Hello from Chicago, IL USA

[bookswin]

Hi. I thought I'd introduce myself.

I'm Win Schaeffer of Flossmoor, IL, a southern suburb of Chicago. I'm married to a biochemist professor at the University of Chicago and we have an 11 year-old son. I'm a stay-at-home dad and part-time ebay seller of stamps, books, and other paper collectibles.

We are DVC members, with home resorts of SSR, BWV, and AKV. Looking perhaps to add on, either at OKW or perhaps at the Disneyland DVC that will open in 2009.

We've been to The World about 13 times since 2002, including most of the Moderate and Budget hotels, and several of the DVC resorts. We've had annual passes about 4 times. We also did the Disney Cruise in late 2002, and have been to MGM Star Wars Weekends three times and to Disneyland in May 2007 to coincide with the 30th anniversary Star Wars celebration (our son is a SW fanatic; in fact, he's wearing his 2006 MGM Star Wars Weekend T-shirt right now).

If you have any US-related questions, I'd be happy to try to answer.

I sure envy you the strong currency you are enjoying now in the UK and Europe.

[Super Ali]

:wave: Hi and a warm welcome to you and your family :wave: :wave:

[Malcolm]

Hi...great to have some more of our American friends on here, our best wishes to your family.... :wavey:

Malcolm

[mrmojo]

A very warm welcome to you and your family.

Maurice and Evelyn

[chris16sarah7]

Hi and a warm welcome to the dibb :wavey:

[princess nicky]

Hi , Welcome to the Dibb :wave:

[saraj]

hello and welcome to the dibb..

sara

[Diane]

Hi and a warm welcome to The Dibb :wavey:

I have American friends that live not too far from you, in Racine WI. We stayed at their home a couple of years ago and were lucky enough to visit the Windy City, we
loved it. :)

Have you ever visited the UK yourself?

Diane x

[bookswin]

Thanks to all for your welcome.

Yes, I've been to the UK about 5 times. I'm a book and beer guy, so I always enjoy visiting there. In fact, once I volunteered to pour at The Great British Beer Festival in London and got to serve "The Beer Hunter" himself, Michael Jackson.

My wife has been three times, for a vacation in 1994, while expecting our son in 1996, and then again for a professional meeting when he was 3.5 years old.

She remembers very well a visit to the "booktown" Hay-on-Wye while 6.5 months pregnant in the freezing rain, via bus and train. The excellent pub there got her in a much better mood, even without the alcohol.

I've liked reading the Disney trip reports here that have a UK flavor. Always interesting to see the different perspective, especially the comments about how inexpensive it seems (gotta love Wal-Mart) and some thoughts about better hotel/restaurant service here vs. the UK.

By the way, how do you find it driving on the "wrong" side of the road in Florida? I don't think I could ever get used to that; I'd crash for sure.

Anyway, thanks again.

[MichelleS]

hi and welcome to the dibb

[Scarlett95]

Welcome! :wave:

[garry&ann]

A warm welcome from across the pond
Garry & Ann

[shellym]

Hi! Welcome to the Dibb!!
:wavey: :wavey: :wavey:

[yoda]

Hi Hope u enjoy the Dibb ,we all do

[Tinkers]

Hi and welcome to the DIBB :wavey:

Suzanne

[sunsetlakes]

Hello and welcome to the Dibb. It will be great to have a more US flavour to some of the debates.
I actually enjoy driving in Florida and thus far havn't had any problems. Been on the wrong side a couple of times, but not when it would cause any problems. Everyone there seems to expect it and never get in a tiz when it happens. We suffer more road rage here when mistakes happen, so it makes quite a nice change.
Enjoy you time with us, and we look forward to reading some of you posts.

[zdickens]

Hi and welcome. I drove in 2006 and found it easy, my DBF loves driving out there and tends to do all of it.

[Fizzy Fish]

:wave: and welcome to the DIBB

I would love to visit Chicago, it's on my to do list one day.

[GeriO]

Hi and welcome! :wavey: :wavey:
I have cousins in Illinois, used to be in Schaumburg but have moved to a place called Dixon (former home of a young Ronald Regan.) I love it there.

[shamu1]

hi and a warm welcome to the dibb :wave: driving is so easy in the u.s but i would not like to come to the u.k and drive on the otherside of the road

[kathleen]

Hi and welcome to the Dibb :wave: :tiggerbou :happy:

[grottyrotty]

A warm welcome to the Dibb :wave:

Driving in the US on the wrong side of the road? We love it. The Americans are so much more laid back than the Brits - much less road rage, and the traffic is not so fast or manic as here. The roads also tend to be much bigger/wider - although I do love driving down the twisty country roads in the UK.

And the price of "gas" is marvellous. The only thing that I don't like is driving automatic cars. I much prefer manual transmissions. Even though the gas is so much cheaper than in the UK, I still feel very conscious of how much we use over there with the big engines/automatic transmissions. Last time we were averaging about 17 - 20 miles/gallon (according to the onbaord computer) compared with the 60/gallon that I get from my diesel Corsa back home :omg:

Hope you have fun on this forum.

Deb :tinkani:

[disneyholic07]

Hi! welcome to the Dibb :wave:

[The-JAXX]

hi and welcome

[Norn Iron]

Hello and welcome :wavey:

[Funkymum]

Hi & a very warm welcome to the Dibb :wavey:

[Maddie]

Hi and welcome to the dibb. As yet I have yet to put the metal to the pedal....hey I'm bad enough in the UK....and yes I still can't park!!!

Maddie

[chlobo29]

:thumbs-up Hi and welcome to the DIBB :thumbs-up

[sylvy]

:wavey: Hi and welcome to the Dibb,I have only driven on one holiday and managed fine will be driving again in Nov when we return and am looking forward to it I hope you enjoy Dibbing. :wave:

[liamaxina]

:wave: Hi. Welcome to the Dibb. :wave:

[lausan]

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/welcome1.jpg

[lettie]

hello and welcome ;)

[tiggersmum]

Hi there :wavey: welcome to the Dibb.

[summerlily2002]

:wavey: welcome :wavey:

[Jaydee]

http://www.xcomment.com/g1/img/hi12100407101350.gif (<a href=)

Welcome to the Dibb! :wave:

[BEC]

Hi there a big welcome to the DIBB from across the pond!!!

[wombat]

Hi Win,

And a Warm Welcome to the Dibb. :wavey:

[wazzimama]

howdy and welcome to the dibb!

[FloridaAnn & Co]

Hello to you and your family :wavey:

and

Welcome to the DIBB :)


:mickeybou :goofy_bou :tiggerbou :donald_bo :mickeywal

[cath1954]

:wavey: Hi Wynn welcome to the dibb

[Tink-a-bee]

Hi Win, welcome to the Dibb! :wavey:

[castanea1985]

Hi. I thought I'd introduce myself.

I'm Win Schaeffer of Flossmoor, IL, a southern suburb of Chicago. I'm married to a biochemist professor at the University of Chicago and we have an 11 year-old son. I'm a stay-at-home dad and part-time ebay seller of stamps, books, and other paper collectibles.

We are DVC members, with home resorts of SSR, BWV, and AKV. Looking perhaps to add on, either at OKW or perhaps at the Disneyland DVC that will open in 2009.

We've been to The World about 13 times since 2002, including most of the Moderate and Budget hotels, and several of the DVC resorts. We've had annual passes about 4 times. We also did the Disney Cruise in late 2002, and have been to MGM Star Wars Weekends three times and to Disneyland in May 2007 to coincide with the 30th anniversary Star Wars celebration (our son is a SW fanatic; in fact, he's wearing his 2006 MGM Star Wars Weekend T-shirt right now).

If you have any US-related questions, I'd be happy to try to answer.

I sure envy you the strong currency you are enjoying now in the UK and Europe.

Hi Bookswin :wavey:

Welcome from across the Pond!!
My cousin lives in Batavia... her DH works at Fermi!!!
Small World!!

Tracy x

[supersam]

:wave: hi welcome to the dibb :wave:

[budgie6741]

:cool2: Welcome to the Dibb :wave:






Budgie

[GYPSIES]

Hello and Welcome to the Dibb :wave: DB/F loves driving out there, he drives for a living but still see it as a holiday as its just so laid back and like someone said no road rage. He drove on the wrong side once down a quiet road and we have seen quite a bad accident once but everyone stops to offer help etc you would get that here.

[loopy linda]

Hi and welcome,be warned its ADDICTIVE!

[MarieC]

Hi and welcome from Plymouth UK

[hayleyandhilda]

hi welcome to the Dibb

[princess lil]

hiya, a big scottish welcome to you & your family :beer2:

[jaydecay]

Hi from down south in kent!

[BEAUTYSLEEP]

I WOULD LOVE TO GO TO CHICARGO IS IT AS GOOD AS IT SOUNDS HAPPY DIBBING

[happy bunny]

Hi and welcome.
I have family in Iowa, so fly into Chicago and then drive across.
Chicago is a lovely city. :)

[bookswin]

I WOULD LOVE TO GO TO CHICAGO IS IT AS GOOD AS IT SOUNDS HAPPY DIBBING

All I know is that every Brit I meet here seems to be having a great time.

Come visit and take advantage of the strong GB pound. The shopping is fantastic.

[summertime85]

Hello and a very warm http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u85/summertime85/Welcome-1.gif to the DIBB. :wavey:

[dopey.rules]

:wave: Hi and welcome to the dibb :wave: