Who are "The Friends of Bill W."?

[stevenpensacola]

I recall seeing this on every Navigator where "they" would meet for lunch or breakfast....what/who.....is/are....the "Friends of Bill W"?

Surely I'm not the only one who's wondered this....

 

[inkkognito]

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings (I think anyone in any 12-step program can attend).

 

[mrsv98]

Here is an explanation. Bill Wilson founded AA and thus the name.

Friends of Bill W

 

[gppnj]

I haven't been on a DCL cruise yet. However, I have been on cruises where there are also "Friends of Dorothy" meetings. In case it's not obvious, those are meetings for gay people.

 

[inkkognito]

I've never seen Friends of Dorothy in the Navigators which is actually a bit surprising since we've run into quite a few gay/lesbian cruisers on various Disney cruises.

 

[bellebud]

why the name dorothy?

 

[MagicWonder]

why the name dorothy?

It's a Wizard Of Oz reference...

 

[Dreamfinder2]

I haven't been on a DCL cruise yet. However, I have been on cruises where there are also "Friends of Dorothy" meetings. In case it's not obvious, those are meetings for gay people.

That's why I like this place so much! I had no idea. My first guess would have been for Wizard of Oz fans.

Now if a "Friends of Walt" group met, I'd be right there!

So I can go to bed knowing I've learned at least one new thing today. What's that old saying?

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die.

 

[crisi]

It's a Wizard Of Oz reference...

Possibly, or possibly a reference to Dorothy Parker, or possibly neither. Its been tracked to WWII and maybe before.

DCL does not have "Friends of Dorothy" meetings. "Friends of Bill W." have reportedly been sparsely attended on DCL (sometimes no one else shows up) - depends on the cruise. Anyone in a 12 step program can go to an AA meeting (i.e. if an NA meeting isn't available AA won't generally turn you away).