DIS Dads The Dis Dad's Club II

[GoHerd1028]

When we went on our Honeymoon it was the 2nd week of August, besides it being hot, it seemed like everyone who lived in Brazil was there, everywhere you saw someone leading a group holding a flag leading a huge group. I don't know if they do this everyyear or not, but if you see them coming run, if a group gets infront of you, your now on the line ride.

When we were kids we used to go in July and I remember the Bazilians being there in full force!!! Going in the fall has been nice not having to deal with it. Dave said said he felt for the younger dads...I am an older Dad who just happens to have younger children...LOL Somedays I wonder if I will survive...Christmas Day was one of those day

 

[middlepat]

ok Dads...we are looking at the possibility of the second week of August next year for a return trip to "The World". Besides hot...for those who have been that time of year...what are the crowds like? I wanted to go in October again but she wont let me take son out of kindergarten for a week. Sheesh it is only kindergarten

Can't comment about the crowds in August, but we took our DDs out of Gr 1 and K this year. (in case you need some established case law)

Oh, and BTW, DW has started the trip report. Come by and check it out.

 

[stopher1]

Hey guys! Haven't checked in since before Christmas. Just wanted to wish everyone an early but heartfelt Happy New Year! I hope that you all have a wonderful 2010.

I've spent the past week puttering with the family, back to work today. It was a crazy day...especially since not only am I trying to finish up year end stuff and catching up on a few things not completed before Christmas, but also getting ready to be gone for 10 days in just under 2 weeks! We leave on the 11th and are staying until the 21st. I can't wait.

Someone on another thread over in the DVC boards asked me where I'd be putting my TR... ha! I haven't even thought about that one yet, but now I suppose I have to do one...like I'm any good at that

So our trip has changed/evolved/devolved? over time. Wow. It started out being just us and the grandparents. Staying at THV 3 nights then switching over to AKV in the new Kidani village portion for 6 nights. A few months ago we invited my brother along (yay). A month or so later some friends were also going at nearly the same time as us, so we decided we'd spend a couple of days with them after my folks left. Their DD turns 6 while there, and my DD was to be her special guest for the birthday "party" at BBB.

Then a few weeks back my friend says that the elective surgery she's been wanting had to be completed by Dec. 31st or insurance wouldn't cover it in 2010 (she works for Northwest...now Delta. With the merger, new insurance). She had to have time to recover and go back to work for a mere 1 day before she could qualify to take her vacation time... but their trip wouldn't work if the surgery were scheduled anytime after Dec. 17th... guess when it was scheduled for? Christmas Eve. So they can't go with us, cancelled their trip. So I had decided to shorten our trip and leave the same day as my folks. The DW and kids were NOT happy about that one! So then I rebooked a couple of nights, but unfortunately AKV was no longer available, so we'll be at the VWL for the last two nights of our trip. 2 moves in one trip! Oh well. C'est la vie... we'll still be at WDW.

Then my brother calls last night to tell me that work has gotten in the way, and most likely he won't be able to go after all. He'll let me know for sure next Monday (the 4th)...but 75% thinking he can't go. Oh well. Again I say c'est la vie! We're back to the original group - and I'm cool with that. Still very, very excited. (I'll bet you couldn't tell that though, could you?)

Gotta plan a birthday party for my son right now as he'll turn 11 right before we leave. Gonna have a sleepover. DW is on the other computer right now scanning ebay for some Lord of the Rings stuff for the cake. He's massively into that so that's his theme this year. Very hard to find stuff though. Oh well. We'll see what we can do.

 

[Wherem I Now]

ok Dads...we are looking at the possibility of the second week of August next year for a return trip to "The World". Besides hot...for those who have been that time of year...what are the crowds like? I wanted to go in October again but she wont let me take son out of kindergarten for a week. Sheesh it is only kindergarten

Ummm... Sweaty?

We usually take our girls out of school to go, but they are both excellent students. Its a decision that becomes a bit more difficult as they get older but I wouldn't have thought twice about it in Kindergarten.

OK, Still not what you asked about, but I've never been in August... Sorry.

 

[DisneyDaddy-O]

So fellas, a few guys have posted what they got for Christmas, how did the rest of you do?

I got a new tripod and a camera bag I have been eyeballing for the last month. Mind you I picked them out myself, but its the thought that counts.

 

[stopher1]

Just in case anyone wants to view my DL TR all in one place, or missed part of it because it was embedded in this thread on so many different pages, I've made a compilation thread of my posts. I tried to do this last week, but learned that you can only have 25 images in a single posting... altogether I think I have something like 191 (this does include the little smilies too), but wow... so I copied and saved each individual post into a word document, and then recopied and pasted them into multiple posts on a new thread. Definitely learned something new with that one!

Stopher's Solo DL Trip Nov/Dec 2009

 

[FreezinRafiki]

So fellas, a few guys have posted what they got for Christmas, how did the rest of you do?

I got a new tripod and a camera bag I have been eyeballing for the last month. Mind you I picked them out myself, but its the thought that counts.

DW got me a Gorillapod for the camera. She insisted that be the first gift opened, so I could put it to use recording the rest of the gift openings. I'm hoping I can find a nice post or something to wrap it around to record Wishes in March.

DS bought me a bag full of bright orange golf balls. Yeah, like that's going to help me find them when they're 50 yards into the foliage!

 

[GoHerd1028]

So fellas, a few guys have posted what they got for Christmas, how did the rest of you do?

I got a new tripod and a camera bag I have been eyeballing for the last month. Mind you I picked them out myself, but its the thought that counts.

Wife got me a new computer. My old one was trying to die. Before I opened the box I was convinced that it was a firepit. I really wanted a firepit ..so when I opened it and it was a computer I was really confused because it ws not the firepit.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Wife got me a new computer. My old one was trying to die. Before I opened the box I was convinced that it was a firepit. I really wanted a firepit ..so when I opened it and it was a computer I was really confused because it ws not the firepit.

Rip the innards out of the old one, and voilà - a firepit.

 

[tutter99]

So fellas, a few guys have posted what they got for Christmas, how did the rest of you do?

I got a new tripod and a camera bag I have been eyeballing for the last month. Mind you I picked them out myself, but its the thought that counts.

FROG-O-SPHERE! It's a compact ecosystem with two frogs and a bamboo plant with the theory that the uneaten food and waste from the frogs feed the bamboo plant which oxygenates the water for the frogs. I have it here on my desk at work, still working on names for the little guys.

Also got some assorted games for the Wii (Nerf, Cars, and Mario) and PS3 (UP)

Plus DS got a bunch of Lego so technically it's mine

 

[Emma's Dad]

I braved the elements on Black Friday to score a 17" HP laptop for $449... so that was my big ticket item... which I LOVE . Also got a few golf accessories and a 7" digital photo frame. Oh... and reservations to CSR in April!

 

[Emma's Dad]

Hey! Has anyone played TSM for the Wii?? How does it compare to the ride? (Besides the obvious, of course)

 

[Goofy + 3]

I wanted to go in October again but she wont let me take son out of kindergarten for a week. Sheesh it is only kindergarten

Just another dad chiming in this... When I was a kid, I was pulled out of school almost every year to go to WDW and I turned out ok. Went to college and everything!! Next December when we go, we'll be pulling the DD out of kindergarten- easy decision. My wife and MIL are educators and they both think a kid can learn plenty on vacation with the family. Maybe it won't be academic-type learning, but learning nonetheless. A quick walk around World Showcase and that's a much better social studies lesson than any kindergartener is going to get!

As for the Christmas gifts, it was a very light year. Every spare penny goes in the Disney account (yes, there's actually a separate bank account for this) so there wasn't much to spend on me and the DW. I think I got socks, two shirts from a garage sale, a can of spray starch for the other shirts (it's like magic in a can) and the obligatory mug with a photo of the kids on it. The best was unwrapping the bank statement for the disney account. It turns out the DW has been plowing tutoring money in there when I wasn't looking. There's about $600 more in there than I thought.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Just another dad chiming in this... When I was a kid, I was pulled out of school almost every year to go to WDW and I turned out ok. Went to college and everything!! Next December when we go, we'll be pulling the DD out of kindergarten- easy decision. My wife and MIL are educators and they both think a kid can learn plenty on vacation with the family. Maybe it won't be academic-type learning, but learning nonetheless. A quick walk around World Showcase and that's a much better social studies lesson than any kindergartener is going to get!

As for the Christmas gifts, it was a very light year. Every spare penny goes in the Disney account (yes, there's actually a separate bank account for this) so there wasn't much to spend on me and the DW. I think I got socks, two shirts from a garage sale, a can of spray starch for the other shirts (it's like magic in a can) and the obligatory mug with a photo of the kids on it. The best was unwrapping the bank statement for the disney account. It turns out the DW has been plowing tutoring money in there when I wasn't looking. There's about $600 more in there than I thought.

We have a separate account too. The actual name of the account is "vacation", but it's never been used for anything but Disney!

When are you going in December? You should jump on the Dis Dad's in December thread (link in my siggy). We're going to try and plan a meet up. The more the merrier!

 

[stopher1]

Hey! Has anyone played TSM for the Wii?? How does it compare to the ride? (Besides the obvious, of course)

That was my "big ticket" item this year! Ha, that and our family gift of more DVC points.

It's fun. Quite fun. Some of the same games from the attraction are in it, and other new ones. You can play up to 4 people, though only two at a time. I've played it several times over the past few days and had a blast doing so... getting pumped to play it on site in a couple of weeks.

 

[Emma's Dad]

That was my "big ticket" item this year! Ha, that and our family gift of more DVC points.

It's fun. Quite fun. Some of the same games from the attraction are in it, and other new ones. You can play up to 4 people, though only two at a time. I've played it several times over the past few days and had a blast doing so... getting pumped to play it on site in a couple of weeks.

Thanks! I was hoping to get a review like this Got a gift card that just might be used for this purchase.

 

[Wherem I Now]

DW gave me a pair of Binoculars to replace my broken ones (don't ask...) and a toy helicopter (yes, I'm still a big kid). I think that I've crashed into everything in the Living room at this point.

Biggest item that I received was a Belgian waffle maker. I think that the kids were as excited as I was. Anybody got a good recipe? So far we have tried the regular boxed pancake mix and we also tried yellow cake batter. MMmmm.

Hey! Has anyone played TSM for the Wii?? How does it compare to the ride? (Besides the obvious, of course)

Yep, and like Stopher said, several games from the ride are there, as well as some new ones. My only problem is having to wait my turn while the DW and DDs are playing. I really wish that they would have made it where all four players could be playing at the same time. I also want to be pulling the string on the bubble gun instead of pushing the Wii remote buttons, but I guess that just gives me reason to continue riding TSM at DHS.

 

[stopher1]

DW gave me a pair of Binoculars to replace my broken ones (don't ask...) and a toy helicopter (yes, I'm still a big kid). I think that I've crashed into everything in the Living room at this point.

Yep, and like Stopher said, several games from the ride are there, as well as some new ones. My only problem is having to wait my turn while the DW and DDs are playing. I really wish that they would have made it where all four players could be playing at the same time. I also want to be pulling the string on the bubble gun instead of pushing the Wii remote buttons, but I guess that just gives me reason to continue riding TSM at DHS.

My DS got an RC helicopter - and I hear ya about crashing into everything in the living room Mike. He has knocked over so many things the first few days, but has finally gotten pretty good at it. Me on the other hand... not quite yet.

My DW said the same thing about TSM...wishes she could be pulling the string. Oh well, I guess you can't have them all. My DS suggested trying one of the nerf gun controllers they sell to see if that mike work. Not sure, but it might be worth a try.

 

[MiJo]

We don't go overboard for Christmas, especially now that we have 3 grandkids to buy for! I did get a B and D cordless screwdriver (my old one died), a long sleeved LehighValley Iron Pigs T-shirt (to go with my hat), a new "unstained" sweatshirt (which I needed desperately), a new tie and a Totes umbrella (which I needed). I'm sure I got a couple other things that escape me at the moment. My most exciting gift is the possibility of our Navy son being considered for a tour with the Blue Angels! That would be fantastic! Our 3 3/4 years old DGD finally realized what Christmas gifts are all about, which was great to see. At first, she didn't care about the gifts under the tree.....she just wanted to play in "her room". She couldn't believe part of Christmas meant gifts for everyone. I don't think she'll have any problem next year! My DW really appreciated the Grandchildren Birthstone Necklace I gave her. Our DD came through with that great idea! Thanks, Melissa!

 

[itJeff]

So fellas, a few guys have posted what they got for Christmas, how did the rest of you do?

Like others, I picked out most of my own presents. We're also trying to put as much as possible back for the Disney trip in May. I am the proud owner of some new t-shirts and underwear (always gotta love those ), car charger for the BB and a cable to hook up the BB to the van stereo's aux port. Now the whole family can enjoy my new Disney podcast obsession!

DW also found a new Christmas ornament for me. It's a TOS (original Star Trek series) phaser with flashing LED and sound fx. It also plays some sound bytes from various episodes. Yeah, yeah... I'm a geek, what can I say?

I also got a new sweater and the new ST movie on DVD. (reference geek comment above)