DIS Dads The DIS Dad's Club VIII - The Online Mancave

[IamTrike]

Changing sheets on a bed after a middle of the night accident and then stressing out about work, so no sleep for me.

Wow that a bummer. Neither are fun, but I'd rather have accident issues than work stress. You can change the sheets and wash them, work stuff seldom goes away so easily. Hope whatever's stressing you out gets better.

Question for the group,

Has anyone ever bought an annual season pass before? With two trips planned in 12 months, it would save us at least $500 to get a season pass. Plus if we make a detour to Disney during our summer trip to visit my father, we could use the season passes. Am I crazy? Am I starting down a slippery slope?

We used to get APs or Florida seasonal APs for many years. Our touring has changed a bit and we no longer go to the parks every day we are there. It works better for us to get a 10 day park hopper with the no expiration option. It will last 2-3 trips. When DD heads to college, I can see getting an AP for me.

It is a slippery slope. Those APs burn in your pocket and you are more likely to take more trips. Not that I think that is a bad thing.

We picked up annual passes for my DW and I at the beginning of our trip last May, on the 20th. This year, we leave from our annual family trip on... the 20th of May. Once you get past about 10-14 days of park admission in one year, the annual passes start making a lot of sense, especially if you're doing park hopping. And, although I know it sounds like spending money in order to save money, we picked up the Tables in Wonderland card and have made... extensive use of it.

So, in addition to using them for our family trip, my DW and I went back for her birthday end of July/beginning of August. While on our family trip, and seduced by the lure of the Bounceback special in our room, we booked an anniversary trip for November. Put this together with the trip this coming May, and we paid ~$500 per adult for 25 days of park admission vs. ~$750 had we done Magic Your Way tickets WITHOUT the park hopper option. Those would have been an additional $200+ over 4 trips.

Now, granted, we might not have booked the vacation trip and its related expense if we hadn't gotten the Annual Passes, but, then again, we were doing something for our anniversary. That may be the slippery slope you're talking about: It becomes easier to justify additional trips while you still have eligibility left on the passes.

We picked up APs last year for the first time. As DEA said, if you plan on a couple visits within the year - it can pay for itself. And when you do the Tables in Wonderland (which we did), that adds even more benefits. Don't forget about the AP room-only rates, too. And the shopping discounts at all the merchandise stores. Be sure to run the numbers to be sure it will be worth it for your family, since everyone's situation is different.

Also, don't forget the YES program for discounted park tickets and a fun and educational class - if APs aren't for you.

Yall are bad influences. In the back of my head I keep thinking I need to help my kids see more of the world, but since in the last 24 hours this thread has prompted me to price out DVC and AP's.

 

[IamTrike]

Absolutely!

Woohoo! All you can eat meat, lots of goofy inside jokes and included smoothies.

I seem to remember you saying something about a TR update earlier.

 

[DisDadDoc]

We picked up annual passes for my DW and I at the beginning of our trip last May, on the 20th. This year, we leave from our annual family trip on... the 20th of May. Once you get past about 10-14 days of park admission in one year, the annual passes start making a lot of sense, especially if you're doing park hopping. And, although I know it sounds like spending money in order to save money, we picked up the Tables in Wonderland card and have made... extensive use of it.

So, in addition to using them for our family trip, my DW and I went back for her birthday end of July/beginning of August. While on our family trip, and seduced by the lure of the Bounceback special in our room, we booked an anniversary trip for November. Put this together with the trip this coming May, and we paid ~$500 per adult for 25 days of park admission vs. ~$750 had we done Magic Your Way tickets WITHOUT the park hopper option. Those would have been an additional $200+ over 4 trips.

Now, granted, we might not have booked the vacation trip and its related expense if we hadn't gotten the Annual Passes, but, then again, we were doing something for our anniversary. That may be the slippery slope you're talking about: It becomes easier to justify additional trips while you still have eligibility left on the passes.

Good points. More Disney is never bad, but the bills just keep coming every month.

We picked up APs last year for the first time. As DEA said, if you plan on a couple visits within the year - it can pay for itself. And when you do the Tables in Wonderland (which we did), that adds even more benefits. Don't forget about the AP room-only rates, too. And the shopping discounts at all the merchandise stores. Be sure to run the numbers to be sure it will be worth it for your family, since everyone's situation is different.

Also, don't forget the YES program for discounted park tickets and a fun and educational class - if APs aren't for you.

Thanks, John! I have found the YES program. It would work out perfectly, since they have a date (6/28) that we'd be down there.

We used to get APs or Florida seasonal APs for many years. Our touring has changed a bit and we no longer go to the parks every day we are there. It works better for us to get a 10 day park hopper with the no expiration option. It will last 2-3 trips. When DD heads to college, I can see getting an AP for me.

It is a slippery slope. Those APs burn in your pocket and you are more likely to take more trips. Not that I think that is a bad thing.

But CJ is probably right, with an AP we'd be there even more, and with us finding out today that braces are coming earlier rather than later (like in 3 weeks ), it may not be an up front expense we can afford.

Yall are bad influences. In the back of my head I keep thinking I need to help my kids see more of the world, but since in the last 24 hours this thread has prompted me to price out DVC and AP's.

I definitely knew the bias I would get!

Thanks all for the thoughtful advice! Still not sure what I'm going to do, but your advice helps. Sorry, if I missed anyone! All this multiquoting can get confusing when you're trying to watch the basketball game

 

[IamTrike]

A while back someone asked about GPS's vs Phone GPS at Disney. I added this to my TR but I thought it could be worthwhile here too.

We have a relatively new Garmin and the maps are fairly new. While it did a pretty good job around Disney we did run into 1 fairly major issue. It seemed to think the cut through between Epcot Center Drive and Bonnet Creek Parkway was off limits.
For reference here's a link to the cut through.Map of EP BCP cut through
It also had issues with how you could Drive on Bonnet Creek Parkway. As a result it took really strange, really long routes to get to POFQ. (Based on the directions it gave, it'd likely have issues with POR and OKW) The first night I accidentally followed the GPS and it took an extra 15 minutes to get to the resort.

 

[Emma's Dad]

Well . . . PEANUT BUTTER!
After spending some time exploring the options and considering the cost, DW is now definitely opposed to a summer trip to the WDW. Looks like we'll go the MUCH cheaper route of Season Passes to Worlds of Fun for this year, and revisit WDW possibilities for 2012-2013.

Doh! Wait.. ... no... .... ok... But it's not Disney!!

Woo Hoo!

For our upcoming summer trip, we are now looking at changing our stay from the All-Star Movies to the Wilderness Lodge! I have always wanted to stay there... it looks like this may finally be the year.

On a possibly related note: Disney is now offering 30% off Deluxe resorts for the summer.

Back-to-back Ownage!!!

Wow... now I have the theme song for The Jeffersons in my head Very nice!!! Congrats!

 

[theduck619]

Congrats to the Butler Bulldogs

 

[theduck619]

Well . . . PEANUT BUTTER!
After spending some time exploring the options and considering the cost, DW is now definitely opposed to a summer trip to the WDW. Looks like we'll go the MUCH cheaper route of Season Passes to Worlds of Fun for this year, and revisit WDW possibilities for 2012-2013.

Sorry Aaron

 

[Emma's Dad]

Just enjoying a nice evening with DW. DD is spending the night with friends. So... DW asks what movie we want to see... she wants a comedy... going through the list of movies, we land on... SPACEBALLS! Opened a nice bottle of an adult beverage and are now enjoying quoting the scenes. "Preparing to fast forward!"... haha! Classic.

 

[KTME]

Well . . . PEANUT BUTTER!
After spending some time exploring the options and considering the cost, DW is now definitely opposed to a summer trip to the WDW. Looks like we'll go the MUCH cheaper route of Season Passes to Worlds of Fun for this year, and revisit WDW possibilities for 2012-2013.

Sorry to hear this. We were planning to go this year and my in-laws pulled a family vacation on us for the summer. A week at the beach. While I don't mind going to the beach, I don't want to do it with my in-laws (either does my wife). Mainly becasue of her step brother and his kids. Oh well. Heres hoping for next year.

 

[Emma's Dad]

Hmmmm... Haven't seen Nate around here since the big, bad 1999 post. maybe he's partying like it's 1999? Only five more for me after this post. "You're always preparing... just go!"

 

[DisDadDoc]

OWN!
Couldn't resist

 

[Goofy + 3]

Had a great day. A while ago I let my wife convince me to run the Richmond 10K as one fo the 10 special things we're doing for our 10th anniversary (see the theme?). Well today was the day and we ran the whole thing side-by-side. 6.2 miles in great weather through what has to be one of the most gorgeous cities in the country. If any of you guys in the mid-atlantic are in to running, you have to get in on this next year. Running World and USA Today have called this one of the top ten races in the country and now I know why. Never done one of these before but I loved it and will probably do it again next year. The fact that half of the 40,000 runners seemed to be decked out in VCU black and gold made it that much cooler.

Great day turned sour when I found out that my arch nemesis (actually a good friend) beat my time by 28 seconds. My awesome husband of the year move of running with my wife was supplanted by the idiot husband move of the year by blaming my wife for slowing me down. Then, the amazing run of VCU gets ended by Butler. So the day started off good but just didn't end the way we hoped.

But congratulations to the Butler fans out there. You guys were the better team tonight (grumble, grumble).

 

[theduck619]

Had a great day. A while ago I let my wife convince me to run the Richmond 10K as one fo the 10 special things we're doing for our 10th anniversary (see the theme?). Well today was the day and we ran the whole thing side-by-side. 6.2 miles in great weather through what has to be one of the most gorgeous cities in the country. If any of you guys in the mid-atlantic are in to running, you have to get in on this next year. Running World and USA Today have called this one of the top ten races in the country and now I know why. Never done one of these before but I loved it and will probably do it again next year. The fact that half of the 40,000 runners seemed to be decked out in VCU black and gold made it that much cooler.

Great day turned sour when I found out that my arch nemesis (actually a good friend) beat my time by 28 seconds. My awesome husband of the year move of running with my wife was supplanted by the idiot husband move of the year by blaming my wife for slowing me down. Then, the amazing run of VCU gets ended by Butler. So the day started off good but just didn't end the way we hoped.

But congratulations to the Butler fans out there. You guys were the better team tonight (grumble, grumble).

It was a great game

 

[IamTrike]

Had a great day. A while ago I let my wife convince me to run the Richmond 10K as one fo the 10 special things we're doing for our 10th anniversary (see the theme?). Well today was the day and we ran the whole thing side-by-side. 6.2 miles in great weather through what has to be one of the most gorgeous cities in the country. If any of you guys in the mid-atlantic are in to running, you have to get in on this next year. Running World and USA Today have called this one of the top ten races in the country and now I know why. Never done one of these before but I loved it and will probably do it again next year. The fact that half of the 40,000 runners seemed to be decked out in VCU black and gold made it that much cooler.

Great day turned sour when I found out that my arch nemesis (actually a good friend) beat my time by 28 seconds. My awesome husband of the year move of running with my wife was supplanted by the idiot husband move of the year by blaming my wife for slowing me down. Then, the amazing run of VCU gets ended by Butler. So the day started off good but just didn't end the way we hoped.

But congratulations to the Butler fans out there. You guys were the better team tonight (grumble, grumble).

Isn't the general rule. "Never, Ever, EVER, blame your wife for slowing you down unless you want to run by yourself form that point on."

In 3 years you can run a Disney half to celebrate 13 years of marriage. Congrats on the race. I'd volunteer to run it with you next year, but I'm afraid of slowing you down.

Any chance you'd be up for running this?
Muddy_buddy

 

[Goofy + 3]

Isn't the general rule. "Never, Ever, EVER, blame your wife for slowing you down unless you want to run by yourself form that point on."

In 3 years you can run a Disney half to celebrate 13 years of marriage. Congrats on the race. I'd volunteer to run it with you next year, but I'm afraid of slowing you down.

Any chance you'd be up for running this?
Muddy_buddy

I'm sure you wouldn't slow me down. Based on my training runs, I probably would have finished in a little better than an hour. From what I understand, that's decent but far from elite.

As for the muddy buddy run, I have no experience in mountain biking. After getting interested in running, I think my body would go in to full-on revolt if I took up biking as well. There are a couple other runs around richmond I'm going to look in to. If I found another 10K within a reasonable drive, I might consider it if it wasn't in the middle of the summer heat.

 

[afwdwfan]

I would love to see my Rangers face Cliff Lee in the World Series to see that drama play out.

As a Reds fan, I really can't say that I agree.

By the way, I'm going to be in your neck of the woods next weekend. Flying in around 1 pm on Sat, flying out around 1pm on Sun. Meeting a friend who is temporarily in Dallas for work and we're going to the Sprint Cup race Saturday night.

Congrats to the Butler Bulldogs

Just enjoying a nice evening with DW. DD is spending the night with friends. So... DW asks what movie we want to see... she wants a comedy... going through the list of movies, we land on... SPACEBALLS! Opened a nice bottle of an adult beverage and are now enjoying quoting the scenes. "Preparing to fast forward!"... haha! Classic.

Excellent choice!!! Although I've been burning up my remote going back and forth between the Final Four and the Reds game... no need for movies here!

 

[AJRitz]

Dis Dads Podcast Episode 3 is in the process of uploading to our server. Once it's there, I need to plug in a release post with show notes on the Disdads.com site, and tell iTunes we have a new ep ready, but it should be downloadable on iTunes by tomorrow night, at the latest.

 

[IamTrike]

I'm sure you wouldn't slow me down. Based on my training runs, I probably would have finished in a little better than an hour. From what I understand, that's decent but far from elite.

As for the muddy buddy run, I have no experience in mountain biking. After getting interested in running, I think my body would go in to full-on revolt if I took up biking as well. There are a couple other runs around richmond I'm going to look in to. If I found another 10K within a reasonable drive, I might consider it if it wasn't in the middle of the summer heat.

I had only been looking at the Mud Buddy, Mud Run. I must have sent a link to the wrong page of that event. I enjoy mountain biking, but I'm not very good so there is a pretty good chance I'd seriously injure myself racing. I'm always up for running, if you find something fun.

Dis Dads Podcast Episode 3 is in the process of uploading to our server. Once it's there, I need to plug in a release post with show notes on the Disdads.com site, and tell iTunes we have a new ep ready, but it should be downloadable on iTunes by tomorrow night, at the latest.

Sweet! I can't wait to hear it.


Arrgggh! Booted up the antique computer in our bonus room to do taxes, and I've spent the last hour or so updating and patching it. This thing runs so slow, I'm surprised I didn't have to try and find Turbo Tax on 3x5 floppy.

 

[AJRitz]

And . . . Episode 3 is now live at disdads.com

We'll see how long it take to show up on iTunes.

 

[middlepat]

And . . . Episode 3 is now live at disdads.com

We'll see how long it take to show up on iTunes.

AJRitz (and team) thanks again for this. I look forward to listening on the flight Tuesday morning.