I Need Expert Opinions!

[MouseUnlimited]

Hi Ho Everyone!

First off, thank you to those of you who have requested quotes and/or booked vacations with us so far. Sunshine Rewards is our new favorite place!

Down to Business: I'm in the process of developing a 2010 version of the Mouse Unlimited website. It's been a good site, but I feel there there is more to offer, and better ways to offer it.

Right now we have the main site with the quote request forms and some other minor information.

We also have a Blog that I've been updating since summer, and a Wiki that I just started (it doesn't even have any content yet - but my plan is to turn it into an all-inclusive, comprehensive resource for all things WDW).

I also have a forum - similar to this one, WDWmagic and disboards, but I've got it turned off right now due to lack of membership. I'm thinking about re-activating it and using it for news, rumors, refurb updates and general Disney discussion - and everyone is invited! (I don't intend to steal people from this forum, but am merely offering an additional place to talk Disney....with the promise that nobody would be banned for mentioning their home business *cough* ;)

What I want is input on our main site, from all of you Disney experts! Seriously! If you've used the site already, and have experienced the Quote Request Forms, tell me how I can make them better.

If you haven't been to the site, please visit www.mouseunlimited.com and play around a bit. Feel free to walk yourself through some of the Quote Request Forms to see what you think (just don't submit unless you really want a quote).

Would another set of SIMPLE forms be helpful for those who aren't Disney experts, or do the current ones provide enough guidance? Should i develop a Ticket Order Form? Should I turn the forum back on, or is the internet already saturated with Disney Forums?

What else would you like to see? What kind of additional resources would you want on a one-stop Disney site?

Selling Disney is really just a fun side gig for us. Talking about it and writing about it and learning about it is just as fun - and we want to share the knowledge with all the die-hards.

Post your thoughts here. I'd really appreciate it, and I'll take every suggestion into consideration - honest!

:thanks:

[Hedy]

This is going to come off way harsher than I mean it to be, but I'd kind of like to see something that makes you different. I don't think I'm the only one here who reads multiple blogs, Twitter, message boards and hears podcasts about WDW in a given week. And that's great, but there comes a time when you're all "another tequila bar review? seriously?" and just want to see something original. One thing that I personally think might work is focusing on adult Disney fans. I identify as a PANK (professional aunt no kids), and while I adored my trip with my nephews, I'm looking forward to grabbing a avocado margarita next week, if you kwim.

[m 'n c]

I love Heather's suggestion about an Adult focus. I know Disney is typically known as a kiddie place but as a DINK (duel income no kids) I'd love a little love from Disney sites for "my kind" if that makes sense.

I agree on the assessment about an overload of Disney boards and podcasts around. I've tried joining other boards way before Tricia was banned and there are just way too many out there and they are all slow moving - just not enough people out there to keep them all going.

[chipndale]

Just going to throw in my two cents. I would like to see a Disney forum that is as nice as SR forum. I found SR from that other site that has now ban Tricia. At one time I did enjoy the site but I have found it to me way to negative and not very enjoyable to visit. It would be great to have a forum that is positive and upbeat. I will take a look at your site and play around with it.

[AlternateEgo]

Well...

Honestly I am not aware of too many Disney discussion boards besides the Dis. The trouble I find with the Dis is that there is sooooo many people it is impossible to get a good opinion without finding yourself getting flamed or flaming yourself (im guilty).

I find myself doing searches everywhere to find what I am looking for, rather than try to search through the dis.

SO I guess my complaint of existing disney discussion boards is the size.

I think I would find it so much more useful to have things set up a bit more organized.

For example:

Resorts - Instead of having 234723984723847 different threads, have all information in one place without "discussion". I mean there can be a discussion about the resort, but not in the same place.

Dining - I often see the food porn pages, but wonder why there isnt a Restaurant/Menu/Picture Page, all in one. I can understand that the restaurants change food all the time... but I find it annoying going through 100's of pages of food... and not even knowing what is it or how much it costs.

I like how allears has information pages... but there still needs to be a place to ask questions, kwim?

So my opinion would be to have an information type website along with a discussion forum... so it can all be found in one place, instead of googling every question I have.

[MouseUnlimited]

...I'd kind of like to see something that makes you different. One thing that I personally think might work is focusing on adult Disney fans.

I guess I've never thought of it from this perspective. I know WDW is thought of by the masses as a "kids" place, but the Disney sites and forums are meant to be used (by law) by adults.

While I intend to keep the main site Disney-travel-neutral (i.e. just a Disney booking location), your suggestion has much merit, and would serve its purpose well in the form of a Blog Category and perhaps even a Board on my forum. That way everyone can provide their own "Adult Travel Tips". I'm certainly no expert on the adult aspect of WDW, specifically, because I think of myself as a big kid when I go! So, having other input would be great.


I would like to see a Disney forum that is as nice as SR forum. At one time I did enjoy the site but I have found it to be way too negative and not very enjoyable to visit. It would be great to have a forum that is positive and upbeat. I will take a look at your site and play around with it.

I just turned mine back on, after purging it of all members and their posts (which is why it looks scarce now). Check out http://www.mouseunlimited.com/forum. I modeled it after a combination of the two big forums, but I think it just needs to be scaled back a bunch, and should focus more on JUST DISNEY (no chit chat pages, etc). Since my forum wouldn't be advertised other than by word-of-mouth, it'll be easy to keep it small and manageable. Plus, I can add moderators who keep out the rif-raf!


Honestly I am not aware of too many Disney discussion boards besides the Dis. The trouble I find with the Dis is that there is sooooo many people it is impossible to get a good opinion without finding yourself getting flamed.

disboards.com and wdwmagic.com are the two big ones. They're both mentioned in the Unofficial Guide.


SO I guess my complaint of existing disney discussion boards is the size. I think I would find it so much more useful to have things set up a bit more organized.

For example:

Resorts - Instead of having 234723984723847 different threads, have all information in one place without "discussion". I mean there can be a discussion about the resort, but not in the same place.

Dining - I often see the food porn pages, but wonder why there isnt a Restaurant/Menu/Picture Page, all in one. I can understand that the restaurants change food all the time... but I find it annoying going through 100's of pages of food... and not even knowing what is it or how much it costs.

I like how allears has information pages... but there still needs to be a place to ask questions, kwim?

So my opinion would be to have an information type website along with a discussion forum... so it can all be found in one place, instead of googling every question I have.

I think what you're talking about is two different things, but I agree. Info would be on the wiki. Discussion would be on the forum. Forums are meant to discuss, not really to provide fixed, static information, while a wiki is.

The resort and restaurant and parks information would be on the wiki (www.mouseunlimited.com/wiki). It will be a documented resource of everything WDW (and some of the other destinations). Each resort will get a page. Each restaurant. Each Park. Each ride. And so on.

A wiki is user-editable, which means anyone can join and become an author. For example, if someone goes to Mama Melrose's and takes some food porn pics, and also grabs a pic of the menu, they can edit or create the Mama Melrose page on the wiki with updated prices, the menu, and even photos of the food.

I LOVE allears, but the problem with sites like that is that they're 1-sided and only offer the information of the one author (in essence...obviously Deb gets input from friends, family and trusted resources, but it's essentially "her" site). A wiki is everyone's site. If my info is boring and incomplete, someone else can edit it or add to it. I think the wiki could be a really good source (which is kind of an oxymoron, lol).

So, a wiki for fact and a forum for discussion....combined, they would make almost the perfect, complete resource.

I like the comments so far. Keep them coming, please! I really want to create a TOOL...a RESOURCE for people. A completely free 1-stop location for everything WDW.