Pete's back, and he's mad as heck...

[doconeill]

Boy was I surprised to hear your voice this week...and BOY, did we hear your voice...

I am becoming concerned, however, that the podcast is regularly becoming a rant against Disney Corporate, rather than news and information. A good portion of yesterday's podcast was taken by this.

The reason I am concerned is that The DIS Unplugged could easily gain a reputation as "that podcast with the guy who hates Disney," and listeners could leave.

That's not to say that Disney Corporate doesn't deserve it...its just becoming a predominate theme in the podcasts. I'd much rather be able to listen to the podcast when I'm NOT at Disney, and remember why I'd rather be there...

I understand the arguments...I'm a DVC member and an AP holder (although the APs are at convenience), and I remember hearing all the stories of benefits, yet there doesn't seem to be as much as I heard. Most of the new benefits seemed to go to rack rate CRO reservations. In fact, we have a split stay for April, with a couple days booked at POR to save some points...and this deal comes out, which I think its mostly a good deal...but would cost us more money (we already have APs, so having to get the admission isn't cost effective, etc.). I HOPE there will still be AP discounts later on...but now I think that Disney has DVC members by the ears, so isn't inclined to offer much beyond what we get now (which has slowly dwindled)...

There is probably a lot more I could say at the moment, but it took me a couple hours to get this far, and I really should be working (stoopid work, interrupting me!)

 

[drakethib]

Boy was I surprised to hear your voice this week...and BOY, did we hear your voice...

I am becoming concerned, however, that the podcast is regularly becoming a rant against Disney Corporate, rather than news and information. A good portion of yesterday's podcast was taken by this.

The reason I am concerned is that The DIS Unplugged could easily gain a reputation as "that podcast with the guy who hates Disney," and listeners could leave.

That's not to say that Disney Corporate doesn't deserve it...its just becoming a predominate theme in the podcasts. I'd much rather be able to listen to the podcast when I'm NOT at Disney, and remember why I'd rather be there...

I understand the arguments...I'm a DVC member and an AP holder (although the APs are at convenience), and I remember hearing all the stories of benefits, yet there doesn't seem to be as much as I heard. Most of the new benefits seemed to go to rack rate CRO reservations. In fact, we have a split stay for April, with a couple days booked at POR to save some points...and this deal comes out, which I think its mostly a good deal...but would cost us more money (we already have APs, so having to get the admission isn't cost effective, etc.). I HOPE there will still be AP discounts later on...but now I think that Disney has DVC members by the ears, so isn't inclined to offer much beyond what we get now (which has slowly dwindled)...

There is probably a lot more I could say at the moment, but it took me a couple hours to get this far, and I really should be working (stoopid work, interrupting me!)

People dont have to listen if they dont want to.

 

[doconeill]

People dont have to listen if they dont want to.

But that's my point...they won't listen. To any of it...rather than trying to find the desired content among the rants...

 

[dizneedoll]

I think Pete made it very clear that he does not hate Disney at all. And I think he's right that we have to call Disney out when things aren't working. If all we ever did was sugarcoat everything about Disney then why should they every bother to change what's wrong? If no one complains, then they can keep cutting back, slashing budgets, never offer anything new and all the while continue to raise prices. I think it's safe to say that everyone on the podcast loves Disney and wants the product to be the best it can be.

There are lots of Disney related podcasts, websites and blogs that are nothing but positive about Disney for people to go to if that's what they want, and there's nothing wrong with that but I'm glad we have Pete who isn't afraid to call out Disney's you-know-what when it's warranted and the Disney people do listen to this podcast. Remember, Disney is run by business men and woman who probably don't love Disney the way the fans do and are only looking at the bottom line, it's good to remind them that we are out there and they shouldn't forget about us or schelpp us off to the side.

 

[doconeill]

I think people are already taking my post the wrong way...

I am absolutely NOT saying that Pete, or anyone else, should NOT criticize Disney. It is absolutely deserved. What I AM concerned about is how much of the podcast seems to be taken up by it, and it being somewhat repetitive.

 

[SamIAm21]

I find it immensely refreshing to hear the "real" side of things, not just all magic and pixie dust all the time. Like the podcast crew explained, they wouldn't call "management" to the carpet like they do if they didn't really love the product. Usually if you don't care, you don't take the time to rant. I think Walt would have loved Pete!

This reminds me of Kevin Yee's "Declining By Degrees". He doesn't write those things because he hates Disney but because he loves going there and hates to see anything unncessarily deteriorate.

I gotta throw my support behind Pete on this one. They rant because they care about the fans like us.

 

[wdwfreeksince88]

I have to say that I like the rant and getting to hear both sides, that is why dis unplugged is my number 1 podcast. It's nice to hear someone that doesn't always kiss disneys butt. And puts it like it is.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

I can understand what the OP is saying ... and I for one, do like that about the podcast. Yes, there is a part of me that would love to hear more fun stuff than "bad" stuff but I choose to be realistic. With that said, if there are people out there who choose to only listen to a sugary-sweet podcast, they may go elsewhere and leave the DIS. But I think that the DIS might gain a different, more realistic audience, if it doesn't already have it.

So if the OP is worried about the success of the DISUunplugged, don't worry - I'm sure Pete and the gang aren't worried. And I think it's refreshing to know that the podcrew doesn't cater their opinions/views to please their listeners.

JMHO

 

[parrotheadlois]

I think people are already taking my post the wrong way...

I am absolutely NOT saying that Pete, or anyone else, should NOT criticize Disney. It is absolutely deserved. What I AM concerned about is how much of the podcast seems to be taken up by it, and it being somewhat repetitive.

I understand what you're saying. Although we got a laugh out of it, we listen on our commute to work. Yesterday our commute went rather quickly (maybe 45 minutes) and it seemed like 30 of those minutes were spent on ranting. I'm sure I'm over-estimating, but I definitely see your point.

Please don't get me wrong -we need a Pete rant now and then, and we listen regardless. But there must be some people oh go, oh ____, there he goes again, know what I mean?

 

[DVCsince02]

Also noted that Doc (OP) listens to other popular Disney podcasts (see his signature) and in comparison the DIS is different with the rants.

I see both sides of this coin and I think Pete would respect any opinion that challenges him to put out a better product.

Personally, I like a good rant.

 

[doconeill]

And lest this become a "beat on doconeill" thread...

This is in NO WAY a criticism of Pete. As I already said, I understand where he's coming from. I also somewhat understand what he is going through - I lost my mother two and a half years ago directly due to alcoholism, and I applaud him for his efforts. I applaud him for who he is and what he is doing at all levels, ESPECIALLY for the DIS Unplugged and the DISboards and the culture they bear.

This is NOT a criticism of the podcast. I listen to three weekly Disney podcasts. DIS Unplugged is the only one I am pretty much guaranteed to listen to, at least in the same week it is put out. One other would be among the overly sweet can-do-no-wrong variety, but has reasonable news and information. It's been mentioned (and criticized) here before, and I do in fact skip through it quite a bit. This is in contrast to the DIS Unplugged, where I will often rewind and listen to sections AGAIN. Regardless I would NOT be one who would stop listening.

I am simply voicing a concern over the length of the recent rants vs. the podcast as a whole, and the reputation that it may receive because of it. I do listen to the DIS Unplugged PRECISELY because it is what it is - a view of WDW and Disney that is more "outside" than others (even "that guy from NJ" is more "inside" than most), and willing to put it on the line...but it just seems to me like Pete has become FAR more vocal about it as of late - I didn't measure it, but it seemed like at least 1/3 of yesterday's podcast was Pete vs. The Suits...

 

[doconeill]

Also noted that Doc (OP) listens to other popular Disney podcasts (see his signature) and in comparison the DIS is different with the rants.

I forgot I had those...but the one I was referring to in my previous post was not one of them It's "that guy from NJ"

There is a reason that the DIS stuff is above the others, and it isn't because its on here...in fact, I am at least two weeks behind in all most other podcasts, including those that relate more to the work I SHOULD be doing instead of posting here...

 

[SamIAm21]

Not a slam against you DCO'Neill, but I actually consider the DisUnplugged to be a bit more "inside" given their location in Orlando and the information they glean from their travel business.

And I am also a huge fan of "that guy" in NJ who has more connections down there than we can count. His podcasts are a lot of fun too. And although the shows are much shorter, I've noted that the guys at WDW Today often throw-down on WDW suits from time to time. They certainly feel free to criticize things they see that are out of line.

I do concede that maybe the mini rant went the way of a maxi rant, but it needed to be said. I really think given that DisBoards are one of, if not THE largest Disney community, on the Internet, that the boards and podcasts are monitored. So, if even one executive got Pete's message, maybe it will change their thinking a little bit.

Pete never ranted at length about this before and I don't expect he will again for awhile. However, I do believe he has nailed several "guest hostile" policies that Disney has put forth, (ie. strollers, wine packages) and I appreciate being alerted to those.

 

[soupy11]

Just fast forward through the rants. I do. I am not a fan of Disney from a corporate stand point and more of a fan of the parks themselves so I agree with most of Pete's feelings but I still don't enjoy listening to them. I listen for pleasure, not to get my blood pressure up! LOL.

 

[zulemara]

I think it should be noted by how much praise is given to Disney on the podcast in comparison to the amount of rants. I think praise wins. The whole idea is the podcast tells it like it is be it good or bad. When Disney does it right, they praise and praise a lot! When they screw up and make bad decisions, they get chastised and deserve every second of it.

The DIS is hands down the largest Disney community on the internet. Imagine the power we would have if we all bound together to send a STRONG message that we're sick of the execs making bottom line decisions and should start making guest experience decisions.

 

[Renysmom]

The days Pete STOPS ranting is the day I stop listening, not the opposite.

WDW may be the happiest place on earth but it has its problems and I am so glad we have Pete to stand up for us. Pete just states what MANY of us think and feel..

 

[doconeill]

I think it should be noted by how much praise is given to Disney on the podcast in comparison to the amount of rants. I think praise wins. The whole idea is the podcast tells it like it is be it good or bad. When Disney does it right, they praise and praise a lot! When they screw up and make bad decisions, they get chastised and deserve every second of it.

The DIS is hands down the largest Disney community on the internet. Imagine the power we would have if we all bound together to send a STRONG message that we're sick of the execs making bottom line decisions and should start making guest experience decisions.

I have no doubt that the DIS is the biggest...I've gone to the others, and posted occasionally...but the numbers are definitely here.

But...as far as sending the suits a message...I think Pete even said something similar, we're still lemmings jumping off the cliff, and they know it.

Maybe sending Pete's rants via the suits' voice mail might get the point across.

 

[doconeill]

The days Pete STOPS ranting is the day I stop listening, not the opposite.

WDW may be the happiest place on earth but it has its problems and I am so glad we have Pete to stand up for us. Pete just states what MANY of us think and feel..

Just to reiterate again, I have no asked for the rants to stop...maybe it was just the length of yesterday's rant that is making me think that they have all been rather long lately...

 

[SamSam]

The days Pete STOPS ranting is the day I stop listening, not the opposite.

WDW may be the happiest place on earth but it has its problems and I am so glad we have Pete to stand up for us. Pete just states what MANY of us think and feel..

Same here, I love Pete's rants. Pete's first show, after being gone for 4 weeks, had me positively smiling during his first rant. I had really missed the his rants.

 

[SoScary'09]

Just recently started listening to the podcasts, and I must say I've been hooked. Really, I didn't see Pete's rant as that big of a deal. In fact it was sorta amusing. It was obvious to me his passion on the subject was there, and that's something I personally can relate to.

Listening doesn't mean you have to mindlessly agree or approve of all of the content all the time. It's just someone else's opnion. No like, no listen. And if it gets too long for you then just turn it off. No big deal.