VMK to Re-Open until Halloween? Could it be True?

Wouldn't this truly be the Year of a Million Dreams?

"Just got this from Ridley Pearson, the author of several wonderful books where characters talk to one another inside VMK. The entry is on his website, and is dated today, Friday, May 23, 2008:

"There are rumors circulating about VMK possibly being extended (for long time users) for a few months longer. I can't confirm anything at this time, but keep your fingers crossed."

We now have word from trusted sources who say that VMK will open through October -- but only for those who are already signed up on VMK. So we'll see what happens. Stay tuned for more info as it becomes available... Thank you, Ridley, and everyone of you for your support!! Save VMK!!!!"
Source: Ridley Pearson Blog | SaveVMK.com

ETA 5/25/08:
Update from Ridley :(

Sunday, May 25, 2008 False VMK I'm now told by my "insider" that indeed it may be only a rumor (about VMK). Sad, because my "source" of the rumor was another top insider. But alas, I'm afraid VMK is gone. I'm disappointed too.... Ridley
Source: Ridley Pearson Blog | SaveVMK.com

May 24, 2008 in Efforts to Save VMK, Fans Speak Out | | Comments (28) | TrackBack (0)

VMK R.I.P. 05.21.08

The_day_the_vmk_world_cried_3

May 21, 2008 in CONTACT NOW, HELP SAVE VMK!, PETITIONS, URGENT, Commentary, Daily Picture, Efforts to Save VMK, Fans Speak Out, Farewells, Media Coverage, Official Disney News, Stories, VMK History, VMK Room Museum, You Tube | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Message Sent...

Hello,

I, like so many others, are asking you to please reconsider your decision to close Virtual Magic Kingdom (VMK).  You will not see a letter from me.  Instead my “letter” consists of my blog, www.vmkblog.com, which I have been actively posting to regarding virtually each and every aspect of VMK’s closure.  Among the hundreds of posts, you might be interested in some of the headlines you have been creating (listed at the end of this message). 

You have billed VMK as a “promotion” when in fact you knew from the very beginning that you were building a community.  You never told the kids/families that VMK would not be around for the long haul.  Now you have tens of thousands doubting Disney, and the magic that it so often embodies.   

In closing, I thought you would be interested in the following video that was sent to the Los Angeles Times.  They are interested in covering the story as many other media sources have over the past several weeks:

This song was written and sung by a “VMK’er” hoping to help Save VMK with her music video…please watch it.  It is another example of children reaching out and trying to make a difference in their “world”.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qLVeQpTRZk

Please let their voices be heard, the media exposure and positive feedback from the VMK discussion-forum community has helped them feel like they have a voice and an impact.  However, they feel their actions have fallen on deaf ears as it concerns Disney and its executives.  Their efforts do not end poverty or end wars, but it is a youthful display of activism and it deserves to be recognized, encouraged and supported.

Thank you for your consideration (and see below),
vmk blog

VMK CLOSURE: RECENT PRESS COVERAGE
Los Angeles Times
There's no Tomorrowland for the Virtual Magic Kingdom of Disney

Wall Street Journal
Fans Resist End of Virtual Disneyland

OC Register
Disney’s Virtual Magic Kingdom explained by virtual world expert

The Industry Standard
When Virtual Worlds Die

Associated Press
Associated Press: OMG! VMK is Going Away

The Motley Fool
Disney Trashes Its Kingdom

CBC Radio: Spark
Corporate Responsibility to Online Virtual Worlds

NextUp
Does Disney "Get" Virtual Worlds?

Central Florida News 13
Breaking News Video: Online Disney Dilemma

Virtual Worlds News
On Another Note: Nielsen: Club Penguin Growth Slows

Virtual Worlds News
WSJ Notes Virtual Magic Kingdom Backlash

Los Angeles Business Journal
Media Coverage on VMK Closure

GameSpot
Editorial: Ideas for the Mouse

Sydney Morning Herald
Why Games Matter

NewsTalk 710 Seattle Radio
NewsTalk 710 KIRO from Seattle - TBTL Show

Silicon Valley Insider
‘Casual Gamers’ Not So Relaxed If You Mess With Their Games (DIS)

Church of the Customer Blog
Closing a Disney Community

VMK Blog Commentary
Club Penguin...Obvious Fit...HUH???

NBC Local News 6
Local 6 - Save VMK Media Coverage

United Press International
Fans protest end of Disney online game

VMK BLOG CATEGORIES OF INTEREST:
Home Page
http://www.vmkblog.com/

Media Coverage
http://www.vmkblog.com/media_coverage/index.html

Commentary
http://www.vmkblog.com/commentary/index.html

Daily Picture
http://www.vmkblog.com/daily_pic/index.html

You Tube
http://www.vmkblog.com/you_tube/index.html

May 21, 2008 in Efforts to Save VMK, Fans Speak Out | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

NOW!!! Long Live VMK - Time Capsule / Frozen in Time Project!

Get all the details and updates at the DisBoard post here.

Would you like to have your feelings "frozen in time" so to speak when the gates close tomorrow night? If you do, please go into all your Guest Rooms and add "Long Live VMK", or the like, to the beginning of all your Room Names and if you want to go another steop further the Room Descriptions.

The room names will be frozen in some Guest Room database and who knows, the DIG might do market research on their other worlds (i.e. see which rooms were popular, trends, themes etc.) and lookie what they will find...little nuggets of our effort to Save VMK...frozen in time. A Virtual Time Capsule.

This also goes for changing your signature before the final close. (sniff).

If anyone has ideas on top of the above, please chime in!!!

And post here when you have completed your time capsule, to keep this guy bumped up and in plain view!!!

This project will continue to the bitter end folks! woot! (sniff on the woot...)

May 20, 2008 in HELP SAVE VMK!, URGENT, Efforts to Save VMK, Fans Speak Out, Farewells, VMK History | | Comments (13) | TrackBack (0)

UPDATE: SAVE VMK E-Mail Blitz to Continue to the "Bitter End"

Yep, things are going very well with the SAVE VMK E-MAIL BLITZ...you can get the latest information and updated Master E-Mail list at the DisBoards at this post.

May 20, 2008 in CONTACT NOW, HELP SAVE VMK!, URGENT, Efforts to Save VMK, Fans Speak Out | | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Save VMK - Make Some Noise!!!

May 20, 2008 in HELP SAVE VMK!, Efforts to Save VMK, Fans Speak Out, You Tube | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

URGENT: E-mail Blitz on Now & Going Strong!

Thank you so much everyone...really, let's keep it going!!! WE HAVE TO BE HEARD!!!!
OFFICIAL E-MAIL BLITZ THREAD IS HERE.

and here is a thought, it you are searching for words, or you need yours to be really quick, take a look at all the media coverage the entire Save VMK effort has received...I culled as much as I could here in my Media Coverage category...the latest is from TODAY's Wall Street Journal!!!

http://www.vmkblog.com/media_coverage/index.html

The Disney Execs obviously need to be hit over the head with all of this...they really don't get it...so let's get out there and E-MAIL!!!

TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS...ALSO TELL PPL IN VMK TO CHECK DIS FOR INFO.

May 20, 2008 in CONTACT NOW, HELP SAVE VMK!, URGENT, Efforts to Save VMK, Fans Speak Out | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

NOW!!! Join the Save VMK Timed E-Mail Blitz - TODAY 5/20!!!

I hope I have some joiners here...please go to this DisBoards post if you are planning to participate!!!

Let's "hit" the inboxes with your e-mails NOW!!!

The e-mail you send can be as simple or involved as you choose...the idea is to get as many people out there to send e-mails TODAY.

I will post the e-mail list in a few minutes, so look for it below!
Thank you!!!

ETA: Here is the List!!!
You don't need to send out individual e-mails.  Just send one message to all of the following:


Online Contact Forms:

May 20, 2008 in CONTACT NOW, HELP SAVE VMK!, URGENT, Efforts to Save VMK, Fans Speak Out | | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Save VMK Petitions Surpass 30,000 Mark!!!

Combined, the petitions are at 30,080!!  If you haven't already...please sign a petition NOW!!!

SaveVMK.com | sign petition here
19,857 have signed the petition to date

SaveVMKtoday.com | sign petition here
10,223 have signed the petition to date

May 20, 2008 in HELP SAVE VMK!, PETITIONS, URGENT, Efforts to Save VMK, Fans Speak Out | | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Save VMK Wall Street Journal Coverage!! Fans Resist End of Virtual Disneyland

"For Walt Disney Co., the task of opening a virtual version of Disneyland on the Web was relatively easy. Closing it, though, is proving to be quite a bit more difficult, thanks to the wrath of obsessive fans of Disney's theme parks.

[disney]
Virtual Magic Kingdom
This screen allows Virtual Magic Kingdom's gamers to build an avatar they can play with.

In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Disneyland in 2005, Walt Disney launched a free online game called Virtual Magic Kingdom whose look and layout mimics Disneyland's. Users created avatars and explored the online park's various regions, such as Tomorrowland and Main Street; chatted with other users; and participated in online promotions that crossed over into real-life activities at the company's resorts in California and Florida.

Disney's notoriously obsessive fans got deeply into this. Using their online personas, fans of Virtual Magic Kingdom -- VMK to aficionados -- accumulated points by playing games and completing tasks inside the world. These points could then be used to buy in-game objects like animated hats, pins and furniture to decorate their virtual private rooms. Points could also be accumulated in the real world through purchases of Disney movie DVDs and the like..."
read entire article

Source: Wall Street Journal Online and Hardcopy 5/20/08 Page B1

May 20, 2008 in Commentary, Efforts to Save VMK, Fans Speak Out, Media Coverage | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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