WWWD (What would Walt do)

[Fonna]

Well there has been a lot of discussion about the closing of VMK. Of course we still do not know the real reason. The thing most apparent to me in all our efforts is that sadly, they don't care.
DIG~the division that supposedly controls the decision regarding internet games~ doesn't care.
Letters to heads of separate divisions, phone calls, emails ~ NOTHING! Standard unemotional form letter style answers, sent to some - just to try and appease you! What is clear?! They don't care!

Anyway to the topic. I know there are a lot of Walt Disney 'historians' out in our little VMK community. I have wondered lately - for the sake of discussion -

What do you think Walt Disney would do in this situation? ​

• What would he do, think, feel- if his office was suddenly flooded with thousands of letter/emails/phone calls, from fans begging (and i do mean begging) him NOT to close a part of Disney that they have grown to love!
• What would he think of all the efforts going into saving this virtual kingdom that has been able to bring us into Disney World/land on a regular basis?
• What would he do if he saw all the internet and television (news)interviews and discussions going on in an attempt to SAVE our virtual DISNEY! land?
• Would he care? Would he help? Would it mean more to him than it obviously does to the current powers that be?

WHAT WOULD WALT DO??.....
​

 

[BriarRosie]

Lots of things at Disneyland changed or closed while Walt was alive. If Walt wanted to close it, it would be closed. Unfortunately, since the computer age hadn't caught up back in Walt's time, he couldn't have faced an onslaught of grassroots campaigns. So it's really tough to say what he would have done today.

 

[Belle1997]

Decided this is to controverisal and I am deleting it. Was just hoping it would go away but it did not. So I am taking it off.

 

[SkippyPaul]

Very good points here. I think we all hope we know what Walt would do in the case of vmk. But we would only be guessing. I came across this clip on utube of Walt and Jack Benny. As walt says in the clip "We are one big family", oh if he only knew what a huge family he has in vmk....and he said, " Im always glad to help a friend in need"..........truer words were never spoken. Where are you now Walt we need you to save us from the disney corporate world.

Enjoy the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUMqC4PkkN0

 

[Fonna]

Lots of things at Disneyland changed or closed while Walt was alive. If Walt wanted to close it, it would be closed. Unfortunately, since the computer age hadn't caught up back in Walt's time, he couldn't have faced an onslaught of grassroots campaigns. So it's really tough to say what he would have done today.

Yes BriarRosie, things! Not an entire park. Really we could all do without the SciFi Dine in pick up spot in VMK, yet why close VMK? (example here, don't attack me SciFi fans )

Obviously the emails would not have taken place back then, but the letters and news incidents would have reached him, and i think he would have taken notice! Much more than they seem to be now.

My thinking is - here is a man that created entire parks, mortgaged himself to the hilt to make it a reality, so that people/families had a clean (big with him) fun place to just be happy and have fun! Money was a means to end with him, it was a way to create MORE magic not to just line his pockets and move on.

I imagine that he would be so profoundly happy to know there was a place in which people could enjoy that Disney Magic EVERY SINGLE DAY if they so chose. I don't think it is something he could have imagined back then, but if he had seen what was created in our homes daily, I just think he would want it to continue!

From the business stand point, since so many posts in other threads tell us not to be emotional and accept it as a business decision. What is BETTER than having the Disney brand brought into your home every day, I know it often made me sentimental and desirous of another little trip to The real magic.

 

[Dashzap]

I can understand the programmers not caring. Because I believe most of them have autistic tendencies.

I disagree.

 

[Belle1997]

Just incase you where wondering I was not saying programmers are autistic. What I am saying is their need for relationships tends not to be the same as many others. They have a gift but with many gifts something else usually is not as strong.

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

I imagine that he would be so profoundly happy to know there was a place in which people could enjoy that Disney Magic EVERY SINGLE DAY if they so chose. I don't think it is something he could have imagined back then, but if he had seen what was created in our homes daily, I just think he would want it to continue!

This is the bottom line. In my opinion, this is why VMK shouldn't close.

More and more I think we may be the victims of a contract dispute between Sulake and Disney. The inital contract plus options expired. Disney continued month to month, perhaps trying to buy VMK from Sulake. Sulake figured they had a cash cow and asked an astronomical price for a new contract or for a Disney buy out -- a price so high that Disney walked away. Just my theory.

 

[Kasiks]

I agree they do not care. The question should be asked why do they not care? How can they not care? What is wrong with these people.? I can understand the programmers not caring. Because I believe most of them have autistic tendencies. This is not a bad thing, for it makes them more gifted at creating games and programs. But to them it is just a game with input codes.

You and programmers -_- Maybe the problem is not even with Disney but with Sulake, does anyone remember Music City when it was under sulake ? What if it was just more complicated than just letting VMK opens with Sulake contracts. If I was WD and had to close VMK because of Sulake then I would just create a new VMK. But we dont know the reason so maybe it has nothing to do with Sulake -_-

 

[Belle1997]

This is the bottom line. In my opinion, this is why VMK shouldn't close.

More and more I think we may be the victims of a contract dispute between Sulake and Disney. The inital contract plus options expired. Disney continued month to month, perhaps trying to buy VMK from Sulake. Sulake figured they had a cash cow and asked an astronomical price for a new contract or for a Disney buy out -- a price so high that Disney walked away. Just my theory.

That is my thinking too. But I would not join VMK with just sulake running it. After all the lack of customer service and lack of senstive replies to our quandries. We would need disney to get behind the game. I think Disney's involvement should have been more. Maybe if it had we would not be in this situation. Maybe we would not have lost many players because of the lack of customer communication.

VMK numbers went down a lot last year. One needs to ask the question why.
I think alot has to do with how the game decision makers related to the players. Wonder if we were treated with the Same Disney standards we are used to would that have changed anything?

 

[Belle1997]

I am also sure I confused what programmers do so what I mean is the people who imput codes all day to get items and games to work. What ever they are called.

 

[EvlQueen]

My thinking is - here is a man that created entire parks, mortgaged himself to the hilt to make it a reality, so that people/families had a clean (big with him) fun place to just be happy and have fun! Money was a means to end with him, it was a way to create MORE magic not to just line his pockets and move on.

I imagine that he would be so profoundly happy to know there was a place in which people could enjoy that Disney Magic EVERY SINGLE DAY if they so chose. I don't think it is something he could have imagined back then, but if he had seen what was created in our homes daily, I just think he would want it to continue!

EXACTLY!! The whole company was started with the premise of making people happy! How could someone who created physical parks to give children and adults a chance to escape from the everyday or even problems in their lives not be overjoyed at the notion that people could have it on their desktops! I understand that all things must change; in the parks the rides change, the decorations change, the characters even change as new ones are introduced. But there is NOTHING like VMK online ANYWHERE. VMK is not changing, and it's not being replaced by a newer version. It's literally being taken away. If it can't be helped, please just tell us why. The heartless comment by Yavn (now removed) about how Disney considered pay to play as a way to save VMK but just decided against it gives them away. They do not care and can't wait until May 22 when we will all just shut up and go away. I certainly didn't know Walt personally, but is there anyone out there who seriously believes that that type of attitude would have been fine with him? If you can't save the thing we love so much Disney, just have the simple decency to tell us the TRUTH!

 

[BriarRosie]

I don't compare VMK to an entire theme park. I think of VMK is part of their Internet division. They aren't shutting down the other games, just VMK.

So I stand by my comparisons that attractions have shut down, and VMK, while it does feel like a theme park, can't really be compared to one in the Big Picture.

As you can probably guess, I have come to terms that VMK is closing and have gotten past my disappointment into accepting this fate. I'm just going to keep going on until it's gone, then move on.

I've been a Disney fan on the Internet since 1996, and that's not going to change.

 

[Belle1997]

As you can probably guess, I have come to terms that VMK is closing and have gotten past my disappointment into accepting this fate. I'm just going to keep going on until it's gone, then move on.

I've been a Disney fan on the Internet since 1996, and that's not going to change.

Well that is my issue there is nothing for me to move on too. I do not like internet games and such and I have so many Littlebelle's titled for dogs and cats etc running around the internet now but have not found one I like. If Disney had a viable alternative that was close to VMK right now I would be ok with that. Toontown is no VMK!!!!! To say I dislike that game alot is an understatement.

So to me Walt would never close down an attraction with out letting others know what was in the works to replace it. Sorry fairies and cars age 6-8 are no replacement. Disney has not provided a game that all the family can play at once. Toontown you can only play one account at a time unless you buy another one. Gets beyond expensive for a family.

So Disney where is the game we are to flock too. Nope not there

What just hit me where is the game for the adult (parent) disney fan. That is not pirates. I think we have been forgotten

So Briar what are you moving on to.

 

[poohluv2u]

To have created the whole idea of a place where families can play together, shows that Walt was a sensitive person. I like to think that Walt would not close VMK, but if for some reason he couldn't keep it open, that he would level with us, and believe that we should know the reason why it can't stay open.

 

[Fonna]

The heartless comment by Yavn (now removed) about how Disney considered pay to play as a way to save VMK but just decided against it gives them away. They do not care and can't wait until May 22 when we will all just shut up and go away.

Wouldn't we all love an answer to that one! It did disappear quickly didn't it? I am sure it's filed with the - "VMK is going strong and is not closing" note they dropped us in September.

To have created the whole idea of a place where families can play together, shows that Walt was a sensitive person. I like to think that Walt would not close VMK, but if for some reason he couldn't keep it open, that he would level with us, and believe that we should know the reason why it can't stay open.

Truer words can not be spoken....

 

[Jasonbobdude]

I think that just by knowing Walt's values, we know that he would never want to upset children. If VMK isn't making money, it's at least making people happy, and that was what Walt always tried to do.