Mousefest Hiatis

[tecowdw]

Wow, just saw it was announced that there will be no Mousefest in 2009.

http://mousefest.org/

The FAQ reads like my company's decision to "mothball" a plant. "It will reopen when things improve" is what the officals say but we all know the plant will never reopen. Perhaps Mousfest is gone forever too.

 

[DisneyJoe]

The event was growing too large for the current team to handle - as they stated:

"For MouseFest to continue to grow, the event needs someone experienced with large event planning who can dedicate himself or herself to the project"

Unfortunately, no one on the current team had this skill set.

 

[tikiman]

I am not sure someone on the committee did not have the skills but they all do a lot of other things and might not have the time to devote to it.
That is a great group of people and I am sure they will find a way to bring it back some year.

 

[MouseGuest]

It is unfortunate that such a great fan event like Mousefest will not happen in 2009, although with the size and scope of organizing it, it is completely understandable. Dave and the rest of the executive committee did a spectacular job of running the event, and in the process created a lot of magical memories for many, many people. Kudos to them!

I would like to mention the fan event that we started last year, The Mouse Guest Experience. It is similar to Mousefest in that anyone and everyone is welcome, there are guests from many different Disney sites and podcasts, and there are scheduled meets during the event. It is different from Mousefest in that it is much (much) smaller, and there are generally less meets each day, in order to give attendees more time with family or to just hang out at the parks with friends (or rest!).

This year The Mouse Guest Experience will be held at the Walt Disney World Resort from October 10-15. More information will be coming soon on The MGE website at http://www.mouseguest.com/experience. Hope to see you there!

 

[wdwmagic]

It looks to me that these kind of events have very much changed over the years. In many ways they seem to have gone from being a genuine fan gathering, to more of a gathering of internet egos. I think the original intention behind them has got lost along the way in recent times. It seems now that everyone wants to host their own meet or large get-together, and out-do all the others. It's become somewhat of a contest. I wonder if Mousefest have got tired of all the politics and games that go on? It's certainly a shame to see the original RADP meet off the calendar.

 

[hrcollectibles]

Having only Attended one Mousefest, 2007. I am kind of glad. Nothing with the Organizers, it seemed very well organized. I was kind of let down with the attitude I received from some of the people that had booths. And it did seem that everyone that was everyone wanted to have their own meet some where in the park. Now without Mousefest there won't be a group of 100 people going on the Killimanjro Safari. Perhaps if this Are you 23 thing ends up being a fan club with meets maybe Disney will have a meet in orlando the beginning part of December,kind of like mousefest.

 

[DisneyJoe]

And it did seem that everyone that was everyone wanted to have their own meet some where in the park.

Actually, there were requirements to have meets, depending on what type of participation you had in Mousefest.

 

[nibblesandbits]

It looks to me that these kind of events have very much changed over the years. In many ways they seem to have gone from being a genuine fan gathering, to more of a gathering of internet egos. I think the original intention behind them has got lost along the way in recent times. It seems now that everyone wants to host their own meet or large get-together, and out-do all the others. It's become somewhat of a contest. I wonder if Mousefest have got tired of all the politics and games that go on? It's certainly a shame to see the original RADP meet off the calendar.

I totally agree with you Steve.

I went for my first Mousefest ever this past year as both a spectator and particpant with my podcast. Now with my podcast we did go as a way to meet our fans, not to stroke our egos...however, I'm sure you're correct in that assessment of some of the people that may have been why they were there.

It is a shame to me that they are taking a year off...and maybe discontinuing it forever. I really did enjoy myself last year and was excited to get to finally experience what I had heard be talked about for years.

I thought, in it's inception of an idea...it was a good idea...hopefully, if it does come back, it comes back more as it was in the original inception, than as a more "trade show" like it felt like this last year.

Actually, there were requirements to have meets, depending on what type of participation you had in Mousefest.

Yes...you are exactly right. If our podcast wanted to be in the pocket guide, we were forced (not like we wouldn't have anyway) to have a meet. And by the time we tried to schedule our meet, it was hard to find a time to fit one in, what with all the other events scheduled.

Maybe that could be something addressed next time...if your "orginization" is going to have a meet, you only get one meet a day, per "orginization". There could be "unoffical" meets, of course, but I noticed that a lot of "orginizations" had a multiple meets that took place multiple times a day that were listed on the official Mousefest website.

I am not sure someone on the committee did not have the skills but they all do a lot of other things and might not have the time to devote to it.
That is a great group of people and I am sure they will find a way to bring it back some year.

I agree...I think that the people on the committee did have the skills to do it, but as I could tell from talking with Dave Marx, it took up a LOT of time and was a HUGE committment.

I would love to volunteer to offer my help with the whole thing, but I don't think I"m what they are looking for, what with last year being my first Mousefest ever. But I'd love to help if they wanted my services.