[Goofette]

Mickey, I was just curious as to how long you've had this site? It seems like there are a lot more posts than when I first started coming here and just wondered how long you've had it. I do really enjoy coming to this site. When I'm gone away from my computer for awhile I can't wait to get back to see what is going on and what I've missed. I wasn't near a computer over the Easter weekend and I was having withdrawls...lol. Everyone here is always so helpful and friendly.

Also, what is the buddy list on the control panel?

Thanks again for this site. :)

[mickey]

Goofette

Thanks for the kind words. We opened for business in September, 2001, but we really were just running some test and trying to find out if the whole thing would work. We really started going full speed around Thanksgiving 2001. So, we have been around for a little over four months now. We only had a couple of members sign up, besides those in my family, prior to Thanksgiving. We have been averaging about 25 new members per week, but that has slowed down lately to about 20. We stand at about 310 right now. The board just improves with the additional members. The more opinions and input you can receive, the more options you are presented with the better your decision making is going to be.

The buddy list is basically similar to a buddy list on any instant messaging program. You can add people to your list, and you can instantly see if they are online or if they are offline. You can also send a private message to any of your buddies directly from the list. I am hoping to integrate it into the front page someday, so that you can see from there how many of your "buddies" are online with you. Does that make sense?

Hope you had a great Easter weekend away from your computer. Everyone needs to do that once and a while.

[Goofette]

We did have a very nice weekend. We were lucky and had great weather here. I hope you had a nice weekend. I just noticed that I posted my question in the wrong spot. Sorry about that.

I signed up in January I think. I do agree that it's really good to get new members and new outlooks on things. I try to welcome new members to the boards because it's nice to have as many opinions as possible. I guess the only time I wasn't very friendly was when that one person had the advertisement :( I'm usually not that vocal about things but I don't like people taking advantage or using others sites to benefit their own.

[brumcg]

This is kind of a weird question for Mickey...

Have you considered how big you would like the site to be in terms of members? I REALLY like the currently intimate nature of DisneyCentral. It's big enough to get excellent information, yet cozy enough not to get overwhelmed.

I stop by a few other Disney forums... They're just way too big, and frankly most of them are out of control.

Bruce

[mickey]

I don't think I have a number in my head. I am kind of playing this by ear. I think you reach a point of saturation where any additional members don't add anything to the community. I don't think we are at that point yet, nor are we close. I think it is more of a factor of active members, rather than members total. Right now, I would say we only have about 40 "active" members, while the rest are either partially active or totally non-active.

I have looked at several other boards, and some I feel are too large, and others are closer to what I would like to accomplish. I think many of the other boards have fostered a "post whatever you feel like" attitude, and they hence have posts about everything. I think that if we can keep DC on the smaller size of the boards, and focus on Disney only, we can keep it intimate as well as informal.

Does anyone else have an opinion?

[shawnp0001]

I would agree that there is no "magic" number which would be advantageous to all members. Keeping the threads focused on Disney (with the understanding that it will infrequently branch into Universal or any other "Disney-wannabe" park), will be best for all concerned. I too have looked at a few other Disney-esque posting sites and they have digressed considerably, some to the points of post after post being a verbal attack on someone (certainly not why I value viewing and contributing to a Disney site!).

[MickeyMac]

Brum,

I totally agree with you on some other boards being out of control. I like this board, and one other very similar to this. Both of you guys have the true Disney spirit - helpful, polite, knowledgeable, with a little bit of humor sprinkled like pixie dust in between. Keep up the great work!

[lvbug]

I really like the size this board is now. i don't like it when there's alot of people just lurking around. Its kind of neat to see about 5 or so people in here at the same time. and I don't feel lost.

[Goofette]

I just saw this thread, and I couldn't help but to post to it. I feel like things sometimes around here have gotten so huge. I don't know what I'm feeling, but I for some reason feel sad about some things. I hate to see members saying they are leaving, but I do understand how sometimes the posts can seem overwhelming. I've always just gone and come back, sometimes being gone for months lol, then I'll post a lot. It's always felt like home to me. I'm Just wondering, what size are the boards now?

[mickey]

Goofette

Right now, there are about 2,500 members. We gain about 40 to 50 per week, though my guess is that we really only have about 500 to 600 that post, even if it is just one or two posts a month.

Part of the problem is that there really isn't a way for me to control how many people sign up. We don't advertise, and are not really looking for any new people, but they still come.

I too feel the same way sometimes, though I have a tie here. If you or anyone else has any suggestions of how we can keep this from becoming a bit overwhelming, I would be appreciative.

[brumcg]

:bandit Coming out of lurk mode...

I've thought about this quite a bit and even forwarded some really bad ideas to Mickey, but in the end I realized that my problem with the size of DC was, in fact, MY problem.

The site is organized pretty well, so it could be MUCH worse. I had more success when I stopped relying on the front page (which now only has a couple hours of posts!) or the 'View New Posts' feature and started reading the forums that meant the most to me. I am able to focus on the stuff that I want to get to, and it also shows me the number of replies (which is helpful for advice requests - if there's 83 replies, chances are everything's been covered... :)).

While it's not MY 'perfect' site anymore, it's still the best 'people-powered' Disney site on the web. And the traffic and membership numbers would certainly agree that most folks are, at the very least, content.

Bruce

Back to lurk mode... :bandit

[wdwjeff]

Originally posted by brumcg
:bandit Coming out of lurk mode...
Hey, me, too! It's funny, because I check DC at least 2-3 times a week. I think the reason I post so rarely is that someone else usually answers with something similar to my reply almost every time.I think Mickey does as good a job as possible, given the inherent difficulties. I may check other sites once a month or so, but that's about it. Even when I bought DVC recently, I sought opinions on DC. So, just keep it up, Mickey, and I'll be there lurking, too. Boy, Goofette, Bruce and me-lots of old-timers on this thread!!!



Back to lurk mode... :bandit

:) :heart

[Goofette]

Originally posted by brumcg
:bandit Coming out of lurk mode...

I've thought about this quite a bit and even forwarded some really bad ideas to Mickey, but in the end I realized that my problem with the size of DC was, in fact, MY problem.

The site is organized pretty well, so it could be MUCH worse. I had more success when I stopped relying on the front page (which now only has a couple hours of posts!) or the 'View New Posts' feature and started reading the forums that meant the most to me. I am able to focus on the stuff that I want to get to, and it also shows me the number of replies (which is helpful for advice requests - if there's 83 replies, chances are everything's been covered... :)).

While it's not MY 'perfect' site anymore, it's still the best 'people-powered' Disney site on the web. And the traffic and membership numbers would certainly agree that most folks are, at the very least, content.

Bruce

Back to lurk mode... :bandit

Bruce, I agree. I still :heart this site. Everyone here is just great. I don't see that Mickey can do anything else to make it any better, it's layed out really well. I actually try to hold back from posting if I don't have anything to really add or help someone, although at times I don't do that :whistle: I also do as you and skim through things I find is interesting instead of checking new posts. DH told me that he thinks it's time we plan another vacation, I've already forgotten things from last time, so I will probably be looking up old stuff and seeing what is new to do. It's great to see you again btw!! Hi wdwjeff also!

[tinkerbell]

hey can I jump in and add that I think you do a fantastic job ..and its also good to see some of you coming out of lurk mode !!
Mickey I think you have done so great with DC, of course I am here all the time *grin*
I also think you do a fantastic job with Mouseketrips. and if I havent said it enough .. thank you.