldn't get a 5th FP for Tower of Terror. I will defend someone's right to complain and have their own opinion. That will not change mine, though.

 

[BugsDaddy]

I don't doubt it at all, in fact its rather obvious when they show up. They are usually brand new members with fewer than 5 posts, and sound something like this:

"Hi everyone! I just joined this board and I am SO completely excited to be here to talk about the most magical place on earth! My family will be heading to Disney World soon and I just learned about this amazing new benefit called My Magic Plus! WOW! Talk about exciting! What an innovative way to plan our vacation! It makes the whole planning process a breeze. I love the fact that I can choose which rides my family can ride, while sitting on my couch in my pajamas! And those magic bands! What a fantastic idea! I no longer have to carry around a dozen lists of dining reservations and plans! Thanks to the bands and my cell phone, we can come to the parks empty handed! And the ability to charge all of our purchases to our room is super convenient! I'm so thrilled that Disney now offers this exciting and innovative new planning system, and I can't wait to partake in the magic....."

You get my drift.

And then there are the mysterious one-post wonders that show up to try to spin PR messes. Take, for example, what happened shortly after the disaster that was Villains Unleashed.

"What an amazing experience! I'm so grateful to WDW for providing the opportunity to meet so many of my favorite characters in one spot. We had the most wonderful time, it was totally worth the money and we would absolutely go again. A wonderful time was had by all, thank you WDW!"

Interesting. Where are these quotes coming from? Are these actual posts? If so, it would be interesting to see the links.

I also see the other extreme where low count posters come to bash Disney, so it goes both ways. Wonder who is paying them?

 

[BugsDaddy]

I'm confused. Who is not thinking for themselves?

Yeah, and I definitely feel better about the whole thing when there's disclosure. I still think that getting something for free has the potential to influence your opinion, if for nothing else, than your expectations are less since you didn't shell out any money.

I think you're an optimist, or more trusting than I am. Not a bad thing at all. I freely admit that I'm pretty pessimistic and cynical. They are probably not among my best qualities. Regardless, that may be why we see things differently.

Certainly seems to be heading downhill, doesn't it?

I was speaking of those who tend to emulate the exact viewpoint of another poster without having any thoughts of their own on the matter. I won't name names but they do exist on this board. Less now than they used to be. That being said, I wouldn't consider you one of those people.

 

[crostorfer]

Interesting. Where are these quotes coming from? Are these actual posts? If so, it would be interesting to see the links.

I also see the other extreme where low count posters come to bash Disney, so it goes both ways. Wonder who is paying them?

HYDRA, of course.

Those weren't exact quotes, that was a mashup of paraphrasing from posts that I have, indeed, seen on these boards, and other WDW discussion boards, in the past few years.

 

[BugsDaddy]

HYDRA, of course.

Those weren't exact quotes, that was a mashup of paraphrasing from posts that I have, indeed, seen on these boards, and other WDW discussion boards, in the past few years.

Oh, ok. I have never really noticed such blatant marketing material spread across the boards in the form that you described. I have seen people come back from Disney with positive experiences and as "Disney"'believers and probably sign up for this site to get more Disney information/enthusiasm but I doubt all of those posters are on the take.

Some of these people may be here to actually convey their enthusiasm for Disney in an effort to find like minded people.

 

[BugsDaddy]

Glad you implicitly acknowledge that the bias on these boards is to the positive, I haven't seen you comment on it, but I know that was a bone of quite some contention not too long ago.

I would never imply that the bias on these boards is anything but skewed to the positive. Just as I would expect a discussion board on fishing would probably be geared to fishing enthusiasts.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Seems like Dumbledore's army was cooler.

 

[crostorfer]

Oh, ok. I have never really noticed such blatant marketing material spread across the boards in the form that you described. I have seen people come back from Disney with positive experiences and as "Disney"'believers and probably sign up for this site to get more Disney information/enthusiasm but I doubt all of those posters are on the take.

Some of these people may be here to actually convey their enthusiasm for Disney in an effort to find like minded people.

My examples that I posted to you are what I was talking about in my original post on this thread. Disney needs to coach their discussion board plants to not be so obvious about what they are doing. It just screams "PR STUNT" when people come in here and type in that fashion.

For the record, I have no problem with the WDW believers. I love the place myself, I've just become less than enchanted with some of the changes the last couple of years has brought about. I don't think that every poster here who comes across as an apologist is on the take, or somehow profiting from their Disney defense, but it would be naive to say that there are no members here who do.

Quite frankly, I hope that TDO has a team of people who read this board every day. I really, really do. I want them to know what is being said about them. I've got a laundry list of items that I'd like them to be privy to, and most of them are discussed here.

 

[SmithSmith]

I don't doubt it at all, in fact its rather obvious when they show up. They are usually brand new members with fewer than 5 posts, and sound something like this:

"Hi everyone! I just joined this board and I am SO completely excited to be here to talk about the most magical place on earth! My family will be heading to Disney World soon and I just learned about this amazing new benefit called My Magic Plus! WOW! Talk about exciting! What an innovative way to plan our vacation! It makes the whole planning process a breeze. I love the fact that I can choose which rides my family can ride, while sitting on my couch in my pajamas! And those magic bands! What a fantastic idea! I no longer have to carry around a dozen lists of dining reservations and plans! Thanks to the bands and my cell phone, we can come to the parks empty handed! And the ability to charge all of our purchases to our room is super convenient! I'm so thrilled that Disney now offers this exciting and innovative new planning system, and I can't wait to partake in the magic....."

You get my drift.

And then there are the mysterious one-post wonders that show up to try to spin PR messes. Take, for example, what happened shortly after the disaster that was Villains Unleashed.

"What an amazing experience! I'm so grateful to WDW for providing the opportunity to meet so many of my favorite characters in one spot. We had the most wonderful time, it was totally worth the money and we would absolutely go again. A wonderful time was had by all, thank you WDW!"

I'm not referring to brand new posters, and I don't think the OP is either.

 

[crostorfer]

I'm not referring to brand new posters, and I don't think the OP is either.

I thought this discussion included all posters to this site, other WDW discussion sites, and private blogs.

 

[itchin2go]

I would never imply that the bias on these boards is anything but skewed to the positive. Just as I would expect a discussion board on fishing would probably be geared to fishing enthusiasts.

Here's my thought on that. Yes, fishing enthusiasts would post on fishing discussion boards. But the very extent of their enthusiasm would influence the depth of their disappointment about certain things. I don't know anything about fishing, but let's say someone says they drove out to Lake Whatever to fish for butterfish (probably not real, but who knows?), and all they caught were minnows, and not a single butterfish! Now, to me, fishing dummy, this sounds comical and trivial. But who better than the fishing enthusiasts to know how disappointing it is to drive there and catch not a single butterfish?!

I think the point I'm trying to make is that the more excited you get about something, the more potential there is to be really disappointed. And who better to vent to than people who have my same level of excitement and thus, understand my disappointment?

I think the enthusiast thing goes hand in hand with how upset and worked up we can get over things. You don't become upset about something unless it really matters to you.

Truly, I think if all someone ever posts is negative, I would grow tired reading those posts and tune that person out. But if all I read is unrelenting positivity, without there being room for a complaint, a caution, and disappointment, then I'm going to tune that out too.

By the way, I don't think many of us fall into either of the above categories. But every so often, I see such a negative post that I think, "That guy must be a troll", or I see a string of overly gush-y positive posts, and I think "Is that guy being paid by Disney?" ... "And how can I get that gig?"

 

[BugsDaddy]

My examples that I posted to you are what I was talking about in my original post on this thread. Disney needs to coach their discussion board plants to not be so obvious about what they are doing. It just screams "PR STUNT" when people come in here and type in that fashion.

For the record, I have no problem with the WDW believers. I love the place myself, I've just become less than enchanted with some of the changes the last couple of years has brought about. I don't think that every poster here who comes across as an apologist is on the take, or somehow profiting from their Disney defense, but it would be naive to say that there are no members here who do.

Quite frankly, I hope that TDO has a team of people who read this board every day. I really, really do. I want them to know what is being said about them. I've got a laundry list of items that I'd like them to be privy to, and most of them are discussed here.

I can buy that Disney monitors social media and discussion boards. I just don't think this board is over run with a lot of active posters with a financial interest in promoting the Disney agenda. That is what is being strongly implied by several posters though. Disney is more interested in gathering data than converting people to the Disney way through means of debates on a message board.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I'm confused. Who is not thinking for themselves?

I'm confused too..I think everyone here is pretty good at speaking their own mind.

Yeah, and I definitely feel better about the whole thing when there's disclosure. I still think that getting something for free has the potential to influence your opinion, if for nothing else, than your expectations are less since you didn't shell out any money.

That's one of the things I do appreciate about the DIS Unplugged podcast. They received compensation at DLR during their filming for the Disneyland 7 in 7+, and in each episode they stated that they did, and they explicitly said that's why they were not actually reviewing the hotels just giving overviews of them.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Sure. Fair point. However, some are disappointed, maybe post their peace and move on. Some make it their base opinion for every aspect of Disney.

Sure, some might. And that might get annoying to others at times...I can totally understand that. I think the best course of action in that instance is one you already suggested:

If you don't like someone's opinion, you simply ignore them. That is the great thing about this message board.

 

[SmithSmith]

I thought this discussion included all posters to this site, other WDW discussion sites, and private blogs.

I'm sorry, there's going to be confusion because we're not on the same page.

Are there brand new posters who are extremely positive? Yes
Could they be compensated in some way by Disney? Sure

But... there are brand new posters who are extremely negative too. Neither proves anything.

Either way, like I've said before, I'm taking this personally. Myself, and others, have been consistently accused of being paid Disney shills, and we are not brand new to these boards. I feel the OP is using this article as "proof" for those accusations.

 

[BugsDaddy]

Here's my thought on that. Yes, fishing enthusiasts would post on fishing discussion boards. But the very extent of their enthusiasm would influence the depth of their disappointment about certain things. I don't know anything about fishing, but let's say someone says they drove out to Lake Whatever to fish for butterfish (probably not real, but who knows?), and all they caught were minnows, and not a single butterfish! Now, to me, fishing dummy, this sounds comical and trivial. But who better than the fishing enthusiasts to know how disappointing it is to drive there and catch not a single butterfish?!

I think the point I'm trying to make is that the more excited you get about something, the more potential there is to be really disappointed. And who better to vent to than people who have my same level of excitement and thus, understand my disappointment?

I think the enthusiast thing goes hand in hand with how upset and worked up we can get over things. You don't become upset about something unless it really matters to you.

Truly, I think if all someone ever posts is negative, I would grow tired reading those posts and tune that person out. But if all I read is unrelenting positivity, without there being room for a complaint, a caution, and disappointment, then I'm going to tune that out too.

Although my summer home is on Lake Whatever, I have yet to catch the elusive butterfish.

I don't disagree that there are strategies and different opinions on every board. On a fishing board, they might debate the effectiveness of different baits, rods, reels or whatever. However, you wouldn't find too many people who came to the boards with the opinion, for example, that all fishing these days suck and in 1971, the fishing was so much better and if the fishing doesn't get better around here soon, I am just going to quit fishing. Those people probably would have moved on to another interest if their perception of the activity itself had turned so sour.

 

[WillAustin]

I feel the OP is using this article as "proof" for those accusations.

I think that's quite a stretch. I've never given any indication of that. Just thought it was an interesting article based on the ongoing discussions here.

I also don't believe I could realistically be considered a negative poster.

 

[BugsDaddy]

Sure, some might. And that might get annoying to others at times...I can totally understand that. I think the best course of action in that instance is one you already suggested:

I couldn't agree more and I have used that function.

 

[itchin2go]

Although my summer home is on Lake Whatever, I have yet to catch the elusive butterfish.

I don't disagree that there are strategies and different opinions on every board. On a fishing board, they might debate the effectiveness of different baits, rods, reels or whatever. However, you wouldn't find too many people who came to the boards with the opinion, for example, that all fishing these days suck and in 1971, the fishing was so much better and if the fishing doesn't get better around here soon, I am just going to quit fishing. Those people probably would have moved on to another interest if their perception of the activity itself had turned so sour.

I actually think the people who have really soured on "fishing" will eventually find something else to be enthusiastic about. But I would expect that there would be a transition period, where they're communing with like-minded peeps about how great fishing used to be and how they miss it. Or how to get the most out of modern-day "fishing" (such as it is) in the wake of fishing changes. And again, like minded peeps are bound to be in good supply on a fishing board.

I'm actually thinking more about, say, Maelstrom. People felt really strongly when it closed up, for various reasons. But if they didn't love the ride, they wouldn't have strong feelings either way. Main Street Bakery is another one that comes to mind. When people love things, they're disappointed when they go away. I'm glad to have like minded peeps to commiserate with at times.

Let's look at it this way. If I tell the average person how disappointed I am that Maelstrom closed, what are they going to say? In all likelihood, "Huh, what's that?" When I explain to them that it's a ride in Epcot ... in Disney World .... in Florida ...they're either going to look at my like I'm an idiot or they're going to think I don't have enough things to worry about in life if that's my overarching concern of the day. Now, if I post that here - totally different result.

 

[SmithSmith]

I think that's quite a stretch. I've never given any indication of that. Just thought it was an interesting article based on the ongoing discussions here.

I also don't believe I could realistically be considered a negative poster.

I feel you have eluded to that in other threads. My apologies if that was not your intent.

I never had you in mind when referring to negative posters.

I also don't believe I could realistically be considered an overly positive poster who gets paid by Disney.