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 am a huge fan in terms of your blog and the parks, and am always referring and looking out for your new posts. I enjoy the way you review resorts and restaurants. I’m trying my best to give ‘constructive’ feedback here but it’s difficult to say and pinpoint exactly what makes your reviews so much easier to read than others. I think it’s your ‘writing style’ you can summarize a week long trip in one post without going into WAY too much detail, but covering the facts. Your humour and ego (in a good way!) makes it extremely entertaining to read. I would like to see a bit more fun posts or lists like your ‘top 10 toilets’ posts (e.g. you can do so many — signs, benches, doors, smells, you get it) as well as perhaps a bit more input or posts from Sarah (I enjoyed her outfits/fashion related post)! Basically bring more personality to your posts because that is what works! Don’t ever stop your photography related posts, as readers I think we enjoy hearing the backstory of how you achieve the crazy angle of your photos (as in exactly what did you stand on and how you raced across the parks without your shoes that one time for the perfect sunset, I’m referring to your great recap at that Disney Vacation Club members’ event at Typhoon Lagoon, one of my fav posts — so it does not always have to be an elaborate fancy camera-explaining-lango post)! Anyways, I’m all over the place with my comment so clearly I’m the reader not the blogger here. Sum it up, I would like to see maybe some small enhancements with your website, obviously if your hosts allows it, would be easier to read if your long posts can be on the one page instead of clicking Page 2,3. as well as perhaps updating your logo on this website to be consistent to your orange globe logo which has become a signature for you! Lastly, keep up with the youtube/videos, and don’t stop with the Asia/Europe reviews there’s a great chance that majority of us will never go so we live through your posts. And lastlyx2 – thanks for all your hard work, it brings a smile, laugh, and a roll of the eyes each time I read them!
Would love to see more posts about DCL! I went on a Disney cruise for my honeymoon and it cost half as much as my wedding (okay, maybe a slight exaggeration…) it was amazing though! I’d love to cruise Disney again, but I’m just no where near as familiar with the best (thriftiest?) way to plan for it. Time of year? Promotions? Last minute deals? Particular destinations? Etc. Would love to hear any insight you might have!
And sorry, obligatory compliment– I love the blog! Thank you for keeping us all informed and entertained.. keep up the good work and great wit 🙂
Interested in the group/convention rate for tentative 11/26/17 – 12/02/17 travel.
I would love to see more vlogs!
But I do also love the international posts, so I might not be representative of your audience 😉
Yes, keep me on any email list for pricing at this time.
Funny you should ask – just yesterday I started pricing out options for a trip starting 11/24/17 through around 11/28.
Big time fan over here in Brazil. Yes, I’m a international reader, former cast member at WDW and Disney Dream and really love your site. I think that you and Sarah have done a great job, not sugar coaching everything, talking about international locations and Seinfeld quotes.
I would love to read more about Disney cruises, DVC renting points and why not, Adventures by Disney.
I’m planning my parents and my son’s firts trip for 2017, you are my favorite source! Finding your site was one of the best things, your attention to details in your photography is amazing, and makes me very happy to remember things long forgotten.
Big hughs and thanks.
PS: Really sad to not be able to got with the group. 🙁
Please continue to post VLOGs. We enjoy them….and you have not done enough of them…thanks
I found this blog when I was planning a trip for my niece and nephew. It was so helpful! We had the best time thanks to the invaluable planning guides. After the trip, I stuck around for the news, updates and opinion pieces. I’m genuinely entertained by your writing and hope to keep reading your original perspective. Whenever I hear of significant Disney news, I visit the blog, hoping to read your take on it. Since I’m not currently planning a trip, it’s the thing that keeps me coming back. So, more of that is greatly appreciated.
As for new things…
-You do a great job of organizing the information for newbies and first timers. I feel as if I had a great handle of how to do Disney right and was able to readily access that information. But now as someone who is pretty familiar with the basics, I’d like to be able to get to the more advanced level crowd. I feel like I just come here and scroll through the posts, looking for current news and opinion pieces and hope that I luck upon something. If there was a section that let me skip to the good stuff, I’d like that.
-Also, is a forum too much to ask for? I think your readers have insightful comments, so it would be good to pose a question to the community every once in a while.
-A little box to the side that lets us submit questions or post ideas could be helpful to you. It’s a bit less formal than writing you an email about our ideas. It’s just a quick way to shoot off a thought when we have one.
Thanks for all the hard work! The images and content you work so hard to generate are greatly appreciated!
There is a forum! The link is on the menu bar.
Well, since it was in plain sight at the very top of the page, it’s no wonder I missed it. 😉 How silly. Thanks for pointing it out! Now off I go to explore the shiny new-to-me forum.
I read your blog all the time (and love it!) but have never posted. I was planning to stay at Wilderness Lodge next year 11/24 through 11/27 or 11/28. Since the dates don’t match exactly, I don’t know if we could get in on the group rate, but would be thrilled to do it if we could for those couple of days!
I love the trip reports, even though they are a lot of work for you to put together. And I enjoy the snarky tone of voice in your writing. I’d love if you have the time and inclination to finish up some partially completed trip reports from a few years.
Tom and Sarah – My passion for going to WDW and DL began in late 2013 when I was planning a trip for my son and me. Your blog was instrumental in helping me plan and in forming my new found passion for Disney Parks. Your articles were informative and continue to be informative, but I will say that the tone of the blog has changed over the last year or so. Your early trip reports and other reviews were so great in that they made me want to go to WDW and have experiences like you had. Now, the tone seems to be a little bit snarky and negative. I still visit the site b/c of the photography, trip reports, and reviews of resorts and restaurants, but I definitely prefer the old writing to the new writing. Thanks for all you do.
I must be in the minority in that I enjoy reports from the non-US parks, mainly because there’s comparitively less information about them online and most things about the US parks get discussed to death on hundreds of other websites. I’d like to see more trip reports (which I realise would mean you need to go on more trips) and reports on actual attractions, lands etc. (rather than dining reviews).
Thanks for all your work on the blog. Merry Christmas!
I have always loved your international parks posts. Your posts offer me the chance to experience these places when I otherwise would have few opportunities to do so. Coming from someone who is unlikely ever to visit any of them, I still love to read your restaurant reviews, hotel reviews, entertainment reviews, all of it, for your unique perspective and for your photos! I love your photos most of all! For me your photos actually create, inspire and convey that feeling of magic which is the reason I love Disneyland (the only park I’ve yet to visit). I live vicariously through these posts, and so would probably be thrilled if you did a post entitled “I Walked Down Main Street and Photographed Every Thing I Love, Let Me Tell You About It” . And then of course each follow up post, one for every Land! That wouldn’t be too tedious, would it?
Thanks for everything!!
Oh, and may I add that I find your opinions realistic and relatable as opposed to negative. I love Disneyland, but it’s not all puppies and rainbows is it? Honestly is HELPFUL, and that is also a large part of what this blog is for me.
It’s almost annoying that this is something to be thankful for, but I too am really thankful for your honest and realistic attitude towards Disney.
Almost more than that, I’m thankful for the fact that the vast majority of the commenters on this site are of the same mindset and which enables this site to thrive, to the extent that when someone isn’t, it stands out as the anomaly it is. Apart from anything else, it’s this element of the fanbase that reassures me that my passion for Disney is not a thinly disguised mental illness, nor a cult-in-disguise that I have joined (although family members may disagree?) 😉
Group rate! Group rate!
Also, post whatever you want! I for one love the Asian parks coverage and it’s what has made me realize I have to visit them.
Also also, have no fear: I saw you at Disneyland last March and nearly geeked out on you before realizing you probably would be less excited to meet me.
Tom,
I am very interested in group rate that week…I have 4 kids ill defer to you for best solution for us. We enjoyed the cabins this January and found it to be the best value.
thanks,
Dan
I would be very interested in the group rate. As a pretty frequent reader I appreciate the international Disney stuff (hoping to go in 2018 to at least two parks outside the US!) and the trip reports. Those are always my favorite – they have all the spirit of Disney and your personality shines through. Good combo.
I’d love to see a Disney haul post after a trip or two! 🙂
I really enjoy reading your blog. I do not feel your posts are overly negative. I find that as much as we want every detail of our Disney trips to be magical, there are still those moments where reality breaks through! I think the realistic portrayal of the parks can help keep expectations in a good place as well as help us avoid things that may be less awesome. I would second (third, fifth, whatever…) the comments about the blogs organization and searchability. I have wanted to go back and read something again several times and have struggled to find the post for which I was looking. Trip reports are awesome. I would love to see more posts on the nuts and bolts of planning trips…your post about how to fly internationally, finding good rates, open-jaw flights, etc. was so helpful!
I can’t believe people are complaining about posts on the international parks! I love all the information you provide because, like you said, there isn’t much else out there. You have inspired me to visit Paris, HK, and Tokyo Disney and your posts were incredibly helpful. I would love to see more trip reports and it would be nice if you could make them more easily searchable so it’s easier to find if I miss a post.