Why so many changes at the mixer?

[ilovecoasters]

DH, DS9 and I went to the mixer last night. We were really excited to go since we had such an awesome time last year. We were a little surprised by some of the changes. First, you have to have a ticket now to get ONE treat, vs previous years where cookies were just out on tables. Second, Ds9 started making an ornament but lost interest and walked away. The cm would not let me take it to finish it. She said they were for children only and he had to be present. I explained that he started it and got bored. She told me he would have to come back later to pick the ornament up.
Finally, DH and I got separated in the line to leave (good grief it was crowded). I was handed an ornament, but as soon as they saw that DH was waiting for me, a CM came over and said the ornament was one per family- could she please have it back. I was really embarassed. I don't know if we'll go back to a mixer. We spent over an hour just in line to buy a pin. Just didn't seem worth the aggravation. I'm curious if any of you felt the same?

 

[Muushka]

Oh my. We weren't that impressed with it 3 years ago, I can't imagine it now.
And how embarrassing for you! What were they thinking?

 

[CarolA]

Well, the "over an hour in line to buy a pin" sounds just like last year.

They were much more generous with the ornaments last year. I left and came back three times and got one all three times! LOL! But I think I would have tracked down a "suit" over the kids ornament and the take back. GOOD GRIEF if they can't afford that then just don't do it!

I did it last year, it went in the "been there done that" just because it's free it didn't have any appeal to go again.

 

[ChelleinNC]

We went on the 5th and were very disappointed.

1 ticket per person for a treat was ridiculous and they were the same rice kripy treats that you could buy all over for $2.99. I had been looking forward to the cookies & brownies they had last year.

Apple juice/cider and water as the only beverages to make it worse, all but 1 was empty when we got there Then off to the side they're selling sodas Really??? you need to charge for sodas? How about some cocoa?

Ornaments: last year they handed one to all 4 of us (DH & I and the kids), this year we got seperated as we were trying to leave this zoo and I yelled over to DD to ask if she got her ornament and they informed me that it was only 1 per family

Pins: we heard the line was over an hour. I would have liked to get or even see what they had this year but couldn't get anywhere near.

Quite honsetly, I felt really bad that I had ended our time at the pool to make sure we got over to Epcot before the mixer ended. All that rushing/stress for nothing but a headache from the ridiculous noise level

 

[LisaS]

We went two years ago and had a good time so we went again this year. It wasn't as much fun the second time. They had a DJ and dancing for kids, crafts for kids, and nothing for adults to do other than stand in line for an hour for a pin and we're not "pin people". I would have enjoyed making the little candy cane ornament but since we don't have kids, we weren't allowed to participate unless we stayed until after 4:30 pm. I think the Mixer is a great event for kids but not for adults, especially those of us who don't have kids. I don't think we'll go back next time unless they change their policy and allow "big kids" to have a little fun, too! I think they should issue every guest a craft activity ticket and let everybody take part in at least one activity.

I'm really shocked that the CM refused to let the OP take her son's ornament! That's just so un-Disney like!

 

[Perdie]

This was the first time DH and I went and we just thought it was ok. Having nothing to compare it to, we did enjoy the rice krispy treat and cider...but did not like that there was really nothing to do other than wait in lines for pins and photos with characters etc... I walked over to the crafts table and had no idea what it was (I don't have kids) and I thought there should have been more explanation-I didn't realize until I read this that it was for kids only!!

I think what happened to the OP with the ornament is disgusting on Disney's part-how cheap can you get?! Seriously?! I can't believe they asked for it back!! How rude!

We also had to wait ten minutes just to get in the door-which we thought was silly.

Unless they made some changes, I don't think I'd go again-Disney's way of saying "Thanks for joining-we've taken away most of your benefits but here's your 20 thousand dollar Rice Krispy treat and ornament-enjoy!"

Oh well-better luck next year

 

[wulfekamp]

Sounds like the mixer did more to hurt Dvc than help. If DVC's going to be a bunch of cheap scapes they can keep there mixer. Treating members like that really makes you want to add on.

 

[Laneychris]

DVC needs to rethink how they treat members.

 

[Pinnie]

I attended our third holiday mixer on the 5th. I agree that this one was, by far, my least favorite. The ticket thing, to me, was an insult. Not everyone stuffs their pockets with cookies. Also, the cider and water weren't filled when we got there at about 4:00. The mixers the past 2 years have been much better.

We attended the summer mixer a few years ago at PI and it was SO much better. We got visors, pins, there was ice cream, popcorn, cotton candy and even some luggage tags.

I know these mixers are a "perk" and not part of our dues, but at least make it worth my vacation time. Next year are they planning a "drive by mixer"?

pinnie

 

[anonymousegirl]

This was my first mixer (I had bought at BLT the day before) so I had no idea what to expect. The queue to get in at 3 pm was long, the pin queue even worse. Families split up to get into different lines. I was by myself so I waited in all the queues.

But I did meet some great people and got my photos with Donald and Daisy, Mickey and Minnie, and even meet the grand dame herself Miss Dee VeeCee.

But it sounds as though previous years' events were better, oh well.

 

[thesupersmartguy]

We went on the 5th, and had a great time. Granted it was the last 10 minutes, and it was our first member event besides the WHW from 2 days prior. All in all I was impressed.

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

Well, we're still going to give the Mixer a try next week, despite the negative reviews. We hope to meet some DIS'ers there and get some pics with the characters in their holiday finest. I'd love to get some pins, too, but not sure if I'm willing to wait an hour in line. We'll see...

Happy Holidays!

 

[Barb]

We just got back. We went to the Mixer on the 12th. I had gone before, so I knew it was more fun for the kids than the adults. But it's nice to mingle with other DVC members. My biggest complaint is that they KNOW the pin line is horrendous, yet they only set up two registers for the event. To me, this is just plain stupid. I swear the people who organize this are the same people who run the bus system. j/k

I'm not a fan of rice krispie treats. But my son took a big bite of his and said it was ghastly. I felt it was a little insulting to have to have a ticket to get a treat, too. tsk tsk DVC.

 

[robandkelly13]

We're leaving for the world in 3 days and I've been trying to figure out how to arrange our schedule to keep our ADR's and make the mixer. After reading all the posts, I think we'll just skip the mixer. Thanks, I would have been really upset if we had wasted our time!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Some of that sounds so chintzy! Making you pay for soda is the one that bothers me the most, for some reason. The DVC membership isn't cheap-come on, DVC management! BTW, that reminds me of another event with few amenities-does anyone else think it would be nice to offer something in the way of snacks at the annual meetings?

 

[twinklebug]

I understand the line for the pins (btw - I can't believe they won't have pins available after the mixer ~someplace~ & you just need to track them down) but I'm just starting to comprehend that we actually have to wait in line to get into the tent?!! Well, that blows the "Merry" out of the Merry Mixer for me.

Uh, yea.
I think my kids and I might just keep walking into Epcot if that's the case. If I'm taking time to stand in line it'd better have a ride or show at the end.

 

[AZDisneyDan]

I have to say, I think the bigger DVC gets the less and less you will see as far as benefits. I mean they used to give all DVC members free annual passes. The discounts are barely anything on property and now these events just get scaled back little by little each year.

We are going on the member cruise for the first time in 2009 and I am afraid how much that is going to be cut back from the great reviews I read about from past member cruises.

They need to slow the growth and make current members happy or they will find a lot of their contracts on the re-sales maket. Of course, what do they care we are all on the hook now until at least 2050.

I hope they get the message and start improving the small perks of being a member.

 

[Princess_Melanie]

We just got home today and I can't believe the way some people were treated at the mixer!!

We went on the 5th, waited 40 minutes to get in, waited an hour for the member christmas pin, picked up our "special" treat, and had a quick wander - nothing for us adults, and we didn't fancy the cider/juice.

We were both given an ornament to take away as we left with no problem, I do think the OP should complain directly to DVC about their treatment - that is plain rude, and un-neccesary to ask for the ornament back.

Seriously - we don't ask for freebies all the time - this was laid on for US by THEM and they treat us like wild kids. We'll re-consider before doing another one - it was a bit of a waste of time for us really, apart from the pin.

 

[ead79]

We went to the mixer on the 12th, mainly to get the ornament. We only noticed a long line for the pin which we were not interested in. We probably waited about 15 minutes for our picture with Donald and Daisy, which was not too bad. I loved the frosted rice krispie treat and liked that they were individually packaged so you could take it with you. We were given just the one ornament to share. Overall we enjoyed it, but it is not a must see for the most part.

 

[CarolA]

DVC needs to rethink how they treat members.

Maybe it's just me, but... this does not impact my view of "how they treat members" Whats MUCH more important to me is that they keep the villas up, not that marketing cheaps out on freebies!

And except for the cheapness on the ornament I see no real difference. Last year the families that got there early and "stocked up" got cookies etc. Those of us who didn't feel like fighting them didn't get much. At least with a ticket they were probably less likely to run out. Beverages sound about the same, activities about the same. As far as I could tell last year adults stood in line to spend money on stuff. (I don't stand in line to spend money on stuff unless it's a GREAT deal)