Virtual Magic Kingdom comes to an end
by Chris Chester 
Apr 9th 2008 at 6:30PM
Filed under: Business models, Events, in-game, MMO industry, Pirates of the Caribbean Online, Toontown Online, Browser, Casual, Kids
It's a sad day for for those who enjoy some digitalized Disney magic. It's been decided that Virtual Magic Kingdom, the virtual world developed and released in 2005 to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of the real Disneyland's opening, will be closed for good on May 21. According to an FAQ posted on the official website, the reason VMK is closing is because it was originally intended simply as a promotion for the event in 2005, and has continued to run far longer than they originally intended.Of course, all is not lost for those who subscribe to the cult of Disney. They've already announced a commitment to spend over $100 million in the virtual world space, and they recently consolidated all of their online efforts, including Pirates of the Caribbean Online and Toontown Online, into one division. Their execs already have a firm grasp on the role virtual worlds have to play in building up their brands, so it seems likely that they'll be actively chasing after the casual gaming dollar for the foreseeable future.
[Via Worlds in Motion]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John Frost said on 2:59PM 4-10-2008
Users of Disney's Virtual Magic Kingdom (VMK) are not happy about this as you might suspect. Do you have any general rules for companies who plan to shutter MMOs in the future on what they can do to ease the pain of the community.
-John
www.thedisneyblog.com
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Penny said on 2:39PM 4-16-2008
As a teacher and Disney fan, I found a way to connect with my students through VMK. We often “meet” on VMK after school for some Disney fun. This bond I have worked hard to build is being torn away. My students are disheartened, as if in some way they are losing a part of their teacher. I am hoping Disney will do the right thing and leave VMK alone. There are so many ways Disney could capitalize on marketing VMK, it seems foolish from a financial stand point to pull the plug on a successful venture. But what do I know? I’m just a consumer, family member, teacher, friend, traveler, and role model to hundreds of children.
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