herbie747

Currently 4,8 and 12.

Sorry, can't help with your overall trip advice - you'll be doing all the parks, it seems. We just did Disney. Although I would recommend staying on site at the Disney Parks - the perks are great - namely the free transport and magic bands, and also extra Fast Passes, earlier access to fast pass & meal bookings. Everything is linked to your "My Disney Experience" account - meal reservations, park tickets, fast passes, accommodation, etc. So if there's an issue with anything at all, the hotel desk can sort it. We complained about a couple of small things in the park (namely we queued for a character meet that specifically advertised Mickey Mouse as a talking meet & greet - but he didn't talk - we wasted a fast pass on it though), and they gave us more fast passes for the next park we went to.

Next time we go back though, my wife wants to stay onsite again, and then just change hotels when we're going to Universal. Stay onsite for both places. We only rented a car 1 day over the 2 weeks; when we went shopping at Florida Mall for the day. Otherwise all transport was free and we used a few Ubers here & there too.

I'm thinking of taking the wife and our three kids to Orlando next year. I've never been to America and it's always been my dream holiday. I've priced it up and we're looking at about £12k for 2 weeks, staying on site with car rental, park passes etc. Is it worth doing the food deal? The one I'd priced up is 2 buffet meals a day, a snack and drinks. It adds about a grand on but is it worth it?

Any other tip[s on how to reduce costs as I'm thinking they'll want loads of spending money too. Who are the best folks to book through?

What age are the kids?

Yeah, I wouldn't bother with Legoland unless you have kids. Obviously it'd make more sense for people in the UK to go to Windsor - but being from Ireland, we'd be flying either way - so we opt for Munich each year as it's a better park, less people overall (it's out in the sticks almost), and a nicer crowd. The on-site hotel is awesome.

Next time we go to Orlando (prob 2018) we'll do Universal.

Just spent 2 weeks in Disneyworld (Orlando) with the wife & kids last November. Was good - very packed though. Stuck to the Disney parks only as the kids (4 and 6) are too young for Universal this time around. Stayed on site at Art of Animation resort - so had free transport to & from parks. Also used Uber when I didn't fancy waiting. Magic bands are awesome - didn't need to carry cash.

Going to Legoland in Gurnsburg (outside Munich) in April - love it there. Very small crowds, and no chavs like the Windsor one. Mostly German people as nobody outside of Germany even knows about it. Have been to Windsor twice and it was a bit shit. Windsor in general is shite for traffic and the park is a bit grotty.

Going back to Thomasland (aka Drayton Manor) in May. Very handy park - fly into Birmingham and its a 20min cab ride to Tamworth. The kids love it there.

Have been to Alton Towers loads - but before I had kids. Used to go with a mate off season (early October, mid-week) and take acid. Fucking amazing. Place would be empty. 

podcasters have to be making some decent coin, i can't imagine a guy like Eric Bischoff getting involved if it didn't have some kind of fincancial reward.

True - but then there's also the flipside of some of them loving the sound of their own voices, and doing it as either a hobby or an ego thing.

 

 

Get a 'B' in the for Bronies too.

Interesting fact - Linus (Alan Boon) who posts here is a Bronie (or Brony - not sure which is correct).

 

Seems like kind of a dick move to out him like that, Herb.

 

He outed himself a few years ago on here. Posted a pic of himself at a convention wearing a Rainbow Dash t-shirt. It's not as if he's ashamed.

Why - you think he should be keeping his hobby quiet?

Get a 'B' in the for Bronies too.

Interesting fact - Linus (Alan Boon) who posts here is a Bronie (or Brony - not sure which is correct).

Thought it was really good - anyone who wants it, PM me your e-mail.

I had no idea Scuba and Laser were acronyms. Every day's a learning day.

Scuba is my favourite one.

 

 

I stopped at Q — I'm a proper PC tumblr liberal type, but I feel like it's like a parody of leftie thinking to just keep adding to acronyms to avoid upsetting anyone.

LGBT isn't an acronym. An acronym needs to spell a word - like NATO, Scuba, Laser, etc.

 

NATO and Scuba aren't words any more than LGBT is.

 

Scuba isn't a word? You high?

 

I stopped at Q — I'm a proper PC tumblr liberal type, but I feel like it's like a parody of leftie thinking to just keep adding to acronyms to avoid upsetting anyone.

 

Initials.  Or you will upset someone, probably Dart.

 

Or me.

LGBT is an initialism. And initialisms & acronyms are both types of abbreviations.

I stopped at Q — I'm a proper PC tumblr liberal type, but I feel like it's like a parody of leftie thinking to just keep adding to acronyms to avoid upsetting anyone.

LGBT isn't an acronym. An acronym needs to spell a word - like NATO, Scuba, Laser, etc.

 

 

Most places in the gay village have a neutral bathroom, but if I were a woman, I wouldn't feel comfortable knowing LADS could use the same washroom.

 

What's the gay village?

 

Apologies.  An area of Manchester centred around Canal Street that is filled with "Gay bars"

 

EDIT - By gay, I don't mean rubbish or shit

 

lol - it's a concentration of crap pubs with shite music.

If you think...

 

So basically, I can just walk into any women's toilets and if anyone says anything to me, I can say I identify as a woman. Not that I would - but if that's the case, what's to stop anyone doing that? And then, why have gender specific bathrooms at all?

... you might be a Republican.

 

That's the whole talking point about trans bathroom bans- that something that seems to happen so infrequently should still lead to a ban because the women and children. Coincidentally, the people saying this tend to be the same people that say trans people are deluded loonies, it's a very neat package.

 

Not saying you think that way, Herbie, I know you don't. Your friend might have been disconcerted to see a trans woman in the bogs, but she can rest assured that it's 99% certain that Trafford Tranzie was only there because she wanted to use the facilities.

 

Firstly, I don't think like that - I asked it as a question; I didn't make a statement. I was asking what the cut-off is to be allowed usage. And I also followed it up with suggesting 1 bathroom for all:

"In fact, that's not even a bad idea - you can have individual urinals for those who want to use them, and also a load of stalls. Anyone can use a stall in complete privacy anyway."

And I'm very far from being a Republican.

Most places in the gay village have a neutral bathroom, but if I were a woman, I wouldn't feel comfortable knowing LADS could use the same washroom.

What's the gay village?

What I figured was that if you're in a biologicaly male body but mentally a woman then you're a woman, in no way do you need to pass or make an "effort" to be transgender.

So basically, I can just walk into any women's toilets and if anyone says anything to me, I can say I identify as a woman. Not that I would - but if that's the case, what's to stop anyone doing that? And then, why have gender specific bathrooms at all?

In fact, that's not even a bad idea - you can have individual urinals for those who want to use them, and also a load of stalls. Anyone can use a stall in complete privacy anyway.

 

 

 

 

It's a very odd situation to be in & I'm not sure where it's come from?

A friend of mine was in the Trafford Centre in Manchester, she came out of the cubicle to wash her hands, and beside her was a guy wearing a wig & fixing his lipstick in the mirror. Clearly a dude - but in a dress, wig, handbag, make-up, and a stuffed bra. That's a cross dresser - but what can you say or do? She did or said nothing, but it was certainly a bit weird.

And how was that clear in this split second interaction??

Is your mate able to diagnose whether somebody is 'proper' trans or a cross dresser on sight alone? May be a news flash but *whispers* some of us tranny folk look a bit like blokes

Firstly, don't get tetchy or offended. I meant no disrespect - it's just a story that happened. And I reckon even I could tell - Transgenders tend to make a lot more of an effort.

 

Secondly, due to the work she does (can't specify on here), she works with both all the time - so she knows the difference.

 

-they're living as a woman

 

Define that please. Genuinely curious - not being a smartarse here. I've discussed this with my friend numerous times.

Do they need to be "living as a woman" 100% of the time? And if not - then what percentage qualifies them?

And what "effort" (or elements) is/are required to qualify as transgender?

Hormone treatment? Make-up? Women's clothing? Breast implants? Or full surgery?

All of the above, none of the above, or just some? 

Just wondering exactly what allows people to use the female bathrooms. For example, can I just say I identify as a woman and walk in? Is that good enough, or do I need to wear a wig & a dress? And if not - then what effort is required?

Again - these are genuine questions. Excuse my ignorance on any of this, but I'm trying to find out more by asking questions and it's a very grey area. Thanks.

 

 

It's a very odd situation to be in & I'm not sure where it's come from?

A friend of mine was in the Trafford Centre in Manchester, she came out of the cubicle to wash her hands, and beside her was a guy wearing a wig & fixing his lipstick in the mirror. Clearly a dude - but in a dress, wig, handbag, make-up, and a stuffed bra. That's a cross dresser - but what can you say or do? She did or said nothing, but it was certainly a bit weird.

And how was that clear in this split second interaction??

Is your mate able to diagnose whether somebody is 'proper' trans or a cross dresser on sight alone? May be a news flash but *whispers* some of us tranny folk look a bit like blokes

 

Firstly, don't get tetchy or offended. I meant no disrespect - it's just a story that happened. And I reckon even I could tell - Transgenders tend to make a lot more of an effort. 

Secondly, due to the work she does (can't specify on here), she works with both all the time - so she knows the difference.

Well said, Chest.

So true, Keith. So true.

Aw fuck - I actually yelped out loud at that.

Only if you want it to be.

Not a dig at you, Herb, but it's ironic calling someone a homophobe when you still use "Gay" to describe something you don't like.

It's a 'south park' gay - nothing to do with homosexuals.

Re: the toilet stuff, does it really make a difference?

No, it doesn't make a difference to me - but it made a difference to religious homophobes who thought it was a PC step too far. They were picturing someone like Ru Paul perving at them over a cubicle wall, or molesting their kids. My perception could be wrong on the impact it had, but it just felt like conservatives were getting hit by a lot of things which (ironically) made them feel discriminated against (like being forced to bake cakes for gay weddings, or Kim Davis with the issuing of gay marriage licenses), and when the transgenders in bathrooms debate happened, they'd had enough. And there was Trump - the big fat bigot, standing there with his arms open & saying what they wanted to hear. They made a deal with the devil. I just pictured them saying "he'll put a stop to this overly-PC bullshit".

I don't know how much weight any of what I'm saying carried in swaying voters (we can never be sure), but I do feel it was a factor at some level. Don't we all get pissed off when PC goes too far? We all have different levels, but I was told a few years ago I can't say "disabled" - I should be saying "differently abled". Fuck off.

This video explains what I'm saying really well, even if I'm not explaining it properly. 

See at 01:02

https://twitter.com/ava/status/824349943775195136