DCL Party Planning Thread (combined threads)

[barney4liz]

from the National Party Blog:

Well, thankfully we can plan a little bit with the downloadable favors. Our package still hasn't arrived. I hope we get it, because we're already spending a ton of cash, and can't really put forth more for prizes and such. I hope our party won't be a disappointment, especially since I promised our guests all kinds of cool stuff from DCL.

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

from the National Party Blog:

Well, thankfully we can plan a little bit with the downloadable favors. Our package still hasn't arrived. I hope we get it, because we're already spending a ton of cash, and can't really put forth more for prizes and such. I hope our party won't be a disappointment, especially since I promised our guests all kinds of cool stuff from DCL.

I think that's pretty telling right there. I think some people got their expectations so high about this party package... I mean, I am really disappointed about the OBC (we booked our next cruise in October while we were on board, and aren't going until September) but everything else really was great. Okay, the Peter Pan masks did confuse the heck out of me lol!

Do I think Disney could have done better? Probably. Where were the towels? Where was the OBC for the party guests? I thought we were getting 4 beanies instead of one big plush? And that's just the stuff I'm going off of when Got Disney e-mailed House Party about it.

But really... Disney really sent a lot of stuff. That plush, is what 28 dollars? The goofy ears 14 dollars a piece? The album 20? Just right there I get 108 dollars of free stuff.

But I think expectations were higher, from both people who expect more from Disney and people who expect different from House Party. And I really think the ball may have been dropped.

 

[miatamel]

I think that's pretty telling right there. I think some people got their expectations so high about this party package... I mean, I am really disappointed about the OBC (we booked our next cruise in October while we were on board, and aren't going until September) but everything else really was great. Okay, the Peter Pan masks did confuse the heck out of me lol!

Do I think Disney could have done better? Probably. Where were the towels? Where was the OBC for the party guests? I thought we were getting 4 beanies instead of one big plush? And that's just the stuff I'm going off of when Got Disney e-mailed House Party about it.

But really... Disney really sent a lot of stuff. That plush, is what 28 dollars? The goofy ears 14 dollars a piece? The album 20? Just right there I get 108 dollars of free stuff.

But I think expectations were higher, from both people who expect more from Disney and people who expect different from House Party. And I really think the ball may have been dropped.

For me it wasn't about the dollar amount of the stuff they sent or even the stuff we thought we were originally getting (I think the only things left out were 2 beach towels, a few beanies and the OBCs?) For me, it was the QUANTITY. I would have been thrilled with 10 note pads, 10 DCL pens, 10 keyrings, etc. all much cheaper things but the same quantitity of each! I'm sure there is a warehouse somewhere in Lake Buena Vista or the surrounding area full of DCL stuff from past seasons on the boat that didn't sell for whatever reason. That would have been a good way to clean stuff out AND fill nice goodie bags for the hosts. Not marketing materials from a 2 year old DVD from a now "minor" character, for most kids, of Disney. Surely someone in marketing that is much smarter than me could figure out that five $14.95 really nice pirate ears in some bags vs. $1.99 plastic generic eye patch in others just isn't a great idea. And SIX magazines? That still cracks me up!
I'm not going to go buy anything else or spend any more money on the bags. I will let the kids color or play Peter Pan (since we honestly, really do have NeverLand set up in our backyard for the PP obsessed daughter and TONS of PP stuff inside) and figure something out about the ears. I know my DDs would each love one so I might let them keep ONE as a family, and the other families as one per FAMILY instead of one per kid. Sigh. I don't know. Now I'm getting that knotted up feeling in my stomach just thinking about it!

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

I got my package finally yesterday and I agree with most people here...we are all forking out money to throw a party to promote how great Disney Cruise Line is and we get left over promotional materials for Peter Pan!?

The Minnie Plush is very nice, the litho is very nice, and the photo album is very nice. I give them that much...but the rest of what was in there was silly! The planning video is free to anyone who calls the number on the commercial, anyway...so that's no big deal. And I haven't checked my DVD for the kids or my CD...hopefully those are both working fine.

What about the little girls who will be attending these parties? There's all kinds of pirate stuff for boys, but no princess stuff for girls?!

Disney REALLY needs to re-consider this $50 OBC date restriction! Show us hosts some appreciation!!! Half of the guests that will be at our party have already joined us on 7 day cruises!!! So, we were already doing a good job of promoting DCL BEFORE we were chosen to host this party!

Well, I hope all of you have fun at your parties despite the not so great party favors we all received!!

 

[DVCLaurie05]

For me it wasn't about the dollar amount of the stuff they sent or even the stuff we thought we were originally getting (I think the only things left out were 2 beach towels, a few beanies and the OBCs?) For me, it was the QUANTITY. I would have been thrilled with 10 note pads, 10 DCL pens, 10 keyrings, etc. all much cheaper things but the same quantitity of each! I'm sure there is a warehouse somewhere in Lake Buena Vista or the surrounding area full of DCL stuff from past seasons on the boat that didn't sell for whatever reason. That would have been a good way to clean stuff out AND fill nice goodie bags for the hosts. Not marketing materials from a 2 year old DVD from a now "minor" character, for most kids, of Disney. Surely someone in marketing that is much smarter than me could figure out that five $14.95 really nice pirate ears in some bags vs. $1.99 plastic generic eye patch in others just isn't a great idea. And SIX magazines? That still cracks me up!
I'm not going to go buy anything else or spend any more money on the bags. I will let the kids color or play Peter Pan (since we honestly, really do have NeverLand set up in our backyard for the PP obsessed daughter and TONS of PP stuff inside) and figure something out about the ears. I know my DDs would each love one so I might let them keep ONE as a family, and the other families as one per FAMILY instead of one per kid. Sigh. I don't know. Now I'm getting that knotted up feeling in my stomach just thinking about it!

I am thinking anything DCL would be great - ANYTHING! The PP stuff - what a waste - it's NOTHING fab at all... totally left over promotion stuff!!

My frustrations are HIGH w/the whole thing , but we'll have a good time - I wonder if I can give someone my OBC - the code is pretty generic, ya know? Not like it is linked to my name...

Did anyone use the iron on yet? What color shirt did you put it on??

Laurie

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

For me it wasn't about the dollar amount of the stuff they sent or even the stuff we thought we were originally getting (I think the only things left out were 2 beach towels, a few beanies and the OBCs?) For me, it was the QUANTITY. I would have been thrilled with 10 note pads, 10 DCL pens, 10 keyrings, etc. all much cheaper things but the same quantitity of each! I'm sure there is a warehouse somewhere in Lake Buena Vista or the surrounding area full of DCL stuff from past seasons on the boat that didn't sell for whatever reason. That would have been a good way to clean stuff out AND fill nice goodie bags for the hosts. Not marketing materials from a 2 year old DVD from a now "minor" character, for most kids, of Disney. Surely someone in marketing that is much smarter than me could figure out that five $14.95 really nice pirate ears in some bags vs. $1.99 plastic generic eye patch in others just isn't a great idea. And SIX magazines? That still cracks me up!
I'm not going to go buy anything else or spend any more money on the bags. I will let the kids color or play Peter Pan (since we honestly, really do have NeverLand set up in our backyard for the PP obsessed daughter and TONS of PP stuff inside) and figure something out about the ears. I know my DDs would each love one so I might let them keep ONE as a family, and the other families as one per FAMILY instead of one per kid. Sigh. I don't know. Now I'm getting that knotted up feeling in my stomach just thinking about it!

I understand what you are saying, I really do. And I do also feel cheaped out on some of the stuff I was expecting. But if anything I believe this is a lesson in resourcefullness.

Why not make a dress up trunk with the pirate accessories and get some cheap .50 tiaras from Wal-Mart and let the kids play pirate and princess?

Allow the kids to color and have a coloring contest, or create a pirate trivia contest and hand out the ears as that.

I agree that other stuff could have been provided, and better stuff. But I guess my expectations were so low that I was pumped when I saw the box. I do not have any children coming to my party, however which may be the difference maker. We are having a serenity bay type get together with drinks and talking and flipping through pictures and cruise programs.

But above all, please do not let this party get your stomach into knots and make you physically sick. Are the favors and materials that Disney provided really that essential to any of our parties? Is it a nice gesture? Of course it is! But it certainly is not required, even for the children, to have goody bags or prizes or free stuff. At the end of the day, you will still throw a great party and people will still be entertained favors or no favors.

 

[miatamel]

Y'all reckon DCL mucketys had much to do with the favor selection? I mean, apparently House Party didn't and I just wonder who DID oversee this promotion? I hate to be a complainer and I've been blah about this party for a week or so now but I would like to see a few of us mention to whomever might be responsible what a poor job someone did on quantity and choice of materials offered for this free marketing. I've never done so, but I know people on the DISboards have complained to DCL before and usually been met with at least a bit of attention. I AM NOT looking for compensation or anything free or anything like that, I just wonder if some of the execs even know what happened and if they don't, they should be aware since it put such a bad taste in so many of us that love DCL so much. I always try to make sure I let the bosses know when their employees do something great so the reverse should also be true. I just don't know WHO we could get in contact with about this. Again, I'll restate what has been said many times--leftover Peter Pan stuff????!!!
If the Clairol and LJ parties and other things are accurate, somebody at those companies knew what they were doing for this--somebody at Disney definitely DID NOT get that memo!

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

Just inquiring....

I got two of the same poster which was Mickey & Minnie. If anyone got two of the Mickey underwater statue, I'd love to trade one with you so we each have one of each. PM me if you're interested!! THANKS!!

***EDITED*** - I found someone to switch with. Just wanted to post that, so that nobody else PM's me and is dissapointed that I don't have the offer out there anymore.

 

[Mi3stooges]

This is how this party came to be for me......

I was on DCL website looking around AFTER I booked my cruise and saw this "Would you want to host a DCL party?" link. No brainer for me, promote the best cruise line AND party at the same time etc..hands down. The link went to House Party, I was NOT concered since I was sent there from the Disney website.

I love to have parties, I even have a Superbowl party planned. But the thing is that when I have a party I make sure I have enough of everything for everyone. Not saying that if I have 30 or so pp for DCL House party get 30 items, its just that we need an even amount.
My other obsevation is that this is not very well supported by Disney. This package is not the Disney I love and know.
This house party was to promote Disney Cruise Line and the only things in the package even relating to it are the gross napkins and the posters. I love the litho, goofy pirate bandanas and the album was ok. The rest is just "Leftover" stuff.
The party shall go on. Maybe we'll pretend the weather is bad and the ship could not stop at the scheduled port and we'll make the best of it!!

 

[InstImpres]

Just inquiring....

I got two of the same poster which was Mickey & Minnie. If anyone got two of the Mickey underwater statue, I'd love to trade one with you so we each have one of each. PM me if you're interested!! THANKS!!

PM me your address and I'll send it to you

 

[skylynx]

My box arrived yesterday, giving me hardly enough time to go out and find a tshirt to iron my (well-hidden) cruise director transfer on. Why so late? We got a Minnie plush and all boy children are coming to our party. Why a gender-specific "big prize"?

Luckily, we had a few cancellations and so each family group will get something, though it won't be "equal." Our DCL logo napkins were thrown all over the box (I originally thought they were packing materials.) We got the Castaway Club music a long time ago, as did everyone else coming to our party that has cruised before, so certainly no novelty there. The kids DVD is actually pretty cute. I did like the litho, though some color would have made it visible on a wall. The packages' contents seem completely unrelated to the number of people attending.

I also want to know what happened to the OBC's for our guests. I could have sworn an early post on the national party site said each guest would get one. We are fortunately cruising in June and will be rebooking something onboard and so can use our host OBC but what about them?

And here's my other gripe...in an email from HouseParty yesterday, I'm asked to compose time consuming cut and paste emails to five guests asking them to fill out a survey before they even go the party (using barely readable passwords). For crying out loud! I was expecting a post-party survey, but I think it's obnoxious to pester guests with surveys before they even go. I only sent them to two friends I knew wouldn't mind. What can they talk about in the survey except their expectations? (Which will be crushed when they see their leftover Peter Pan paper promos).

Our party will go on, and we'll make the best of the nice things we did get, but I think there were some serious communication lapses in what we were expecting from DCL in exchange for opening our homes and wallets (more than the value of a $50 OBC) to perform promotional activities on their behalf. It's disappointing.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

I got my package finally yesterday and I agree with most people here...we are all forking out money to throw a party to promote how great Disney Cruise Line is and we get left over promotional materials for Peter Pan!?

The Minnie Plush is very nice, the litho is very nice, and the photo album is very nice. I give them that much...but the rest of what was in there was silly! The planning video is free to anyone who calls the number on the commercial, anyway...so that's no big deal. And I haven't checked my DVD for the kids or my CD...hopefully those are both working fine.

What about the little girls who will be attending these parties? There's all kinds of pirate stuff for boys, but no princess stuff for girls?!

Disney REALLY needs to re-consider this $50 OBC date restriction! Show us hosts some appreciation!!! Half of the guests that will be at our party have already joined us on 7 day cruises!!! So, we were already doing a good job of promoting DCL BEFORE we were chosen to host this party!

Well, I hope all of you have fun at your parties despite the not so great party favors we all received!!

We are going to send an email to the house party director of operations and let them know how disappointed we are with this whole experience.We are also going to ask for a line of communication with Disney and let them know our feelings on this too. To many people had high expectations on the items that would me provided and in turn spent way more than the value of the junk that was provided to us.I urge all of you to look on the house party web site and send them an email with your o pion and send one along to Disney while you are at it.

Rob and Priscilla

 

[InstImpres]

It's positive time...

HERE IS SOME GREAT NEWS:

The $50 OBC for the host is combinable with all other offers and is now applicable to existing bookings.


This is directly from an email I received from Disney!!!!

Disney is listening and trying do right by everyone.

Enjoy the good news
Sandy

 

[barney4liz]

It's positive time...

HERE IS SOME GREAT NEWS:

The $50 OBC for the host is combinable with all other offers and is now applicable to existing bookings.


This is directly from an email I received from Disney!!!!

Disney is listening and trying do right by everyone.

That is great news! Thank you DCL! And thank you InstImpres for making the inquiry.

I hope they will also let my co-hostess use it though she is not an "official" HP host. Did they happen to say whether the code is linked to the host's name? I suppose it must be linked somehow otherwise people could give out the code.

 

[InstImpres]

I hope they will also let my co-hostess use it though she is not an "official" HP host. Did they happen to say whether the code is linked to the host's name? I suppose it must be linked somehow otherwise people could give out the code.

I did not get that kind of detail. I know there are instances where we have to mail in certificates.

I am thinking they are counting on people to follow Jiminy Cricket's lead and "always let your conscience be your guide" and not share this code as it is only intended 1 person per certificate

 

[Mickeyhugger]

It's positive time...

HERE IS SOME GREAT NEWS:

The $50 OBC for the host is combinable with all other offers and is now applicable to existing bookings.


This is directly from an email I received from Disney!!!!

Disney is listening and trying do right by everyone.

Enjoy the good news
Sandy

My package did not come with the $50 obc, But from what someone else posted the obc is valid from 1/26/08 to 08/26/08 is this correct? Also what does the oBC look like? I can not find it in the box any where.

Rob

 

[skylynx]

Hey, the OBC and code was just listed on the "packing slip" (a sheet of paper letting you know what should have been in your box.) At least it was on mine.

I just went onto the national party site and read the blog comments about the party pack. With the exception of one or two about not getting the boxes yet, everyone was raving about how great they were. ?

I posted something. So I'm apparently the only villain who had anything but glowing praise for the contents. What's wrong with me?

 

[Soccer Princess]

My package did not come with the $50 obc, But from what someone else posted the obc is valid from 1/26/08 to 08/26/08 is this correct? Also what does the oBC look like? I can not find it in the box any where.

Rob

Read your welcome letter.

 

[dsnygrl2003]

The onboard crdit is listed on the top of the page that says Party Pack items, it is not a seperate piece of paper. It is the first item on the list under for the host. It says $50.00 credit to use on your next Disney cruise Reference code----. Then has an * and explains on the bottom of the list the terms of the code.

 

[dsnygrl2003]

double post