DCL Party Planning Thread (combined threads)

[got2travel]

Sounds like you had a great party. Love the pics.


Where in CA are you? It's pouring here too.

 

[hyandui]

Well, we were about to toss the goodie bags -- and then discovered they make excellent DECORATIONS! We stuck a Disney plush or small blow up beach ball into each one so that the item is sticking out of the top. We scattered the bags all around -- and voila - we have nice DCL logo stuff with fun decor everywhere.
When we stopped complaining and got focused, we actually had some fun. Worth $300 and all of the frustration? We shall see!

Have an awesome party everyone. The collective energy across the country is kind of neat. It's sort of a "happening" that's cool to be a part of.

Don't forget to share your stories soon after it's over!

Eric, Julie, Hailey and Jessica, Sounds like you have it all together for your party. I especially liked your line about after we stop complaining as I too had a lot to say. We just put on our Mickey Ears and went to work and having fun, our party starts at 5pm tonight, we have a large room donated by a local restaurant and spent a couple hours decorating it on Thursday night. All we need are the guest. We will have photo backdrops from the "Cars Movie & Cinderella" and told all the parents to bring the kids out for a photo op, the food will consist of meat & cheese trays, salsa & chips, and we told all guests to bring a desert to share.
I also took a moment to e-mail House Party Staff to thank them for putting up with this bunch of Disney Nuts and if they also go on a Disney Cruise they also will get hooked.
Hope you have a super party and post allot of pictures as we will also. The weather is supposed to be good, now if it would get up around the 10 degree mark that would make it even better.

 

[Verandah Man]

I'm downloading pictures as we speak!
Konk Kooler Keg size- 1 750ml bottle dark rum 1 1/2 750ml bottles light rum, 1 1 ltr bottle pina cola mixer, 1 ltr passionfruit mixer, 1- half gallon orange juice and a lot of ice. This was enough to fill our margarita ball and it is now completely empty!

Here is the basic play by play- Everyone arrived by 7:30 - at which time I blew the horn and we set sail. We took pics of everyone as they came in-as families. We had the kids set up downstairs in the Oceaneer's area with Xbox, Dance Dance Revolution and dancin' to Disney Tunes. The adults were upstairs in "serenity Bay" with the goofy kid dvd playing on the big TV. We had planned on being outside but it's pouring here.
We ate (the grape/chili wings were the hit of the party BTW) then had all the kids come up to actually view the video. We all watched it, then we watched the slide show of our last trip.
After all that and LOTS of questions from guests-we had a trivia quiz that I made up from the video as we watched it (where do the kids go for fun, what's the name of the restaurant that comes alive, etc). We gave out the disney points for correct answer and also for those who dressed up. We had them write their names on the backs of their points then we put them all into a raffle basket. We raffled off ALL of the stuff we received (except the OBC ) along with a few things I picked up at the Disney warehouse- POTC travel mugs, t-shirts, hats, etc. There was enough that every family got at least one thing.
Then I gave each family one of the goodie bags, STUFFED with things that my TA had given me to make up for the lack of stuff form Disney and at least 4 families were going to call the TA on Monday. I can't believe how easy it was!
So now everyone is gone, my drunk husband is talking too much and I can't concentrate and I hear the spa calling (there is nothing better then cold rain falling while you sit in the hot water with your konk Kooler in hand!)
I hope you all have WONDERful parties tomorrow. I will be thinking of you and hoping your day is as MAGICal as ours was !!

Thanks for the report and great pics, looks like everyone was having a blast!!!

ETA: I noticed that was Rick Adams on the DVD, my DD had her pic taken with him during our August 2006 cruise, he is quite the character!!!

 

[Hanover]

I still haven't received a sweepstakes confirmation. Has everyone else?
Any idea when they are listing the winners?

I hope everyone had/has a wonderful party last night or today.

 

[barney4liz]

Party Day!!

Sillyandi, congrats on a great party! You have set the bar high for us!

I had some last-minute positive RSVP's yesterday, so we will have 11 or so including myself -- just enough for the gift bags.

I scrapped my "Cruise Survival Kit" plan as too expensive, and instead got some adorable Jose Cuervo pre-mixed margarita minis for each bag. I'll post a pic later.

I just looked at the official rules for the sweepstakes and they've already changed them to the rules for Guests and Family. Says it lasts until February 16th!

I still don't see anything about the guest sweepstakes?

 

[allears]

Hey everyone! It's the big day (for most). Excitement is HIGH! Hope everyone had a great time last night as well.

I was just preparing the batter for the chocolate souffle and grabbed the recipe I had printed off the download as it was convenient. THERE IS AN IMPORTANT OMISSION! It reads "Meanwhile , melt the butter and beat with a whisk until it has a smooth pastelike consistency..." You can whisk that butter all day and it is never going to get pastelike unless you ADD the 3 Tbl of cocoa powder and 3 Tbl of flour to the melted butter first. Luckily I've made these lots of times and noticed right away. I didn't want anyone trying it for the first time and pulling their hair out! And of course pass it on to guests who receive the printed recipe card if it is the same on there. I confess I haven't checked yet.

Back to cooking! Have a great day!

 

[jkrohn2703]

Can someone tell me are the party points to keep track of who wins games?? Help, my party starts in 7 hours. Thanks.

 

[skylynx]

Our party went well last night despite the threatening snowy weather. Everyone seemed to be having fun, and the kids enjoyed the goofy ear bandanas. We took turns watching each others' cruise photo CDs on the big screen tv. Photos to come!

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

I WON!

I WON! I WON! I WON!

I just got a call from House Party--I won one of the 4 night cruises--for 4, air included! (the host sweepstakes)


OMG, I'm in shock!

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

Can someone tell me are the party points to keep track of who wins games?? Help, my party starts in 7 hours. Thanks.

Yes (that's how I understand it).

PS Did I tell you I won the sweepstakes???

 

[barney4liz]

I WON!

I WON! I WON! I WON!

I just got a call from House Party--I won one of the 4 night cruises--for 4, air included! (the host sweepstakes)


OMG, I'm in shock!

HOLY COW!!! Congrats!!!!!

 

[Verandah Man]

I WON!

I WON! I WON! I WON!

I just got a call from House Party--I won one of the 4 night cruises--for 4, air included! (the host sweepstakes)


OMG, I'm in shock!

Congrats!!!

 

[dsnygrl2003]

Congrats on the win. I am happy for you sad for me

 

[hyandui]

Yes (that's how I understand it).

PS Did I tell you I won the sweepstakes???

Super on your win for the cruise now that is some real DISNEY MAGIC

With your permission, we will post you as a Host Winner at our party.

 

["Got Disney"]

I WON!

I WON! I WON! I WON!

I just got a call from House Party--I won one of the 4 night cruises--for 4, air included! (the host sweepstakes)


OMG, I'm in shock!

I'm so excited for you I was hoping someone on here would win. So when are ya leaving

 

[Verandah Man]

I just entered for the Guests Sweepstakes on the House Party site!!! Good Luck to all, four winners will be selected around the middle of February.

 

[chewtd]

My family and me want to thank all of the DCl party hosts/hostess for taking on this job and sharing all of your experiences.

We are just 15 days out from our very first DCL and can't wait. We are blessed to find a party in our community that we will attend this afternoon.

We want to give another great big to all who have shared on these boards. It has been most valuable in our planning and getting us by until we actually depart for our cruise.

Dawn, Tim and Brooke
Redmond, WA

 

[ibouncetoo]

To my BEST FRIEND Cheri (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)

Congrats girlfriend! Wouldn't it be WAY COOL if a GUEST at your party won also? Hmmmmm.....let's set that karma in motion!

OK...out the door to pick up our lunch and head on up to Prescott for the WINNERS CELEBRATION!!

WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO!

Guess I'd better head over and register for the guest sweepstakes now eh? Glad to hear there will be four winners for that!

 

["Got Disney"]

My family and me want to thank all of the DCl party hosts/hostess for taking on this job and sharing all of your experiences.

We are just 15 days out from our very first DCL and can't wait. We are blessed to find a party in our community that we will attend this afternoon.

We want to give another great big to all who have shared on these boards. It has been most valuable in our planning and getting us by until we actually depart for our cruise.

Dawn, Tim and Brooke
Redmond, WA

You are so welcome and remember.. once you sail DCL there's no turning back Have a lot of fun at the party and an AWESOME time on your cruise. WE sail again on our 6th Disney cruise in July . WE have been on 13 cruises and the last 5 have been on DCL, and no reason again to sail with anyone else.

Heres to the new ships coming out and the new ports of call

 

[got2travel]

I WON!

I WON! I WON! I WON!

I just got a call from House Party--I won one of the 4 night cruises--for 4, air included! (the host sweepstakes)


OMG, I'm in shock!

CONGRATULATIONS​

Maybe some of that good luck will rub off to your party guests.