The UD Forum Secret Santa is a nifty way for active members to exchange gifts with one another. Each person who participates is assigned a forum member that they will get a present for, and each person is likewise assigned to a different forum member who will get a present for them. The assignments are random, and people are encouraged to spend about $20 on their gift(s). This is not a strict guideline, and with the possibility of having to ship something internationally, you may find yourself spending a little more than that. But it's a reasonable amount which should allow all who enjoy being an active, responsible part of this community to participate if interested.
As usual, when we know who's participating for sure, I'll start a wish list thread. There, you'll be able to post a list of interests/favorites or specific things you'd like to get. Alternatively, you can post a link to lists of the DVDs or CDs you have for people to get an idea for something they think you might like.
Gift certificates are acceptable, but discouraged. It's much more fun if you put thought and pick out something for your assigned recipient. If you do decide to go the gift certificate route, or order online and have it shipped to your recipient's address, a personal touch (like sending a card, in addition) is a very good idea.
If you are interested in participating in this year's Secret Santa, send an e-mail to santa@ultimatedisney.com with
1) your full name and address
2) your forum name
3) what holiday you celebrate
<u>The deadline to sign up is Friday, November 14</u>. If I don't have your e-mail by the end of that day, you most likely won't be able to participate. The random assignments will occur sometime shortly thereafter, and you should know who you'll be getting a gift for by Sunday, November 16. As has been the case in past years, I'll be coordinating the assignments entirely by myself and no one else will know any of the random matchups. There is no trading of assignments permitted; if you are assigned someone you don't know much about, then this is the perfect way to get to know your fellow UD Forum poster better!
Regular forum members are encouraged to participate, no matter what part of the world they may live. Plenty of Europeans have participated in the past and without problems. If you're a minor (under 18 years of age), you're welcome to join in the fun, but you'll have to get a parent's permission to participate.
Note that an active forum member is one who posts on a regular basis, has successfully participated in Secret Santa in the past, or has long been in good standing here. It will be left to the discretion of myself and other moderators to determine if you can participate. The only reason anyone would be denied entry is to ensure that the Secret Santa program runs smoothly for all. There is a limited number of participants we need to manage this efficiently. If you've just recently registered or have only posted a handful of times, you'll definitely want to get to know the forum and its members much better before doing this anyway.
Anyone who signs up for Secret Santa and doesn't deliver a present to their assigned recipient will be banned from the forum. We've been lucky enough to not have this occur very often, but if this is your plan, please spare us and your membership.
Ask anyone who has participated in this in past years and most are bound to tell you it's a lot of fun and perhaps the most fun thing about being a forum member here. If you have any questions, you are encouraged to post them here. I'll do my best to let as many interested qualifying members participate, but still it's a good not to hesitate in signing up, as you could miss the deadline or a cut-off.
If you are definitely interested in participating:
E-mail santa@ultimatedisney.com with
1) your full name and address
2) your forum name
3) what holiday you celebrate
Season's greetings!
