By Linda Kim
Disney.com is the main website for the many facets of the Disney
Company. The homepage is a starting point for children, parents, consumers,
investors, and anyone else looking for information or amusement on
the web. Through the website, Disney can connect with its many customers
and partners, promote its businesses, and provide additional ways
to integrate its "magical" world into people's lives.
The homepage branches off to specific sites of interest through numerous
hyperlinks, indicated by animated pictures, pop-up text activated
by the mouse position, and different sounds expressing the existence
and type of site to which each hyperlink leads, also activated by
the mouse position. Of particular interest to parents or families
are the vacation planning resources available through the website
and the link to family.go.com. Family.go.com provides activity ideas,
more information about travel and food, and games. A particularly
good use of Disney's resources and the web on family.go.com is "Surf
Swell Island." This site addresses internet safety, a major concern
for parents as their children increasingly use the internet for studies
and amusement. Using animation, for which Disney is famous, and Disney's
most beloved characters (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy), this
Disney site instructs parents and their kids about internet safety
and safe web surfing through an interactive show/game. After families
complete the game and finishing watching the show, they can find more
safety information through links on the "Surf Swell Island"
webpage as well.
More interactive games and activities are available for children
of all ages through other links under "Zeether" and "Playhouse"
on the homepage. The games and activities are all based on Disney
productions, of course, from television shows, motion pictures, and
music groups. In addition, children can join a Disney online club
and communicate with other Disney enthusiasts in chat studios. They
can contribute to Disney.com's content through interactive webshows,
requests, and polls as well. Particularly appealing to younger children
is the animated storytelling and plethora of games and activities
geared toward preschool-age children. The website's games and activities
are updated daily and constantly changing, unlike games that come
on CD-ROMs which are just the same thing over and over again. Furthermore,
the website allows for interaction with other kids through chat and
with people on the Disney side. The Radio Disney DJs, for example,
take music requests through the website and give prizes to internet
users. Kids can also make suggestions to add features on the Zeether
site or even the shows that appear on the Disney Channel on television.
For Disney's business partners and investors, a small pull-down menu
at the bottom of the homepage leads to corporate information about
the company's many branches, the parks and resorts, career opportunities,
and public relations.
Disney's website is also one big advertisement for Disney's businesses
and products. Consumers can shop for Disney products through the online
store or make bids on the online auctions. Disney's entertainment
venues have their own sites to provide information about Disney movies
and videos, television shows, music, and Broadway shows. Along with
show information, movie trailers, film clips, music clips, and based-on-show/movie
games and activities are also available for Disney's entertainment
audiences.
Disney.com has a broad reach relevant to many internet users. The
site is presented aesthetically with sound and animation for which
Disney is so famous in the first place. The website is full of useful
information and resources, as well as chances for interaction and
entertainment. Overall, Disney.com is a very well-built website, user-friendly
and user-entertaining. Disney has nicely established yet another connection
to people through the internet.