VF FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

[Chris]

Here is a listing of the most frequently asked questions on Visions Fantastic's Discussion Boards. If you have a question regarding a site issue, please ask in the appropriate forum (Audio/Video, Site Feedback, etc).

1. How do I become a Senior Member?


"Senior Members" have 100 posts or more. (Posts in the Video Gallery do not count toward your post count). "Members" have more than 50 Posts and Junior Members have under 25 posts.


2. What is a Sticky Topic and what are "Official" Threads?

A Sticky Topic is typically a topic created by a Mod or Admin and usually involves some importance. Only a Mod or Admin can make a topic "Sticky". Certain popular topics have been placed as "Official Topics". These are created by Mods/Admins as a single location to discuss ongoing popular topics. You cannot specify your post as "Official" unless you are a Staff Member of VF.

3. Can I advertise my website on VF?

No. Advertising is not allowed. You can post a link to your website in your signature.

4. Help! I posted a thread and now I can't find it!

Sometimes a topic is better suited to a different area of the boards and topics are sometimes moved. There is usually a re-direct left behind when topics are moved.

If your topic involved illegal activities or broke a specific guideline, your thread may have been removed. We usually will notify you via PM if this occurs.

5. Why is VF missing video from certain rides?

Certain rides don't video well. Rides such as the Teacups and Carousel are difficult to flim and frankly boring to watch and are better experienced at the parks. Certain attractions do not allow video recording, and its VF policy to not allow video of these attractions to be shared here. These attractions include: Soarin', It's Tough to Be a Bug, Honey I Shrunk the Audience, Muppetvision3D, Golden Dreams, Star Tours and the '50 Years' film in the Main Street Opera House.

6. Why are the sound files in WMA (Windows Media Audio).

In the interests of keeping the site as a strictly web-experience, and to help discourage piracy and trading, our audio materials are in a lower quality WMA format that is suitable for a web listening environment, but leaves much to be desired in a digital music format. VF carries no audio materials that are commercially or copyrighted. VF now only has audio material that is recorded live. We encourage you to buy official park albums for the ultimate in quality and enjoyment.


7. What is an Avatar?

An Avatar is a image, usually a photo or graphic that best represents you and your personality. VF has a very large selection of avatars to choose from, or you have the option to uploading your own. Simply going into the MY CONTROL PANEL link above and choose EDIT AVATAR.

8. Why are countdown timers not available?

Countdown timers tax the server of valueable system resources, and in general slow the overall performance of the boards. They also use Javascripting code that is not supported on some platforms.

9. How do I put images into the Gallery?

VF has a Multimedia Gallery where you can share photos, short sound or video clips. Simply click on the Gallery link above, go into MEMBER CATEGORIES and click the UPLOAD tab. Your photos will be uploaded into a folder created from your username. Each user have a 6 megabyte limit. Keep in mind that guests visiting your Gallery must be logged into VF. Copyrighted photos (photos or graphics belonging to someone else), commercial audio or video materials may not be shared in our Galleries.

10. You have a sound file for A but not B. Why?

All audio recordings on VF were recorded at the park live. VF does not carry commercial or copyrighted 'source audio' materials.

11. Who runs the site?

VF is run by Chris Lang (username Chris) and Brett Garrett (username 'DaddyB'). Staff members include DCA Fan (Admin), Ca Screamin Dude (Admin), Cavemandon (Admin), Tony T (Admin), RU42 (Admin and Videographer), XFKirsten (Moderator and Videographer), Space Mt. (Moderator), Mission Control (Moderator), Neo (Arcade Attendant and Refurb schedules), and DizWiz (Moderator and photographer). The website is located on a dedicated server in Miami, FL, while the site staff reside in California and Washington State.

12. I registered but I can't get into the Gallery or watch videos!

Its likely your account has not been activated. On the main page http://www.visionsfantastic.com/main.php there will be a message telling you that you are not activated. Follow the instructions there.

13. What is/was '50 Years of ImaginEARing'

This was a compilation of Disneyland materials by Rick Conant who has mixed most of the materials on the site. His tribute to Disneyland's 50th Birthday was a six CD set that was made available for listening (not download) in January 2005. These materials are now playing on the new VF Radio.

14. How does one become a 'Mod' or 'Admin'?

Vacancies in staff positions on VF are very rare. Many staff members have been with VF (and our previous projects) for many years. We typically will only assign a new Mod or Admin if there is either a vacancy or a need for extra help. Typically members that have been with the site for quite awhile would be choosen before a new member. There is an unofficial "waiting list" of people who have requested to become a Mod, but the list has gotten quite large. To better your chances try these things: Act in an adult manner with an emphasis on good spelling, grammar and good, well-thought out topics and posts. It's not a race to see who gets the most posts. Many staff members of VF rarely post at all.

15. I want to make a website like this, is it hard?

Well, to put things into perspective; this has been ongoing project for upwards of 7 years with a staff of 10 and is by no means something you could put together over a weekend, or even a few months. The software that VF runs on is commercial software that must be purchased. My advice to you is that if you intend on having a successful website, be prepared for the project to take YEARS before you have any semblance of steady traffic.

16. What programs did you use to make VF?

Frontpage 2004 was intially used for page layout, SwishMax was used to create the flash-driven maps and audio content, Adobe Image Styler was used for many of the background and text effects. Programs used for Video editing range from Windows Movie Maker to Adobe Premiere. VF is run on two dedicated servers with monthly traffic in excess of one terrabyte. (Usually about 1000 individual people a day log into VF).

17. Can I use a image, sound file or video file on my webpage or MySpace page?

No. Permission must be obtained before any materials can be used or linked to elsewhere. We DO check our server logs and we will contact you if you attempt to "hot link" to our materials.

18. I have a really cool video on my computer that I'd like to share with the VF community. How do I do this?

If the video file is in excess of the 6 megabytes you have in your personal gallery, contact site Admin (username Chris) and inquire. We obviously can't feature every video submitted, but we will do our best. Your video materials must be certain criteria (filesize, format, etc).

If you did not "shoot" the video, you have no claim to it and shouldn't be showcasing it in your own personal forum without permission from the clips' owner.