Internet Strangers: Navigating a Meet-up

July 7, 2023

Oh how far we’ve come as a society! As little as 10 years ago, I would have scoffed at the idea of going to meet strangers on the Internet. Even now, when I tell people I’m going to meet, have dinner with, or heaven forbid spend a few days with people I met on the world wide web, I get looks that range from astonished to horrified. When I further explain that these people are some of my best friends, even before we have met in person, the looks become incredulous.

And I get it.

It wasn’t too long ago that I would have likened this tomfoolery to prison pen pals meeting a day after the prisoner’s release. You just don’t do that. When preaching to my kids about the dangers of playing video games with unknown Internet people, I would regale them with tales of 70 year old men posing as 12 year old girls, predators with window-less vans, and overall bad, Coors Light drinking deplorables.

Fast forward a few years and my offspring are watching me Zoom weekly with people, many of which I haven’t met. And a few who throw the occasional unnecessary “u” into words and drive on the wrong side of the road. They don’t say anything out loud, but I can read the hypocrisy accusations in their beady little eyes.

However, while I feel like social media can be a toxic and dangerous place, I also believe that it can be a wonderful tool to meet and get to know other like-minded people. Many of the groups I’m in on Facebook are terrific communities, especially the Disney groups. Yes, there are some pretty nasty Disney groups out there too, but it doesn’t take too long to weed out the malignant groups and discover the delightful ones. I believe I have found some of the best ones out there. Considering I really only advertise this website in those groups, I know you all are mopping what I’m dropping.

It is one thing to engage with a bunch of strangers online and follow along with their Disney trips, but it is a whole other to decide to go down to Orlando and hang out with them in person!

So here are some general rules to navigating a Disney meet-up, especially for first-timers.

1. Don’t pigeonhole yourself – I am an introvert. This is why I declined my first opportunity to meet up with fellow Disney fans. I honestly didn’t think I could “people” enough to fit in with a big group. When I finally persuaded myself into going to one of these meet-ups, I discovered that two-thirds of the people at the get-together were also introverts. I also discovered that no matter what personality type I was engaging with at the moment, we all had this common thread of Disney infatuation to keep us unified. So don’t categorize yourself so rigidly that you talk yourself out of going!

2. Get involved – The second rule is a companion to the first. I’ve met a few people who came to the meeting, but since they didn’t know anyone, they stayed on the peripheral of the action for the entire trip. They have lamented this decision every day since. Throw yourself right into the mix! Are they meeting up for a meal? Tell them to add you in! Are there games going on? Play! There is nothing wrong with some solo park time, but don’t estrange yourself too much from the group. There are some quality friendships that you will be missing out on!

3. Let drama roll off your back – Wait, I thought it was all rainbows and unicorns? Well, as much as I love the Disney communities I’m involved in, there will still occasionally be some drama. Humans are involved. Not all humans are going to instinctively like ALL other humans, even in a healthy, friendly, kind, and generous group. If you see some drama, don’t be a llama. Be kind and avoid the mess!

4. It’s not JUST about Disney – This is one of the misconceptions of outsiders looking in at our groups. We don’t just sit around at these gatherings and talk Imagineering, sightlines, and the smell of bromine in Pirates of the Caribbean. We talk about our jobs. We talk about our spouses. We talk about our kids. We do life with these people. Disney may have brought us all together, but authentic friendship keeps these relationships thriving.

5. Have Fun! – Should be obvious, but because it can be stressful to meet new people, so you can often let worry and anxiety rob the fun out of your trip. Stressing about making a good impression can ruin your vibe. Don’t let it!

If you are even considering joining a meet-up, whether it is a YouTube group, a podcast group, or any other type of Disney gathering: do it! My life has become so much richer since meeting my Disney friends and I would not take back any of my experiences with these lunatics. They are my crew. They are my friends.