I disagree that "people can complain on internet forums which have virtually no effect on policy changes".
Social Media, of which this forum is a part of, is proving to be more and more effective at bringing about change at companies. Businesses realize that customers are able to provide feedback in a public forum. This has benefits for the consumer because they can share their experience with other customers which in turn helps to influence their purchasing decisions and management's responses to their customer's experience.
For example, on the Trip Advisor hotel review site Disney (Example: "Disney-Parks-Resorts, Disney Social Reviews at Disney's All-Star Sports Resort, responded to this review") is now responding to reviews that guests write.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_R...s_All_Star_Sports_Resort-Orlando_Florida.html
If, as you claim, complaints on internet forums have no effect on policy changes why would Disney decide to devote time and financial resources to addressing concerns expressed in these reviews. Disney is openly stating that "your feedback is received by the appropriate Leadership teams."
I have read many times that Disney monitors the Dis Boards. With all the "My Disney right or wrong" people that post on these boards it makes me wonder how many of them are working for the Mouse when replying to posts. I guess we'll never know. ; )
So the bottom line is that Disney seems to be monitoring all forms of social media. On the Trip Advisor site it became necessary for them to become uncloaked so to speak so that they could respond to people's reviews. On the Dis Boards there is no such need to reveal that you are officially representing Disney when replying to posts about the company/guest experience/management decisions/etc,etc... This doesn't even take into account cast members who work for Disney who take it upon themselves to monitor and reply to posts.
~NM
PS I have a ton of faith in Disney's I.T. capabilities. I lack faith in management's desire to use them successfully to enhance the guest experience. In my OPINION it seems that Disney's primary interest in incorporating Information Technology into the guest experience is only to increase guest spending.
Disney's use of I.T. to date has been a one way experience meant first and foremost to benefit Disney. Any marketing B.S. talking about how that I.T. is enhancing the guest experience doesn't reveal that that was never the primary purpose, only a questionable by product that could be spun into marketing pablum.