The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[Cesar R M]

NAP TIMEEEE!

 

[StarWarsGirl]

That was not the case for my Dad. My dad went to Disneyland back when he 11 years old at a time that WDW didn't exist, but he didn't go to WDW before my mom won a Mother's Day drawing on a local radio station that was a free trip to WDW for 5 days and 4 nights. My dad know some of the MK attractions since they were at Disneyland first such as Jungle Cruise and Enchanted Tiki Room.

My dad was in his 30's at the time for his first WDW trip and he was in mid 20's when I was born.

My Mom on the other hand went to WDW once before I was born with her being 21 at the time with MK being the only theme park WDW had at the time. I don't think Disney started construction on Epcot yet at the first time she went to WDW.

My dad went twice as a kid, in 1972 and 1976, when he was 12 & 16. Then he started going again in college. So I guess he's been going for more like 46 years.

My mom went once as a kid. Then she and my dad got married and started going once a year in 1986. Then in 1997, we started going twice a year, with a couple of years throwing in a third trip. You can get a rough estimate as to how many times I've been.

 

[Songbird76]

By the way, I accepted the job offer today. I have to put in my notice at work tomorrow. Thought about calling my boss today, (side note- he just arrived back from Disney World yesterday)..I decided that I should tell him face to face tomorrow.

Congratulations!! We to go being brave and taking that step. I know it's scary, but sometimes you have to make that leap of faith. Hopefully it will pay off and be everything you are hoping for! I remember you were concerned about vacation days...how many days do you get at the new job and how long does it take to build up more? Have you told T?

 

[Songbird76]

Speaking of which, anyone got any contact in (or near )Vancouver? family, etc..? who rents apartments, houses or similar?

I have a friend in Vancouver and she was looking at buying a rental property like 15 years ago, but I don't think she ever did. She might know someone who has though. What do you need?

 

[Figgy1]

Sounds great...but how do we get back to the airport to fly out? I think the shuttle was like $18 per person. It all just seems so ridiculous to me. The amount of time it wastes to go back and forth when we are already at Disney...why go all the way to the airport to rent a car? Am I crazy? It doesn't make sense to me!! I don't understand his "logic". We'll have a great trip regardless, I know that...I just wish he would also trust MY judgment. He gets upset when I ask his opinion on everything and tells me "Just make a decision!" but then when I make a decision, he questions everything and makes me change it. Mixed messages!!

If you end at UNI a taxi will be cheaper than the shuttle for 4. It's not far at all to the airport from there. Either way you'll have to get the car around and don't forget most places charge per night for a car in Orlando. I was thinking because he's a PITA he could do all the leg work and save you car rental and per night when you're not using it.

 

[MinnieM123]

I've been learning this as I've been forced to have alone time now. Since she was born, it was basically just A and me 24/7 so I didn't take any time for me at all. Every day was spent creating and doing activities with A and trying to enrich our relationship and her childhood. Now that she has some nights with her dad, I have huge blocks of time where it's just me. So I go running and go to the gym and it's been really sad to not have her but kinda great to rediscover the things I used to do that made me feel strong and healthy.

You go girl!!! And I'll bet just getting out and doing a few things for yourself will make you feel refreshed, and even happier then to devote the rest of your (available) time to A!

 

[MinnieM123]

When I was driving to the airport last week at 7 am and there was no traffic, I was kind of thinking, "Hmmm, I can see why Figgy enjoys this...I'd rather sleep."

No traffic at 7 AM? Good grief, our roads start backing up before 5 AM, on workdays!!

 

[MinnieM123]

We have ended up using Uber and Lyft a lot on our last couple trips. It isn't very expensive and sometimes it is just easier, especially when going from resort to resort. I can imagine it would be more convenient for water parks too. We used the Minnie van service 2 times on this last trip and my husband really liked them, I thought they were fine but I had a hard time paying $25 for a ride when a regular Uber/Lyft was half that cost.

My husband was very leery of using Uber and Lyft, he had concerns about safety. But I used Uber for my solo trip in California and since I used it unharmed I guess he decided it was safe.

I side a bit with Brad on this; but with two passengers riding together, I might not be as concerned. However, in my state, there have been a number of crimes (that lead to convictions) involving some of those ride share company drivers. Any crimes were one on one, not one on two (hence, that's why I think you and Brad were fine in your situation). They've also had plenty of safe rides without incident as well, but I stay away from them--my decision.

Last year, I had to attend an late evening dinner meeting with people from work, and my boss offered to pay for a ride share service to take me home, and I turned down the offer. Said I felt safer walking to the bus stop in the dark city streets, to get the final bus of the evening, than riding solo in a closed vehicle.

 

[MinnieM123]

Confirming, sigh.. my mother used the same password in her online account AND her CC. so no wonder they changed the limits..
I'm still trying to figure out how they guessed her username.

Oh dear. Sympathy like.

 

[MinnieM123]

I was a bit worried about safety myself, but I figure if my worry wort of a father thinks it's fine, it's probably fine. I figure most of these drivers are just trying to make a living. I just take precautions, like not riding up front and keeping my phone out during the ride.

Don't hesitate to text the license plate number to either your dad or mom -- just in that one in a million case, that you don't arrive at your destination in a timely manner.

 

[MinnieM123]

By the way, I accepted the job offer today. I have to put in my notice at work tomorrow. Thought about calling my boss today, (side note- he just arrived back from Disney World yesterday)..I decided that I should tell him face to face tomorrow.

Congratulations! And yes, glad to hear that you'll tell him in person. It's the respectful thing to do, and also promotes goodwill between the both of you, upon your departure day.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

I definitely never saw that.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

@Wrangler-Rick for the win!

Steve, fyi, I never heard nor saw that commercial before. What struck me about it was that it was some sort of religion commercial, and that's somewhat unique. Don't think I've ever seen any religion commercial before. Perhaps there was a large group in a particular area, that belonged to that particular faith, and maybe the commercial was targeted to a very specific (niche, so to speak) market.

There were a lot of Latter Day Saint commercials when I was growing up. You must have seen those. I think they were national. Here is one and I actually was friends with the little boy in the commercial. Funny thing about it is he was orthodox Jewish.

 

[MinnieM123]

There were a lot of Latter Day Saint commercials when I was growing up. You must have seen those. I think they were national. Here is one and I actually was friends with the little boy in the commercial. Funny thing about it is he was orthodox Jewish.

Hmm... never seen that one before either.

 

[donaldtoo]

Finishing up last nights Cozumel day with a few shots of the 80’s music show that night...!

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Dinner that night...!!!!!

Braised rabbit puff pastry app, and spring roll app...!!!!!

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My partially-eaten-pasta chicken parm main, and my mostly eaten beef taco main, with 3 bites of chicken parm DWifey couldn’t finish...!!!!!

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Dessert...!!!!!

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A few shots from the comedy club that night at the family show! This guy was from Texas and damn funny...!!!

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And our and the girls, respectively, towel animals that night...!!!

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You sure won’t starve on that cruise. Those are some really fun towel animals.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Geometry...what a concept...

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Ha ha!! Will I be showing my nerdiness by saying that is a 3,4,5 triangle?

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

I side a bit with Brad on this; but with two passengers riding together, I might not be as concerned. However, in my state, there have been a number of crimes (that lead to convictions) involving some of those ride share company drivers. Any crimes were one on one, not one on two (hence, that's why I think you and Brad were fine in your situation). They've also had plenty of safe rides without incident as well, but I stay away from them--my decision.

Last year, I had to attend an late evening dinner meeting with people from work, and my boss offered to pay for a ride share service to take me home, and I turned down the offer. Said I felt safer walking to the bus stop in the dark city streets, to get the final bus of the evening, than riding solo in a closed vehicle.

Since the first time I used Uber on my solo trip I haven't ridden alone. But the few times I have I sent Brad a text with the driver's information (which includes license plate, make and color of car, and driver name) and texted him the moment I got safely to my destination including a code word. I have done this when I have ridden alone in a taxi as well. So if he didn't get a text from me saying I arrived with the code word then he knew something was wrong. Trying to stay as safe as I can, but I understand what you are saying too.

 

[MinnieM123]

Since the first time I used Uber on my solo trip I haven't ridden alone. But the few times I have I sent Brad a text with the driver's information (which includes license plate, make and color of car, and driver name) and texted him the moment I got safely to my destination including a code word. I have done this when I have ridden alone in a taxi as well. So if he didn't get a text from me saying I arrived with the code word then he knew something was wrong. Trying to stay as safe as I can, but I understand what you are saying too.

That's a good system.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

In other news..

Cant believe how full of crooks banks are in my country.

Mom got victim of a fraud, where a young kid trained in "fast hands" took her card and replaced it with another, then went to an expending spree of 2,000 USD worth of stuff AND a Mac computer.

We called first the bank, and told us that we had to make an official report to apply the card shield who supposedly has a stupidly low 500 USD protection and refused to protect the rest. Despite the card being reported as robbed in a mere pair of hours after it was taken.
Then they gave us a list of things "to do" to be able to get that "protection" (which is not instant and requires making the police report..etc..etc..)

Since my mom as bronchitis, I had to do everything myself and go to the bank for her. They were VERY UNHELPFUL.

My mom then decided to do her best effort and called the government line of credit card protections. and turns out that making the report to the bank with their instructions actually prevents the investigation office of the government (which handles the consumer protection of banks, credit cards, etcs..) leaving you at the whim of the Bank and "their investigation" (aka dirty instructions so you only get the crappy 500 USD protection and not the full protection they were supposed to give, which is 100% protection on the next 48 hours as per federal rules).
These instructions were on purpose so the victim actually loses the money and the bank gets away with no paying anything they should.

These things are even more sketchy since my mom's debit card supposedly had a maximum buy and retire per day limit of 350 USD, yet the thiefs removed and buy more than 2,000 USD in Mexican Pesos!.
Second, my mom's card is supposed to send SMS and calls for anything "suspicious". They DIDN'T send anything at all.
So either the thief was extremely well trained to fool protections, or he had help from bank operatives (which happens).

Worst of all, this happened in another state.. which means my mom has to travel (look how stupidly dumb the laws are..) to make the report IN PERSON.. and hope for the best.

Oh that is just so terrible. Sorry that you and your mom have to deal with this.