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truecruiser54
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Posted: Tue Jan 22nd, 2008 06:12 pm | 51st Post |
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ohhhh, looks like they "cheapied" it. they changed it. used to get 2 snacks, plus drinks. you'll haver to look at this.
the best thing was the sit down meal. character meals qualified as one -- with tax and tip included. so, if you had paid for even one character meal out of pocket, you wld almost be paying the cost of the plan for yourself. so, it was like you were getting to eat the rest of the time for free. follow? but i see the one change there now on a quick glance, and am now curious if they have taken away the character dining too. hmmmm. well...it used to be a good deal. not sure about now.
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/resorts/benefitDetail?id=BenefitDisneyDiningPlanDetailPage
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/tickets/magicYourWay/index?id=PackageDetails2008PlusDiningPage
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nhrich
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Posted: Tue Jan 22nd, 2008 06:20 pm | 52nd Post |
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Character dining is still available as an exchange for one table service meal, except for meals at Cinderella's Royal Table.
Seems to me it's still a good value, with the prices they charge there.
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truecruiser54
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Posted: Tue Jan 22nd, 2008 06:28 pm | 53rd Post |
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nhrich wrote: Character dining is still available as an exchange for one table service meal, except for meals at Cinderella's Royal Table.
Seems to me it's still a good value, with the prices they charge there.
the $9.99 a day for 9 and under is awesome (don't know how old pete's dd is). but it is the price of one quick service kids meal to basically eat better food all day.
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gsc500
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Posted: Tue Jan 22nd, 2008 07:34 pm | 54th Post |
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truecruiser54 wrote: nhrich wrote: Character dining is still available as an exchange for one table service meal, except for meals at Cinderella's Royal Table.
Seems to me it's still a good value, with the prices they charge there.
the $9.99 a day for 9 and under is awesome (don't know how old pete's dd is). but it is the price of one quick service kids meal to basically eat better food all day.
The dining plan USE TO include tax and tips and one counter service meal (fast food), one snack (under $4), and one table service meal (sit down restaurant) per person, per night. The TS meal use to include one drink (non-alcoholic), one appetizer, one entree, and one dessert.
HOWEVER, starting in 2008, the dining plan is about $1 cheaper per person but NO LONGER includes tips (for the table service) just the taxes. So, make sure you calculate that into your budget.
Also, the Table Service meals NO LONGER include an appetizer. It only includes an entree and dessert and soft drink per person. Anything you order beyond what is allowed on the plan, you will need to pay out of pocket for.
Disney use to be very liberal about people using the snack credit for pretty much anything under $4.00. So, people could get a half gallon of milk, loaf of bread, etc. at the resort food section of the gift shops. I heard that this year (2008), they have been limiting what is eligible as a snack - only SINGLE serving snacks under $4.00.
I used the dining plan on my last 3 trips to Disney. It was a good value then. It may still be a good value for many people still - just not as good as before. I will skip it from now on and get a Disney Dining Experience card instead. The DDE card is ONLY available to Florida Residents or people with annual passes. It costs $65 for a one year membership but provides the card holder with a 20% discount on ALL food and drinks including alcoholic drinks at most of the WDW restaurants.
If using the Dining Plan, keep in mind that you will have to make reservations at the restaurants to make sure that you have a place to eat (table service only) to use up your meal credits. When it gets busy at the parks, the restaurants may turn away people that don't have reservations, so that danger is that you won't have any place decent to eat to use up your PRE-PAID meal plan.
The problem with making all these reservations in advance is that it ties you to your meal times/plans too much. If one park gets too busy, you can't leave and go to another park instead, because you have reservations for a meal at the busy park in a few hours. You can ALWAYS try to call that day to change your reservations. However, depending on how busy WDW is, they may or may not have openings where or when you want - maybe very early (5pm) or late (9pm) seating available.
Hope this helps! Have a great time!!
Last edited on Tue Jan 22nd, 2008 07:36 pm by gsc500
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Adios
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Posted: Tue Jan 22nd, 2008 08:36 pm | 55th Post |
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truecruiser54 wrote: truecruiser54 wrote: TheWog wrote: truecruiser54 wrote: i recently found out that we will be in disney on superbowl sunday. i know, i know ...
but, these plans were made months ago, and i had no idea (promise).
dh is not thrilled, lol. has anyone been there during superbowl before, and if so...is there anywhere IN the parks where you have watched for a bit? we cld always head to espn later, i guess.
later? What is this later of which you speak?
well, superbowl starts late. so maybe some of the time we can catch pieces in a park, then head to espn or sumptin' for the rest of the night. i don't know.
just trying to have some sort of plan if necessary, lol.
okay, wog...do you see that bolded part above? NOW it is necessary. ye gods...
i've gotta find a place (besides the hotel room), dh is s huge giants fan. the problem is we will have the kids. anyone have any ideas at all?
this was my very first thought:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/entertainment/entertainmentDetail?id=ESPNClubEntertainmentPage
has anyone ever taken their kids in here? since it is "disney" is it a "bar" bar, or is it a restaurant bar?
You will find plenty of kids at the ESPN zone on the boardwalk. I usually eat here when I stay at Disney. It can get very, very crowded and the lines can be out the door. Not a good thing during the summer. Especailly with Florida's afternoon thunderstorms. They have typical sports bar food like burgers, wings, etc. Pretty good. The boardwalk is a very nice area and close to Epcot of which you can walk to from there.
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erby2283
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Posted: Tue Feb 5th, 2008 09:54 pm | 56th Post |
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| 59 days until Disney...Guess I should make some room reservations, huh????
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BeckyThane
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Posted: Tue Feb 5th, 2008 10:29 pm | 57th Post |
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erby2283 wrote: 59 days until Disney...Guess I should make some room reservations, huh????
266 days for me.  I'm jealous, Erby.
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leet44
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Posted: Wed Feb 6th, 2008 01:22 am | 58th Post |
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BeckyThane wrote: erby2283 wrote: 59 days until Disney...Guess I should make some room reservations, huh????
266 days for me. I'm jealous, Erby.
45 days for me
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BeckyThane
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Posted: Wed Feb 6th, 2008 01:40 am | 59th Post |
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leet44 wrote: BeckyThane wrote: erby2283 wrote: 59 days until Disney...Guess I should make some room reservations, huh????
266 days for me. I'm jealous, Erby.
45 days for me
Good for you, Lee! Where are you staying? What are you doing? Do tell all!!! I LOVE to live vicariously. 
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BAMA X 2
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Posted: Wed Feb 6th, 2008 02:23 am | 60th Post |
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erby2283 wrote: 59 days until Disney...Guess I should make some room reservations, huh????
Erby, stay at the African themed place!
We didn't stay there but the food there was the best! Plus you can stick your head out and watch zebras run by!
Last edited on Wed Feb 6th, 2008 02:23 am by BAMA X 2
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erby2283
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Posted: Wed Feb 6th, 2008 03:32 am | 61st Post |
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BAMA X 2 wrote: erby2283 wrote: 59 days until Disney...Guess I should make some room reservations, huh????
Erby, stay at the African themed place!
We didn't stay there but the food there was the best! Plus you can stick your head out and watch zebras run by!
Come along Becky, the more the merrier.
Bama - I don't know whether to take you seriously or not!
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NCL Jewel 11/06
NCL Jewel 11/05
NCL Majesty 11/04
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BeckyThane
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Posted: Wed Feb 6th, 2008 11:35 am | 62nd Post |
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erby2283 wrote: BAMA X 2 wrote: erby2283 wrote: 59 days until Disney...Guess I should make some room reservations, huh????
Erby, stay at the African themed place!
We didn't stay there but the food there was the best! Plus you can stick your head out and watch zebras run by!
Come along Becky, the more the merrier.
Bama - I don't know whether to take you seriously or not!
OOOOOH! I think you should take him seriously. The Animal Kingdom Resort is da bom!!! You can't get a view like that from the Savannah View rooms anywhere else in the U.S.!
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MrPete
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Posted: Wed Feb 6th, 2008 11:39 am | 63rd Post |
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143 days for me.
I was watching a special on the Travel Channel last night, first on the cruises, and then on the parks, saying this is nice to look forward to.
I didn't realize they added some new stuff. It's been about 5 years since I've last been there.
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BeckyThane
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Posted: Wed Feb 6th, 2008 11:44 am | 64th Post |
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MrPete wrote: 143 days for me.
I was watching a special on the Travel Channel last night, first on the cruises, and then on the parks, saying this is nice to look forward to.
I didn't realize they added some new stuff. It's been about 5 years since I've last been there.
Yeah, it'll be 4-1/2 years for me. Lots of new stuff!!!
Are you doing parks and the cruise?
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MrPete
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Posted: Wed Feb 6th, 2008 03:09 pm | 65th Post |
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Actually, we are there for a national dance competition. We were there as well two years ago, but never went to any attractions.
We just swam and drank. It was just TOO hot.
But last time we were “off site” at the Caribe Royale. Being we are in Downtown Disney this time, that may change. If anything, I want to make sure I try the Universal parks.
But it ALL has to work around the dance schedule.
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gsc500
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Posted: Wed Feb 6th, 2008 05:53 pm | 66th Post |
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leet44 wrote: BeckyThane wrote: erby2283 wrote: 59 days until Disney...Guess I should make some room reservations, huh????
266 days for me. I'm jealous, Erby.
45 days for me
73 days for me!! 
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gsc500
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Posted: Wed Feb 6th, 2008 05:55 pm | 67th Post |
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BeckyThane wrote: MrPete wrote: 143 days for me.
I was watching a special on the Travel Channel last night, first on the cruises, and then on the parks, saying this is nice to look forward to.
I didn't realize they added some new stuff. It's been about 5 years since I've last been there.
Yeah, it'll be 4-1/2 years for me. Lots of new stuff!!!
Are you doing parks and the cruise?
Heck, I was there in August 2007 and there is new stuff for me to try this April! 
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leet44
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Posted: Thu Feb 7th, 2008 04:01 am | 68th Post |
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BeckyThane wrote: leet44 wrote: BeckyThane wrote: erby2283 wrote: 59 days until Disney...Guess I should make some room reservations, huh????
266 days for me. I'm jealous, Erby.
45 days for me
Good for you, Lee! Where are you staying? What are you doing? Do tell all!!! I LOVE to live vicariously.
We are flying into Tampa on March 21st .Spending Easter with my mom She lives in Tarpon Springs.Spend a few days at the beach and drive to Orlando on Wed.
We are staying at the Hilton WDW Resort in DTD .
Want to be able to just go over walk around without having to get on a bus .Kids are dying to go to Disney Quest and SHOP . Nice restaurants to.
We will play it by ear .See what the kids want to do and compromise so Mom is happy Maybe a full day at a park .
I know I want to relax and spending a day at these parks is not relaxing .I am happy laying by a pool and doing things later in the day .
Then on Sunday March 30th we are going to the Orlando Citrus Bowl for Wrestle mania Thats another thing Orlando is going to be mobbed with people going .All rooms close to the Bowl are sold out .The city also has events planned so we may check into them.
Seats are 7 rows from the ring .I can't tell you how excited our son is .I think we all are
Monday Fly home from Orlando
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leet44
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Posted: Thu Feb 7th, 2008 04:16 am | 69th Post |
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gsc500 wrote: BeckyThane wrote: MrPete wrote: 143 days for me.
I was watching a special on the Travel Channel last night, first on the cruises, and then on the parks, saying this is nice to look forward to.
I didn't realize they added some new stuff. It's been about 5 years since I've last been there.
Yeah, it'll be 4-1/2 years for me. Lots of new stuff!!!
Are you doing parks and the cruise?
Heck, I was there in August 2007 and there is new stuff for me to try this April! Grace you know the mouse wants to keep one of his best customers happy.
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BeckyThane
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Posted: Thu Feb 7th, 2008 04:17 am | 70th Post |
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leet44 wrote: BeckyThane wrote: leet44 wrote: BeckyThane wrote: erby2283 wrote: 59 days until Disney...Guess I should make some room reservations, huh????
266 days for me. I'm jealous, Erby.
45 days for me
Good for you, Lee! Where are you staying? What are you doing? Do tell all!!! I LOVE to live vicariously.
We are flying into Tampa on March 21st .Spending Easter with my mom She lives in Tarpon Springs.Spend a few days at the beach and drive to Orlando on Wed.
We are staying at the Hilton WDW Resort in DTD .
Want to be able to just go over walk around without having to get on a bus .Kids are dying to go to Disney Quest and SHOP . Nice restaurants to.
We will play it by ear .See what the kids want to do and compromise so Mom is happy Maybe a full day at a park .
I know I want to relax and spending a day at these parks is not relaxing .I am happy laying by a pool and doing things later in the day .
Then on Sunday March 30th we are going to the Orlando Citrus Bowl for Wrestle mania Thats another thing Orlando is going to be mobbed with people going .All rooms close to the Bowl are sold out .The city also has events planned so we may check into them.
Seats are 7 rows from the ring .I can't tell you how excited our son is .I think we all are
Monday Fly home from Orlando
So nice you'll get to see your mom!!!
We stayed at the Hilton -- when was it? '87? -- but so long ago that I don't have the faintest remembrance. I do remember it was an easy walk to what was then The Marketplace. No DTD back then!
I LOVE DisneyQuest, and was so disappointed when I took my teenage niece and nephew that they didn't love it, too. I guess they were just at "that age" when the whole world is supposed to be met with a blase' attitude and a shrug of the shoulders.
Yeah, I'm with you -- a day in the park is just too stressful many times. When DH and I go we stay at a Disney hotel and do early-entry, then usually take afternoons "off" and go ride mouse boats around the lagoon, do the spa thing, or ride horses over at Fort Wilderness. We do dinner in one of the nice sit-down restaurants before heading to one of the parks for the finale show. That helps de-stress the whole experience.
However, next time around will be a little different. I've gone solo there before (LOVE IT!!!), but next time around we'll be going down ostensibly for a conference for DH. We'll probably stay at the Ritz-Carlton, which is where he stayed last time he went to this conference. He's going to choose ONE park he wants to do; while he's in the conference Monday-Thursday I'll be doing the parks, then we'll do the one he wants on Friday. (He's already said he's had just about enough of the parks.) Saturday we board the Disney Magic for the 7-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary. 
Hey, enjoy that Wrestlemania! Who are the big stars nowadays? It looks like John Cena is back? He must have been off doing a movie.
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leet44
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Posted: Thu Feb 7th, 2008 04:39 am | 71st Post |
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You have a great trip planned .I would like to do the Disney cruise .I plan on doing early entry since the Hilton does have it .
Joseph (DS) is addicted to video games .He has gotten better now at least it could be a week in-between playing .He is 8 and has all of them .The Wii is not his favorite .We wanted to kill him last year when we bought it the day it was released .He says it's okay Plays it now but he drives me crazy.He should love Disney Quest and can't wait to go to the Lego store .Another one of his favorite things
John Cena got hurt and had a shoulder operation. He just came back .Chris Jericho just returned .Batista who is a fine fine wrestler Undertaker is still big news .My son loves him Rey Mysterio is back .HHH and Shawn Michaels plus a dozen new faces and old
My DD likes a few because their cute .She's 12 .I can't believe how I got hooked . I say to myself that I am not that bad because I don't watch it unless he has it on .The tickets were as much as an inside cabin on a short cruise
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BeckyThane
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Posted: Thu Feb 7th, 2008 03:46 pm | 72nd Post |
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leet44 wrote: I can't believe how I got hooked . I say to myself that I am not that bad because I don't watch it unless he has it on .The tickets were as much as an inside cabin on a short cruise
LOL My aunt has been "hooked" for as long as I can remember -- probably the 70's or early 80's. She's one of the most rational and logical people I know, sometimes to a fault, but that is totally lost when it comes to professional wrestling. She absolutely refuses to believe that it's not a real sports competition. Me, the thing that keeps me peeking at it from time to time (it's that train wreck thing again... ) is the drama they manage to produce, the totally bogus conflicts they set up between characters (e.g., McMahon vs. Trump!).
Whatever the reason, Wrestlemania WILL be a major event, and I'm sure you'll have a great time!
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MrPete
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Posted: Thu Feb 7th, 2008 03:50 pm | 73rd Post |
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| This is great reading that there will be others staying at the Hilton at Downtown Disney. I can't wait to hear all about it (with pix, of course!)
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gsc500
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Posted: Thu Feb 7th, 2008 06:09 pm | 74th Post |
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BeckyThane wrote:
However, next time around will be a little different. I've gone solo there before (LOVE IT!!!), but next time around we'll be going down ostensibly for a conference for DH. We'll probably stay at the Ritz-Carlton, which is where he stayed last time he went to this conference. He's going to choose ONE park he wants to do; while he's in the conference Monday-Thursday I'll be doing the parks, then we'll do the one he wants on Friday. (He's already said he's had just about enough of the parks.) Saturday we board the Disney Magic for the 7-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary.
I'm green with envy!!! I REALLY have to do a Disney cruise one day soon!!!! The combination of 2 of my favorite things - Disney and cruising - is giving me goose bumps! It's like when someone came up with the idea of chocolate and peanut butter - YUM!!
Haven't bitten that bullet yet. All our recent cruises have been out of NYC so we don't have to fly. No Disney ships here. Also, with the Disney cruises being so $$$$, we been able to cruise in a higher cabin category AND go to WDW in the same year for about the same $ as one Disney cruise.
Make sure you tell us all about it when you get back, Becky - I just might have to follow in your foot steps soon.
Last edited on Thu Feb 7th, 2008 06:10 pm by gsc500
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gsc500
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Posted: Thu Feb 7th, 2008 06:11 pm | 75th Post |
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You'll have a blast Lee!!!
It's great when the whole family enjoys something together.
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