Cruise Facebook Groups

[DayOhDisMom]

This is our fourth cruise. Things really change in two years. I have been looking for the FE list for our July Fantasy sailing. We don't Facebook but really enjoyed FE on our past cruises. Are there are options?

 

[cakebaker]

It's not my choice either... I admit though that I am not sure how embracing it would have made it more active here? The quietest cruise meet threads are the ones where they post to go to FB for everything... new people come on, see that, and move along.



Yep, its standard practice. Often FB groups don't want the DIS/other boards mentioned either.



Agreed, it is. Again though, having people drive traffic to FB isn't going to increase traffic here. If people want to post and chat here they will do so regardless of whether we encourage people to go into cruise meets and tell people to go elsewhere. Facebook isn't a secret spot.

The FE I was active in bounced back and forth between here and FB. The actual lists of participants, organizational things along with some discussion was on FB. But there was also a discussion here with people being directed to FB for specific things. Lots of people asked to join here and were added to the list that was on FB. The only real issue I have is that if someone contacts me and asks for help finding a FB page, I can't give it, not even by PM- which makes me wonder how anyone but the person I PM would even know.

The FB group I'm currently in forbids links to the Dis simply because the Dis forbids anyone from linking to it. That's perfectly reasonable imo. If the Dis didn't hold the position they do, this group wouldn't either.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

This is our fourth cruise. Things really change in two years. I have been looking for the FE list for our July Fantasy sailing. We don't Facebook but really enjoyed FE on our past cruises. Are there are options?

If you want to do a Fish Extender group here on DISboards, and your cruise meet thread doesn't have one going, I suppose you could start the group yourself. You may find others on your meet group who want to participate.

The only other option is to connect (here, possibly) with someone who is on the FB group (if there is one) and see if they would be your "go between" for the other group.

I did that on one cruise. Not very efficient, but it worked. I felt a little like the forgotten child on occasion, as all "should we do this" decisions were handled on FB and I was just told "we're doing this, do you want to participate?"

 

[PirateFrank]

What would work for DIS is to create their own DIS FB group to help manage the meet ups. You could link to this board for the important information and basically think of it as a replatforming of the DIS just for the meet up threads. I'm suggesting that you'll have a chance to drive more traffic to the regular boards giving DIS more exposure to new people using FB. Adapt or die. Who is Kodak anyway?

How is this any different from an already existing Facebook group simply being inclusive and inviting DIS members to join the already existing Facebook group? Both exist and/are created in the same manner. That minor semantic not withstanding, the scenario is identical. Otherwise, I can easily put "Welcome DIS members" in the description of the Facebook group I have setup for my upcoming cruise, then come here, set up a cruise thread for my cruise (which doesn't exist at this point in time) and invite DIS members who roll call here to my FB group....something that is not allowed here and is in clear violation of existing policy.

Moreover, the stated reason for not allowing FB groups to be advertised is "safety" To merely allow only FB groups associated with a corresponding DIS meet thread does not jive with the stated reason. What would the justification for the exception be? Because it says "for DIS members" in the Facebook group's description? How will the DIS admins be able to ensure that the Facebook groups are being run in accordance with their rules and safety interests? and even if that were possible, should they? ...seeing as they own this website, but have no authority to extend their rules and policies into Facebook?

Additionally, the unstated reason of keeping traffic here, doesn't get satisfied by establishing a mirrored group. Based on posts of members here, its clear that the activity and involvement of meet threads here have died down in recent years as more and more people move to mobile internet interactions such as Facebook. A mirrored Facebook group will only drive traffic away from this site. I can not see how traffic here would improve under any circumstance.

Finally, there's the issue of inclusiveness. Like I said, I haven't seen a FB cruise group refuse to be inclusive of DIS members -- to the point where Ive seen a FB admin graciously invite DIS members to the m&G. But I doubt the reverse would exist or even be permissible here. The road blocks exist here, not on Facebook -- and if DIS suddenly lifted said roadblocks and allowed posters to set up mirror FB groups, they really should make a modification to the policy about advertising FB groups. Something it appears they are unwilling to do - which is their choice.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

One issue is that there seems to be a dominate idea that there is only ONE Fish Extender group for any given cruise. As in, on a DIS cruise meet thread someone will invite others to "the" FE group.

There's no reason that there can't be a FE group on DISboards, and a FE group on any other social site. I've participated in 2 FE groups for the same cruise. Each group had some people where were in both the DIS group and the other group. Both groups had people who were only in their one, specific group.

The problem seems to arise when new people are directed to other sites getting the idea that there's only one group. As well as the idea DISboards is connected with FB groups. There are those of us who don't understand that there are different entities that may be doing the same things. And that they are NOT the same thing.

 

[woodynjessiesmomma]

This has been an interesting discussion. I just did my first cruise in December and started here as I was so excited to do Fish Extenders after seeing it in TRs. Our cruise group on here was small, no one was excited to organize anything and eventually the reluctant FE organizer closed the FE at the PIF date. Periodically random new posters would show up and invite everyone to FB. I ended up organizing a late comer FE on here that was 5 cabins (including my own) and between the original list and the late list I was exchanging with 16 cabins. We never had a group meet or any other activities.
I did seek out FB fairly early on when this group was so quiet and our FB cruise group was a very positive experience, but I'm not a big FB fan and I prefer anonymity. In the end that group was around 150 members and had 6-8 FE groups of 10 cabins each. We had fun at mixology and it was neat recognizing people around the ship (I enjoyed that more than I expected). FB was much easier to follow and interact due to format and amount of participation.
Basically I'm echoing what others have said. I enjoyed both and I plan to do both again when I book my placeholder cruise.

 

[cyclenut]

My "idea" of sort of re platforming the DIS meet ups using FB is to allow some modicum of control by the DIS moderators over the FB meetups, allow for the advertising they want and not the advertising the don't as well as to attract new members to the DIS who really don't know what a forum is or how they work.

The issue I see is two fold. One that Shmoo pointed out. Things can get really confusing if you are trying to manage a cruise groups across two platforms that can't really see one another. It's too tough to make group decisions and one of the two ends up becoming informed of what's going on. The other is simply a matter of numbers. You need a certain amount of people participating and willing to do things for the cruise group to really bring additional fun without one person feeling the burden of making a vacation fun for everyone else.

The concept that the DIS moderators are hoping for by avoiding the promotion of FB groups in the meetups is to create traffic within the meetup groups. If we all cooperated instead of migrating, the cruise meetup traffic would go back up and we'd find value in the DIS meet up groups. The problem with that theory is that this platform (forum style) is not keeping up with technology. We don't all sit down at a computer to do our social networking anymore. We use mobile phones. Ironically, the forum itself is based on the notion of organizing conversations by threads, but it does not organize by conversation. That's the real value of platforms like FB. Someone mentions something and you can comment on that one something and before you know it a new "thread" or "conversation" grows organically. you don't have to plan it out like you do here. Furthermore, you can't even do that within a thread since there is no concept of a conversation.

Anyway, the point is that the forum format is dying. Forums were the original form of social networking. FB is taking over and it has created an entirely new platform for social network. The DIS can continue to tie itself to this dying technology and die along with it (my reference to Kodak) or figure out how to take the concepts and benefits we all enjoy here over to FB. A risky move for sure and one I am proposing be done in stages, starting with the DIS meetups. There are already others that have done exactly the same thing. They created a FB group and made it private. That allows you to control membership. Then they created a page off of FB that lists all the FB meetups that are known. Once you find the name of the group, you go back out to FB and join that group. Same concept as DIS meet ups but on FB. Whoever started the FB group decides who can be administrators and the rules for the group. Those groups can be made secret but they are typically made private.

Personally, I use FB secret groups when I'm planning large family events. It's a great way for my family, who is spread out all over the country, to come together for the planning and build excitement. Just like DIS meet ups. The benefit is, you have to be invited to see any posts or even the group name.

Here we are then, talking about the future of the DIS and where it could go. There is a lot of momentum here and that is good. However, the forum is as only as good as its members and I'm starting to see a lot of very informed people sharing a lot of the same information across a variety of FB groups. With all the benefits of the FB platform, the DIS will need to find new ways to compel members to join and participate. Attempting to survive by shutting out FB isn't going to work long term. It isn't even working now.

 

[NS8VN]

Ok, I'm confused. I thought the point of a meet group is that you meet people who also frequent the forum. These are Dis'ers, they are people who have enjoyed the forum. If you meet them and bring up the name PrincessShmoo they will know exactly who you are talking about. There is a mutual connection there, similar experiences to bring the group together.

Everyone and their mother has a Facebook account, so what is the mutual connection there? A group on there could literally have the entire cruise. What is the difference between a private mixology class with a bunch of people on there that you don't know and just going to a scheduled one? What is the point of a M&G with a hundred people whose only defining connection is having a Facebook account?

Regardless, clearly I am in the minority here and judging by the constant attempt by certain people to steer my meet group elsewhere, I am probably just going to walk away from the whole thing. What was supposed to be a fun way to meet people with similar interests and experiences has turned in to a fight. What fun.

 

[KristiMc]

Ok, I'm confused. I thought the point of a meet group is that you meet people who also frequent the forum. These are Dis'ers, they are people who have enjoyed the forum. If you meet them and bring up the name PrincessShmoo they will know exactly who you are talking about. There is a mutual connection there, similar experiences to bring the group together.

Everyone and their mother has a Facebook account, so what is the mutual connection there? A group on there could literally have the entire cruise. What is the difference between a private mixology class with a bunch of people on there that you don't know and just going to a scheduled one? What is the point of a M&G with a hundred people whose only defining connection is having a Facebook account?

Regardless, clearly I am in the minority here and judging by the constant attempt by certain people to steer my meet group elsewhere, I am probably just going to walk away from the whole thing. What was supposed to be a fun way to meet people with similar interests and experiences has turned in to a fight. What fun.

When you are part of a Cruise meet FB group it is very similar to being part of a DIS cruise meet. You get to know the other cruisers over the years/months leading up to the cruise just like you do here on the DIS.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Ok, I'm confused. I thought the point of a meet group is that you meet people who also frequent the forum. These are Dis'ers, they are people who have enjoyed the forum. If you meet them and bring up the name PrincessShmoo they will know exactly who you are talking about. There is a mutual connection there, similar experiences to bring the group together.

Everyone and their mother has a Facebook account, so what is the mutual connection there? A group on there could literally have the entire cruise. What is the difference between a private mixology class with a bunch of people on there that you don't know and just going to a scheduled one? What is the point of a M&G with a hundred people whose only defining connection is having a Facebook account?

Regardless, clearly I am in the minority here and judging by the constant attempt by certain people to steer my meet group elsewhere, I am probably just going to walk away from the whole thing. What was supposed to be a fun way to meet people with similar interests and experiences has turned in to a fight. What fun.

Another issue - albeit picky - here on DISboards our item of recognition we all had in common, for when we'd meet in person/public, is the lime-green Mickey Head. My last cruise there were several people with such an item on their lanyards. When I would ask them about who they were on the DIS, they'd give me a blank look (they'd never heard of DISboards) - their group leader just told everyone to wear them so they could identify who was in the group.

Another item taken over by an entity that didn't have it to start with, and makes things much more confusing. Possibly FB groups should adopt their own persona.

I think the only way we're going to be able to make others aware that DISboards groups and FB groups (or any other social site groups) are different things is by pointing it out every time someone confuses the two as one thing.

 

[JW9DVC]

Ok, I'm confused. I thought the point of a meet group is that you meet people who also frequent the forum. These are Dis'ers, they are people who have enjoyed the forum. If you meet them and bring up the name PrincessShmoo they will know exactly who you are talking about. There is a mutual connection there, similar experiences to bring the group together.

Everyone and their mother has a Facebook account, so what is the mutual connection there? A group on there could literally have the entire cruise. What is the difference between a private mixology class with a bunch of people on there that you don't know and just going to a scheduled one? What is the point of a M&G with a hundred people whose only defining connection is having a Facebook account?

Regardless, clearly I am in the minority here and judging by the constant attempt by certain people to steer my meet group elsewhere, I am probably just going to walk away from the whole thing. What was supposed to be a fun way to meet people with similar interests and experiences has turned in to a fight. What fun.

I would like to remind you that it is not just "your" meet group. On my last cruise we had a DIS FE and also a FB FE. Using other social media sites via DIS is not allowed. You can even have multiple FE groups from DiS and that can even turn into a Fb FE, because people exchange cell numbers and text back and forth.


Just because you started one doesn't mean that it's yours.
JW

 

[JW9DVC]

Another issue - albeit picky - here on DISboards our item of recognition we all had in common, for when we'd meet in person/public, is the lime-green Mickey Head. My last cruise there were several people with such an item on their lanyards. When I would ask them about who they were on the DIS, they'd give me a blank look (they'd never heard of DISboards) - their group leader just told everyone to wear them so they could identify who was in the group.

Another item taken over by an entity that didn't have it to start with, and makes things much more confusing. Possibly FB groups should adopt their own persona.

I think the only way we're going to be able to make others aware that DISboards groups and FB groups (or any other social site groups) are different things is by pointing it out every time someone confuses the two as one thing.

It can start on Dis and become a Facebook group all at the same time. While we can't post it on DIS. It has happened numerous times. People text info on cell phones and that's how some have started in the past. So it really is the same Dis group and FB group conjoined.

 

[NS8VN]

I would like to remind you that it is not just "your" meet group. On my last cruise we had a DIS FE and also a FB FE. Using other social media sites via DIS is not allowed. You can even have multiple FE groups from DiS and that can even turn into a Fb FE, because people exchange cell numbers and text back and forth.


Just because you started one doesn't mean that it's yours.
JW

"My" as in the one I am on, not "my" as in ownership. Thanks for reminding me that I forgot to add you to my ignore list though.

 

[JW9DVC]

"My" as in the one I am on, not "my" as in ownership. Thanks for reminding me that I forgot to add you to my ignore list though.

Hugs and kisses. Holds hands and says it's all going to be ok.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

It can start on Dis and become a Facebook group all at the same time. While we can't post it on DIS. It has happened numerous times. People text info on cell phones and that's how some have started in the past. So it really is the same Dis group and FB group conjoined.

No, a DISboards group is not a FB group. They are separate entities. Yes, people can start on one, and migrate to the other, but they are separate. Even if one person is on both sites, they are participating in two different groups, not the same one.

My first Fish Extender experience, I was on two different cruise boards, DIS being one of them. Each group had a FE group. There were several people who were on both forums, and some of them were in both FE groups. There were others on each forum that only participated in that particular forum's group and only did the FE on that forum.

No reason that DIS and FB (as well as any other social site who wants to start a group) can't have each have their own.

But, to say that the DISboards Fish Extender group is on FB is not correct.

My first experience with Cruise Meet groups, we had a super active group, and set up all sorts of activities for the cruise, including a Fish Extender group. But, all cruise activity related discussion were only on DISboards. If people in the cruise meet group wanted to participate in private discussions (how're the kids?/ We had our house painted/Oh, wow, I also grew up in XXX), they did so via FB.

It worked great that way.

For those people who love FB, more power to them. But, please, don't keep lecturing me about how great FB is. I have no interest in joining it, or participating over there. I like our group here on DISboards.

 

[JW9DVC]

No, a DISboards group is not a FB group. They are separate entities. Yes, people can start on one, and migrate to the other, but they are separate. Even if one person is on both sites, they are participating in two different groups, not the same one.

My first Fish Extender experience, I was on two different cruise boards, DIS being one of them. Each group had a FE group. There were several people who were on both forums, and some of them were in both FE groups. There were others on each forum that only participated in that particular forum's group and only did the FE on that forum.

No reason that DIS and FB (as well as any other social site who wants to start a group) can't have each have their own.

But, to say that the DISboards Fish Extender group is on FB is not correct.

My first experience with Cruise Meet groups, we had a super active group, and set up all sorts of activities for the cruise, including a Fish Extender group. But, all cruise activity related discussion were only on DISboards. If people in the cruise meet group wanted to participate in private discussions (how're the kids?/ We had our house painted/Oh, wow, I also grew up in XXX), they did so via FB.

It worked great that way.

For those people who love FB, more power to them. But, please, don't keep lecturing me about how great FB is. I have no interest in joining it, or participating over there. I like our group here on DISboards.

Some can be both, because it did happen in the past. Since you were not on that cruise or in any of the groups. You can't tell me it didn't happen. It did. Fact.

It was managed on both sites. It was the same people and it was one group.

JW

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I just wish FB knew or in the very least admit that it all started HERE on the DIS. It isn't an original FB idea. I hate that I was reprimanded by posting a link on how FE came about on the 2005 PC cruise. The article linked it to the DIS but was not affiliated with the DIS. I hate the way it has turned into a Christmas score. It wasn't a bank breaker. I wish it was back to the days of everyone being thankful for whatever tiny little thing was given. It was simple, no rules and it was fun. I am in total shock of the way people say these days what they want, what they don't want. It was never like that until FB came into play. Oh how I long for innocence of the first few years of the FE.

 

[DLM1980]

I think what I would like to see, but its going to take a lot of work on the DIS moderators part...

Instead of Cruise Meetup links, or link to a conversation that can become overwhelming I'd like to see separate sub forums for each cruise meet up so that each subform can become more like a Facebook group, with its own stickies for where the FE list is, a mixology signup sticky, and then below questions can be asked/answered in their own threads instead of just one giant thread. An example below of how it would look on the disboards forums.

Disney Cruise Line

Cruise Meet Ups

2017

Magic

Sailing Dates​

Wonder

Sailing Dates​

Dream

Sailing Dates​

Fantasy

Sailing Dates​

2018

Magic

Sailing Dates​

Wonder

Sailing Dates​

Dream

Sailing Dates​

Fantasy

Sailing Dates​

If we are keeping threads for posterity and to keep cruise groups active after the cruise I think it would be beneficial to organize the board first by years, then a subform by ship, and then finally subforums for each sailing date

This is the best way I see it to mimic what Facebook does for their groups and still maintain disboard moderator control

​

 

[DayOhDisMom]

Great conversation but we are stuck in the middle between DISmeets and FB. We join DIDmeet groups to mostly FE. Our DIS meet group is small several new to DIS boards. All it took was one person to mention FE and FB and now it appears that's the norm. We don't FB and have nothing against FB. My suggestion would be instead of DIS meets rebrand as DIS FE. Then cruisers who want FE can do so without the extra social activities.

 

[cyclenut]

There are a lot of different reasons that people participate in meet up groups. Those that frequent the DIS, spending a lot of time here, develop an online relationship. Having a meetup group is a way to get to meet those people you've been communicating with online. Some join a meetup group because they want to learn more and get help with a specific itinerary and then they want to meet the people that have been helping them plan and have a great vacation. Some people join a meetup group because they want to start to develop a friendship of sorts online so they feel like there is someone they know they are cruising with, either for them or for their kids. There is, of course, the FE groups. It started here and has grown to the point where a lot of folks think it is getting out of hand.

Point being, there is no single reason why a meet up group gets created or becomes successful. There may have been a reason for getting the concept started, but the concept of meet ups did not start here and it will likely continue for many years to come, no matter where the online meetup group is created.

A comment about how FEs have become out of control. I imagine a number of you are experiencing this. I've never participated. I hear now there is even the "pixie dust" method where someone who may not be participating can drop FE gifts into pouches either randomly or by choice. I imagine this is what Disney experiences at times when they create a little pixie dust somewhere that blows up into this big program that guests start to depend on (like dropping an item at the front desk to be signed). What starts out as a small program for a few people "in the know" turns into this whole "experience" thing that people hear about and set certain expectations based on what they hear. Maybe one cruise someone got a little carried away with the FE gifts because they wanted to create an extra special experience. Maybe they gave out mugs or ice cream sundae kits. Maybe it was tumblers. Someone comes back and shares pictures of their wonderful FE gifts and the next cruise, people think that is the new standard. It gets so big it becomes crushed under its own weight. People participating in an FE are bringing an extra large bag just for FE gifts. Some are spending hundreds of dollars and then they get upset when what they get in return are small trinkets or candies that don't reach a hundred dollars combined. That, of course, is the wrong attitude. The point is to give without expecting anything in return and then being happy with whatever you do get.