Yavn Speaks

1/22/07 – Announcing a new in-Park Quest! Plus details on an upcoming football themed event AND a new VMK Guest room! It's an action-packed edition of Yavn Speaks and it all starts right now!

Winter Wonders

The vacation is over, winter is in full swing (boy, has it ever!) and now it's full speed ahead with school and work. So how can VMK help ease your winter blues? Well how about the long-awaited info on our newest Park Quest as well as a sneak peak at a new themed Guest Room?

Animated Questing

Here it is! The news you've been waiting for - the next VMK in-Park Quest is (drum roll please)... The Disney Animated Quest! Now we're trying something totally new here, unlike the traditional scavenger hunt-type Quests we currently have in the Parks, this is a Quest focused on Disney animated movies! Why would change the Quest you already enjoy? That's simple - we wanted to create a Quest that could be played while you are in line or taking a break from your Park adventure!
http://img264.**************/img264/1233/yavnspks20070122animati8rv.jpg

How well do you know your Disney animated features? The new VMK Disney Animation Quest has 10 question that will test your knowledge of your favorite Disney films. It hits both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World the first week of February!

Of the course the next question you're probably asking is 'what's the prize?!' Well, what better way to reward your animated Questing than with an all new Animation Viewer! Also known as a zoetrope (which means 'living wheel' in Greek), the device was used during the early days of animation to produce the illusion of motion. It's our little way of celebrating the early pioneers of animation - and it will look pretty cool in your room.
http://img264.**************/img264/6039/yavnspks20070122zoetrop4yi.jpg

COMING SOON the Animation Viewer! It's the first card in the Series 3 set. That's right, we said Series 3!

When will you be able to play the VMK Disney Animation Quest? Well, our plan is to have it running in both Disneyland and The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World by February 1st, if it's any sooner than that, I'll let you know. Until then please be patient - and please don't ask Cast Members about when it's coming, since they don't have an exact date either and asking won't help it arrive any faster!

While we're on the subject of Quest, Cards and Rewards, we're re-working all the VMK rewards. I've mentioned this before, but be prepared, the days of VMK Bracelets and Reward Card Packs are coming to an end - I'll have more information about this very soon but we're always looking to bring new things to VMK.

Mmmm! Minty Goodness!

Ok, so a few of you have sent in comments asking about the Mint Julep. Well, there are many 'versions' of this famous beverage, and yes, not all are family friendly. But for us and millions of Disneyland visitors, The Mint Julep is a sweet carbonated drink (suitable for all members of the family) flavored with mint and lemonade. Still, you can't find this minty delight just anywhere, it's only found in Disneyland at New Orleans Square.
http://img174.**************/img174/2423/yavnspks20070122gatorse6mi.jpg

Wet your whistle with a tasty (and family-friendly) beverage - the Mint Julep. Served with a smile by the Blue Bayou's reptilian restaurateur, the Gator Waiter.

Epcot in VMK?

Another topic getting lots of interest is a little something called the Epcot Guest Room. Now I can't say how the room will be released just yet, but it might not be a bad idea to brush up on your knowledge of Epcot just in case.
http://img177.**************/img177/4334/yavnspks20070122epcotro7tj.jpg

Spaceship Earth makes a VMK appearance.

Which raises the question will there be more Epcot in VMK? Will there be any special Epcot furniture? And will you get it from an in-game Quest or in-Park Quest? Ok, please hold your questions, time will reveal all... or just check back soon for more details. ;-)

The Big Game Maze

Last, but certainly not least, I wanted to let you in on something special we've planned for Super Sunday. Announcing the VMK Football Maze event for Feb. 4th - Super Bowl Sunday! What's this all about? Well, the VMK team has been creating some cool mazes that will earn you a spiffy cool prize! Tune in next week to see the prize and get the full details on this event.

Well I think that should more than satisfy your curiosity about future VMK happenings. Just remember to check back for more details on the VMK Disney Animation Quest launch date as well as specifics on the VMK Football Maze event. Coming up in a future blog, I'll try to get you a preview of some of the new items going on sale next month! Until then, I'm off to New Orleans Square at Disneyland to grab a Mint Julep and Monte Cristo sandwich! And a Churro... and a Turkey Leg... and a Fudge Mallow... so much for that New Year's diet resolution!

See you in VMK,
Yavn

The first new card in Series 3. Whoo Hooo!!

I posted this in the other newsletter topic:

Yavn is apparently ruining his new year's resolution of going on a diet because he's now eating a lot of food at Disneyland. LOL.

By the way, I hope the Epcot guest room is buyable in game or at least in-game quest and not in-park quest.

Yavn says you need to brush up on your EPCOT Knowledge for the EPCOT room. I'm thinking it will be a quest?

Yavn says you need to brush up on your EPCOT Knowledge for the EPCOT room. I'm thinking it will be a quest?

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. But their actually MIGHT be some Epcot furniture with the In-Game quest, just my thought.

I just hope it is like the Tron Guest Room quest where you can get a room by completing the quest in-game. If it ends up being in-park, I'll have to start trading for the guest room.

I just hope it is like the Tron Guest Room quest where you can get a room by completing the quest in-game. If it ends up being in-park, I'll have to start trading for the guest room.

I really doubt it will be an In-Park quest for the guest room, because that would mean that Disneyland would need to get their own In-Park quest as well. I'm thinking it's an In-Game quest, because Yavn said "Brush up on your Epcot knowledge".

Yavn Speaks
Coming up in a future blog, I'll try to get you a preview of some of the new items going on sale next month!

I'm excited about this :)

Thx for posting! I'm excited about that too ^...

While we're on the subject of Quest, Cards and Rewards, we're re-working all the VMK rewards. I've mentioned this before, but be prepared, the days of VMK Bracelets and Reward Card Packs are coming to an end - I'll have more information about this very soon but we're always looking to bring new things to VMK.

Should we interpret this to mean that the codes on our Series 1 and some Series 2 (the ones that give 9/30/06 as the expiry date) in-park quest cards will be invalid soon? :eek:

While I'm glad to hear something regarding new In Park Quests, one to replace the old three, while telling us the days of wristbands and card packs are gone is a bit disheartening.

I'm eager to hear what they have in mind.

Should we interpret this to mean that the codes on our Series 1 and some Series 2 (the ones that give 9/30/06 as the expiry date) in-park quest cards will be invalid soon? :eek:

My guess would be that all cards will be retired. By this I mean that Series 1 and 2 cards will no longer be available in the parks. I also feel that the codes will be valid as long as VMK is alive and well. Besides the cards will be avilable on e-Bay any way. I just hope they come up with a way for us to get the cards in the future without spending a fortune for them on the secondary market. I can't get to the park every day, week or month. Once a year... maybe.

i can not wait for the new epcot guest room i hope its an in game quest

EPCOT guest room. EPCOT turnstile. EPCOT pin. Mission Space Suit. (probably more)

I really do love EPCOT, and that room looks awesome.

I guess those critics from last week about Yavn not telling about the quest or room can come out of hiding and say sorry now ;)

The Epcot guest room is amazing! I hope the monorail and the fountain moves. I cannot sit still in my chair because of that room. I hope it comes out soon and he doesn't make us wait a few months.

I really doubt it will be an In-Park quest for the guest room, because that would mean that Disneyland would need to get their own In-Park quest as well. I'm thinking it's an In-Game quest, because Yavn said "Brush up on your Epcot knowledge".

If it was a In-Park quest we wouldn't need to Brush up because we could go to the park and see it

Is it just me or is the new quest item not to exciting

EPCOT stuff?

Omg I'm excited!!! :D

Epcot is my favorite park, and I would LOVE some VMK stuff :)

epcot stuff!! cool :)

If it was a In-Park quest we wouldn't need to Brush up because we could go to the park and see it

That's still no guarantee, but the Animation Quest makes two In-Park Quests unlikely...
But still, old Epcot SE Courtyard without the Make A Memory funeral pylons--Yay! :wave2:

(And seeing as I'll be in WDW in time for second week of February, hope Yavn gets that Quest up in both places in time for me to come home with a nice new Zoetrope.) :D

Yay! I'll be at Disneyland the first week of February! :) I hope the new quest really will be out by then.

The new Epcot room looks cool too!

Yay! I'll be at Disneyland the first week of February! :) I hope the new quest really will be out by then.

The new Epcot room looks cool too!

I'll be at WDW Feb 8 & 9. I actually am totally surprised that they'll have it up by then. When Yavn pushed this column a week I figured I was out of luck. Whoopie!

well...its quite obvious that this is an in-park quest because in his column he says:

we wanted to create a Quest that could be played while you are in line or taking a break from your Park adventure!


so...yeah...

THis is great me going to disney in the summer so i can do the quest in park quest ???

Series three! Woo! I've been looking forward to this for a long time. And an Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow Guest room? Awesome! But I hope they get the Super Bowl event right.
Until then, I'm off to New Orleans Square at Disneyland to grab a Mint Julep and Monte Cristo sandwich!A family friendly Mint Julep, I hope. ;)

~Q/S

EPCOT guest room. EPCOT turnstile. EPCOT pin. Mission Space Suit. (probably more)

I really do love EPCOT, and that room looks awesome.

I guess those critics from last week about Yavn not telling about the quest or room can come out of hiding and say sorry now ;)

don't forget about that weird space ship on the loading screen.

Is it just me or is the new quest item not to exciting

It's not just you.

why does everything have Ariel in it nowadays..

well i'm somewhat exited

Your attention please Nemo has fallen and can't get up. EPCOT guest room will be in VMk is to blame. Film at 11.


Nemo


Look up Epcot center leave a picture room in VMK.

This will be fantastic for my theme. Spaceship earth ride and leave a legacy photos. Right now the ride is well over half done and the leave a legacy area in front has a few pictures. Drop in and leave your Legacy. How? Ask me to take your picture and I will add your title to it.


Nemo

like schmoofy, i must be one of those few people who in the end actually like EPCOT, even though there's not a whole lot too it, it tires you out (Every Person Comes Out Tired), and Mission: Space makes you sick. In the end, i still gotta love it.

Yay! I can't wait for the new quest! :)

I posted this in the other newsletter topic:
Yavn is apparently ruining his new year's resolution of going on a diet because he's now eating a lot of food at Disneyland. LOL.

Well isn't that everyone's new year's resolution?
--
But anyways, I'm loving the look of the Epcot room.
~Chaelle

yeah imagine what they room they will bring out for aniamal kingdom i think maybe a tree of life room would be cool

But I hope they get the Super Bowl event right.


Let's be honest. What are the chances of this? :) Maybe by halftime they'll have issues worked out, but there has never been a maze event that has gone according to plan initially.


A family friendly Mint Julep, I hope. ;)


Thats all that is served at Disneyland outside of Club 33. Disneyland is a dry kingdom.

don't forget about that weird space ship on the loading screen.

Quite honestly - I would forget about it. :) If it comes, it will come. I don't think it was meant to model something specific, but rather to give the impression of moving fast through lines.

Thats all that is served at Disneyland outside of Club 33. Disneyland is a dry kingdom.
DCA isn't. ;-)

Ok - what is epcot please??

I have done a quick search and all I could come up with is a list of Pavilions and a short intro. Is this what it is? Also is epcot the same in DL and in WDW?
Many thanks for any info :wave2:

Epcot is an entirely different theme park, and part of walt disney world. Disneyland Resort includes 2 theme park: Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure (the newest American Disney Theme Park), as well as hotels, downtown disney area, and I believe they now have a water park as well. Let me know if I missed anything here, I would love to know all the amenities available.

Walt Disney World Resort contains 4 Theme Parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, MGM Studios, and Animal Kingdom, along with various hotels, water parks, downtown disney, miniture and regular golf courses, and a Wide World of Sports complex. EPCOT is a theme park with two different ares, future world and world showcase, and the different pavilions are similar to the lands found in the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland.

Every theme park is technically separate and independent, although rides may cross over. Every Disney theme park resort, however, includes some version of Magic Kingdom/Disneyland with a few attractions and/or lands being different (such as New Orleans Square in Disneyland and Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom). Other than this, however, all of the themeparks mentioned are completely separate entities which are set up differently and unrelated to the others except for a few attractions crossing parks, such as It's Tough to be a Bug in California Adventure and Animal Kingdom, and Soarin' in California Adventure and EPCOT. Disneyland Paris has it's own version of movie studios with the Disney Studios, so it is much a correspondent to MGM Studios. On the other had, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, Disney's California Adventure, and Tokyo DisneySea (park of the Tokyo Disney Resort) are completely independent parks with no direct corresponding parks anywhere in the world. What you found on EPCOT is pretty much what it is, but there is only one EPCOT, and it's my favorite park, I love shopping in the World Showcase.

OMG the new animation quest looks awesome! The only problem is that I won't be going to DLR anytime soon 'til this coming Halloween :( Oh well, there's always a chance it might still be there...?

~Pink

Many thanks Princessannanicole. Lol I thought it was part of the other parks and not a separate one. :)

EPCOT is a theme park with two different ares, future world and world showcase, and the different pavilions are similar to the lands found in the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland.
What you found on EPCOT is pretty much what it is, but there is only one EPCOT, and it's my favorite park, I love shopping in the World Showcase.

Basically (and what nowadays nobody ever picks up on), it was envisioned as a sort of "World's Fair Land", a permanent salute to the great days of Montreal, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.
But since we haven't had a World's Fair on this continent since the 80's, most generations seem to have forgotten what the heck those are, and the cool corporate-sponsored attractions keep getting replaced by Disney attractions...

(...Horizons forever!) :wave2:

Let's be honest. What are the chances of this? :) Maybe by halftime they'll have issues worked out, but there has never been a maze event that has gone according to plan initially.You're right, that's why I'm hoping for one that goes smoothly for once. And I mean for the whole time. Also, I think it will be an all day thing. I - and I'm sure many others - won't be logging onto VMK in the middle of the Super Bowl.

~Q/S

You're right, that's why I'm hoping for one that goes smoothly for once. And I mean for the whole time. Also, I think it will be an all day thing. I - and I'm sure many others - won't be logging onto VMK in the middle of the Super Bowl.

~Q/S

Me either, It's always a big deal at my house!

It's a big deal for us this year. Go Colts! (And congratulations to the Bears too!)

It's a big deal for us this year. Go Colts! (And congratulations to the Bears too!)

This is kinda off topic from the thread about the Bears, but btw... Congrats to the Colts, too (I'm a bears fan.. :)) It's a big deal for the Bears too, if that's what you mean, because two years ago, the Bears, well.. were last place in the NFC North. :l

But back on topic:

I <3333 the new quest item - it rocks!! I wonder if you can spin it and the vmk logo is animated! That'd be sweet! :O

I know what that thing will do! The VMK logo will rotate, I can tell. ;)

I think the Epcot Room will come out this friday... he does say look for it really soon! ( it must not be a month )

I don't think the room will come out this Friday. I bet more of towards the beginning of Feburary when the new quest comes out at DLR and WDW.

looks really awesome i hope i can get the item my older sis has tickets better start bugging her to go lol altho before i go for just that quest is there any other unknown quests anyone knows about that i might want to wait for?

That Is So Cool And It Is Also A New Series!!!!!!!!!!! Yay

tell Yavn if you see him in i said hi!!;) :minniemo: Thanks

This is kinda off topic from the thread about the Bears, but btw... Congrats to the Colts, too (I'm a bears fan.. :)) It's a big deal for the Bears too, if that's what you mean, because two years ago, the Bears, well.. were last place in the NFC North. :l

But back on topic:

I <3333 the new quest item - it rocks!! I wonder if you can spin it and the vmk logo is animated! That'd be sweet! :O

im guessing the item will be similar to a candle where it lights up when you double click on it. If it some how spins when you click on it, than that is definetely cool.

That's still no guarantee, but the Animation Quest makes two In-Park Quests unlikely...
But still, old Epcot SE Courtyard without the Make A Memory funeral pylons--Yay! :wave2:

Maybe the "pylons" will be sold as furniture items. But really, does anybody want them?

Maybe the "pylons" will be sold as furniture items. But really, does anybody want them?

haha first off, i have to say the front of epcot doesn't look the same anymore between the leave a legacy pylons and the big mickey hand on spaceship earth. second off, response to your question: NO! haha but I am THRILLED they are having an epcot room. lol can you imagine a bunch of little virtual faces on a virtual leave a legacy pylon? i think that actually would be a good idea though. it would be a good way to display pictures. and then you could click it just like you would on a wall, only it's more organized.

Ick, I hate the big Mickey hand even more than I hate the pylons!

Nice to have a new quest, now tell me this:

Why is VMK customer service a joke??? Why cant you get any response from any questions asked???

I have been told to change my name from WDWVeteran which i have had since beta day 1. WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????? I tried to enter wdw_veteran and it was not approved. what is going on??? why are you doing this now?? I asked service and guess what? nothing again!

Nice to have a new quest, now tell me this:

Why is VMK customer service a joke??? Why cant you get any response from any questions asked???

I have been told to change my name from WDWVeteran which i have had since beta day 1. WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????? I tried to enter wdw_veteran and it was not approved. what is going on??? why are you doing this now?? I asked service and guess what? nothing again!
Maybe they think the word "veteran" could be controversial?

I've had several names rejected for no reasons I could fathom. I mean, come on, what's wrong with "Winnie_the_Shoe"?

It just makes no sense, i am a park veteran and they never had a problem with it for the past year plus and it had to be approved then. Suddenly its a problem?? Im not WDWTerrorist!!!!

I know there are lots of morons out there who are after children and all that **** but the whole vocabulary thing has always annoyed me too. I can never explain anything to anyone on the game without it highlighting a word i used. I give up.

All I can think of is that the word Veteran could mean "old" which could give away your age group and therefore personal information?? Yea, I know it's a stretch, but they do seem to do weird things sometimes.

It seems appropriate to say, I'm sorry for your loss and hope you like your new name even more, you have had it a long time.

That would mean that Disneyland would need to get their own In-Park quest as well.
Well, Disneyland has (or had):

Gold Monster Inc Teleporter
Stitch Set
Halloween Quest
Animator's Desk

as Disneyland Exclusives but Walt Disney World never got there own versions of that stuff so I think Walt Disney World will finally get there own quest without Disneyland having another exclusive quest.