The Masterminds

OK – so here I am, typing my first newsletter to update you all, and my mind is a complete blank on where to start and what to say. 

I guess the most obvious place would be to address recent events.  You would pretty much have had to be living under a rock somewhere to have not seen some of the things that went on this week.  Without rehashing it all, Ranch has stepped down as Admin and Owner of VMK Masterminds.   I am sure his decision was not an easy one to make, as he has invested a lot of time, money, energy, and emotion in this venture.  All of it is appreciated – and we would not be where we are today had it not been for all his hard work.  After some discussion, he has decided to remain here as a Master Imagineer, and I could not be happier about that, because he is an integral part of this team – and also a valued friend!

Many people so far, have asked me about changes that will be made, and as I posted already - I am in no rush to make any changes, there has been enough thus far – and I feel the need to let the dust settle before considering where we will go from here.   The fact is that I am pretty much unfamiliar with the coding and technical needs that are required to maintain these boards – therefore I need to do some learning before I can even entertain the idea of making any edits and a possible “facelift” to the boards  

Several of you have been quick to step up to offer to help, in addition to Ranch saying that he is more than happy to help from the side – all of which I appreciate – because I may need it.  But me, being who I am, is determined to try and figure out how to drive this bad boy, and figure it out myself.   

 Where do we go from here?   

When VMK closed, we pretty much thought the growth potential for our little pad would stagnate.  Not so…   With the introduction of SmallWorlds and some of the upcoming features within the game – there is a promising outlook for more growth – if that is even what we are looking for.  I know some members are content with the small intimate group we have, and then there are others who look forward to the boards being a hustling bustling hive of activity.  I fall somewhere in the middle of the two.  Only time will tell where we head, and what will work for us.  What I can promise you is this – I will try my best to make each and everyone of you continue to be proud to call this site your home.   Thanks once again to all of you – your never ending support means the world to me, and I treasure you all!! 

<3 Friend  

A new photo challenge has been posted in the Disney Trivia Challenge forum. This is our third photo challenge since the beginning of the DTC and it is worth some major points. If you are new to the DTC this is a great way to get started on earning points towards some awesome real life Disney prizes!

Points for this challenge are as follows:

1st Place: 7500 pts
2nd Place: 5000 pts
3rd Place: 3500 pts
4th Place: 2500 pts
5th Place: 1500 pts

All other participants who do not place will earn 500 pts just for trying.

Check us out in the Disney Trivia Challenge section of the forums for rules on how to join in the fun!

Dearest VMK and whom it may concern.

Please allow me to start from as far as memory will have it. When I first learned of VMK, and actually tried it out, I judged it as a childrens’ game, one that lacked many aspects of WDW that I loved, but played along anyways. It wasnt before long that I learned how to make friends in the game safely, and band together with themsame Disney fanatics, and play VMK as if it were “Roller Coaster Tycoon”, and try our best to recreate WDW attractions, within VMK. After a couple recognitions of our recreations from VMK via awards, we realized as a whole, that we were onto something, and were playing the game in ways that VMK didn’t even realize it was meant to be played.

As time grew on, our little team of “builders” in VMK grew, and by then, VMK had launched their in-park-quests/tours, and taking part in these VMK promotions were, perhaps, the greatest experiences in WDW that I ever had.. especially being my trips were solo!

So how did I access the parks to take full advantage of VMK Tours/Quests/Benifits? I paid for an annual for myself (2 years back to back throughout VMK’s promotions.), and treated my mama on Christmas & Birthday trips to WDW, for the sake of gathering MORE VMK benifits. I even paid for a “ghost” ticket for an OUTSTANDING member of our “build” team, just to score the VMK loot (AK items) that WDW offered, so that the member/player could obtain the elusive “Inferno Magic Pin” (a hard to get item in-game).

My point is, from calculating above (not counting in-park purchases), I’ve spent over $1,200 alone in two years (during peak VMK promotions) for my and my family’s access to WDW, all in the name of enjoying VMK to the fullest extent that it has to offer. Not only was I able to cash in a little extra on VMK promotions through WDW ticket purchases, but I was also able to reunite with my mother, and grieve together alone within the parks, as it was my late father’s greatest way of showing us affection.. by taking the family to WDW. Park trips with my mother in the sake of VMK are some of the most cherished trips that I have, and I owe so much to VMK for making them happen.

Bottom line is, I’m WILLING to pay to play VMK. 10-15$… I don’t care. Those who pay them prices, obviously LOVE VMK and the parks as much as I do, and it would only make the quality of being logged into VMK that more, well.. MAGICAL. As we already pay top dollar to visit Disney parks/resorts, why should VMK be sold short? It’s one of the greatest ploys to get me back into the parks ever achieved.

Now to talk REAL business. As it is obvious, we are haning onto “Yavn’s” every word, and literally praying that he reveals that, “Yes! Your outcries worked!”. But it’s not happening that way, and instead, we’re being recomended to “Toon Town” and some other games I can’t remember, along with “New” ones that we’re going to die for. I can tell you this Disney/VMK, that if we don’t find a common ground that keeps VMK active and current, (that means YES, it would involve US giving YOU OUR money), we’re (meaning us, the tens of thousands), are NOT going to be happy. I personally will not be interested in anything you have to dish out at us via online, purely because of heartbreak.

VMK is VERY important to me and many others. We have invested not only much time and park-spent-income into the game, but also, unexplainable emmotions that simply CANNOT be erased by the push of a button on May 21. We beg you. Take our cash, and have faith that VMK will continue to be one of the best kept (online) secrets of the Disney Company. We, as a Disney community, sincerely LOVE it, and nothing else will EVER compare!

Yours truly, Ranch in VMK/ aka/ Joey Pyles.

Hey Everyone,

I would like to inform you all that all the Attraction Videos have been added to the “Video Features” section.  Everytime I post a new video it will be added there.  Enjoy!

-Jennings