DIS Dads DDC XV - We put the "FUN" in dysfunctional! Christopher's thread...

[AirGoofy]

Not as much Peanut Buttery, as more


Let's see how to put this, keep in mind, I'm kinda in shock.

Dad called me at work today. Thought I had been away for the weekend until yesterday, no biggie. He wanted me over as soon as possible, mom wanted to talk to me....



Okay, I was in a bit of a panic, thinking something was wrong, this just sounded ominious. I was assured that everyone was fine, but I was to be told in person.

Okay.... weird.

I decided to head over there tonight, I hate drama like this, wanted to get it over with. I texted my brother trying to figure this out, he said he talked to her yesterday, it was nothing bad, that's it.

Ooookay....

So we go over and mom pulls me into the spare room, and closes the door and tells me.

I've got an older half-brother no, not one locked up in the attic, though that'd be REALLY cool.... Seems that, without a lot of details, between my mom's divorce from her first husband, and marrying dad, she had a son whom she had to give up to adoption. As it turns out, Friday he tracked her down after 42 years. So at last the trurh was bared.

Well, I am in a wee bit of shock here, to a degree. Part of me is....meh, part of me is ***, another part hungry for burgers I was catching up on posts tonight. Not really sure what the end result of all this is going to be either. This is going to be interesting...

Wow! That's a double bacon burger with 2 shot chaser.

 

[stopher1]

I was a little worried about our cruise in 2013 and this doesn't help. I know the stats.

Still, DW and girls are excited, so I'll brave it. If we could get a Disney cruise, would there be a big discount for a large group booking?

Honestly Norm - this incident was a) totally avoidable, b) totally inexcusable, and c) just plain stupid on that individual's part.

Just think of the more than 100 million people who have cruised in the past 25 years or more without incident. Cruise ships sail all over the world, each and every week without incident. Cruising remains one of the safest forms of travel, despite what this jerk did.

The seas, oceans & waterways are charted, mapped and the technology exists today that this kind of thing just does not happen - until some idiot decides to be stupid and stray from the plotted courses. He had the ship entirely too close to land. That route is traveled weekly, without incident. He needed to be a miles off shore, and simply wasn't. It's no wonder his negligence and dereliction of duty will land him in prison for a dozen years or more.


Here's some additional information for you, from CLIA, the Cruise Line Industry Association regarding the ongoing safety of cruising:

• "The cruise industry places the highest priority on the safety and security of its passengers and crew."
• More than 90 million passengers have safely enjoyed cruise vacations over the past two decades. There are currently 456 cruise ships sailing throughout the world's waterways with a total capacity of more than 425,000, according to Cruise Market Watch.
• The cruise industry goes to great lengths to ensure that its passengers are safe and that they have a fun and enjoyable vacation experience.
• Safety is their number one priority with CLIA members committed to the safe operation of all cruise vessels in their fleets.
• The cruise industry complies with all International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards governing the operation of cruise vessels worldwide. These regulations are closely monitored by both flag and port states. These internationally mandated standards - treaties adopted by the United States government - govern the design, construction and operation of ocean-going vessels and are codified in the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention and its amendments.
• Other IMO safety standards which have been adopted internationally include: Convention on the Standards of Training; Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW), which deals with crew training as it relates to safety; The International Convention in Load Lines; and the IMO's International Safety Management (ISM) Code, which relates to mandatory codes of practice. (CLIA)
• Further, the cruise industry cooperates with the U.S. Coast Guard and other maritime nations to assure the safe passage of passengers. To ensure compliance with SOLAS, the Coast Guard examines each new cruise vessel when it first enters service at a U.S. port.
• Thereafter, these vessels are subject to quarterly Coast Guard inspections. The examinations emphasize structural fire safety and proper life-saving equipment.
• Additionally, the Coast Guard witnesses fire and abandon ship drills conducted by the ships' crew and operational tests are made on key equipment such as steering systems, fire pumps and bilge pumps.
• The Coast Guard also closely examines the vessels and their operation for compliance with both international and U.S. environmental laws and regulations. (CLIA)
• Safety is our top priority for our clients.

I hope that helps.

 

[stopher1]

Not as much Peanut Buttery, as more


So we go over and mom pulls me into the spare room, and closes the door and tells me.

I've got an older half-brother no, not one locked up in the attic, though that'd be REALLY cool.... Seems that, without a lot of details, between my mom's divorce from her first husband, and marrying dad, she had a son whom she had to give up to adoption. As it turns out, Friday he tracked her down after 42 years. So at last the trurh was bared.

Well, I am in a wee bit of shock here, to a degree. Part of me is....meh, part of me is ***, another part hungry for burgers I was catching up on posts tonight. Not really sure what the end result of all this is going to be either. This is going to be interesting...

Wow. That is kind of interesting.

 

[twokids0204]

I've got an older half-brother no, not one locked up in the attic, though that'd be REALLY cool.... Seems that, without a lot of details, between my mom's divorce from her first husband, and marrying dad, she had a son whom she had to give up to adoption. As it turns out, Friday he tracked her down after 42 years. So at last the trurh was bared.

The dining room table just got little bigger.

Good luck with that news...

 

[Disneyferris]

me neither.

Me to, me to, please!!!!

 

[Disney Commando]

Brian did you look into taking the Autotrain out of VA

 

[AJRitz]

Not necessarily. Ideally for long-term planners sure, but it would be entirely possible to pull off in 2013, perhaps even as an alternative to those who wouldn't be able to make it to the on-site in January. Depending on the provider. Granted DCL is the "ideal" provider based on the nature or background of the group, but DCL isn't really INTO groups and is very pricey compared to other mass market providers out there. DCL likes to consider themselves a premium line, but they aren't, just a nicer mass/niche market line. They do do some groups, but they sell out their ships so well to families, they don't really court groups very much. And when they do, the groups tend to be blocks of 8-15 rooms and not much more, which fits in with what you're trying to accomplish on-site at WDW.

The thing about a cruise though vs. an on-site gathering, convention of sorts, as it's being called, really is to flip the way it's been done. For the on-site it's been done by consensus to find the "best possible" weekend to get the most guys going. For a cruise that concept would need to be flipped in that the date be set, promote it and then watch it fill up amongst those who truly are interested in making it happen. I'm doing that right now with a local educational institution that is working out the details to set and promote within their staff for a special incentive type of "working cruise" during their regularly scheduled off time for some in-service type of training. Those that buy into the concept and really want to see it happen will do so - those that don't, really won't.

The thing about a DDC Cruise however, would definitely be to market it for families to come along, and then be sure to set up specific activities for the guys, and the ladies, and to have combined activities as well.

That's all true.
I guess I was coming from the perspective of trying to keep fares doable for as many people as possible. DCL doesn't allow you to include the least-expensive stateroom category in a group booking. And there aren't really any special discounts that apply to group booking. But you can sort of engineer the equivalent of a "discount" by locking in a group contract rate as soon as possible after a new itinerary is announced, so you can get lowest-tier pricing. If we tried to organize a group for a 2013 sailing of the Dream, we'd be booking into substantially higher rates. You do get a much cheaper deposit, some nice little extras, and the ability to arrange for group events on board.

 

[BigTikiDaddy]

Wow. That is kind of interesting.

The dining room table just got little bigger.

Good luck with that news...

Wow.
I guess really is the only way to put it. I don't think there's a word for it. Clearly popcorn isn't going to do it. Have one (or more) of these instead:

Well, in retrospect, it sure as hell beats all the cancer news from the past few years

 

[stopher1]

That's all true.
I guess I was coming from the perspective of trying to keep fares doable for as many people as possible. DCL doesn't allow you to include the least-expensive stateroom category in a group booking. And there aren't really any special discounts that apply to group booking. But you can sort of engineer the equivalent of a "discount" by locking in a group contract rate as soon as possible after a new itinerary is announced, so you can get lowest-tier pricing. If we tried to organize a group for a 2013 sailing of the Dream, we'd be booking into substantially higher rates. You do get a much cheaper deposit, some nice little extras, and the ability to arrange for group events on board.

With the expected announcement tomorrow from DCL regarding the Wonder, and potentially repositioning back to the Caribbean, and potentially based out of Miami, 2013 is still a possibility - in that respect, since its' itineraries haven't been announced yet.

 

[stopher1]

Well, in retrospect, it sure as hell beats all the cancer news from the past few years

Very true! What a great positive spin to put on it.

 

[carlnix30]

me neither.

I tried to do it myself and ended up with a mess.. So now I just wait.. Did I pay my dues?? Hmmm... Yep... to those of you that have it..


maybe I am not worthy.

 

[IamTrike]

Not as much Peanut Buttery, as more


Let's see how to put this, keep in mind, I'm kinda in shock.

Dad called me at work today. Thought I had been away for the weekend until yesterday, no biggie. He wanted me over as soon as possible, mom wanted to talk to me....



Okay, I was in a bit of a panic, thinking something was wrong, this just sounded ominious. I was assured that everyone was fine, but I was to be told in person.

Okay.... weird.

I decided to head over there tonight, I hate drama like this, wanted to get it over with. I texted my brother trying to figure this out, he said he talked to her yesterday, it was nothing bad, that's it.

Ooookay....

So we go over and mom pulls me into the spare room, and closes the door and tells me.

I've got an older half-brother no, not one locked up in the attic, though that'd be REALLY cool.... Seems that, without a lot of details, between my mom's divorce from her first husband, and marrying dad, she had a son whom she had to give up to adoption. As it turns out, Friday he tracked her down after 42 years. So at last the trurh was bared.

Well, I am in a wee bit of shock here, to a degree. Part of me is....meh, part of me is ***, another part hungry for burgers I was catching up on posts tonight. Not really sure what the end result of all this is going to be either. This is going to be interesting...

Wow, that's quite a bomb to drop. Not as good as we won the lottery, but certainly much better than "I've got a horrible debilitating disease and it's hereditary". I hope your family adjusts well.

I still haven't gotten my red DDC thing!! Under my name..​

​

me neither.

Me third.

Hey Tag Fairy! look over here, we need you to float in on your blue sparkles and turn us into real boys.

tag you're it! Now please tag us back. If you have some extra power left, you can tag my nemesis too. He's the guy that posts all the Jalapeño pics.

Well, in retrospect, it sure as hell beats all the cancer news from the past few years

We'll then cheers to " not cancer".

 

[BigTikiDaddy]

I tried to do it myself and ended up with a mess.. So now I just wait.. Did I pay my dues?? Hmmm... Yep... to those of you that have it..


maybe I am not worthy.

It's all the tag fairy left for me I other words, dumb luck

 

[IamTrike]

Hey tag fairy! it sounds like the bourgeoisie are getting upset in here. Yeah I can copy and paste big words and use Wikipedia to pretend I know French history, are ya intimidated yet?

No? What if we are willing to offer very generous dole whip bribes, provided of course by the people that already have tags. You'll find we can be VERY generous with other peoples fictional property.

 

[stopher1]

Hey tag fairy! sound like the bourgeoisie are getting upset in here. Yeah I can copy and paste big words and use Wikipedia to pretend I know the French history, are ya intimidated yet?

No? What if we are willing to offer very generous dole whip bribes, provided of course by the people that already have tags. You'll find we can be VERY generous with other peoples fictional property.

Sounds more like the natives getting restless to me.

 

[IamTrike]

I tried to do it myself and ended up with a mess.. So now I just wait.. Did I pay my dues?? Hmmm... Yep... to those of you that have it..


maybe I am not worthy.

I think your worthy Carl.

shockingly my strategy of throwing a miniature temper-tantrum hasn't helped either. I'm shocked because that strategy had a 0% effective rate when DD tried it as toddler.

 

[DisDadDoc]

So we go over and mom pulls me into the spare room, and closes the door and tells me.

I've got an older half-brother no, not one locked up in the attic, though that'd be REALLY cool.... Seems that, without a lot of details, between my mom's divorce from her first husband, and marrying dad, she had a son whom she had to give up to adoption. As it turns out, Friday he tracked her down after 42 years. So at last the trurh was bared.

Well, I am in a wee bit of shock here, to a degree. Part of me is....meh, part of me is ***, another part hungry for burgers I was catching up on posts tonight. Not really sure what the end result of all this is going to be either. This is going to be interesting...

Wow. Big shock. Good luck with all this change. Will certainly be praying for you during this time.

 

[stopher1]

I think your worthy Carl.

shockingly my strategy of throwing a miniature temper-tantrum hasn't helped either. I'm shocked because that strategy had a 0% effective rate when DD tried it as toddler.

Just be patient. Some of us waited for nearly 4 years before being tagged. Not that I'm naming names

 

[IamTrike]

Sounds more like the natives getting restless to me.

These posts about getting tagged are just a pleasant diversion. Been reading about global poverty and infant mortality off and on today as well as looking through our adoption agencies waiting child list. There are so many things way more important than a tag going on in the world, but it's nice to take a couple minutes to joke about it. It's nice to be looking at something that's not horribly depressing.

 

[katoot]

Even though I've only been at work for half a day, it's going by very slowly...boards are pretty quiet, too...which makes it even worse, I think...