To DIS or NOT to DIS...THAT is the question!

[RellingTwin]

Having done two cruises, and about to do our third, I was wondering how others feel on this subject.
Our fisrt cruise was great, we had a very nice time, and were excited to get a chance to go again. BUT..........................
Before our 2nd cruise I found this board, and met all my fellow DIS cruise-mate prior to sailing. I Must say.......it was the BEST vacation we ever had! I have made new friends, was extreamly well prepared, and have memories to last a lifetime. I was a little worried about meeting people on the internet (I DO read the newspapers!) and my DH was more then a little worried about feeling obligated to spend time with people, who, in his mind were stangers. BUT, the reality couldn't have been more different. We had a FANTASTIC time and enjoyed meeting all our fellow DIS cruisers.
I would LOVE to hear others viewpoints on this subject.
Did you meet and become friends, or did you "lurk" and avoid?
Were you happy or unhappy with your decision?
I am looking forward to meeting a new bunch of DIS'ers on our upcoming Sept. 28th cruise. 91 days and counting!!!

 

[MCazer]

I too was a little leary, and my husband more so. But we jumped in on our last cruise and had a wonderful Halloween cruise.

We did meet one particular family (HEY GINNY!). We have gotten so close that we have met up for an all girls trip to Disney in January, and her daughter and husband joined us at home for my son's 4th birthday.

Do we live close? NOPE. Are we close! YUP!

Again, we are sailing on the Magic this August 3rd. Am I leary again, yes.... because, I find it hard to believe that I will be as lucky as I was on the Halloween cruise. But what the heck, take chances in life!

 

[NCRedding]

We had an agreed upon meeting place & time with other DISers for our January cruise; I arrived late due to my DD having a splinter in her foot, and met no one. At the kid's club later, I met one person from the DIS, who said nobody showed for the meeting. I never saw her again that whole cruise. I really wish I had tried to meet more, but we still had a great trip.

 

[taswira]

NCRedding - That sounds similar to the May 12 cruise. I know there were at least 15 DISers <I>plus</I> their family members. Although we organized a little "meet", only two couples and myself showed up for it. I met WDWLVR (Mary) and her husband Mark, and "disneycruzin" (Brad & Jenn). They were all WONDERful people! I enjoyed lunch with Mark and Mary upon embarking (We met in the terminal), and we sat together at the CC reception. I took some pictures of "disneycruzin" and their pin collection. No one was obligated to spend time with anyone. I hope to see them again on future cruises. It was nice to meet some of the people I see on this board. We did meet another DISer in the embarkation line, but she didn't come to the "meet." Maybe people do fear getting "stuck" with others, but I don't see it that way. We all have our separate agendas, but I think it's nice to put faces to the names we see here, to discover the variety of interesting personalities among DISers, and to hear about some of their experiences on the cruise. I will still make every effort to at least introduce myself to DISers who care to do the same.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

We "met" Michellemouse on the internet a while back. We are both cruising with our families Nov 30th. We met a month ago for lunch as we only live about 1/2hr from each other. We have our dinners linked.

 

[ruvidu]

We have several DIS boarders communicating on our 9/14/02 thread now. I hope we can all meet at least in the terminal. I only met one DISer last year. A couple came up in the terminal and asked if I was Ruvidu. They were fom Chicago and were a wonderful family. We would see them aboard ship, stop and chat and then go on. When I posted my trip report last year I got a message from one of the DISers saying they were in the cabin next to us. I love to meet new people everywhere I go. I have even met RellingTwin and not on a ship. Hey, how's Shadow.

 

[Ginny]

I have to say that the Halloween Cruise was a really special time BECAUSE of all the Dis'ers we met. Our Halloween Cruise was our third DCL cruise and BY FAR the best!! We are definitely not a family who would usually commit to activities with strangers but made a decision to test the waters. I have been reading the DIS since March 99 and other Dis'ers have made a huge difference in all our trips since I joined the board.

I am so glad that we participated!! What a difference it made to go to the various activities and already have friends there to say hi! We went to different family activities and all the DIS families were cheering wildly for each other - it made it so much more exciting and magical. One very special memory was that after two other families wisely worked together and won the Theme Song game, one of the DIS mom's (TinkHappy) brought her "I'm A Winner" medal to our DD, now 7. I have to tell you that it was a really loving and generous thing to do!!

The best part of that cruise was meeting MCazer and her family.....in the van from the Radisson. Something Margaret said made me realize that she was MCazer and it went from there! As Margaret (MCazer) said, our families bonded and have remained close! We live in different states but it is worth the effort because they are so special and giving and can make us laugh and just enjoy the moment!!

So, if anyone is waffling............get your feet wet!! You don't have to make any long-term commitments but you may just walk away with wonderful, new friends.

 

[RellingTwin]

Last year while reading this board I happen to see a post re: some Lab puppies being born to a DIS'ers dog. I noticed the poster (Ruvidu)was from South Carolina (also my home) and since we had been thinking of getting a Lab, I e-mailed him.Well, those pups were gone, BUT another litter was expected, and a few months and many e-mails later, we got our puppy! Shadow (a yellow lab) is now 1 year old and the best dog I've ever had!So now I am "related" to a DIS'er!LOL!
Russ, I've been following your 9/14 thread. I think you will meet LOTS of DIS'ers this trip.

 

[Hygiene99]

hi Rellingtwin,
meeting disers was the best , we went on the may 11,2002
trip and we had t shirts and lanyards witch where made by disers and it was one of the best cruises we have ben on every where u turned u felt like u new somebody if u wanted 2 ...
or your privacy was respected , under no way felt obligagted to hang with these people but if u wanted to u could and we did shared storys of the crazy posts on this board and of our adventures of the day ... we also did a prearranged brunch at Palos was very good but just in general it was a blast
i think this is a good thing ... peter

 

[Mjasp]

I also was on the 5/11 (Hi Jenn and Peter) and I have to totally agree with Peter, everywhere you went you saw a DISer with a green shirt or green lanyard (Thanks Joe) It was alot of fun. My 10 yr old DD sent an e mail to TKD Lisa's DD before we sailed and although they weren't in the same age group in the club, we ran into them outside the lab one night and my DD was so excited to meet her DD, if they were in the same age group I feel they would have hit it off, she even made mention of her as one of the kids she knew on the 5/11 in her travel journal I picked up at Hallmark pre cruise.

We also met TNRobin, ran into her alot at the entrance to the kids club, we must have been on the same kids schedule, when I was having a problem with our room she told me to inform my TA and they would go to bat for me. I would have NEVER thought of that. We also had chairs right behind her in paradise (I mean CC)and when she left she gave us their hammock. Thanks Again Robin.

Alot of us met pre night at the Radisson and I have to tell you it was a blast. We actually got to talk and know each other before the cruise.

We were in no way obligated to hang with anyone. Like previous posters stated it was nice to run into each other on the ship.

Joanna

 

[prymsu]

I met a bunch when we cruised in January. There were a few of us, and our families that agreed to meet for a sit down lunch on the first sea day of the cruise.

This was lots of fun. It was nice to be able to meet in person the folks that you have shared and planned your trips with.

My son instantly became fast friends with Tinkerkat's kids. After that we would run into one another on the ship, and the kids had fun doing things together at the lab and at the pool.

I would recommend doing this. In October, since I am on a three day cruise, I think we might have problems meeting up, and I know other folks on this board are booked for the same cruise. We may have to settle for the sailaway party. It is neat, because Tinkerkat is also going to be on this same cruise, and it will be nice to already know one person who will be there...

 

[SQUIGGLE]

I have to agree with Peter & Joanna. We were on the 5/11 cruise too. The meet at the Radison was great. Just a bunch of people with a common interest getting together. Then with the lanyards that Joe made we were able to spot other DISers on the ship and it was good to put faces to the names. I think it definitely made the cruise more fun.
I know Mjasp is with us next May 17; how about you Hygiene99?
Can't wait!!

fran

 

[Hygiene99]

Hi Fran! We are booked on the May 10th Western as of right now... we really enjoyed the Western itinerary, but we have thought of changing so we could see everyone again!! Will let you know!

 

[papa]

Our dis meet on the 09/22/2001 cruise made it the best ever. We met some very wonderful people that we call our friends and we continue to email and even get the chance to cruise with them again.

It is nice to be able to dine with them and to call and exchange emails and letters. You are under no obligation to be with them 24 hours a day on the cruise. It is nice though to feel that when you meet them you are meeting someone that feels like family.

This was the first seven day cruise after 9/11 and I think that made it ever more special being with your dis friends.

Mike

 

[Fawn]

On my first cruise, we arranged a meet and only one other person showed up. It was nice to chat, and we saw each other once or twice that week and said Hi.

I think you can make it what you will. You may really hit it off and want to spend some time together or you may just say Hi in passing. But it's so much fun, imho, to put faces to the names and be able to chat on the board before and after the cruise!

 

[BethC1952]

We didn't meet any DIS'ers on our four night May, 2001 cruise, but I would love to meet people on our four-night Decemer 8, 2002!

I'm not a shy person (DH says I will talk to anything that stands still long enough--I think it comes from the fact that I'm in politics LOL!!) so I always find someone to chat with, but it would be nice to meet other people from here.

From looking at the "Unofficial Cruise List", it looks like there's only one other group going on this cruise--and they're also from New Jersey!

If anyone else will be joining us, please let me know!

We'll have DH's father with us this trip, and it would be nice for him to have someone his own age (76) to hang around with! (He's happily married, not looking for romance, just married to someone who refuses to travel).

Like so many other people, I found these boards to be incredibly helpful when organizing last year's trip. I couldn't have done it without you!

Beth

 

[Mjasp]

Beth...If you haven't done so already you should start a thread for your cruise. It would be great for your FIL to meet someone around his age. Whether it be male or female. Good Luck, you'll have a blast.

Yep Fran, I can't wait either. 46 more weeks, or 23 more Eastern sails LOL

 

[Scott H]

As a 5/11'er I thought it was great to meet all you folks from this board. It is kinda like a giant support group.

I must agree with all that the other have said. Don't miss out. The folks from this board are great and have a plethora of knowledge to share.

Enjoy meeting folks.

 

[MrsScooby]

We have a bunch of 1st time cruisers for the July 21st Wonder. How do we set up a meet? I've read some other threads and thought maybe green ribbons would help in spotting each other. Do we need to set up a specific time to meet? What would be a good place? It seems like everyone who has posted so far is willing to meet, we just don't know how to set it up. Any suggestions?


Laurie

 

[Mjasp]

Well, you could have 2 meets if you want. We had a meet pre night for those of us staying at the Radisson. Then we had a meet on deck 10 for the sailaway party. I would recommend green leis (great idea Joe) as they will be very easy to spot over green ribbons. You could get them at a Party store. If you decide to meet on deck 10 decide where on deck 10 it will be, example, the side of deck 10 over the mickey slide. Our group also did a Palo's brunch as a meet also. I didn't go to that Wish I did though.

Hope that helps

Joanna