Why so many changes at the mixer?

[5forDiz]

Do I have this right ? Merry Mixer and WHW are NOT paid out of MFs ?



TIA

 

[tjkraz]

I wasn't expecting anything lavish, just the option to have something to do other than stand around. The rice krispie treat was OK but I would have much rather had one of those cute little candy cane ornaments that only kids were allowed to make and that would have cost them less too. It just seemed too "kid centric". Not all of us have little kids and it was the boredom factor that was an issue for us.

So why not come up with some inexpensive things for the adults to do? Let the adults do one of the craft activities. And how about a trivia contest for the adults where you have to answer some Disney or DVC trivia questions for small prizes like DVC key rings or luggage tags? Have everyone who wants to play line up. Pull a question out of a hat and starting at the head of the line each person in turn gives their first name (or Internet forum name) and home state/province/country and their home resort(s) and then tries to answer the question. The first one with a correct answer gets a prize. Then they pull another question out of the hat and keep working their way through the line. We would get a chance to put some Internet names and faces together and have some fun at the same time.

I always viewed the event as exactly what the name implies--a mixer. It's just a social event for members to gather, chat and get a little taste of the holiday spirit.

We went a few years ago and actually it sounds like there is MORE to do now than in the past. I don't remember the kids activities back when we attended. Sounds like those are intended to be a diversion while the adults....mix!

They already do trivia games every Wednesday and personally I think that is a better setting for it. I can't see them being much of a success in an outdoor venue with people milling about.

Many of the online communities schedule their own little meets to just gather and chat about DVC and Disney stuff. I always took this as being Disney's version of the same thing.

 

[LisaS]

I always viewed the event as exactly what the name implies--a mixer. It's just a social event for members to gather, chat and get a little taste of the holiday spirit.

We went a few years ago and actually it sounds like there is MORE to do now than in the past. I don't remember the kids activities back when we attended. Sounds like those are intended to be a diversion while the adults....mix!

They already do trivia games every Wednesday and personally I think that is a better setting for it. I can't see them being much of a success in an outdoor venue with people milling about.

Many of the online communities schedule their own little meets to just gather and chat about DVC and Disney stuff. I always took this as being Disney's version of the same thing.

Right, but the problem is you need something that gets people interested in talking to one another. At the Mixer, nobody knows who anybody is, so there is very little mixing. There are no name tags that would catch your eye and give you a reason to introduce yourself. If I walked by somebody with "tjkraz" on a name tag, I would stop and say hello. Or if you were part of an activity and when asked to introduce yourself you said "tjkraz" or "the guy from DVC news", again, I would be heading right over to say hello. But otherwise I could walk right by you and have no idea that you are someone I know here. I think the Mixer would be more fun if people actually mixed, and I think it takes something more than putting us all under the same tent to get things started.

And I also think some kind of fun activity for adults would be nice. From what I've read about the Wednesday events, only four people get to participate. I would prefer something that is open to everyone who wants to join in. They have the center area where the kids dance so they could use that same space. Have music and dancing for the kids, then take a 10 minute break at 3:30 and again at 4:30 for an adult activity in that center area. The DJ has a microphone and you can hear him loud and clear even when the music is turned up so it wouldn't be a problem hearing people introduce themselves and answer a question. I just think if you get people talking, it might get people mixing and if you give away a few little prizes, it will provide some interest.

 

[zulaya]

I remember the first mixer we went to...I think it may have been the first or second one...maybe 2005?

Anyway...the DJ was there, the cookies and cider, characters, crafts...but it wasn't just pins for sale. There were other items. I got a Merry Member Mixer mug with that years design on it. (You need to understand...I don't drink coffee. I'm so not a mug person. But that mug was cool.) I bought a polo shirt for DH, a DVC beach towel for DD and I did get two pins for DS who was just getting into pin trading.

I don't normally stand in lines to buy stuff. But that year, it was worth it to me once I saw the variety that was available.

Since then, it's only been pins. I'm not standing in a giant line for pins.

I'm kinda bummed by the reviews. I agree that some adult oriented activities need to be found for this event.

 

[KristineN]

I must be living in my own little world....the last several mixers we went to I never saw anyone hording cookies or drowning themselves in cider. I think a ticket for a rice krispy treat just sounds cheesy.

As far as ornaments are concerned, they were handed out upon exiting. Personally, I think it would be nice for each adult to get one.

And I would hate to have to stand in a long line just to get in....

there is always a horrendously long line for merchandise...I have come to accept that.

I have spoken to my guide as well as the sales staff at the Doorways to Dream store recently...I was just curious as to their response regarding how this economy is affecting them. Both told me they have seen very little impact.....I would guess these changes at the Mixer are related to cost cutting measures.

 

[tjkraz]

Right, but the problem is you need something that gets people interested in talking to one another. At the Mixer, nobody knows who anybody is, so there is very little mixing. There are no name tags that would catch your eye and give you a reason to introduce yourself. If I walked by somebody with "tjkraz" on a name tag, I would stop and say hello. Or if you were part of an activity and when asked to introduce yourself you said "tjkraz" or "the guy from DVC news", again, I would be heading right over to say hello. But otherwise I could walk right by you and have no idea that you are someone I know here. I think the Mixer would be more fun if people actually mixed, and I think it takes something more than putting us all under the same tent to get things started.

Nametags are a great idea. That would certainly help with conversation. But I do think that DVC assumes people will either just mix and mingle on their own or make arrangements in advance to meet up with friends.

The time that my wife and I attended, we just started chatting with people nearby as we had our cookies and cider.

I must be living in my own little world....the last several mixers we went to I never saw anyone hording cookies or drowning themselves in cider.

If there weren't problems in the past, then why make the change?

There must have been a motivation behind this. If it was just a cost saving measure, DVC could have just put out the plates of goodies and took the stance of "when it's gone, it's gone."

Earlier in the thread someone mentioned finding the platters bare when attending in years past. On that basis, it sounds like they are trying to ration things fairly rather than going the you snooze, you lose route.

 

[robinb]

I admit that I was a bit of a cookie hoarder. We're always there at the end and I grabbed a few cookies as they were being taken away. In my defense, I figured that they would just be thrown out due to food safety issues.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We went to something for members at Pleasure Island a few years back. We got tickets for one ice cream or treat, so just "one to a person" is not a new idea. We had fun, chatted with a few people. It was the one where they gave free 5 minute massages to promote the spa at SSR. It was crowded and people, kids waited in long lines to play the games that were offered.

I would go to a MM, but the days haven't worked for us for our December trips. Oh well.

Bobbi