Newsletter 5 March 2007

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This week, new prizes are added to the EPCOT Quest, HOST_Hula makes over a lucky VMK'ers guest room and Yavn plans a visit to the Far East! Plus, the scoop on the Green Space Suit, Yeti and more!

Yavn Speaks!

Welcome to March! VMK is going 'Green' this month – what does that mean? Well, all through the month of March we'll be talking about the environment and how you can make a difference and help save the planet. We'll also show you how The Walt Disney Company is making the Disney Parks and Resorts more Earth friendly, plus we'll have cool tips on how you can 'Think Green' too!

Lost in Green Space!

Did you all pick up your Green Space Vest this weekend? It was on sale in the Emporium over the weekend – but you'll be able to complete the outfit with Green Space Pants, Shoes and a Helmet – they'll all be on sale too in the next few weeks.

The Green Space Vest will make your friends 'green' with envy. :-)

This Friday, look for the Green Space Pants! Be sure to check the Community Calendar for exact details, just remember this gear is on sale for a limited time! Just swing by the Emporium Specials and pick them up Friday through Sunday.

You Asked For It! You Got It!

Judging by the sheer number of Quests completed and your feedback for the EPCOT Quest and EPCOT Guest Room, the Quest has been a huge success. As a special thanks to all our players we're going to make completing the remaining 2 EPCOT Quests even sweeter!

Starting today we're adding NEW PRIZES for the third EPCOT Quest (that Quest launched today) and the fourth EPCOT Quest (it will kick off on March 12th). For EPCOT Quest 3, how about a Single Use Treasure Detector Magic Pin in addition to that Guest Room?

Single Use Treasure Detector Magic Pin, one of two new prizes you get when you complete the EPCOT Quest.

And for EPCOT Quest 4 – a Single Use Dancing Inferno Magic Pin! Again, you'll still get the Epcot Guest room for completing the Quest (and these additional prizes!). Just remember that you have until March 31st to complete all the EPCOT Quests and these extra prizes are only for the third and fourth EPCOT Quests.

Treasure Keys

Last week we talked a bit about Magic, this week I'd like to chat about the Pirates Treasure Room and the Treasure Keys. As you know, there are 3 treasure chests in the Treasure Room – Gold, Silver and Bronze. Of course to open each chest you need a Gold, Silver or Bronze key and to get them you will need to play the Pirates of the Caribbean game. You can play either Capture The Flag, or the Ship Battle game, every time you win 3 games, you'll win a key.

The Bronze Treasure Key.

The key you win depends on the difficulty level you play (level 1 for Bronze, Level 2 for Silver and Level 3 for Gold). Now here's where it gets interesting! Once you've won a key, head on over to the correct chest in the Treasure Room and try it out. When you open the chest one of 2 things will happen: the chest will be empty, or the chest will have something cool inside!

Let me repeat that – you may find treasure (like a Pirate Throne, a Cannon Wall, or even a Single Use Coral Magic Pin), or you may find the chest has already been ransacked and is empty. For those of you who regularly play Pirates and have all the prizes, keep playing as you may discover some different prizes very soon!

Room Makeover Update

Last week HOST_Hula took over the Room Makeover reigns and added a dash of green in honor of 'Think Green' month. Over to you Hula!

HOST_Hula

Aloha all! Wow, tonight was totally fun! I got to surf around the Virtual Magic Kingdom checking for Guest Rooms to makeover. I met some really nice players while on my search for the perfect room to makeover 'tropical style.'

I came ashore on a lovely little Mad Hatter room owned by Eragon_rocks. Eragon_rocks was sitting by herself, looking for some friends to chill with. It looked like Eragon_rocks could use some help sprucin' up her room - HOST_Hula to the rescue!

Eragon_rocks told me her favorite colors are green and black, and that she likes fountains and fun tropical stuff! Sounds a lot like my style! So I put in some pretty pirate thrones (nice and comfy for friends to chill in) to add a touch of style. I added some fountains to provide a tranquil area for visitors to hang out around.

Eragon_rocks also wanted some music to replace her organ, so I put in two fancy green and black pirate player pianos!

The Mad Hatter room before…

…and after the sand was washed away.

When I was all done, the room was certified chilly! If you see this room on the list, be sure to surf on in and chill for a while! Eragon_rocks will welcome you with her totally warm Aloha spirit. And to you Eragon_rocks, Mahalo for letting me makeover your room!

-HOST_Hula

Party in Club 33?

Have you won tickets to a Club 33 Party? HOST_Phinny hosted our first Club 33 Party last weekend, don't worry though, more are on the way. Keep on eye on the Community Calendar for details on our next event and how you can win tickets! Of course there's always my way… Win the title of Best Guest Room and you can have your own party with your very own host!

Yavn Goes East!

Whew, the last few weeks have been a crazy time here at VMK HQ. We've been putting the finishing touches on some new stuff that I'll be talking about next week (improvements for Host Rooms, and VMK Pass anyone?). But I'm most excited about a trip we'll be taking back East in a few weeks. No, not to Walt Disney World, I'm talking the Far East, to Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland.

Yavn's going to Hong Kong Disneyland.

Why? Well, VMK is not about any single Magic Kingdom, it's a mix of all of them and we try to make sure we spend as much time as we can in the other Parks – I'm planning on taking lots of pictures and I'll come back with a full report! Now do they have Churros in Hong Kong??? Ok, I'll take a Giza Dog instead!

Yeti Tells All!

Alright then, that about wraps it up for this week, one last thing before I go - starting this week our good friend Yeti will be starting his new job as VMK Game Counselor! That's right, 'The King of Q&A' will now be specializing in answering game related questions.

The Yeti, who we fondly call Mr. Know-It-All around the office, will now be serving up VMK game play tips.

Yeti will be talking about frequently asked questions and offer tips on how you can get the most out of VMK. Got a game question or topic for the Yeti? Drop him a line at through the Contact Us tool. Until next week...

See you In VMK! Yavn

Think Green

Learn how you can make a difference!

"The natural resources of our vast continent are not inexhaustible. But if we will use our riches wisely, if we will protect our wildlife and preserve our lakes and streams, these things will last us for generations to come."

– Walt Disney

Kids, talk to your parents first about how you can use these great tips in your home!

Ways You Can Make a Difference

1. Plant a Tree: Besides looking great, trees eat carbon dioxide (that's a global warming greenhouse gas), they also help keep the planet cool. Plants (and trees in particular) also provide shade and evaporate water into the atmosphere, which increases cloudiness, which also helps keep the planet cool.

2. Turn it Off: Did you know that many electronic devices remain on even after you hit the 'off' button? It's true, many new electronic devices (like video systems and computers) go into a 'standby' mode. To save energy switch these devices to the 'power save' mode. If your device doesn't have that option, unplug it.

3. Pass the Trash: Sure you've heard about recycling, but do you recycle? Remember, cans, bottles, plastic and paper can ALL be recycled. Check with your local city council for recycling facilities in your area and stop throwing away recyclable goods (like soda cans and plastic water bottles). You can also make some extra cash when you recycle cans and bottles, so check with facilities in your area for redemption programs they may offer.

Green Facts:

• More than 8,000 acres of property at the Walt Disney World Resort are designated as a permanent wildlife conservation area and will never be developed.
• According to the American Forestry Association, if every American family planted a single new tree, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere would be reduced by a billion pounds a year.
• A typical family car puts 19 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere for every gallon of gas it uses.
• Walt Disney World has solar-powered traffic lights installed at many intersections around the Resort. These lights help save energy and reduce energy cost.
• During the past seven years, water-saving initiatives at the Walt Disney World Resort have saved nearly 2.5 billion gallons of water.

Event Info

EPCOT Quest Until March 31st

VMK Racing Days March 11th, March 25th

'Think Green' Entire Month of March

EPCOT Quest

Test your knowledge of EPCOT by playing the new in-game EPCOT Quest! To play press the Quest button ('Q') on the VMK Player Interface Bar, then select the EPCOT Quest from the list. Answer all ten questions correctly and you can win an Epcot Guest Room!

New Quest are released each week and will run until March 31st, so get in the game and get Questing!

New EPCOT Quest launches on March 5th and March 12th.

VMK Racing Days!

Strap on your helmet and kick those tires, it's the start of the race season and VMK is going to get your motor running! Join HOST_Sparky on select Saturdays and Sundays during the racing season for special VMK racing events!

These special racing games like Chase Race and Race to the Finish will take place during a real auto race – so you can watch the big race and race in VMK at the same time! And only on VMK Racing Days can you win the VMK Racing '07 Pin. Keep an eye on the Event Info box and the Community Calendar for more updates and a schedule of race events.

'Think Green' Month

All through the month of March, VMK is going green. Learn how you can do your part to help reduce waste and make the world a better place to live! 'Think Green!'

Check the Community Calendar for more events, details and event times.

Tips

Tips, Tricks Hints and How To's

Is VMK Staff or a Community Leader ignoring you?

If you're talking to a VMK Staff member or a Community Leader and it seems like they're ignoring you, keep in mind they may be away from their computer.

Also, many times when VMK Staff are in a room they're there for a specific reason and may be unable to respond to your questions or requests at the time &ndash don't take it personally, they're just doing their job. If you have questions when you're in-game that can't be answered by VMK Staff, check out the VMK FAQ located in the HELP section (that's in the upper right corner on the VMK homepage) on the VMK website.

VMK site too busy or closed?

If you try to log into VMK and it's either closed or the site is too busy – don't worry… Sometimes VMK has to close for improvements, but we will reopen as quickly as these updates are made.

You may also encounter a connection problem when there are lots of players in the game. If this happens close the game window and wait a few minutes before trying to enter the game again.

Does your room need a makeover?

Is your room bland and boring? Then enter our VMK Room Makeover contest!

To enter, just go to the 'Contact Us' link on the VMK website (the 'Contact Us' link is located at the bottom of the every VMK webpage) and log in. Now choose 'Room Makeover Submission' from the list of 'Contact Us' options and submit your information. The VMK Staff will evaluate your submission and chose rooms in need of a makeover.

Dear Yeti

You've Got Questions, Yeti Has Answers

2/23 – How many Oscars has Walt Disney won?

– GroovieMann

Dear GroovieMann,

Lots. In fact Walt Disney holds the record for most Academy Awards won by an individual. He won 32 in all and was nominated a whopping 64 times. Most of the awards he won was a film producer. Walt also won the prestigious Irving Thalberg Award – this award given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honors "Creative producers, whose bodies of work reflect a consistently high quality of motion picture production."

As a company, Disney has won 87 Academy Awards, this includes the Oscar Walt won for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1939. This special Academy Award consisted of a full-size Oscar and seven smaller Oscars. Thanks for the question GroovieMann!

Walt Disney and presenter Shirley Temple share a laugh over the Oscar(s) Walt won for Snow White.

Do you have a question for me?

Send it to me through the Contact Us section at the bottom of this page. Be sure to have your VMK registration info with you (the email and information you registered with) and select "Dear Yeti" from the drop down menu. Every other week I'll answer a question or two here in the Newsletter.

Push's Trash Trivia

Since VMK is going 'green' this month to help save the environment, can you name the two 'green' Disney Resorts?

Know the answer?

Send your answer using Contact Us at the bottom of this or the main VMK webpage. Be sure to have your VMK registration info with you and select Push's Trash Trivia from the drop down menu.

Out of all the correct answers, three players will be randomly drawn as the winners and sent a cool prize. But hurry! Only entries submitted by the close of game on Friday will be accepted.

Here's the answer from last weeks Push Trivia question:

Question: There are hallways under the Magic Kingdom that allow Cast Members to access various areas of the Park without getting in the way of Guest. What are these hallways called?

Answer: Utilidors.

Did you know: The word 'utilidor' is made by combining the words 'utility' and 'corridor.' The largest and most well known utilidors are those at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida. These utilidors not only help Cast Members get quickly around the Park, but serve as a place for electrical operations, deliveries, storage warehouses, food service, costuming, and other services. There is even a Cast Member hair salon located here called Kingdom Cutters.

The utilidors cover nine acres, and the utilidor hub lies beneath Cinderella's Castle. There are also color-coded walls in the utilidors (each color represents a different land) so it's easy for Cast Members to find their way around under the Magic Kingdom.

Contrary to popular belief, the Disney utilidors are not actually underground but on the ground level of the Magic Kingdom. Due to the high water table in Florida, the Imagineers had to build above ground level. The Magic Kingdom was built on top of the utilidors – which means the Magic Kingdom is essentially on the second floor. Parts of Fantasyland, including Cinderella's Castle, are on the third-story level.

Congratulations to the 3 lucky (and randomly picked) players that sent in the correct answer for last week's question!

torticat

sillypuppygurl

PurpleMolly

Your prize is on its way!

Top Players

What makes a Guest Room award-worthy?

Guest or Game Rooms that stand out show originality in concept and design. It could be a use of conventional furniture in unconventional ways, the use of a theme or color, or humor.

Mr.GreenGene wins top honors this week in the Best Guest Room category.

Game rooms that get the nod offer a new game idea or a new twist on an old favorite. In all rooms we look for room owners who welcome everyone with a smile and show a willingness to answer questions about their room.

Check out this week's Best Guest Rooms and Best Game Rooms.

Best Guest Rooms

It's great to be green in Mr. GreenGene's Proud To Be Green room. Talk about green items and events in this room, or ride the river and check out the giant four leaf clover!

Best Game Rooms

There's a fun new game in VMK and it's called Flip!!. Fruit_smoothie brings us this red-rover type game where everyone has blast! Check out the album in the room for game rules. Have fun!

Best Player Quests

New to VMK and want to learn some tips? Mystify_ME to the rescue! In her Quest, VMK Basics Quest, players can learn some basic VMK tips and tricks and maybe even win a prize!

Players who have been previously recognized for their design talents will receive the VIP award.

VMK Cards

The first card from Series 3 is here!

Get the Animation Viewer by playing the Animation Quest at Disneyland or Walt Disney World – redeem the code on your card for this cool virtual prize.

Check out the VMK Rewards Card Checklist and make sure you have all the VMK bling! What cards do you have in your collection?

Scam Alert

Scamming of any kind will get you BANNED!

It's great to have a popular room in VMK, but it's not OK to get players into your room by scamming. Pretending to have an item that you don't have, in order to get players to come into your room, is considered a scam and you can be banned from VMK!

Beware of "free" rooms

There are some players that advertise their rooms as "free," but when you enter them, they force you to pay up or get booted from the room. Beware of these types of rooms and report players who engage in this activity.

Close your room when you leave

If you are going to be away from your computer for awhile don't leave your room open - close it. Why? When you leave your room open, you're leaving it open to players that may be confused when they enter and don't know where the owner is. Sometimes confused players who find ownerless rooms will use the Call for Help tool and this takes away valuable time that Staff could be helping players in need.

Safety Corner

Adult subjects are not appropriate in VMK!

Adult subjects are never allowed in VMK. If you need a reminder of what is and isn't acceptable, read over the VMK Values.

If you spot a player in VMK that is not following the VMK Values and guidelines (especially if they're using adult subjects in chat) – report them. This also applies to players chatting about violence and/or engaging in a violent act – report these players (and any who violate the rules) immediately! VMK does not tolerate violent language of any type. Engaging in this type of behavior is inappropriate and will get you banned, in most cases permanently. Help keep VMK a safe and fun virtual place for everyone! :-)

Make sure to follow the VMK rules when reporting someone!

Someone cutting in line or asking you to be their friend is not ground for reporting. Use the Call for Help system wisely.

VMK Staff needs to spend their time helping people are who are seriously in need of assistance. However, if a player keeps doing something to annoy other players (repeating words to fill up the screen, blocking, etc) please use the Contact Us section on the website to report your issue – don't forget to be detailed (include harasser's name and event details) when writing in

Quests

In-Park Quests!

PLAY THE DISNEY ANIMATION QUEST!

Play the latest VMK In-Park Quest now at The Magic Kingdom® and Disneyland® - put your knowledge of Disney animated films to the test!

Going to Disneyland® Park or Magic Kingdom® Park? Play the in-Park Quests! Learn more here.

<strong>High School Musical Quest</strong>! Watch the movie, visit the Parks and answer all the questions to win cool stuff!

Get the <strong>Thrill Seekers Ques</strong>t for the Walt Disney World® Resort here!

The Tomorrowland Quest is still available: Download it here.

Contact Us Tips

Problems? Contact Us!

When you use Contact Us to ask a question or report an issue, please be aware of the following:

If you use AOL or EarthLink for e-mail, you won't receive our response, as AOL e-mail filters block our replies. Please provide an alternative e-mail in the Contact Us form where it asks for your e-mail address.

Some Spam Filters will automatically block e-mail from an unknown source unless you tell the program to allow it: To get email from VMK, allow mail from [email protected]. (Please note this email address does not receive e-mail except via the Contact Us form.)