[mickey]

OK, we have the opportunity to have some chats with some VIPs in the Disney family. We are planning on holding these about once a month, and the chat would be with a famous guide book author, webmaster (not me ), Disney insider or Disney employee.

In order to make this work, I need to make sure there is enough interest from the membership here. We would need a decent group to join in, so the guest doesn't feel like they are wasting their time.

Let me know what you think.

[MerlinMatt]

Originally Posted by mickey

Let me know what you think.

Mickey:

I think it *sounds* like a great idea. However, based on my experience, bulliten boards don't generally lend themselves to good chat room attendance. I, for one, never really know when I'm going to be here.

I remember back in May when Tom tried to get everyone together at once and there were a lot of folks who promised, but alas, we didn't come anywhere close to the record.

OTOH, I would LOVE it if we could submit a series of questions ahead of time and have one of these Disney insiders offer advice, sage wisdom or simply their perspective on things. That is VERY consistent with DC anyway and I'd be willing to bet that those threads would be read more than any other.

[mickey]

Matt

I think what it would be is an external chat. The time and place would be know well ahead of time. So, I would come out with an announcement on the front page as such:

DC Guest Chat with Walt Disney
Tuesday, August 9, 2004
7 - 8 PM, EST

I can promise that Walt will not be one of the guests. Though, the guests will be very prominent in the Disney community, and you will be very familiar with all of them.

[MerlinMatt]

Mickey:

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great idea. But I'm not sure how you'll be able to ensure that everyone will be able to be online for a chat all at the same time. We have regulars that check in from around the world. For example, there's 9 hours that separates Towncar T and dznygirl.

Whatever you decide, I'm up for it.

[mickey]

I really just want to know who is interested. I don't want to take the time and spend the money if I only get 3 people there. This really will be a great chance to talk directly with those who influence Disney on a daily basis.

[cahogbin]

I would try to attend a chat like this.

[karliebug]

I would try to attend it also.

[disneyguy]

I would go for this!!

[Disnatic]

Sounds good to me.........we could get some good insight.

[geeman]

I'd be very interested in something like that, Mickey. Sounds like a great way of building a "community" out of this board, as well as a super way of connecting with some Disney insiders. Whenever you do have it, I hope I can make it, though. My schedule is kind of crazy.

[Dana]

Mickey -

Please excuse the lack of computer knowledge in this next question: What kind of chat? Is it a chat on here? On AIM? I would love to attend a chat, but do not have any instant messengers. Please don't laugh at my lack of know how...lol ok you can giggle if you want to.

[disneyguy]

Dana,
the chat would probably be on AIM. You can get a free AIM account VERY easily. Just go to www.aim.com and follow the instructions.

[Dana]

Originally Posted by disneyguy

Dana,
the chat would probably be on AIM. You can get a free AIM account VERY easily. Just go to www.aim.com and follow the instructions.

Thanks, but I can't . It's not my computer and I already tried downloading that. My father had a cow....whatever. Shame. I was kinda hoping it was going to be on here. Oh well. Thanks disneyguy.

[mickey]

I have not decided yet. More like, I haven't figured out how we are going to do it quite yet. If it is on AIM, you don't have to download anything to use it. Just to go www.aim.com, and then click on the AIM Express (kind of near the bottom). That will launch AIM in a browswer window, no downloads.

We should have more news on the chat coming up in the next week or so.