DIS Dads The DIS Dad's Club VII - Oh Peanut Butter...

[stopher1]

Thanks for the birthday wishes, guys! Been a great day so far... homemade card from DD... couple presents... and I get to have lunch at Abuelo's today!! I'm stoked

FABULOUS!! I LOVE Abuelo's. Had left-overs from Sunday for lunch yesterday... Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Good stuff.

 

[stopher1]

I think September 2012 is going to be pushing it for both Art of Animation and the Fantasyland Expansion. There's a LOT of construction to be done.

Keep in mind however, that these are two very different construction situations. Both have their own crews and timelines, and are not intermixed at all. There is a LOT going on in both places, but one slow down here isn't going to cause a domino-effect slow down over there.

And be careful about Art of Animation. I know that they're talking about it as a Value Resort. But, IIRC, a Value Family Suite is more expensive than any Moderate room, and pushes the price of a Deluxe. And even in the Family Suites, the beds are Full Size, not Queens.

This is true. It will be in the Value category, but pricing for a Family Suite at the existing Value option (ASMusic) is considerably higher than other Value rooms, and yes, moderates too. By comparison those rooms can save on getting two rooms however, and for a family of 5 or 6, can be a better deal pricewise. Certainly better when you consider you get a second bathroom, and the little kitchenette.

This room classification has been in very large demand for a long time. The original change out of a section of rooms at ASMusic was a "test" to see how much demand there might be for them. And there has been a huge demand. Family Suites tend to fill up the fastest, since many families simply do not fit the "traditional" 2 adults, 2 kids mold that the majority of rooms at WDW were made for. While DVC certainly opened up a large share of rooms for families of more than 4... not all of those families can or want to buy in and be obligated to a timeshare program for up to 50 years. Having more Family Suites has become imperative for WDW, thus the re-branding and re-design of the former second half of POP Century in to the new Art of Animation Resort with such a large portion dedicated to Family Suites from the get go.

I'd say that, by September, much of new Fantasyland will be open, but probably not all of it.

The Fantasyland expansion is going to open in sections - different attractions will come online at different time. I don't think it will all be "done" until sometime in 2013.

It will definitely not be completed by September 2012. It will open in phases as specific things get completed and ready. I've actually been hearing from various sources and people I know within the company that parts of it might not even open now until early in 2014 based on delayed timelines. Only time will tell. If they can push anything up they will, but even know some of the plans are continuing to evolve, and it's hard to determine a firm timeline under those conditions.

 

[RAlexander84]

Thank you all for your oppinions. With Art of Animation not really looking at staying there but would like to do a walk through. When it comes to driving vs flying. Flying is actually MUCH cheaper but would be flying into SFB, so I would have to get rental car. Even with the car flying is less expensive. I am use to using priceline name your own price and betterbidding.com to always get a steal on hotel, flight, and car costs, the idea of not being able to do this makes things seem much more expensive to me.
One of my best memories of WDW from when I was a kid, was staying in the Contemporary having breakfast with Chip and Dale (How I miss the resue rangers) I wish I could stay there but I'm pretty sure I will be looking at Value resort or off site.

 

[AJRitz]

Anybody have anything they could post to DISDads.com? We haven't had any new content since Monday, and I don't think the new podcast episode will be ready to post until tomorrow or Friday.

 

[stopher1]

ok, some how i went over 4000 post and wasnt watching. its been a fun 3 years. i always look forward to jumping on line and talking to you guys. i was lucky enough to meet 6 of you and hopefully in the next few trips ill be able to meet up with a few others!

Congrats Dave on 4,000 (even though by now it was 10 posts ago). I've been busy the past several days and not on here much, so I missed it then - but am happy to celebrate it with you now.

 

[Emma's Dad]

Wow! Jerry Lewis AND Erik Estrada share my b-day... So privileged!

Happy Birthday, Don! And thanks for all your hard work for the Dis Dads keeping these threads going!

Some days are more difficult than others.... but I think Aaron has the more difficult job of keeping Disdads.com up and running. Still wish I could access it from work!

No, Erik Estrada shares a birthday with him.

Happy Birthday, Don!

Don & many more

Thanks, Ron!

FABULOUS!! I LOVE Abuelo's. Had left-overs from Sunday for lunch yesterday... Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Good stuff.

Yeah.... one of my all time fav restaurants... for Mexican anyway!

 

[twokids0204]

1. As a newbie when it comes to Walt Disney World info, when do you guys think the completion dates for the Art of Animation Resort and the Fantasyland expansion will be?

2. After recently taking a 50% pay cut to have more time with family, I am curious if anyone has been able to talk the price down on a vacation or any other WDW money saving tips.

3. How many others are there out there that, like me, have already started to second guess their brackets?

PS My wife is getting excited about butter beer at the OTHER park, and is wanting to up our trip from next september to next may. I would normally be all for going sooner but am hoping to stay at the new resort and take in the new attractions.

Check MOUSESAVERS for some value saving tips.

Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY Don...

 

[AJRitz]

Some days are more difficult than others.... but I think Aaron has the more difficult job of keeping Disdads.com up and running. Still wish I could access it from work!

If you've got a smart phone, I installed a nice little widget that automatically reformats the site so that it's more readable on a small browser.

Or just use it as an excuse to get yourself a 3G iPad.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Just checking in. Work has been rather overwhelming the last week or so I’ve missed a lot around here. Things started loosening up bit finally so I figured I’d check up on our little clubhouse, only to find that the entire DisBoards site is now forbidden by the filters. So now work is really interfering with my Dis time. It’s going to be a lot harder to keep up now and joining in on a conversation will be difficult at best. Dang frustrating.

 

[afwdwfan]

Happy Birthday Don!!!!!!

3. How many others are there out there that, like me, have already started to second guess their brackets?

I've already started to 22nd guess mine.

 

[afwdwfan]

Finally got a slow day... and I'm using it wisely!

Then I want to see an update on your TR when I get back from lunch!

Still waiting......

 

[stopher1]

Still waiting......

You will be for a while.




Of course I can't talk too much... I still have to finish an update to both of mine, though one needs an update more than the other. Those cobwebs must be getting pretty thick I think...

 

[twokids0204]

Folks,

I took the kids out yesterday to a Carnival in the afternoon and Disney on Ice in the evening (Woo Hooo - great job dad!)

While I was out my Camera broke. It's a Canon PowerShot A560 - just a simple point and shoot. Well now when I turn it on, the lens doesn't come out, and it makes a clicking sound (like the gears are stripped or caught). It's a couple of years old now.

So I need a new camera. I don't want to spend a fortune (looking to spend between $150 -> $200).

Any recommendations for a GOOD camera in that price range?

As always - thanks Dads.

 

[stopher1]

I've had a nasty cold the past few days. Darn work trips got in the way of resting from my weekend's busy-ness.

 

[stopher1]

It's a beautiful day here in Indiana though... I need to be outside - not stuck behind my computer. But I'm working from home today, so I am enjoying watching out the window quite a bit. The windows in my office are not at a height easy to see out from my desk - whereas my dining room windows are.

 

[stopher1]

19 days til WDW

my ticker is off by a day due to the change in our trip dates. But I'm not going to worry about that.

 

[twokids0204]

Ownage...?

Missed it by . . . . that much!

 

[stopher1]

Ownage...?

Missed it by . . . . that much!

That's okay - there will be more opportunities.

 

[stopher1]

Yeah.... one of my all time fav restaurants... for Mexican anyway!

In honor of your birthday, and your birthday restaurant selection, I just enjoyed some chips and salsa as part of my lunch.

 

[afwdwfan]

It's a beautiful day here in Indiana though... I need to be outside - not stuck behind my computer. But I'm working from home today, so I am enjoying watching out the window quite a bit. The windows in my office are not at a height easy to see out from my desk - whereas my dining room windows are.

I know... I came into work a couple of hours late this morning.... just about the same time it really started to get nice out. Really can't wait till I can get out of here again.