NJ DIS Meet to Benefit GKTW - July 16! $1750.00 RAISED!! WAY TO GO! UPDATE in #293!

[mdvlprof]

Is there a date? I'm in the area on Aug 4, and would love to go to a DIS meet. Cruise [Carnival not DCL] gets back on the 4th, and Amtak train leaves on the 5th.

 

[eeyorelvr09]

Nikki- Did my PM remind you?

All sound like good suggestions. Knobels while free, I think is pretty far. If we did something like that, I think LOMB is closer, no? Holdmel Park, is big, but if you park in the main parking lot you can see a covered picnic area. I used to run there all the time while on my HS cross country team, so I know it pretty well. Plus, If we wanted to do games, there is a lot of space to do so. GA is expensive. As far as the movie thing, I sort of have connections, but it is in the Philly area and it's not a Dine In Theatre.

I know I said Great Adventure was expensive, but what about Medieval Times (Lyndhurst, NJ). It's the same cost as GA, but we can always look into getting a group discount.

Sorry if it seems like I'm shooting things down, just giving my 2 cents.

 

[parrotheadlois]

I was thinking the Bridgewater area is pretty centrally located, near Route 78/287. There must be something in that general vicinity.

I know there's a mall ... pretty much the extent of my knowledge.

There's a Chuck E Cheese in Bridgewater and a FuddRuckers.
Chuck E Cheese would have things for the kids to do.
Has anyone ever been to Chuck E Cheese?? Is it noisy, too noisy to have a conversation?? We could have an "organizational" party
http://www.chuckecheese.com/company-info/faqs/parties.php

 

[pal-mickey]

Chuck e cheese can be very loud, especially on a weekend. LOMB while nice, IMO, would be too much money to spend and then not be able to use most of the parks facilities. Also going to a place like that on a weekend might be crazy.
I would think a park of some kind, that has covered pavilions, would be the best choice. There could be games/activities for the young kids. Maybe basketball or base ball for older kids. Maybe everyone could bring a dish to share

 

[parrotheadlois]

It looks like other county parks also have reservable picnic areas. In this particular county (Middlesex), the fees are as follows:

Picnic Permit fees are based of the size of the grove
Residents
Less than 99 people $ 50.00
100-199 people $ 70.00
200-299 people $130.00
300-499 people $200.00
500 or more people $ 250.00
Beer/Wine Permit (1-199 people) $ 50.00
Beer/Wine Permit (200+ people) $ 75.00
Groups of 200 or more people-refundable security deposit. $100.00
Estimated number of people must be in increments of 25.

Non-County Residents
Less than 99 people $100.00
100-199 people

http://www.co.middlesex.nj.us/parksrecreation/johnson.asp

So the fee for under 100, non-residents with a beer/wine permit (we'd like this, just an opinion) would be $150.

I'm still wondering how the Boston Cars 2 meet was organized - has it occurred? Did they rent the theater?

Another one to blatantly copy is the very successful Indianapolis Dis meet.

Is anyone a member of an ambulance corps or other association that might have a room to rent?

 

[eeyorelvr09]

I am a member if a fire department in Monmouth County. I think it would cost somewhere around $200 to rent it out. But that is for the whole day. Wr could do the food thing by each bribing a dish. Just need to do a sign up so there aren't duplicates.

 

[wdwscout]

Hey Lois

The Cars 2 meet has its own thread right here on the boards. It has not happened yet- I think the movie opens at the end of June. But someone in their group works/manages a theater and they are getting it for free I think.

I like the Middlesex County park idea- that is centrally located for people from all points to get to. And I think the cost is quite reasonable too.

I grew up right next to Holmdel Park (our HS ran through there as well!), and though it is a beautiful park, I don't think its as centrally located as we'd like.

I also was wondering if anyone had any connections to a fire hall/EMS building in their town (or something similar) that would allow us to have a fund-raising event for little to no cost for the building? A church/temple hall or Masonic Lodge would work too.
This is my favorite idea- a non-descript ample location where we can gather, bring food and have fun. The "Indy model" would work so well- we just have to have a location.

Anyone in Middlesex or Mercer counties have a hall available??

 

[wdwscout]

I am a member if a fire department in Monmouth County. I think it would cost somewhere around $200 to rent it out. But that is for the whole day. Wr could do the food thing by each bribing a dish. Just need to do a sign up so there aren't duplicates.

What town in Monmouth Cty?

And who do we need to bribe to bring a dish? j/k
That made me smile.

 

[justwinnie]

Hi! Would love to do another dis meet!

I like the idea of a Cars 2 fundraiser! There is a small local theater we could rent from 10 AM - 12 Noon for private parties. Dunellen Theater. It's an old converted theater- they removed every other row of seats and put in coffee tables. They serve pizza, soda beer (not sure how early they serve alcohol though). This is not a fancy theater- no 3d or digital projection.

I could call to see if they can give us better pricing than what is listed on the webpage. http://www.dunellen-theater.com/

Dunellen is near Bridgewater. It's a small town, but this theater has become popular with families because of their dinner and a movie.

I know this is very similar to the Boston meet, but maybe it could be a multiple-city, Cars 2 GTKTW fundraiser/meet.

I also like the Medieval Times event! I haven't been there in years!

 

[TSWJan78]

I do love Tara's idea for the Cars 2 meet. I just would hate to feel like we were "copying" though. Maybe it stems from grade school issues I have. lol

BFF you can Copy me anytime!!!

I know this is very similar to the Boston meet, but maybe it could be a multiple-city, Cars 2 GTKTW fundraiser/meet.

I LOVE this idea!! I am sure we could get other cities to do the same thing and if we all picked the same day it could be one BIG fundraiser!!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Great ideas, all! I was thinking the Bridgewater area as well. It's centrally located and near the Turnpike, 287, Philly, etc. In Bridgewater and the surrounding areas there's a Chuck E. Cheese, the AMC Dine-in Theater, McCormick & Schmitt's, Cheesecake Factory, and more. I recently moved to the area so I am going by what I know as of right now.

The "Indy model" and hall idea is another option, but I don't have any connections to get the costs down. We could always meet at Bridgewater Commons in the food court. Birthday parties and other gatherings happen there all of the time. I know that other DIS meets have done the same. Bridgewater commons has separate parts of their food court that are off to the side and this could be a nice option. I also LOVE the idea of Medieval Times.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

BFF you can Copy me anytime!!!

 

[wdwscout]

Hi! Would love to do another dis meet!

I like the idea of a Cars 2 fundraiser! There is a small local theater we could rent from 10 AM - 12 Noon for private parties. Dunellen Theater. It's an old converted theater- they removed every other row of seats and put in coffee tables. They serve pizza, soda beer (not sure how early they serve alcohol though). This is not a fancy theater- no 3d or digital projection.

I could call to see if they can give us better pricing than what is listed on the webpage. http://www.dunellen-theater.com/

Dunellen is near Bridgewater. It's a small town, but this theater has become popular with families because of their dinner and a movie.

I know this is very similar to the Boston meet, but maybe it could be a multiple-city, Cars 2 GTKTW fundraiser/meet.

I LOVE this idea!!
I like the multi-city GKTW idea (maybe even more locations would like to do it too??), and I really like the Dunellen theater idea. If they only charge $7 for adult tickets, we could make it say $10-15 for an adult and the extra goes to GKTW.
Will they have Cars 2 showing??
Maybe if they knew we were doing a fund-raiser and not just a family reunion, etc.- might they give us a better deal?? I like your idea of asking for better pricing. As Bawb would say, "they can't hit ya!"

 

[justwinnie]

Dunellen Theater usually shows Disney movies (we saw Cars there), so I'm sure they'll show Cars 2. I will call tomorrow afternoon and see if it's available on July 2 and if they are showing Cars 2. We've held our daughter's birthday party there before and the staff is easy to work with. I'll report back when I have info.

We can also have a fundraiser get together at a Somerset Patriots baseball game.
http://somersetpatriots.com/groups/discounted/

They sell us the upperdeck tix at a discounted price and then we can sell them for $10 - 15 and keep the difference. However, I am unsure of how many tickets we have to buy in bulk in order to qualify for the discount.

We can choose a night when they do fireworks.

 

[parrotheadlois]

I LOVE this idea!!
I like the multi-city GKTW idea (maybe even more locations would like to do it too??), and I really like the Dunellen theater idea. If they only charge $7 for adult tickets, we could make it say $10-15 for an adult and the extra goes to GKTW.
Will they have Cars 2 showing??
Maybe if they knew we were doing a fund-raiser and not just a family reunion, etc.- might they give us a better deal?? I like your idea of asking for better pricing. As Bawb would say, "they can't hit ya!"

I love this idea too!!

 

[itsmuggsie]

Not sure if I'll be able to make it depending on when the date is. I could take a short trip and stay at mom's.

I grew up in middlesex county, in the Iselin section of Woodbridge. Merril park is a nice park, it's not too big, so a group would be easy to find, they have several play grounds, a big area to do group games and activities, baseball fields, could get a game of kick ball or softball going. They also have a section with animals. It's easy to get to and close to the turnpike and parkway. Keep in mind I haven't been to the park in about 5 years so not sure how it's looking these days. I could take a drive by when I'm up in the middle of this month.

 

[eeyorelvr09]

What town in Monmouth Cty?

And who do we need to bribe to bring a dish? j/k
That made me smile.

I just read that. I was in a rush while typing that. Monmouth Beach.

 

[ThreeKMom]

I just read that. I was in a rush while typing that. Monmouth Beach.

Hi! We're practically neighbors, I'm in Tinton Falls!!
My DD is an EMT! Small World!

 

[eeyorelvr09]

Yea i live in Neptune. Haven't been active in a while. It's a family thing. My dad, sis and I are members there. What station is she out of in TF? I went to HS at MRHS and graduated in 2001

 

[justwinnie]

Not sure if I'll be able to make it depending on when the date is. I could take a short trip and stay at mom's.

I grew up in middlesex county, in the Iselin section of Woodbridge. Merril park is a nice park, it's not too big, so a group would be easy to find, they have several play grounds, a big area to do group games and activities, baseball fields, could get a game of kick ball or softball going. They also have a section with animals. It's easy to get to and close to the turnpike and parkway. Keep in mind I haven't been to the park in about 5 years so not sure how it's looking these days. I could take a drive by when I'm up in the middle of this month.

My parents live in Iselin and we go to Merrill Park! The zoo is still there. It's an easy park to navigate, just a loop essentially, but it is on the small size.