DCL Party Planning Thread (combined threads)

[nanatink]

Could it be the annoucement of the names of the new ships and an update to the construction of them?

 

[Jodijo]

I don't get it at all. I got the email and was uncomfortable with the idea of having people I don't know into my house in order to get them to book a Disney Cruise. The email makes me feel like Disney is using loyal fans to be free travel agents for them. I know that I am in the minority on this but I just don't like the idea.

 

[Gina]

I don't get it at all. I got the email and was uncomfortable with the idea of having people I don't know into my house in order to get them to book a Disney Cruise. The email makes me feel like Disney is using loyal fans to be free travel agents for them. I know that I am in the minority on this but I just don't like the idea.

Then... don't apply to be a host. House Party throws tons of these parties about all sorts of stuff -- DCL is just one more client. The hosts get to talk about DCL to others and get some goodies to help throw their party, and DCL gets the cruise word out to some new people. It's just fun, is all!

 

[dragonflydreaming]

"It's also the week of my 40th birthday! Any chance my DH planned all of this?? Maybe it's all about ME!"


Sorry, I didnt mean to appear obnoxious it was just wishful thinking on my part that they new special summer cruises would be heading down my way to Sydney but I cant see it happening as its too far a distance,.....oh well, its nice to dream

Oh aussieinvasion, I'm so sorry if I offended you. I wasn't trying to be sarcastic regarding your post. It was meant to make fun of myself. I've been making a HUGE deal out of my 40th and have been telling my husband he had better plan something BIG! I was joking that perhaps Disney was planning the whole "houseparty" with my husband in conjunction with my birthday, that's all.

 

[swilphil]

I don't get it at all. I got the email and was uncomfortable with the idea of having people I don't know into my house in order to get them to book a Disney Cruise. The email makes me feel like Disney is using loyal fans to be free travel agents for them. I know that I am in the minority on this but I just don't like the idea.

It's definitely a marketing scheme. I'm not sure if it's dealing directly with Disney or with specific travel agents. From the Houseparty website, it looks like you sign up to host and then invite people you already know.

 

[barney4liz]

I don't get it at all. I got the email and was uncomfortable with the idea of having people I don't know into my house in order to get them to book a Disney Cruise. The email makes me feel like Disney is using loyal fans to be free travel agents for them. I know that I am in the minority on this but I just don't like the idea.

It's definitely a marketing scheme. I'm not sure if it's dealing directly with Disney or with specific travel agents. From the Houseparty website, it looks like you sign up to host and then invite people you already know.

Disney is Houseparty's client. Houseparty provides the online tools for organizing the party. The link I provided above explains Houseparty's role and the services it provides to its client (Disney).

I find the whole "viral marketing" idea fascinating. Look at this thread -- Disney hires Houseparty to send X number of emails to selected CC members soliciting party hosts. The email recipients hop online to Disboard and other outlets to discuss. How many additional host applicants are generated this way? That in itself is an interesting piece of marketing data for Disney. X number emails generates X number host applicants.

Anyhoo . . . I think whether one is comfortable with the idea of hosting such an event depends on one's comfort with home-based marketing. I personally buy lots of stuff that way -- have attended and hosted such events. The idea is that you invite people you know -- friends, family -- to experience a product that you personally enjoy.

Let the begin!!

 

[disdel]

for better or worse, I filled in an app also. The response said on or about Dec. 19th I'd be notified if I passed muster.

 

[Crissup]

Trust only the "From" address and then look at it carefully. If the "From" is a disney.go.com address, good luck on your entry.

To be clear on this, not even the "From" line can be trusted. If you examine the header of the email (which many mail readers hide by default), only the "Received:" lines can be somewhat trusted. These lines are added by each mail server the message passes through, allowing you to track the message back from where it came from. However, in an effort to suppress their tracks and confuse you, spammers have been known to add additional bogus "Received:" lines to throw you off course and mislead you.

For the average user, you can only try and be as careful as possible and hope you don't get in trouble in the end.

 

[Disney Fans]

After reading this thread. One thing is bothering me. We were not told when we would here back about if we were to be chosen, etc.?? So what do you all think about that? Why wouldn't there have been a closed date or stated when we would here something back?

 

[Laurabearz]

for better or worse, I filled in an app also. The response said on or about Dec. 19th I'd be notified if I passed muster.

Hey Ken!! If you get picked can I attend via webcam???

(and yes I am serious!)

 

[barney4liz]

To be clear on this, not even the "From" line can be trusted. If you examine the header of the email (which many mail readers hide by default), only the "Received:" lines can be somewhat trusted. These lines are added by each mail server the message passes through, allowing you to track the message back from where it came from. However, in an effort to suppress their tracks and confuse you, spammers have been known to add additional bogus "Received:" lines to throw you off course and mislead you.

For the average user, you can only try and be as careful as possible and hope you don't get in trouble in the end.

Crissup, I am a suspicious lawyer and VERY careful. I am comfortable that DCL is putting on a Houseparty event. Also, in case anyone is worried that host applicants are sharing too much personal information online -- The host questionnaire did NOT solicit personal info that could be used, for example, in an identity theft or credit card scam. It was a demographic questionnaire.

Also, please note MMouse37's comment:

When this thread first aired I shot off an e-mail to DCL and they responded with a link to the houseparty site for DCL.

I applied and will wait to see what happens next!!!

Of course, safety is paramount and folks should only do what they feel comfortable with.

 

[Crissup]

Crissup, I am a suspicious lawyer and VERY careful. I am comfortable that DCL is putting on a Houseparty event.

Oops. Obviously, my post may have been a bit misleading. Thank you for pointing that out. I agree that this email was legit. I received it the first night and was comfortable that it was a legitimate email, even though Disney was farming the details out to another company.

The purpose of my post above was to tell people that there is basically nothing an average user can look at to determine if any email is completely legitimate or not. The most accurate information is in the Received lines and even they can be tweaked to confuse a person.

Information Security is something very near and dear to me. I'm a certified information systems security professional (CISSP) and a GIAC certified forensics analyst (GCFA). I spend my entire work day ensuring the security of a large network consisting of 70+ offices in 50+ countries (in addition to several sister companies that we farm ourselves out to). So, any opportunity I see to toss a general tidbit or two in to help a user avoid being duped, I take it.


Hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving!!!

 

[ibouncetoo]

Just called DCL and this is a valid site. The email is being sent to Castaway Club members.

Sorry for the lecture, but I see so much of this stuff daily that you distrust it all.

Thanks for watching out for us Robin! Now off to read the rest of the thread!

 

[barney4liz]

Oops. Obviously, my post may have been a bit misleading. Thank you for pointing that out. I agree that this email was legit. I received it the first night and was comfortable that it was a legitimate email, even though Disney was farming the details out to another company.

The purpose of my post above was to tell people that there is basically nothing an average user can look at to determine if any email is completely legitimate or not. The most accurate information is in the Received lines and even they can be tweaked to confuse a person.

Oh, OK I gotcha now! I thought you were questioning the validity of this offer. Thanks for sharing your expertise. I'm glad there are folks like you out there to outwit the scammers!

And Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

....ahhhhhhhhh, to be 40, again...






ps, the one good thing about getting older..is not caring what
others think...& having ..more fun...

 

[misseulalie]

So to sum this up; this is like a typical Pampered Chef, Candlelight, Tupperware, etc... party.

But instead of the host pawning overpriced candles, the host is pawning Disney cruises.

 

[barney4liz]

So to sum this up; this is like a typical Pampered Chef, Candlelight, Tupperware, etc... party.

But instead of the host pawning overpriced candles, the host is pawning Disney cruises.

I don't think it's exactly like that in the sense that I think it is unlikely that hosts will be able to actually sell a cruise.

From perusing the Houseparty site, I believe the idea is to create a pool of hosts who are already fans of a product, and create a marketing buzz around a product or event utilizing the power of the internet. This site explains how it works:

http://corp.houseparty.com/

Maybe posters who have been Houseparty hosts can describe their experiences for us?

Here is a quote from that site:

And while no one is a paid sales person at a House Party, that doesn't mean there isn't a lot of buying that goes on. House Parties are frequently set up to activate immediate and near term purchase behavior. An event of just 1,000 parties easily draws in more than 15,000 fans directly (those at the party itself) and more than a million relevant consumers virtually. These unique events combine the reach and viral power of the internet with the authenticity and credibility of in-home, peer-to-peer endorsement.

 

[disdel]

Hey Ken!! If you get picked can I attend via webcam???

(and yes I am serious!)

absolutely!! From my exploration of their site, it seems that it gets "beamed" out for virtual attendees, or archived for viewing. If the Houseparty people don't do it, I can get it hooked up anyway - webconferencing and remote video is what my son does for a living. What the hey, I already push the DCL product everywhere I go.

and I hope you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Join us on the "DCL out of NYC thread", too - LilDeb and some others are part of the crowd that hopes DCL hears us and does a "special" from a NY port - and you could get here just as easy as Orlando. NO WDW, but a Dis show on Broadway (once the strike ends ) would be an option before your cruise - as well as the only non on-site World of Disney Store on 55th & 5th.

 

[tinytink]

I don't think it's exactly like that in the sense that I think it is unlikely that hosts will be able to actually sell a cruise.

From perusing the Houseparty site, I believe the idea is to create a pool of hosts who are already fans of a product, and create a marketing buzz around a product or event utilizing the power of the internet. This site explains how it works:

http://corp.houseparty.com/

Maybe posters who have been Houseparty hosts can describe their experiences for us?

Here is a quote from that site:

I've been a host for Friday Night Lights, and two Cartoon Network shows and they have sent me plates, cups, temp tatoos and iron on to make shirts with. For the FNL they sent me a DVD of a preview of season 2, seat cusions, megaphones, cups, hand towels, and nice gift bags to stuff all of the stuff in as "SWAG" bags for my guests. They also sent me recipe cards with suggestions for snack ideas and enclosed enough for all my gift bags. We have been very happy with our House Party's we've hosted and I would love to get in on this DCL one because we are really in love with DCL. Their stuff usually comes UPS and they are pretty good about getting it to you in time for you to set up and stuff. The site is also a pretty good place to get ideas on how to make your party rock. I hope this helps you all who would like to host but are on the fence. I wish they would offer me every party I sign up for but they don't.

 

[barney4liz]

I've been a host for Friday Night Lights, and two Cartoon Network shows and they have sent me plates, cups, temp tatoos and iron on to make shirts with. For the FNL they sent me a DVD of a preview of season 2, seat cusions, megaphones, cups, hand towels, and nice gift bags to stuff all of the stuff in as "SWAG" bags for my guests. They also sent me recipe cards with suggestions for snack ideas and enclosed enough for all my gift bags. We have been very happy with our House Party's we've hosted and I would love to get in on this DCL one because we are really in love with DCL. Their stuff usually comes UPS and they are pretty good about getting it to you in time for you to set up and stuff. The site is also a pretty good place to get ideas on how to make your party rock. I hope this helps you all who would like to host but are on the fence. I wish they would offer me every party I sign up for but they don't.

Thanks for sharing your experience! How many people do you usually have at your Houseparties? Any problems with getting people to show up?