New update on Gingerbread Winnings- Honorable Mention and prizes!

[ForeverWDW]

I’m a little shocked. Not about what VMK did, but about what I’m reading here. Are you seriously writing letters to VMK and attributing a lack of virtual prizes to emotional disappointment? Is this really causing tears? I enjoyed working on my Gingerbread room. I didn’t win or get an honorable mention, but it was something enjoyable to do to get me into a Holiday spirit. I did it for fun, without an expectation of anything in return. (A 1.5% chance of winning should lead to low expectations.)

After receiving feedback such as yours, I wouldn’t blame VMK for not holding another competition. First they get bombarded with messages because people were upset they couldn’t get in, then messages because people didn’t get judged, and finally messages because those that were judged felt mislead as to their prize. I’ve got a solution: don’t play for 6 months and your problems will take care of themselves. Either that, or reorder your priorities. Is this game about orange gumdrop chairs, or is it about the virtual friendships you’ve established in-game, here and across the internet?

“Oh, but it’s not about the prizes. VMK did false advertising and promised us this and that.”

VMK can do whatever they want. Many of you simply have your expectations too high or have invested way too much of yourselves into a virtual world. Step outside and realize that this is a game. A free game designed to promote Disney Parks and the Disney Brand as a whole. Enjoy the game and what it offers, or leave. Nobody really cares either way.
Nick

Nick,
Let me remind you that this game is geared towards children. I have a couple kids myself who entered the gingerbread house competition. They were both so happy about the prizes that we announced on wednesday. One wanted those gum drop chairs so much he was bouncing around the room, my other child was very happy wth the new clothing he would be wearing. I informed both that is was very doubtfull any of us would get the top ten pin and that it seemed like a mistake. And so two kids went to sleep very happy with what they 'earned' for trying their best to win a spot in the top finalists. Well let me tell you it was not fun as a parent to have to inform them the following day that they would not be getting any of those prizes but instead a donald present. Were they disappointed? Sure they were, they are children. Maybe if I share with you part of what I sent to contact maybe then you will understand what these kids are going through.

Let me put it in terms you might think about as an adult. Your standing in line for Space Mountain at one of the parks. The Dream Squad walks up to the line of people and says congratulations everyone, you have all won a free weeks pass to WDW. You and everyone else is excited and then when you are waiting for your prize they say oh well we only meant the first ten people in line. The rest of you get a surprize gift but you cant use it to enjoy it you must find someone to give it to because that is what these gifts are meant to do, have others enjoy them. How on earth would you feel as an adult?? Defeated? Shocked? Upset? You would demand disney employees to give the gift to everyone because the did say congrats everyone! Just like you did to all the kids that built a room. Shame on you

I dont mind the prize, I'm happy with whatever. I would have loved if management honored their wording and gave everyone participation prizes and not 'those who didn't win' prizes. But what killed me was the look on my kids faces. VMK needs to apologize to everyone for their mess up, not just dismiss us and pretend like it didnt happen. Perfect chance for them to teach kids we're not prefect and we are sorry about that. My own kids know better then to behave that way, I do expect adults earning a paycheck from Disney to have a little more class.

 

[threeboysmom]

Me too

We waited like all the month of december when we saw them in host ride a thon and now they released it as a participation prize, and now some ppl are not happy get that

Just to set the record straight here, the people posting are NOT complaining that they received a Donald gift box. If that had been what was originally announced as a "participation prize," this thread would be non-existant (except for the few that will whine about anything... )

The people here are complaining (and rightly so) because VMK mislead everyone in their original wording about what participants would receive, and then they went back and changed it.

Any other company that makes a mistake in their advertising ALWAYS follows through on keeping their end of the bargain even at a financial loss to their company. Why does VMK, which is a Disney company no less, think they can treat us like crap? I don't get it. And we're not even talking about losing money here; we're talking about pixels....

We're not complaining about the PRIZE. We're complaining about integrity. You make a mistake, you own up to it.

If you say something, you follow through. Period.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Wow, boy am I happy that I missed the sign up. This has to be so frustrating for the people who spent the month sitting in their rooms.

Brings back unhappy memories of Dreams month.....*shudders***

 

[jasonpwns]

Can i see the jacket in a screen shot?

 

[disvaclub92]

VMK can do whatever they want. Many of you simply have your expectations too high or have invested way too much of yourselves into a virtual world. Step outside and realize that this is a game. A free game designed to promote Disney Parks and the Disney Brand as a whole. Enjoy the game and what it offers, or leave. Nobody really cares either way.

I understand your point. The problem I have is the poor means of communication. This is not the first time it has happened, just now that more players are on VMK it is heightened. I just wish time and effort were made to clearly communicate details.

 

[swimmingneno]

Can i see the jacket in a screen shot?

No one has gotten it yet...

 

[Kasiks]

Just to set the record straight here, the people posting are NOT complaining that they received a Donald gift box. If that had been what was originally announced as a "participation prize," this thread would be non-existant (except for the few that will whine about anything... )

The people here are complaining (and rightly so) because VMK mislead everyone in their original wording about what participants would receive, and then they went back and changed it.

Any other company that makes a mistake in their advertising ALWAYS follows through on keeping their end of the bargain even at a financial loss to their company. Why does VMK, which is a Disney company no less, think they can treat us like crap? I don't get it. And we're not even talking about losing money here; we're talking about pixels....

We're not complaining about the PRIZE. We're complaining about integrity. You make a mistake, you own up to it.

If you say something, you follow through. Period.

If i wrote it about the gift, it is because it was in what ppl wrote or make you understand while reading them, OK ?! So, yah, I read the thread, I am following all that story .. I can imagine being myself a kid in the contest and hoping for the clothes but it was not really writen that so it would mean I had my hopes to high, .. Actually, it was written participations prizes but winners and RUs are also participants, of course it is weird, but VMK is weird anyway, also some participants thought they would not even get prizes.

 

[Goofy05]

I’m a little shocked. Not about what VMK did, but about what I’m reading here. Are you seriously writing letters to VMK and attributing a lack of virtual prizes to emotional disappointment? Is this really causing tears? I enjoyed working on my Gingerbread room. I didn’t win or get an honorable mention, but it was something enjoyable to do to get me into a Holiday spirit. I did it for fun, without an expectation of anything in return. (A 1.5% chance of winning should lead to low expectations.)

After receiving feedback such as yours, I wouldn’t blame VMK for not holding another competition. First they get bombarded with messages because people were upset they couldn’t get in, then messages because people didn’t get judged, and finally messages because those that were judged felt mislead as to their prize. I’ve got a solution: don’t play for 6 months and your problems will take care of themselves. Either that, or reorder your priorities. Is this game about orange gumdrop chairs, or is it about the virtual friendships you’ve established in-game, here and across the internet?

“Oh, but it’s not about the prizes. VMK did false advertising and promised us this and that.”

VMK can do whatever they want. Many of you simply have your expectations too high or have invested way too much of yourselves into a virtual world. Step outside and realize that this is a game. A free game designed to promote Disney Parks and the Disney Brand as a whole. Enjoy the game and what it offers, or leave. Nobody really cares either way.
Nick

Wow! You say you READ the messages posted here and THAT'S your take on things? Maybe you should try reading ALL of the posted messages. There may have been a few who were more upset than others here, but most of us are ONLY upset about awarding prizes one day, then taking them away the next. We ALL know this is a game. We are not stupid, most of us are professional adults here. That is why we are so adamant that VMK correct its mistakes. If they had told us from the onset that the "participation" prize was the Donald gift, we would (most of us) have been quite happy enough with that. That is NOT what VMK posted. They told all of the "participants" that they would receive the Blue Jacket, Blue Beanie, Top Ten Pin (which we did think was a misprint), Expedition Everest Boots and Four Orange Gumdrops. The very next day we were told that somehow even though we had "participated" in this event, we weren't getting the "Participation Prizes". Do you see the problem now? VMK needs to word things better next time and fix things this time. That is our complaint and if you didn't see that, then you didn't read all of the posts, as you claim you have.

 

[threeboysmom]

If i wrote it about the gift, it is because it was in what ppl wrote or make you understand while reading them, OK ?! So, yah, I read the thread, I am following all that story .. I can imagine being myself a kid in the contest and hoping for the clothes but it was not really writen that so it would mean I had my hopes to high, .. Actually, it was written participations prizes but winners and RUs are also participants, of course it is weird, but VMK is weird anyway, also some participants thought they would not even get prizes.

Are we reading the same thread?

People are complaining because the PARTICIPATION PRIZE (which means all participants) is now a completely different prize than what was originally announced.

VMK made an obvious mistake in their wording. However, they need to stand by it.

There's really nothing left to argue about.

ETA: And yes, participants means winners and non-winners too. Everyone who participates IS a participant.

 

[Kasiks]

Are we reading the same thread?

People are complaining because the PARTICIPATION PRIZE (which means all participants) is now a completely different prize than what was originally announced.

VMK made an obvious mistake in their wording. However, they need to stand by it.

There's really nothing left to argue about.

Sorry but you are into your opinion but I am standing on mine.

*All VMK Gingerbread Competition finalist (Grand Prize and Runner-Up winners) receive the Participation Awards.

Where was it written all the All VMK Gingerbread competition participants ??

It is not and it is the end of the story.

 

[threeboysmom]

..

 

[cteddiesgirl]

If i wrote it about the gift, it is because it was in what ppl wrote or make you understand while reading them, OK ?! So, yah, I read the thread, I am following all that story .. I can imagine being myself a kid in the contest and hoping for the clothes but it was not really writen that so it would mean I had my hopes to high, .. Actually, it was written participations prizes but winners and RUs are also participants, of course it is weird, but VMK is weird anyway, also some participants thought they would not even get prizes.

When using the word participant, that means everyone who took part in the event.
They clearly used the words participant prizes in the list.
No one here is upset that the winners and runners up get those prizes.
But, people are upset that they were led to believe that as a participant in the competition, they were to get what was listed as participant prizes and finally finding out that they don't.

Say you found an ad in the paper advertising that you would get an 80 GB Ipod for free just by showing up to a certain store. Then after you get there, they say you won't get it but you will get 1 GB Ipod Shuffle.

Sorry, that's false advertising. And that's basically what VMK just did.

Sorry but you are into your opinion but I am standing on mine.

*All VMK Gingerbread Competition finalist (Grand Prize and Runner-Up winners) receive the Participation Awards.

Where was it written all the All VMK Gingerbread competition participants ??

It is not and it is the end of the story.

It's written right here:

*All VMK Gingerbread Competition finalist (Grand Prize and Runner-Up winners) receive the Participation Awards.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/Participation

Main Entry: par·tic·i·pa·tion
Pronunciation: \(ˌ)pär-ˌti-sə-ˈpā-shən, pər-\
Function: noun
Date: 14th century
1 : the act of participating
2 : the state of being related to a larger whole

participating
One entry found.

participate

Main Entry: par·tic·i·pate
Pronunciation: \pär-ˈti-sə-ˌpāt, pər-\
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): par·tic·i·pat·ed; par·tic·i·pat·ing
Etymology: Latin participatus, past participle of participare, from particip-, particeps participant, from part-, pars part + capere to take — more at heave
Date: 1531
transitive verb
archaic : partake
intransitive verb
1: to possess some of the attributes of a person, thing, or quality
2 a: to take part <always participates in class discussions> b: to have a part or share in something

 

[KrazyPete]

I don't really expect VMK to stand by their original wording. I'm not even going to ask them to. It would be nice if they owned up to the mistake though. A note that says "sorry for the confusion but here's the deal" would be fine with me.

I for one will gladly accept my Donald Present. I will be a little disappointed if it doesn't already have a greeting and isn't signed by a host. I want to put it out with my other gifts and it would be really neat to have one from a host. Giving me a "prize" that is designed for me to give to someone else seems a little silly.

I think participating in the contest was supposed to be rewarding by itself. If didn't get a kick out of building your gingerbread house then maybe you were in it for the wrong reasons in the first place.

Disclaimer: I'm sorry if any of this has already been said. I scanned the thread but I admit to not carefully reading it all.

 

[TLinden16]

Sorry but you are into your opinion but I am standing on mine.

*All VMK Gingerbread Competition finalist (Grand Prize and Runner-Up winners) receive the Participation Awards.

Where was it written all the All VMK Gingerbread competition participants ??

It is not and it is the end of the story.

A participant is someone who takes part in an event. If there is something that is a participation award, it should go to everyone who participated not just people who were deemed winners.

If it was the intent for only the grand prize winners and runners up to get the prize, it should not be called a participation award. It should have been listed as part of their prize packages, not as a seperate list. Or it should have been called something else.

That's why VMK needs to announce what the prizes will be in advance so that they are clear to everyone. And they shouldn't have announced the prizes in part without announcing the participation award if it was going to be a Donald present.

While there would have been a few complaints had they only given out the Donald present, most of the people here would have been thrilled with that as a prize had that been announced as the participation prize to begin with, and not a list of items that people were lead to believe were the particpation prize on their website.

 

[cyre]

I too think vmk should honor their original statement...i would have been happy with the gumdrops alone. Luckily I have a wonderful friend who said they'd give me one of theirs. So lucky we have gracious and kind friends here on vmk

 

[Bugdozer]

Sorry but you are into your opinion but I am standing on mine.

*All VMK Gingerbread Competition finalist (Grand Prize and Runner-Up winners) receive the Participation Awards.

Where was it written all the All VMK Gingerbread competition participants ??

It is not and it is the end of the story.

bug

 

[threeboysmom]

Giving me a "prize" that is designed for me to give to someone else seems a little silly.

Pete, I'll give you mine if you give me yours!

Even though you posted that your best 5-10 minutes on VMK was with Lily in your room.... Sigh.... not a word about flag....

7 more posts to go! I'm rooting you on!

 

[KrazyPete]

Pete, I'll give you mine if you give me yours!

Are you serious? That trade would be skewed WAAAAY in my favor!

6

 

[Belle1997]

Lets see I think my signature says it all

Now I look back at my game playing on VMK. For first 1 1/2 I played all the time never missing any time I had to play. Always telling friends to join.

Even took a few extra days for WDW would not have if no VMK.
Had everest competition, totally disguested with VMK. Stopped playing except for a few hours a week. Never really got back into it. Only really playing because of the friends I made. Tried again with ride competition again really disappointed. Since I was not a great gamer and did not have lots of rare I so wanted a nice prize.

The dreams came along I was so happy to get my castle suite but so sad for others who did not even get ears.


Now never tell friends to play. Did put VMK on my facebook page but never encouraged any of those friends to join. I want them to stay my friends

Tried to win best guest room week after week after week gave up no point. And I have some darn good rooms I must say

Now this gingerbread disaster, for a kids game they sure miss the mark. They have no idea how to deal with kids (well I believe the hosts do they have so much patience)

Funny I love disney but only VMK has managed to really dampen my love for it. Yes it has really affected how I look at Disney. People say well it is free.

I am sure if we were paying we stilll would have been treated this way too.

They do not get it. Maybe the only reason I am still playing is because I did win a castle suite so I do not feel like a total loser. I have something nice to look back on, but how many kids get discouraged and discouraged over and over again.

But now I will go days without going on which is probalu a good thing

For a free game the designers are like scrouge and do make the out come of the game cheap. Cheap in too many ways.

 

[steamboatpete]

Say you found an ad in the paper advertising that you would get an 80 GB Ipod for free just by showing up to a certain store. Then after you get there, they say you won't get it but you will get 1 GB Ipod Shuffle.
Sorry, that's false advertising. And that's basically what VMK just did.

What VMK needs is a proofreader. I don't think it is a lack of integrity, it's a lack of due care. It isn't false advertising, because it didn't induce anyone to do anything. The ad-in-the-paper analogy is quite different. In that case, the ad caused people to get up and go to the store. Even then, when stores make a bona fide error, as opposed to an intentional bait-and-switch, they are not required to honor it. It was just a screwup, and the signs that it was a screwup were there to be seen.

As originally posted, the prizes stunk. They got credits, buyable magic and buyable rooms, all with a total value of less than the winning rooms cost to put together in most cases.

Meanwhile, all winning and non-winning participants were to get non-tradeable prizes including a Top Ten pin? That made no sense whatsoever, and when they announced it, I thought it stunk. The participation prizes were better than the winner's prizes.

Now, if VMK's decision makers were a little more customer-friendly, they would probably make an announcement apologizing, then let the participants keep some of the original participant prizes, like, say, the gumdrops, and maybe add one other non-tradeable prize to the winner's swag bags. They should probably throw the honorable mentions a bone.

However, I don't think we shouldn't hold them to their every mistake, especially one this obvious.