Suggestion for Trip Reports [Archive] - The DVC Boards at MouseOwners.com - the place to talk DVC and Walt Disney World

carolina_yankee

10-19-2006, 09:32 PM

Colorado Belle

10-19-2006, 10:11 PM

Hi guys,
Since I'm guilty of having the longer TRs that you mentioned, I tried it both ways.
First trip report: broken into parts. Second trip report: all on one thread and Last Trip Report...I tried to keep it all on one thread but the photos made it terribly l-0-n-g and so I did a 'last part' separate thread.

I don't understand about links, so I can't comment. I know that sometimes there is a 'link' in a post and when I click on it I find something interesting, but I have no idea how to get one of those links in my own posts (but I'd love to learn.)

For me as a writer of TR's, it's great fun to get comments, but I can see how sometimes the comments lead off into tangeants that might not interest everyone.
But I'm always open to suggestions as to how to better organize or improve my TR's. (hey...I just learned how to add photos and this was way exciting for me!)

carolina_yankee

10-19-2006, 10:19 PM

CB - Putting links into a post is like putting an image.

If you look to the left of the photo button in the formatting line of the compose-post page, you'll see a little globe thingy with a chain link at it's base. If you click that, enter the URL of whatever you want to link to and click "OK", it automatically goes into your post as a link. Like this: http://www.mouseowners.com

If you highlight a word (such as Disney (http://www.disneyworld.com)) before clicking the globe/chain icon, the link is attached to that word so that clicking on the word takes you to the link.

If there were such a sticky, you could highlight the person's entry, click the globe/chain icon, and then enter thge URL for their thread. Then, clicking the entry in the sticky index would take you right there.

Like this:

ColoradeBelle, Food & Wine, Oct 2006 - Last Part (http://www.mouseowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5168)

et voila, there you are! (Or JiggerJ's family photo in this case!)

Dirk

Colorado Belle

10-20-2006, 12:34 AM

oh that is soooooo cool!
Ok...I'm going to try it right now!!!!
Ready?

www.snapfish.com

Colorado Belle

10-20-2006, 12:39 AM

ok, that went well. This one is harder:

Dancing Water (http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=526)

Colorado Belle

10-20-2006, 12:42 AM

ok...this time, when I clicked on Dancing Water, it took me to a Comcast error post which said please return to something or other, so I clicked the back button on my screen and voila...the photo came up. I'm sure that this is snapfish protecting the photo or something, but hey...at least I can kinda do it.

Thanks Dirk...kissy, hugs and smilies!

Colorado Belle

10-20-2006, 12:46 AM

ok, one more....

http://www.mouseowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5180

Colorado Belle

10-20-2006, 12:47 AM

I'm so excited...I've wanted to learn how to do this for the longest time.

:kickingco Ok....so what is the 'insert email link button going to do ?

carolina_yankee

10-20-2006, 01:39 AM

CB - congrats on your new-found knowledge!

Back to our regularly scheduled topic - a sticky for trip reports . . .

Dirk

PS - CB - if you do click the email link, you will be given the opportunity to enter an email address for people to use to email you by clicking on the link it creates. You would want to do that by highlighting a word and then clicking the email icon.

If you want to try it out, the test board (http://www.mouseowners.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=45) is waiting!!

PoohsPal

10-20-2006, 02:21 AM

I'd hate to be the preson keeping an index fro everyone.

Just thinking out loud...

What if you put an "Example Trip Report SHown Here" stickey up. You request teh following format:

PoohsPal's October Trip is the title

When you update, you change the the title, PoohsPal's October Trip Part 2 added or update 10/20/06

Then put a link to the page with the next part at teh top of the first post. Also put number of update post.

Then, if you ad add'l parts, you add where they are in post one.

I think it'd make it a lot cleaner, but I don't know if people would read the example and follow or not.

Like I said, just thinking out loud. :headscrat:

CRSNDSNY

10-20-2006, 11:37 AM

People always love to comment on trip reports, so I think it's hard to keep longer reports (broken into several parts) in one thread. I hate browsing through the replies to get to stories of new adventures.

My suggestion is to always title the report in a way that multiple parts can be easily identified. I usually try to do something like CaroliinaYankee in DL, Part 1 (Part 2, 3, etc.).

I like the stickies idea as a trip report index. Should it be organized by author, by property, by date?

I'm thinking (for example):

CarolinaYankee DL Aug 2006 (link to)
CarolinaYankee WDW Nov 2006 (link to)
ColoradeBelle Food & Wine Oct 2006 (link to)
Deep-Thots Hawaii Juned 2006 (link to)

What do other people think?

Dirk

I think you could have one sticky up at the top per for an index per year or per quarter (depending on the frequency of reports posted and what is necessary for indexing).

It could look something like -- one sticky could be title "July- December 2006"

CarolinaYankee DL August 2006
LInk to first installment
Link to second installment
LInk to third installment
LInk to final installment

CarolinaYankee WDW Nov 2006
LInk to first installment
Link to second installment
LInk to third installment
LInk to final installment

etc etc etc

ANYTHING to help organize and make these easy to sift through and access woudl be great!

~~~~~~~~~~p.s. is there any mod out there who wouldn't mind keeping up with this? If not, if I were given permission to do so I'd be happy to help!

Rozzie

10-20-2006, 01:50 PM

We can do a sticky I guess as long as someone holds my hand through the sticky process. We all know I'm the weakest link when it comes to puters'.

I guess I am one of those tangent creators in TR's sometimes, *tries to look innocent*, but I enjoy reading all the different comments and responses. Makes it feel more like a conversation on a comfy couch. But that's just me, and I've been told more than once that I'm weird. :p

So whatever ya'll think will be best, I'll try. Now off to update my poor neglected November group thread. :dunce:

carolina_yankee

10-20-2006, 02:32 PM

CRSNDSNY - I like your formatting. The trick is to keep everything alphabetical or chornological. As I think about it, it might be easier to do it this way

Oct - Dec 2006
link to individual report
link to individual report
link to individual report

Jul - Sep 2006
link to individual report
link to individual report
link to individual report

Most people are probably looking for reports for specific time periods rather than by specific people. Older members have their fans that they keep up with, but newer members don't know who writes the most entertaining reports, so they want to know "What's the park like at Halloween time" and look for reports accordingly.

Right now - the Sticky wouldn't be too big, but it would grow over time as we grow members.

Maintaining the Sticky is easier than creating it. To create it, someone would have to research the forum for the TR posts, and copy the URLs so they can be organized and put into the Sticky. Not hard, just time consuming to be thorough. Once created, a guide could maintain the headings, while individual authors add link to their own reports under the proper quarter.

If it gets too out of hand, a guide may have to lock the sticky and edit it on his or her own as TRs appear.

The sticky should have guidlines for TR titles so there is some consistancy (which makes indexing easier).

Anyway - I'm not sure on the rules of posting stickies. I think any moderator can do it, but right now - we're not assigned to specific forums so one mod would have to be willing to take responsibility. However, Rozzie, if you do the research, I'm happy to do the posting and then keep it current. You can PM me for details of what info I'd need and how best to get it to me (plus computer tutorials as necessary).

Cheers!
Dirk

Rozzie

10-20-2006, 02:47 PM

Anyway - I'm not sure on the rules of posting stickies. I think any moderator can do it, but right now - we're not assigned to specific forums so one mod would have to be willing to take responsibility. However, Rozzie, if you do the research, I'm happy to do the posting and then keep it current. You can PM me for details of what info I'd need and how best to get it to me (plus computer tutorials as necessary).

Cheers!
Dirk

:dunce: What reserach? I'm sorry, I only have 1 cup of coffee in me this morning.....

Can I bring up something since we are all friends? :flowerfor

I hope that the new TR format will not hinder those who may not be familiar with the sticky situation. Plus there will be those who won't use it for one reason or another, for lack of knowledge about the new system or lack of know how. I dunno know, I just kinda thought it having it's own board was enough organization. BUT then again, sometimes change is good, I just don't want any one to be alienated. (do we have a smiley of a alien, mmmnnn.... :yoda: )

Anyhoo, just my 2 cents worth..wait I take those 2 cents back, I need all the pennies I can get for my pipe dream of VAKL ownership! :laughing:

CRSNDSNY

10-20-2006, 03:46 PM

I think that people could just continue posting their TRs as they usually have. Someone will just have to keep abreast of what's happening in the TR forum and add to the index sticky where and when necessary. I think doing it by date would make the most sense. Personally, I also like having separate threads for separate days. Then the person could respond to that particular thread. I like that.

At the Lodge (Routeman Dan's board -- he helped come up with our MouseOwners logo here) this is how we have things organized and it works out nicely. I'm not sure if you have to register to see it,but here is a link to what we call the Trophy Room (http://lodgeboards.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=19).

PoohsPal

10-20-2006, 03:49 PM

Rozzie - I *think* what they're saying is that a guide will do the sticky and then you just post with you TR links and dates. This would be just like replying to any other thread. I know you can do that. ;) Then, if I'm getting this right, the guide will take the info you post and put it in the first post of the sticky. So, it would not be a big deal for the TR poster. Just some work for the guide in charge. That's my interpretation. Not sure why it'd have to be locked, as only the guides and original poster would have access to the original sticky post. I would think someone looking at the sticky would see very quickly how it worked. There's probably be a note to PM the guide in charge with questions so that people don't shy away from posting. You're right, though. Too many rules coudl dter a newbie.

If you sort by date, not person, would it be?

October 2006
CB's TR - Part 1 Part 2
jiggerj's TR - Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

*No, I did not do real links. Just colored text to show what it would look like.

You'd still want to keep the reports for teh same trip and same person together, right?.

Rozzie

10-20-2006, 03:54 PM

Carrie, that makes more sense now that I think about it. I just know some of us are more tech savy than others.... as long as it stays user friendly. :handshake

TW1

10-20-2006, 04:25 PM

I'll chime in, since I can't help myself.

I like Dirk's suggestion that TR's be organized by timeframes. The chance to go back and see what happens in early June, or January, makes sense to me. I can think of many posts along the lines of "Tell me what May is like" or "Should I go in January or April".

A "Guide to Trip Reporting" sticky sounds interesting. It could give folks an idea of what to include. I can recall posting my first TR and thinking about what would be important for others. But I'll admit, what's important to me is probably not important to others. For instance I've never been one to bother with room reports, (i.e. Villa 2078 had a partial view of the guiet pool and dirty carpets,) but they sure are important for many people.

Colorado Belle

10-20-2006, 05:17 PM

Roz: if I can learn how to link then you can learn it (call me computerloser IYKWIM). I'm with you Roz, that I read the reports to kinda live vicariously through someone else's vaca. I love the photos, I love hearing Disney Magic stories,etc. As a writer of TR's , I love the feedback, and the tangeants (cause mostly they are funny and I do love to laugh).

I'm with TW on the 'room condition reporting'. I never thought of trip reports as a tool for 'information about what the weather is like in May' or anything tho. I mean, yep, when I read about someone's experience on a tour or impression of an event, I might want to try it myself; but I didnt' think people were actually referencing the trip reports or wanting to go back month's later to check something out. (tho I actually do remember trying to access a neat photo from someone's trip report and having a hard time finding it.)

So help me understand a little better. Questions: the trip reports would be posted much as they are now, randomly, under our Trip Report forum? But at the top, in a sticky, the 'titles' would be organized under the same name/different parts heading with links to click to get you to Part 1, 2, 3 etc.?
If you clicked on the link to read say Part 2, could you post your own comment while in the 'linked' post?

withdisneyspirit

10-20-2006, 05:22 PM

If you sort by date, not person, would it be?

October 2006
CB's TR - Part 1 Part 2
jiggerj's TR - Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

*No, I did not do real links. Just colored text to show what it would look like.

You'd still want to keep the reports for teh same trip and same person together, right?.

I like the way this one looks and I like the date and time of year aspect too like TW said. I have always liked it when people gather their trip reports together in their signature (Gopherit did this on the other board) and this idea is like that only inclusive of all MO trip reports :jumpingbe

PoohsPal

10-20-2006, 05:32 PM

Questions: the trip reports would be posted much as they are now, randomly, under our Trip Report forum? But at the top, in a sticky, the 'titles' would be organized under the same name/different parts heading with links to click to get you to Part 1, 2, 3 etc.?
:yes:
If you clicked on the link to read say Part 2, could you post your own comment while in the 'linked' post?
:yes: The link would just take you to the thread. Just like if someone posts a link to another site here, it'd pull up a window and you'd be on that site. So, with teh link, you'd jump to the thread with whatever TR and part you want.

Now, you just need to find someone with the time to organize it.

carolina_yankee

10-20-2006, 05:53 PM

I think the suggestions in the last few posts make a lot of sense. I'm willing to do the work, and the guides are mulling it over right now.

The question is how to be both user friendly and allow the maximum freedom in the boards (while also not overwhelming volunteer guides with a lot of maintenace work). Just becaues I'm happy to do this, doesn't mean someone else who comes after me would be.

As for "guide to trip reporting" - I wouludn't want it to be two restrictive since everyone has their own styles. Perhaps suggested content based on what others like to hear, but people should generally write out of their own passion - that's how all this started in the first place, right?!

Quite frankly, most people who think their reports are mundane, too detailed, or uninsteresting, are often the ones who give the best information to the newbie seeking info on what the Disney experience is all about!!

Anyway - good ideas!

Dirk

TW1

10-20-2006, 06:41 PM

should generally write out of their own passion - that's how all this started in the first place, right?!
Dirk
How true!

And the fact that you can write passionately at MouseOwners without fear of flaming.

Colorado Belle

10-20-2006, 06:54 PM

Couldn't agree more, Dirk. Writing a trip report has roots in passion, and we all have different passions and styles of writing...that's what makes reading them fun!It would be sooooo boring if we all wrote in the same style...ick!

I don't think we need a 'guide to writing a trip report' now that the forum has so many examples of different styles already. (Back in the day....I think most of us went to other sites and read TRs before we began writing ours)....any 'newbie' to trip reporting can read other TRs and then pick a style he likes and format his own TR that way.

I also worry that people might perceive such a 'guide' as 'rules' and then worry so much about their report fitting the guidelines that they just don't post a trip report at all. Then we all lose.

Rozzie

10-20-2006, 07:07 PM

I also worry that people might perceive such a 'guide' as 'rules' and then worry so much about their report fitting the guidelines that they just don't post a trip report at all. Then we all lose.

Yeah no rules! :upsidedow

I mean, before you know it, it would be illegal to do a TR while intoxicated via the Gurgling Suitcase. Not that I've ever written a live TR tipsy. :slyasafox

CRSNDSNY

10-21-2006, 12:22 AM

Not sure how I feel about a "guide to TRs". I just like the idea of easily being able to follow a TR as it is written. An index, just like in a book, will point you in the direction of the 'chapter' you are interested in reading.

I really didn't invision this being any different for the writer...it's pretty much just a maintenance job as organizer/indexer for the TR board.

:clappingh
I'm glad you all agree with this concept! :goodvibes