What is the web site that....

[skeeterbug]

Howie helped secure CRT PS's. This was before the days of holding with credit cards. It was set up as a community with "doors". I can't remember the site's name, and it is driving me bananas!! Thanks!!!

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

I'm bumping you up because I'd like to know too!

 

[MickeyMouth]

I THINK it WAS called Readers Clubhouse? I just checked and now it is called Magic Alley. It looks like you might have to pay to join the site? The address is www.readersclubhouse.com

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

Gee! Is it worth $150!!!????

 

[MickeyMouth]

It costs $150 to join??? That's crazy!

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

It costs $150 to join??? That's crazy!

I think so....unless I'm misunderstanding something. I did the whole process just to see what the final price would be and that's what they were going to take charge my pay pal account. Could it really be worth that much? I mean - how could it be worth that much more than this free site with all this info?

If anyone has experience with it, I'm very curious!

 

[skeeterbug]

Magic Alley is it! I can't imagine it would be worth that kind of money if it is like it was when it was a free site. I feel so much better now! I never would have come up with it on my own! Thanks!

 

[Ted and Holly]

Looks like one of their selling points in the fact that it is "private". Taking a jab at sites like the DIS, they state that it is dangerous to post your trip reports online.

How, I am not sure. But that helps them justify their pay status.

Silly, if you ask me.

The DIS is a GIANT resource. You can not come up with something that someone hasn't already done here. And people here LOVE to share. This kind of free exchange has helped THOUSANDS save money, avoid hassle, and have a magical time.

Anyone who wants to charge for that would have to provide a significantly higher quality experience.

Now, they may be charging to help defray server and bandwidth costs, but Pete seems to be doing fine with that with Sponsors and Ads.

Ted

 

[TrickyFish]

Wow, you'd think for $150/pp they could find someone to design them a better website...

 

[beattyfamily]

Oh boy, do I remember them! They ARE the reason CRT now requires a deposit and ID.

They were securing up to 15 PS each morning with all their "Breakfast Club Angels" calling. Then they'd give their extra PS to members.

They went private right around the time CRT started the deposits...to get away from the people going there to complain and 'bother' them.

Now they do the PS for CRT behind closed doors so no one know how many they get each morning.

 

[Bride In The Attic]

I remember that website back when it was free and it was the home to "Howie's Angels" (a group that would call and take up all CRT ressies for members of their boards and leave those that didn't know about the boards in the dust....one of the reasons WDW now makes you put down a deposit). It seems the boards were always filled with drama and controversy - the woman that runs them (can't remember her name) would threaten to sick the FBI on anyone that posted negative things about their site or Howie's Angels.

I also remember much of the "info" they offered was how to circumvent WDW rules to save money.

Now they want $150 to join? Silly.

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

Oh - I am so glad I asked!!!

I still wish a member would post and tell us what the 150 bucks gets you.

 

[Ted and Holly]

It gets you $150 less epending money on your trip.

 

[shatzjsl]

It gets you $150 less epending money on your trip.

so true!

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

Oh boy, do I remember them! They ARE the reason CRT now requires a deposit and ID.

They were securing up to 15 PS each morning with all their "Breakfast Club Angels" calling. Then they'd give their extra PS to members.

They went private right around the time CRT started the deposits...to get away from the people going there to complain and 'bother' them.

Now they do the PS for CRT behind closed doors so no one know how many they get each morning.

DO you think that is why they ask (when you are filling out the membership form which I did, but didn't submit because I didn't want to pay) they ask if you've ever posted with them under any other names? Are they paranoid or something? This whole thing is weirder than I even thought!

 

[Medic193]

I'm sorry, but after hearing you all talk about this site, the only thing that comes to my mind is "how sad." Seems like those people really take the "magic" out of Disney. Also, being a web programmer, just looking at that site gives me a headache.

 

[helenk]

That site was the first site I used for my Disney planning back in 1995. I had bought Rita Aero's (spelling?) book and it listed the website for planning. Back then it was wdw4adults.com. She has links to other websites and that is how I found this DIS boards. The DIS was much easier to navigate and I would look in on Rita's site now and then, but then there was a big to do about the CRT reservations and they changed the site.
It really was helpful in the earlier years, but I really enjoy the DIS.

 

[beattyfamily]

I'm also quite sure that some of "Howie's Angels" lurk here if not post here. They did back then anyway. There were quite a few here including Howie.

I can remember how parinoid they were at the end and how they were threatening FBI will come to your house if you post on their website etc...

I also remember any threads about them posted here were deleted.

How long has it been? A couple of year? Oh the memories!

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

I can remember how parinoid they were at the end and how they were threatening FBI will come to your house if you post on their website etc...
!

Oh, I had no idea of the intrique in the world of WDW!

 

[vettechick99]

I'm sorry, but after hearing you all talk about this site, the only thing that comes to my mind is "how sad." Seems like those people really take the "magic" out of Disney.

That's absolutely not true. I was a member of RC starting in '99 and the people on that site were wonderful and amazing...you'll find several of them here and on other websites. Wouldn't you all say Disney people are wonderful and kind-hearted? It's the trolls you have to worry about.

I took a sabatical from all things Disney for about a year and when I came back to RD, all hell had broken lose. People were threatening members, cyber stalking them, harassing them with calls and the people on the site were honestly scared for themselves and families. She had every right to defend herself and the site. That's when the site shut down and opened back up on a pay basis. Those few bad people basically ruined it for the good folks.

Now I don't have an opinion on what Howie was doing except that it was done out of kindness not selfishness. I can see from the outside how others took offense since they didn't have the help in getting CRT ressies. It's an all around shame how it turned out.

So I hope that people will get their facts right before they start bashing something they know little about. RC was great and I miss it...

but I'm glad it led me to the DIS! I can't afford $150 etiher!!

ETA: I was not one of the Angel's and never participated..so don't ask me anything about that. I was just a regular marathon poster of random nothingness. Just like here!