Did anyone like the changed Merry Mixer?

[tksbaskets]

Hi,
I just completed the portion of my holiday trip report where we went to the final Merry Mixer of the year at the Contemporary Resort. My thoughts are in post #69.


This was our third Merry Mixer. The previous two were outside of EPCOT at the International Gateway.

Past years:
Easy to get to the mixer
Nice and bright with the tent outside at EPCOT
Photopass Photographers staffing the character photo shoot
Easy to hop out of the park and back in after the event

This year:
Difficult to go from a park to The Contemporary Resort
Challenging to get from another resort to CR
Ballroom was dark, isolated in the bowels of the CR
Decorations dwarfed by the size of the room
Over 1 1/2 hours of travel time to and from a park to the event

I'm curious what others felt about the change. I know we'll never go out of our way to go again.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I had never made it to a Merry Mixer at the other location. I was with 3 DGFs this year, and we ate at the GF, took the monorail to the Contemporary and were so surprised at the huge line to get into the ballroom.

Your picture came out so much better than any we took. We all enjoyed the snacks. That old calender was interesting to read, but it really was a second rate souvenir of the party. I gave mine away. We all liked the ornament and thought it was cute.

After we left, we went on the monorail and enjoyed drinks at the Poly, then made our way back to the VWL where we were staying.

I would do it again. It was on our arrival day. We didn't have a park planned, and DH hadn't gotten to WDW yet, he had a work day.

 

[twinklebug]

I've only been to one Merry Mixer, that one being outside the International gateway. While I liked the location, it was very cold and rainy out making it hard to settle in to enjoy.

I've been to the Contemporary for a DVC sales pitch, and from that I'll agree with you that that location isn't the best either. Those rooms are huge and IMHO give off a 'corporate' style atmosphere. The Merry Mixer needs to be more personal.

Although I've heard our dues don't pay for the MM, I'm curious how much DVC had to pay the parent corporation to use the facilities and wonder what other locations they had available to choose from. Maybe they'll choose a more welcoming location this coming year.

 

[tksbaskets]

I've only been to one Merry Mixer, that one being outside the International gateway. While I liked the location, it was very cold and rainy out making it hard to settle in to enjoy.

I've been to the Contemporary for a DVC sales pitch, and from that I'll agree with you that that location isn't the best either. Those rooms are huge and IMHO give off a 'corporate' style atmosphere. The Merry Mixer needs to be more personal.

Although I've heard our dues don't pay for the MM, I'm curious how much DVC had to pay the parent corporation to use the facilities and wonder what other locations they had available to choose from. Maybe they'll choose a more welcoming location this coming year.

Good point! We had been blessed with good weather at our outdoor MMers. I probably would reflect differently on the experience if we'd been chilly whilst eating our rice crispy treats.

It will be interesting to see what they do this year.

 

[DiznyDi]

I agree with your observations. I'll be honest, I go for the ornament and matching pin. The other stuff is just 'fluff'. I would much prefer the Photopass Photographers. We pre-purchased the Photopass CD this year. It would have been so nice to have had the Mixer photo on the Photopass CD. Unless they change the format to include the photos on the Photopass CD, I won't stand in that line again. I'll still try to attend. I really want the ornament!

 

[tksbaskets]

I agree with your observations. I'll be honest, I go for the ornament and matching pin. The other stuff is just 'fluff'. I would much prefer the Photopass Photographers. We pre-purchased the Photopass CD this year. It would have been so nice to have had the Mixer photo on the Photopass CD. Unless they change the format to include the photos on the Photopass CD, I won't stand in that line again. I'll still try to attend. I really want the ornament!

I must admit I like the ornaments too. I think if I did go again and it's at a resort hotel I'd let the guys and hubby stay at the park and I'd trek over to the MM.

I always purchase the PP CD too so I really missed having the MM pictures on it. The line was pretty long and the lighting was a bit dark for my Canon Rebel to get a good shot.

 

[tjkraz]

Most of your issues seem to be transportation-related and that seems like an "eye of the beholder" situation to me.

For BCV and BWV guests, I'm sure it was less convenient.

For BLT and VWL guests it was undoubtedly more convenient.

For SSR, OKW and AKV guests it was probably about the same--take a bus to MK (previously Epcot) and then walk to the venue.

I have no problems with changing it around. In fact, my biggest beef with the mixer is the fact that they are only held during one month out of the year. DVC resorts have high occupancy year-round. Why make this perk available only to members interested in visiting during 1/12 of the year?

 

[tksbaskets]

Most of your issues seem to be transportation-related and that seems like an "eye of the beholder" situation to me.

For BCV and BWV guests, I'm sure it was less convenient.

For BLT and VWL guests it was undoubtedly more convenient.

For SSR, OKW and AKV guests it was probably about the same--take a bus to MK (previously Epcot) and then walk to the venue.

I have no problems with changing it around. In fact, my biggest beef with the mixer is the fact that they are only held during one month out of the year. DVC resorts have high occupancy year-round. Why make this perk available only to members interested in visiting during 1/12 of the year?

Yes, transportation was the greatest issue. That and the Mixer for our family wasn't and event we wanted to stay and dance at. We wanted to purchase the LE pin and receive our ornament. The rest of the family was basically humoring my love of the ornaments.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Aside from the darkness of the ballroom, I think I would prefer the Mixer being indoors. I have only been to one Merry Mixer (never seem to be in WDW on those days though I tend to miss it by 2-3 days...), but the one I attended at the International Gateway, it was very chilly, overcast and misting rain. While I haven't attended the new location, I imagine I would like it more ?

 

[Figment2]

I agree with tjktrz about the timing. I like the pins & the ornament. It would be nice if they either held these all year long or put a coupon in the Disney Files magazine good for one pin & one ornament that could be purchased/picked up any time during the year. I would make a trip over to SSR for that.

Transportation wasn't an issue (but then we drove). I liked it being indoors as I have been at some of them where it was cold & rainy. The only line we stood in was for the pin (because we got there late). Overall, I liked it being at the Contemporary.

Cyn

 

[mgroshans]

We went for the first time this past December. We already had our ornament, got it from DWTD in Chicago. We wanted to see what it was about. We arrived with about 50 people in front of us. Got to meet and talk to Dee Vee Cee's daughter (Ariel ?) while waiting in line. Had some punch, got our rice crispy treats, took a couple pictures of our boys, got our pins and left. We were there about a total of 20 minutes. The worse part was as we were moving forward and was about to walk thru the doors, the 2 kids behind us, pushed us aside, knocked one of my sons down to get in line for pin trading. We wanted to try it one time, so we will probably not go back.