July 15 Disney Fans Meet in Allentown PA

[idratherbeinwdw]

For those who may be interested, this just came out in the allears newsletter:

What are you doing on July 15, 2006? Join ALL EARS® Editor-in-Chief Deb Wills, Steve Barrett (author of the Hidden Mickeys), Mike Scopa (Mouseplanet.com), Lou Mongello (author of Walt Disney World Trivia), Jennifer and Dave Marx (Passporter books), and many others at the 3rd Annual Disney Fans Meet. Once again, organizer Fred Block has arranged for the Allentown (Pennsylvania) Crowne Plaza as the host hotel. Details coming soon! Read about the 2005 meet at: http://allearsnet.com/btp/atown.htm (http://m1e.net/c?8961868-US9WfKYdzZS5M%401475093-YBgWCJc9HE3PU). For official meet information visit: http://dismeets.com (http://dismeets.com)

There's no details released yet, but if you go to the link above for dismeets you can add your name to a mailing list if you're interested. I've never gone to one of these, has anyone here been to one? It looks interesting, and it's only about a two hour drive for me, I think I'm going to go check it out. :yes:

[Colorado Belle]

I met these guys (Steve and Lou) at the Mousefest in December and they are so sweet and so much fun!

And if you go to Allentown, you really need to look up my sister nearby in Stroudsburg!

Of course, I have to wonder why something so Disney related wouldn't be held...well, at Disney. (those $59 airfares from Allentown can't be beat!). ?

[idratherbeinwdw]

Of course, I have to wonder why something so Disney related wouldn't be held...well, at Disney. (those $59 airfares from Allentown can't be beat!). ?

One guess is that WDW likes to keep control of what goes on at these events when they are held onsite, as well as merchandise sold. Perhaps the folks making this meet don't want to have to be subject to Disney scrutiny or share in profits.

For example, Disney won't let Off Kilter sell any of their own merchandise at WDW other than CD's. All the OK geeks have to go on their official site to order shirts, hats, etc. (And then there's the ultimate OK geeks, who order their own custom made OK shirts. If anyone reading this doesn't already know which category I fall into just look at my avatar. :innocent: I definitely need :help: )

[CRSNDSNY]

We're only about 45 minutes from Allentown but won't be able to make it. :coolcar:

[ripleysmom]

I think I would be interested. And Mar if you wanted, we could car pool since I am in Wantagh.

[Disneymooners93]

[QUOTE=Colorado Belle]And if you go to Allentown, you really need to look up my sister nearby in Stroudsburg!QUOTE]

I know someone who comes from Stroudsburg. Probably not your sister, though. :hammer:

[ghost1000]

Since I'm about 1-1/2 hours away from Allentown, I may be able to attend.

[ripleysmom]

Received this email tonight....

IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION

This year there is a new registration system. I had a custom database
system created for meet attendees to use.

1) It allows you to pre-register. This tells us that you are very
interested in attending but are not committed as of yet. Please include
all members (and children's ages) when you pre-register. This is an
important step so that we can adequately prepare for the size of the group.
This will also help us plan for the children's area. If you need to,
the registration system also allows you to easily add and remove
additional attendees.

2) When you are ready, go back to the registration system, log in with
your username and password, and pay for your meet registration. You'll
then be given a page to print and use as your meet attendance
voucher/ticket.

The master record in the Registration System is the responsibility of
the person who signs up and creates a username and password for the
account. After creating the master record you are the only one that can
access it and you are the only one that can add and remove additional
attendees.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please be aware that the person creating the master
record in the registration system will be / is responsible for payment of
all added attendees. If you don't want that, have each person make
their own registration.

Please visit http://www.dismeets.com/register to access the
registration system and be sure to fill out all required fields. Your information
is only being used by the meet organizers for the 2006 Disney Fans Meet
in Allentown, PA and will not be sold or released for other purposes.

MEET VOUCHER / ATTENDANCE TICKET

Your admissions ticket to the event covers the Adult and/or Child lunch
buffet which includes the following:

ADULT MENU

Garden Fresh Salad Bar and one additional salad choice.
Boneless Chicken Breast with choice of sauces (Marsala or Piccata)
London Broil topped with Merlot sauce
Vegetable Lasagna
Roasted Red Potatoes
House Vegetables
Bakery Fresh Rolls and Butter
Desert: A piece of cake served at the table.
Freshly Brewed Coffee (Regular and DeCaf) and International Teas
Refreshment Table to include Unlimited Soda and Water throughout the
event.

CHILD MENU

Chicken Fingers with Marinara sauce
All American Hamburgers, Cheeseburgers & Hot Dogs
Served with Fries and condiments
Dessert: Jello and Pudding
Refreshment Table to include Unlimited Soda and Chips and Pretzels
throughout the event.

Refreshment Tables will be provided with “Unlimited Soda and Water”
throughout the event.

It also covers rental of the ballroom and seminar rooms and all of the
other things we needed to create a magical day of Disney Fun!

Adults: $39.00 per person (13 and older)

Children 12 and Under: $19.00 per child.

Children under 3 will be admitted free of charge.

**Note: If you wish to have a regular sit down lunch for a child, (as
in having them partake in the Adult Buffet instead of the Children's
Buffet) please pay for them as an adult.

**Those of you who attended last year will note the immediate savings
from last year's adult price! If you paid via PayPal last year, you paid
$46 per adult!

Parking for Disney Fan Meet participants “not” staying at the hotel
overnight: Please be aware that there is a parking garage that is run by
the local municipality NOT the host hotel. The normal rate for parking
in the garage is $1 per hour (meet is 6 hours long = $6) but the
municipality offers hotel guests that are attending a banquet function a
discounted rate of $3 for the day. You MUST present your slip at the “Meet”
check-in table (not the hotel front desk) for it to be stamped so you
can receive the discounted banquet function rate. Guests are responsible
for making sure their parking pass gets stamped.

PAYMENT:

Payment can be made via Paypal or Money Order "ONLY".

No checks. No cash.

PayPal payments will be done via an option in the registration system.
Please, do not send payments directly to me this year. Some of you may
recall that last year there was a surcharge for PayPal payments. This
year, there is no surcharge for PayPal payments.

All payments must be received "no later" than June 1st 2006.

Please mail money orders payable to Fred Block to:

Fred Block
Re: 2006 Disney Fans Meet!
PO Box 253
Sayreville, NJ 08872

REFUND POLICY:

Again, based on your feedback from last year, we now have a refund
policy.

Last year there were no refunds at all. This year we will allow a 50%
refund for any person that has already paid and needs to cancel prior to
May 15th 2006.

After that, be aware that there will be no refunds. I still pay for the
headcount whether you attend or not. If for some reason you can't
attend, you may apply/sell/donate your admission fee to someone else but I
can't give your money back. If you register and commit for the meet you
will be listed towards the event minimum head count which of course I
am responsible for.

Any questions please email: support@dismeets.com

FOR THOSE WANTING A ROOM:

For those wanting a room at our Host Hotel, the Crowne Plaza in
Allentown, PA.

Disney Fan Meet participants can use the webpage that was specially
created specifically for the meet to make your reservation online. This of
course is the easiest way to go.

Please visit: http://www.allentownpahotel.com/disneyfans/

Also be sure to visit the main website for additional updates.
http://www.dismeets.com

Disney Fan Meet participants may also call the hotel for reservations
at (610) 433-2221 and must mention the “DISNEY FANS GATHERING” to get
the group rate of $83 plus tax per night.

Check-in time for all rooms is 4:00 p.m. and check-out time is 12:00
noon.

Every attempt will be made to accommodate special requests for room
types, smoking preferences and location; however, due to the arrival and
departure patterns not all requests may be able to be fulfilled.

Handicap accessible rooms are available on a first come, first serve
basis.

Reservations must be received by 05/08/2006. After this date
reservations will be accepted on a space and rate available basis only. After
05/08/2006 all reservations must be made thru the Group Sales Office,
during normal business hours and availability and rate are not guaranteed.

Please be aware that there is a parking garage that is run by the local
municipality NOT the host hotel. The normal rate is $8 per 24 hour
period. The hotel has arranged for a discounted rate of $6 which can be
billed to your room charge. Please present the front desk with your
parking slip when you check in. DisMeets.com check-in personnel will NOT be
able to stamp your ticket for this discount. It MUST be done at the
hotel front desk at check-in.

TERMS OF PAYMENT FOR ROOMS:

A credit card must be used with the hotel to guarantee each room for
arrival. Guests are responsible for all charges. If you decide to book a
room at our host hotel, all arrangements are between you and the hotel.

[idratherbeinwdw]

Thanks! I am on the mailing list so I wonder why I didn't get this info. I am really grateful you posted it Ripley's Mom! Car pooling sounds great, I will pm you later so we can work out the details.

[ghost1000]

Can anyone give me a timeline of events from previous Dis Meets?

[matysgranma]

Hey Mar!
I've looked into this and I think I'd like to attend. At least I reserved a hotel room for 2 nights already. Can you tell me what airport I would fly into? Or how long a drive from Chicago, if anyone knows? Since I NEVER go to Disney in the summer (too hot for me), it would sure be nice to get some summer disney magic, and then maybe our October trip wouldn't seem that far away.
Pam

[ghost1000]

The closest airport would be ABE (Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton), sometimes called Lehigh Valley International (http://www.lvia.org/).

[idratherbeinwdw]

Can anyone give me a timeline of events from previous Dis Meets?

I don't have exact times, but if you want to know what's going on at this event, and see some photos from past ones, use this link ripley's mom provided in her post above: http://www.dismeets.com (http://www.dismeets.com/)

[ghost1000]

I was on the dismeets page. What I needed to know is how early I have to leave the house to get there in time for the first event.

I wrote to them, and they are anticipating the first event to be lunch at 1:00. I was concerned that I would have to leave the house at 6:00am to be there for the opening at 8:00am, but that's not the case.