When do they announce the dates for the Merry Mixer 2013?

[brertoad]

Just wondering when they will announce the dates for the Merry Mixer 2013?

I'm so looking forward to it.

 

[disneynutz]

Under new management, they may not have it. They have canceled the entertainment at the association meetings opting for a strict business meeting.

I'm still not clear on who pays for the mixers. I used to think that DVD marketing paid for them but I was told recently that members pay for the mixers, mingles, Welcome Home Wednesdays, and Disney Files.

The budget line item is "Member Activities". For the 5 WDW resorts that I have the budgets for, owners will pay $4,238,201 for 2013.

Bill

 

[brertoad]

Aww, that would be really sad. I really am looking forward to it.

We went last year and bought limited edition pins. I hope that they do not cancel the mixer.

Does that mean that they already budgeted for it as they did for 2012, and then if they cancel or do not do one this year for 2013, there would be a surplus in the budget? I assume they won't be refunding us any of our dues...

Thanks for the interesting info.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We really enjoy the mixers as well, and love getting the DVC ornament each year. It would be too bad if the new management didn't see the value in keeping current owners just as happy as the people they are trying to sell to new.

 

[wdwlover25]

We really enjoy the mixers as well, and love getting the DVC ornament each year. It would be too bad if the new management didn't see the value in keeping current owners just as happy as the people they are trying to sell to new.

Agreed... I pushed for a December trip so I didn't miss out on the ornament again this year. I think Disney Parks should transfer some marketing dollars over to DVC. Happy DVC members keep adding more points and keep coming back to enjoy everything Disney. I wouldn't spend all the money I do at the parks if it wasn't for DVC.

 

[disneynutz]

We really enjoy the mixers as well, and love getting the DVC ornament each year. It would be too bad if the new management didn't see the value in keeping current owners just as happy as the people they are trying to sell to new.

If my info is correct, owners are paying something like 8 million dollars for the mixers and other DVC events.

That is a lot of money. My guess is that we are billed for the venue, the personnel, the ornaments, the decorations, the cookie, the apple cider, the music, and everything else.

Bill

 

[disneymath]

Hmm, if members really are paying for the Merry Mixer, it seems only logical/fair/right/reasonable/choose your own descriptor that those of us who can't attend should receive an ornament just the same. I would guess that a good portion of the membership would appreciate the annual ornament over seasonal mixers that do not fit their travel options.

Then again, others might prefer some other option ... Like no mixers/mingles etc. and the millions of dollars going towards some other more universally beneficial/accessible to all members thing.

You learn new things on these boards every day!

I wonder if that figure Bill mentioned includes the DCL DVC Member gatherings too?

 

[brertoad]

Hmm, if members really are paying for the Merry Mixer, it seems only logical/fair/right/reasonable/choose your own descriptor that those of us who can't attend should receive an ornament just the same. I would guess that a good portion of the membership would appreciate the annual ornament over seasonal mixers that do not fit their travel options.

Then again, others might prefer some other option ... Like no mixers/mingles etc. and the millions of dollars going towards some other more universally beneficial/accessible to all members thing.

You learn new things on these boards every day!

I wonder if that figure Bill mentioned includes the DCL DVC Member gatherings too?

They probably won't ever do that because the cost of mailing would exceed the cost of the ornament, which jacks the price up for all of us to cover the cost of mailing said ornament to ALL of those who don't attend. Basically blowing up the needed budget to something ridiculous I'm sure. It's a give-away, they won't be mailing you cookies and cider either.

I really doubt it costs millions of dollars for the Merry Mixer, that just doesn't sound right. It's held for a few hours on 4 days of the year.


Here is a link to see the annual budgets across the board for DVC resorts:

http://www.dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-program/financial/2013-resort-budgets

The top three resorts with the highest member activities expenses are Aulani, HH, and VB.

 

[Docmom]

Newbie here...what's the merry mingle and when is it? Do they only give the ornaments at this or if you are there anytime in December?

 

[brertoad]

Newbie here...what's the merry mingle and when is it? Do they only give the ornaments at this or if you are there anytime in December?

It's a member party, they have had it for seven years, although we have only gone last year, we became DVC members in 2012. Last year they had 4 dates schedule during end of Nov/Dec. It was just for a few hours each date, they had a door prize of DVC stuff to register for the drawming, and gave a cookie or rice crispy treat voucher, and had apple cider and hot chocolate. They had Mickey and Minnie and Pluto and Goofy Photo ops, live entertainment, pin trading, and merchandise. The venue had it set up with banquet tables. On your way out, you would receive a commemorative DVC member ornament, one per family.

It was very nice and super cute. Loved the character photo op.

 

[disneymath]

They probably won't ever do that because the cost of mailing would exceed the cost of the ornament, which jacks the price up for all of us to cover the cost of mailing said ornament to ALL of those who don't attend. Basically blowing up the needed budget to something ridiculous I'm sure. It's a give-away, they won't be mailing you cookies and cider either.

I really doubt it costs millions of dollars for the Merry Mixer, that just doesn't sound right. It's held for a few hours on 4 days of the year.

Here is a link to see the annual budgets across the board for DVC resorts:

http://www.dvcnews.com/index.php/dvc-program/financial/2013-resort-budgets

The top three resorts with the highest member activities expenses are Aulani, HH, and VB.

I agree that they are not likely to start sending ornaments out to all members. If they wanted to though, I suppose they could cut down on shipping costs if they sent them out with the fall Disney Files magazines.

For some reason, I feel compelled to point out that a limited production, DVC-specific Christmas ornament, with a unique design each year, is in a completely separate "give away" category than cookies and cider. But, maybe that's just me. Anyway, in the long run, it's not a big deal - I didn't buy DVC for ornaments or any other trinkets.

That said, info like that shared by Disneynutz does get you thinking about the extra things (not tied specifically to our home resorts or member services) that ALL members pay for and that in turn relatively FEW members can/choose to take advantage of.

 

[brertoad]

As others have mentioned recently on other threads, I've read that there are near 200,000 DVC members.

I don't know how many DVC members attend the Merry Mixer, I'm going to venture a guess and say a total of maybe 5,000 over the 4 dates. That might be way to high of an estimate.

If they had to manufacture 200,000 ornaments that would indeed raise the price, plus shipping cost. If the ornament is $1 a piece, the cost alone would jump by $195k. If the ornament costs $2 each, then double that $390k. Not including shipping. (I know it's made in China, but really don't know what it might cost, it might cost more, idk.)

Ah well. I just hope that they have one this year.

 

[disneynutz]

Just wanted to share some facts.

200,000 memberships, approximately 400,000 members.

The budget line item, Member Activities includes the cost of Disney Files, the yearly Association Meeting, legal printings and mailings, the cost of member activities and events at the resorts. That includes Merry Mixers, Welcome Home Wednesdays, and Mingles.

I Have the numbers for the following resorts.

The budgeted total for Member Activities in 2013 are:

BCV $786,086.00
BLT $887,108.00
VWL $350,007.00
AKV $1,264,437.00
BWV $950,563.00
Total $4,238,201.00

Bill

 

[DebbieB]

Just wanted to share some facts.

200,000 memberships, approximately 400,000 members.

The budget line item, Member Activities includes the cost of Disney Files, the yearly Association Meeting, legal printings and mailings, the cost of member activities and events at the resorts. That includes Merry Mixers, Welcome Home Wednesdays, and Mingles.

I Have the numbers for the following resorts.

The budgeted total for Member Activities in 2013 are:

BCV $786,086.00
BLT $887,108.00
VWL $350,007.00
AKV $1,264,437.00
BWV $950,563.00
Total $4,238,201.00

Bill

What about movies at the resorts, children's activities? Not strictly DVC but do we have to help pay for those? Also the Community Halls.

I went to a Merry Mixer about 4 years ago. I wanted to get a diet coke from the bar. $4 for a can! Are you kidding?

 

[DizBub]

Newbie here...what's the merry mingle and when is it? Do they only give the ornaments at this or if you are there anytime in December?

Member's Merry Mixer is usually the last 4 Tuesdays before Christmas. This year that would put it at Nov 26, Dec 3,10,and 17. The last 2 years they were held in Epcot (between UK and Canada pavilions) requiring park admission.

Hoping they have them this year. We went in 2011 but couldn't get back in 2012. We will be there Dec 3 so if there is a Merry Mixer we will attend.

 

[mom of princessx2]

Member's Merry Mixer is usually the last 4 Tuesdays before Christmas. This year that would put it at Nov 26, Dec 3,10,and 17. The last 2 years they were held in Epcot (between UK and Canada pavilions) requiring park admission.

Hoping they have them this year. We went in 2011 but couldn't get back in 2012. We will be there Dec 3 so if there is a Merry Mixer we will attend.

Tuesday!?! It used to be on Wednesday and before that it was Thursday. I have time chisled out on Wednesday for that on our upcoming trip. If they changed it to Tuesday we will have no time to go. Crud!!

 

[eyor44]

Thanks for this info. I vaguely remember seeing this mentioned somewheres but wasn't sure what it was. We will be there for Thanksgiving this year and I hope to be able to go.

 

[disneynutz]

What about movies at the resorts, children's activities? Not strictly DVC but do we have to help pay for those? Also the Community Halls.

I went to a Merry Mixer about 4 years ago. I wanted to get a diet coke from the bar. $4 for a can! Are you kidding?

I would guess that Disney uses our dues for as much as they can. We never realized what a cash cow DVC is.

My guess is that most owners never look at the cash flow and only consider how much they pay in dues. When you read posts about how wonderful Disney is for putting on the mixers and events, then we find out that the owners are paying for them. Per owner it's only $50 or so per year but combined it's millions of dollars for events that most owners never attend.

If the only event that you attend is the Merry Mixer for the tree ornament, you paid about $30 for it.

Bill

 

[MarlaSingersLaundry]

I was looking for the dates and wondering if I had missed the announcement. We went last year and really enjoyed it. I hope this activity doesn't get the chop. We haven't been to any other DVC activities. One day we will make it to a Welcome Home Wednesday.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Member's Merry Mixer is usually the last 4 Tuesdays before Christmas. This year that would put it at Nov 26, Dec 3,10,and 17. The last 2 years they were held in Epcot (between UK and Canada pavilions) requiring park admission.

Hoping they have them this year. We went in 2011 but couldn't get back in 2012. We will be there Dec 3 so if there is a Merry Mixer we will attend.

I don't ever remember one being on Tuesdays. I seem to remember them always being either Wednesdays or Thursdays, and it has always been all 4 weeks of December.