Dates for DLV 2015 ...

[External Poster]

This posting is from: Sara P.
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I'm going to make a case AGAINST expanding back to a seven day event.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FAMILIES...

Many of us have SO's who are in various places with respect to
acceptance but for whatever reason, our SO's choose not to attend DLV
with us. Speaking from experience, I found it much easier to expand my
attendance from 3 nights in my early DLV days to 5 nights in order to
accommodate pretty much the full slate of DLV activities including the
Welcome and Ending celebrations. My point is that getting away from the
family for a lengthy period of time is a bit easier when selling five
nights rather than six. Also, there is a lot to be said for getting back
home on a Saturday which allows for family time for the remainder of the
weekend before returning to work on Monday.

FOR THOSE OF US ON A BUDGET...

Face it, DLV can be a big financial commitment. Room rates are typically
higher on Friday & Saturday nights which can significantly add to
lodging expenses if DLV closes out on a Saturday.

FOR THOSE WHO TRAVEL BY CAR...

Especially going back to California, return traffic on a Sunday can be
just crazy if one doesn't depart Vegas rather early on Sunday.

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I feel there has been a built-in perfection in how DLV has been
scheduled of late. Officially opening on Monday night and closing on
Friday. Nothing thus far has stopped volunteers from scheduling pre-DLV
activities on the Sunday before and there's nothing that says the same
cannot be done for post-DLV for the Saturday afterwards. The schedule as
it has been for the last few years has allowed for ample activities and
flexibility that seems to encourage maximum attendance. Pre & post
activities can easily be added as needed when volunteers step up,
allowing for the core Monday through Friday DLV to remain intact without
being diluted.

Just my 2-cents.

Sara


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[External Poster]

This posting is from: Vera Delmar
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Good point and very well taken, Sara.



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(This posting was entered by Vera Delmar, an external user of MyDLV.)

[annie]

I'm not speaking out in favor of expanding to a seven-day event or against it, but offering a couple of data points and observations.

First, when we went from a seven-day event back to a six-day event (2007 iirc), we did not see a decrease in the average length of time spent at the event, as reported on the survey. This has very consistently held at 5 dot something days regardless of the length of the event. This includes the time reported by the locals, who make up about 15-20% of our contingent.

In the years when we have ended the event on a Saturday or Sunday (2002-2009) we very consistently saw a mass departure of attendees on Friday and on Saturday morning. A frequent complaint during those years was the lack of strength in the ending of our event. "Fizzle-out ending" was the term used by one of our volunteers. In recent years (2010-2014) we've ended on a Friday and we've seen less of a departure on Friday and much stronger endings.

[External Poster]

This posting is from: JoAnn
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Annie-

I would offer: If it is not broke don't fix it.

A Friday with "less departure" the last couple of years as stated below
on Friday *"does not make the leap for me"* that there is logic, energy,
and volunteers for continuing on Saturday with a significant attendance.

We have a good pre-event on Sunday before the official week starts, and
with some coming to a pre-event Saturday.

We have a lot to do without trying to fill-up additional days. To
re-visit expanding a Friday ending is, I believe, misplaced energy.

Just my thoughts.... JoAnn


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[External Poster]

This posting is from: Vickie Stone
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Five or six days was good those who want to come earlier and do se ad
hoc events certainly can. I think the real issue is availability of
flights. I wanted to stay till Sunday last year but there were no
flights



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(This posting was entered by Vickie Stone, an external user of MyDLV.)

[bobbiemlv]

The thing is, as long as we do the farewell dinner on the 6th day, it doesn't matter how long we make it. Fact is, When we have "pre-dlv" activities, it is starting early and if we have "post dlv" activities, it is already lasting 7 & 8 days anyway. If someone can't stay, then they leave. It is what it is.
There are people who don't arrive til after DLV has officially started and stay an extra 1 or 2 days later. We need to be flexible to accommodate everyone.

[Katie Wilson]

I think 6 days is enough. As mentioned previously The rooms are more expensive Friday and Saturday which might put a few off. Of course if this is your once a year vacation then the extra $$$ should not matter and the availability to spend as much consecutive time in girl mode with a whole bunch of new friends is a really nice experience for those who have never done it before .
As some have said already, Anyone who wants to stay over Saturday evening and leave Sunday morning is welcome to do so but to schedule 7 full days of D L V in my opinion will draw it out too long and some might become uninterested and very likely need a rest. ( Not that there's anything wrong with that ).

The good thing about extra days though is that those who don't want to dress and walk around in high heels every single day can take days off and spread it out a bit which makes it easier on their system as they might not be used to wearing such items all day every day! Also shaving twice a day for consecutive days hurts too when Friday comes around so this might be one of the reasons to extend it.
I usually stay over Saturday anyway, especially if we have driven there from home as it is a very long way and in those cases and even sometimes when we have flown there we have stayed Sunday night too and done a couple of the shows together then left Monday Morning because Vegas is always a good time.

My situation is very likely quite an unique one as I bring my wife along as I prefer to do our vacationing together rather that apart but she does not participate in anything with me when I am dressed as Katie. This means that if I do a lot of girly stuff during the DLV week then She is alone a lot, which she says is ok with her! (What a gem the woman is!) so I like to spend 2 consecutive days with her over the final weekend and take a night or two off from DLV during the week too. Often we have done a supper/ dinner out with other DLVers and their wives in Boy/Girl mode on the Saturday evening after DLV which has always worked out well.

On the whole I would say no to extending it. but it would not hurt us too much if we did.

Huggers. Katie

[External Poster]

This posting is from: Delaney
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One other option may be to do Saturday as an optional, light schedule
day, perhaps with just one lunch, an afternoon activity and one dinner.
If the turnout is good, it could be expanded in 2016. That said, I'm
comfortable with either a 6 or 7 day decision.


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[External Poster]

This posting is from: Melissa Reed
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I'd like to go to the welcome and farwell partys. For me, its hard to
get away for more than 6 days.


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[External Poster]

This posting is from: Sara P
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Pretty much my point exactly Bobbie except that technically, the Ending
Celebration falls on the fifth day following the Welcome Celebration,
Monday through Friday being the core DLV schedule of late. Many arrive
early, some stay beyond Friday...all is good. I understand that Sunday
has already taken on some activities on the official schedule which is
where your "6th day" is coming from. No reason why Saturday can't take
on some activities as well.

I guess I'm just making a case to keep that M-F core intact rather than
move either the Opening or Ending Celebrations as part of any move to
stretch DLV "officially" to six or seven days.

Sara


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(This posting was entered by Sara P, an external user of MyDLV.)