DIS Dads DDC XXXIV: The Original Home Of The DISDads!!!

[IbeAbitGOOFY]

I didn't care much for Gatlinburg. We had a good trip, but the price was comparable with WDW. I'd rather go to WDW given the choice. Two trips can be expensive, but there are ways to save some $. If you have two trips and are eligible for the TiW card, that is one way to save on meals. Another is to consider the AP for at least the two of you.

I liked Gatlinburg more than Pigeon Forge. Both tried to suck my wallet dry. No plans on returning to either.

Seriously considering getting at least one AP for the discounts alone. May tack on the TiW as well. I just need to sit down and crunch some numbers in excel to see what saves the most money. We're already getting the Military Salute (thanks to my father) so just need to make sure we can save enough to justify. We'll definitely get the Memory Maker on the second trip, so that's an automatic savings of $149.

 

[declansdad]

Glad to hear you were safe. I never really thought about hurricanes impacting anywhere other than the area until hurricane Ike ripped the roof off my house several years ago. Nothing like watching your shingles do the wave and smack off the roof of your house.

They don't often make it this far but when they do they are often tropical storms. They tend to hit Nova Scotia and possibly Newfoundland more than the rest of us because of the way storms travel up the Eastern Seaboard.

 

[declansdad]

Morning guys!

Spent last week in Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg , TN with DW's family. Thankfully the house was big so I could escape every so often. While I was a way, it appears I missed some good conversation and Thanksgiving. That'll teach me to sign-off for a week!

Also while I was away, I booked another trip. This is the first time I've actually got two trips on the books. One this November with just the DW to celebrate our 10th and one in March that will be with my parents, DW and DS. It feels good, but expensive.

Two trips booked...nice! I would be happy to have one booked.

 

[pkondz]

I heard a report of about 60,000 without power and some pretty bad flooding in parts of the province.

Hadn't heard that. I've been out of the news loop for a couple of days.

Which are.........?

Make regular boiled potatoes and force them through a ricer. The spuds come out looking like rice, but have the consistency of mashed (without the butter/milk/cream/whatever). They soak up gravy realllllll nice.

 

[afwdwfan]

I didn't care much for Gatlinburg. We had a good trip, but the price was comparable with WDW. I'd rather go to WDW given the choice. Two trips can be expensive, but there are ways to save some $. If you have two trips and are eligible for the TiW card, that is one way to save on meals. Another is to consider the AP for at least the two of you.

I liked Gatlinburg more than Pigeon Forge. Both tried to suck my wallet dry. No plans on returning to either.

I actually like going there. And it really isn't very expensive the way we do it. We get a cabin in Sevierville, take a day or 2 going thorough the National Park, a day where the guys can golf while the ladies shop (that's the expensive part right there). Every few years we might visit Dollywood or Ripley's aquarium, but we really don't do much with the tourist trap stuff they have and it ends up being a really fun and inexpensive trip for us. We eat a lot of our meals in the cabin, but we'll usually go somewhere to eat either lunch or dinner everyday. That's really the biggest part of the budget and there are a lot of great restaurants around there.

 

[AirGoofy]

I actually like going there. And it really isn't very expensive the way we do it. We get a cabin in Sevierville, take a day or 2 going thorough the National Park, a day where the guys can golf while the ladies shop (that's the expensive part right there). Every few years we might visit Dollywood or Ripley's aquarium, but we really don't do much with the tourist trap stuff they have and it ends up being a really fun and inexpensive trip for us. We eat a lot of our meals in the cabin, but we'll usually go somewhere to eat either lunch or dinner everyday. That's really the biggest part of the budget and there are a lot of great restaurants around there.

Yeah, we stayed in a Hoiday Inn Resort, did all the tourist stuff, and ate at the different restaurants. Did Dollywood as well. I guess I should have clarified - I enjoyed the trip - but didn't care for it based on the price. Your way sounds more enjoyable and cheaper.

 

[IbeAbitGOOFY]

I actually like going there. And it really isn't very expensive the way we do it. We get a cabin in Sevierville, take a day or 2 going thorough the National Park, a day where the guys can golf while the ladies shop (that's the expensive part right there). Every few years we might visit Dollywood or Ripley's aquarium, but we really don't do much with the tourist trap stuff they have and it ends up being a really fun and inexpensive trip for us. We eat a lot of our meals in the cabin, but we'll usually go somewhere to eat either lunch or dinner everyday. That's really the biggest part of the budget and there are a lot of great restaurants around there.

Yeah, we stayed in a Hoiday Inn Resort, did all the tourist stuff, and ate at the different restaurants. Did Dollywood as well. I guess I should have clarified - I enjoyed the trip - but didn't care for it based on the price. Your way sounds more enjoyable and cheaper.

We got a cabin in Sevierville as well. Split 4 ways, it wasn't too bad. We hiked to Legend Falls, did the Ripley's aquarium (which was surprisingly good), moonshine tastings and several other things. You're right, food was the biggest budget item. We ate most dinners at the cabin but had several lunches out.

 

[londontime]

the guys can golf while the ladies shop (that's the expensive part right there)

The golf or the shopping?

Every few years we might visit Dollywood

Just checked out Dollywood online. I had no idea how big it was.

They soak up gravy realllllll nice.

Anything that soaks up gravy is a winner in my book. May give that a go for our fake thanksgiving (where we traditionally book our next US trip)

 

[budamacdvcr]

Sure am glad I stayed up until 1:45 a.m. to watch the Cubs loose in extra innings - good ball game though and hoping they close it out tonight.Not sure the city and the fans will be able to fight off the ulcers if they get pushed to a game 5 single elimination.

I liked Gatlinburg more than Pigeon Forge. Both tried to suck my wallet dry. No plans on returning to either.

Seriously considering getting at least one AP for the discounts alone. May tack on the TiW as well. I just need to sit down and crunch some numbers in excel to see what saves the most money. We're already getting the Military Salute (thanks to my father) so just need to make sure we can save enough to justify. We'll definitely get the Memory Maker on the second trip, so that's an automatic savings of $149.

Nice on the two trips scheduled at once, its fun to have multiples on the horizon to plan for.Annual pass now has a 20% discount on food, 45 locations can't find list yet, (excludes alcohol) and shopping as part of 45th anniversary and is good through Sept 2017. TiW 20% includes the booze and is at double the number of restaurants -- Norm please confirm.

I actually like going there. And it really isn't very expensive the way we do it. We get a cabin in Sevierville, take a day or 2 going thorough the National Park, a day where the guys can golf while the ladies shop (that's the expensive part right there). Every few years we might visit Dollywood or Ripley's aquarium, but we really don't do much with the tourist trap stuff they have and it ends up being a really fun and inexpensive trip for us. We eat a lot of our meals in the cabin, but we'll usually go somewhere to eat either lunch or dinner everyday. That's really the biggest part of the budget and there are a lot of great restaurants around there.

We've done the "laid back" version with a nice cabin in Sevierville as well. Did one once with inlaws and some kids friends between Christmas and New Years and had a blast mostly just hanging out playing games, shooting pool and cooking most meals at the cabin including grilling outdoors.

 

[londontime]

Sure am glad I stayed up until 1:45 a.m. to watch the Cubs loose in extra innings - good ball game though and hoping they close it out tonight.Not sure the city and the fans will be able to fight off the ulcers if they get pushed to a game 5 single elimination.

Keep the faith mate, sitting here in my cubs t shirt.

 

[afwdwfan]

The golf or the shopping?

Yes.

 

[budamacdvcr]

Keep the faith mate, sitting here in my cubs t shirt.

About 45 minutes away from changing into my Cub gear and we are heating up a Chicago deep dish pizza from Lou Malnati's we have in the freezer. Gonna go back to watching the game outside on the patio with a nice cigar as that is how I watched the first two games --- GO CUBS!

 

[declansdad]

Keep the faith mate, sitting here in my cubs t shirt.

I'm guessing you burned your England kit after today's match.

 

[AirGoofy]

Our vacation plan today included walking a mile to Dairy Queen for Blizzards as I found old $.50 coupons from kids meals from years ago. Can you imagine the excitement of tomorrow?

We got a cabin in Sevierville as well. Split 4 ways, it wasn't too bad. We hiked to Legend Falls, did the Ripley's aquarium (which was surprisingly good), moonshine tastings and several other things. You're right, food was the biggest budget item. We ate most dinners at the cabin but had several lunches out.

I can do moonshine tastings here on a daily basis. It isn't always that good though.

Just checked out Dollywood online. I had no idea how big it was.
)

Well, Dolly had big

Nice on the two trips scheduled at once, its fun to have multiples on the horizon to plan for.Annual pass now has a 20% discount on food, 45 locations can't find list yet, (excludes alcohol) and shopping as part of 45th anniversary and is good through Sept 2017. TiW 20% includes the booze and is at double the number of restaurants -- Norm please confirm.
.

Yes, TiW is 20% on both alcohol and food at every TS meal, although blackout dates now apply at a few places. It is provides an automatic 18% tip to every charge. So, if you planned on not tipping ever, then it wouldn't be worth it. The TiW card has also went up to $150, almost double the old charge. Thus, the break even point food is a $750, or a bit less if you calculate the extra 2% on each bill. Two trips usually makes that easy. Also, if you have four people or drink alcohol at meals, then you reach that quick enough.

About 45 minutes away from changing into my Cub gear and we are heating up a Chicago deep dish pizza from Lou Malnati's we have in the freezer. Gonna go back to watching the game outside on the patio with a nice cigar as that is how I watched the first two games --- GO CUBS!

Ahhh, because that was the reason they won. You were smoking a cigar outside. Baseball superstitions rule.

 

[londontime]

I'm guessing you burned you England kit after today's match.

Its amazing how a team with so much talent can be so poor. We need to sort out the PL if we want to have a hope of ever progressing.

Gonna go back to watching the game outside on the patio with a nice cigar as that is how I watched the first two games --- GO CUBS!

Stock up on those cigars bud! I'll leave it to you to do the flag honours.

Anyway it's a very overcast London, happy Weds to all

 

[IbeAbitGOOFY]

Nice on the two trips scheduled at once, its fun to have multiples on the horizon to plan for.Annual pass now has a 20% discount on food, 45 locations can't find list yet, (excludes alcohol) and shopping as part of 45th anniversary and is good through Sept 2017. TiW 20% includes the booze and is at double the number of restaurants -- Norm please confirm.

We've done the "laid back" version with a nice cabin in Sevierville as well. Did one once with inlaws and some kids friends between Christmas and New Years and had a blast mostly just hanging out playing games, shooting pool and cooking most meals at the cabin including grilling outdoors.

Thanks. I'm considering the AP.

Our vacation plan today included walking a mile to Dairy Queen for Blizzards as I found old $.50 coupons from kids meals from years ago. Can you imagine the excitement of tomorrow?



I can do moonshine tastings here on a daily basis. It isn't always that good though.

The walk negated any of the calories consumed! Just image if you walked further!

Legal moonshine?

 

[declansdad]

Well, Dolly had big

has



Enjoy your walk.

 

[budamacdvcr]

Top O the Mornin and we are just about at the half way point of the week, except Londontime who is on the downslope of the week. Cubs pulled off a big one last night, more on that below.

And let's not forget, hockey season is back! Will be watching the opener tonight and will be the Nashville Preds home opener Friday night vs my Blackhawks! Interesting year for the Hawks as the open with 6 rookies.

Ahhh, because that was the reason they won. You were smoking a cigar outside. Baseball superstitions rule.

For what it's worth, watch start of game outside on patio with cigar and drink for 3 out of 4 games and they win the 3 I watch start of game outdoors? Guess what I am gonna be doing whenever possible for the rest of the playoff games

Stock up on those cigars bud! I'll leave it to you to do the flag honours.

Thank you sir
3 down, 8 to go! GO CUBS!

 

[pkondz]

has

Has?? Whadya mean "has"? Where'd they go?

 

[londontime]

has

I think they are on a bit of a different trajectory now though......