Anyone interested?
I’ve never done one, so if someone with more expertise wants to organize it, feel free.
Since we’re coming up on the holidays, would January be better? Remember, it’s Florida, so I doubt you’d have to pack sweaters.
If anyone with Dopefest Organization Experience wants to give me pointers, I’d appreciate them.
Right now, I’m thinking of a get together dinner at a local restaurant.
Let me know. I’m not sure how to do this, so let me know if this is better organized off-line.
I’ll go. I’m in South Florida (Davie - 1/2 way between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami) and Orlando is just a few hours drive.
JAJAJAJA!!! I live two hours north of Orlando, and it is too cold for me (yea, I am from the real tropics). 
Depends on the date, and availability of transportation and money, I might be able to go.
If you have it between Dec 22nd and January 4th I’m in. Besides Ivylad owes me a beer.
Well, Shibb, even if there’s no fest between those dates, I’ll meet you for dinner!!!
And depending upon the date,** ivylass**, I’d be interested.
I should note that I’ll mainly be in the Tampa Bay area, but would likely be in Orlando for some amount of time or could get there with fairly short notice. Jacksonville is a bit more of a stretch. But if you’re willing to split the distance a bit then I’d love to meet you for dinner, FCM.
Shibb, for you I’ll gladly split the difference! We need to take this little love-fest to e-mail, eh? 
I’ll be in beautiful Plant City (anyone want a strawberry?) from Dec. 20th to the 27th, although how much genuine free time I’ll have is iffy, since I’ll be on the in-laws’ turf.
Lemme know when. Holiday time is rough (working at the theme parks and all), but I might be able to request a day off.
I know, we’re busy with the holidays, too. Jan 4 is a Saturday. There’s a restaurant called Tu Tu Tangos on International Drive. It’s a lot of fun. All they serve is appetizers, so you order a couple and someone else orders a couple and then everyone shares. The restaurant theme is a Spanish artist’s loft, so there’s a lot of arts and crafts for sale, and at night they have belly dancers, flamenco dancers, and fortune tellers.
You remembered, Shib! Anyway you can stick around an extra week, RTF?
Keep me posted; Marcie and I will attend if possible.
That, my dear, is an such an understatement. This is my favorite restaurant. I am so there.
Grinchmas and the Macy’s Holiday Parade end Jan. 5. I migt be able to swing that day off.
Here’s a link to the restaurant.
So, we’re thinking Jan 4 or 5?
Jan 4 works for me. But not the 5th - I’ll be picking up my kid from the airport that day. And since it’s all about me, I think that settles the date!
Anyway, that’s my vote.
Jan. 4…well, I arrive from the airport at around noon. I still have to figure out transportation from the airport to Gainesville. I may be able to do it…or not.
That would [o]so* work for me.
Two weeks at the in-laws’ would drive both my and my wonderful wife up the wall.
Besides, the first weekend in January is the NYC Mega-Dopefest. Miss that? Norfolk n’ way!
Which airport are you flying into? I may be able to help you out…
MCO, of course… right now I only got the airfare, I’m still coordinating transportation to the airport.
MCO = Orlando International Airport, right? Be careful, since the smaller airport about an hour north of Orlando bills itself as either Sanford-Orlando International Airport or Orlando-Sanford International Airport, depending on which literature you read.
Just so you don’t go looking for your rental car, and find out it’s near Rte. 528/the Beeline, and you are about an hour away.
MCO is Orlando. It might be cheaper to fly into Sanford, though, I don’t know. Sanford’s not that far from Orlando.
Okay, I have a tentative Jan 4 at Tu Tu Tango’s. Can I bring Ivylad, or is this strictly Dopers only?
We’ll miss you, RTF. Tell everyone I said hi.