BaltiMouse 2005

[WillCAD]

Seems like I couldn't get a weekend to myself over the last 3 months or so, but now that the holidays are over, MouseFest has come and gone, and planning for my next Disney trip is well under way and not pressing me, I have been giving some thought to BaltiMouse 2005.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
BaltiMouse, the Great Baltimore Mouse Meet, is a mini-meet in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. BaltiMouse 2004, held on May 1-2 2004, was the first such meet, with attendees from 4 Disney online fan communities gathering in Baltimore for a casual weekend of socializing, sight-seeing, and most importantly, EATING. BaltiMouse has several events scheduled over Saturday and Sunday, but this is a mini-meet, not a convention; no money is collected and everyone is responsible for taking care of their own hotel, meal, and admission costs on tier own, leaving everyone free to cancel at the last minute without losing deposits, and freeing me from the need to beg for money.

BaltiMouse is an outgrowth of a couple of mini-meets I organized in September 2002. At that time, I was a member of only one online Disney fan community, so those meets were attended only by members of that community. But in the intervening years I have joined several other communities, and after attending MouseFest 2003 I wanted to expand my next Baltimore meet to include my friends from all the communities I belonged to. Hence, BaltiMouse was born.

My original concept for these meets was to simply try for a casual gathering of folks who live in the Baltimore-DC metro areas. But I found to my surprise that folks from as far away as Ohio and Connecticut wanted to attend! So BM04 wound up being more of an East Coast meet than just a Baltimore meet, and I was thrilled.

BM04 (read the trip report here) was a great success, with over 25 attendees, great weather except for a brief rainstorm that chased us inside during dinner, and lots of fun activities for all.

SCHEDULE CHANGES:
BM04 was held on May1-2, 2004. But I want BM05 to be later in the year. By varying the season of BM from year to year, I think we can help those with scheduling conflicts attend. My thoughts for this year are to try for the second weekend in September, 9/10-9/11.

Since so many schools on the east coast go back into session during the last week of August, holding BM05 two weeks later allows those with school-age kids some time for the dust to settle before planning a weekend getaway. But since BM is only a weekend, it should not conflict with school schedules at all.

Weather in Baltimore in September is still summertime - hot, humid, and hazy - but not nearly as intense as WDW. Our temps average about 10 degrees cooler than Orlando, and we get a lot less rain, so the odds of getting good weather that weekend are pretty good, barring the occasional weather front.

September is the slow travel season throughout the US, so hotel rates and gas prices will, hopefully, be lower than those in the summer travel season. We all know what bargains can be found at WDW in September!

EVENT CHANGES:
In a recent poll on Tagrel.com, those responding seemed to prefer an unstructured gathering as their favorite type of meet over the ride meets and the dinner meets. So for BM05 I want to try having an unstructured meet at one of the food courts in the Inner Harbor, instead of a dinner meet.

With up to 25 attendees, I found it difficult at BM04 to circulate during dinner and talk to everybody, but at several unstructured meets during MouseFest 2004 (Tagrel.com Brunch at the Ball and Wilderness Lodge meets, the MegaMeet, and the MVMCP Wishes meet) I was able to get around and talk to a lot more people. Having the meet in a food court affords us the opportunity to mix around, grab something to eat (or not), arrive and leave at our convenience, and easily move the group should something unforeseen like an afternoon rain shower blow our plans into little pieces.

So, let me have your opinions on BM05, including any suggestions for events, any volunteers to organize things, and any questions you might have.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Baltimore here Would 'possibly' be interested in something depending on the days

 

[Mouseaholic]

Hello!

I don't seem to be here all that often but found your post today and I say...count me in!

I live in Annapolis and would be happy to help in any planning assistance you need.

Work takes me out of town a week or two each month....and Disney, of course, tempts me back to Orlando/Anaheim a few times a year!

Anyway.....let me know if I can help...it sounds great!

Cheers,

Cathy


"Remember, we must always believe in our Wishes, for they are the magic in the World. Now, lets all put our hearts together and make a Wish come true".

 

[kar313]

Sounds like a fun time. We can't make the meet in PA in July so this would be great. We will be in WDW Sept 22-25, and possibly doing 4day Wonder Sept 18-22 but the dates you listed are good.

 

[ANTSS2001]

will be watching for your dates.. I am working that weekend 9/10-9/11 but if changes to opposite weekend count two more from Pa

 

[WillCAD]

The dates for BaltiMouse 2005 have been set for September 17-18.

The original dates of Sept 10-11 didn't get a very good reception, but the following weekend seems easier to make for most of those who expressed interest.

I'll be posting some info on Inner Harbor attractions and hotels later for those who come in from out of town. There is plenty to do in the Inner Harbor and lots of nice hotels within walking distance of Harborplace.

 

[aanthony03]

We are new to the Baltimore area, actually we've been here 5 years, so I'm not sure if that is still considered new. I would like to participate with my family with that is all right. My name is Christina and my hubby is Andrew. we have 3 children Evangelia age 6, Epiphania age 4, and Prince Harry or Dirty Harry as we call him age 1. Dec 2005 and will be the first time everyone gets introduced to the Mouse. God Willing that is. I have join a yahoo group called www.mouseforless.com. They are getting people in the group to start a get together in their state, even around the world. There is a Mousefest happening in WDW the 1st weekend in Dec, so the ones who are not able to go are participating in this. If possible I could let them know that all of you are planning a meet for Sept I think for us who live in this area would prefer not to do it in Dec because it freezing cold. If someone could get back to me email me privately and let me know what you think.

Thanks!
Christina
Mom of 3 Dalmations

 

[WillCAD]

You're all very welcome Christina!

I've heard about some of the other gatherings you mentioned; there is a huge Northeast meet coming up this year, and I have been to MouseFest at WDW the last two years. MouseFest is kinda what gave me the idea for BaltiMouse in the first place, since it's a gathering of people from many Disney web communities.

And of course, BaltiMouse is my way of getting a little dose of Disney Magic in between trips to WDW!

 

[ANTSS2001]

 

[WDWDennis]

We should be able to make it this year Will! I havent checked the dates in my book yet, but I'm sure we can at least get down there for a day.

 

[liznboys]

We might be interested in coming. I'll keep watching this thread!

 

[goofyforlife]

I'd be interested too....

 

[doctorj!]

Hi Everyone,
I was looking around for a pin/collector meet in New Jersey and I found this thread. The weekend you are planning the get together, is the same weekend that the Baltimore Comic Book Convention is being held. I wanted to know where your meet will be so that I can try to stop by! Thanks!

Ankur

 

[Glendamax]

Did I miss the DisMeet for 2005? Please let me know! Thanx Hon!

 

[WillCAD]

Hi Everyone,
I was looking around for a pin/collector meet in New Jersey and I found this thread. The weekend you are planning the get together, is the same weekend that the Baltimore Comic Book Convention is being held. I wanted to know where your meet will be so that I can try to stop by! Thanks!

Ankur

The schedule can be found here:
http://willcad.org/bm_2005-info.html

Along with info on hotels in teh Inner Harbor area. We'd love to have you guys! At the time of last year's BaltiMouse I was not a member of the DIS, so you will all be the first DIS group to attend!