Taking the kids to DisneyWorld...Leave on Sunday

[BrewMeister Jeff]

They still don't know. We leave Sunday and I cannot wait. I'll be unplugged from work shit for 9 fucking days. My vacation starts tomorrow at the end of the day. The girls have been wanting to go for awhile. I told them they had to save their pennies and my oldest asked last week if they had enough to go. We brought their piggy banks into the kitchen, counted the money and CRUSHED their dreams by telling them they didn't have enough money.

Bags are packed and everything is set.

[PseudoChef]

I'm working on this as well. I always felt super spoiled as a kid seeing Make-A-Wish stories and stuff about going to DisneyWorld. I've probably been no less than 8 times - half of those for free with school organizations. Enjoy it! (I'm pretty sure there's beer in Epcot)


OOpOhlGiRTM

[christo]

We go once a year with the kids. My wife is a Zumba instructor so we go down for her convention (6,000 Latin Zumba instructors ain't all that bad to be around). The kids, at 10 and 14, are past getting totally excited but they still do enjoy it. We've done Disney, Universal, Sea World, all the water parks . . . . Next year I'm switching it up and we're going snorkeling in some nearby springs.

You will need a night off, so beer is important. I've actually found BJ's to be quite decent for a nice dinner and pretty darn good beer - it's about 5 miles north of Disney near the north Universal exit (there's a mall there). I believe there is still a "brew pub" along the Boardwalk just outside Epcot - over by the Dolphin and Swan hotels, though have not been there in about 5 years. Orlando Brewing Co. has a tour with samples. But best is that you are only a little over an hour from Tampa and Cigar City Brewing!

[Ó Flannagáin]

I live an hour and a half and haven't been since I moved here over two years ago. Keep wanting to make the drive up, but never do. Soon!!

Shit, if you want to hit Cigar City while down, my wife is out of town so I could spontaneously drive up for a pint.

[-Dan-]

Very nice! You're gonna play in my back yard :) Christo is right - BJs is right up the road off of I-4 at Mall of Millenia. Orlando Brewing is bit further closer to downtown. The brew pub on Boardwalk in improving actually. While still a tourist trap, they brewmaster actually won a few medals at the GABF this year for his brews. In case you make it over to the East Coast and visit NASA, you can head a few miles down on A1A and visit Cocoa Beach Brewing. Neat little place. Let me know if you need anything else.

[ohiobrewtus]

Awesome. We did the same thing to my youngest (4) when we were there a couple of weeks ago. She was so excited she almost wet herself.

PC is right about Epcot. There's beer everywhere this month. Go to Germany and try the Indra (Hefe/IPA combo) - it's fantastic. Of course it's expensive as hell - A 22 oz. is $11.25, 12 oz is like $6.50 and a 4 oz sample is $2.75.

Coming from WI, I'm guessing that you guys are doing the same thing that we do and staying at one of the Disney resorts with no car. If so, your best bet for beer is going to be $15/sixer for Bud at the store in your resort.

I enjoy going down there but next time I want to rent a car. Getting on and off of those damn buses is enough to drive a man insane. Our last day there it took us 40 fucking minutes to get from Downtown Disney to our hotel (All Star Movies) and, of course, the bus is packed so I'm standing the whole trip, attempting to prevent our stroller from maiming anyone. I almost lost my damn mind.

[PseudoChef]

I enjoy going down there but next time I want to rent a car. Getting on and off of those damn buses is enough to drive a man insane. Our last day there it took us 40 fucking minutes to get from Downtown Disney to our hotel (All Star Movies) and, of course, the bus is packed so I'm standing the whole trip, attempting to prevent our stroller from maiming anyone. I almost lost my damn mind.

I remember being there in the spring one time - and one of Florida's patented unannounced showers came through. So not only is everyone on those buses wet, but they're also packed over capacity because everyone left the park at the same damn time. So you were either waiting in the rain for the next bus, or you're on the bus crammed next to dripping Fatso McGee with their whining crotchfruit.

[PseudoChef]

Leaving on Sunday here now. She still doesn't know. Today is the last day of school, tomorrow is just awards in the morning. I tried to similarly crush her dreams by telling her that I couldn't take the days off this week that I had planned, but I might get some days off next week. She didn't seem to care that much, ha. I plan on recording her reaction for the grandparents, so might post it here if it comes out ok. I feel stupid for being almost 30 and so excited, but damn, I need a vacation, too!

Since y'all with kids have been recently, any other park tips on what to really need to do? She's at that intermediate age (7) where I have no idea what type of rides she's going to want to get on. We have park hoppers, so most anything is a go. Also have one day at a water park - from what I've read, it seems Typhoon Lagoon is the better option with her? Lots of time in Magic Kingdom for the princess stuff, I'm pretty sure. Breakfast (goddamn, that's expensive!) with the princesses is already reserved.

We're at the Caribbean, so no car either. Going to be doing dinner at the parks (a couple stops at Epcot, since it's right next door) every night, I think. $15 for a 6er of Bud sounds shitty - might just have to pack a bottle of the hard stuff in my suitcase for the room.

[ohiobrewtus]

Leaving on Sunday here now. She still doesn't know. Today is the last day of school, tomorrow is just awards in the morning. I tried to similarly crush her dreams by telling her that I couldn't take the days off this week that I had planned, but I might get some days off next week. She didn't seem to care that much, ha. I plan on recording her reaction for the grandparents, so might post it here if it comes out ok. I feel stupid for being almost 30 and so excited, but damn, I need a vacation, too!

Since y'all with kids have been recently, any other park tips on what to really need to do? She's at that intermediate age (7) where I have no idea what type of rides she's going to want to get on. We have park hoppers, so most anything is a go. Also have one day at a water park - from what I've read, it seems Typhoon Lagoon is the better option with her? Lots of time in Magic Kingdom for the princess stuff, I'm pretty sure. Breakfast (goddamn, that's expensive!) with the princesses is already reserved.

We're at the Caribbean, so no car either. Going to be doing dinner at the parks (a couple stops at Epcot, since it's right next door) every night, I think. $15 for a 6er of Bud sounds shitty - might just have to pack a bottle of the hard stuff in my suitcase for the room.

NICE! Enjoy the trip.

[Pony Express]

take a wheel barrow full of cash!

[zoebisch01]

Cool. Oftentimes we surprise the kids because, well when things don't go according to plan there's nothing worse than a kid bummed on lost expectations. Have a great trip man!

[zoebisch01]

My wife has fond memories of going on the "timeshare tours" for tix. Fuck that. Did that once and it was no way in H-E-double hockey sticks it was worth it...

[PseudoChef]

take a wheel barrow full of cash!

I have dead relatives to thank for this. And then any extra is just of the "once you pay this much, what's another couple hundred dollars?" mentality.

[PseudoChef]

Running as much as I do still didn't prepare me for how much pain my feet are in right now.

[Ó Flannagáin]

Are you running in the florida heat I've had to cut down to 2 to 2 and a half miles instead of 3 because it's getting so hot and humid now

[PseudoChef]

Did 4 on Tuesday. Haven't had time for anything else. Humidity is definitely something else down here.

[PseudoChef]

What a whirlwind week (still with Father's Day to come tomorrow). Also: United still sucks balls.