Newsletter 2 April 2007
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An update on the new features and game improvements - plus revised travel plans, all this week in Yavn Speaks.
Yavn Speaks!
Yavn Grounded!
I should be writing this from Lost River Delta, Mysterious Island or Fantasyland Gardens but instead - I've been grounded! No, I'm not in trouble, but as many already know, you can't fly when you have an ear infection.
If you had a big glowing thermometer sticking out of your ear, it would hurt too.
So yet again my trip is delayed, but don't worry I'll go next month once I'm all better. This brings up a good point, don't count your chickens before they hatch... or my version, don't give a release date for an upcoming update of the game until you are sure of when it will release. So I'll be a little vague here and say that sometime this week you'll see VMK's latest 'build' with Fantasyland Dark Rides - as well as some other cool new features. So I'll keep this brief and give you the full 411 when the update releases.
On a side note, I do have some clarification from last week regarding the new dark ride pieces we have created.
The Alice Hedge.
Yes, we'll be selling some of the various pieces - not all of them, but quite a few... I'll have some info on that, (what we'll be selling and when) later this week.
I was thinking the Alice Hedge Maze items would make good prizes for a Ride-A-Thon!
So now it's back to final testing so you can see the new stuff! In a day or 2, I'll have more news...
Stay tuned, I'll be right back,
Yavn
Update
From 3 April 2007, added to the Newsletter 4 April 2007
UPDATE! Get the latest info on the new features and the dark ride attractions straight from the source!
Lights on for Dark Rides!
After months of hard work I'm very proud to announce/launch the very first VMK Dark Rides! The team spent lots of time creating all the items to make these rides faithful virtual recreations of their park counterparts. Hopefully you will enjoy them as much as we do! But before I hop back on Peter Pan's Flight I have a few notes that will help make the game experience even better!
Pulling the Sword from a Stone!
By far the most asked question about the new Fantasyland update is, 'How do I get a Sword in the Stone Single Use Magic Pin?' This question is also usually followed by does the sword comes out of the stone? The easy answer is you MIGHT win a Pin by riding either Alice in Wonderland or Peter Pan's Flight. And yes, every time you ride one of the attractions there's a chance you'll win a the Sword in the Stone Single Use Magic Pin
Notice I said you might win – not every ride will get you a pin – so ride often and keep your fingers crossed! Now what should you do if you're lucky enough to win a pin?
The sword may be stuck – but if you pull it, you're in luck!
Well, just head on over to the sword in the Fantasyland Courtyard (make sure you're wearing the Sword in the Stone Pin) and then activate the pin. Your character will then walk up to the sword automatically and give it a tug. If the sword comes out of the stone you win something cool! But keep riding for a chance to win because the prizes will be changing!
Hair today! And tomorrow!
Seen your friends with a new do? Well, that's cause we added 2 new hairstyles – one for boys and one for girls.
Isn't it about time to change your style?
Dark Ride Parts & Pieces
So you like the new additions and want to know when you can get your hands on it for your own ride or room, which prompts the question, when's the stuff coming out? How about if you had a chance to win some stuff before it goes on sale?
Alice in Wonderland short hedge piece.
Alice in Wonderland long hedge piece.
Alice in Wonderland ride starter piece.
Alice in Wonderland curved track piece.
If you check the Community Calendar you'll see a Ride-A-Thon scheduled for this month!
The Fantasyland Ride-A-Thon will run April 27, 28 and 29th. After the Ride-A-Thon you'll see more items as well as track pieces available in the shops – but please remember, as I've said before, not all of the pieces will be released – but you will see quite a few releases as well as our new Dark Ride Guest Room! Sweet!
Fantasyland Quests
In addition to launching the new Fantasyland dark rides, we also launched the first of 4 in-game Fantasyland Quests. The questions are a mix from the animated feature films as well as the dark ride attractions. This week's Quest is from Peter Pan, so grab that DVD (check out that new 2-disc set if you haven't already, it's awesome) and get your Pan On! Want a heads up for next week? Do the words 'Dinah the Cat' mean anything to you?
Cool Stuff? We Got Lots!
Along with the dark rides there are several new functionality changes now in the game – including, a new room information window, an enhanced trade window – which offer greater details when you click on an item in any menu or the trade window. To find out exactly how these new features work (as well as many others) be sure to check the FAQs section on the site.
Well there you go! We hope you enjoy the enhancements and new rides – they're a labor of love for the VMK Team so we really hope you enjoy them. If you like them and want more let us know – and just so you know, I'm a huge Mr. Toad's Wild Ride fan and would love an excuse to ride it a bunch more! Later!
See you in VMK!
Yavn
Community Reminder
From 13 MarchRemember, it's against the VMK Values to create or open ANY type of 'relationship' room (rooms that include words like 'meet,' 'pick,' 'get,' 'find,' 'have,' 'taken,' etc.) in VMK. You'll be warned and possibly banned for opening any type of room that promotes this activity.
For more information or a reminder of what's acceptable in VMK refer to the VMK Values page.
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
VMK Racing Days April 15th and April 29th
Room Makeovers Every Tuesday and Thursday
Check the Community Calendar for more events, details and event times.
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.
The next VMK Racing Days are April 15th and 29th.
Room Makeovers
Two lucky players are selected randomly each week for a Room Makeover by our talented team of Room Designers. Join us weekly as we post their story (including before and after pictures) here in the Event Info section of the Newsletter. Submit your room for a Makeover through the Contact Us Tool.
This week pirate themes ransack the Room Makeovers! Winners this week are Parrot_Princess. and Dizsportsgurl, let's take a look at their rooms:
HOST_Lily
Avast ye scurvy space pirates! I just got back from a fun time with the Parrot_Princess. She was in the beginning stages of building a ride, but didn't know why she put space tracks in her Pirate Cannon room! I offered to help her make this Pirate Canon room shiver some cosmic timbers!
I thought we should go for a space pirate theme and make a ride that looped the room. Then we hid all the space pirates treasure in the middle! There are even a few hiding spots in here ... Let's see if ye can find 'em mateys!
The empty Pirate ship...
And after the Space Pirates made their mark.
That was pirate-riffic fun!
- HOST_Lily
And now another Room Makeover courtesy of our pal HOST_Sparky, take away Mr. Sparkster!
HOST_Sparky
Howdy ya'll! HOST_Sparky here to let you in on another Room Makeover! This week I wandered across a very interesting room called 'My Awesome but Boring Room' by Dizsportsgurl. I moseyed in to have a look and it was awesome but, well, boring! (At least it was appropriately named!)
The Jolly Roger flag, Pirate Thrones, and Ariel Treasure Chests gave me the feelin' that Dizsportsgurl might just be a pirate fan! So we decided that a Pirate's Cove was just what this room needed to be turned into.
As I was chattin' with the room owner, we discussed her favorite colors. Using your favorite colors will always make a room look great. But we needed those scurvy pirate touches - like some Pirate Maze walls and Turrets to make it look like a fortress. Then I placed a Well Chair up near the front so it wouldn't be in the way of the tables and act as a centerpiece for the room. Now no Pirate's Cove is complete without some music from a Pirate Player Piano surrounded by a couple of Crow's Nest Bar Stools so her guest could enjoy the salty air! Arrgh!
The awesomely boring room before the makeover...
...and after the pirate's plundered! Now THIS room is awesome but definitely not boring! A hearty thanks to Dizsportsgurl for letting me help her pirate dreams come true.
Alright now, ya'll come back - ya hear? - HOST_Sparky
Top 5 FAQs
This week's Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions
1. I've sent in a problem through Contact Us but no one has replied - why haven't I heard from anyone?
We respond to every email we get within 24 hours - but some email providers (like AOL.com, Hotmail.com, msn.com, Comcast.net, Cox.net, rr.net and Earthlink) block our responses.
If you use any of the email providers listed above, or haven't gotten a response from us, this is the reason.
Some email providers have Spam Filters that automatically block email from an unknown source and you have to tell the program (the email application) to allow email from that source. To get email from VMK, go into the preferences for your mailbox and allow mail from: [email protected]. (Please note, this email address DOES NOT receive email except via the Contact Us form.)
You also have the option to submit an alternate email address (this option is under the Send Details box) in the Contact Us tool if your provider won't take our replies. We suggest setting up another email account, like yahoo.com to get our replies.
2. Why is VMK Staff or a Community Leader ignoring me?
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.
3. I logged on into VMK and my character and stuff were gone - why was my account was deleted?
If you haven't logged into VMK for six-months or more - that account will be deleted. We need to delete unused accounts periodically to clear out room in the database for new users. If you don't want your account deleted, make sure you log into the game occasionally to keep your account active.
4. Why can't I log into the game and play VMK?
If you try to log into VMK and it's either closed or the site is too busy – don't panic. Sometimes VMK closes for improvements and will open again momentarily. Also, when there are many players in the game, this can cause VMK's system to become very busy – this is normal. Just wait a few minutes and try again later or wait until the Kingdom is less crowded.
5. My room needs a makeover - how do I get one?
Enter it in the Room Makeover contest! Just go to the Contact Us section on the VMK website. (The Contact Us link is located at the bottom of the every VMK webpage.) Then choose "Room Makeover Submission," fill in your information and the VMK Staff will evaluate your submission. Rooms in need are chosen for a Room Makeover. Good luck!
For more information about these or a complete list of VMK's most frequesntly asked questions, check out our FAQ.
Yeti's Tips & Tricks
You've got questions, Yeti has answers.
This week find out how to get to the Inner-Space Shop, how to build your bank account and using that IGNORE button. Ladies and gentlemen, may we present the furry fury, the King of 'Q & A' - Mr. Yeti!
Greetings gamers! I just flew in from Mount Everest - and boy are my arms tired! ;-) Seriously folks, we've got some great questions this week so let's get them!
Mr. Yeti, how do I get to the Inner-Space Shop?
Is it time to go shopping – in Inner-Space!? You betcha! But you're stuck looking for the location. Hmmm. The Yeti will help you find the Inner-Space Shop so you may purchase some quality goods!
To gain access to the Inner-Space Shop, first you will need the Inner-Space Suit Magic Pin (either Red or Blue).
There are two ways to get the Inner-Space Suit Magic Pin:
Option #1:
Complete the upcoming print-from-home Tomorrowland Quest at either Disneyland or Walt Disney World. When you complete this Quest, you will be awarded Inner-Space Suit Red Magic Pin.
Option #2:
If you can't get to the parks, don't worry, you can still get to Inner-Space. But you'll have to complete the Adventure Through Inner-Space Quest which is located in the Space Mountain Quest Deck in Tomorrowland. When you complete the Quest you'll be awarded the Inner-Space Suit Blue Magic Pin!
Start at the Space Mountain Quest Deck…
When you get to the Space Mountain Quest Deck make your way up to the right of the window, and you'll find the computer control panel.
Double click on the computer control panel to start the Quest.
Once you complete the Quest, you will have your Inner-Space Suit Blue Magic Pin.
Return to the Space Mountain Quest Deck and take the exit between the four astronauts.
This exit will take you to the Inner-Space Shrinking Machine. Make sure you are wearing your Inner-Space Suit Blue Magic Pin and write 'space!' in the chat bar or double click the pin to activate the Inner-Space Blue Magic Pin!
Now cross the gate to make your way make your way over to the Inner-Space Shrinking Machine.
You will end up in the Inner-Space Ray Room. The Inner-Space Shop is in the upper right corner.
Click on the exit tile in the doorway and you will enter the Inner-Space Shop.
Congratulations! You made it to the Inner-Space Shop! I hope you brought some credits to go shopping!
How do I cancel the IGNORE button once I've pushed it?
Maybe someone was talking your ear off and you just wanted some peace and quiet – so you pushed the IGNORE button. Now you wish you hadn't, so now what?
Well there isn't a way to reverse the IGNORE button once used, however, it only lasts a short amount of time, and that player's words will be visible once again.
Where can I find places to get credits?
There are a lot of great places in VMK to get some credits. Visiting NPC's (which means Non-Playable Character) is one of them. The very first time you enter VMK and visit an NPC you are awarded 40 credits. Each time you visit thereafter, the NPC will award 20 credits once every 12 hours.
The other NPC's are:
Esmeralda – located in the Emporium on Main Street
Shrunken Ned – located in Shrunken Ned's Shop in Adventureland.
Captain Blackheart – located in Pirate Treehouse in Adventureland.
Dragon – located in the Dungeon in Fantasyland.
Ghosts – located in the Haunted Mansion Stretching Room in the Haunted Mansion lobby which is in New Orleans Square.
Yeti – located in the Matterhorn in Fantasyland (that's right I give you a few credits to swing by each day and say hello).
Gator Waiter – located in Blue Bayou in New Orleans Square.
The Gator Waiter serves up more than Mint Juleps at the Blue Bayou – you can get credits everyday!
If you were to visit all the NPC's in a given day you would get a total of 180 credits. Not too shabby for just walking around!
MORE CREDITS
You can also get credits by playing any of VMK's great games:
Castle Fireworks remixed – located in Fantasyland.
Haunted Mansion – located in New Orleans Square.
Pirates of the Caribbean – located in Adventureland.
Jungle Cruise – located in Adventureland.
The credits for the games are calculated by your final score, and the amount of credits varies.
Well, that's all for this week! Check back next week when I'll have tips for Questing and the new features in VMK! Stay cool!
Push's Trash Trivia
This week "Where in the Park?" returns as Push sends you on a Quest to find this location.
Where in the Park?
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 to last weeks Trash Trivia question:
Question: This tree is an 'icon' for our natural resources. Name the tree and the Disney Park it appears in.
Answer: The Tree of Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Lions, tigers, dinosaurs, bears, and a Yeti &ndash oh my!
Did you know: The Tree of Life was constructed on top of a refitted offshore oil platform. The tree is 50-foot wide and 14-stories (145-foot) tall. The tree's branches are constructed of fiberglass and its trunk and roots are made of concrete.
The 325 animals that surround the tree's trunk were sculpted by 10 artists and 3 Imagineers, all who worked full-time for 18 months to create the carvings on the trunk. Because the cement they were sculpting was hardening as they worked, the artist had only six to ten hours to sculpt each animal.
The Tree of Life took over a year and half to construct. This included the individual placement of more than 103,000 translucent leaves (in five shades of green) that sway realistically in the Florida breeze.
Like real trees, the Tree of Life is home to a family of insects – the base of the tree houses Flik and Hopper from A Bug's Life at the It's Tough to be a Bug! 3D theater.
Congratulations to the 3 lucky (and randomly picked) players that sent in the correct answer for last week's question!
Audrae
jemmakate
Toughbug
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.
NativePrincessAl 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
 | Beyond Tiki Island, there is a house hidden by trees – it's the Never Land Tree House! NativePrincessf created a great tree house to hang out in, and you never know who might show up in Never Land! |
Best Game Rooms
| | Welcome to the Disney Trivia Game Show with your host Stephen-L! Located in the grand Disneyland Hotel, this trivia game will test your Disney knowledge. Good luck! |
Best Player Quests
| | Spring's here, but winter left such a mess! What to do? Diby decided to clean up with his Spring Cleaning Quest. Go on a trek to help diby clean up, and win some great prizes along the way! |
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
If you promise Players a prize - you must award it!
If you're running a game in your room – play fair. If you promise an item to a winner, you must award that winner the item. Failure to do so is considered a scam by VMK Staff and you will be BANNED for this type of activity. If you're a player that was supposed to win an item and didn't receive it – use the HELP button and report the scam.
Remember, if you are ever have a question about fair play you can always check the VMK Values or the FAQs – your question will probably be answered there.
Staff impersonation is NOT allowed in VMK!
Impersonation is never allowed in VMK. If a player says they are VMK Staff, make sure they're wearing the orange Mickey Pin and wearing either red (for Staff and HOSTS) or blue (for QA) Mickey ears.
VMK Staff will always wear the orange Mickey Pin.
You can always spot STAFF and HOSTS because they wear red Mickey ears.
You can identify a Community Leader by the 'CL_' at the beginning of their name and their blue wizard hat pin.
Remember, VMK Staff will never ask you to trade any items. If you have other questions check out the FAQs page!
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.
Safety Corner
Keep your information private in VMK!
Never, under any circumstances give your VMK user name and password to any other player or post it on a forum on another website.
Some surveys have been going around on the internet claiming they have free offers if you give out your VMK information – this is a SCAM!
Never give your information to these surveys or anyone else, and always keep your password private. VMK will never ask you for your information unless you contact us about a problem with your account. Keep your VMK, and all the great items you've earned, safe!
Please spend some time reviewing the VMK Values, and remember to keep your information private.
Hate Speech will get you banned!
Hate speech is not tolerated in VMK. If you see someone using this type of language in the game – REPORT THEM!Engaging in hateful or offensive behavior is never appropriate - doing it in VMK will get you banned from the game, in most cases permanently. Help keep VMK a safe and fun virtual place for everyone! :-)
Enter 'pay to play' rooms at your own risk!
In some rooms you must 'pay' the room owner to stay in that room. If you choose to do this, you are doing so at your own risk. Once you 'pay' (credits or give items to the owner) – if you're booted from that room – VMK will NOT be able to get your stuff back because you entered this room at your own risk.
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.)