# The Happiest Place On Earth Is Gonna Get A Little Happier. Dammit! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 15, 2001, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470 "2001-10-15T10:13:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470/1 "2001-10-15T10:13:35Z")
Big doin’s (that is the plural of _doin’_, not the possessive) for Clan DeDay. A full-blown Sib Vacation. Not a vacation _from_ siblings, a vacation _with_ siblings. Me and mine are jetting down to sunny Florida to bask, nay wallow, in the revelry that is Walt Disney World. In a mere two anna half weeks (two and 4/7 weeks from… now!) we whisk ourselves away to our fun-in-the-sun destination. Woo hoo for me! “Yeah, well, have fun and all,” you say. “Thank you so much,” I reply. “You are too kind.” “But why would I care?” you ask. “You don’t really have to care. I’m just letting you know. _thinksnow, this is why I won’t be making your event of shin-diggery. And I’ll miss a Monday post. And I wanted to tell you all in time so you could rearrange your busy schedules and join me. Be a honorary DeDay! Or, if you want, I’ll just send_ you a post card.” So that’s what’s sitting on my horizon. (I used to drive a Plymouth Horizon. I found kitty-cat footy-prints all over the hood on cool mornings. So I know what was sitting on my Horizon.) Now you know. -Rue. \*[sub]Offer limited to the first, oh, say, half a dozen askees. As long as the card can get to you with a regular stamp. I ain’t springing for no special airmail post card stamp. I’m yer pal, but I ain’t made of money.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470/2 "2001-10-15T10:20:51Z")
Woohoo! We’ll try to keep the weather nice for y’all. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470/3 "2001-10-15T10:49:34Z")
_Disney World_?!? That is soooo overdone, soooo pedestrian, sooooo way-too-ordinary-to-be-deserving-of- **Rue** … Especially when it’s in the _very same state_ as Jacksonville. And only in Jacksonville can you see, er, um, well, there’s the Jacksonville Zoo and the Jacksonville Landing and Jacksonville Beach, and, well, **Me**!! Dang, **Rue** , you’ll be close enough to taste, in a figurative manner of course, and there ain’t no way I can figuratively taste you since your visit overlaps my hubby’s 45th b-day, and I hate MouseLand with a white hot passionate hate unmatched by… uh, never mind. If you can persuade your sibs that you need a side trip, or if _you_ can slip away for a side trip, I can make it worth your while. No, not like _that_!! I mean you could meet **Me**!! And that’s something few Dopers can claim. And if you do, I’ll be your friend - for real - not like this fakey-friendship thing I do here on the boards… 😃 Have a great time, and don’t try to pet the short scaly kitties - they’re gators and they bite. ---
**Author:** ![Soda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@Soda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soda)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470/4 "2001-10-15T11:00:09Z")
I want a postcard. Of course, I live in Sweden, and you’re not made of money, so I guess I can kiss that card goodbye. ::sigh:: ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470/5 "2001-10-15T11:03:55Z")
No no no!!! You don’t wanna go to (ick) Jacksonville. 1. The whole freakin’ county IS the city of Jacksonville. 2. They abbreviate it JAX (that sounds so weird). 3. There are more reasons but I can’t think of them right now. (On the plus side, they do have **FCM** ). And there is more to Orlando than Disney! You can go canoeing on the Wekiva, we have a symphony, a ballet company and TWO opera companies, as well as four colleges (okay, one is in Seminole county, but close enough) with some great theatre, lots of local theatre companies, a whole lot of museums and I know there is an art festival coming up soon (Mt. Dora? Winter Park? Orlando?) - I can’t keep up with them. Besides, I have a lot of friends who have been laid off from the parks because of the downturn. You’d be doing me and my friends a favor, since they get hired back as the attendence increases (and they’d be happy to have their jobs back). So there, FCM - pbbbbtttthhhh! ---
**Author:** ![Soda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@Soda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soda)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470/6 "2001-10-15T11:06:05Z")
I want a postcard. Of course, I live in Sweden, and you’re not made of money, so I guess I can kiss that card goodbye. ::sigh:: ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470/7 "2001-10-15T11:15:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by screech-owl \* > \*\*On the plus side, they do have **FCM** ). > \*\* No, actually, they don’t. I live in Orange Park which is in Clay County which is just south of Jax, west of the St. Johns River. And Clay County can boast of having Green Cove Springs (actually, the spring is kinda neat - it flows into the town swimming pool, then out to the river) and Middleburg, just a bit south of me, is the home of (brace yourself) **Slim Whitman**!!! **Soda** , since you’re my favorite virtual daughter, and (unlike **Rue** ) I _am_ made of money, if you send me your address, I’ll be thrilled to send you a postcard or two. I’m serious… About the postcard, anyway, not the made of money thing… ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470/8 "2001-10-15T11:43:18Z")
**Soda** , since you’re so distraught at not getting a post card you had to say it twice, would it be OK if I send one (especially for you) to **Snickrs** so she can send it to you? Is this OK with you **Snickers**? You’ll get your own post card of course. Even if you are just my fakey-friend. _sniff_ Happy 45th birthday **FairyChatDadGuy**! **screech** , I can do all that stuff at home. (Except for the bonus Opera Company. Like I ever go to the Opera to start with. But I could, that’s my point.) We are travelling to far and exotic Central Florida for safe, homogenized Corporate Fun. And we like it that way. (Soupo’s coming too. I think his head is about to explode with the anticipation.) Uncle Skippy wants to go to that dinner deal where they joust and stuff. A wad of us might break off and do that. Not me though, I plan to lounge by the pool. Unless something better comes along. So it’s off the the House of the Mouse with me! (With no petting scaley cats, now.) -Rue. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470/9 "2001-10-15T11:55:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rue DeDay \* > **Is this OK with you Snickers? You’ll get your own post card of course. Even if you are just my fakey-friend. _sniff_** Of course it’s OK. Glad to be of assistance. And about that fakey-friend thing - I’m sorry - that was uncalled for. Actually, I’m madly in love with you and I only say that sort of thing to throw everyone else off. Or do I?? What is the truth?? You may never know… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470/10 "2001-10-15T13:25:59Z")
I want a postcard! Can it have Eeyore on it? I like Eeyore. He’s my favorite dysthymic donkey. 😃 You have **got** to go to the dinner-with-jousting thing. I’ve been twice in FL and once in Las Vegas… it’s really cool! Mr. Kitty and I were at Disney in January with BobkittyMom… we stayed at the fabulously tacky All-Star Music Resort. I highly recommend it. Things You Cannot Miss: Tower of Terror The Aerosmith Roller Coaster Lunch at the Crystal Palace (with Eeyore!) The Alien Experience Space Mountain Oooh… I’m so jealous now! 😃 -BK ---
**Author:** ![Soda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@Soda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soda)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470/11 "2001-10-15T14:04:09Z")
Yay! I’m getting a postcard! By proxy! Yay again! My virtual mommy is made of money! [sup][sub]Send me some?[/sub][/sup] Address is on the way, mom. ---
**Author:** ![tramp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tramp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tramp)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470/12 "2001-10-15T14:24:06Z")
I’m an Orlando native… definitely bag the mouse and go to Universal Studios and Universal Studios Islands of Adventure… Its so much cooler and so much more fun. ---
**Author:** ![Soda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@Soda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soda)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470/13 "2001-10-15T14:24:25Z")
_Sorry if this too double posts. I keep timing out_ Yay! I’m getting a postcard! By proxy! Yay again! My virtual mommy is made of money! [sup][sub]Send me some?[/sub][/sup] Address is on the way, mom. ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470/14 "2001-10-15T14:38:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bobkitty \* > **…we stayed at the fabulously tacky All-Star Music Resort. I highly recommend it.** No way! Guess where we’re staying? One Eeyore postcard for **babekitten** … check. One postcard for **Snickers** … check. One postcard for **Soda** and her Wonder Pup… check. (To be bounced through **Snickers**.) **tramp** , this trip has been in the pipe for a year and a half. (We have 9 people going. Have you ever tried to schedule around 9 people?) We are doing the House of the Mouse. No questions. Try not to think less of me. -Rue. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470/15 "2001-10-15T15:15:26Z")
Though I’m sort of with FCM on the hating Disney with a white-hot passion thing, I hope you all have a marvelous time, Rue! Two summers ago, I spent a week with my four siblings and spouses (and their six kids plus my two), my mother, aunt and one cousin, who upped the kid total by two. This was at the beach in South Carolina. That’s 21 people if you’re counting. We love one another dearly. We had a marvelous time. I’m still having flashbacks. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470/16 "2001-10-15T15:36:15Z")
Vacation with sibs? What is this odd practice of which you speak? I couldn’t get my sibs to come to dinner when I moved to within 2.5 hours of them. Not that my sibs are any treat anyway - one sister has a husband who knows it all, the other sister has 2 brats for offspring (including the nephew from hell), my brother just plain drinks too much, and the last sister has issues. Don’t let me get started in sibs-in-law… Nope, vacation is not for family in my book, beyond the three of us who live in the house together. ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470/17 "2001-10-15T15:50:26Z")
My point is that Orlando is more than _Mousus plasticus corporatii_. In case anyone might be interested. (Probably not, but I had to say it, and do a one-upmanship with FCM. 😛 ) Adding my $.02 (since I went to MK & EPCOT yesterday): With the cut backs in personnel, there are some rides also operating on reduced hours - Tiki Birds (the revamped edition) and the Hall of Presidents were opened 10-6 (MK was 10-7 Sun-Fri, til 10 on Sat. New 3 pm parade at MK - missed it. New/revamped Tapestry of Dreams parade at EPCOT (twice nightly), plus some walk-around artsy performances (guys on stilts near the fountains. Le Cellier restaurant in Canada is wonderful (expensive, but wunnful - we had dinner there last night with friends - (former)Roommate ordered the maple-glazed salmon - it was about the size of the entire plate) - then again, most of the dinner prices are on the high side at any of the parks. EPCOT Food & Wine Festival runs from Oct 20 to mid-November. Lots of extra countries to sample fodd & wine from (usually about $3/sample or glass). Also, they run mini-classes and lectures by famous chefs and sommeliers (wine folks, if I didn’t spell that right). Two more don’t miss: TestTrack Buzz LightYear’s Space Ranger Spin (I beat (former)Roommate by 650,000 points.) More as I find out more. **bobkitty** - the dinner-with-jousting thing is Medieval Times (Kissimmee), but the one in Vegas is Excalibur. MedTimes has changed their show since the last time I was there. Arabian Nights has a good horse show and decent food. Pirate Adventure has an okay show and pretty good food. Both Disney and SeaWorld have a very good Polynesian Luau (SeaWorld’s is inside, so you don’t have to worry about the shopw being cancelled due to a cold snap or bad weather). King Henry’s Feast and Wild Bill’s have both bit the dust (now literally piles of rubble). If you’re going to do a dinner show - I recommend Sleuth’s Mystery Dinner Theatre. Avoid Capone’s unless you like cold steam table serve-yourself buffet and lousy drink service. I don’t believe they’ve started work on Dixie Stampede yet (North vs South Civil War Dinner Theatre). ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470/18 "2001-10-15T16:25:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rue DeDay \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by bobkitty \* > > **…we stayed at the fabulously tacky All-Star Music Resort. I highly recommend it.** > > No way! Guess where we’re staying? \*\* Uhhh… the deDays’ Inn? 😃 Thanks, **screech** … I just came back from the Excalibur show a few weeks ago, but haven’t been to MT in a couple years… for the LIFE of me I couldn’t remember what the name of it was, and it was starting to drive me a little crazy. Er. 😉 BK ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470/19 "2001-10-15T18:50:06Z")
Actually, technically, Disneyland is “The Happiest Place on Earth.” (The current promo is “Where The Magic Began.”) Don’t remember what Disney World is considered. Yes, I’m a DF. So sue me. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Politzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ab097/32.png) [@Politzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Politzania)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2001, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470/20 "2001-10-15T21:10:44Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Rue DeDay \* **Me and mine are jetting down to sunny Florida to bask, nay wallow, in the revelry that is Walt Disney World. In a mere two anna half weeks (two and 4/7 weeks from… now!) we whisk ourselves away to our fun-in-the-sun destination. Woo hoo for me!** [quote] What are the specific dates? Mr. Pol & I will be down there starting 11/4… Yes, it’s plastic, yes, it’s money-grubbing - but it’s a VACATION dammit! An we will be staying at one of the “tacky” All Star Resorts, too - so there! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-happiest-place-on-earth-is-gonna-get-a-little-happier-dammit/87470.md?page=2)