What exactly is a Meetup?

[jpeka65844]

I follow runDisney on Twitter and they're having one today. How do you get picked for this? Do you have to be a blogger or some kind of media?

[freepixie]

Originally Posted by jpeka65844

I follow runDisney on Twitter and they're having one today. How do you get picked for this? Do you have to be a blogger or some kind of media?

It seems to be that way any more. They announce on the Disney Parks Blog when they will open up the spots for the meetup, and from what I understand, it is quite a nice time. There are a limited number of spots and you have to be available Friday morning of the race weekend.

A lot of people are calling foul play on the Princess meetup, the announcement happened in the middle of the night, and many of the same people who attended the Tinkerbell meetup were chosen again.

I've never had the chance to even try- last year for the Princess, we didn't arrive to Florida until Friday afternoon, and they didn't have a meetup at the Tower I hope to get into one someday, but not holding my breath as I do not have a blog!

[wdwpluto]

Originally Posted by freepixie

A lot of people are calling foul play on the Princess meetup, the announcement happened in the middle of the night, and many of the same people who attended the Tinkerbell meetup were chosen again.

I can see how people might think that, however, I've never attended a Run Disney meetup and I got into the recent Princess Half meetup. I lucked into seeing the announcement on the blog because I was up super early thanks to my kitties and a bit of insomnia.

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Some of the same people calling foul play, are the ones that attend meet-ups over and over, so in that respect, I think their gripes are unfounded because at least they were able to participate in the first place. I have always thought that they should be one and done for those that sign-up. I feel that newbies to the meet-ups can benefit more, although I heard that the Princess meet-up barely had any speaking time with Jeff Galloway and he didn't even speak to the crowd. That is what I believed the biggest benefit to the meet-ups to be. He is an amazing guy and can turn any non-runner into someone who finishes races instead of one race. I have attended his seminars and the interaction you have with him during those are so much better.

Most of the spots are now for the media. Bloggers, websites, newspapers, and the like. In the beginning, it was more of an event for runners participating in the races and I think that made more sense. But, we are in a world full of social media, so I see where they are coming from on both sides. I really wish they would randomly draw people. That does seem to be the most fair because not everyone is a fan of twitter, facebook, and blogs.