Odds & Ends Update
It’s been a while since we did a random housekeeping post covering things that don’t really fit elsewhere, and that’s what this is. Nothing exactly exciting or informative–rather, this is mostly about you answering our questions and providing some feedback. (Feedback that could end up saving you money, though, so don’t close the tab just yet…)
One of the things I really enjoy about this is that it’s a personal blog with a sense of community. Even though I’m always writing to you, via the comments, forums, and social media there is back & forth. To maintain that personal connection, I think it’s mutually beneficial for you to give feedback and for us to hear it.
What is the blog doing well and poorly? What would you like to see more/less coverage of (restaurants, hotels, certain parks, etc.)? What kind of content (trip reports, rambling vlogs, planning tips, etc.) do you like? I’m genuinely interested in feedback here, and I know that is something people hesitate to give because most people don’t take well to it.
Please leave actual, constructive criticism and critique. It does us no good if the feedback merely showers us with flattery or faint praise. Obviously, it’s nice to know people enjoy the blog, but it’s also nice to know where there is room for improvement. Sometimes a third party perspective is necessary to see that.
I’m genuinely interested in reader feedback, and will incorporate some of that into the blog, but please understand that I’m not going to blindly follow all advice. I am not simply a barometer of popular opinion. I know some of you think the blog skews too negative, is too opinionated, and has too many posts about the international parks. (I’ve received your complaints!)
While we strive to make this as informative as possible, that necessarily requires value judgments, and some of those happen to be negative. I’m not one of those people who believes Disney is infallible, and everything is magical. (Sorry?) As for the international parks, I know most people don’t care, but there are so few resources in English about those destinations. Plus, I enjoy writing about them.
Second, I was going to do another photo update before Christmas, but I’m not really sure that makes sense. The photo/photography posts are almost as unpopular as the ones about the parks in Asia (almost), but the difference there is that I have other means of posting photo content: via social media.
I think not doing those posts is a bit ironic since this blog started out as centering around photography (in the beginning, I was a best described as a “Disney fan photographer who happened to have some opinions”) and at one point consisted primarily of “Photo of the Day” posts, but has since moved more towards the opinions. Now, I’m a “dude who yells on the internet and happens to own some cameras.” Some (newer, I assume?) readers have even asked who takes the photos for the blog!
In any case, I’m still thinking of doing an Osborne Lights Tribute post because I feel like there’s some sentiment worth sharing there, but I’ll probably nix additional Christmas photo posts. I’ll just share those photos on Instagram (@tom_bricker) if you’re interested in seeing those. (Sarah is also on Instagram: @sarahbricker.) I have a lot of Christmas photos, so I’ll probably be posting a few per day.
Next, we have a question. Would anyone be interested in a group rate November 26 – December 2, 2017 (rough, tentative dates)? Please note that this would not be a group trip, or any sort of meet-up event. What it would be is a group booking through a travel agency at a particular resort (or resorts, if there was enough demand) to qualify for a convention rate.
You don’t have to give a firm commitment right now–we’re just floating the idea to see if there is sufficient interest to justify looking into the logistics of this. Based on reader comments, I know a lot of you visit during this week, and as one of the 3 best weeks of the year that we recommend, I think there’d likely be sufficient interest. I just want to get a feel for whether my assumption is correct.
Tentatively, I’m thinking we’d try doing Wilderness Lodge (because that’s where I want to stay, and it’s an irrefutable fact that Wilderness Lodge is the best Walt Disney World resort at Christmas), assuming it’s a hotel that offers good convention rates. The whole goal of this would be to save ourselves (and you!) money if you plan on visiting during/around those dates. Again, I want to reiterate that this would not be an actual “event” or big group thing with meet-ups.
Trust me, I’m not nearly as cool in person (not that I’m cool online, but it’s even worse in person…if you can imagine that). Meeting me is like watching a duller version of Stitch’s Great Escape on loop. I wouldn’t want to ruin your vacation with that. 🙂
Anyway, if this is something in which you’d potentially be interested, please say so in the comments. Also, if there’s a resort aside from Wilderness Lodge that would interest you, please mention it in the comments.
I’m still a little new to your blog (I’ve been reading it for about a year and half to two years, I just thought a little demographic on who is posting what might help in how you interpret this). I saw a comment where someone suggested you do less commentary on news items. Your commentary, thoughts, and opinions on these things (as well as your spin on official Disney News) are some of my favorite things on the blog. I’m also a big fan of your trip reports.
Things I’m not a fan of (don’t usually read): packing lists, camera gear articles, and most of the posts related to the international parks (although your blog did make me want to visit DisneySea).
Hope this helps! Thanks for this blog!
I’ve read your blog for many years and I haven’t noticed a shift in tone, likely because the tenor of your posts match the evolution of my own feelings towards Disney, especially with the most recent introduction of quasi-ridiculous upcharges (looking at you, cabanas).
I have always loved/hated your detailed photography posts, loved because they have led to a great increase in my skills/inspired me to try new techniques and hated because I keep buying new gear because of your reviews!
The only thing I would change is fewer (none?) vlogs but that is mainly due to personal preference as I’m usually multitasking when reading new posts.
Wilderness lodge is my favorite resort so I would definitely be interested in a group rate.
Finally, thank you all of your hard work and your openness to critiques.
I really enjoy reading about the non-US parks. Your information about the Japan parks really helped me plan my trip this past trip. I tend to visit the Asia parks at some point in my lifetime, so please keep that up.
I also love the photography articles. I found your blog because I was googling for DSLR Disney photographs.
I am not crazy about all the hotel reviews but that’s because I don’t go to the parks enough to appreciate the reviews or we stay off off property.
Thanks for your blog, quite enjoy reading it.
The photos are my favorite part, and I like reading about how you achieved them, since I’m currently trying to teach myself more about photography.
I don’t have time to respond to every new comment right now, but I just want to (again) clarify: we are *NOT* going to stop doing posts about the international posts. If anything, there will be a slight surge in those in the next couple of months. 🙂
Hi Tom,
I’ve been an ardent fan of the blog for about 2 years now and am still enjoying your writing. I for one love your realistic and sometimes snarky humour – it’s why I keep reading!
Please please please keep writing about the Non-US parks. We in the UK are probably just as likely to visit Asia as we are the US, and it’s inspired me to seriously look into visiting Japan next year (obviously not just for Disney).
Constructive… even as someone with a salt who’s interested in photography, I find your photography posts a tad long winded. I also have no interest in any form of Vlog – I like you in the written word, not on camera. That’s not necessarily because you’re bad on camera (I’ve never watched one of your vids) but just that the concept of Vlogging is horribly awkward. Personal preference.
I think you do a good job of weighing cynicism with humour with a love of Disney – keep it up. Fave post of the last year was the random facts: Pooh Bear running for president was classic.
Salt = Dslr
My only request, as someone who likes the photography posts, is would it be possible to link all photos in posts to SmugMug so I can see the settings you’ve used. If you want to cut back on the photography posts that would be a way to throw a bone to those of us who want the technical stuff if you don’t want to do the commentary.
My biggest criticism is that the overall tone of the way you guys visit theme parks has changed. I began reading when you were posting trip reports as WDWFigment on other message boards. You and Sarah would stay at Value resorts, rope drop, and actually ride rides. Now I feel that you mostly just wander around the parks and soak up the atmosphere. I know the way you tour the parks has changed now that you two are out of college and can travel more than once a year. But as a person who can only travel to Disney every 5 years or so, I tour the way you once did and miss that. It was this common touring style that brought me to your writing. That’s why I love the international posts because you seem to be more interested in riding rides than just walking around Epcot for 8 hours and only doing Impressions de France.
So maybe this isn’t constructive criticism because it’s more of a lifestyle change than something you can (or would even want to) change. But I miss the old Tom and Sarah who did more than soak up ambiance.
But things I do enjoy about the blog these days are your coverage of news, international parks, and the latest restaurants. I especially enjoy when you guys try something new to you. I feel that brings out the best in your writing and our interest. But obviously something you can’t do all the time.
Would love to be in a group rate at Wilderness Lodge if possible! Drum family – mom, dad and two boys (15 and 9 at that date).
Hi Tom,
First of all, I think the fact that you’re taking criticism from others is a wonderful attitude towards blogging. You’ve really made this into a site for us, and we can’t thank you enough for that.
As for my own comments and constructive criticisms..
(A) I love the trip reports for a few reasons, and wish you’d do them more: (1) they allow me to experience Disney vicariously through you; (2) they’re a quick way, rather than reading all the different reviews for all the different restaurants/attractions/etc., for me to see what you enjoyed spending your time at Disney with; and (3) they are a natural way of helping me trip plan, by seeing how your trip went from start to end. Trip planning can be so segmented – accommodation, tickets, transportation, food – but reading the trip reports pieces it all together in a helpful fashion, and also deals with anything else that isn’t neatly fitting into one category. Before going on my first Disneyland trip, I read and re-read each of your Disneyland trip reports over and over again!
(B) As you rightly point out, there is so little available about the international Disney parks. Yours is probably the only helpful one regarding France; and I’d be lost without you and TDRExplorer (whom I also read religiously) for the Asian parks. I’d actually love to see more about the international parks, particularly Paris. I am hitting up Tokyo for the first time in 2017 and hope to make it to Paris in 2018, and that is solely because your blog has made both of these parks seem so accessible and enjoyable. Thank you so much for that!
(C) For those of us who are regular readers, it can be hard to keep track of new updates in old posts. The old posts are so long, and I’ve read them all multiple times, so I’m really just trying to look for the newest content/updates which have been recently provided. I almost wish I had a blackline/redline of the old post vs. the updated post. Sometimes the posts do clearly say in bold “UPDATE: ….” but they do not on the much longer posts. I also wish regular posts had dates on them. Some of the dining reviews can be a little old, and a lot of things have changed since then. This is understandable – you can’t be expected to eat everywhere – but it’d be helpful to have the original post dates for a frame of reference when planning.
(D) Better website archiving. If you’re looking for something specific, this website makes it super easy. But most of the time, I’m just looking for reading material. I discover a lot of old posts through your hyperlinks in newer posts – and then get mad that I missed the old post! Where is the “random posts with Tom’s thoughts and ramblings” category?! (Perhaps there is already one and I’ve missed it!)
(E) As for content, I love that you cover news and recent Disney updates. I look forward to reading about your opinion of these things and it provides me with a helpful perspective with which to frame Disney. I remember reading a post about Disney’s earnings update (annual report time, maybe?) and found it fascinating. In that same vein, if you ever have thoughts or cool tidbits to share about Disney history, or any other Disney issues, I think that would be excellent. As for tone, even if I don’t share your negativity or cynicism, I certainly appreciate it. I know a lot of people like to treat this site as a Disney resource/encyclopedia, but I think your opinions and editorials on things make this site a lot more friendly and has a great human aspect of it. I appreciate your opinion on things – if I just wanted facts and nothing else, there are 1000x other Disney websites/blogs out there which try to do that.
All in all, thank you for everything. You have given your life to this website, and we are so, so grateful. I look forward to reading your blog for years to come.
Yes, a group rate could get me into the parks for the next holiday season! As others have mentioned, how about someplace with a more budget friendly price tag?
No dice on wilderness lodge. Only places that offer true rates anywhere near palatable are beach,yacht,contemporary, grand Floridian, and swan, dolphin.
I work for a place that hosts annually at yacht, but usually also require convention space rental for low rates
I love your trip reports- they keep me from getting bored when I’m riding on the bus, when I have down time at work, etc. I don’t really have the $$$ to go on Disney trips right now but I like to think I live through your experiences ;). My second favorite posts are the ones highlighting the various foods/restaurants that Disney has to offer.
Please don’t cut your reporting of the Asian/international parks. It’s very interesting to see how Disney modifies its parks in respond to the local culture as well as how the parks differ from the ones in the US.
While I understand how some people may feel about your perceived “negativity”, I would still really like to see the posts on stuff that irks you. Could you possibly still do them but title them “Disney Grumbles” or “Brickner’s Bricks” or a separate feature called “It Irks Me!” or something to tell the people who don’t want to see them to skip that particular blog post? I love Disney but we can usually only afford to go (time and money-wise) once every 8 to 10 years. I spend the years between vacations planning and saving and researching and making lists for the next trip. It is HUGE to me to see what annoys a seasoned Disney veteran so I know what may not be worth the value or my time. It helps me decide if I should try to make the trip earlier with a little less time/money or if I can stop panicking that I’m not going to see [whatever] before it’s gone, because maybe it’s not as awesome as the Disney commercials make it out to be. And I need someone to continue to bemoan the loss of Journey Into Imagination with me. Dude. 🙁
I love love love the pictures but the technical photography specifics don’t do anything for me. It’s nice that you use such-and-such camera and lens, but I’ll never have a camera that nice. It’s more helpful to me to tell me to be at this corner at this time of day and aim toward here to get the best night-time lighting picture of Space Mountain/the Castle/Main Street/The Haunted Mansion/etc. with my little point-and-shoot camera. That stuff I really appreciate!
I really like the blog and how up-to-date you keep it. Thanks!!! It is a very nice resource that I’m happy to direct other people to who are planning that all-important first Disney trip. 🙂
Oh!… If 2017 were our year to go to Disney, yes I would be interested in getting in on the convention rate. Unfortunately, we’re looking to 2018 right now. Thanks!
Trip reports are the reason I started reading your site (I was one of the first 300 people to follow you!), and I definitely miss them, but I find them so much more difficult to relate to than I did when I first started reading, that I’m not sure that’s what I’d like to see more of. I liked them back when they were full of exciting twice or thrice yearly adventures that you seemed genuinely excited about. You and Sarah seemed like one of us, and it was fun to be able to relate to your anxious excitements, disappointments, surprises, etc. Now that your travel is so much more frequent, and you are Disneyland locals, as a teacher who goes to the parks maybe every 9 months or so, (and has started going to the parks with a child since you started writing) I can’t really relate to your trip reports anymore, nor do I find them as fun and entertaining as I used to – totally not your fault, just a commentary on why I, as a HUGE fan of your trip reports previously, don’t really care for them as much. Naturally your excitement is not going to be the same as it was in your Honeymoon trip report, so I’m totally okay with the fact that the site is less trip report centered.
I actually really do like your commentary on news and recent events, but that’s probably because I find you extremely logical in your arguments (as you should be…#lawyer) and I share nearly all of your opinions. I also love your restaurant and hotel reviews, because I think you guys have managed to maintain a pretty good grasp on what is a good value/use of time for the typical theme park guest, even though you’re not one. I don’t find you overly negative or sarcastic at all, and I enjoy your tone – I think you give credit where credit is due, and criticism where Disney deserves it (ahem…cabana shanties…)
So in conclusion, as a long time reader…I enjoy the reviews and your perspective on what’s new in the Disney universe. I like the Asia park coverage, even though I don’t plan on going in the near future, because it’s interesting. Your Shanghai Disney trip report was akin to some of your earlier TR’s, so I especially liked that one. I don’t read your movie reviews…sorry 🙂 Thanks for all that you guys do – even though I don’t find you guys relatable like I used to, I still enjoy the site.
I know this is a function of your CMS, but I’d love to have dates for the content. If it’s an update, you’re great at including the date of the update in the text, but sometimes I have to look at the comments to get an idea of when the content was written. I know that you fashion the site as a blog, but you really are much more than a blog these days, with forums, plans, etc. The blog structure seems to hamstring you a bit, and you might want to think about refashioning the infrastructure of the site, especially if you think about how new users to your page will access information. With a blog landing site, and not a home page, it can be confusing to a newbie where the wealth of information lies.
And that’s a shame because the content is second-to-none.
I made the mistake of sending a couple of your photography posts to my husband (who is not a huge Disney fan, but is starting to dip his toe into Nikon photography). He “had” to buy two lenses because “my guy” said they were good.
I agree – post dates would be awesome since it isn’t always clear. Was it this month or last month it was updated?
I actually really appreciate that you cover news, photography, intl parks, reviews of restaraunts/ hotels and have plenty of planning tips. I for one don’t want to follow more than 1 Disney blog ,so it’s nice to have everything in 1 place. I would love to see more lists. They were super helpful when planning my first few trips and I also just really enjoy reading them. I also love to read your more opinion-based posts and find your tone only marginally pessimistic. Obviously , you don’t hate Disney parks. You expend more than average amounts time, money and energy supporting your love of them. With that in mind , it doesn’t bother me to read your more negative responses here and there. Also, my family would be interested in a group rate for those dates.
Tom, please keep up the international park posts! My family and I work in India and are planning to visit the Asia parks soon! We just returned from Disney Paris and your blog was the number one source for our preparation! When we get to go to Hong Kong and/or Shanghai, this is the place we will come to prepare!
I like your resort & restaurant reviews in particular. I also like your photo posts, your photography is gorgeous. (Not the instructional posts so much, all I have is a basic phone camera). I don’t mind the international posts, although I have no plans to travel to the international parks in the foreseeable future. I don’t mind the snark/realism. I only get to WDW every few years, so I appreciate knowing where I shouldn’t waste my time.
My only suggestions maybe would be more Pros and Cons type posts. For example, if you love both AKL and WL… what would make you pick one over the other? (Ex: Travel time to parks from AKL is much longer, Restaurants at AKL are better, or whatever.) That type of info helps me make the big decisions for my trip. A perfect example of this is your “Onsite vs Offsite” post. It is really detailed, practical and helpful!!
Well, you’ll be pleased to know that we are launching a series that is basically your suggestion in late 2016 or early next year.
I’d like to chime in with a plead to not cut the photography. Your tips and tricks for photography are why I read the blog most of the time. I especially enjoy the lens reviews, shooting tips, etc. I come back to your dark ride and fireworks tips over and over.
I also value the international trip information and reports, and am glad you have no plans to cut that.
I saw a poster a few above me chime in about the “news” and I agree. I think the “breaking news that is often blue sky and not actually news” is best left to Corless. To be perfectly frank, I appreciated your attitude and tone more when there were more book reviews, photography reviews, and trip reports, and less commentary on news around the “World”. It’s understandable when it’s something like say, your thoughts on the overall enchanting updates, but some of the articles are simply a rehash of the same unsubstantiated rumors for Epcot. I felt more like I was reading an extended version of WDW News Today, and there’s a reason I avoid that site. I’ve appreciated your positivity on Avatar, and I do appreciate some of the thoughts on Epcot, but when something isn’t even announced, and in some cases isn’t even true, what’s the point in writing a lengthy diatribe? Perhaps leave that to Twitter.
Also – more from Sarah is always appreciated. We get a fashion update here and there, but I’d love to hear more from her!
Clarification: the photography tips/lens reviews posts won’t be cut, it would be the photo posts that don’t really have anything substantive to say. I think those are probably better left to social media.
While I’ve increased the amount of news/rumors I’ve covered lately, that’s another one that I do because I actually enjoy it. I realized I was spending hours on Twitter or forums in back and forth over these topics and meanwhile, I have a perfect platform for sharing my opinions right here. I’ve stayed away from the more outlandish stuff that I think has little chance of coming to fruition, but things that are plausible are worth discussing on occasion…at least, I think so.
As for more of Sarah, that was the idea behind the vlogs. We need to get back into doing those, but they’re quite time consuming…