DIS Dads DDC XXVII: Penguins in Paradise!

[brettcw23]

Top o' the morning to ya!

54 days here!

You guys are counting down days until your vacation, I'm simply counting down the days until I can book through DVC. 13 days and I can book for 7 months out. We're supposed to be in WDW from Oct. 12th - 19th.

 

[Emma's Dad]

You guys are counting down days until your vacation, I'm simply counting down the days until I can book through DVC. 13 days and I can book for 7 months out. We're supposed to be in WDW from Oct. 12th - 19th.

That's a worthy milestone to be looking forward to!

 

[wasnotafan]

Evening guys,

We had our Middle School JV Boys District championships today and here are two of the happy winners..
...

Congratulations to you both!

A crappy day at work. A group project was due last week. I had of course completed my part, but the idiot coworker hadn't, so I had to spend the last two days doing all her work so that it looks presentable tomorrow. I think I may have got it to that point, but it is still really bad. Oh well, she will take the heat on it tomorrow. ...

Hope you get recognized for your efforts.

Our old logo used to say "Where Education Pays". Clearly, no one is envious of KY's educational system, so this sign is way better and more accurate.

I just heard from the mother of another Blue Angels crew chief that the Indianapolis airshow has been cancelled; all military jet teams are grounded until further notice; and the military will not support any airshows this season.
I haven't been able to verify that but have no reason to doubt it.

Sorry to hear that Mike.

Back after missing a few days...

Welcome back!

 

[mm1971]

I ended up using Thrifty... with a 5% discount from Workingadvantage.com (discounts through my employer). But right now they are blowing away the competition by hundred of dollars even without the discount. Haven't looked at August rates, though. I expect the rates may drop even more as I get within 30 days.

Thanks, I'll take a look at Thrifty. Alamo was the lowest I have seen for my dates. And gotta love those blue check in terminals to avoid the lines.

You guys are counting down days until your vacation, I'm simply counting down the days until I can book through DVC. 13 days and I can book for 7 months out. We're supposed to be in WDW from Oct. 12th - 19th.

That's something to count down. The excitement must be building. Where are you planning to book?

 

[MiJo]

That bites! They really need to get their act together. I haven't seen the Blue Angels live but I have seen the Thunderbirds once and the Snowbirds a few times. It would be a shame if people weren't able to see them perform.

That's true and they are the main draw for a lot of shows. A lot of money stands to be lost in a lot of towns.

That's a real bummer! What the heck will the crew do??

Unknown at this time. Hopefully, we won't have to find out.

I really hope they get it worked out so that he can fly Mike. It's a bummer to loose a privalege that you worked years for out of no fault of your own.

Yes it is.

Since DW got diagnosed as gluten intolerant we've cut way back on anything wheat. I'm also the only one who eats potatoes (except French Fries) so those are not in the house either. Everyone one has been losing weight except me. Funny how candy and bottles of pop seem to jump into the cart when I do the grocery shopping.

That stinks. Hope the gas bags in Washington get this figured out fast.

My DW and two of our grandkids have a gluten allergy. There are probably a few more in our family but they haven't been tested, yet.
I hope the gas bags can work it out, too.

I saw it on the news. We go almost every year so we are very disappointed.

I hope Indy just jumped the gun on this. Maybe they can cancel the cancelation if things change!

That stinks, Mike. Sorry to hear that.

Thanks. We'll see what happens.

Sorry to hear that Mike. The last several manufactured crisis got solved right at the deadline of within a few days of missing it. We’ll see how this one goes.

Let's hope it happens this time, too.

Bummer. I hope it's just a rumor. I know my cousin and a friend both went into the Air Force after seeing the shows when they were kids. We go to the shows around here, but they are rare. Wish your son luck that the show goes on.

The jet teams are great recruitment tools. It would be a shame to lose them. The Blues supposedly get close to 100 million viewers per year!

Sorry to hear that Mike.

Thanks.

So far, they are still flying! A news article about the Indy show being canceled made it sound like this won't kick in until April 1, which means a couple shows might still make it. April 1 must be the start of the 3rd quarter for the government budgets. Maybe by then this mess will be fixed.

 

[brettcw23]

Thanks, I'll take a look at Thrifty. Alamo was the lowest I have seen for my dates. And gotta love those blue check in terminals to avoid the lines.



That's something to count down. The excitement must be building. Where are you planning to book?

Welllll...here is may execution plan. It's during the wine and food festival so my expectations are low.
1. Beach Club Villas 1BR
2. Boardwalk Villas 1BR
3. Wilderness Lodge Villas 1BR
4. BLT 1BR
If we can't get into those for a week straight (wife doesn't want to move once we are settled into a resort), then I'll attempt procuring 2BR ones.

 

[AJRitz]

Added more ADRs today, the plan calls for 13(!) of them. 12 comming out of the dining plan, one OOP. No signature/2 credit meals, girls just wouldn't appriciate them. Have pretty much given up on BOG for dinner, will do lunch for it. Although a little annoyed that they are toying with Fastpass+ for the lunch too. Really? And of course, as they roll it out, they are testing it with guests at the $$$ resorts, cause money talks.

That's not really accurate.

Lunch ordering ahead is a component of MyMagic+, but NOT part of the Fastpass+ system. When a restaurant is available for advance ordering, it will be available to anyone with RFID ticket media - whether that's a Key to the World or a MagicBand. (RFID is necessary because that's what makes the system go).

Anyone with RFID ticket media (and even off-propery guests should be able to go to guest services and have their tickets put on RFID cards) can use the My Disney Experience smart phone app to use the order ahead option at any restaurant that supports that option.

As for the testing/rollout phase of Fastpass+/MagicBands, the primary reason for starting with BoardWalk is that it is the smallest resort on property (when you exclude the DVC rooms). They can't start testing in the Value resorts, because they're HUGE. And testing for off-property guests will start after they get things working for on-property guests, because that involves an extra step of registering their tickets with the My Disney Experience website/app; and cross-referencing errors for ticket-only purchases is more difficult than cross-referencing erros with an associated resort reservation.

 

[twokids0204]

Hey Brian! Been around... mostly on the other board though. How's the weather up there?

Got a foot of snow today... school buses cancelled...

Snow was wet and HEAVY... a good work out.

 

[twokids0204]

Kansas has that movie with Toto and the witches though. So there's that.

There's no place like home... There's no place like home.

 

[twokids0204]

Thanks guys....I think we're actually going to have a big enough group going to get some group sales discounts! So we're shooting for the "Orchestra" level - which are like $78 with the group discount.

I got an email from Disney Visa yesterday giving me a chance to get tickets before the public does - but I can only get 9 tickets that way. Looks like we're going to need 15+.


Hope everyone has a great Wednesday!

$78 for Orchestra... that's CHEAP!

 

[twokids0204]

Morning..







It just means they WANT to be eaten/drank, a sign from above. Don't resist.

Added more ADRs today, the plan calls for 13(!) of them. 12 comming out of the dining plan, one OOP. No signature/2 credit meals, girls just wouldn't appriciate them. Have pretty much given up on BOG for dinner, will do lunch for it. Although a little annoyed that they are toying with Fastpass+ for the lunch too. Really? And of course, as they roll it out, they are testing it with guests at the $$$ resorts, cause money talks.

Here is what we got so far:
1900 Park Fare (dinner)
Mama Melrose's (Fantasmic Package)
Chefs De France (lunch, timed it to see Remy with luck)
Via Napoli (dinner)
Whispering Canyon (dinner)
Tusker House (breakfast)
Yak and Yeti (dinner)
Akershus (lunch)
San Angel (dinner)
Liberty Tree (lunch)
still going to get Sci Fi for lunch, and Ohana and Kona for breakfasts...

Good choices... I would change Via Napoli.... We did it last trip, I had heard good things about it, but it really wasn't that great. The pizza was good, but that was it. The rest was Blah...
Have you considered Teppan Edo?

 

[AJRitz]

The Big 12 released a statement acknowledging blown calls at the end of the game. Of course they didn't specify if it should have been a charge or block. I think charge but what do I know..
"The Big 12 Conference acknowledges that officiating errors were made at the end of regulation during last night's Kansas at Iowa State men's basketball game. The plays have been reviewed and appropriate measures will be taken by the Coordinator of Men's Basketball Officials to adjust the number of future assignments for the two officials involved in conjunction with conference policies."

As Coach Self said yesterday (paraphrasing) - If they're going to review and comment on the last minute of regulation, they might as well review and comment on the entire game.

As I said, the game was poorly officiated throughout - on both sides of the floor. (As for the Niang/Johnson charge/block call, there's an aerial view out there, from above the players, which shows pretty clearly that Niang was stepping backward after Johnson was in the air and before contact - he wasn't set). On the other hand, Niang probably shouldn't have been called for a foul in the scrum on the floor afterward.

There's a pretty good call-by-call analysis here - http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=172&f=2481&t=11323444 , if you're curious. By that analysis, Iowa State got the benefit to incorrect or questionable calls 12 times to 8 for the Jayhawks. The point really isn't the specific analysis. Rather, the point is that that there were at least 20 missed calls in a Big 12-level game. That's an unacceptable level of officiating, and I do hope that those officials get fewer Big 12 game assignments as a result.

 

[AirGoofy]

Welllll...here is may execution plan. It's during the wine and food festival so my expectations are low.
1. Beach Club Villas 1BR
2. Boardwalk Villas 1BR
3. Wilderness Lodge Villas 1BR
4. BLT 1BR
If we can't get into those for a week straight (wife doesn't want to move once we are settled into a resort), then I'll attempt procuring 2BR ones.

You may get lucky with the 1BR. There seems to be more availability for those. I did get into Wilderness Lodge at 7 months. BLT was sold out of studios at 9 months, but wait lists do come thru.

You guys are counting down days until your vacation, I'm simply counting down the days until I can book through DVC. 13 days and I can book for 7 months out. We're supposed to be in WDW from Oct. 12th - 19th.

We may miss by a day. We're booked to checkout on the 12th right now, but depending on MNSSHP dates, we may check out on the 11th.

Hope you get recognized for your efforts.!

Nope. She tried to throw me under the bus. I think most of them knew she was the problem, but it was rough.

Added more ADRs today, the plan calls for 13(!) of them. 12 comming out of the dining plan, one OOP. No signature/2 credit meals, girls just wouldn't appriciate them. Have pretty much given up on BOG for dinner, will do lunch for it.

Here is what we got so far:
1900 Park Fare (dinner)
Mama Melrose's (Fantasmic Package)
Chefs De France (lunch, timed it to see Remy with luck)
Via Napoli (dinner)
Whispering Canyon (dinner)
Tusker House (breakfast)
Yak and Yeti (dinner)
Akershus (lunch)
San Angel (dinner)
Liberty Tree (lunch)
still going to get Sci Fi for lunch, and Ohana and Kona for breakfasts...

Been to all except Mama Melrose. Looks good.

See, that's why Indiana wins. It ain't about NCAA, or NBA, its all about basketball on any level. From a 5 year old playing in the driveway to the Final Four, which Indianapolis hosts about every 4 or 5 years by the way. There's a reason they keep coming back.

Indy has a better facility. UL & UK have terrible parking - don't know what they were thinking. But, UK fans are an entirely different breed. Kids don't even have driveways or shoes here, but play basketball on the side of their house, dreaming to play for UK. Since there are no pro teams, every one focuses on UK basketball. These are fans that would accept a high school kid playing ball, but 4 months later, expects him to be at a pro level for UK. Calipari was criticized for losing 3 games in his first season as coach. KY wins this argument.

 

[RodBelding]

Evening guys. Crappy day at the office today. Is November here yet? I could really use some Disney right about now!

 

[Emma's Dad]

Thanks, I'll take a look at Thrifty. Alamo was the lowest I have seen for my dates. And gotta love those blue check in terminals to avoid the lines.

We've used Alamo the last two trips to Orlando. We LOVE the ability to simply walk up, pick out a car and head to the checkout booth with no waiting. However, they are actually the most expensive now... and I've realized that I really do not like the Chevy Impala. With Thrifty we'll get to try a Ford Taurus (or similar). Will be interesting.

 

[BigTikiDaddy]

That's not really accurate.

Lunch ordering ahead is a component of MyMagic+, but NOT part of the Fastpass+ system. When a restaurant is available for advance ordering, it will be available to anyone with RFID ticket media - whether that's a Key to the World or a MagicBand. (RFID is necessary because that's what makes the system go).

Anyone with RFID ticket media (and even off-propery guests should be able to go to guest services and have their tickets put on RFID cards) can use the My Disney Experience smart phone app to use the order ahead option at any restaurant that supports that option.

As for the testing/rollout phase of Fastpass+/MagicBands, the primary reason for starting with BoardWalk is that it is the smallest resort on property (when you exclude the DVC rooms). They can't start testing in the Value resorts, because they're HUGE. And testing for off-property guests will start after they get things working for on-property guests, because that involves an extra step of registering their tickets with the My Disney Experience website/app; and cross-referencing errors for ticket-only purchases is more difficult than cross-referencing erros with an associated resort reservation.

What I read today is that they were testing out using the Fastpass+ for selected guests for lunch times at BOG,, it was in the AllEars Newsletter, here was what was posted cutted and pasted. For the record, I hope you are right

"FastPass+ is being tested at Be Our Guest Restaurant in the Magic Kingdom now through February 28. During this test phase, randomly selected guests at Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge and Contemporary resorts will receive a FastPass+ card for a specified arrival window for lunch at Be Our Guest Restaurant. Guests who arrive at the restaurant during their FastPass+ time will be able to take advantage of an expedited order and payment process. This opportunity is available by invitation only and participants must have valid theme park admission."

No issues anyways, see below

Good choices... I would change Via Napoli.... We did it last trip, I had heard good things about it, but it really wasn't that great. The pizza was good, but that was it. The rest was Blah...
Have you considered Teppan Edo?

We did, it was on the first list, with Via Napoli, but don't think the girls will eat anything there, still kinda picky. Pizza, no probsWant Audrey at least to be a bit older.


Anywho, I've been checking eacn morning and night for any changes.....and guess what?? It's late, but I managed to score a BOG dinner ressie!!!! Got it for 9pm on the Saturday night, which was our "off" day. We will spring for the 10th park day and head over in the evening, and leave early one other MK day, and move Whispering Canyon then.

DW really wanted this, so I am stoked to get it for her. Persistance paid off!!!

Even better both the following two nights had late spots open too!

 

[afwdwfan]

Indy has a better facility. UL & UK have terrible parking - don't know what they were thinking. But, UK fans are an entirely different breed. Kids don't even have driveways or shoes here, but play basketball on the side of their house, dreaming to play for UK. Since there are no pro teams, every one focuses on UK basketball. These are fans that would accept a high school kid playing ball, but 4 months later, expects him to be at a pro level for UK. Calipari was criticized for losing 3 games in his first season as coach. KY wins this argument.

No...you just don't even get it...

You guys keep going to a college program argument. And as someone who just sat through 2 high school playoff games tonight, it just reinforces it. The game is so much more than one or 2 college programs in Indiana. And its more college programs than that anyway... IU, Purdue, Butler, Notre Dame, not to mention the smaller schools like Valpo, Evansville and USI.

Indiana has several of the largest high school gyms in the nation. There are high school games where fans are just as intense or more so than your UK fans. Don't believe me? Come to Edinburgh, IN Friday night and watch undefeated Waldron play an in county rival in the sectional semi final. Game starts at around 7:30, but be there at 5 if you want a seat. This is a class A sectional and I've seen people standing outside scalping tickets in years past because it sold out.

And that my friends, is Indiana.

 

[RodBelding]

No...you just don't even get it...

You guys keep going to a college program argument. And as someone who just sat through 2 high school playoff games tonight, it just reinforces it. The game is so much more than one or 2 college programs in Indiana. And its more college programs than that anyway... IU, Purdue, Butler, Notre Dame, not to mention the smaller schools like Valpo, Evansville and USI.

Indiana has several of the largest high school gyms in the nation. There are high school games where fans are just as intense or more so than your UK fans. Don't believe me? Come to Edinburgh, IN Friday night and watch undefeated Waldron play an in county rival in the sectional semi final. Game starts at around 7:30, but be there at 5 if you want a seat. This is a class A sectional and I've seen people standing outside scalping tickets in years past because it sold out.

And that my friends, is Indiana.

Google maps has Edinburgh about 15 hours and 1 minute from me. If I can get out of the office early enough, I'll meet you there.

 

[baseballmickey]

No...you just don't even get it...

You guys keep going to a college program argument. And as someone who just sat through 2 high school playoff games tonight, it just reinforces it. The game is so much more than one or 2 college programs in Indiana. And its more college programs than that anyway... IU, Purdue, Butler, Notre Dame, not to mention the smaller schools like Valpo, Evansville and USI.

Indiana has several of the largest high school gyms in the nation. There are high school games where fans are just as intense or more so than your UK fans. Don't believe me? Come to Edinburgh, IN Friday night and watch undefeated Waldron play an in county rival in the sectional semi final. Game starts at around 7:30, but be there at 5 if you want a seat. This is a class A sectional and I've seen people standing outside scalping tickets in years past because it sold out.

And that my friends, is Indiana.

Do I need my passport to get over the border??

 

[baseballmickey]

Completed another run tonight. Tired and going to bed. Been busy lately. Got the TR updated today. The new blog is up and running, though we never settled on a theme for thursdays and now I have to figure out what to write about tomorrow.

maybe I'll just go with "Themeless Thursdays" and write about whatever... maybe I'll come up with something in the morning.

Too many late nights lately. But I finally finished watching Ghost Protocol after about two weeks of trying and falling asleep in the middle. So I suppose there is nothing left to stay up late for...

goodnight.