MouseFest announces there will be MouseFest in 2009

(February 15, 2009) MouseFest 2008 was by far the most amazing nine days of magic and wonder Disney fans have ever experienced together. During MouseFest wherever you looked you found someone with a big smile wearing a bright yellow lanyard filled with pins and buttons.

MouseFest 2008 included a sea segment, featuring a four-night Disney Wonder Cruise (with many first-time cruisers), and a land segment, highlighted by a MegaMouseMeet (with more than 800 attendees) at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Convention Center. Both segments included gatherings focused around attractions, restaurants, and even hidden Mickeys.

The MouseFest Executive Committee applauds all of you who participated in MouseFest 2008 and offers a huge tip of our Mickey Ears to everyone who made this event so successful.

As many of you know, MouseFest began in 2003 as a spin-off of the annual RADP (rec.arts.disney.parks) meet. Since then, MouseFest has grown by leaps and bounds, each year seeing an increase in the number of attendees, and participating communities, websites, podcasts, authors, and exhibitors.

When the MouseFest Executive Committee began to plan for 2009, we realized the event had grown so much, it had basically taken on a life of its own and that there were many areas long overdue for attention that needed to be addressed. We knew we were going to have to engage in very serious conversations regarding the long-term future of the event we have all come to know and love.

One important issue to address was that of the open MouseFest Chairperson position. Dave Marx stepped down from his post as MouseFest Chairman in January, to devote more time to his family and business.

As you can imagine, the role of Chairperson is a huge undertaking, even with many volunteers to help out. Among many other tasks, the Chairperson: secures contracts; works with communities, sponsors, authors, and exhibitors; handles registration; deals with event insurance; and works tirelessly to make sure that the funds on hand are used as efficiently as possible to hopefully break even.

To ensure a quality event, the Chairperson must commit to countless hours and offer an endless supply of energy year-round. We thank Dave Marx for his leadership and his time at the helm of this amazing event.

In taking a closer look at the role of the Chairperson and MouseFest itself, the MouseFest Executive Committee realize that we have reached a crossroad.

For MouseFest to continue to grow, the event needs someone experienced with large event planning who can dedicate himself or herself to the project (and many other things) for much of the year. It also requires increased financial resources and someone responsible for signing on the line for them. This type of commitment goes above and beyond that which can be expected from a volunteer.

The budget for MouseFest has always been bare bones. For example, there are no funds to pay for a Chairperson or to pay for many other things that would make running the event easier.

The loss of our Chairperson, combined with MouseFest's significant growth, makes it clear that we must address these issues now, and has led the MouseFest Executive Committee to a very difficult decision.

We have determined that MouseFest must go on hiatus for the year 2009 while we consider the long-term future of the event.

Knowing how much MouseFest means to so many people, including ourselves, the Committee has made this decision with a heavy heart. However, this decision was made not only in the best interest of the event, but also in the best interest of those personally involved in its organization.

So what does this mean to you?

First of all, as communities and individuals you are free to keep your December 2009 travel plans and hold whatever events or meets you wish under your own name/brand.

However, as you move forward with your plans, it is VERY IMPORTANT to note that NO person or entity may use the MouseFest(TM) name anywhere for any reason without the express written permission from MouseFest co-founder Deb Wills.

Also, just prior to sending out this release, the Committee notified Mouse Fan Travel, the only 2008 MouseFest Cruise Provider and the only one who had made arrangements to support the MouseFest 2009 cruise, of the decision to not hold MouseFest 2009. The agency is planning to continue with a group on the 4-night cruise and if you booked with Mouse Fan Travel you will receive an email from the company with further details regarding their plans. If you booked with a non-designated MouseFest Cruise Travel Agency (or directly with Disney), you will need to contact them to determine your options.

We know you have many questions and have prepared an FAQ to help answer them. Please go to this FAQ for more information.

Thank you for your friendship, for your enthusiasm, and for your patience as we work to determine the long-term future of MouseFest.


Sincerely,

The MouseFest Executive Committee

Deb Wills
Fred Block
Mark Goldhaber
Lou Mongello
Mike Scopa

-- Posted February 15, 2009