DIS Dads DDC XXVIII: Stormin’ The Castle Since 2007!

[RMColosimo]

It's as though we're taking the same trip. Me, DW, 3 kids almost the same age as yours. Grandma there to babysit. And I was planning on surprising them with it. In fact, my oldest has requested that she be surprised next time we go. I think we'll just sell the trip as a visit to grandma (which is true), but instead of going all the way to Port Charlotte, we'll just stop in Orlando and let them figure it out. We'll be driving at night, so they may be asleep. If they don't realize it until they wake up the next day, that would be great. Unfortunately, it will be off-site. The "reveal" would be much cooler if we were in a Disney resort.

We are staying offsite as well. And actually, it is a two fold surprise. My sister and her family and my mother are coming and we are all in the same house, but my mother is going down with my sister and back with us.

So even once my kids 'know' where we are going, they will have one more surprise when they find not only my mother there, but their cousins as well.

We are driving very early next Thursday, around 3am to 4am start time, so we can get to GA in the early evening( about 13 hour drive, plus the down time for kids, etc..)

I am thinking of building a DVD of all things Disney to play in the van after the reveal, so they will have something to build up the excitement even more.

But not sure if I will have the time to do that.

 

[mm1971]

Ok, I'm starting to get myself depressed. We're doing a beach vacation this summer instead of Disney World. We'd gone each of the last 2 years, and now that DS is 3, but still too short for most height requirement rides, we just felt like the cost to take him was a rip off, quite frankly. That said, as I've been working on getting things in order for our trip to Panama City Beach next month, I can't help but look at the numbers and think "we could do a Disney trip for about the same cost."


I can definitely tell you which destination I would pick if all else was equal.

When I read "rip off" I said..... I never thought of it that way, but I guess having to pay for a 3 year old that can't ride everything qualifies.

We have regularly spent as much or more to go to other places. It's kind of a wash unless you vacation where activities are free. We had a nice DC vacation where we spent several days at the many Smithsonian buildings and that was reasonable since the museums are all free. Most others are comparable.

Remember, there are no sharks in the swimming pools!

I had to tell DW that if we go to FL for vacation a stop in Disney is a requirement.

Amen, brother!

We are doing the 'beach' on the way down to Disney. A two night stop in GA to do the beach on one day, then a full week in the world.

So we combine both trips into one. But my youngest is 4, and she is tall for a 4 year old so she can ride most rides that are good for her.

And a quick question, those who have traveled with kids, and taken them back to a hotel/house whatever, do yo go back to the park at night and leave them with a sitter? In our case my mother.

I am thinking with the park hopper, my wife and I might go to the parks later after we drop the kids off back at the house. I know the parking fee is good for all parks for the day, so that should not be an issue.

Any experience from anyone?

Unfortunately we have not had the pleasure of traveling with someone that would babysit while we closed down the park. To your question, I say absolutely head out to the parks without the kids and have a great time!

Morning everyone... Tearing down skids again...took a guy getting arrested to give me back a job.

Hmmmmm...A strategy for advancement. I hope you wanted that job back. Otherwise the strategy may not be what we are looking for. Glad your feeling better.

 

[middlepat]

Randall, nice commode. Looks like you married up (like the rest of us).

Dave, glad to see Brianna is getting commendations. Now when she starts smuggling in DisDads into the parks it won't be nearly as detrimental to her Disney career.

Morning Guys.

One more day this week and then it's the weekend.

Traveling next week to the big city of Winnipeg. Should be fun!

Fun? Winnipeg? I do not think it means what you think it means.

 

[mm1971]

One other item. So my kids have no idea we are going to Disney.

They think our big vacation is GA this year. They are a little bummed about going someplace where they have no real investment in it.

So we are going to tell them right before we get on the road from Savannah to Orlando. I am thinking about how to tell them.

So we bought some stuff for the trip for them, some nightgowns and autograph books, and princess dresses for the BBB.

I was thinking of wrapping this all up in boxes and giving one to each of them and letting them open it and then letting them guess where we are going..

Anyone have better ideas to tell my girls?

How about heading down to the beach without them, hide the Disney stuff like a treasure chest and have them search for hidden Mickeys in the sand for clues to find the treasure. You draw the Mickeys in the sand after burying a clue under each. Would make it a fun time at the beach with a Disney surprise at the end!

Ron,
The DISDad's Macgyver

Wow, that's a big pen.

 

[afwdwfan]

Wow, that's a big pen.

That's what she said.

 

[AirGoofy]

One other item. So my kids have no idea we are going to Disney.

They think our big vacation is GA this year. They are a little bummed about going someplace where they have no real investment in it.

So we are going to tell them right before we get on the road from Savannah to Orlando. I am thinking about how to tell them.

Anyone have better ideas to tell my girls?

Don't tell them. Say that the hotel staff warned you of a major construction project and you have to take a detour to get back home. Drive towards Disney and see when they figure it out.

 

[AirGoofy]

Wow, that's a big pen.

That's what she said.

Ummmm.... Please no pictures.

Ok, I'm starting to get myself depressed. We're doing a beach vacation this summer instead of Disney World. We'd gone each of the last 2 years, and now that DS is 3, but still too short for most height requirement rides, we just felt like the cost to take him was a rip off, quite frankly. That said, as I've been working on getting things in order for our trip to Panama City Beach next month, I can't help but look at the numbers and think "we could do a Disney trip for about the same cost."

I can definitely tell you which destination I would pick if all else was equal.

We went to Gatlinburg and Panama City Beach before. After I showed DW the numbers, we both agreed that WDW cost about the same and was way more fun. It's DVC time.

I just hope Ron has a better haircut.
.

Just don't tell him that, or he will pull out a quarter and have you call heads or tails.

And a quick question, those who have traveled with kids, and taken them back to a hotel/house whatever, do yo go back to the park at night and leave them with a sitter? In our case my mother.

Any experience from anyone?

This is confusing to me. We are all at the park at RD and stay until closing time. We did go back to rooms for naps when they were really young, but after that, no way.

 

[BigTikiDaddy]

Hmmmmm...A strategy for advancement. I hope you wanted that job back. Otherwise the strategy may not be what we are looking for. Glad your feeling better.

I don't mind it once and a while, it's a nice little workout, and something different from the usual stuff. Maybe I won't feel so listless all the time now.

Feeling some what better now, but that ugly cough is still there, just not nearly as frequent. Last night I had to get up for a bit till it calmed down, only one small fit today.

 

[BigTikiDaddy]

This is confusing to me. We are all at the park at RD and stay until closing time. We did go back to rooms for naps when they were really young, but after that, no way.

We pretty much do this too. Can't afford the hoppers right now. We are balancing the full days out with some half days and days off to keep from burning out.

 

[RMColosimo]

Don't tell them. Say that the hotel staff warned you of a major construction project and you have to take a detour to get back home. Drive towards Disney and see when they figure it out.

Sneaky... I like it...

 

[declansdad]

And a quick question, those who have traveled with kids, and taken them back to a hotel/house whatever, do yo go back to the park at night and leave them with a sitter? In our case my mother.

I am thinking with the park hopper, my wife and I might go to the parks later after we drop the kids off back at the house. I know the parking fee is good for all parks for the day, so that should not be an issue.

Any experience from anyone?

We have always gone back to the parks with our son. It is always just the three of us so we never had a sitter with us. Even when he was younger it wasn't too hard on him.

 

[Goofy + 3]

This is confusing to me. We are all at the park at RD and stay until closing time. We did go back to rooms for naps when they were really young, but after that, no way.

I'd prefer to be at the park all day, but I don't think my family has the stamina. They could probably do it for a day, but to close the park down one night and be at rope drop the next morning would be tough. Plus if there are big crowds or the weather is super hot, I'm not missing much if I bail out for a few hours while the crowd is at its peak. Then I just come back when other people's kids are melting down and start leaving. I think I'm pretty smart about how I go about the parks so I'm still able to get a lot done and leave feeling like I got my money's worth.

If I had my druthers I'd stick around and take a more leisurely pace through the parks. But I'm Dad. Since when do I get my druthers?

 

[declansdad]

First we sent the penguins south to prepare for the invasion, now we are getting the bears ready.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TglkMUm2d8E&feature=player_embedded

 

[RMColosimo]

This is confusing to me. We are all at the park at RD and stay until closing time. We did go back to rooms for naps when they were really young, but after that, no way.

I know my oldest might make it and want to go back, but my 4 year old...No way can she do rope drop to closing...

 

[mm1971]

First we sent the penguins south to prepare for the invasion, now we are getting the bears ready.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TglkMUm2d8E&feature=player_embedded

He could have at least shut the door when he was finished. How rude! Now the battery is dead.

Doesn't look like a Canadian bear though. He isn't wearing plaid.

 

[wasnotafan]

Everyone hates Duke. (except Duke, but who care about them)....

...
And a quick question, those who have traveled with kids, and taken them back to a hotel/house whatever, do yo go back to the park at night and leave them with a sitter? In our case my mother.
...
Any experience from anyone?

I don't know about leaving the kids with someone else, but I've gone back to the parks for evening EMH by myself after DW and DS were in bed.

Absolutely! If your mom is willing to stay back at the room with the kids, take advantage of it and get a little bit of adult only time in the parks.

More Disney is better than less any time.

...Black Flies have fresh blood to feast on!
..

Memories of the Adirondacks in July.

 

[afwdwfan]

I know my oldest might make it and want to go back, but my 4 year old...No way can she do rope drop to closing...

Well... do you consider 4 to be too old for a stroller?

Stroller naps can be a life saver if you want to do a long day in the parks.

Unless of course she is the type who will just be too into everything going on to allow herself to crash for a while.

 

[jmwest]

Hey guys, been a weird day here at work. This morning the fire alarms went off and we had to evacuate the building. Ended up being a gas leak and we all ended up standing out in the parking lot for over an hour before they told us it would be another hour and that we should all go to lunch. Then this afternoon the bosses boss is in with him behind closed doors with one of the other managers. Everyone has been on edge because we've all been expecting organization shakeups for a while. Not sure what's happening (though we don't think anyone is in dange of losing their job, just reassignments).

This weekend is DW's dance studios recital. Since it's her studio, she's the head honcho and has been running around crazy for the last couple weeks. Tonight is dress rehearsal and Saturday we have 2 shows. Can't wait for it to be over. She only has classes one night a week for half the summer so we get to have sort of a normal family life for a couple of months.

Ok, I'm starting to get myself depressed. We're doing a beach vacation this summer instead of Disney World. We'd gone each of the last 2 years, and now that DS is 3, but still too short for most height requirement rides, we just felt like the cost to take him was a rip off, quite frankly. That said, as I've been working on getting things in order for our trip to Panama City Beach next month, I can't help but look at the numbers and think "we could do a Disney trip for about the same cost."


I can definitely tell you which destination I would pick if all else was equal.

We sort of thought we were going to try that route. DD7 said she wanted to try something different so we started looking into beach destinations. We had settled on Hilton Head and the costs were not going to be much different from Disney. DD2 had been chattering about going back and with the baby coming in the fall we changed plans. So we're doing 1 last trip with only having to do park tickets for 1 child but we split it up and are doing 3 Disney nights and 3 nights at the beach in St. Pete. Costs would have been comparable had we not decided to spring for a deluxe this time since it is only 3 nights.

 

[afwdwfan]

more disney is better than less any time.

Manlaw

 

[wasnotafan]

... But I'm Dad. Since when do I get my druthers?