Disney, “Year of a Million BROKEN Dreams”
Over a million guests to Disney Magic Kingdom are told the online park is closing, forever.
Burbank, California – May 2, 2008 – In an unprecedented action, Disney officials are closing the gates to one of their family parks, forever. Last month, over a million registered visitors were given formal notice that the online Magic Kingdom (VMK) will close forever on May 21, 2008, 10:00PM DST. Guests are being told the experience was only to promote, the now three year old, Disney’s 50th Anniversary Celebration despite Disney’s continued advertising partnerships with Kellogg’s, Disney Pin Trader, eBay and up through last month, Disney Movie Rewards. Kids & parents throughout United States and around the World are done asking, “Why?” and are now taking financial actions and protesting Disney.
On May 10, 2008, VMK Kids Unite (www.vmkkidsunite.com) will be out in front of Disneyland in Anaheim, California to protest the recent decision to close the online park and publicly ask Disney why they are breaking the dreams of over a million kids throughout the World. The organization is calling upon Disney to remain true to their promise and not make this the "Year of a Million BROKEN Dreams" as these kids will permanently lose hundreds of friendships, forever.
Various sites and discussions, including the Save VMK, an online petitioning organization with over 16,000 signatures, are now calling for a boycott of all Disney related products and services. This new guest initiated movement to boycott Disney has yet to change the minds of top Disney Officials. Walt Disney Internet Group spokesman for and producer of VMK, Seth Mendelsohn (yavn) said recently, “We hear you and we share your concern and sorrow”; however, offered no revision of their decision to close the online park.
“Disney has yet to show any compassion for the kids whose dreams are being broken by their discussion to close the park.” said Christopher Douglas spokesman for VMK Kids Unite, “It is time to publicly ask Disney; what happened to the Year of a Million Dreams?”. Obtaining the final clearance from the City of Anaheim Planning Department their protest is moving forward on May 10, 2008, 7 to 11AM, currently with over 30 pre-registered participants, around the main thoroughfares to Disneyland at the intersections of West Ball Road & South Disneyland Drive and the second location at South Harbor Boulevard & Disney Way in the City of Anaheim.
“At first, I just saw this (VMK) as a game that people use to entertain themselves; however, when you hear of Madison Reed, an 11-year-old spinal muscular atrophy sufferer, who for the first time could virtual walk in the happiest place on Earth and not be judged by her inabilities you realize the dreams of kids throughout the World will be broken, forever”, says Jamie Knoll who was originally supportive of the closure.
VMK Kids Unite is an organization formed to unite guests who are being displaced by the recent decision to close the online Magic Kingdom, a game that goes beyond the typical multiplayer game. It allows safe, interactive social networking for kids of all ages, known as, “The Happiest Place on the Internet”. With support of various organizations VMK Kids Unite is bringing together the community for an opportunity to ask Disney if they really intend to directly destroy the dreams of over a million kids throughout the World.
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For more information, press only:
Christopher Douglas, (818) 574-5865, cdouglas@vmkkidsunite.com
For more information on VMK Kids Unite:
http://www.vmkkidsunite.com/
Does Disney "Get" Virtual Worlds? - NextUp
This is a must read...read entire article here at NextUp
Second Life is looking for it’s Second Wind. There.com isn’t quite there yet. The media hype that surrounded virtual worlds just a year ago has ratcheted way back. Real world companies who came in not understanding what they were getting into quickly faded away after they didn’t get what they were expecting. But one demographic seems to be doing quite well in the virtual space: Kids. If you have one of these living under your roof, you probably know that they are actively participating in online virtual/social networking spaces. They are joining online social networks at increasingly early ages (pre-school in the case of Club Penguin) and in those spaces, they are forming relationships that are very real..."
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read entire article
Excerpt:
"The longer range plan, according to Mike Goslin, VP of Disney’s Virtual reality Studio, is to “have a large number of virtual world for a range of different audiences… sort of like a theme park.” The strategy also includes making the different worlds “feel like a common experience” including the ability to move your social contacts between virtual experiences..."
Comment:
OKAY, you have got to be kidding me...can't they see that VMK IS their long-range plan???
"Different Audiences" (VMK's age range is Pre-School - 90+...entire families get together to play)
"Sort of like a theme park" Uh, hence the name Virtual Magic Kingdom...sure looks like a theme park to me...
Excerpt:
"Conspicuously absent from the interview was any mention of Disney’s Virtual Magic Kingdom (”VMK”)...Just seven months after launch, Disney announced the game surpassed one million players and over 1.3 million personalized in-game rooms. Last month, with no advance notice, Disney announced that they would be shutting the doors on this virtual theme park on May 21. Predictably, the outcry from the “community” has been loud and is growing as the date approaches. A number of petitions have collected thousands of signatures, boycotts are being threatened and one group, VMK Kids Unite, is organizing a protest at the gates of Disneyland on May 10 which may be covered by CNN and CBS. Obviously, adults are helping to organize these efforts, but the kids are the driving force. Kids who are already comfortable with the participatory web and who want to have their voices heard."
Excerpt:
"So here’s my takeaway. From the interview, its clear that Disney understands the business opportunity in Virtual Worlds & Social Networks...On the other hand, Disney’s decision to shut down VMK demonstrates that perhaps they don’t really get the “social” component. In these social environments, Disney’s role is to provide the frameworks (architectural, security and creative) and the context, but the real content is created by the participants. In shutting down VMK, they aren’t just closing an amusement park attraction. They are throwing away the work of the thousands of dedicated, passionate kids who have spent countless hours building and sharing wonderfully imaginative experiences, and in the process, will be alienating many of their most dedicated and influential advocates."
May 05, 2008 in Commentary, Media Coverage | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)