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2017 Show/Family time

6 posts
  1. Jeffrey Urquhart
    Jeffrey Urquhart avatar
    0 posts
    6/27/2016 6:06 PM
    Has anyone done the family trip to GIS/Disney?? Any advice?



  2. Peter Grass
    Peter Grass avatar
    0 posts
    6/28/2016 6:06 PM
    Hi Jeffery,

    I have been to around 7 or 8 Orlando GIS's (some long before it was GIS). We have 5 children, all grown now but every 3 years our vacation was tied to attending GIS. We did it both ways, staying on property at Disneyworld (All Star Resort was most economical) and I commuted to the events at the Convention Center while family did Disney stuff. We have also stayed at conference hotels and did Universal Studios and I Drive stuff. We always took a couple pre or post conference days to have me be able to do something with the family at a tourist area. It was economical with most of the room cost covered, just wrote some big checks for admission to Universal and Disney.

    Peter Grass, CGCS
    GCSAA President
    Hilands Golf Club
    Billings, MT



  3. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    6/29/2016 7:06 AM
    I would highly recommend it. Orlando is a top family destination for the GIS and many bring their families down for the week. So much to do, but plenty of time to be able to fit it in the schedule. With the GIS now over Thursday afternoon, many people will stay the extra few days to enjoy the theme parks. As Mr. Grass pointed out, the conference hotels are a few minutes from all the theme parks, and vice versa. Easy to stay in either place and make the short drive over to the other.



  4. Steve Nelson
    Steve Nelson avatar
    0 posts
    6/29/2016 12:06 PM
    Yes, I have always taken the family to Orlando, this year will there will probably be a grand kid too. There are a lot of affordable housing options for families other than the conference hotels and Disney. We usually find a condo or someplace with a kitchenette. Last time we found a multi bedroom place with a kitchen walking distance from the show. Family took the car, I walked. Worked out great.



  5. Ronald Kirkman
    Ronald Kirkman avatar
    40 posts
    6/30/2016 3:06 PM
    Jeff;

    Wonderful place for the family as the others have said. I have done this in the past and it always gets better. I always got the five day pass and if you don't use all five days the pass is good until you use it even ten years down the road. Just bring your credit card and have some fun. If you are a member of AAA, you can get lots of information from them on Disney World.

    I always stayed in the park. Much easier for the family. I rented a car at the airport and drove from Disney to the convention center. We stayed at the Caribbean Beach Resort, All Star's Sport Resort, Port Orleans Resort and Contemporary Resort. Caribbean and Port Orleans were very nice. I would get two adjoining rooms. (depends how many children are going with you). Buses come buy every 10 minutes or so to take you to wherever you wish to go. If The Magic Kingdom is crowded, we always started at the back and work forward.

    I am in the planning stage now of attending, playing in the golf tournament & hopefully my three daughters can make it. And there ages are 56, 52 and 42. They all want to go and said they would. Of course, dear old dad will foot the bill. Maybe my daughter Jen from CA will help out.

    Capt. Kirk
    Retired Alien
    Needham Golf Club
    Needham, MA



  6. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    6/30/2016 3:06 PM
    Ronald Kirkman said: Jeff;

    Wonderful place for the family as the others have said. I have done this in the past and it always gets better. I always got the five day pass and if you don't use all five days the pass is good until you use it even ten years down the road. Just bring your credit card and have some fun. If you are a member of AAA, you can get lots of information from them on Disney World.

    I always stayed in the park. Much easier for the family. I rented a car at the airport and drove from Disney to the convention center. We stayed at the Caribbean Beach Resort, All Star's Sport Resort, Port Orleans Resort and Contemporary Resort. Caribbean and Port Orleans were very nice. I would get two adjoining rooms. (depends how many children are going with you). Buses come buy every 10 minutes or so to take you to wherever you wish to go. If The Magic Kingdom is crowded, we always started at the back and work forward.

    I am in the planning stage now of attending, playing in the golf tournament & hopefully my three daughters can make it. And there ages are 56, 52 and 42. They all want to go and said they would. Of course, dear old dad will foot the bill. Maybe my daughter Jen from CA will help out.

    Capt. Kirk
    Retired Alien
    Needham Golf Club
    Needham, MA


    Capt. I think Jen should get a gig lined up, then she could deduct her costs as a business expense? Plus I would finally get to see her show, since I don't see her coming to SGF anytime soon.

    I have done it a couple of times, once my wife flew down for the last couple of days of the show, and then we moved over to Disney and stayed for a few more days visiting parks. Another time when the boy was about 4 or 5 we drove down and stayed at the resort and I drove back and forth for the show, with the family touring the show floor the 2nd day, needless to say he had to sit on every piece of equipment. One of our most favorite trips ever, always wanted to do it again but high school band activities got in the way.

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

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