Episode 726 - Traveling Solo to an Online-Group Event

Authored by: ddindy on Friday, May 28 2010 @ 09:40 AM CDT

Here's a tip for meeting people if you're a little shy like me: Wear something a little different to attract attention. For example, at my first Mousefest, I wore a T-shirt from Netcot that says "What time is the 3:00 parade?"

Thanks for the shoutout, Matt. Some of my photos from Fantasmic that night actually look decent.



---
Share and Enjoy!

Dennis

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: Atomicmickey on Friday, May 28 2010 @ 02:03 PM CDT

Thanks for this--I haven't made it to any sort of in-person event,
but every time friends and family look at me strangely when I glaze over talking
about Disney, I think about what it would be like to be around people who don't
judge the obsession, and share it!

I also appreciate the comment that Mike Newell made about message boards--I was going to write and ask because
I haven't really found a welcoming one,yet. They are very cliquey and often it's just a small group of negative people
arguing with each other over the latest wad of gum they spotted on the Tomorrowland bridge or something. Often multiple
posts will go unanswered. I haven't joined Twitter yet, but you really talked it up a lot as a more friendly and fun place
to discuss things. Problem is, I'm a bit wordier than 140 characters, lol.

Hope to meet you all one day at one of the events. I do a lot of outdoor camping in
all weather--so tentfest would be fun. NO RV'S! :)

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: FigmentRules on Friday, May 28 2010 @ 03:35 PM CDT

I've been to WDW solo, a lot. Yet I, too, waited years (if not decades) before attending a face-to-face meet up. I'd lurked on rec.arts.disney.parks since its inception, and a variety of Disney fan sites, ever since we convinced the network admins at work to open-up port 80 on the firewall for this HTTP protocol stuff to see something called a web-site. There was only one and it was at CERN.

For my first meet, and this is crazy, I made my husband join me for dinner at Perkins in Camp Hill, PA, during MouseMeets 2008. Talk about toe-dipping--I didn't even have tickets for MouseMeets, but Harrisburg is only an hour from my office. I met some wonderful, normal, people and that was it. I signed us up for MouseFest2008 (thank goodness.) Now I have to convince hubbie that it's OK if he stays home on these jaunts, and I go whenever I can--alone! I particularly like the meets that WDWToday hosts, though I went to Lou's Adventurers' Club meet solo and LOVED it!

I love staying at POFQ, on the ground floor, back on the river, when I'm there alone. ;-) I rent a car so I can hit all the meets without having to rely on cabs or Disney transportation.

Looking forward to Reunion2010! Not sure if I'll be solo or not, since hubbie has the option of coming, too. ;-)

If I have any advice at all for someone considering joining in the fun, it's this--DON'T WAIT! You're missing out, and we're missing what you bring!

[ Reply to This | # ]

Authored by: gillian521 on Wednesday, August 11 2010 @ 10:55 AM CDT

I read above and I think we all agree with Newell, message boards are icky. I got burned a while back by some that I went to while neck deep in WoW (my uber nerd flag is flying high!!) and they can cn be cliquey! And mean.

I like the lines chat, it's short and very encouraging and usually very funny. and I love facebook, I can socialize on my time line...not when a phone rings or have to schedule a meeting.

and I'm sorry if it sounds creepy, but feeling like I know you guys, maybe, on a disney level. But I could definately pick you out by the sound of your voice, while blindfolded! Hey it's an idea for a reunion game!!

and since listening in the last couple of months, I can't wait till my kids are older and i can ditch my wonderful husband and go do disney my way with my people. I love him dearly on every level..but he doesn't get it...disney or CRABS, Maryland style!!

[ Reply to This | # ]