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Letters to Disney
Here is what I sent to Iger's e-mail. Are there other folks we should send letters to? Maybe customer service or an internet division?
Edited to add another contact:
http://corporate.disney.go.com/wdig/contact_form.html
I sent my message to above contact also.
Mr. Iger,
I am very disappointed to hear of the closing of Disney's Virtual Magic Kingdom. There are very few places on the internet that I feel comfortable allowing my children to visit and play. VMK is a place where not only my kids can play and make new friends but parents can also join in the fun. We have been playing VMK since the beta days. My kids are age 6, 11 and 13 and they all love VMK. It is very unusual to have a form of entertainment that such a wide age range can enjoy. My 6 year old daughter enjoys playing the games and creating and decorating her rooms and coordinating her outfits. :) My 11 and 13 year old sons enjoy the chatting, quests, and playing games. The boys also really enjoy the trading aspect of VMK. We have spent quite a bit of money buying VMK pins and other items at Disneyworld so that our kids could have the latest and the greatest item so that they too would be the "envy of the kingdom". I have recommended VMK to MANY of my friends. Many of us mothers prefer VMK to places such as Runescape. We so appreciate the steps that Disney has taken to ensure the safety of our kids online as well as the wholesomeness of the game itself.
I ask that the Disney company please reconsider this idea of closing VMK. If this is a financial decision then I would say that most people would be willing to pay for VMK as they do for Toontown or Pirates.
On behalf of my three children, please do not close VMK!
Have a Magical Day!
Sincerely,
~Lisa
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You should see the Dis boards. The first post about VMK closing was just 2 1/2 hours ago and the thread is already 13 pages long with almost 3000 views! This is bigger than DVC taking away mugs and glasses!;)
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Here is my letter if anybody needs some ideas.
I sent it to Iger's email as well as the link at the top also may send to a few others.
Dear Mr. Iger,
I was very disappointed to hear that Disney’s Virtual Magic Kingdom was going to close on May 21st. Many people feel it is a safe place to allow their children to visit, which I believe to be true. I understand Disney offers other online communities such as ToonTown and Club Penguin however VMK had its own uniqueness that I know a lot of people enjoyed. VMK is an escape for many people. During my time on the game I have met many who have told me how terrible things are happening in their lives and going to VMK was an escape from it all. It is a place for them to go and be happy and experience the Disney Parks with out them actually being able to be there. I understand that the game was only supposed to be around for Disneyland ’s 50th Anniversary. However keeping it open for so much longer has been great. I just don’t understand the need to end it, Disney continues to open new games but why is there a need to open more when you have a popular one here already? I understand the difficulties of keeping a game that is free for everybody operating however I do believe there would be many people that would be willing to pay to play the game if given the opportunity.
I guess alls I can ask is that Disney Online reconsiders its decision to close VMK, if the game is costing too much to maintain then please look into other alternatives that can keep it open such as requiring a pay to play.
Thanks you for your time and consideration,
Chris
If you need some help writing yours just remeber to be respectful when writing your letter. You are sending to people high up in the company and if you are yelling at them or demanding things from them they probably will just trash the email. Also remember not to threaten to never do anything Disney again I saw a few people saying things like that last night. Doing that would probably also make your email be trashed. Just remember who you are talking to and be polite and explain why you love VMK and why you want it to stay open.
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Here is my letter. Let me preface this by saying that the VMK closing decision has to be financial, so the only way to keep it open is to appeal to the bottom line. As much fun as 'free' has been, we are willing to pay. So be it if Disney makes a profit! Isn't that part of the reason to have a company?
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First, I would like to thank you for the years of free use in the Virtual Magic Kingdom system (VMK). Our family has benefitted immensely from its availability. Just a few of the things VMK has helped our kids with:
*Learning to read faster
*Learning to spell better
*Learning to type faster
*Learning economics (buying and trading of virtual items)
Upon learning that VMK would be closing May 21,2008, there were many a tear shed at our home, not just among our children (one of which is teenage boy!!!), but from us adults as well.
VMK has been a great advertisement for the Disney brand:
*Our kids introduced a friend to VMK. His family only went to Universal Studios. Because of VMK, he begged to visit WDW, so he could see places from the game and get his park only virtual items. His mom has been amazed about how much he likes it. She just told us a week ago “I don't know what he sees in the game, but I am happy about it! There is a WHOLE LOT of other things he could get mixed up in! This keeps some of those spare minutes occupied.”
*Our kids know a lot of Disney movie and animated character trivia, due to the online quests in VMK. This has led to an increase interest in watching certain movies again.
*We have bought more Disney movies than any time before due to the movie rewards with VMK virtual items available.
*We have five large amusement parks within a four hour drive of home. WDW is 16 hours away. Since 2001 we have visited WDW over 16 weeks. As the kids have grown older, many things, including WDW have become 'been there, done that' places. When VMK started, their interest in visiting WDW again increased. What does this say about the advertising benefits of VMK to teenagers? How many things do parents and kids (teenagers) thrive on...doing together?
I could go on, but...sniff...
We have looked at Pirates of the Caribbean online & the other services you have for younger children. None of them are a good fit for our family. I realize that advertising dollars can get tight and since it is apparently for financial reasons that VMK is closing, why not start charging for it along the line of the other Disney game services in operation?
Please offer VMK as a pay service and make it affordable for multiple people in the same family! I have noticed that Pirates of the Caribbean online is $80 per year for up to four characters (or $40 first person and then add-on). Why not do the same, then for additional people at the same address, add a little extra for each.
As a Disney shareholder (each of our kids wanted Disney stock…including myself), there are almost unlimited merchandising possibilities with the Disney brand name! There have been real world items related to VMK, but the most exciting and lucrative for area for Disney is the sale of virtual items that have little cost-of-goods! Some ideas include:
*Players could receive some virtual credits as part of their subscription. Extra credits could be earned by playing VMK games (like now) or purchased from Disney.
*Virtual items could be obtained in the game as has been done, plus some could even be purchased individually or as incentives with other Disney products or park admission. The beauty of it is that there is a very low cost per item, but high perceived value!
As you have the opportunity, please reconsider the decision to close VMK.
With gratitude and many thanks!
