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[DCLMP]

Ok, I can keep this going down another rabbit hole!!

I just got done talking with my college buddies, and we’re arranging a meetup for our 50th birthdays, either late next year, or early 2025.

I am trying to decide when a good time would be - they’ll be coming from the UK. I am local to WDW.

October - usually still warm, most hurricanes and storms have passed
Early Nov - TG and not Christmas (3 of them have birthdays in Oct and Nov).
Jan - Feb. Some quieter days in the parks, but last couple of years has been cold and I be avoiding MLK and Presidents Day
March-April - weather picks up, The pool is swimmable. Would need to avoid spring break.

What says y’all?

Early Nov, late Jan, early Feb, or late April. I've been in late January or early Feb a few times and had great weather 70-85 range. Spring is my favorite time of year and late April or early May.

October and March have heavy crowds I don't like the short daylight hours in Nov that would be my last choice.

 

[EllieJedi]

Did anyone see the AITA thread about this girl who left a date and came back with a bottle of ranch because the restaurant didn't have any? I saw it on Twitter and the person who shared it put it like, "So low stakes but also so wild" and I think that's a perfect encapsulation.



Okay Japan is very high on my list for many reasons, Tokyo Disney and Kyoto chief among them, but I hear SO much about those darn toilets!!



Pfft I needed that for THIs thread!!



An all-inclusive in Cabo San Lucas MX, Pueblo Bonito. Honestly it was pretty nice overall, we were there for a wedding, but I just can't with the scented TP, it's irritating!



Can confirm. Starbucks over roasts their beans. My first ever job was in a Barnes and Noble Cafe serving Starbucks Coffee (not TECHNICALLY a Starbucks, it was basically the exact same menu but we couldn't take the gift cards and people would get v mad). I still go before days I go into the office for convenience, but I usually add a pump or two of flavor to compensate.

I also get four shots of espresso, but that's another story .....



YES! Chemex is my favorite method, it produces such a lovely smooth bright flavor that doesn't need ANY cream, sugar or whatever. I have a Chemex and a Nespresso at home. Would love to be a proper espresso machine girlie but the Nespresso is so darn convenient.



This is an excellent Q and I wonder the same.

I have traveled quite a bit and honestly Japan is in my top 2 or 3 places I’ve ever visited overall. The food was amazing. I loved the culture and the people were so polite and helpful. Tokyo Disney is now one of my favorite parks. The history in Kyoto was amazing. The golden temple and arashiyama bamboo temple are absolutely breathtaking. And I saw it all on crutches!! And would do it again!!

 

[Smugpugmug]

I have traveled quite a bit and honestly Japan is in my top 2 or 3 places I’ve ever visited overall. The food was amazing. I loved the culture and the people were so polite and helpful. Tokyo Disney is now one of my favorite parks. The history in Kyoto was amazing. The golden temple and arashiyama bamboo temple are absolutely breathtaking. And I saw it all on crutches!! And would do it again!!

I feel the same way! Gah, can TDL just announce when Fantasy Springs will open so I can book my flight!?

 

[QueenIsabella]

I have traveled quite a bit and honestly Japan is in my top 2 or 3 places I’ve ever visited overall. The food was amazing. I loved the culture and the people were so polite and helpful. Tokyo Disney is now one of my favorite parks. The history in Kyoto was amazing. The golden temple and arashiyama bamboo temple are absolutely breathtaking. And I saw it all on crutches!! And would do it again!!

I'm glad to see this! DS17 is going to Japan next year. This year, it's France (with a touch of Germany) and South Korea. he's already been to England, France, and Italy. He'll be a world traveler before he even hits college! He really loves travel, and embraces all cultures. I told him, if he decides he doesn't want to be a chemical engineer, he should consider something in international relations. Not a diplomat--he's got too much of a smart mouth--but maybe something adjacent. He's currently doing dual enrollment (HS and college)--next year, his only HS class will be English. So, he's looking at fun college courses (nothing chem. eng. offered locally, beyond chem/calc). So, he'll be taking things like conversational French, Geography, and, if they offer something, International Relations.

 

[nw6675]

I have traveled quite a bit and honestly Japan is in my top 2 or 3 places I’ve ever visited overall. The food was amazing. I loved the culture and the people were so polite and helpful. Tokyo Disney is now one of my favorite parks. The history in Kyoto was amazing. The golden temple and arashiyama bamboo temple are absolutely breathtaking. And I saw it all on crutches!! And would do it again!!

I was fortunate to live in Japan years ago for a year when my dad was stationed there. We had a perfect view of Mt Fuji from our balcony *when smog didn't block it. It was amazing. It was safe enough for me to go off base with friends on our bikes to the yen store for candy.

 

[barkley]

Onion rings, sweet potato fries, breadsticks, pizza (especially a BBQ pizza), chicken tenders,

Ranch goes well with a lot of things.

have you ever drizzled some bbq sauce into your ranch? great for dipping chicken tenders in.

tartar sauce is probably equally as popular as ranch here-it's routine to be asked if you want it, ranch or catsup with most of the above items. 'fry sauce' is pretty meh in my opinion but one of our local bbq places has a great one that we get with their deep fried pickles (only place i've been to that does them length wise like actual fries vs. chip style). i like a good honey mustard and i think fast food wise kfc's is the best so even though we don't use it with fried chicken i always order the maximum you can get free with any kfc order so i have a stockpile on hand.

I also hate ranch. There are much better options!

agreed. i think the popularity of ranch dressing can be directly linked to daycares. i swear when bottled ranch became available in '92 every daycare figured it was a way to get kids to eat stuff-just give them a little cup of it and say 'dip it'. to this day my elder 20 somethings still call the stuff 'yummy sauce'.

 

[EllieJedi]

I'm glad to see this! DS17 is going to Japan next year. This year, it's France (with a touch of Germany) and South Korea. he's already been to England, France, and Italy. He'll be a world traveler before he even hits college! He really loves travel, and embraces all cultures. I told him, if he decides he doesn't want to be a chemical engineer, he should consider something in international relations. Not a diplomat--he's got too much of a smart mouth--but maybe something adjacent. He's currently doing dual enrollment (HS and college)--next year, his only HS class will be English. So, he's looking at fun college courses (nothing chem. eng. offered locally, beyond chem/calc). So, he'll be taking things like conversational French, Geography, and, if they offer something, International Relations.

That’s awesome! Your son will have a very bright future. I think travel at a younger age is a great experience.

We visited South Korea on the same trip as Japan as DS#2 was stationed there. It meant a lot to me to visit there as my dad was wounded in Korea.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I'm glad to see this! DS17 is going to Japan next year. This year, it's France (with a touch of Germany) and South Korea. he's already been to England, France, and Italy. He'll be a world traveler before he even hits college! He really loves travel, and embraces all cultures. I told him, if he decides he doesn't want to be a chemical engineer, he should consider something in international relations. Not a diplomat--he's got too much of a smart mouth--but maybe something adjacent. He's currently doing dual enrollment (HS and college)--next year, his only HS class will be English. So, he's looking at fun college courses (nothing chem. eng. offered locally, beyond chem/calc). So, he'll be taking things like conversational French, Geography, and, if they offer something, International Relations.

Not sure where your DS is headed for college, but DD is a chemical engineer at NC State. She was able to take intro to engineering (can't remember the course number but it transferred) and first semester physics for engineers (PHY 251 for PY 205) at CFCC. She took PHY 252 (for PY 208) online in the summer at Vance-Granville CC. UNCW has some choices as well - if he has an idea where he wants to go, you can check the course curriculum at that school to get an idea of what will transfer. He'll need orgo for chemical engineering, but DD opted to take that at State instead of during dual enrollment.

Just some ideas for you

Edited to add: EGR 150 is the CC transfer equivalent for E 101 at State.

 

[FreeTime]

For a couple years the plan was to take DS#1 (disabled Disney fanatic) on a Disney Cruise for his 40th. We wanted 4 days out of Canaveral so that pointed us to the WISH. We priced it out based on some current/past rates and while much more expense than our other cruises we were willing to take the hit for something special. WELL when the cruise rates dropped we were totally shocked. 6 + infant, two cabins just cruise (no tips, drinks, spending, parking etc) was almost $14,500 for FOUR days. By time we added all the other expenses it would have been $17,000.

I priced an RCI cruise, 4 days, same dates, same stops (different cruise islands) and it was 1/4 that cost. Like we could do 4 RCI cruises for the same price. We love Disney and find value in many things it offers but there is nothing they could possible due for us to justify that. Maybe some day when we can pick up and go on a last minute for a deal, but for now DCL is off our radar.



October stays pretty busy now with all the offerings but it is doable. I've been doing October but now bounced back to mid-Sept again.

Early November is good, check when Jersey Week is and avoid that but otherwise I think it's a great time crowd and weather wise. I've done the first week of November the last two years and had great trips.

Better be careful! You shouldn’t talk about $17000 vacations on here and whether they are affordable or not. In keeping with the spirit of the OP, I may need to report you! ;-)

 

[firefly_ris]

I'm guessing these are mostly small businesses that do this? I eat out quite a fair amount and get ranch on the side pretty frequently and I'd be annoyed if I ever got charged for it. Hasn't happened in my entire life. I guess I don't eat at places that do this.

I dunno but we ordered Domino's while we were on vacation in Tampa and my brother in law asked for ranch packets and they charged per packet. Then of course only 1 got used. I don't recall anywhere besides that. I don't think I've been charged for sauces in a sit down restaurant.

 

[bcwife76]

I only had to catch up on 3 pages...shocked. Probably good since I had a crummy sleep last night and this first cup of coffee is NOT doing it (though it's a better morning for me than others who didn't quite fair as well with their coffee in this thread )
Also....there are people that HATE ranch? And you walk among us??? Jeez.....

 

[Lumpy1106]

The handled kind from grocery stores? NY outlawed stores giving plastic bags a few years ago. Check Amazon or Sam’s club. We got 1000 for $20 from Sam‘s. Amazon was more expensive, but had more variety. We don’t use them for trash tho, but for the kids to take leftovers home, dropping stuff to family in quarantine, putting shoes in when packing, etc.

Yup - I buy them by the box at Sam's Club. We use them as small trash can liners and doggie poop bags for the most part. I'd buy the doggy poop bags but they are a lot more expensive and a little too small for the -uh- typical output from my 100# lab.

 

[Lumpy1106]

I just want to point out it says this thread has at least 11,000 views!!

This thread has just the right amount of stupid irreverent humor that the Dis has been missing. THANK YOU @BeautyBeastAndNemo for "closing" this thread - it has been long overdue!
(Unfortunately I think OP too the ball and left though - @ link doesn't populate the screen name)

 

[HopperFan]

Better be careful! You shouldn’t talk about $17000 vacations on here and whether they are affordable or not. In keeping with the spirit of the OP, I may need to report you! ;-)

True ... but I didn't book it!

 

[princesscinderella]

Speaking of ranch, if you haven’t tried it mix in some old bay in and it makes it even better, especially for an onion ring dip!!

 

[focusondisney]

This thread has just the right amount of stupid irreverent humor that the Dis has been missing. THANK YOU @BeautyBeastAndNemo for "closing" this thread - it has been long overdue!
(Unfortunately I think OP too the ball and left though - @ link doesn't populate the screen name)

We haven’t had a good YAGE in a long time either, lol.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Speaking of ranch, if you haven’t tried it mix in some old bay in and it makes it even better, especially for an onion ring dip!!

Genius.

You guys know about the Tajin Dole Whip hack, right? I bring a small bottle of Tajin to the parks to sprinkle on Dole Whip.

You're welcome.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Yup - I buy them by the box at Sam's Club. We use them as small trash can liners and doggie poop bags for the most part. I'd buy the doggy poop bags but they are a lot more expensive and a little too small for the -uh- typical output from my 100# lab.

We buy trash liners for our kitchen trash cans (there's two 10 gallon ones in a pull out drawer although only one is trash with a liner the other is for recycling with no liner) and for cat litter.

It comes with 500 of them more than enough lol.

We do use Walmart bags for one of the trash cans that gets used less but honestly what I've been doing is just taking the copious amounts of bags we get with Walmart grocery pick up to a nearby charity foundation that turns them into mats for homeless people.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

This thread has just the right amount of stupid irreverent humor that the Dis has been missing. THANK YOU @BeautyBeastAndNemo for "closing" this thread - it has been long overdue!
(Unfortunately I think OP too the ball and left though - @ link doesn't populate the screen name)

I was telling my husband last night before bed as I was reading through the last of replies this has been one of the best threads in a long time

Sheer insanity from so many angles and probably will be a thread one or more of us references for quite a while

 

[tvguy]

Yup - I buy them by the box at Sam's Club. We use them as small trash can liners and doggie poop bags for the most part. I'd buy the doggy poop bags but they are a lot more expensive and a little too small for the -uh- typical output from my 100# lab.

California requires stores to charge 10 cents per bag, and you have your choice of paper or plastic, but the plastic is a little heavier than what they used to be so they can call them reusable bags.
We bought 250 good old fashioned paper bags and bring our own. Love paper because unlike plastic, they are rigid and don't dump all your groceries all over your trunk on the way home.
I wasn't a fan of cloth reusable bags because people bring in some pretty grungy bags. That became an issue during the pandemic when they suspended the 10 cent per bag rule and banned outside bags from being brought into the store. My store actually had an off duty Sheriff's Deputy, in uniform, who, besides keeping the peace in the store during the pandemic, was charged with stopped people who tried to bring their own bags into the store.