I hate to criticize a site that provides a free service, but what's been happening with the quanity and quality of articles?

When I first stumbled upon this site about half a year ago this site was the best thing next to sliced bread. You had great articles by Jim Hill and behind the scenes articles by Kevin Yee.

Today, it's all dried up! What happened? There must be some reason to explain how a large majority of the articles posted contain irrevelent reader responses with no insight into anything more than there ability to wax poetic. Thus, not a true article but just a forum. But hey, that's what the peanut gallery's for.

Now this is just my suggestion, but if there is so little to report why not report on what's already there? How about articles providing insight, background info, and pictures of the attractions?

I'd certainly like to see more Kevin Yee. That guy had some great articles. Probably he is busy, but I'll hang out until he comes back.

I enjoyed the article about staying concierge at WDW so much I'd like to know more.

I would have liked prices included in the article, as well as a discussion of the differences between a 6th floor and a 5th floor room.

Originally posted by JoeCanadian
I hate to criticize a site that provides a free service, but what's been happening with the quanity and quality of articles?

When I first stumbled upon this site about half a year ago this site was the best thing next to sliced bread. You had great articles by Jim Hill and behind the scenes articles by Kevin Yee.

Today, it's all dried up! What happened? There must be some reason to explain how a large majority of the articles posted contain irrevelent reader responses with no insight into anything more than there ability to wax poetic. Thus, not a true article but just a forum. But hey, that's what the peanut gallery's for.

Now this is just my suggestion, but if there is so little to report why not report on what's already there? How about articles providing insight, background info, and pictures of the attractions?
Here's my two cents JoeCanadian-
I'm a real "spend some time in other people's shows" kind of guy. I'm not an Administrator but I know for a fact that this site, MousePlanet (and MousePad), is a lot of work. It's not easy updating the site, writing the articles, dealing with the Disney Company and maintaining MousePad (and our 4000 different personalities) all at the same time. It's a 24hrs a day kind of job.
With that said, I believe the MP crew does a tremendous job. This site is informative, fun and a great place to bond with other Disney fanatics. This site is a lot better than other sites I care not to name. Try them... you'll be back though.
:)
PS- I loved your exploding emoticon avatar.:D

Just one little thought to add to Disneylads comments....unless I'm mistaken the staff of MousePlanet are pretty much volunteers....the little bit of money made by the ad's pay for our space on the web and "might" cover some of their expenses but I don't have that inside information. The other sites might be volunteers as well I have no idea, however, since this site doesn't cost me a dime that I don't want it to and gives me a lot of joy I don't feel that I have the right to "demand" a lot from the staff...they do a good job and personally I appreciate all they do.

mammasilva has it pretty accurately. However we are still a corporate entity so there is only so much I can disclose. We do love much of what we do, but none of us do this as our regular day job. Joe, I don't know if you work full-time, but imagine adding five to 50 hours of additional work a week to help maintain a site (hours differ based on what each person contributes).

To answer your questions specifically, Jim Hill and MP parted company last year. Kevin Yee has some external commitments that preclude him from producing the same material he was publishing earlier in his career with MousePlanet.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Kevin still technically a newlywed?

Yes mamma, that too!! :)

I never realized this site was run the way it's been explained above. I feel pretty stupid making the selfish comments from before. So, to the columnists and contributors to MousePlanet, I would like to express how much I still enjoy your contributions.

I figured most staffers here were run sort of like a newspapers staff. Just out of curiousity, what sort of positions do most of your columnists hold outside of this website? For example, Al Lutz?

Still love this site and visit more often than I should....keep up the good work.

Oh it ranges quite a bit. Everything from techheads, consultants, research scientists and project managers, to writers, salespeople, small business owners and homemakers. We are a diverse and wonderful bunch, we are. Thanks for asking! :)

As an administrator of a large corporate network and Intra/Internet site, I know many of the problems that MP has firsthand. I can accurately predict most of the technical discussions that occur in the background.

However, before anyone gets the view that because MP is listed as a corporate entity because they have lots of money, remember that that only refers to their legal status for taxes and lawsuits, not their monetary holdings.

Judging from the look and feel of the site, it can be seen that most of the technical work is of a volunteer nature. That being said, the quality of the articles is of a newpaper standard and is great(IMHO).

It is also easy to see that MP is making do with a limited amount of funding and hardware. I applaude them in their effort, and wish them the best.

Ozy

They are doing great! Only if we could quickly fix that bandwidth problem . . . :sleep:

I'm still glad to see a once a day update to part of the site, many sites startout this way, but quit later. When it used to be 3 updates a day I felt a little "bombarded". :)