Cruise Meet Threads Trending Down?

[PoohJen]

Hi All!
We're psyched to be sailing in July on the Dream! We booked this as soon as Dream dates opened...curiously, the meets thread for our date is only 2 pages long with only about 5 Dissers listed; I don't even think the OP has posted since s/he started the thread.

Historically, I have been on cruises where the meets thread went on forever. Magic threads were always longer than Wonder, presumably because the cruises were of longer duration.

I've noticed at lot of Dreams meet threads are scant. Do you think this is due to:
- Dreams cruises being shorter in duration than typical Magic cruise?
- Too far out (summer cruises, anyway) for folks to get excited about?
- Dissers aren't as enthusiastic about meets threads as they once were?
- "Meets" folks have gone onto other boards instead?
- More Newbies on Dream who haven't found the DIS yet?
- Other?

Just curious!

 

[Curtis McCrea]

I chose Other, meaning all of the above. Some don't care for meet threads, some think Dream is too short -- you get the idea.

 

[PoohJen]

I chose Other, meaning all of the above. Some don't care for meet threads, some think Dream is too short -- you get the idea.

ooh, drat...good idea! Wish I could edit the choices!

 

[Angelhalo]

Since you can vote for more than one, I voted for all of the above by literally voting for all of them except "other".

 

[stephe1987]

I picked "too far out yet." Unless you're talking about the first cruise in January, and even then it's a little early. If you're not going until the summer, a lot of people might not know about this site, or they're not sure if they are *really* going yet.

For a summer cruise, plans can change, kids might have sports or summer school, or in this economy, someone might lose their job and not be able to go... in other words, unless it's up to the time where the final payment is due, I wouldn't worry about it.

When the time rolls around, there will probably be more people on here. If not, then it looks like we need to advertise to get more people to come to the boards.

I also agree that short cruises are less likely to attract meet-up threads. Short cruises have people plan everything out, and longer cruises have more time to plan meet-ups.

 

[dunbarfamily]

I'm on the Feb 10 Dream and I see the same thing...doesn't look like much interest, especially compared to our cruise just this Feb. Interesting question though.

PoohJen....I've seen you around....but where???

 

[Mackie Mouse]

I have to say that I don't know the reason why but feel the same way about the meet thread for our Dream cruise in August! I was so excited to book on the new ship I assumed our thread would be as active as the one we joined last summer for our honeymoon cruise, but it's just not been the case yet. We have had some people change their reservation already...so maybe people are just waiting until the date gets closer. (This is what I hope - we met so many people and had such fun through that cruisemeet last year!)

 

[jilljill]

Typically the meets threads are not as active for the 3/4/5 day sailings than for the longer cruises. With that being said, we are on a Dream 4 day and we are on page 65 or so already, so it really varies greatly.
I had started a thread for the Easter Sunday sailing and we had to change the date of our cruise due to DD's school changing their spring break for 2011, so for that reason I'm not posting on that thread anymore. It could the OP for your thread has had to change sailing dates so they aren't posting anymore.

 

[Disney On A Dime!]

Hi - Just voted for "Too Far Out" and "Other" - Our cruise meets thread for our sailing is on page 33 and we have 23 DISers already signed-on for the DISmeet and other activities. We have a great group of folks! With that being said - I still think that we will have a huge increase in numbers once the cruise gets to be closer to final payment time. I really do think that it is sometimes hit or miss when it comes to joining in early - I don't think that we have had a new DISer in a few months...most of us have been chatting for months now...and some almost a year! We have had a blast planning out our Disney Dream Cruise!


Great thread! It will be interesting to see what other sailings have had a large response and which ones not so big...


Crystal

 

[PoohJen]

PoohJen....I've seen you around....but where???

Dunno! Maybe the photography boards once upon a time?

 

[KSDisneyDad]

It really varies, but I don't think it's just the Dream, but many of the shorter cruises.

We were booked on the first 5-night Dream cruise for next year until we decided to postpone it for 2012 and it was a very active thread. We just went on a 4-night cruise earlier this month and the thread wasn't active at all. (Next year's Dream thread is already much longer than our recent meet thread ended up being). The 4-night Wonder thread was mostly just someone organizing a FE gift exchange.

I like to see the more active threads, but after talking to people on the cruise, it seems that most cruisers are unaware of the DIS. With facebook, etc., old fashioned message boards like the DIS seem to be losing some popularity.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Hi Jen!

Out November '11 Dream thread is pretty active (most of us doing a B2B), but that's partially because I made a mess of my DIS friends book the cruise(s) too!

Most of us have a cruise or Disney parks vacation before then, so I'm thinking things will pick up as the time gets closer (ours is a whole year away).

I think each of the elements you mention contribute to less active meets threads. However, the TWO DAY cruise in January is pretty active...probably becuase it is unique, and a lot of DISers are dragging along friends and family who have never cruised before, to get them to 'taste DCL'.

For me....five cruises next year and I just can't be everywhere at once! (two sets of B2B, so not as 'piggish' as it sounds)

.

 

[PoohJen]

Hey Jackie! Not on the Transatlantic this year? btb sounds cool - something to look forward to!

I only heard today of the 2 day - thought it was a travel agent/press thing - that would've been cool too!

 

[ibouncetoo]

Hey Jackie! Not on the Transatlantic this year? btb sounds cool - something to look forward to!

I only heard today of the 2 day - thought it was a travel agent/press thing - that would've been cool too!

Did the TA this spring (couldn't get off work this time of year).

The 2 day is on the WONDER after it gets through the Panama Canal and before starting the Mexican cruises (didn't want you to confuse that with the 2 day Dream cruise they are doing for VIP/TAs).

.

 

[mkmommy]

I voted other, I think with more cruises available it spreads out the DIS members more, so instead of having 20 regulars posting on 2 meets threads they may now be spread out over 10.

Also with the Magic in Europe DCL I would assume DCL is trying to get more Europeans to book and they may not know of the DIS.

I also think the dynamics of the board has changed a lot recently and there are more new members who may not post as much and many of the more regular posters are not posting much.

 

[ranidayz]

I personally don't like to post too much on the open threads due to the experience I had on my two meets ago. we were all posting like there was no tomorrow....getting very comfortable with each other and our lives and posts - even forgetting everything was public. About three weeks before the cruise - all of these lurkers came out and said they'd been following our thread and messages for months! We felt so violated! The meet we have now set up an invite only, private facebook group for us to chat on....we can put faces to names and no one who isnt' supposed to read our posts is able to.

Hi All!
We're psyched to be sailing in July on the Dream! We booked this as soon as Dream dates opened...curiously, the meets thread for our date is only 2 pages long with only about 5 Dissers listed; I don't even think the OP has posted since s/he started the thread.

Historically, I have been on cruises where the meets thread went on forever. Magic threads were always longer than Wonder, presumably because the cruises were of longer duration.

I've noticed at lot of Dreams meet threads are scant. Do you think this is due to:
- Dreams cruises being shorter in duration than typical Magic cruise?
- Too far out (summer cruises, anyway) for folks to get excited about?
- Dissers aren't as enthusiastic about meets threads as they once were?
- "Meets" folks have gone onto other boards instead?
- More Newbies on Dream who haven't found the DIS yet?
- Other?

Just curious!

 

[pearlieq]

I don't mind the cruise being far away, since the longer you chat, the more use you get our of your meet thread, but for me the Dreams cruises are just too short.

I usually don't invest nearly as much into a meet thread for a 3 night than I would in a 7+ night cruise. There isn't much time on board to spend with "cruise friends" and it seems too short (in my opinion) to go to the trouble of an FE exchange.

I might pop in now and again on my Dream meet threads, but it's just not the same.

 

[BeautyFan]

I selected "cruise too far out"

On my first cruise last Feb I resisted going to the DIS boards b/c they are soooo addictive and I knew once I got on I'd be spending too much time. So I did eventually post to my meets thread, but only about 3 months before the cruise.

I think it will pick up after the New Year.

That said, I have 297 days until we sail on the Dream and I am checking the boards daily and am just chomping at the bit for the MV so I can start reading TRs and reviews of everything Dream!

Reading the boards this early has already paid off, as I saw the post about the added show time and the Dream assigning passengers to a specific show! So thank you to all you DISers who so generously share your experiences and knowledge!

 

[PoohJen]

I voted other, I think with more cruises available it spreads out the DIS members more, so instead of having 20 regulars posting on 2 meets threads they may now be spread out over 10.

Also with the Magic in Europe DCL I would assume DCL is trying to get more Europeans to book and they may not know of the DIS.

I also think the dynamics of the board has changed a lot recently and there are more new members who may not post as much and many of the more regular posters are not posting much.

Good point re: more cruises available!

I know I don't post as much as I used to. Esp. since I can't access DIS at work.

 

[tvguy]

I can't speak to the cruise meets, but this board seems to have far fewer posts than it did before the economy went south a couple of years ago.
I suspect the Moderators have access to the actual numbers and could confirm or deny my suspicions. Or maybe there are just more lurkers.