StanleyandGus

19 minutes ago, dani negreanu said:

I'm the "unrest" -- my family, my friends, my neighbors -- we're all in the streets to keep our only country from becoming a dictatorship

I wish I could like this 100 times. 

28 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Good evening.

We had lunch in our local garden centre before buying some plants for our back garden.

This is my garden today- gardening is going to have to wait for a bit!
 

10 minutes ago, Ozark_Kid said:

The kids this week asked if they could go together for my birthday present and put a drip Irrigation system in my garden! I said YES.

What a lovely gift! You must be an incredible Dad and Grandpa to be so loved.

2 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

May I suggest also Ellis Peters's "Brother Cadfael" series 😊

I’ve read them! There is a TV series based on the books, with Derek Jacobi (one of my favourite actors).

I’m now an addict of the Donna Leon books. My library has been very good about getting them- I think I am up to the sixth one.

This thread is excellent for reading tips!
 

Oh, and Wordle. Thanks Lenny!

I was on this cruise. Our promenade view room was clean, breakfast in the Windjammer was perfectly fine (admittedly, I mostly had porridge and fruit, but my husband didn’t).

The ice show was good- there were a few falls, but you kind of expect that. It was high energy and fun. 

Grease was good- I don’t love the moral, but the music was a blast.

We got the Ultimate Dining package, so I can’t comment on the Main Dining room. I’m sorry it was awful. We ate extremely well.

There were definitely live bands.

We had a great time, so no, I don’t feel this way.

I give 10’s and deal with any problems at the time of service. Honestly, there aren’t many. 

I noticed this thread on the second page. 
 

I’m putting it back where it belongs! 😎

Inquiring minds want to know- will there be a Bella Cruise Part 2?

49 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Good evening.

We went out tonight for Pauline's birthday dinner.

A very happy birthday to Pauline!

I’ve been skimming the posts for the last 2 weeks.

We were at Disney World and then a 4 day cruise on Independence of the Seas, because we were in Florida anyhow…😁

We are not going to sell the Disney Vacation Club (we own at the Boardwalk) , although we were thinking of it. We had a great time, even though my knees are being a problem. I think I have pulled ligaments on the inside of both knees. I will wait to see if it gets better on it own. I am indignant. I walk; this shouldn’t be a problem. Although it is.
 

The cruise was very relaxing, despite a couple of hundred college kids being on it I kind of forgot about March Reading Week. When I was in university, we actually studied and wrote papers during that week! 
 

Once a day housekeeping is not ideal, but we’re not messy. We had a promenade view cabin- I like the 2 couches, but I am not really a fan. However, the cruise wasn’t why we went down to Florida. We only saw person who really should have drawn the curtains, although one tries to look down rather than across so as not to be a creep!

I didn’t take a picture, but there’s fish and chips, shrimp and chips, chicken fingers and chips, and I believe a chicken or fish sandwich. 

We’re on a ship now. We used Cortrans to get to Port Canaveral, and the service was excellent. The driver, Stephanie, was slightly early at our Disney hotel, and drove very well.

Based on my single experience, I would recommend them.

@dani negreanuYour husband is a very good photographer!  He seems to know what angles lead to great pictures.

Hello from chilly Regina- it’s -31 C (-25 F). Soon we will be in Disney and then a 4 day cruise!
 

Stanley and Gus have decided to cuddle together!
 

We have Cortrans booked. They have a good reputation, but we haven’t used yet.

If no one else answers, I will let you know how it was. We are staying at Disney World beforehand, so no recommendations on hotels.

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

Honestly Dani, I don't know how you do it. I realize that is home for you. However, I would grab that bag with IDs, passports, money, and jewelry and move. We may have our issue as a country but I think I speak for everyone when I say we would welcome you to the U.S.  Just say'n. 

Or Canada.

33 minutes ago, aussielozzie18 said:

Good morning.  Views from our current holiday rental.  The house is lovely - but it’s the deck that is the biggest asset for me:

 

 

 

 

That’s gorgeous! I think I could spend all day on that deck just looking over the water!

1 hour ago, h20skibum said:

So this happened in Pennsylvania this morning

 

 

 

 

All I can say is NOOOOOOO!

 

Phil says six more weeks of winter.

Wiarton Willie disagrees, not that I believe him.

We pretty much always have 6 more weeks of winter. Spring is coming eventually!

@dani negreanuYour grandsons have the most beautiful eyes! Very handsome children.

Thanks for everyone’s input- if we ever do this, we will fly if it’s a winter trip. 

7 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

Anyone know if we can park our car over at Boardwalk and walk in to Epcot from there. We aren't staying on  property?

Probably not, unless you have a dining reservation, such as the Flying Fish. 
Even then, they might not let you stay all day. 
 

That’s our DVC property, and parking is often pretty tight.

7 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

We paid about $1500 but we had $1300 worth of Disney Credit to use.so tickets cost us $200 out of pocket.....

Because of prices sad to say this will be our last time at Disney.

We’re going to Disney next month (and then a 4 day cruise, because we are going to be in Florida already … that was a mission creep moment…) We are doing much the same thing. The passes were bought years ago, and we’re staying in the DVC Boardwalk Villas, with a view to selling it.
 

We sort of feel that the changes might be too much, although we’re trying to have open minds. 

Unfortunately, our daughter now has a one year old, and Disney is starting to look appealing to her! 

2 hours ago, Winnigirl said:

Yes, they still do them.  I had one done for our trip in August.

Excellent! I love those TripTicks!

1 hour ago, brillohead said:

I think theaters need to do some creative thinking here. I stopped going to the movies years ago when I thought their prices were outrageous.  With so many affordable streaming options and premium cable networks, they need to be COMPETITIVE, and fifty bucks or more for a simple movie/popcorn/drinks date isn't the way to go (especially since we all know that popcorn and fountain soda are dang near free, even with today's food prices). IMO, they need to lower the profit margin, but increase the quantity, plus improve the customer's perception of the experience. 

 

Some places went the "fancy" route, adding alcohol and full dinners with waiters, comfortable recliners, etc. People don't mind paying more because they're getting a more deluxe experience. 

Places that want to stay "basic" need to lower their prices and increase their customer base.  A family of four paying $100+ to go see a kiddie movie is insane -- something that they might do once a year as a treat because it's seen as a "high cost" or "deluxe" activity simply because of the price-point.  But if it was only $50 for the whole family to go see the movie, they might do it once a month, because it is perceived to be an affordable family fun activity.  Which would bring in more profit -- $100 once a year, or $50 twelve times a year? 

 

Especially with the current inflation rates and high food costs, why should people pay big bucks to see a movie at a theater when they can see it "for free" at home on their big screen tv with the sound bar and "free" snacks and clean bathrooms in a couple months?  (quote marks used for "free" because the perception of paying for Netflix or HBO or whatever, and the snacks in the pantry isn't really associated with the movie-watching event -- you didn't have to open your wallet right then and there to pay for the movie or the food)

 

When we were military, the Base theatres had really cheap movies, especially for kids’ matinees. It was $5 Cdn for me and 3 kids. Popcorn was cheap too. It was something to do while my husband worked on his Master’s degree.

Ok, that was 20 years ago, but it was still cheap.