The Lighter Side – Off Kilter the band.

Ok, time for some lighter blogging subjects. . .

While sitting here working and listing to my MP3 player I realized I needed to comment on a band that plays at Disney and if you like folk music with a twist you have to hear.

Who is this band you ask? Well, they are called Off Kilter and they play at the Canada pavilion in Disney’s Epcot park.

They are GREAT live or on CD. They play a mix of traditional Irish stuff and some of their own stuff. The trick is they have a rather unique sound. They have the traditional bag pipes but you can add to that electric guitar, electric base, keyboards and drums.

These guys ROCK. If you have ever been to Epcot you know the World Showcase Lagoon in the middle of the World Showcase – You can hear them across it when they really get going!!! That tends to piss off the family because I then usually take off for Canada to see the rest of the show complaining that I missed the start of it. . .

I tend to catch them a number of times when we go to Disney as they play a bunch of times each day there.

If you ever get the chance I highly recommend going to see them. You can hear some of their music on their web site – www.offkilter.net

Disney Magic

The story is here but in a nutshell a family in Disney was getting ready to go home and the Dad threw out what he thought was trash but it had his wifes rings in it. Disney folks told them that they probably would not find them in the trash from the hotel, but VOLUNTEERED to dig through the trash to try to find them and did! That is why I love going there. . . the folks at Disney always go the extra mile for you. (and no, I am not the poor bugger in the story. . . )

My letter to Disney on VMK

Dear Ms. Philips and Ms. Vidal

I am writing to let you know the effect your closing of Disney’s VMK is having on my daughter. She is in tears.

My family and I have been Disney fans since childhood. My wife and I had our honeymoon at Disney and even became DVC members so we could take our kids there every year or two as we can afford it. I had an image of Disney that was caring of it’s guests, and especially the children. The effect your closing of DVMK is having on my child without even thinking about ways to save it has damaged my view to say the least.

My kids pay you monthly for Club Penguin, why can’t you do this with DVMK?

I will be watching closely what is done with DVMK and it’s effect on my kids. What do you need to hear to keep it going? Would I pay for it like Club Penguin? YES!

Perhaps you want to hear the down side instead? If this becomes too much of an issue I will have to discuss options with my kids such as dropping Club Penguin since supporting it would support the folks that closed DVMK. I may also have to look at how I feel about supporting a company that can hurt my child this way. I am sure I can find other places to go on vacation and cut back on our trips to the parks, assuming that the kids want to go after this. I don’t thing you understand the impact this is having on my 10 year old child. You have done a great job crushing her today, she is in tears and writing you to save her game.

If you think you are loosing money on DVMK, think about how much more you will loose with the damage this will do to the Disney image held by the kids that play on DVMK and their families. Think of the lost revenue if we start looking for other places to spend our vacation money.

Please think this through all the way before you close DVMK.

I look forward to seeing what you choose.

Disney VMK or Virtual Magic Kingdom

Disney has lost it’s way it seems. For the first time I have seen Disney do something that hurts itself and the kids it celebrates so much

They are closing the Virtual Magic Kingdom (VMK). I know this has hit home in my house. My younger daughter is in tears over this closing. She loves this game like no other. We are a family of Disney nuts so we were happy with her playing on it knowing it was Disney so child friendly. In May all that will be gone and I have to say I am not sure how to deal with it. Part of me say she will get over it and move on, but part of me also says Disney should not be closing this and it has started to change my opinion of Disney and not in a good way. I love that Disney that lets us all be kids in the parks, and we go there every few years to enjoy a vacation that can only be Disney. Heck we are even DVC members (own their time share) and love it. . . . Now I don’t know what to do. I am going to attach contact info at the bottom of the post on efforts to save Disney VMK. If you have kids, or still in contact with your inner kid drop them a note . . . ..

What if we don’t save it?? I don’t know. I do know that my image of Disney has taken a big hit for the pain it is causing my daughter. I was hooked, and I got them hooked on Disney. They seemed to be different, but now they are starting to look like any other company that is out for my money. . . This will take a few days to sink in then I will see where I stand with them. I guess I will start with writing them and go from there. . .

You can contact the Disney Internet Group via:

CALL:
818-623-3200
818-623-3764
866 993-6263

EMAIL:
Brandy.Phillips@disney.com
brandy.phillips@dig.com
zayda.vidal@disney.com

WRITE:
Walt Disney Internet Group
5161 Lankershim Blvd., 4th Fl.
North Hollywood, CA 91601

FAX: 818-623-3577

Also check out

http://www.savevmktoday.com/

http://www.vmkmagic.com/vbulletin/