DIS Dads The DIS Dad's Club VI - Man's Room

[scott2997]

OK - here's a newb question for you guys....

I registered online for a "free disney planning DVD" and because of this also received an email from Disney with one of those cool "PIN Codes" which I'm assuming will provide some kind of discount on a future Disney vacation.

My question is - do these expire?

We already have our vacations scheduled for 2011 (I only get two weeks vacation after working for a company for 11 years!) We have one week scheduled with the in-laws and one with my parents.

Do you think I could use this for a vacation for next year? (2012)

Thanks Guys.

 

[Emma's Dad]

Our school system closed schools for today... and there is no snow, now ice, no sleet, no nothin'. Granted, the weather forecast is calling for 1-3 inches later this afternoon... but still.

 

[Sonnyeclipse]

Our school system closed schools for today... and there is no snow, now ice, no sleet, no nothin'. Granted, the weather forecast is calling for 1-3 inches later this afternoon... but still.

It's amazing isn't it? We cancel schools here if there is a "threat" of bad weather. My kids had several "snow" days last year where it didn't snow at all.

 

[scott2997]

Our school system closed schools for today... and there is no snow, now ice, no sleet, no nothin'. Granted, the weather forecast is calling for 1-3 inches later this afternoon... but still.

I think it's funny how different parts of the country handle snow and school delays/closings. We get 1-3 inches up here all the time and still go to school.

We did have a cancelled school day Monday with that clipper system that came through only because of the blowing/drifting and the wet icy snow that came with it.

 

[Emma's Dad]

It's amazing isn't it? We cancel schools here if there is a "threat" of bad weather. My kids had several "snow" days last year where it didn't snow at all.

I think it's funny how different parts of the country handle snow and school delays/closings. We get 1-3 inches up here all the time and still go to school.

We did have a cancelled school day Monday with that clipper system that came through only because of the blowing/drifting and the wet icy snow that came with it.

Yeah... I'm from the north and we only closed when it got real bad... and especially with ice. I remember our bus going into the ditch one morning! Boy was that the topic of conversation for a week! There was only 6 inches of snow on the ground that morning!

 

[Disney Commando]

Dec 6th when we were on the Autotrain it was snowing in NC it didn't stick to the road, but it looked like around 2inches on the ground

 

[DisneyDadC]

Our school system closed schools for today... and there is no snow, now ice, no sleet, no nothin'. Granted, the weather forecast is calling for 1-3 inches later this afternoon... but still.

This is not fair Don I don't think it should snow there if it doesn't snow here.I cant have you getting any practice in on the Igloo building!!!!
We started somewhat of a igloo competition last year and I have a feeling it will blossom into the great DDC build off lol I want another yr like last yr.My daughter has already asked what we will do this yr.She said we did igloos and castle last yr now what we going to do? I tried explaining it is all based on how much snow we get!! So bring it on measured in feet.!!!

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Our school system closed schools for today... and there is no snow, now ice, no sleet, no nothin'. Granted, the weather forecast is calling for 1-3 inches later this afternoon... but still.

It's amazing isn't it? We cancel schools here if there is a "threat" of bad weather. My kids had several "snow" days last year where it didn't snow at all.

I think it's funny how different parts of the country handle snow and school delays/closings. We get 1-3 inches up here all the time and still go to school.

We did have a cancelled school day Monday with that clipper system that came through only because of the blowing/drifting and the wet icy snow that came with it.

I have to give our district credit for not over reacting this time around. In general, the way an area deals with “snow” is related to just how often they have to deal with the stuff. Since we rarely get winter weather, we don’t budget any money for the equipment required to clear the roads, so the rare snow storm just shuts us down completely. As it generally melts in a day or sometimes in mere hours, we just wait it out and then get back to normal. The real problem down this way is that we’re more likely to get an ice storm then sleet or snow and no amount of salt, slag or plowing will make an iced over bridge any safer (not to mention, our drives don’t get the necessary practice dealing with the stuff and tend to drive rather foolishly).

 

[afwdwfan]

Seems like schools are a lot quicker to pull the trigger and close these days. I remember when I was in school, we'd go to school and then if it looked like we were going to get it, they'd just send us back home early. I think the problem here is the state school superintendant... they're putting so many rules and restraints on the schools that they have to have 180 days, and have to meet certain criteria to qualify for "a day." It is almost pointless to go for part of the day and risk it not even being able to count for a day.

That said, schools are out today, but we got about 5" of snow overnight and it is still falling.

 

[afwdwfan]

This is not fair Don I don't think it should snow there if it doesn't snow here.I cant have you getting any practice in on the Igloo building!!!!
We started somewhat of a igloo competition last year and I have a feeling it will blossom into the great DDC build off lol I want another yr like last yr.My daughter has already asked what we will do this yr.She said we did igloos and castle last yr now what we going to do? I tried explaining it is all based on how much snow we get!! So bring it on measured in feet.!!!

Wow, Igloos and castles??? We've probably got enough snow for that right now with what we've accumulated over the past couple of snows here, but it is too cold and too dry to get it to pack very well. If you want best sledding hill or most redneck way to enjoy the snow, I can compete with any of you though.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

OK - here's a newb question for you guys....

I registered online for a "free disney planning DVD" and because of this also received an email from Disney with one of those cool "PIN Codes" which I'm assuming will provide some kind of discount on a future Disney vacation.

My question is - do these expire?

We already have our vacations scheduled for 2011 (I only get two weeks vacation after working for a company for 11 years!) We have one week scheduled with the in-laws and one with my parents.

Do you think I could use this for a vacation for next year? (2012)

Thanks Guys.

Expiration on PIN numbers varies a good bit. Some last a long while, some expire quickly. It’s all depends on the reaction and just how many empty rooms they are trying to fill. If you went ahead and book a 2012 vacation now, they’ll likely apply the offer they just sent you to that trip (that’s what they hoping you will do in the first place). You can often find current pin numbers by looking around on the boards and on similar web communities, although Disney would prefer that you didn’t share the info. Just curious, what kind of offer is associated with this particular PIN code?

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

One more work day and it's off to WDW! I get through this one without any additional peanut butter issues cropping up and I’m home free.

We’ll go listen to the Christmas concert out at the high school this evening, then just finish up the packing tonight and in the morning. Once my young’in finishes up at school tomorrow, we pick him up and hit the southbound highways. Then its one night off-site and we check in at POR Saturday morning and crash the gates at AK as soon as the bus will take us. A day of Disney Magic, followed by dinner at the Polly and a leisurely trip around all the resorts on the Bay Lake Loop to check out the holiday décor and the knowledge that I get to stay four more days after that and I just might be rescued from the end-of-year-funk that’s begun to set in.

Man I need this trip!!!

 

[Goofy + 3]

Our school system closed schools for today... and there is no snow, now ice, no sleet, no nothin'. Granted, the weather forecast is calling for 1-3 inches later this afternoon... but still.

Yeah, no school in Richmond either. But here, it's already coming down pretty good. Around 5 inches expected. And by the way, I lived in Illinois til I was 17 and never missed a single day of school due to weather. Different parts of the country just don't freak out about this stuff.

 

[scott2997]

Expiration on PIN numbers varies a good bit. Some last a long while, some expire quickly. It’s all depends on the reaction and just how many empty rooms they are trying to fill. If you went ahead and book a 2012 vacation now, they’ll likely apply the offer they just sent you to that trip (that’s what they hoping you will do in the first place). You can often find current pin numbers by looking around on the boards and on similar web communities, although Disney would prefer that you didn’t share the info. Just curious, what kind of offer is associated with this particular PIN code?

This particular email just states "Save 10% at select Disney Resort Hotels" It says book by 1/24/11.

 

[Emma's Dad]

This is not fair Don I don't think it should snow there if it doesn't snow here.I cant have you getting any practice in on the Igloo building!!!!
We started somewhat of a igloo competition last year and I have a feeling it will blossom into the great DDC build off lol I want another yr like last yr.My daughter has already asked what we will do this yr.She said we did igloos and castle last yr now what we going to do? I tried explaining it is all based on how much snow we get!! So bring it on measured in feet.!!!

LOL... yeah, I guess I did start that, didn't I? My DD is already asking if we are going to make another one this year. Like you, I had to explain the whole supply of snow thing. I gently reminded her that last year was a very special year for us. The kind of snow we got last year was the most perfect snow-packing snow I had ever seen since my youth. I know I'm preaching to the choir here... but it does take a certain set of conditions to make any kind of snow structure. I would LOVE to have the opportunity to show off our snow creativity...if the Lord provides!!

I have to give our district credit for not over reacting this time around. In general, the way an area deals with “snow” is related to just how often they have to deal with the stuff. Since we rarely get winter weather, we don’t budget any money for the equipment required to clear the roads, so the rare snow storm just shuts us down completely. As it generally melts in a day or sometimes in mere hours, we just wait it out and then get back to normal. The real problem down this way is that we’re more likely to get an ice storm then sleet or snow and no amount of salt, slag or plowing will make an iced over bridge any safer (not to mention, our drives don’t get the necessary practice dealing with the stuff and tend to drive rather foolishly).

Yeah... pretty much the same boat here. And we have LOTS of bridges here!

Seems like schools are a lot quicker to pull the trigger and close these days. I remember when I was in school, we'd go to school and then if it looked like we were going to get it, they'd just send us back home early. I think the problem here is the state school superintendant... they're putting so many rules and restraints on the schools that they have to have 180 days, and have to meet certain criteria to qualify for "a day." It is almost pointless to go for part of the day and risk it not even being able to count for a day.

That said, schools are out today, but we got about 5" of snow overnight and it is still falling.

5" of snow overnight and it is still falling

Wow, Igloos and castles??? We've probably got enough snow for that right now with what we've accumulated over the past couple of snows here, but it is too cold and too dry to get it to pack very well. If you want best sledding hill or most redneck way to enjoy the snow, I can compete with any of you though.

Exactly! Just not the right kind of snow to make anything!

Your comment made me recall a sled riding incident that occurred when I was about 12. You see, where I live there are open pit strip mines all around us. However, by the time I got to be a young teen they stopped mining operations. So that left quite a number of places with steep hills... and even a few cliffs of several hundred feet. Also, these places tend to be dumping grounds for people too freaking lazy to take stuff to the dump. Enter into the picture my cousin, Rodney, who was a year older and much crazier than I was at the time. We decided to take our sleds out after mother nature dumped about 10 inches of snow the night before. Found this really cool hill that was about 75 feet high, had a pretty steep slope, and also had this neat curve all the way. For you mountain folks, I'd liken this hill to one of those runaway truck ramps. So we take our double-runner sleds up to the top of this hill and Rodney clears the path down the hill. Took about 5 runs to get the hill just right... but we must have been going 30+ MPH down this hill... total awesomeness!

Now let's make like Jeff Foxworthy and add a little redneck. My crazy cousin somehow found lying around in the area a very old mattress... so old in fact that all the cloth had already deteriorated from the metal springs. He also managed to score a 4'x6' sheet of plywood. Can you see where this is headed? Our crazy brains deduced that if we set the mattress and plywood at the right angle... add a bunch of snow at the base of it... we could make the most perfect ramp to launch our sleds off of. So... we make it. And trek back up the hill. And my cousin tears off down the hill... hits the ramp... and soars about 20 feet off the ramp and lands perfectly! It was incredible! It worked! So then I take off... down the hill... gathering speed... hit the ramp, and here's where the story goes south. Apparently, when my cousin hit the ramp, the snow that had been packed at the bottom of the ramp had come loose... and the plywood came up about 3". So..... when my sled hit the start of the ramp the nose of the sled went UNDER the plywood. Oh... and I forgot to mention that we are going HEAD first on the double runner! Take a second to imagine this... hands are on the wood steering bar... head first... sled is going under the plywood... I'm going 30+ MPH... Next thing I know it feels like someone rips my hands off my arms as they get trapped under the plywood... the sled comes to an instant stop...and I continue down the ramp (without a sled) flying like Superman through the air about 20 feet... then land head first into the powdery snow. My cousin lost it and was busting his gut laughing in the snow. Meanwhile... I seriously thought I lost both hands at the wrist. Thank God nothing was cut or broken! Still not sure how I got through that incident!!

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Now let's make like Jeff Foxworthy and add a little redneck. My crazy cousin somehow found lying around in the area a very old mattress... so old in fact that all the cloth had already deteriorated from the metal springs. He also managed to score a 4'x6' sheet of plywood. Can you see where this is headed? Our crazy brains deduced that if we set the mattress and plywood at the right angle... add a bunch of snow at the base of it... we could make the most perfect ramp to launch our sleds off of. So... we make it. And trek back up the hill. And my cousin tears off down the hill... hits the ramp... and soars about 20 feet off the ramp and lands perfectly! It was incredible! It worked! So then I take off... down the hill... gathering speed... hit the ramp, and here's where the story goes south. Apparently, when my cousin hit the ramp, the snow that had been packed at the bottom of the ramp had come loose... and the plywood came up about 3". So..... when my sled hit the start of the ramp the nose of the sled went UNDER the plywood. Oh... and I forgot to mention that we are going HEAD first on the double runner! Take a second to imagine this... hands are on the wood steering bar... head first... sled is going under the plywood... I'm going 30+ MPH... Next thing I know it feels like someone rips my hands off my arms as they get trapped under the plywood... the sled comes to an instant stop...and I continue down the ramp (without a sled) flying like Superman through the air about 20 feet... then land head first into the powdery snow. My cousin lost it and was busting his gut laughing in the snow. Meanwhile... I seriously thought I lost both hands at the wrist. Thank God nothing was cut or broken! Still not sure how I got through that incident!!

Quite the story. I’d rank that one up there with Feds fishing boat adventure.

There ought to be some type of DDC award for folks that have pulled off stunts of this caliber.



BTW - Page 86

 

[Emma's Dad]

Quite the story. I’d rank that one up there with Feds fishing boat adventure.

There ought to be some type of DDC award for folks that have pulled off stunts of this caliber.

The DDCDAA (DIS Dad Club Dumb (Beverly) Award)

 

[Emma's Dad]

Well... the snow has started...

 

[stopher1]

Well... the snow has started...

We got about 5 inches overnight, adding to the 3 or 4 that was already there. Turned my typical 25 min commute into 2 hrs. Blech! Would have just called a snow day and worked from home if I didn't need to be here for a deliveryman bringing our replacement dishwasher (yes, we have a d/w in the office guys). But as soon as he's done...on the way now he tells me...I'll start heading home. Hopefully it won't be more than 45 going home, if I get out of here soon enough.

 

[afwdwfan]

Now let's make like Jeff Foxworthy and add a little redneck. My crazy cousin somehow found lying around in the area a very old mattress... so old in fact that all the cloth had already deteriorated from the metal springs. He also managed to score a 4'x6' sheet of plywood. Can you see where this is headed? Our crazy brains deduced that if we set the mattress and plywood at the right angle... add a bunch of snow at the base of it... we could make the most perfect ramp to launch our sleds off of. So... we make it. And trek back up the hill. And my cousin tears off down the hill... hits the ramp... and soars about 20 feet off the ramp and lands perfectly! It was incredible! It worked! So then I take off... down the hill... gathering speed... hit the ramp, and here's where the story goes south. Apparently, when my cousin hit the ramp, the snow that had been packed at the bottom of the ramp had come loose... and the plywood came up about 3". So..... when my sled hit the start of the ramp the nose of the sled went UNDER the plywood. Oh... and I forgot to mention that we are going HEAD first on the double runner! Take a second to imagine this... hands are on the wood steering bar... head first... sled is going under the plywood... I'm going 30+ MPH... Next thing I know it feels like someone rips my hands off my arms as they get trapped under the plywood... the sled comes to an instant stop...and I continue down the ramp (without a sled) flying like Superman through the air about 20 feet... then land head first into the powdery snow. My cousin lost it and was busting his gut laughing in the snow. Meanwhile... I seriously thought I lost both hands at the wrist. Thank God nothing was cut or broken! Still not sure how I got through that incident!!

I live in a pretty flat area... therefore a lot of our momentum has to be created by means other than gravity. I've ridden on sleds, tubes, car hoods, inside horse troughs and on sheets of metal pulled by anything from a 4 wheeler, to a pickup truck, to a tractor.
When I was in high school, we got our hands on an airfoil (aerodynamic thingy on a semi cab roof) that my friend's dad took off of a semi tractor. A little wax and this thing was the perfect size to pull behind a quad. Within about 3 days we had someone with a concussion, I have about a 5" scar on my back, 2 wrecked quads, a mangled wad of fiberglass and 2 individuals (not me) covered in pig poop. The sad thing is, this wasn't just one big accident, it was a series of unfortunate mishaps that we never seemed to learn from. And I'm pretty sure the phrase "hey y'all, watch this" was shouted once or twice...

Since then, I've bought a farm with a hill on it. Like I said, I live in a pretty flat county, but the southern portion has a few hills just popping up in various places. Most of the hills are wooded, but the one by my house crosses a couple of property lines and takes up about 60 acres or so. About a third of it is on our property and used to be a pasture. It has been kept mowed over the years, with the exception of 5 or 6 acres that is too steep to mow and is heavily wooded. People from all over the county show up and sled there. I'm usually fine with it, but I've run some off for coming to sled after dark, or for having dogs running loose in my yard (I have a dog that's half blue heeler, half pitbull who doesn't like other dogs).
It is a good place to sled, and believe me when I say it is steeper than it looks. There are some pics on Facebook and it doesn't look steep, but when a 120 hp tractor with duals spins out going up and slides coming down while mowing... it IS steep. We've tried a carhood down the hill, but it is too heavy and isn't very easy to aim. We ended up bailing out before it hit the trees. My favorite new toy is an old plastic pickup truck bedliner. We can aim it, get several people in it and we just push it bobsled style with 2 or 3 of us running and jumping in. It is a pretty good ride, but it still doesn't match up with the old style runner sled that you tried to kill yourself on, Don!