KathyRN Family's Trip Report: Adventures in Autism: WDW... A FEW PICS, FINALLY! pg 13

[KathyRN137]

Walt Disney World Trip Report: November 6-14, 2006

Pre-trip Report #1 May, 2006 (6 months to WDW)

The Cast : The KathyRN Family from New Jersey (and North Carolina):

Ed (aka: DH) : Forty-something, #1 Hubby, Daddy, and Cop. :cool2: First in our family to visit WDW (at age 13). Also went to DL (at age 6). Takes 100% credit for exposing wife and kids to the magic of WDW in 2003. Repeatedly claims that he has “created a monster” when observing wife playing on Disney boards instead of folding laundry or vacuuming the house. Frequently displays glazed expression when wife hints that more DVC points may be needed in near future. Consistantly complains that he gets no rest on WDW vacation because wife insists family get up early every day, and his body is used to working the night shift. Generously indulges family with a WDW vacation every year, thus enabling wife’s addiction! Favorite character: GRUMPY Favorite park: EPCOT.

Tricia (aka: DD) : 10 yrs old, going on 16! Soccer Princess. princess: Likes to dress up in Mom’s clothes and play with make-up. First Halloween costume was Minnie Mouse. A voracious reader. Loves the book, Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg , and is working her way through all the Nancy Drew mysteries. Big WDW fan, but rolls eyes when Mom blathers on and on about upcoming trip. Favorite character: TINKERBELL. Favorite park: MK

Billy (aka: DS) : 8 yrs old and autistic. :earboy2: LOVES WDW! (That’s my boy!) Actively working toward amassing the largest collection of DVDs in the western hemisphere. Can’t really carry on a conversation, but able to communicate his needs. “Go to Walt Disney World? Okay!!” Brought map of MK into school after first visit to WDW, pointed to all the attractions and NAMED them for his speech therapist! ( a real accomplishment!) Gives great hugs. Favorite character: BUZZ LIGHTYEAR. Favorite park: MK.

Eddie (aka: DSS) : 16 yrs old . :smooth: Lives in North Carolina, but visits during school breaks. Junior Varsity baseball player and Honors Student. Watched video of Disney Sing-Along-Songs: Disneyland Fun EVERY NIGHT before bed for about a year when he was three! First and only visit to WDW at age 11, this will be first time to WDW with us. Yay! Makes no secret about his plan to get Yours Truly on ToT ! Favorite character: UNDECIDED. Favorite park: MK.

Aunt Rae (aka: AR) : 75 yrs young ; DH’s aunt. :flower: Like a grandmother to the kids. Recently moved from out of state to our town. Loves Disney! Visited DL with DH when he was six, and twice more, besides. Has been to WDW once in ’97. This trip will be first time to WDW with us. Yay! Favorite character: CINDERELLA. Favorite park: MK.

Me (aka: Kathy/Mom): Forty-something wife, mother, and RN. :wave2: Dreamed of going to WDW since childhood, but never made it until three years ago. Making up for lost time by obsessively researching, planning, discussing, and daydreaming about the family’s next trip to the World! Recently conquered an irrational fear of computers; motivated by the desire to access even more info about WDW. Favorite character: POOH-BEAR. Favorite park: MK.


Our story thus far:

Although this will be our family’s fourth visit to WDW, this is the first time that I have given any thought to writing a trip report. Perhaps it’s because I’ve enjoyed reading the reports of my fellow WDW fanatics. It is fascinating to see how many different people can experience the same place in so many different ways! Upon reflection, it’s amazing how much our own WDW vacations have differed from each other.

I remember our first trip in September of '03. The kids were five and seven then, which seemed like the perfect ages. Disney was offering the Fairy Tale Package (you got a seven-day vacation package for the price of four). It just happened to coincide with the re-financing of our house, so we decided to do it!

First, I made our reservations quickly (it was the last day of the offer). I didn’t know anything about the resorts, but DH had stayed at the Poly years earlier and thought it would be great. Even with the package, though, the Poly was a bit out of our reach, so we opted for a moderate. We had to make the ressie that day, and all I knew about the moderates was that my sister had stayed at CBR once and loved it, so CBR it was.

Of course, I was looking at this as being a “once in a lifetime” vacation and planned on cramming everything I could into one wonderful week. I thought I was so savvy! (I didn’t do the computer thing as of yet, so I hadn’t yet discovered the boards). I went out and bought every WDW travel guide I could find and read them cover to cover. Well, I thought I was quite the little vacation planning queen when I was able to score priority seating for CRT on my first try!! I also patted myself on the back for knowing the EMHs schedule and about procuring the Guest Assistance Pass (GAC) for our autistic son.

Now, to better understand the dynamics of our family and the love affair we now have with WDW, I need to share with you a bit of background about my DS(8). :lovestruc If you have read my posts on the Disabilities board and/or have an autistic child of your own, please bear with me a moment while I give the other readers the basics of autism.

Autism is a neurological or brain-based disorder that causes problems in cognition, communication, and social interaction. There are many symptoms and conditions associated with autism and it can be difficult to know that a child is autistic just by looking at him. Many people think of the Dustin Hoffman character in Rainman , but those savant characteristics are only shared by a few on the autism “spectrum”.

Billy attends a special school and receives speech, occupational, and physical therapy. He displays poor eye contact, impaired conversational abilities, repetitive language and mannerisms such as hand flapping and sniffing objects. He has a degree of hyperactivity and poor attention span that makes it difficult to attend to an activity for more than a few moments without direction and supervision. He has a poor hand/finger grasp and has difficulty with handwriting and other “small” movements such as buttoning buttons and snapping snaps.

He constantly makes noise…humming, singing, “scripting” pieces of dialogue from his favorite TV shows, and laughing. Big, boisterous belly laughs at nothing in particular. Usually at inappropriate times like in the middle of the homily (sermon) in church! :rolleyes1 Or, in the middle of watching a baseball game from the stands…while others shout, “Swing batter, batter!”, Billy will shout, “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer!” at the top of his lungs! :rotfl: (That one was pretty funny!). In our house we call these moments "adventures in autism" .

Now I’m not telling you all of this to garner sympathy, just to help you understand some of the peculiarities of Billy's behavior and how they affect our WDW experiences. As you may well imagine, I was more than a bit apprehensive prior to our first WDW vacation. How would Billy handle it? Would he get so overstimulated that the week would be just one continuous “melt down”? Would it ruin the vacation for Tricia, who is two years older and has the often times difficult role of sibling in a special needs family? Would we get this close to the Magic, then not be able to touch it?

Well, friends, I had underestimated the power of prayers and pixie dust!! pixiedust: Not only did we have a wonderful vacation, we had what can only be described as magic. WDW was unlike any vacation experience we had previously had as a family. A very stressed out and tired family. A family that so much needed to feel like a normal family. It was truly a watershed experience.

I had done as much as I could to adapt our trip to Billy's needs. We went during the low season (mid September) for lighter crowds and shorter lines. We found on that trip that we barely needed the GAC, mostly on the weekend and for reserved seating for the big nighttime spectaculars. We dutifully returned to our resort for a midday nap, even though it practically killed me to leave the parks while we were having so much fun! The Cast Members were just so understanding and helpful. I wound up writing a three page letter to WDW when we returned home, thanking all the CMs for being so incredibly kind.

Billy spoke so many new words. He loved the rides and the shows, (except the fireworks!) He even went “poo-poo in the potty” for the first time! Hooray! :cool1: The whole thing is just one big, happy blur! I’m not much of a picture-taker, I’m so busy seeing and doing that I usually forget all about the camera in my backpack. Thank goodness for PhotoPass! That’s one reason for this TR; I’d really like to be able to re-live our WDW vacation memories in the years to come.

After a second trip in ’04 (POFQ), I somehow managed to convince Ed that we needed to go to WDW every year!! Well, soon we were DVC members (SSR). Early last December, we went for all the special holiday magic and were not disappointed. The Candlelight Processional was breathtaking and we had a blast at MVMCP! :santa: The kids were getting bigger now, so having the spacious 1BR vacation home at SSR was really a luxury. Only a mom could get so excited about having a full kitchen and a washer/dryer right in the room. (I told you I was forty-something, but that just looked so very matronly in print!).

So, that brings us to the present. I’m in the planning phase of our upcoming November trip. (Ed has observed pointedly that I am always in the planning phase, starting the day after we return from WDW.) But I know you all understand, so I am comforted that I am not alone!

Well, what variables are affecting The Planning this year?

The first will be the time of our visit. I have always felt very comfortable with pulling the kids out of school for a week so we could visit WDW during the value seasons. Billy gets really hyper in crowds, so the summer and school holidays are out of the question. His teachers have always been fine with it, especially since they, too, have seen the progress he makes with each subsequent visit to our Laughing Place. Tricia's teachers have also been wonderful about her missing school. :teacher: Fortunately, she is a good student and catches up easily. Last December, we even lucked out by having a snow day during our trip, so the kids missed only four days instead of five! Well, as the expression goes, all good things must come to an end!

Even though Billy’s teachers would wholeheartedly support the need for missing school, I’m just not feeling comfortable about Tricia missing a week of fifth grade (and neither is she). And so, we will be joining many of our neighbors by visiting WDW for the first time during Jersey Week . This is the unofficial nickname for the week of the NJ State Teachers Convention, typically scheduled around Veteran’s Day Weekend. Apparently, lots of NJ parents are in the same boat: they want to pull the kids out of school for less crowded conditions at WDW, but don’t want them to miss too much class time. Public schools are closed for two to three days for the Convention and Veteran’s Day, thus, you get a week-long vacation and the kids miss only a couple of school days…a nice compromise.

Actually, early November may not be so bad. The weather is supposed to be great. And we will be able to catch the last week of the F&W Festival at EPCOT! :thumbsup2

Next variable is who will be coming with us. Well, from the very first, I’ve been hoping to get my DSS(16) to come to WDW with us. No go. Eddie is an honors student and takes all kinds of advanced placement courses. He insists that he will get hopelessly behind if he takes a week off during school. Gosh, when I was his age I would have jumped at the chance to miss a week of school for WDW! It’s just a different world for these kids; too much homework IMHO.

Anyway, he does have that Friday off for Veteran’s Day, and I’ve convinced him to fly down from North Carolina to join us for the three-day weekend at the end of our vacation! Yay! :banana: Oh, the younger kids are so excited! They just adore their big brother!

The other new member of our party will be DH’s aunt, Rae (AR). AR never married and was always close to DH and his brother when they were growing up. She recently moved to the senior apartment complex in our town and we see her regularly. She dotes on the children like she doted on Ed when he was little. I don’t mind because neither of the real grandmas lives nearby, and AR is very sweet. We had invited her to go with us last year, but she declined. Well, this is one of the reasons we became DVC members, so that we could get the larger accommodations and bring other family members with us!

So, this year, I had a heart-to-heart with her and reassured her that we always tour at a relaxed pace because of Billy, and we return midday to the resort for a nap. She is quite healthy and walks everyday, but she is 75, after all, and she remembers getting quite tired the last time she went to WDW, and that was nine years ago. She loves WDW, though, especially the MK, and the thought of being there with the kids must have been very appealing to her, because she agreed to come with us! :woohoo:

I let her know that she doesn’t have to spend every moment of the trip with us, and that if she does start to get tired she should just stay at the resort for the evening. She looked aghast when I suggested this. “I don’t want to miss any time with my sweethearts!” I know that an ECV would be out of the question. She would just be too self-conscious. Hmmm. I’ll just have to keep my eye on her.

Next chapter: Where to Stay and the Disney Dining Plan or “How am I supposed to know where I want to eat dinner 180 days from now??”

Kathy

[Avivasmom]

We will be there part of the time from Nov 5th to 7th staying at CSR. I am almost done with my master's in ESE (special education). I am also taking 4 extra courses in autism for my endorsement on my certification. I want to teach students with autism.

Looking forward to reading your trip reports!!

[janets]

from Nov. 4-11. We'll also be staying DVC (I'm currently booked in a 1BR at VWL but am waitlisted for a larger unit). This will be our first trip home.

My kids are a bit younger (older ds was 8 in Feb and will be iin 3rd grade, younger ds will be 4 in July) but are WDW veterans. In fact, November will be their 4th trip this year alone! So I can totally relate to your feelings of being a Disney fanatic.

I want to thank you for your descriptive writing on autism. DS8, while not autistic, does exhibit some behaviors on the spectrum, which I'm told is not necessarily out of the ordinary. He has some difficulty reading non verbal cues, can be obsessive at times, and interestingly enough, he's also a sniffer! Not to the extreme, but I've noticed it for years about him so thought it was interesting that you mentioned it. He's had some trouble making friends but we've had him see a therapist and he's currently in a social skills class (with a bunch of other boys his age...some of whom I'm sure are autistic) which is helping him out bunches. I am so thankful that the drs say it isn't anything that we should be seriously worried about, since his verbal skills are off the charts and he is able to concentrate on tasks, does very well in school but just needs a bit of "help" with social issues.

Perhaps we'll run into you during out trip in November. Where are you staying this time? Also, since you've done this before in a 1 bdrm, how do you handle where the kids sleep? I'm concerned since for all of our trips, ds4 has slept w/ me and ds8 sleeps w/ dad. I'm hoping that w/ the larger unit, we can move him to another part of the unit, but I'm not sure where. How do you arrange sleeping for the kids, particularly since you have girl/boy? I was thinking of bringing an Aerobed or similar bed for ds8 and have ds4 sleep in the sofa bed or vice versa. Thoughts?

Looking forward to additional pre trip posts from you. I'd be happy to talk w/ you about what we have planned and the dining I'm hoping to make. Have you done your ADRs yet? I did ours for September (free dining) but not November.

Also, where in NJ are you? We're in Morris County.

[KathyRN137]

Welcome back! In Part One, you met our Cast and learned about the plans I’ve made thus far for our November journey to see the Mouse. These next several posts will be about the trip-planning phase, so, if you like that kind of thing—great! If you just want the “meat and potatoes” of the trip, please check back with me in a few months!! :wave2:


(If you like, please go to page 6, "We're Back!", if you want to get right to the trip!)

But, since planning is half the fun for some of us....



For a long time, my “guilty pleasure” has been the hours I spend pouring over WDW info in preparation for our upcoming vacation. I never really had an interest in any hobbies, except perhaps, curling up with a good book. Over the past few years, however, WDW trip-planning has BECOME my hobby. (Some would say my part-time job!) Now that I have discovered the Dis-boards, I can indulge myself in the World of Disney Vacationing whenever I have precious moments to spare! It’s so nice to have other WDW fans to “talk” to, so I don’t have to drive my friends and family crazy with my incessant chatter! Thanks for listening! :grouphug:

So, where were we? Oh, yes. Choosing a Resort! Ahh, decisions, decisions!! Well, fewer decisions now that we are DVC members. You see, even though there are great resorts like AKL and the POLY that I would love to try, it just doesn’t make sense to me to “spend” more in points to stay in a standard room at one of these than to stay in a 1BR vacation home at BCV or WL!! Fewer points for a full kitchen, whirlpool tub, and a washer/dryer right in your room! I would rather have the larger accommodations. We stayed four in a room at both CBR and POFQ. Wonderful resorts, but by the end of the week, we sure were tired of living on top of one another! Now, please don’t get me wrong! It’s not like we live in some McMansion here in NJ. No Way! We have a little 1-1/2 story Cape with 1 bath and a teeny-tiny kitchen. It’s just that it can be tough sharing a bedroom with two active children, especially when one child is autistic.

Well, you may recall that it will not be four of us this time, but six. Three adults, two kids, and one teen-ager (for three of the seven nights). That means a 2BR vacation home is in order. In Regular, not Value season like I’m used to. Yikes! Okay, so I always wanted to try Old Key West ; looks like this is a good time! (Fewer points, larger accommodations than other DVCs) Can’t beat that! So, one ressie for OKW!

From what I’ve read in the books and on the boards, OKW seems just perfect for our little group. Quiet, relaxed atmosphere. Low-key. Just right for unwinding after touring the parks. I requested a unit on an upper floor (for me…I don’t like staying on ground level…especially if we could get visits from “critters”!), and in one of the three buildings that have elevators (for AR). These buildings (#62-64) are also relatively close to the Hospitality House and the theme pool (good for the kids). So that’s set! :thumbsup2

Next…..FOOD!! Definitely doing the Dining Plan. Even though we have a full kitchen?? Yes. Here's why:

::MickeyMo Kitchen or no, Ed says he absolutely will not have his wife cooking while on vacation. I love that man!

::MickeyMo We only use our kitchen for quick breakfasts before heading out the door. Remember how I said in Part One that I am the one getting the family up early and chasing them out the door to get to the parks early? Especially for EMHs....definitely want to take advantage of those! Breakfast at the food court just wastes valuable touring time!

::MickeyMo The DP is most cost effective for CS lunches and TS dinners. Normally, with just the kids, we would be content to eat CS for most, if not all, of our dinners. This time, however, we have a 75 yr old woman with us who, while known to eat the occassional hamburger now and then, will certainly rather have TS for dinner. Therefore, the DP should save us $$.

The only glitch in the DP for us is Eddie(16), who will be arriving for the last three nights of our stay. We can't have him on the initial ressie because everyone on that must have the DP. We can't add him on after he registers, so we will have to pay cash for the three days he is in WDW. Drat!! You know how much a 16 yr old boy can eat!! :laughing:

Next, Part Three: Park Hours, EMHs, and ADRs shape the Operational Plan!
Kathy

[KathyRN137]

oops! Sorry!

[GretchGraham]

Kathy,

I think you will really like OKW. My DD8 has autism with the related sensory issues and we love the extra space along with the jetted tub.

[KathyRN137]

Welcome Back!

Now that I know when we will be traveling (Nov 5-12 ) and where we will be staying (OKW), the next thing I do is to form what DH (the SWAT team leader) refers to as "Kathy's Tactical Operations Plan"!

:hourglass I impatiently count the days until April 1st when the hours of operation are posted for the theme parks. November hours are fairly short. I am particularly interested in the EMHs schedule because we try to take a break at our resort midday and the EMHs really help!

I have to admit that I preferred the old EMH schedule; one park opened an hour early each day. I'm not a morning person, not by a long shot, but we get to do so much more in the 8-9am time period! We would then "hop" to a non-EMH park in the evening to avoid the crowds. Evening EMHs are great; just more crowded. Of course, no one likes crowds at WDW, but for our family it is very important that we plan our itinerary around the least crowded days for each park. :crowded:

As mentioned in Part One, Billy, my autistic DS(8) is "sensory-seeking" in some areas, and "sensory-defensive" in others. What does this mean? Well, let me try to give you an example: You are watching the SpectroMagic Parade and the stranger next to you is standing uncomfortably close to you. You seek to reduce the uncomfortable stimulus by moving away from him a bit. Now you feel better! Now, reverse the situation! You are really looking forward to viewing the parade, but you can't quite see around a lamppost that is in front of you. You move a bit to the side, then a little foreward, jockeying for a better view. You weren't getting the stimulus that you craved, (a good view), so you acted in order to get it. Now you feel better!

Because autism is primarily a nervous system disorder, autistic children have problems with handling the environmental stimuli that bombards us all each day. In order to cope, they often withdraw from their environment, or perhaps engage in abnormal, obsessive, or repetative behaviors in order to get the stimulation that they crave, or to block out the stimulation that is too much for them to handle. These are commonly referred to as "stimming"behaviors. Now, take an autistic child and place them in an environment like WDW, and you can see why he will now have a difficult time with crowds, noise, and some of the special effects in the WDW shows and attractions.

Billy is probably more sensory-seeking than sensory defensive, so there are a lot of reasons why he loves going to WDW! He loves spinning and swinging sensations, so he has a blast on rides like the teacups and Star Tours! He loves the coasters like BTMRR and SM. This year, he wants to try R&RC!! Only problem is, he gets so excited that he can get really hyper :hyper: And when he gets hyper, he gets LOUD! He makes noise constantly, but when overstimulated, the noises can be piercingly loud. He also will get preoccupied with one thing and says it over and over AND OVER! So, if you see my big 8 yr old with a chewy tube in his mouth and ear plugs in his ears, now you know why!! And if he asks twenty times in a row for Mickey's Philharmagic when we are in line for Peter Pan, please try to understand that he just can't help himself!

Anything that I can do to help Billy to manage his behavior will help our entire family, not to mention the other families around us! That is why the primary goals of the OP (OperationalPlan ) are:
::MickeyMo To tour the parks during the least crowded conditions;
::MickeyMo To ensure that everyone gets adequate rest; and
::MickeyMo To balance structure with flexability.

So, now you know why I am obsessing over my OP six months prior to our vacation!

Now that I have the park hours and EMHs in hand, I have to look at the other variables that will affect crowd levels. MGMs Super Soap Weekend is the last two days of our stay, so we will want to tour MGM earlier in the week. The Festival of Masters at DD is that same weekend, including that Friday.

Although we usually like to go to DD toward the end of the week, we will need to do that earlier to avoid those crowds. DD(10) simply MUST visit the new Bibbity-Bobbity-Boutique at World of Disney. She's dreaming of hair extensions and glittered hairspray! This entire week will be the last week of the Food and Wine Festival at EPCOT ; hopefully that will only get crowded in the evening and on the weekends. It goes without saying that we don't do MK on Saturday!! We will have to brave SOME crowds toward Veteran's Day weekend because Eddie will be coming in and will want to do the thrill rides. By then, the rest of us will be doing these the second or third time around, so there will be less pressure to do everything (I hope!) Well, several rough drafts later, I've come up with the tentative OP :

Sunday:
Morning-Travel time (flight info?) Check-in at OKW
Afternoon-EPCOT (Future World)
Dinner-Coral Reef
Evening-More EPCOT (FW)

Monday:
Morning-Animal Kingdom (Early EMH)
Lunch- CS?
Return to OKW for nap
Afternoon-MGM
Dinner-50's PTC
Evening-More MGM

Tuesday:
Morning-Magic Kingdom
Lunch- CS?
Return to OKW for nap
Afternoon-Magic Kingdom
Dinner-Character Meal at Liberty Tree Tavern
Evening- More MK

Wed:
Morning- Sleep in! Swim/relax
Lunch- CS?
Afternoon-EPCOT (World Showcase)
Dinner-Alfredo's
Evening-More EPCOT

Thursday:
Morning-Magic Kingdom (early EMH)
Lunch- Character Meal at Crystal Palace
Late Afternoon-Return to OKW for nap
Evening- DH to airport to pick up DSS. Rest of us to DD
Dinner-CS at DD

Friday
Morning-MGM
Lunch-CS?
Return to OKW for nap/swim
Afternoon-EPCOT (Future World-evening EMHs)
Dinner-LeCellier
Evening-More EPCOT

Saturday:
Morning-Animal Kingdom
Lunch-CS?
Afternoon-AK until after the 4pm parade
Return to OKW for nap/swim
Dinner- Olivia's
Evening-Pack/relax/swim

Sunday:
Check-out. Leave bags at Bell Service.
Morning-Magic Kingdom
Lunch-CS?
Afternoon-MK until time to return to resort
Late Afternoon- leave for the airport :sad1:

Whew!! We don't get to utilize as many EMHs as I would like, but I think it's the best I can do considering the above-mentioned variables for this trip. We follow the K. Family tradition of starting our trip with EPCOT and working our way up to the MK! It's also traditional for us to visit the MK on our last day so we can say "good-bye" to the Castle!

Thanks for letting me share!
Kathy

Next Chapter: Locking in those all-important ADRs and OMG! They want HOW MUCH for airfare?!

[MomOf2DisneyKids]

Or, in the middle of watching a baseball game from the stands…while others shout, “Swing batter, batter!”, DS will shout, “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer!” at the top of his lungs! :rotfl: (That one was pretty funny!).

:lmao: :rotfl2: :rotfl: ok, I'm a mom of a kid w/ an ASD and this is SO funny and I can SO relate!!! Love the trip report so far....keep up the good work!!

[Minniespal]

Enjoyed reading your reports ~ Thanx for sharing.

[KathyRN137]

Pre-Trip Report # Four:

Hello, again! :wave2:

As mentioned in Part One, our family has decided to try the Dining Plan this year. I mapped out our schedule of parks, so now my attention is turned toward Disney restaurants. The 180-day window is marked on my calendar in red ink. Like all good vacation planners, I seek input from everyone. I eagerly question the members of our group, “So, what restaurants would you like to eat at in WDW?”

Ed “Kathy, how am I supposed to know what I want for dinner six months from now?" Resumes watching TV.
Tricia: "I don't know!" Resumes reading her book.
Billy: “Fries!” Resumes spinning on swivel chair.
AR: “Wherever you want to eat is fine with me.” Resumes beaming at children.
Eddie: “Kathy, how am I supposed to know what I want for dinner six months from now?” Sound familiar? Resumes threatening me with ToT. :scared:

Is this a conspiracy? Am I the only one in this family who understands the urgency of these decisions? The fate of our WDW vacation hangs in the balance! I patiently explain to Ed that we can continue to “wing it” for our CS lunches, but that we needed ADRs ASAP for our TS dinners unless we want to eat burgers and fries every night.

“Fries!” exclaims Billy.
“Well, didn’t we want to try Coral Reef ?” Ed asks. “Why didn’t we do that last time?”
“Because we couldn’t get a reservation.”
“Oh.” One vote for Coral Reef .
“Fries, PLEASE!”
“I’ll eat steak.” offers Eddie.
“Well, I do like when the characters come around to your table,” remarks AR.
“Great!” I say. “Which character meals would you like to do?”
“Oh, wherever you want to eat is fine with me.” Sigh. OK, one vote for character meals
“I’m too old for the princess meals!” declares Tricia.
“Fries! Fries! FRIES !!”
“Yes, honey, you can have......
“I mean, I LIKE the princesses, I’m just too old for princess meals.” Tosses hair.
“Fries! Fries! Fries! Fries! Fries! Fries! ”

OK, I tried.

Happily, the 180-day mark falls on one of my days off. The kids are off to school, my DH is upstairs sleeping off his 12 hr night shift, and I’m on the phone with Disney! We usually eat dinner around 7pm; AR usually eats at around 5:30. I decide to compromise and go with “anytime around 6pm.” I know, I know. That’s prime dinner- time. So, it won’t kill us to eat a little early. AR, on the other hand, would be famished by 7 or 8pm.

I start with the toughest one first: LeCellier . For our first night in EPCOT. The only times available for a party of five: 4.00 or 8:30 . AT 180 DAYS OUT! Are they kidding? Is LeCellier THAT GOOD? :confused3 This isn’t even during Free Dining! Well, I keep trying. Finally get a 6pm ADR for Friday night. Good. DSS can have his steak! The other ADRs were not a problem; everything fell into line pretty easily. Two character meals for AR and me, (oh, and the kids): Crystal Palace (Pooh! pooh: ), and Liberty Tree Tavern ::MinnieMo pluto: . We did the CP breakfast once before, this time we’re doing lunch. First time at LTT and I’ve read good things about it! We had a fun time at 50's Prime Time Cafe three years ago on our first trip to Disney, so we’ll try it again. AR should get a kick out of it.

That’s it. Nothing Fancy. But it’s amazing how the DP is shaping our evenings. Gone are the days of spontaneity when it comes to our evening meals. Unless, of course, we only want… FRIES!!

Thanks for listening, :grouphug:

Kathy

[JoenAdamnErinnSam]

I am loving your descriptions- I have a sister, Kathy, who has twins, Samantha and Erin-Erin is autistic, and also has Moebious Syndrome-she has no nerves in her face and can't smile, is the simple version. They also live in NJ. You could be writing about Erin and not your son- we take them to Disney often, and while we get and have used the GAC, she is so much more involved and alert at Disney, we wish we could live there. You would think the stimulation would be too much for her, but she is a daredevil and loves the rides, the faster the better...lol
We try to prepare her everyday, with what we will be doing-so we avoid any meltdowns, and we will hear it verbatim, alllll day long...and then what?and then what?? But she really does shine there. I will be following your story and passing it along to Kathy. Thank you for sharing. Sue

[OhMari]

Thanks for sharing your Pre-Trip Planning.

My sister went with her family last year, the only advice I gave her was to take documentation along from her pediatrician stating her son was autistic.

My bil kept telling his boys they were going to Fake World. Nice guy. He came back praising his WDW vacation. Pixie dust sure worked with him. They experienced a lot of 1st with their autistic son and had the badge to let them get on rides right away. My bil said, they sat on the train for over an hour at the MK. They are going back with us next April and they are going to stay at the Animal Kingdom and only do what bryce wants to do, they want to take it a lot slower this time.

[KathyRN137]

Hello,everyone! :wave2:

Any bride who has ever planned a wedding knows how I feel at this point in the planning phase. You know; the date is set, the service arranged, the banquet hall reserved....all the BIG plans nailed down by the six-month mark.

BUT....

It's still too early to do a lot of the smaller tasks that gradually move you closer and closer to the big day!

This is the point in my WDW planning that I begin to get antsy. Of course, daily life keeps me busy and, while I would never wish precious days away, I do find myself thinking that November is soooo far off and that it is so hard to wait for our trip to WDW. :snail: So, usually late in the evening, when the kids are asleep and DH is at work, and I'm done with the day's activities, I find myself here on the boards either trying to pick up the latest WDW info or to travel to WDW vicariously through other's trip reports. :surfweb:

My Billy came to me earlier in the evening and looked me right in the eye and said, "Go to WDW??" I try not to talk too much about the trip so far ahead but, of course, he knows that we are going and he just loves it so much...it's rather nice to make a connection with your child in that way when he's autistic. If I asked him what his favorite color was or what he did in school that day, he would not be able to verbalize it unless I used a social story or some form of pictoral aid. But when he asked about WDW, I said, "What do you want to do at WDW?", and immediately he rattled off about eight of his favorite attractions without any prompting at all. THAT is one of the magical ways WDW affects my son. :cloud9:

Now I have to put the time of the trip in perspective for him because he's off and running to put on his socks and sneakers to leave for the airport!! "First, summer vacation, then, back to school, then Halloween, and THEN, WDW!" He repeats the sequence a few times and seems to accept it.

Now, if only Mommy could accept it! LOL!

Okay, let me try to think of some constructive things to do during the next three boring months until preparations for our trip rev up a bit. Hmmm. :scratchin

Well, there are the few (cough, cough) pounds that I always manage to put on evey winter! A little more time on diet planning and exercise would be more constructive than a couple of hours plunked in front of the computer each night! In fact, Billy has put on a little weight himself. I resolve to take him out for walks with our dog everyday after school. It will help him to build up endurance for all the walking at WDW...whoops! There I go again!

Of course, there are always projects around the house. The wallpaper in the bathroom began lifting in places a few months ago and Billyhas been pulling little pieces off whenever any bits curl up, so now there are little strips missing all over. Definitely could strip the whole thing and paint it. That will keep me busy for a little while!

Tricia wants me to read some of the books she's read so we can have a little Mother/Daughter book club of sorts. "Mom, you REALLY should read Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg , it's a new classic!" :rotfl:

And, of course, with summer almost here (it's been 90 degrees and humid for the past three days), the kids will want to go to the pool whenever they can. Our town pool doesn't open until school ends--June 21st. Ugh!

Yes, I think that I can try to keep my mind off of WDW so the wait does not seem so excruciatingly long! Wish me luck!

Kathy

[TLinden16]

You sure are all ready to go! What a planner! I have to start thinking about my December trip soon--I'll be six months out from that trip in a few weeks.

Thanks for posting.

[bookworm61]

Kathy,
It sounds like you have done a great job planning! I have one son with AS and another who has alot of spectrum traits (spinning, humming, finger stims, sensory defensiveness for sounds, poor eye contact) without many of the other hallmark traits (rigidity, routines, tantrums,OCD behaviors, repeating phrases), so know alot about going to WDW with kids like ours. I don't know if you have seen it, but allears has some articles on WDW for autistic kids. It sounds to me, though, that you could write such an article yourself!!

We do many of things that you do......tour without crowds, get the GAC, midday breaks, breakfast in the room, make reservations for meals (my family also doesn't want to participate, but they are sure glad when we have a reservation), bring earplugs. By the way, I usually bring more than one pair, ever since my DS left them on a ride one time.

We also try to rent a car most times to cut down on bus waiting time. We do this even when we stay on property. When we can, we get AAA Diamond parking pass, which allows special area parking very close to the park. So far as meals, my AS son will still only eat a plain burger, a plain slice of pizza or chicken strips (plain of course!!) and fries, fries and more fries. :) However, hallelujah, he will now eat plain steak in a restaurant. By the way, he is 16 now. This change took a long, long time.

He loves going back to WDW. It is his favorite vacation and he loves doing the same rides everytime. He is not a fan of change. :rotfl2:

Enjoy your trip. I look forward to reading your trip report after you get back. :)

[gshumaker]

We are planning our 2nd trip to WDW with our DS15 who has autism too.

I've enjoyed reading your posts!!

[disneygal66]

Kathy,


I have enjoyed your pre trip posts immensely!! We have a DS-6 with ASD and a DS-10 with NVLD, Anxiety Disorder and ADHD. I am the planner of the family and everyone rolls their eyes when I mention certain things too. Our first trip last year, I was being called "Sarge"! I'm not sure if I was flattered or offended. LOL! Anyway, we were at WDW last November from 12th-19th. The weather couldn't have been better! We were able to swim and I think our last night we had to wear light jackets!
So hopefully you will get that type of weather!

:offtopic: Did you have any problems with potty training your DS? Mine just will not BM on the potty. If you have any ideas, just PM or you can email me.

Keep up the great posts!!

Mary

[KathyRN137]

Disneygal: Sent you a PM on the BM!

[KathyRN137]

Adventures in Autism: Pre-Trip Report #6

:wave2: Well, friends, it’s June 5th, and that means I can say it’s five months to WDW instead of six. Sounds a little bit better!

I’ve been a good girl and have been out walking every day. Billy joins me for our doggy’s afternoon walk, so he’s getting more exercise, too. Aunt R was all in a tizzy b/c her Dr. wanted her to have a colonoscopy and she was “just sure” that he thought she had cancer. (Her mother/brother died of same.) Tried and tried to reassure her that he only wanted her to have a baseline because of her family hx., but she was inconsolable. Everything is okay and she is now back to her cheery self. Ed is working extra work jobs for the “WDW Fund”; I love that man! :lovestruc

So, here’s the update on the trip planning…..

I decided to join Tour Guide Mike to see if my itinerary was up to snuff. Even though this is our 4th family trip to WDW, I’m always ready to learn more! There’s lots of info on his website! I’m sworn to secrecy about the particulars of his advice, but suffice it to say, I’ve tweaked our itinerary quite a bit. Remember, my number one priority is to tour the parks on the least crowded days to reduce stress on the family. :thumbsup2

(Plus, I needed to feel like I was “working on our plans”, anyway!)

Drum roll, please! Here is our new Operational Plan for your viewing pleasure:

Sunday :woohoo:
Morning: Travel (TBA)
Noon(?): Check-in at OKW
Lunch: CS at either OKW or MGM
Afternoon: MGM
Dinner: TS at 50s Prime Time Cafe (ADR-6:30pm)
Evening: Return to OKW after dinner, relax, turn in early

Monday :)
Morning: EPCOT (FW)
Lunch: Character meal at The Garden Grill (ADR-12:30)
<<Return to OKW after lunch for a rest>>
Afternoon: EPCOT (WS)
Dinner: TS at Alfredo's (ADR-6:00pm)
Evening: more EPCOT ( until 9:00pm)

Tuesday :)
Morning: Magic Kingdom (9:00am)
Lunch: CS at MK
<<Return to OKW after lunch for a rest>>
Afternoon: Magic Kingdom
Share a Dream Come True Parade (3:00pm)
Dinner: Character Meal at Liberty Tree Tavern (ADR-5:55pm)
Evening: more MK (until 8:00pm)

Wednesday :)
Morning: Magic Kingdom (9:00am)
Lunch: CS at MK
<<Return to OKW for a rest>>
Afternoon: Magic Kingdom
Dinner: Character Meal at Crystal Palace (ADR-6:35pm)
Evening: more MK (until 8:00pm)

Thursday :thumbsup2
Morning: SLEEP IN! Resort time; swimming
<<In case of rain: visit Animal Kingdom Lodge >>
Lunch: CS at either OKW or AKL
Afternoon: Animal Kingdom (until 6:00pm)
Jammin' Jungle Parade (4:00pm)
Evening: DH to airport to pick up DSS(16)
Rest of us to Downtown Disney for shopping/BBB for DD(10)
Dinner: CS at DD

Friday* First day with DSS(16)* :banana:
Morning: MGM (9:00am)
Lunch: CS at MGM
<<return to OKW for a rest>>
Afternoon: Magic Kingdom
Dinner: TS at Tony's Town Square Restaurant (ADR-6:30pm)
Evening: Wishes (8:00pm)
Spectromagic (9:00pm)

Saturday :)
Morning: Animal Kingdom (9:00am)
Lunch: CS at AK
<<Return to OKW for a rest>>
Afternoon: EPCOT (FW)
Dinner: TS at Coral Reef (ADR-6:40pm)
Evening: Illuminations (9:00pm)

Sunday :sad2:
Morning: Check-out
Magic Kingdom (9:00am)
Lunch: CS at MK
Afternoon: MK (until we need to leave!)
Late Afternoon: Leave for airport
Evening: Travel (TBA)


Well, I managed to s-t-r-e-t-c-h my planning a bit more! Now it’s *only* 154 more days to go! :rotfl:

Again, thanks for listening!

Kathy

[jackdis]

Kathy,
I'm enjoying your trip report so far. I laughed at a lot of your planning descriptions....I think we think alike!!! :) :)

[teentoddlermom]

Hi Kathy
I just joined TGM too, and, having spent last Veteran's day at WDW, was hoping that you would adjust some of your plans. It was very crowded during our last trip, but we were able to get around with less stress with some of the TGM suggestions. It seems WDW gets really busy now in the fall, because people just don't like the heat! It is getting to be that there is no really uncrowded time to visit, so touring with good planning is so necessary!
My 3 year old wonderful niece was diagnosed with Autism at 14 months. Every day has been hard. It is nice to hear of your son's successes.
See you on the TGM boards!

[3princesses+aprince]

What great trip reports!!! I'll think i'll do pre trip reports too..
I absolutely can't wait to read your trip report because i am going November 1-8, 2007. (You think you have a long wait :crazy: ) It's never too early to start planning. I love it.

[KathyRN137]

What great trip reports!!! I'll think i'll do pre trip reports too..
I absolutely can't wait to read your trip report because i am going November 1-8, 2007. (You think you have a long wait :crazy: ) It's never too early to start planning. I love it.

Ughh! You poor thing! I guess 5 months isn't so bad, after all! :hourglass

Well, folks, I have to say that TGM has really rejuvenated my planning. I keep changing our Operational Plan around and have changed several ADR's so many times that I'm positive that I'm on some special list of " :crazy: Guests to Put Up With" at Disney Dining!

I've looked long and hard at our plan and I became convinced that we were still touring "too hard". I'm not sure how having a 75 yr old AND an autistic 8 yr old AND typical 10 and 16 yr olds is going to work (but I still can't wait to find out!)

Plus, Ed sort of threw another wrench into the works. I proudly showed him our itinerary and pointed to our half-day to "sleep in/swim/relax" at OKW, thinking that he would finally be pleased about getting the resort time he's been missing. So, what does he do? Yup, you guessed it! Likes the idea so much, he now wants a full day of R&R! Also wants to spend our first night "relaxing" at the resort! WILL THIS ITINERARY SABOTAGE NEVER END??!!

What to do, what to do? Hmmmm........ :idea:

Well, there's just no way around it! I just had to add another day! (I just haven't told Ed yet...Shhhh...it's *our* little secret for now!)

So now, we'll be coming in a day earlier--don't have to get up excruciatingly early for an early am flight now, and we'll just check in and explore the resort and relax. Next am, we'll be up early to hit our first park at opening. Day 5 will be a full day off from touring; we'll just go to Downtown Disney in the afternoon so Tricia can go to BBB for pampering Fairy Godmother-style!

It's hard for me to believe that next week is the kid's last week of school; now we'll be switching gears to summer schedules! Tricia will be attending various half day camps in June/July and Billy gets one week off before starting his ESP (extended summer program) at school for the full month of July. August is when they are allowed to be lazy! I like my kids to have some activities planned, but I do think that some of their summer should be reserved for just goofing around and swimming at the town pool.

I'll keep you updated on any major planning changes. Can't wait to be writing about our actual trip!!

Kathy

[LindaBabe]

Kathy, WHAT a great report and you haven't even gotten off the ground yet. I have a feeling it will go down in history on the DIS-Ability board.

Couple little suggestions - you might find it valuable to read the Passporter's Walt Disney World for your special needs by Deb Wills and Debra Koma. FABULOUS resource for all kinds of special needs including Autism and traveling with the elderly.

Please please please broach the subject of an ECV with Auntie, so that you can rent one for her from off site. She is Not to be allowed to think that she's giving in to age, but rather helping you all - and it will be - There is just so DARN much walking that since she wants to be with the kids every minute, it will enhance the quality of her trip so much to not have to walk every step. It will enhance the quality of your trip too, because the basket can carry some of the things you might normally need to lug.

I'm 58, with fibro. I get through my normal workday just fine, without even a cane, but using An ecv has given me the world back.

Can't WAIT to read more of your reports!

[KathyRN137]

[QUOTE=LindaBabe]Kathy, WHAT a great report and you haven't even gotten off the ground yet. I have a feeling it will go down in history on the DIS-Ability board.

Well, I will probably win a prize for "Earliest Start of Trip Report"! :lmao:

Couple little suggestions - you might find it valuable to read the Passporter's Walt Disney World for your special needs by Deb Wills and Debra Koma. FABULOUS resource for all kinds of special needs including Autism and traveling with the elderly.

Oh, yes! I LOVE that book!

Please please please broach the subject of an ECV with Auntie, so that you can rent one for her from off site. She is Not to be allowed to think that she's giving in to age, but rather helping you all - and it will be - There is just so DARN much walking that since she wants to be with the kids every minute, it will enhance the quality of her trip so much to not have to walk every step. It will enhance the quality of your trip too, because the basket can carry some of the things you might normally need to lug.

Ha! That's a tough one! Aunt R. is actually quite healthy and ambulatory; her pride would be hurt if I brought that up now. If the trip does seem to wear on her, I plan to point to one of the many people wheeling around on an ECV and say, "Oh, look at that! That might be a good idea...". She is a sensible lady and would NOT want to miss out by staying in her room while we went off to play. I'm hoping to match our touring to her endurance level, and we always take a midday nap at the resort, anyway, so I'm hoping for the best!

The only other problem with the ECV is that Billy will try to climb up on it and ride with her! :laughing:

Thank you for your kind words!

Kathy

[jaycns]

Great pre report! You just inspired me...I won't be going to WDW until September 16 BUT I think I will have to start by sharing my planning adventures! AFTER I get a few more very important details hashed out! :) THANKS for the inspiration and the GREAT report!

[KathyRN137]

Your Attention, please! We interrupt this Pre-Trip Report for late-breaking news of yet another future trip to WDW for KathyRN.....


Rumors of a second WDW Trip have just been confirmed. After weeks of encouraging his wife to resume her previous exercise regime of walking/jogging, DH has just announced that in light of a resumed activity level on the part of his DW, he has registered both DW and himself for WDW Marathon Weekend events for Jan, '07! :faint:

This unprecedented move is obviously an unabashed attempt on the part of DH to motivate and encourage DW to regain her previously svelte figure, as well as to procure a "romantic weekend alone together".

It is unclear at this time exactly how getting up at 3 am and then pounding the WDW pavement together (along with a thousand or so other runners) can comprise part of a "romantic" weekend in the mind of DH, but at press time, the official position of DW is {Quote} "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth." {end Quote}.

Details are as follows: DH and DW to run 5K on Fri, DH to also run half-marathon on Sat (show-off!), then DH and DW to enjoy post-race festivities Sun at PI; returning home on Mon . Accommodations will be at the Swan, utilizing the ::cop: discount.

As is usual, plans for childcare for Tricia(10) princess: and Billy(8) :earboy2: have not even entered DH's head when making such a bold and sweeping move, and will undoubtedly fall to DW to arrange and procure through her loving sisters in NJ (four), as well as the ever-doting Aunt R. Arrangements will also be needed for :dog:, but for the time being, this reporter is still absorbing the shock of today's announcement!

Kathy

[MarieS]

Kathy--
I have really enjoyed reading your trip reports. I have two sons with multiple disabilites ( including sensory problems) and your first installment really touched me. I planned a trip for several years and we finally went last fall. It was so fabulous and magical! :wizard: My boys were so alert and engaged in their environment. CMs were wonderful and no one made a big deal about the kids wheelchairs. So I know what you mean about finding a place where you can enjoy yourselves as a family. I thought it was a once in a lifetime trip, but am already trying to find a way to get the boys back there!
Looking forward to reading more of your report!

Marie

[mdsouth]

I am loving your pretrip report! It is both entertaining and educational!

Thanks for sharing your family with us. My son (9) is similiar to janets
a few minor symptoms but no diagnosis.

Smells (I once caught him smelling a freshly tarred parking lot, he loved the smell). Smells can also immediately make his stomach sour and for him to lose his lunch. While painting a school project at school the paint made him sick and he lost it -- right in front of the school principal and a group of visiting superintendents to the school.

Fixations -- Maps, Maps, Interstates, Hotels etc. (We call him Rand McNally).
In my own trip report (To Infinity and Beyond), I talk about his disappointment in flying to WDS instead of driving.

Poor Social Skills

Thanks again, and am looking forward to reading about the family trip and your "Romantic Weekend" :rotfl2: I really laughed at that one!!! :rotfl2:

mdsouth

[HenDuck]

Just wanted to say your pre-trip reports are terrific! I am getting excited for you and your family!

The way you take care of your DS is unbelievable!

My DS does not have autism, but I am really conscious of his needs, everyday, but also when we travel. I realize I have it easy.

I hope you all have a wonderful trip!

:goodvibes

[jodistar]

Great Pre-Trip report Kathy :thumbsup2. I'm so jealous, you were able to make ADR's already.....I still have a little bit to wait yet.

[Disney owl]

Great start & what a plan

I look forward to reading your reports when you get back

[kellyf2626]

What a fabulous pre-TR! :thumbsup2 As a speech pathologist, I can fully understand the dramatic gains made by your son as a result of his visits to WDW. Congrats and best wishes for continued success with the help of Disney Magic! :wizard: Also - give yourself a big pat-on-the-back for being such a knowledgable, loving mother!! :goodvibes

Can't wait to hear more!! We just went in June and loved :love: the DP!! You will eat until you explode - but will love every minute of it!!

[KathyRN137]

THANKS!!

.....to all of you for your interest and words of encouragement!

Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions about taking an autistic child to WDW!!

Come on, November!! :snail:

[Ron from Michigan]

Thanks for including all of us here on the Dis in your pre- planning. We do the same thing at our house. We are going in mid October and have all our ADR's made. Looking forward to reading your report after you come home. :)

[wvdislover]

I'm loving your pre-TR! We just got back from WDW a couple of weeks ago, and I'm so ready to go back. My DH is giving me dirty looks b/c I've turned my 2 DD into Disney Fanatics, too. My DD8 is ADHD, with sensory and anxiety issues, and autistic tendencies. She tried some new things when we were at Disney, too, like BTMR and a large water slide at Blizzard Beach. It's so great to see the big smile on her face while we're there, as we don't see a whole lot of them at home. I like the idea of thinking of the trip as a form of therapy. Maybe I could use that one on DH to convince him to return sooner than he's planning! :cool1: We had the paperwork to get a GAC when we went, but the lines were short enough that we didn't need to get it, until our last day, but there were so many people in the park, DD8 and I (also ADHD) needed to just get away from the crowd. Good luck with your trip!

[KathyRN137]

Hello again! :wave2:

Happy 4th of July Weekend to all! We now have only four months to WDW! Yay! Sounding better and better to my ::MickeyMo ears! The next milestone will be the “double digit dance”, about one month from now! Come on, November! :snail:

Believe it or not, I’m already beginning to squirrel away various items for our vacation! I keep a Disney Box , which I fill with supplies as we get closer to our departure. Some items get shipped down in advance while others get packed in with our luggage.

You already know from my screen name that I’m an RN, but have I told you that I work in a doctor’s office? A dermatologist’s office, to be exact. Well, there’s an interesting phenomenon that occurs to nurses who work for dermatologists. Their medicine cabinets and drawers become absolutely stuffed with little sample sizes of almost every sunscreen, hand cream, facial moisturizer, hypoallergenic soap and laundry detergent, athlete’s foot powder, anti-dandruff shampoo, anti-itch cream, and anti-pimple cream on the market! Really!

Drug company sales reps come to our office every day with tons of these little tubes, bottles and packets of products they hope the doctor will recommend or prescribe to his patients. We have baskets of the stuff in our waiting room for patients to take and we still have no room to hold all of it. Reps shower the staff with samples of their products, too. I guess their logic is, hey, if your dermatologist’s nurse tells you that she uses product X to cleanse her face, wouldn’t you want to try it for yourself? Well, the upside to all of this is that KathyRN hardly ever needs to buy any of the above-mentioned products; the downside is finding ways to store all those little sample sized tubes and bottles! Needless to say, the Disney Box has its share.

:beach: It’s only July 4th weekend, yet a lot of stores are having sales on summer “seasonal” items (I guess they have to start making room for the Halloween merchandise that will be displayed next month!) Picked up a few little things for the kids to play with at the OKW pool, a few little things to keep them entertained on the plane, a few little things to occupy them while waiting for SpectroMagic to begin. Few little things: into The Box you go!

I ordered some special t-shirts for the family. Yes, we have been known to do the matching t-shirt thing……you know how much of a nerd I am! (I mean, really! I did start my first TR 6 months in advance!) These shirts are in honor of this year’s trip being taken during "Jersey Week" . They are red with “Jersey Girl”, “Jersey Boy”, “Jersey Mom”, etc. embroidered in royal blue and with a few stars embroidered in white. They look pretty sharp! (IMHO). When I finally get a digital camera, I will post a pic. I’m hoping to get one for my birthday in October. Hooray! The TR will get pics!

The Disboards keep calling my name and at every opportunity I answer! Lately I’m sticking mostly to the Trip Report board, otherwise I’d spend way, way too much time here! Occasionally I do pop in on the DisABILITIES board to see if there is anything there about special needs kids at WDW so I can get/give support.

I’m always particularly thrilled to read the stories of how the Disney magic has touched the lives of so many autistic children and has helped their families to have such incredible family vacations. We tend to throw that word “magic” around a lot when referring to WDW, but it is so real in these instances that I feel I can actually reach out and touch it. pixiedust:

When our family is at WDW, I feel “almost” normal. I feel light of heart and very hopeful for my child’s future when I am witness to each little breakthrough he achieves when we are there.

Like the time we were at EPCOT UK and Pooh and Eeyore suddenly popped into the toy store and Billy just walked up to Eeyore and started talking to him in complete sentences. “Hello, Eeyore, do you want to play a game? (Eeyore starts to play patty-cake with Billy) “That was fun!" (He takes Eeyore by the hand.) “Come on, Eeyore, let’s go home!” I was standing there in shock and then the tears just started welling up in my eyes. My son was seven years old and I had never heard him actually carry on a conversation with anyone. Not even me. I felt like grabbing Eeyore by his other hand and running so I could take him home with us and it could never end. The CM handler just put her arm around my shoulders after I had blubbered a quick “My son is autistic; he never talks this much”, and she said to me, “Isn’t it wonderful!” Then she started crying, too!

The parents who started lining up behind us must have thought we were nuts or something, but I didn’t care! It’s the countless little WDW moments like these that give me such joy and hope , and allows me to cope with the day-to-day struggles of parenting a handicapped child.

I can’t wait to get back there! :cloud9:

Kathy

[wvdislover]

Kathy, I cried when I read this! I see my own daughter (ADHD, Sensory disorder, anxiety issues, autistic tendencies) have successes like these, and, you know, it is the little things that count! When we were at Disney a few weeks ago, it was neat to see how grown up she seemed. It's nice for others to see her as just a normal 8yo :love: , rather than the child that all of her classmates think is "weird." I think I'm going to move to Disney--want to join me? :cool1:

[tacomaranch]

Hi Kathy,

Just wanted to drop a line now that I found you here. Your plans sound wonderful! Everytime I mention WDW the family rolls their eyes. I guess I am over thinking everything.

Did you really find Mikes guide useful? I was thinking about it but given both our situations, I figure I will just go early, use the GAC and fast pass, nap, and go back at nite.

We are staying at the CR but love OKW. The 1 br is perfect and I did laundry each nite so we always had clean fresh clothes. Mousekeeping was perfect and left cute animal towels. We never moved them as they were so nice. The place is peaceful and I loved waking early to have coffee on the patio before anyone got up. The place is huge. Other than noisy kids upstairs two nites it was the best place for us.

This time we need to be able to walk to MK and have immediate access as the twins are coming also. I can't believe we are in a deluxe? I still wonder if it was the right move.

Anyways, keep in touch, love the posts.

[KathyRN137]

It's nice for others to see her as just a normal 8yo :love: , rather than the child that all of her classmates think is "weird." I think I'm going to move to Disney--want to join me? :cool1:

Yes! Yes! Yes! :banana:

I'm not kidding! Ed and I are considering retiring to the Orlando area. Yesterday he admitted to researching job opportunities for retired cops at WDW!! When we took the Keys to the Kingdom tour, we had a talk with the tour guide CM afterwards and he was telling us about Disney's willingness to hire special needs individuals. It got me thinking about the possibility of Billy eventually getting a job at WDW when he grows up. :goodvibes

Kathy

[KathyRN137]

April,

I'll PM you on TGM. OKW sounds heavenly!

Kathy

[jodistar]

Believe it or not, I’m already beginning to squirrel away various items for our vacation! I keep a Disney Box , which I fill with supplies as we get closer to our departure. Some items get shipped down in advance while others get packed in with our luggage. I have started a box also :thumbsup2

I ordered some special t-shirts for the family. Yes, we have been known to do the matching t-shirt thing……you know how much of a nerd I am! (I mean, really! I did start my first TR 6 months in advance!) These shirts are in honor of this year’s trip being taken during "Jersey Week" . They are red with “Jersey Girl”, “Jersey Boy”, “Jersey Mom”, etc. embroidered in royal blue and with a few stars embroidered in white. They look pretty sharp! (IMHO). When I finally get a digital camera, I will post a pic. I’m hoping to get one for my birthday in October. Hooray! The TR will get pics! :goodvibes You sound a lot like me - our last trip I had personalized T-shirts done too, and I will most likely do it this trip too!

I can’t wait to get back there! :cloud9:
Same here - sounds like you have a great plan. I can't wait to see the pictures!

[MarieS]

Kathy--
Our first trip was several years in the planning so I shopped sales at The Disney Store and online for t-shirts and shorts. Since I am also a scrapbooker I wanted our outfits to coordinated for pictures. Kinda neurotic, but it was fun! I will be shopping the after Christmas sales this year in preparation for our Dec 2007 trip.
I understand your reaction to Billy's interaction with Eeyore! My boys were constantly surprising me on our trip. My youngest was so animated and reaching out to the characters. And my oldest really surprised me by wanting a lanyard and collecting pins. He is non-verbal and we were at the muppet store at MGM. Another boy came up to him ( which in itself was wonderful since so many people are hesitant of the wheelchair) and asked to trade pins. I said he can't talk, but would be happy to trade. My son was all smiles and I was almost in tears over my son being treated like a "regular" kid. The magic of Disney! :wizard:

[KathyRN137]

My son was all smiles and I was almost in tears over my son being treated like a "regular" kid. The magic of Disney! :wizard:

Yes, it is such a joy to feel more like a normal family when at WDW! I am blessed with a typically developing daughter as well as with my son. Having Billy really makes me acutely aware that I can never take her "normalcy" for granted.

Kathy

[WDW Poly Princess]

Can't wait for November to hear about your trip! (And because it will mean it's almost time for my trip!)

[Mary Anne]

I have so enjoyed your pre trip report this evening.

I just returned from a week at "home" in the OKWest. You will love it. It may not be our home DVC but it is the one we enjoy the most.

Looking foward to the rest of the report.

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I am enjoying your report! :) I can relate to planning the next trip as soon as you get home, and I can relate to calling for dining 180 days in advance for people who won't give you much input! DH wants every meal to be a buffet, and DS wants every meal to be mac & cheese. Great. :rolleyes:

DS will be in 5th grade and I am pretty sure taking him out of school for a week would be a bad idea. We're going to take him out for 3 days in December, but it will be a surprise. That way he won't be distracted in the days leading up to the trip, and he won't tell his friends he will be missing school for Disney!

I have learned some interesting facts about autism from this thread! DS is almost 10 and was diagnosed with inattentive ADD in February. Funny thing is, he has some quirky things that appear to fall in the autism spectrum. Hand flapping when he gets really excited, tactile defensiveness, and lots of humming, singing, etc. His doctor did a screening to rule out Asperger's, but I am going to keep these things in mind. Some of the behaviors have decreased as he has gotten older, but they are still present. The medications we have tried for the ADD have done NOTHING to improve his focus in the classroom, so we might need to pursue further testing to make absolutely sure the diagnosis is accurate.

Thanks for sharing your experiences!

[KathyRN137]

I saw a tee shirt once that read, “Life is all about how you handle Plan B. ” I should probably wear one like it every day! It could be my motto.

Simba: “What’s a motto?”
Timon: “Nothin’, what’s a motto with you?” :rotfl2:
(Cracks me up every time!)

Yes, once again, my beautiful plan has been rearranged. And I was not one bit happy about it (at first). You may have noticed the absence of Travel Arrangements in the previous versions of the Operational Plan. Well, that is because I have been watching the airfares from Newark to Orlando for about four months, now, and hoping that they would fall a bit. Of course, the price of gas is a factor, but I was astonished that fares that typically have been in the low $200’s were now in the high $500’s and not budging! The only fares in the $200’s were for connecting flights, which would be very difficult for both Billy and Aunt Rae (7-9 hrs of travel).

Ed even suggested that we drive down , but we would have to make so many rest stops that it would take us way too long and would cut into our Disney Time. Besides, did we really want to spend all that time in close quarters listening to Billy stim and Tricia saying, “Be quiet!” all the way from N.J to Fla.? Uh, no. We would be on our last nerve by the time we got to WDW and I shudder to think of the ride home! Besides, the minivan would gobble up a small fortune in gas, anyway. I think Ed was secretly relieved when I vetoed the suggestion!

So, I looked at non-stops out of New York. Non-stops into Tampa. Non-stops out of New York and into Tampa. Orbiz, Travelocity, Expedia. Zip, Zilch, Nada. I was getting worried and seriously considering the connecting flights. Why were the fares so expensive for the second week of November? And then, it came to me….

JERSEY WEEK! :rolleyes:

Of course the fares were not going to come down! Supply and Demand. All the Disney lovers in Jersey were heading to Orlando that week! Ugghhhh. Not good. Not good at all!

I suggested the connecting flights to Ed and Aunt Rae. Ed didn’t think Billy could handle it and Aunt Rae was fearful of lost luggage and swollen ankles. Soooo….Plan B !!

Instead of vacationing from Sat to the next Sun, we will travel midweek and vacation from Wed to Wed. We lose a day, but the airfare for the non-stop flight is much more realistic for a family of five.

But, my plan, my beautiful plan!
My ADRs! My beautiful ADRs!
And one less day of WDW!! Oh, the pain, the pain! :sad:

“What’s the big deal,” said Ed, “It’s just a vacation; don’t get so upset!”

Just a vacation? JUST a vacation?? This isn’t “just” a vacation, this is WDW we’re talking about!

Okay….okay….I’m over it now. Plan B . Sigh. Well, in the big scheme of things, it really isn’t such a big deal.

Getting married (way) too young to a guy who turned out to be an alcoholic, getting divorced and then starting over…that was a big Plan B.

Having a beautiful, healthy, normal baby and then finding out, three years later, that he would never have a normal life because something was wrong with his brain…. that was a bigger Plan B than I could ever imagine.

Yeah, it is just a vacation. So, we lost one day.
Let’s look at the pro’s of this situation:

::MickeyMo Saved big $$$ on airfare that can now be saved for our marathon weekend trip in January. Also saved $$$ by cutting out one night at resort.
::MickeyMo We have a non-stop flight from the most convenient airport.
::MickeyMo We will have three days post-Jersey Week with lower crowd levels in the parks.
::MickeyMo We will now be able to see the Osbourne Spectacle of Lights at MGM.
::MickeyMo We will now be able to see the new "Nemo" show at Animal Kingdom (opening 11/12).
::MickeyMo We will now be able to see the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review at Fort Wilderness on our evening off from the parks.
::MickeyMo The kids don’t miss any more days of school than they would have with Plan A .

Called Disney Dining (again!) and was able to rearrange all ADRs. Thank Goodness!

Husband is happy.
Aunt is happy.
Kids are happy.
So, I am happy.

Life is all about how you handle Plan B .

Kathy
(Oh, shoot! I have no idea how to fix my ticker!)

[JERSEYGIRLINSI]

They are red with “Jersey Girl”, “Jersey Boy”, “Jersey Mom”, etc. embroidered in royal blue and with a few stars embroidered in white. They look pretty sharp! (IMHO). :thumbsup2
We all know that Jersey Girls are the best girls :cool1:
You gotta love us :love:

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Kudos to you!! I am completely rigid about planning, and something like that would have absolutely derailed me. Not permanently derailed, of course, because you do what you have to do to get to WDW, but I would NOT have been happy!

[TwinkieMama]

I just found this and read the whole thing while my 3 little ones played king of the mountain in my lap.
I was so good!
I literally cried (more than once). Thanks for sharing your upbeat attitude and amazing family with us. I'll be looking for further adventures...

[mjmcca]

I live in Brooklyn so I feel your pain about airfare. Sometimes you can get great deals others it is too expensive to contemplate a trip.

[wvdislover]

We rescheduled our last trip twice--first, b/c I scheduled it the same week as dance recitals, second, b/c of airline tiks. All worked out pretty well, except that T.S. Alberto hit during our trip! We didn't make our ADR at Prime Time (I'd been wanting to go there for years and was finally gonna get my chance!). When DD4 looks at you with big puppy dog eyes with rain pouring down on her, what can you do, esp. when DD8 and DH aren't thrilled about standing in the rain, either? It's just rain--we're not gonna melt, people! But I gave in to my family. Oh well, it's just another excuse to go back soon! :banana: I'm glad everything is working out with your rescheduling!

[KathyRN137]

Just had to share something amazing about Plan B:

We received Tricia's soccer schedule for the Fall....

Wanna know what weekend the final Cup matches are being held?

Nov 4-5 . Yes, that's right! The weekend we would have originally been in WDW if we were still following Plan A !!

Will wonders never cease! pixiedust:

Kathy

[KathyRN137]

Hello, all!

Woo-hoo! Woo-hoo! Doin’ the Double Digit Dance!! :banana: :banana: :banana:
That’s only 99 more days until WDW! :dance3:

Okay, I know, still a loooong way to go. But, it sure beats saying “199 more days until WDW”, which is where we started when first planning this trip!

Planning Update:
ADR’s have been completely rearranged to accommodate our new vacation dates. I’m really glad that I decided to add the Hoop-Dee-Doo Review for a night when all six of us will be together. Should be a blast! *Must remember to call in advance for the chicken nuggets for Billy and gluten-free fried chicken for Aunt Rae.

And, speaking of dining, we decided to go ahead and add DSS (Eddie) to the Dining Plan, even though he will only be staying for three nights out of the seven. (I’m still planning to sweet-talk him into missing just ONE day of school—he’ll be visiting for 2 weeks in August and I’m going to “work on him”—I’ll let you know how that one turns out!) We can use the extra TS credits for the HDDR. He’s got the typical insatiable appetite of a 16 yr old boy, so I know the snack credits won’t go to waste! And if there are any CS credits left, we’ll just grab some sandwiches to take with us to the airport on our last day. Just don’t feel like dealing with the DDP/out-of pocket complication while he’s here… should make things easier all around.

Took Aunt Rae to the Disney Store yesterday and she bought her 7-day Park Hopper ticket. I bought Eddie’s ticket, too. (The rest of us have APs.) Can’t believe that a 7-day ticket is only $15 more than the 3-day ticket. Well, I got the 7-day with the no-expiration option for him. This way, IF he joins us for a few days next year, he’s got a ticket just waiting for him! Ha! Just one more reason to come with us to WDW!

Oh, and just for you, JERSEYGIRLINSI, I picked up our “Jersey” tee shirts, and they look GREAT! Can’t wait to show you!

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Ooops! Sorry about that! Billy just came up behind me and gave me a huge bear hug around the neck! And, a few dozen kisses and sniffs! (You may recall that he likes to sniff and smell things.) He loves to press his face against my hair and inhale deeply. Then he chuckles with happiness and does it again before running off! Makes me feel like a huge bouquet of flowers or something! :flower1:

I’m so, so glad that he is sensory-seeking is this respect; some autistic children have an aversion to physical contact. Not my Billy! He’s eight years old and, at an age when most boys are shrugging off hugs and kisses, he still loves to snuggle up next to Ed and me. He’s finished his Extended Summer Program and can now start his “real” summer vacation. Nothing but swimming and playing until September! Good thing, too, because the temperature will be 100* for the next three days!

:beach: Stay cool, everybody!

Kathy

[Mary Anne]

So glad to still see you posting updates. I'm sure it's going to be a wonderful trip.

[KathyRN137]

Hello again! :wave2:

My DSS(16), Eddie, has been up from N.C. for his two-week summer visit, and we’ve been having a great time. After suddenly realizing that we would probably not have another visit from him until our November trip, I decided to hold a family "Disney Meeting" so that all six of us could actually sit down together and discuss our daily itinerary. As much as I relish my role as our family’s official WDW Trip Planner, I wanted to give everyone a chance to put in their own two cents.

And so, while Ed drove across town to pick up Aunt Rae (and some ice cream), I cleared off our dining room table, set out an assortment of WDW maps and travel guides, and put five CDs of Disney music in the player on “shuffle”. While we waited, Billy danced around to "Hakuna Matata" and Tricia and I took out our photo albums from our previous trips and flipped through the pages. We laughed and chatted away as the memories came swirling back. Was this ‘tween the same girl who, just one day earlier, had been rolling her eyes at me when I gleefully announced, “just 90 more days to WDW”? Perhaps the pixie dust was starting to take effect!

Everyone gathered ‘round the table and were briefed on the mundane details of dates, departure times, tickets and transportation. Then came time to talk about the fun stuff! Everyone oohhed and aahhed over my Operational Plan , drawn up with multiple colors for different parks, meals and activities. (Okay, so perhaps it was only Aunt Rae who oohhed and aahhed; the others have seen the OP in its many developmental phases already). Well, at least Ed smiled at me indulgently and Eddie stifled his urge to laugh out loud. Most importantly, I had everyone’s attention!

There was agreeable head nodding ::yes:: as I described the rationale for visiting which parks on which days. Loud dissention :headache: when I explained that the OP would not allow for a visit to Epcot during the weekend when Eddie would be joining us. (“But what about TT and MS ??”) Furious bargaining :chat: as we tweaked the plan to include Epcot on the weekend and add some MK time elsewhere. And downright amazement :eek: when Ed suggested giving up precious resort time for more time at the Studios (to see both the LMA show and Indy !) Go figure!

We then named each park and went around the table so each person could name his or her “must-see” attractions and shows. No big surprises as far as Ed, Billy, and Tricia were concerned; except that Tricia has declared that she wants to try R&RC (she NEVER goes upside down on rides!) Eddie, naturally, is interested mostly in the thrill rides, although he surprised me with his desire to see CoP in the MK. It’s always been closed when we have visited in the past, so I’m hoping to finally get to see this classic attraction as well. My Billy loves everything, especially the 3D movies and anything that goes fast! :moped:


The real stunner came from Aunt Rae. If you recall, she had visited DL several times over the years. Her only trip to WDW was in 1997 with her sister, her niece, and her niece’s two children. Evidently, she did not have the best time.

AR: “My niece wouldn’t get up early because she was on vacation. We never made it to the parks until about 11 o’clock and she and my sister were more interested in the shops than in the attractions. They complained that the lines were too long.”

Me: “Well, what did you do at the Magic Kingdom?”

AR: “We did Small World, Dumbo, and the teacup ride .”

All (in unison): “That’s all?”

AR: “Oh, and the carrousel .”

Me: :faint:

Tricia: “We do more than that in the first half-hour!”

AR: “It was a shame. And it was pretty much the same for Epcot and MGM Studios. It was so expensive, and we really didn’t do much at all.”


I’ll say.
Oh, and guess who paid for their entire trip?

(Things That Make You Go Hmmm.)

Everyone reassures Aunt Rae that she will have a MUCH better time with us! Now, I’m really on a mission! And the whole family is finally excited about the trip! :jumping1:

And now….
We wait! And wait! :hourglass

Bye for now—

Kathy

[AshClan]

I just discovered this fabulous pre-trip report last night, and I am loving it! We are going to be there the same week as your Plan A, and my DS12 is an Aspergers kid, so I so appreciate hearing all your details. I have printed out the 2nd version of your schedule, and may go ahead and Re-subscribe to TGM based on your comments, too!

Your Billy sounds so sweet, and I am happy that he, like so many autistic kids, has such great experiences at WDW. With Aspergers, we don't have the communication problems (mine rarely stops talking!), but the sensory issues are big. (Interestingly enough, the 3-Ds are one of the things we have to avoid most of the time!) The DIS and so many other great sources have always helped us to have a magical time, and our family trips to WDW are always our best vacations!

I look forward to hearing more from you as the big day approaches, and will keep an eye out for you (and your t-shirts!) during the first 1/2 of our week. Have you ever done Hoop Dee Doo before? It's one of my son's very FAVORITE memories. We are going again this time around, and can't wait!!

[KathyRN137]

Hi Susan !

Well, I'm glad that someone will get good use out of that itinerary, because mine has been switched around so much due to our change of travel dates that I'm not even going to post it until we are just about ready to leave!

Yes, we did see the HDDR on our first trip in 2003; Billy was 5 yrs old at the time. I remember that he really enjoyed the music; he kept jumping up and down and laughing. Actually, he does that in regular restaurants all the time, so it was a relief to not have to try to keep him in his chair during the show! :rotfl:

The only thing we plan on doing differently this time is that we are not going to use the Disney transportation to get us from the resort to Fort Wilderness. The last time, we took a bus to the MK and arrived just in time to see the boat leave the dock. :rolleyes: After what seemed like forever, the next boat arrived, but it made stops at all the Bay Lake resorts before finally arriving at FW. Ed was ready to pop a gasket because he hates to be late for anything. We had to literally run to Pioneer Hall to make the show! We were fine, but Ed was Grumpy for the whole time and irritated because Billy wouldn't eat the food (too busy enjoying the show!)

I figured that to avoid that same situation again, we would probably have to leave our resort about 2 to 2 1/2 hrs before the show. (When you get to the bus stop, you can't be sure if you will be waiting for that MK bus for 5 min or 50.) In any case, we need to have an adequate rest/nap break after touring in the morning, so we definitely don't want to cut into that.

This time, we're just going to take a cab. Hakuna Matata.

Kathy

[momofdbsdc]

Kathy,

I am soooo enjoying your pre-trip report!!! We have 2 children that are considered special needs. One that has autistic tendencies and definitely has sensory issues(rocking, humming,laughing at nothing...). Our other ds has sensory issues and has an aversion to loud noises-he also just started speech therapy this year. He doesn't understand receptive language and was having difficulty speaking full sentences.(He probably suffers from auditory processing disorder, but is too young to be diagnosed with it).

We returned from Disney in May and their therapists could not believe how much they progressed in the 2 weeks we were gone. They had no regression and both had made astounding improvements!!! It brought tears to my eyes when I read about your son and Eeyore. Disney truly is a magical place for children and adults alike!!!

They keep begging to return, so we are surprising them with a trip in Apirl! I can't wait to read the rest of your report!!! Happy planning! :thumbsup2

Kim
momofdbsdca

[KathyRN137]

Hello again, Dis-friends! :wave2:

We are now at 55 days to WDW! :woohoo: There has been lots going on around here and, thankfully, it has made the past few weeks go by quickly! Naturally, the biggest thing has been Back to School . Once again, the changing seasons brings the familiar shift in routine that shapes our daily lives. The children are off to school each morning wearing new clothes and carrying new notebooks and lunch bags in their new backpacks.

And, in keeping with the “theme”, Mom has new dates, itineraries, and ADRs for our November WDW vacation! :rolleyes:

I know, I know. (“Didn’t she just change everything around a few weeks ago??”) You’re right. You’re absolutely right! Here’s what happened…

Remember when we lost a day because I changed our travel dates from Sat. through Sun. to Wed. through Wed. in order to get a better deal on airfare? Well, I was just about beginning to accept the sensibility of this plan when we received my daughter’s 2006-2007 school calendar and discovered that she had a whole day off on the Tues. before we left, and not a half-day as I had thought. Then I casually checked Travelocity and discovered that our airfares were down by $185 per ticket (and we had purchased FIVE tickets!!) :sad2: Ughh!! The math was too painful!

Well, of course, the wheels started turning and then spun completely off when I learned that it would only cost us $30 each to change our tickets!

Another day! Another day! I can get another day!

“What’s that you’re muttering?” queried my dear husband.

(Ooops! Did I say that out loud? Better find out if I can change our resort ressie first.)

Oh, bummer! No-can-do at OKW. Any availability at the other DVCs? Nope. Oh well, put us on the wait list! Wait a minute, AP Passholder rates are out aren’t they? O.K., we’ll do two nights at Wilderness Lodge with the AP rate and the $$ we saved on airfare and then switch to OKW for the next 6 nights, banking those extra points to next year. Ed has always wanted to stay at WL! He’ll go for it! Yeah, he’ll go for it!

“Have you completely lost your mind?” he sputtered. “What was wrong with the way it was?”

“Well,” (deep inhale), “we can get one more day at WDW and it won’t cost us anything extra and Tricia doesn’t miss any more school and you always did want to stay at the WL and now we can sleep in a couple of days the way you want and…”


“Yes”, he said, shaking his head in disbelief. “You have completely lost your mind!”

Mmm-hmm. I think I have.


Kathy :crazy:

[wvdislover]

How cool is that!?! It's always great when you figure out you can be at WDW for a longer time and spend LESS money! :cool1: And yes, my DH would have said the same thing to me, too.

[KathyRN137]

***Update ***Update ***Update ***Update ***Update ***Update***

Our DVC Waitlist came through today! All eight nights will be at OKW ! :cheer2:

Planning is also in full swing for Mom-and-Dad-Only WDW Marathon Weekend in January! After all that icky running, we've got tickets for Cirque du Soleil (ooohh!), reservations for treatments at the Spa at Saratoga Springs Resort (aaahh!), and ADR's for lovely dinners with n'er a chicken nugget in sight! :laughing:

Everyone's getting more excited as we creep closer and closer to November! :jumping1:
As Billy says, over and over: "First, back to school :teacher: , then Halloween pirate: :joker: :charac4: , and then, we GO TO WALT DISNEY WORLD!!" pixiedust: "Hooray!!"

Kathy

[wvdislover]

Dinner without chicken nuggets?!? I didn't know such a thing existed! How cool is it to have an adults-only meal...and vacation!?! :banana:

[auntk]

Kathy - I am loving your pre-trip report! My DNephew11 has autism, and every trip to WDW has been magical. You are so right about feeling like a "normal" family there. Every time we go, we come home with at least one story that ends with " . . . and that's why we are a Disney family." I hope the next weeks fly by for you, and that you and your family have a magical, pixiedust: filled vacation.

[KathyRN137]

KathyRN Family Pre-Trip Report #12

Oh my! It’s hard to believe that we’re in “the twenties”…just 29 more days to WDW!! :banana: Whew! Seems like this pre-trip report has been going on forever! Guess now it will be transplanted onto the Pre-Trip Board where it belongs.

But not for long!!

As incredible as it may sound, I have not altered a single bit of the Operational Plan in weeks. Even though there’s a full moon. It’s kind of scary. Ed must be thinking, “Who are you and what have you done with my wife?” I think that I caught him looking for a body snatcher pod in the garage today.

Billy is currently taken with watching his DVDs in French and Spanish with English subtitles. His favorite language is French. Don’t ask me why…no one in our house speaks a word of it! I think he just enjoys the sound of it; it’s very melodic. Now when he gets excited, he starts babbling in “Billy-French”. Who knows? Perhaps he’ll develop a knack for foreign languages! I let his teacher and speech therapist know about it, but it seems that he only speaks “French” at home.

Toy Story and Toy Story 2 are the DVDs “du jour”. (He has DVD “jags” the way a toddler gets food jags….you know, nothing but PBJ sandwiches or whatever for a few weeks straight.) He wants to be Woody again for Halloween but last year’s costume was already a tight squeeze (size L). I’m off to the Disney Store tomorrow to see if I can get him a larger one; maybe even an adult costume that I can cut down. I had no luck online. It’s times like these I wish that I had learned how to sew! Like most autistic kids, he is very rigid and will not wear any costume but Woody once his mind is made up. Very cool side note though….

:teacher: His teacher wrote to us about how when they were talking in circle time about Halloween costumes, Billy told everyone that he wanted to be Woody, then ran over to another boy and said, “Alec, you be Buzz. Woody and Buzz. To infinity and beyond!” It’s such a breakthrough for him to make connections socially with other kids. More Disney magic!

Tricia will be a witch for the third year in a row. Not the-evil-queen-from-Snow White-ugly-old- kind of witch; she likes the glamorous kind of witch. Witch costume 2006 is a long black dress with bell sleeves and a sparkly red spiderwebby overlay. I have agreed that, since it is only for Halloween and because the accent color is red, that she may wear bright red nail polish and lipstick as part of her costume. She’s thrilled but her Daddy will probably need CPR when he sees her. :faint:

After Halloween, we’re really just about on our way. :woohoo: (We fly down Nov. 6th.)
Bye for now.

Kathy

[jsfein]

Hey Kathy. For whatever the reason, I post my own trip report, but tend not to read the reports of others. I recognized your name from your posts to my trip report thread and just read over the past 5 months of your planning. Wow ... talk about obsessive planning. But I certainly understand the reason why you need to carefully plan your days. No doubt you'll have an amazing time. I'll be anxious to read about how the trip went upon your return.

[Mary Anne]

I too have been enjoying reading about your planning. I look foward to the days up to the actual trip and then the actual report. I hope it's a wonderful vacation for your family.

[wvdislover]

How exciting!!! I can't wait to hear about more of the magic your family experiences with Billy on this trip.
I know what you mean about costumes--I thought I was stuck with DD9 in a Wonder Woman costume (I'm not really even sure how that stuck, except she has one book in her room about Wonder Woman that she got a few years ago and has just suddenly discovered and knows all these facts about WW now. Go figure!). Fortunately for me, the $40 Wonder Woman costumes we found looked really dumb on her (either too big or too small) and I was able to convince her of this fact. We 're now going to be a blue sapphire princess (only $10 at Wal-Mart!).
Anyways, have a blissful 20-something days leading up to your trip, dreaming of all the great things you're going to do, and a super trip while you're there! I'll be thinking of you! If you think about it, shoot some of that pixie dust up here to WV for me to sprinkle on DD9 (ADHD, anxiety issues, and mild Aspergers). pixiedust: You're a true inspiration on those difficult days! Thanks!

[auntk]

Kathy - My nephew 11 has autism & Disney is our favorite vacation destination. There is something in the air down there pixiedust: because my nephew often has breakthroughs there or soon after we return home. I can't wait to read how you all made out this year.


Billy is currently taken with watching his DVDs in French and Spanish with English subtitles. His favorite language is French. Don’t ask me why…no one in our house speaks a word of it! I think he just enjoys the sound of it; it’s very melodic. Now when he gets excited, he starts babbling in “Billy-French”. Who knows? Perhaps he’ll develop a knack for foreign languages! I let his teacher and speech therapist know about it, but it seems that he only speaks “French” at home.

My nephew did just the opposite with his DVD's - he figured out how to get the French subtitles so that he could read the French while listening in English! When "Atlantis" came out we swore he learned the "Atlantian" that was being spoken when the city was hit by the wave.


Have a great trip!

[KathyRN137]

Yipeee!! Doin’ the "It's in the teens" dance!! :banana: (19 more days)

FINALLY! There’s actually trip-related stuff to do daily now! It’s such a relief to have little tasks and errands to perform in preparation for Disney; every little one makes the whole dream just that much closer to reality! :cloud9:

Don’t worry, I won’t bore you with the nitty-gritty….it’s the stuff we all do when preparing for vacation…..the shopping, the packing, the list-making, etc.

There’s just one little thing that I would like to vent about….

WHY DO MY CHILDREN FIND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GO TO SLEEP AT A DECENT HOUR???

Last week I told the kids that I was going to get strict about bedtime. I want them to be well rested; not just for WDW, but for school as well. It’s been getting harder and harder to get them to go to sleep over the past few weeks and Daylight Savings Time is coming soon, so it will be getting even harder still.

"It's 10pm. Do you know where your children are?"

Yes, oh-ominous-sounding T.V. announcer from the 70’s, I DO know where my children are. They are upstairs in their beds. They have been up there for AN HOUR. Talking, giggling, singing, playing, and sneaking the light on to read “just one more chapter” (that last one pertains to the 10 yr. old). Getting up for a drink of water. Getting up to use the bathroom (again). Getting up to say good-night to the dog. Getting up for anything that will stave off the state of slumber!

I think I’m doing everything right. They get plenty of quiet bedtime routine to wind down from the day’s excitement. The T.V. goes off; they choose a quiet activity. Pajamas. Brush teeth. Bowel routine (Billy). Choose clothes for tomorrow. Choose bedtime story (I read to Billy; Tricia reads independently). Say Prayers. Kiss good-night. And then…..Go To Sleep.

Yeah, right!!

Granted, both their parents are “owls”, as opposed to “larks”. We are not morning people. Especially Ed….he’s been on the night shift for about 7 yrs now(!) But, you would think that after getting up early and then spending a full day at school and at play that they would fall asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow!

And so now that they both know that an earlier bedtime is what Mommy wants, of course, it is now taking twice as long for them to settle down!!

Darn! A classic parental error! I should have been sneaky about it and just turned the clocks ahead now. (I know, I know. Fall=Back.) But they don't know that! :rolleyes1 I should have used bribery. “The first one who falls asleep each night gets two quarters for the Disney gift shops!” I should just have Daddy stop by the house and get them to stop fooling around with just one of those “You two better cut it out or else…” looks. (Even more effective when he is in uniform! ::cop: ) I should….hold on a minute….. :listen: Okay, they are finally asleep!!

If it’s going to take this long for them to fall asleep now, what will it be like in a couple of weeks? (“I’m too excited to sleep…..”) :confused3

Sigh. Guess I’ll just have to start getting them into their pajamas at like 7pm or something. Come to think of it, that’s what my sister does with her 2 yr old and her 5 yr old. Of course, they wake up at 6:00 every morning. Weekends, too. Ughh! (She is definitely a lark, not an owl.) It was so much easier when they were little. You put them in the car seat, drove for about 5 minutes and BAM! Out like a light.

Well, speaking of getting to sleep early, I’d better sign off now. Mommy needs to get her Disney-rest, too.

It won’t be long now.

Kathy :wave2:

Oh, BTW, I did get that digital camera for my birthday! :cool1: As soon as I get the time to figure it out, I'll take a few pics and try to post 'em!

[Montana Disney Fan]

Billy and Trey (aka "Moan Boy") need to hook up! Thank Kat. We have children like this because God knows we can care for them.

[rentingspace]

HI Kathy :wave: I also have a son who is autistic. He's 4 now. But that is not why I'm posting to your report. We are also going with out the kids this year in Jan 24-27 and staying at the BCV. When will you be there?

[diekatze]

Hi Kathy :) I just wanted to say thanks for your wonderful pre trip planning post. Like you I'm a planner freak. My family is also going this Nov 3 -12th. Staying at the POP :cool1: . So maybe we'll see you there! My soon to be 7 year daughter also has autistic tendencies and it's so nice to know that I'm not alone :grouphug: . By the way, this is one of my first posts. I usually just like to read :blush: . After reading your post, I just had to post to say you're a real inspiration. :sunny:

We always like to go that time of year for same reason--less crowds and less time out of school for my DD, but we are from the west (Seattle area) :surfweb: My husband said "Jersey Week is ruining our vacation with more crowds instead of less" :furious:

Me--- :rotfl: Thanks again :thumbsup2

[Mary Anne]

Are you home yet? Hope you had a great trip. Can't wait to read all about it.

[KathyRN137]

We're back!!! :wave:

Ugghh!! The worst thing happened the week before we left....I had no DisBoards!!! (Technical difficulties w/ our computer.) :badpc:

We had such a great trip!! I promise, promise, promise a very long and detailed trippie. I took lots of notes and lots of pics, so I have lots of writing to do!

Billy did great! Aunt Rae did great! The weather was perfect (nearly), and OKW was awesome!

I can't wait to share it with you all.....

Kathy

[KathyRN137]

Hi! :wave2: It’s been a while, so here is a brief review of:

THE CAST:

ED (DH, Daddy): Age: 45. Occupation: Police Lieutenant. Favorite park: EPCOT. Favorite character: GRUMPY.

TRICIA (DD): Age: 10. Favorite park: MK. Favorite character: TINKERBELLE.

BILLY (DS): Age 8. (Autistic) Favorite Park: MK. Favorite characters: WOODY and BUZZ.

EDDIE(DSS): Age 16. Joining us for part of the trip. Favorite park: MK. Favorite character: CPTN. JACK SPARROW.

AUNT RAE (AR): Age 75. Ed’s aunt. Favorite park: MK. Favorite character: CINDERELLA.

KATHY (Yours Truly): Age 43. Occupation: RN. Favorite park: MK. Favorite characters: POOH and TIGGER


** Just in case your eyes glazed over during the pre-trip and you decided to skip right to the good stuff, you may wish to review the first one or two posts just to read a bit more about Billy’s autism and how it affects our vacation plans.**

And now, please sit back, relax and let me take you along for all the ups and downs of our latest adventure in autism: WDW.



DAY 1: MONDAY, 11/06/06 TRAVEL and ARRIVAL

The morning that I had been looking forward to for months dawned bright and sunny. It was a cool, clear November day, and I breezed through the usual Monday-morning-get-the-kids-off-to-school routine, intent on the few last minute chores that needed to be done before picking them up at noon. Well, at least taking them out of school early meant no lunches to pack!

Thankfully, the kids had no problems getting to sleep last night. I had checked them at 9:30 and they were both snoring! Having spent the weekend packing away all the Halloween decorations and doing major housecleaning; I didn’t have too much trouble sleeping, either! I just wish that I could say the same for Ed. Working the night shift can wreck havoc on your sleep cycle. I felt him get up around 3 am and I suppose he sat up watching TV for a while b/c I found him asleep on the couch at 6:30. I figured I would get the kids out the door myself so he could get another hour of sleep. It’s no coincidence that his favorite character is Grumpy, especially if he’s had a bad night! ;)

:laundy: Now, we had been doing so much laundry in the past couple of days, we actually BROKE the clothes dryer. Well, really ONE of us broke it, but we won’t go into that. Okay, Okay. If you insist!

Someone in our family WHO SHALL REMAIN NAMELESS insists upon overstuffing the washer with his clothes (not sorted by color, mind you) and then using the hottest dryer temp available to get the huge wet bundle to dry! In any case, after several consecutive cycles of this torture, the poor dryer just gave out with one of the kids comforters still wet inside and a load of clothes still wet in the washer!

Fortunately, I have a very nice next-door neighbor who let me use her dryer and a potential crisis was averted!

I hung the comforter over the shower rod in the bathroom and ran across to my neighbor’s garage and threw in the load of clothes. Then I grabbed our dog Aimee’s leash and took her for an extra long walk around the neighborhood. She is a three year-old Yellow Lab/Golden Retriever mix and the very best dog in the world! :dog2:

It felt good to clear my head and breath in the crisp autumn air. It was good for Aimee, too. She knew something was up; she had been sniffing around the luggage last night and had spent the earlier part of the morning upstairs in her house (crate), which was very uncharacteristic of her. She doesn’t seem to mind the kennel, though. She enjoys socializing with other dogs. Still, it’s hard to leave her for a week and I enjoyed spending some time with her before we left.

When we arrived back home, we found that Ed was up and puttering around with his packing. I fixed us a quick breakfast and hoped that the bit of food would help quell the little butterflies I felt in my stomach!

It was still only about 10:15. The driver was picking us up at 12:30 for our 2:30 flight. I had already finished packing for the kids and me the night before. All I had was a few toiletry items left to stick in the bags. It was too early to pick up the kids and the kennel wasn’t open yet, so I paced about distractedly. Since Ed was still packing, I decided to run out for a quick manicure.

As I was drying, Ed called to say he was done and to remind me that I still had to take out the stitches that were in his hand. Darn, I had forgotten about that. (He had cut his hand on a leaf blower.) We met at the doctor’s office where I work and a few snips later, we were on our way. How I managed to do that without ruining my polish, I will never know!


It was now 11:30 and the clock was ticking! I gathered up Aimee’s things and brought her over to the kennel. Good-bye, Aimee! My next assignment was to drive to a neighboring town to pick Billy up from his school. (It’s a private school for kids aged 3-21 with developmental disabilities.) Ed went to pick Tricia up from the elementary school, and then across town to get Aunt Rae.

The receptionists greeted me with a big smile. I think just about everyone in the whole school knew that Billy was going to WDW today! He had been “talking” about it for weeks. (His speech therapist was thrilled!) He always makes significant strides in either language or social skills, or both after visiting the World.

As he came around the corner with one of the aides, he caught sight of me and ran down the hall. “Go to Walt Disney World!!” he shouted as he threw himself into my arms. As we headed out the door hand in hand, the aide and the receptionists laughed and waved goodbye. Billy bounced up and down in his seat and we sang along with Disney songs blaring from the speakers until we reached home! :banana: :banana:

“We’re walkin’ right down the middle of Main Street, U-S-Ay-ay-ay!!

We pulled into the driveway just as Ed arrived with Tricia and Aunt Rae. Then the driver pulled up and…Aaaggh! I just remembered…the laundry was still in my neighbor’s dryer! :blush: They all laughed at me as I ran frantically across the yard and back into the house with the overflowing basket of clothes!

It never fails! No matter how ready I think I am, I always end up running at the last minute! We settled into the van and I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief as we made the short trip to the airport without incident. We were on our way at last!

What a surprise awaited us when we checked in…ALL FIVE of us were to be seated in different areas of the plane! :eek: I couldn’t believe they would do that to a family with kids! Fortunately, a nice Continental agent named Olivia helped us to get at least one seat next to Billy. (Thank you, Olivia!)

Apparently when we changed our flight a while back, the information about there being kids traveling with us got lost. “Spit out of the computer” is how Olivia put it! I will have to call Continental the day before we leave Orlando to make sure this doesn’t happen on the way home…I don’t even want to think about that now!

We boarded the plane and Ed sat with Billy. A few rows up, Aunt Rae took her seat between two young men. I felt bad that she had to be separated from us, but she later said that they had both been very pleasant and she hadn’t minded much. She had slept through most of the flight anyway. She had been up at 4am and had been too excited to go back to sleep! (Sound familiar?)

Ed had brought along a portable DVD player with earphones for Billy, so he watched DVDs during the flight and did very well. :music: That was a good investment! Billy actually enjoys take-off and landing; he laughs really hard when the plane rumbles and vibrates!

Tricia and I were seated across the aisle from each other in the front of the plane, each in the middle seat. A nice fellow in his early thirties wearing a baseball cap came to sit next to Tricia and when I explained the situation, he kindly agreed to switch seats with me. (Thank you, nice guy in the baseball cap!).

Tricia did homework while I worked on my travel journal and read a magazine (a rare treat.) About three hours later, the pilot announced the weather in Orlando: 78* and sunny! We had arrived!:cool1:

After what seemed like an eternity, we obtained our bags from the baggage carousel, hopped in our van, and we were on our way to OLD KEY WEST.

One of the things I love the most about WDW is staying at a Disney resort, and what I look forward to the most is trying a new one each time we visit! As we pulled into the Hospitality House area, I just knew that we would not be disappointed with OKW!:sunny:

The evening was soft and warm; Calypso music played in the background as we checked in. Ed took the kids over to the area where a TV was playing old B&W Mickey cartoons. The area is called “Papa’s Den”, and it is decorated in Disney’s version of what could have been Ernest Hemmingway’s Family room! Bookcases filled with books and knick-knacks lined the room and a few trophy fish adorned the walls.

Billy plopped himself onto one of the plump sofas, kicked off his sneakers, and made himself right at home! Yes, “homey” is just how I would describe it. Tricia wanted to play the table game that was there (was it foosball?) with her dad, but some CMs were setting up for some kind of a private party and they politely asked them to come back and play another time. She contented herself with the cartoons.

It was about 7:30 and there was only one person in front of me for check-in. The CMs were friendly and helpful. Our order from Garden Grocer was ready and waiting for us, and the box of snacks and other sundries that I had mailed down a few days earlier was easily procured and placed with our luggage. When I expressed concern that were late for our 7:10 ADR at Olivia’s, one of them called over to the restaurant and explained that we would be over as soon as we had checked in. (Good thing, too, b/c we were all starving!)

Everything was going along just a little too perfectly. At the risk of sounding pessimistic, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. It did.:rolleyes:

I have always been very lucky with room requests in the past, so I was a bit disappointed to find that we were to be in bldg. 52, on the southernmost edge of the property. I had requested a bldg. with an elevator (for Aunt Rae) near the Hospitality House (HH). I suppose that’s what happens when you check in late in the evening on a Monday.

The villa was on the 2nd floor and I was concerned that AR would have a tough time with the stairs after walking around for a few hours in the parks. She vehemently insisted that she would not. (Ed joked he would stand behind her and push, if necessary!) Since there were no other 2BRs available, we decided to make the best of it and headed over to Olivia's for dinner.

We checked in at the podium and were given a pager. Tricia was eager to see the theme pool, so we took a little walk outside and admired the pool, the sandcastle slide, and the little marina area. It was very pretty at night. Little light bulb strands were strung overhead and the steel drum music played softly as the water lapped up against the little boats tied to the dock. People sat at several picnic tables along the water, their laughter and murmured conversations adding to the relaxed, yet festive atmosphere.

Soon our pager lit up and we returned to the restaurant for a much-anticipated meal. We each had eaten a slice of pizza for lunch at the airport around 1:00 and it was now 8:00. We were on the Dining Plan and we “planned” to make the most of it because we were hungry!

The atmosphere at Olivia’s was friendly and casual. The dining room was painted a cheery yellow and framed antique Key West post cards and more trophy fish hung about the walls. Large old-fashioned paddle fans turned slowly along the ceiling.

I ordered the crab cakes for an appetizer and a steak salad. Ed was disappointed to find that they were out of the prime rib, so he ordered the sirloin steak. Both he and Aunt Rae ordered the chicken noodle soup, and AR ordered the pork chop with mashed sweet potatoes. The kids’ orders were no surprise: pizza for Billy and cheeseburger for Tricia.

My grandmother always used to say, “Hunger is the best sauce!” We really enjoyed our meal that night!

Tricia loved the cheeseburger; although the granny smith apple slices that came with it were so tart they made here face pucker! Billy gobbled up all his pizza, so I’d say he would give it a high mark. (But seriously, you cannot put Florida pizza in the same league with N.J. pizza; no matter how hungry you are!) :snooty:


Ed gave an enthusiastic thumb’s up when asked about his steak, and my steak salad was good and fresh. Aunt Rae gave “four stars” to her entrée and despite the fact that she barely weighs more that my eight year-old, managed to eat every bite!

Dessert was a delicious key lime tart for AR and me, and moist chocolate cake for Ed and Tricia. (Billy doesn’t eat any dessert except for chocolate chip cookies, so tonight he went without.)

While eating our dessert, we noticed that a TV crew with those big cameras on their shoulders was filming some guests on the other side of the dining room. Our waitress told us that it was The Today Show doing a piece about destinations that have great dining accommodations for those traveling with children. It seemed odd that they were filming a piece about dining with children so late at night, but here we were eating dinner with our kids at 9pm, so who was I to criticize!

We rolled out of the dining room and I made a restroom stop with the kids off the restaurant’s lobby area. The walls of the lobby were covered with family photos and greetings from previous OKW guests through the years. We took a few minutes to look at them and I made a mental note to send one to add to the collection.

We strolled over to the luggage assistance desk and were told that a luggage cart would soon be along to transport us to our vacation home. We sat down to wait on a bench when, suddenly, Billy jumped up and began dancing to the rhythmic music that was coming from speakers overhead. He grabbed Aunt Rae’s hands and said, “Let’s dance!” It was so funny and so unexpected! Aunt Rae was beaming and we all enjoyed the impromptu show!

Soon, a luggage cart pulled up and the bellman helped us to load our bags and our groceries in the back. We sped off to building #52. The bellman was an older gentleman, very friendly, and he asked us the usual questions about where we were from and commented on how nice the weather had been lately. It was still fairly warm, despite the late hour, and we enjoyed the pleasant breeze and the rare freedom of not needing a jacket in November!

We pulled up in front of a group of white clapboard buildings surrounded by lush vegetation and gently swaying palm trees. I had been anxious about our location, but I have to admit that I was getting a bit tired and was just looking forward to getting unpacked and settled in.

We each grabbed a bag and dutifully followed the bellman up one flight of stairs and around several corners, looking for #5223.. We were not finding it. I pointed out the numbers marked on the corners to help the poor man gain his sense of direction, but he insisted that he knew where we were going and that “the signs were sometimes wrong.” Huh? :confused3

Down the stairs we went and over to the next building, then up another flight of stairs again. Still no #5223! Down the stairs we went again, bags and all.

By now, I was starting to get a little Grumpy, myself. It had been a long day. I parked Aunt Rae, the kids, and myself on a bench and asked Ed to come and get us when they located our room! Tricia could see that I was unhappy and she patted my arm and said, “Cheer up, Mom, we’re in Walt Disney World!”

“We found it!” Ed called out. We climbed the stairs once more and deposited our bags in front of #5223 while the bellman fiddled with the card key, apologizing profusely, little beads of sweat forming on his brow. I imagined that he feared that his tip was getting smaller by the minute!

After trying the door unsuccessfully for another minute, he told us to wait while he went back downstairs to his cart to radio the front desk. I was beginning to think that we were not going to be able to wake up early and get to the Magic Kingdom for the opening ceremony the next morning as I had planned.

Suddenly, the door opened and an older woman in a bathrobe and hair up in pink curlers peered out and said, “Can I help you?” Clearly, she had been awakened by our attempts to get into her room!! The bellman came back with a radio and looked as confused as ever when he saw that our room was occupied. He called the front desk again. Apparently, we had been searching all this time for the wrong room! The CM had hastily written #5223 on our map when our room was actually #5225! (Our deepest apologies, lady in curlers, wherever you are!)

Around the corner we trudged and our door was opened without difficulty by the very apologetic bellman. He expressed genuine surprise and gratitude when Ed did give him a tip! (Well, the room mix-up really wasn’t his fault.) What an amazing place! I thought that we were spoiled last year when we had our first DVC stay in a 1BR at SSR. The 2BR at OKW just blew us away! :love:

It was huge! In the entranceway we were greeted by a towel-girl sitting on a small ledge under the hallway mirror. Her “skirt” was embellished with stickers and curling ribbon. We were delighted. The rooms were painted in pastel colors with white trim, and cheerful watercolor prints decorated the walls.

Aunt Rae and Tricia settled into the seafoam green bedroom with the 2 queen beds and its own bathroom, and Ed and I surveyed the master BR and bath. Billy ran around the living room for a few minutes looking for the TV! It was “hidden” behind the light oak-stained cabinet doors under the island that separated the kitchen and the living room. He cried briefly when he was told that it was too late for TV, but then he took off his socks and sneakers and lay down on the couch saying, “It’s time for sleep!” He was pretty tired.

It really was way past bedtime by now. Ed opened up the sleeper sofa in the living room and helped Billy into his pajamas while I started to unpack our things. I was a bit concerned about the sleeping arrangements for Billy.

You see, even though he has slept in his own bed for quite some time, now, he has always liked to have “company” with him in his room at home. There is a 2nd bed in his room for his brother, Eddie, to use when he visits. Many nights he has asked Tricia to come into his room and sleep in Eddie’s bed b/c he doesn’t like to be alone.:hug:

Eddie would be sharing the sleeper sofa with him over the weekend, but for now the plan was for Billy to sleep there by himself. I was glad that I had packed a night light for him! The living room was quite dark with no lights on and I knew he would feel better.

Last year Tricia shared the sleeper sofa with him, but, since this year we needed the 2nd BR for Aunt Rae, she lucked out with a queen-size bed all to herself. (And, at the age of ten, she’s really getting too old to share a bed with her brother, anyway.) She was very impressed with the queen bed and gloated about it loudly. For her, sharing a room with Aunt Rae was going to be like having a slumber party every night!party:

So, while I continued to unpack, Ed made up the sofa bed then snuggled up with Billy and his Buzz and Woody toys, hoping to help him get to sleep in the strange surroundings without too much trouble.

I was really impressed when I went to put things away in the bathroom. It was quite spacious and had storage drawers built into the vanity, which I really liked. A huge mirror hung over the vanity and seashell prints graced the walls. An adjoining room contained a gigantic hot tub and pedestal sink, along with a corner étagère, which held even more towel creations!

A shuttered “window” lay between the hot tub area and the master bedroom, which was painted a pale peach color. A king bed was the centerpiece of the room and it was covered by a green spread with a floral wedding-ring pattern. The armoire housing the TV stood opposite. A cushioned wicker chair and ottoman and a potted silk tropical plant sat in the corner and a ceiling fan circled lazily overhead. Two large windows with Venetian blinds and pastel patterned drapes were on one wall, and a single glass door led to the balcony, which contained a resin table, four chairs, and yet another ceiling fan.

Double doors led back into the living/dining area, which held a large, round dining table and chairs. A loveseat, pullout sofa, and chair with ottoman were grouped around a coffee table. The living room was banked with windows on both sides, and I couldn’t wait to see how nice and sunny it would be in the morning!

Ed tiptoed into the bedroom and whispered that Billy was asleep. We put away the rest of our belongings and brushed our teeth. At last we fell into bed and then into a sound sleep, the alarm clock set to wake us up early for our first full day at WDW! :yay:

Next Chapter: Jersey Shirts in Fantasyland.

Kathy

[Montana Disney Fan]

OKW rules. We've stayed there more than any other Disney resort. We love the pool area and the rooms are the biggest that Disney has to offer. That 2-bedroom is like 1300 sq ft!!

Bags are soooo slow coming off the plane at MCO. I can't stand it. Last October when we arrived our bags were sitting right there waiting on us. Apparently they'd come with an earlier flight.

We've eaten at Olivia's also. We've never had a GREAT meal but it works.

I'll bet you were glad to finally get a room! What an ordeal!!

Billy sounds a lot like Trey. We've taken Trey to WDW since he was 4 months old so it's pretty "routine" for him now which helps.

Thanks for the report!

MDF :banana:

[Mary Anne]

What a treat to find this here tonight. I'm so glad you are going to do an actual report. OKW is one of our favorite DVC hotels. I felt like I was right in the room with you. Great start.

[wvdislover]

How exciting!!! I've been wondering how your trip went. Can't wait to hear all the juicy details and all about Billy's newest accomplishments! :banana:

[KathyRN137]

DAY 2: TUESDAY, 11/07/06 The MAGIC KINGDOM

The alarm was set for 6:30, but Billy woke us up at 6:00! He came into our room and climbed into our bed, chuckling loudly and repeating, “First, we go to Magic Kingdom! Then we go to Old Key West! Then we go to EPCOT, pleeeese!!” After hearing this ten or twelve times, it was impossible to fall back to sleep. Sometimes I wish our kids came with a snooze button. ;)

We snuggled for a few minutes enjoying the delicious feeling of knowing that this was the first morning of our first day…our whole vacation lay in front of us! Its the same giddy feeling I had when I was in grammar school and it was the first day of summer vacation. No wonder I felt like a kid!:banana:

The Weather Channel was calling for a cloudy day, high of 71*. Eh, could be worse, right? I set the table for breakfast and put on the water for tea, then stepped out onto the balcony for the first real look at our quiet “golf course” view.

Well, we could see a bit of the green, but dense pine blocked most of it! That’s okay, there were palm trees right outside the balcony and the beginnings of a tiny stream if you looked to the right. The “road noise” that I had worried about never turned out to be an issue. Trees, golf course, then more trees stood between our villa and the road, so there was a decent buffer. I turned back inside to consult the Operational Plan.

Billy was only partially right about today’s plan. We were going to the MK in the morning and then back to the resort for a break, but the plan was to return to the MK for the evening as well! The rest of the family was well aware of the Operational Plan, having heard it repeatedly during its formation, but just for good measure, I stuck my chart up on the refrigerator with ::MickeyMo and ::MinnieMo magnets for all to see!

Despite the fact that we were now on vacation, Ed still got up to take his daily run. He was training for his first half-marathon (at WDW!) and wanted to take at least a short run every day. While he was out, I woke Tricia and she took a shower in “her” bathroom while I helped Billy get showered in “ours.” Boy, it was nice having two bathrooms in the morning! :thumbsup2

Ed returned and I received the report on his run. “Flat course, really nice surroundings, especially around the golf course” he said. “The fumes from the buses were a bit annoying. It’s about 1-1/2 miles using all the streets and paths, so I had to go around twice.”

He prefers the circuit-like paths at CBR and POFQ/RS. “Running around the DVC resorts is like running around the neighborhood”, he observed. Well, that figures! :rolleyes:

Everyone ate a breakfast of cold cereal and fruit. We dressed in our red "Jersey Shirts" and before you know it, it was 8:30 already and we all scrambled to pack our little bags and don our lanyards. Well, two of us were wearing lanyards, anyway.

Aunt Rae had only one pin that a great-nephew had sent her in honor of her trip, and she was anxious to buy a lanyard and start a collection. The boys find them too annoying to wear, but they still have a small number of pins at home. Tricia and I, on the other hand, have so many pins that we have to rotate them on our lanyards throughout the week so we get a chance to wear them all!

I had not one, but two LGMH TAGS on my backpack,

so I was sure that I would meet lots of DISers this week! :disrocks: I had read that so many of us would be down here this week!

It was a very short walk to the old-fashioned bus stop and the MK bus seemed to come right away.

We struck up a conversation with a friendly older couple that commented on our matching shirts and admired our pins. It was 8:40 when we left the stop and, even with several internal stops, we made it to the MK exactly at 9:00.

We could hear the Welcome song as we made our way through bag check, and we were soon through the turnstiles! The one-finger scan is so much faster. The opening ceremony concluded and then came my absolute favorite part of a WDW trip….entering the Magic Kingdom for the first time!

As you pass under the RR trestle, there is a plaque overhead that reads, "Here you leave Today and enter the World of Yesterday, Tomorrow, and Fantasy."

Nothing could be truer! :cloud9: I’m sitting here sighing a great, big, happy sigh as I remember it! :cloud9:

It was so wonderful to pass through that darkened tunnel and then emerge onto bright, beautiful Main Street, USA! The snappy ragtime music was playing and the smell of popcorn was in the air! Balloons, Mickey ears and smiling faces were everywhere! Mickey and Minnie were greeting guests by the flagpole and the trolley was setting out for its first run of the morning. I wanted to stand there for a few more minutes just to take it all in, but Dumbo was calling and we still had to stop at City Hall to pick up the GAC (Guest Assistance Card) for Billy.

We walked right up to the desk and showed the CM from Guest Relations our GAC from last year and requested one for this trip. We had a doctor’s letter with us, but they didn’t ask for one. (Probably b/c Billy was stimming loudly, drooling, and flapping his arms a bit, too.) :hyper:

If you recall, he “stims”, or orally self-stimulates, by either chewing on things or making lots of noise! He hums, laughs inappropriately, and “scripts”—repeats bits of dialogue from his favorite TV shows. We were quickly issued our card and made the magical walk down Main St. toward the Castle!

A large crane was set up near the castle and the remaining gold ornamentation from “The Happiest Celebration on Earth” was in the process of being removed. It was a beautiful sight, nevertheless. The Christmas tree stood nearby, sparkling and festive. I don’t know why I was surprised that the park was already getting decorated for the Christmas; after all, the local mall began putting its decorations up before Halloween!

We didn’t stop for a photo in front of the Castle b/c we were already late for Dumbo. :dumbo: We waved to the statue of Walt and Mickey and hurried to Fantasyland. An elaborate stage is set up in the forecourt now, so we had to walk around the Castle instead of going straight through as we had been accustomed to doing in the past.

It was 9:30 when we entered the queue for Dumbo and 9:45 by the time our turn came. I hoped that this wouldn’t be a pattern, but I shouldn’t have been worried. This turned out to be the longest wait of the morning.

Flying high above all of Fantasyland, I felt all the cares and worries of the previous year melting away. “WE’RE ACTUALLY HERE!” I thought gleefully. The skies appeared threatening, but we had our ponchos and at this point it could have rained :cat: and :dogdance: and it wouldn’t have fazed me one bit!! We had an entire week in front of us and I was looking forward to every bit of it!

It turned out to be a near-perfect Fantasyland morning! Next we did Pooh(my favorite!) and then Snow White with barely any wait. Our hunnypot bounced merrily with Tigger and, with the help of the seven dwarfs, our mining car easily escaped from the treacherous Wicked Queen!


Peter Pan was down, (the CMs told all the kids that Capt. Hook was causing a little trouble), so we rode the ever-cheery IASWA. The refurbishment has really made a difference in this attraction, especially the restoration of the original theme song and the updated sound system. The restored version sounded somewhat less repetitious and was therefore much more enjoyable.

Billy prefers to ride all the FantasyLand attractions in a definite order: Dumbo/Pooh/Snow White/ Peter Pan/IASWA/ and finally, his favorite, Mickey’s Philharmagic. Going out of order threw him off a little. Even though he enjoyed IASWA, he kept insisting we go back to Peter Pan! (Some autistic kids can be a bit rigid in this way.) We soothed him as best as we could and gave him a chewy tube so he could burn off some of his anxiety with some oral stimulation.

PP was still closed, so we went to Mickey's Philharmagic. It wasn’t too hard to get Billy over there b/c this is one of his absolute favorites! After a 10 min wait, we found our seats and I had us hang back a little so we didn’t have to “move all the way over”. We weren’t exactly in the middle, but we weren’t all the way on one side, either. I really wanted Aunt Rae to get the full effect since this was her first time.

Once again, this 3D experience did not disappoint! The audience couldn’t resist reaching out to grab the jewels from Ariel’s treasure chest and shrieked when the enchanted broom from Sorcerer’s Apprentice splashed us with water. And I wasn’t the only one who was singing along to all the classic Disney songs! We were delighted to follow Donald Duck through a series of scenes from well-loved movies, both old and new.

Billy sat between Aunt Rae and me and he laughed and bounced up and down in his seat the whole time! I don’t know which AR enjoyed more, the movie or watching Billy enjoying the movie! The best part is at the very end. Billy whipped off his glasses and turned all the way around to look at Donald in the back. He pointed and shouted, “He’s there! He’s there!”, and was laughing so hard that his face was beet-red and tears were running down his face! Nothing like a duck shaking his tail feathers to tickle a child’s funny bone!

Thankfully, Peter Pan was finally up and running. But by now, the line was posted at 30 min. Billy was literally chomping at the bit, so we used his GAC for the first time and waited about 5 min in the FP queue. This is one of everyone’s favorites; it’s just so beautifully done. But, oh no! I forgot to warn Aunt Rae about the moving walkway! Thank goodness Ed had her by the elbow; she almost wound up on her backside! We flew high above London and then off to Neverland, cheering for Peter and boo-ing Capt. Hook!

We had just enough time for the Haunted Mansion before lunch. We walked from Fantasyland under the segment of the Columbia Harbor House that serves as a “link” to Liberty Square, and I marveled once more at how subtle changes in architecture, foliage, and music eased us from one Land into the next.

Ed and I had the good fortune to be able to take the Keys to the Kingdom tour last year. I thought it was amazing! We discovered how Walt Disney designed the park through the eyes of a filmmaker, and it gave me an even greater appreciation of his vision and creativity. I really learned a lot and highly recommend it.

The HM posted a short wait, and we passed the time reading the funny inscriptions on the “tombstones” and relating the attraction’s back-story to Aunt Rae.

Tricia was very excited b/c this was another “first” for AR. She was also feeling proud that she was no longer even the least bit frightened “like when I was little”. We all moved into the “stretching room” and Billy sort of broke the mood b/c he was laughing and jumping up and down with anticipation! :hmghost: Tricia nudged me hard as I began mouthing the eerie greeting, “Welcome, foolish mortals….”

This time, I remembered the moving walkway and Aunt Rae did a lot better! She, Tricia, and I climbed into one doom buggy and Ed and Billy got into the next. Once again I tried to find the hidden Mickeys, but the only one I could detect was the obvious one in the haunted banquet scene. Darn! I wished that doombuggy didn’t move so fast!

As the ghostly busts began singing Grim Grinning Ghosts, I could hear Billy cracking up and trying to sing along at the top of his lungs in the next buggy! (He knows this song from Disney Sing Along Songs). Then we really got a laugh when he added, “Sing with me, everybody!”:lmao:

Tricia was practically bursting b/c she was waiting for AR’s reaction to the holographic, hitchhiking ghost at the end and was trying not to spoil it. She was rewarded by a very satisfying look of surprise on AR’s face!

It was 11:30 and we decided to try Columbia Harbour House for lunch b/c: (1) It was right there, and (2) they were sure to have FRIES for Billy and a gluten-free salad for Aunt Rae. I was determined to eat an early lunch each day so that we could get our CS food before the restaurants became too crowded. It was a strategy that worked well all week. We quickly got our food and took our trays upstairs where it was quiet and less crowded.

Now this is when I noted the only negative aspect of the Disney Dining Plan, at least for our group. In the past, our family would stop for a quick CS lunch, eat quickly, and then move onto the next attraction. It became evident that this would not be the case during this trip.

I’ve already mentioned that Aunt Rae is on a gluten-free diet b/c of recently diagnosed celiac disease. She is not allergic to gluten, it’s more a matter of her body not being able to digest the gluten properly and thus she gets no nutritional value from these foods. What I have not mentioned previously is that she eats v-e-r-y - s-l-o-w-l-y. :snail: And if she paid for her dining plan, and that plan includes a dessert, well then, by golly, she is not going to get up from the table before she has eaten that dessert!

It took an entire hour to finish lunch. Heavy sigh. Oh well, I have to say that for a woman of 75, she has been keeping up with the pace very well and was enjoying herself thoroughly. I made a mental note to budget extra time for our now leisurely meals. At least none of us would be in danger of getting indigestion!

We all hit the restrooms and yet another variable in our time management equation became noticeable: Aunt Rae took about twice as long in the restroom as the rest of us. “What’s taking so long?” Tricia asked, itching to get back out to the park. “Never you mind”, Ed and I chided her. “Older people need more time to do things…” I offered, not wanting to get into the particulars of THAT with my impatient 10 yr old. “When I’m 75 and you take ME to WDW, I plan to take as long as I want in the bathroom!” I said.

I guess the thought of an elderly mommy made her laugh. “Mom, you’ll want to come to WDW even when you’re 100!” Ha! You’re not kidding, sweetie-pie! WDW is definitely where I want to celebrate my 100th birthday! :cake: And you are my witnesses…Tricia promised to take me here!!

Downstairs, the lines at the counter were wrapped all around the downstairs and into the entranceway. It was very noisy. I was glad that we had decided to eat early. We stepped outside and discovered that it had showered while we were having lunch and the sun was now peeking out a little. How convenient!

We decided to take in one more attraction before heading back to OKW for our break. The Hall of Presidents was the obvious choice as it was nearby and also one of Ed’s favorites. We spent a few minutes waiting for the 1:00 show by viewing all the presidential portraits that were on display. The theater was rather empty, so we took seats in the center, about 5 rows back, so we could get a close look at the audio-animatronic presidents. It’s really a rather nice show, although some may feel that it’s a snoozer. I especially like watching all the presidents move and fidget during the roll call. Tricia was pleased that she recognized many of their names. Billy was especially taken with the show this year, as you will soon discover! (Cue the darkly foreboding music…)

Next, we found the spot where a woman in period costume was cutting out silhouettes as guests posed in profile. We had silhouettes of the children done, and once more were totally impressed with the artist’s ability to snip-snip-snip their likenesses out of black paper! Now we would be able to hang these next to the ones from our previous trips.

They are great keepsakes for a sentimental marshmallow like me! When grouped together, they seem to capture the inevitable passing of time as reflected in our children’s changing features more poignantly than color photographs ever could. :hourglass

We strolled out of Liberty Square, through the Hub, and back down Main Street. Ed was a bit annoyed that Tricia, AR, and I wanted to stop and look at the pins at the pin kiosk, he wanted to get back “home” to rest. But he was a good sport, and took Billy over to the Firehouse to look at the patches from all the various fire dept’s around the country and around the world. (His father was a fire-fighter.) He later said he was glad that he had the chance to do it; it’s not one of those things that you would normally plan to see.

We left for our break around 1:30 and the OKW bus was right there at the bus stop, just waiting for us!

Soon, we were all kicking our shoes off and flopping down on our beds. I set the alarm for 3:30 and soon drifted off to sleep, feeling pleased that we had all had a really fun morning, and secretly reveling in Aunt Rae’s comment that she had “seen and done more in one morning” than she had done in her entire last visit. :goodvibes

And they all scoffed at my obsessive planning!

Kathy

Next Chapter: A surprise for Aunt Rae, the kids get their licenses, and we come face-to-face with the mysterious Davy Jones!

[teentoddlermom]

So glad to see your TR! I've been wondering how it went. I remember reading your pre-trip and your topics on TGM last year. Welcome back!
Looking forward to more!

[KathyRN137]

Thanks, everyone, it is good to finally get around to doing my report!

(You don't even want to know how long it took me to finally get all my Christmas decorations down and packed away! :ssst: )

Kathy

[Crazy Kanga]

HI!:wave2: You and I sound so much alike and so do our sons. I am really enjoying your report.

[Montana Disney Fan]

Sounds like a great day! We've never done the GAC but we've sure talked about it. Trey does well in lines and other than Test Track (which he HAS to do), he just goes with the flow and doesn't really care about the order or what rides he gets to go on. He has certain favorites like RRC, Splash, and EE but if he doesn't ride those, he can live with it.

Since the Strattera, he quit Stimming also. Lately he might chew on the front of his shirt but that's it. No more Moan Boy :thumbsup2

Like your son, Trey definately likes to know the schedule for the day. But in WDW, our schedule never goes as plans. This was the first trip that it didn't bother him.

Thanks and keep em coming!

[Linnie The Pooh]

Loving your trip report. Billy sounds like a great kid. I wish Trey had that kind of support at school... sigh... it's been a bad school year for Trey.

I loved it when Billy said for everyone to sing along with him when he was singing all the songs- and his reaction to seeing Donald at Mickey's Philharmagic. Too precious!!! :cloud9: I love those moments.


Trey makes significant gains after going to the World too-I wonder why that is? His therapist told us that we need to go on vacation more! Uh, OK!!! That we can do!!!

Can't wait for more!!

[BeckyScott]

You know, I've wanted to take the kids to WDW since -- oh-- the first one was born :laughing: ...

But now, I have read so much from so many sources about the gains that kids w/ autism make when they visit WDW, it puts a whole new spin on it.

I am very much looking forward to hearing about the rest of the trip!

Also, just a general question, did you take notes during the trip? How do you all keep track of this stuff? I want to write it all down myself, too, but I don't want to be walking around WDW with a notebook. (although it wouldn't surprise DH to see me doing that) The pre-planning I understand, but the actual trip report, how did you handle recording that info?

[KathyRN137]

BS: I carried around a little pocket travel journal that I got at Borders...I would jot down notes while waiting on line, while on the bus, before I went to bed, etc....otherwise I would have forgotten all the little details!

MDF and LTP: :grouphug:

>>and The Rest: Thanks for remembering me from so long ago!

Kathy

[LeahJ]

We are DISers - we accomplish more in one morning, than most people do all week (at least on vacation! :lmao:)

I am SO happy for you that Aunt Rae was so impressed!!!! It's the competitive side that I try so hard to hide!

Also - Aunt Rae sounds like such a great person - how wonderful for her to enjoy your children as much as you do.

I've got a friend with a son with autism - I'll have to tell him about the wonderful power of the mouse that you all attest to.

Plus - props to Disney for being so great about all types of differences.

Props to your DH for not wanting you to cook on the vaca.

A big shout out to Tricia for getting on top of homework when the anticipation had to be raging on the plane!

And huge shout out to you for going with the flow and changing plans! Sounds like it worked out great!

I can't wait to read about the rest of your trip!

Leah

[KathyRN137]

Day 2 Tuesday Evening, 11/07/06 Magic Kingdom

The alarm seemed to go off as soon as my head hit the pillow! We had power-napped for an hour, and were soon bustling about getting ready for an evening at the MK. Aunt Rae had not been able to sleep, but was “feeling great” after putting in her eye drops and resting with her feet up on the couch. Billy did not want to get up at first, but as soon as we mentioned the MK, he got up and began chanting, “Go to the Hall of Presidents, please!” over and over.

I took a few minutes reviewing the guide map with him and pointing to the attractions that we had planned for that night (POC, BTMRR, WISHES), and he repeated them several times. This is called a "social story", it helps him to process the expected sequence of events. I told him that we would see HOP tomorrow and he seemed to accept it.

We gathered up our things and headed out the door. Whoops! Go back and unlock the door, again. AR still had on her slippers! Can’t walk around the park in those! (A running joke…she did this every afternoon…after a while, we would say “Everybody ready? Lanyards? Cell phones? Aunt Rae, are you still in your slippers?”) ::yes::

I was really looking forward to our early ADR at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian. Aunt Rae had mentioned a few times that she really wanted to have her picture taken with her favorite character, Cinderella, and I had kept this character meal as a surprise. I also knew that she would enjoy seeing the inside of this gorgeous Victorian resort.

pixiedust: Once again, it felt as though we had been sprinkled with pixie dust. Not only did the MK bus pull up to the stop in less than 5 min, we could see that it had showered while we were napping. Once again, we had missed getting rained on! The bus was not crowded and we soon pulled into the MK lot.

Aunt Rae looked at me quizzically as we proceeded to walk past the gate and up the ramp to the monorail station. “We’re going to one of the resorts for a special dinner”, I said. We’re going to take the monorail. She begged for a hint. “What hint should we give?” I asked Tricia.

“It’s a character meal!” Tricia exclaimed, loving that she was in on the secret.

“Oh, is it Chef Mickey’s?” Aunt Rae asked.

“No!” said both Tricia and Billy. (Now, Billy probably had no idea where we were going either, but this sounded like a fun guessing game to him, so he kept his eyes on his big sister and mimicked her responses with a chuckle.)

“Are we going to the Polynesian?” was her next try.

“NO!!” Both kids were really into it now!

Aunt Rae knit her brows in thought. She was really stumped!

Along came the crowded monorail and we all squished inside. Now it is well known in our family that Daddy is a big, big fan of the monorail. The first time he visited WDW, which was sometime in the 80’s, he stayed at the Poly. Every time the subject of WDW resorts comes up, Ed always chimes in about how great it was to stay on the monorail line. To him, that monorail is the greatest thing since sliced bread! Unfortunately, we’ve never had the opportunity to stay at one of those deluxe resorts.

Twice we had very nice family vacations at moderate resorts before buying into DVC in ’05. And do you know what was the only criticism he had for DVC? None of the villas were situated “on the monorail”! I try to appease him by planning in at least one ride on his beloved monorail each trip! If DVC does ever build at the CR, you know that we’ll have to stay there just for Ed!

We took “the tour” of Bay Lake, passing through the Contemporary, past the Poly, and ending at the elegant Grand Floridian, Disney’s tribute to the lavish seaside resorts of the Victorian age. We entered the soaring Grand Lobby and were greeted by the sound of a solo pianist at a baby grand. High above, chandeliers sparkled and white enamel shone from row upon row of balconies.

A :bride: and her wedding party were gathering together, happily chattering and hugging all around. A photographer was trying in vain to position them for a few poses and no one was paying him any heed! We admired her dress and then made our way to the old-fashioned caged elevator. The kids were thrilled to discover that we “had” to take it to 1900 Park Fare!

We checked in at the podium and, having read that this buffet meal could be quite noisy, I requested a quiet table (for Billy) if one was available. The hostess appeared to be almost relieved, stating that we were to be seated in a side room off the main dining area. I surmised that these were not the most popular tables, but I was more than happy to be placed there since being in the center of a loud, busy dining room is too much stimulation for Billy.

Suzy Mouse and then Cinderella’s prince came around right away. I do believe that this is the first time I’ve seen the Prince anywhere except, of course, in a parade. The Prince was very handsome, and played his part very well! He bowed and shook hands with the boys and kissed the hands of the girls.

The chef came to the table to discuss AR’s dietary needs, which impressed her immensely. I had told her that WDW was really accommodating in that way, but having the chef come to speak with her personally made her feel very special.

Soon came Cinderella herself, followed by Perla Mouse. Cinderella’s blue damask gown was gorgeous! I wondered, however, if she had recently been getting flak from the costuming department. She seemed a bit distracted trying to keep children from stepping on her skirt or hugging her with messy hands!

As usual, we let the characters know that Billy is autistic. Cinderella seemed a bit surprised, though, when our big boy threw his arms around her waist and squeezed her tight! Ed got a kick out of that. “That’s my boy!” he laughed. Then he told Cinderella that Billy liked the blonde princesses best b/c they reminded him of his mommy. Ha!

Billy didn’t eat much, but the rest of us enjoyed the buffet thoroughly. The strawberry soup was indeed as good as I had heard, and Ed was able to get the prime rib at last! Don’t even get me started talking about the desserts. Even the memory of them is high in calories! The bread pudding was incredible and there was real whipped cream for the brownies. Ed had two portions of that! :rolleyes1

Billy was getting a bit antsy :hyper: , so Ed took him out of the restaurant to walk off a bit of his pent-up energy while we waited for AR to finish eating.

We met up in the lobby where Ed had struck up a conversation with a DVC guide. He admired Tricia’s pin lanyard and gave her a pin commemorating the anniversary of DVC. :) Then he took our picture. We then made our way out to the monorail platform, destined for the MK.

Our good luck couldn’t last forever, I suppose, b/c it was now drizzling outside. We were the first ones in line for the monorail so when it pulled in, I asked the conductor if we could ride in the front. Four was the limit, and Ed gallantly offered to let me go with AR and the children.

“This is our first time up front”, I told the driver.

“Mine, too!” he quipped. :rotfl:

It was a difficult to see due to the darkness and the water droplets on the expansive glass, but they all enjoyed it. “Mom, this is COOL!” Tricia grinned. I enjoyed the oh-so-short-lived status of being a “cool” mom in the eyes of a pre-teen!

The ride ended quickly at the MK and the driver gave the kids their monorail “driver’s licenses” as we exited.

From high up on the platform, we could see all the twinkling lights outlining the structures along Main St., USA. :cloud9: “Don’t run!” Ed and I commanded in unison as the kids began to dash down the wet ramp. (I have to admit that there was a little girl inside of me that wanted to run to the MK, too, but parental sensibilities proved stronger.)

We breezed through bag check and the turnstiles and a wave of pleasure swept over me again as we emerged from the tunnel into that wondrous place! We (well, we girls anyway) let out a chorus of ooohs and aaahs as our gazes were drawn to the Castle, which was gloriously lit against the night sky in a slow succession of colors that went from blue to violet and then to a deep purple.

It was already 6:30 and we were planning to see Wishes at 8:00. We decided to head straight to Adventureland for POC. Billy had other ideas. “First, Mickey’s Philharmagic, then Hall of Presidents, pleeeeese!” Here we go again! I explained once more that we were going to see the pirates and then Big Thunder Mountain RR, which both kids absolutely love and we always have to do at least twice in a row.

“No, I want Mickey’s Philharmagic and the Hall of Presidents, PLEEEEESE!” This was not posed as a request, but rather, as a stubborn demand. And, darn it all, that boy knows the layout of the park as well as I do, b/c when we approached the little bridge toward AdventureLand, he began pulling me by hand to the bridge leading to Liberty Square! “No, Billy”, I cried, trying to keep from being dragged along. Sometimes it’s like having a 3 yr old in (a very strong) 8 yr olds’ body.

:rolleyes2 These are two features of his autism that are really difficult to manage: the rigidity and the compulsiveness. Fortunately, his stubbornness is no match for his Daddy’s! Ed took over holding Billy’s hand and firmly led him along. Autism may be a part of our lives, but we can’t let a child’s behavior control our family. It wouldn’t be good for him or for the rest of us.

Billy cried a bit, but he soon got over it when we passed the Magic Carpets of Aladdin and he heard his Mommy let out a yelp! I had totally forgotten about those spitting camels and had unsuspectingly walked right into the line of fire! “Mommy got wet! Mommy got wet!” Both kids thought this was hilarious, and it broke the tension immediately.

We arrived at POC and to my surprise there was no wait at all! :woohoo: We climbed into the boat and were soon drifting into the dark, dank, and watery caves that comprised the pirates’ lair. pirate: A curtain of mist appeared with the apparition of the mysterious Davy Jones seemingly floating in it’s midst. “Put your hood up, Aunt Rae, we’re going to get wet!” Tricia chortled. Poor AR became flustered as we passed “through” the mist and emerged dry on the other side. She gave Tricia a playful spank, and she deserved it!

“Come on, Billy, let’s find Capt. Jack Sparrow!” Tricia cried. Billy actually jumped up and down on his seat every time Capt. Jack appeared. “There he is! There he is!” he shouted, and we all laughed to see him enjoying himself so much. We all sang along to “A Pirate’s Life for Me”, and made note, as always, of :eek: “the hairy leg”.

We steered the kids past the temptations of the gift shop and out into the courtyard. Suddenly, Ed paused and sniffed the air searchingly. “I smell nuts”, he said, and walked purposely toward the kiosk that peddled his favorite WDW snack.

Now, some people are big fans of the colossal turkey leg. Others favor Dole whips or Mickey bars. Ed’s WDW treat of choice is a bag of roasted sugared almonds. He came back carrying three, “to share”. I sampled a few, because they are best when nice and warm, but everyone was still too full from dinner to have any more. Ed stashed them in his backpack for later and we passed through AL into Frontierland, and queued up for the “the wildest ride in the wilderness!”

Now, if you’ve been on BTMRR, you know that it may be fast and you get shaken from side to side, but there are no big drops or scary parts. And so, when Aunt Rae climbed into the car next to Tricia, I wasn’t really apprehensive in any way. (Remember—this was the woman who told us that she wanted to try TOT!) Well, off we went on our wild ride, twisting and turning through the Wild West, all of us whooping and laughing. Well, all of us that is, except Aunt Rae. Seems as though her little 98-pound body got a bit airborne (or so it felt to her), and she did not like sliding in the seat from side to side during the sharp curves. :tilt: Ed helped her out and she was a bit shaken.

“Once is enough for me!” she said, as the kids clamored for another ride. Tricia, especially, was disappointed. I reminded her of our WDW family rule: no one is to be pushed into riding something he or she doesn’t want to ride. We agreed to split up. Ed and AR would take a nice gentle ride on the Liberty Belle Riverboat while I took the kids for another ride on Big Thunder.

Thanks to the GAC we were able to use the FP queue again, and the wait was only about 15 minutes. Again, we enjoyed the rattling ride, with Billy laughing the whole time and Tricia daring to ride with her hands up a few times! We exited and found the others waiting for us on a bench. It seems that the riverboat was finished running for the night as they were preparing for the nightly fireworks, so they hadn’t been able to ride. Well, the rest on the bench allowed AR to collect herself in any case, b/c she looked a lot better.

We began walking along when Tricia stopped suddenly and shrieked, “My pins!” Her lanyard was missing (and I hadn’t even noticed.) :sad1: She began to cry, admitting that she had removed it from her neck b/c it was feeling heavy and had placed it next to her on the seat before the ride began.

It was really getting congested in that area by now, so AR, Billy, and I stayed put while Tricia and Ed went back. Fortunately, the ride operator saw her tears and quickly guessed that the lanyard filled with Minnie and princess pins was hers! Tricia was very relieved and she learned her lesson. From then on, if she needed a rest for her neck she gave her lanyard to me and I kept it safe in my backpack.

We made our way along the edge of Frontierland and into Liberty Square. The starting time for Wishes was fast approaching and we were nowhere near where I wanted us to be to view the show! Then you-know-who stopped us in our tracks. “I want Hall of Presidents, pleeeeese!” He had spied the object of his desire and was still determined to see it again.

(And just as an aside…the Hall of Presidents? Fixating on Mickey’s Philharmagic or Buzz Lightyear as he has done on our previous trips, well that I can understand! But, the HOP? Ed and I just looked at each other and shook our heads.) :confused3

We powered him through Fantasyland, then through Tomorrowland, and onto the bridge that connects Tomorrowland to the Hub. (It was much too crowded to try to cut through the heavy crowds in front of the castle.) Billy was NOT happy.

He had been doing better each year with loud noises and fireworks, even doing very well without earplugs during the last 4th of July celebration at home. Ed put the earplugs in his ears anyway. As 8:00 turned into 8:10, I was beginning to wonder if the fireworks would be cancelled. Even though it had long since stopped drizzling, there were thick clouds and it looked as though there was not much visibility.

Suddenly, music blared from the speakers. Billy startled and hid his face in Ed’s jacket, refusing to look at the fireworks. Oh well, at least he wasn’t crying. We were positioned so we could see Tinkerbelle’s flight, :tink: but the bad weather must have been too much for Miss Belle, b/c she did not appear. Disappointingly, only the lower fireworks could be seen. The higher ones just disappeared behind the thick clouds. But, the castle was beautiful and the music was very uplifting. I smiled as I heard Billy singing along softly to “When You Wish Upon a Star”, and I knew he was okay.

Nevertheless, we decided to exit before the show was over since it wasn’t the greatest night for fireworks. We were coming back on Saturday night with Eddie (DSS16) for SpectroMagic and Wishes, anyway. As soon as we began walking, Billy went back to being his usual happy self. Thankfully, he even seemed to forget about the HOP. “I want Old Key West, please!” This time, we were happy to oblige!

I usually make it a point NOT to shop on the way out of a park at the end of the night due to the crowds, but AR really wanted to get something. So, we girls braved the Emporium while Ed took Billy back to the near-empty Fire Station to look at the equipment and the patches. After making our purchases, a small backpack for AR and a MK t-shirt for Tricia, we made our way through the stores to the end and met the boys by the flagpole. We all waved goodnight to the MK and headed toward the buses.

It was now 8:40 and the bus for OKW appeared right away. :goodvibes There were few people on it; perhaps many had left early due to the so-so fireworks display. Whatever the reason, I was thankful. We had last visited WDW last year during the first week of December, and I remember that the SSR buses were always crowded and the waits were much longer. I don’t think Ed sat for a single bus ride that trip! :rolleyes:

We settled into our rooms and relaxed for a while before turning in. Billy unwound by watching a bit of Dumbo (his DVD du jour) and Tricia organized her pins and selected those that she would wear on her lanyard the next day. Ed remembered the sugared almonds and I heated them in the oven. We nibbled on them while Ed watched a re-run of Law and Order, and I cleaned out my backpack and prepared our clothes for the next morning. I usually don’t watch much TV, except for the Weather Channel, when we are here. Such a normal, mundane activity, I suppose. It doesn’t seem to fit in my WDW state of mind!

The kids got ready for bed and once again I was thankful that I had brought the nightlight for Billy, b/c he was able to fall asleep in the living room without difficulty. Tomorrow, we’re up early again for another go at the MK!:cool1:

Kathy

Next Chapter: Billy does Space Mountain, we dream along with Mickey, and the HOP Obsession continues!

[jackdis]

Kathy,
I'm really enjoying your trip report. I remember reading it when it was just in the planning stages. Can't wait for more!!! Thank you for sharing with us!
jackie

[KathyRN137]

Day Three: Wednesday Morning, 11/08/06 Magic Kingdom

Billy must have been tired b/c it was the alarm clock that woke us up this morning! Everyone was soon washing up and getting ready for the Magic Kingdom. We ate our breakfast while watching Playhouse Disney on the living room TV and I tried to pick up as many Cheerios as I could find before gathering up our things to leave.

It isn’t that I am such a great housekeeper. :rotfl2: It’s b/c Billy has a habit of crushing them into the carpet with his foot the way one might crush out a cigarette butt on the sidewalk. (I think he is trying to make his mess go away and doesn’t quite understand that he is really making it worse!) Fortunately, the villa comes equipped with a dustpan and broom for the ones that he got to first!

Once again there was a negligible wait for the bus. The trusty Weather Channel had promised a beautiful day in the mid-seventies and the clouds from yesterday were nowhere to be seen. We arrived at the MK at 9:00, moved quickly down Main Street, then made a beeline for TomorrowLand.

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin was a walk-on. :thumbsup2 This is one of our family favorites! Aunt Rae is so tiny that she was able to squeeze in between Tricia and me in one car and Ed and Billy were in the next. (To tell the truth, I was more concerned with not spinning the car too fast than I was with shooting my laser cannon). We battled the Evil Emperor Zurg and as usual, Ed :cool2: had the highest score. And, as usual, he rubbed it in our faces! Aunt Rae thought it was great fun. Then we cruised over to Space Mountain.

The posted wait time was 30 minutes and Billy was shrieking and flapping from the stimulation he just had at Buzz, so we decided to use the GAC. Ed took Aunt Rae for a gentle ride on the TTA and the kids and I snaked our way down the long queue to where the CM was checking for FPs. To my delight, there was only one family ahead of us in the FP queue.

I was a tiny bit apprehensive b/c this was Billy’s first time on SM. He always did very well with other coasters, in fact, he loves rides that go fast and rattle him around a bit, so I decided that he could try it this year. (He certainly is big enough.) Regardless, it was still a new experience and I was hoping it would go well.

“There goes a chocolate chip cookie, Billy, did you see it?” said Tricia as we stood under the ceiling of stars. (She thinks the meteors look like cookies.) Before they could spot another one, our “rocket” was ready. I positioned myself in the back and put Billy in front of me so I could keep my hands on his shoulders if he became frightened. Tricia braved the front seat and she was very sweet to give constant reassurances to her brother. Neither she nor I should have worried b/c Billy was giggling uncontrollably from the moment we took off!

He absolutely loved it! He was shrieking and waving his arms and I was laughing out loud just listening to his exclamations of sheer delight! I admit it… I scream on coasters. I could hear the big girl up front screaming and laughing, too. When the ride ended all three of us had tears streaming down our faces from laughing and having “the wind” in our faces. We marched up the exit ramp and Tricia asked Billy if he wanted to go again. I thought for sure that he would say yes, but instead he blurted out, “Hall of Presidents, pleeeeeese!” Egads! :rolleyes:

We positioned ourselves on a bench with a clear view of the TTA exit, and I marveled that it was taking them longer to do TTA than it had taken us to do SM! They soon emerged and since Ed wanted to take Billy to see Stitch :crazy2: (yuck!), I took Aunt Rae and Tricia over to the Carousel of Progress.

Although this was our family’s fourth trip to WDW this was, unbelievably, our first time seeing the COP attraction! I know that it had been closed on one, possibly two, of our previous visits (Value Seasons) and we just never got around to seeing this classic. Aunt Rae and I really enjoyed it; Tricia was a little bored.

She rolled her eyes when I began singing along with “Great, Big Beautiful Tomorrow” (I have the WDW CD). “MOM! You’re EMBARASSING ME!”

“It’s in my job description, look it up!” I told her.

We went outside and, indeed, the Weather Channel had been correct. It was turning out to be a beautiful day! It was sunny and the temperature was a perfect 75*. We met up with the boys, who had enjoyed seeing and smelling Stitch again, and we took a quick restroom break before heading over to see the Dream Along With Mickey show.

On the way over, we caught part of the High School Musical Pep Rally. It was cute. They were doing it right in the middle of the courtyard in front of the Galaxy Theater, so guests just gathered around as the performers involved the audience by bouncing basketballs with the kids and getting them sing and cheer along with them. Surprisingly, Tricia was not too interested, so we continued on our way to the Castle.

We picked up some slushies and positioned ourselves on the ground in front of the castle forecourt stage. We were early, so we had a pretty good spot. Aunt Rae stood behind us, sipping her slushie.

“Sit here next to me,” I motioned to a rain poncho Ed had spread out on the ground.
“Oh, I’ll just stand”, she smiled sweetly. “If I get down, I won’t be able to get up!” Ed and I looked at each other. :scratchin This I had not anticipated.

“Aunt Rae, you have to sit”, Ed said. “Otherwise the kids behind you won’t be able to see.” (Way to go, Ed, nothing like a little guilt trip for your elderly aunt!) “Don’t worry, Kathy and I will hoist you up again; what do you weigh? Ninety pounds?” She laughed and he helped her to sit down. I made a mental note to bring a thick towel for her to sit on for any future shows like this.

Billy made himself completely comfortable by stretching full out across my lap. It is also in my job description, apparently, to function as a lounge chair when needed.

The show was really great! Tricia especially admired all the bright blue sparkly costumes and I was glad to see that this show featured Mickey and Minnie as the stars! As they sang, their mouths moved and their eyes blinked! We’ve never seen characters do that before! All the Princesses were there, of course, but the now Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and the ever-present pirates shared the stage, making it a show that was appealing to both girls and boys. It was lots of fun!

We had a short walk to the beautiful Crystal Palace and we checked in for our 11:30 lunch ADR. We waited about 10 minutes, but considering that they were transitioning from breakfast to lunch, that wasn’t too bad.

As usual, I asked the hostess if we could have a table by a wall or window b/c of Billy’s sensory issues. She began leading us to our table when pooh: unexpectedly crossed our path. Before I could stop him, Billy ran to him and hugged and kissed him. The “handler” began his talk about waiting for the characters to come to the table and I apologized and explained that Billy was autistic. The handler smiled and said, “Pooh, let’s walk this young man over to his table!” Pooh and Billy walked hand in hand down the length of the restaurant to our table, and Billy sang, “Winnie the Pooh! Winnie the Pooh! Willy-Nilly Silly Old Bear!"

We were given a wonderful table in a sunny corner by a window, with a lovely view of the Castle. I guess Pooh decided to start at our end, b/c he spent a lot of time with Billy (and the rest of us). Billy gave him hugs and sniffs. (He likes to sniff things…more sensory-seeking behavior.)

Right after Pooh came Eeyore and then Tigger in quick succession. :eeyore: has a special place in my heart because of an incident that occurred on our second trip to WDW when Billy was six….

Back then, Tricia was in her “autograph collecting phase” and she would hound us to stop at every single character we came across so she could collect a picture and a signature! Little Billy was terrified of the characters on our first trip, but now, on our second trip, he was starting to warm up to them….well, at least he would stand still for a picture with them, anyway!

We were inside the toy store in the England pavilion at Epcot when the Pooh and Eeyore suddenly appeared for a meet & greet. I grabbed the kids and we were first in line to meet them. I informed the “handler” that Billy was autistic and she whispered it to the characters. Tricia gave them each a big squeeze, then motioned to her brother to come closer. Billy gave his tentative hugs to both, but then, something magical occurred!

He looked up and said, “Hello, Eeyore! Do you want to play a game?”

Now, I cannot even begin to describe how huge this was. The vast majority of Billy’s purposeful language use up until then had been either echolalia (echoing something that was said to him), or short declarative statements, usually used to communicate simple needs. “Drink of water.” “Want a cookie.” “TV on.”

Now, not only was he using a full sentence appropriately, he was actually initiating a social activity.

"Hello, Eeyore! Do you want to play a game?" Eeyore, thinking quickly, began to play pat-a-cake with him and Billy played along!

I stood there in shock and tears just streamed down my face. Now I was the one who had no words. The CM “handler” looked at me and I sputtered something about how Billy never talks and how amazing this moment was. She put her arm around me and said, “Isn’t it wonderful?” pixiedust:

Then, Billy hugged Eeyore really tight and took him by the hand. “Come on, Eeyore. Let’s go home!” He began pulling Eeyore toward the door. He wanted Eeyore to come with us. I wanted Eeyore to come with us! Oh please, Eeyore, come home and live with us so Billy can talk like this all the time!

I smiled as Billy and Tricia hugged this Eeyore, remembering that watershed moment at Epcot. That was the moment I knew that somehow, some way, we had to come to WDW every year.

Now came Tigger, another of Billy’s favorites. He yelled out, “Bounce, Tigger, bounce!” So Tigger held hands and bounced around with Billy until it was Piglet’s turn to get hugs from everyone. Now that Tricia has lost interest in getting autographs, we have more time for hugs! :hug:

When Piglet saw Billy snuggling up with Tigger, he came along and expected the same. But Billy just gave him a cursory little hug and said, “all done, Piglet”. By this time, he was done with all this affection and wanted to eat! Poor Piglet! I gave him an extra hug to make up for the rejection!

We settled down to "munch an early luncheon" We had eaten here once for breakfast about three years ago; this was our first lunch at the CP and the buffet did not disappoint! There was an assortment of green and pasta salads, rotisserie chicken, sliced steak, salmon, BBQ pork, and too many other choices to possibly remember!

The kids had their own little buffet bar of, you guessed it: pizza, mac and cheese, chicken fingers, etc. Billy wanted French fries, which were not offered, but our server brought a plate out especially for him at our request.

"Time for something sweet!" A separate dessert island offered a tempting array of cakes, pies and puddings. We sampled a few bites of everything, but today, everyone at our table was especially interested in the soft serve ice cream with lots of toppings! There were even chocolate chip cookies that Billy actually ate! (He’s strictly a Chips Ahoy man back home.)

By the time we were finished, the restaurant was completely filled, quite noisy, and the crowds of people waiting out on the verandah for their tables once again reinforced my conviction that early lunchtime was the way to go!


From the Crystal Palace we made our way over the bridge to Adventureland. The music of turn of the century America gave way to the beat of native drums. We passed through the Arabian bazaar on our way to the Jungle Cruise. This time, I was not going to let those camels get me! Tricia, on the other hand, actually waited for them to spit water, then feigned surprise and indignation when her shirt got soaked. Well, there’s a bit of a drama queen in every ten year-old girl! Anyway, it was becoming quite warm and crowded; so the little spritz probably felt good.

The Jungle Cruise standby queue was ridiculously long, like 55 minutes, so we used the GAC and were in our boat in about 15 minutes. We all groaned at the jokes that were so corny, the skipper actually apologized after telling a few of them! :laughing: Tricia suddenly remembered that she was carrying her new camera phone, so she proceeded to snap pictures of every audio-animatronic animal we saw! It was a lot of fun and Aunt Rae especially enjoyed the nice, slow ride after lunch.


The Magic Carpets had a pretty long wait (no FP), but we did it anyway even though it was time for our break. We always seem to succumb to the “just one more ride” syndrome! It took a bit longer than anticipated and now Ed was pointing at his watch and mouthing, “Let’s go!” But, the best laid plans…

Aunt Rae wanted to stop and pick up a brimmed hat to wear instead of sunglasses, so we found ourselves shopping in the Emporium again! Then she announced that she wanted to buy the family matching tee shirts as a thank-you. I could sense Ed’s impatience growing as Tricia and I searched and searched for one shirt design that came in both adult and children’s sizes. :rolleyes1 Then he remembered the photopass pictures taken earlier on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.

Exasperated, he took Billy by the hand and headed down Main Street toward the Town Square Exposition Hall, apparently grateful to have something to do other than pace around waiting for us to finish. My husband has never been able to grasp the concept of recreational shopping. “I don’t understand why you can’t just go to a store, grab what you need, pay, and then leave!” he often says. We women know better! The thrill of the hunt! ::yes::


Nevertheless, I hurried the girls along and we all left the MK and headed toward the buses. It was now a little after 2pm and we had originally hoped to be napping by now, since we had a 5:45 dinner ADR at Epcot that night. :sad2: Ed shook his head at me. He needed a nap more than the children did! Mercifully, the bus came in 5 minutes and we were soon speeding our way back to OKW in air-conditioned comfort.


Kathy

Next Chapter: Tricia and Mommy discover the F&WF Fun Run, We twirl at Alfredo’s, and Mommy invades France.

[wvdislover]

Great TR so far! I teared up as you told the story of Billy and Eeyore (I think you've told that story before, and I teared up then, too). I just booked a trip to WDW for the 2nd week in Sept. for my family (my neighbor across the street invited us to join them. It would be rude to say no to our friends, don't you think?!?). I'm pulling my DD's 10 and 6 out of school for 5 or 6 days to go (DD10's OT isn't so sure it's a good idea, but I don't think she'll miss much the 3rd week of school). I'm planning on writing it off as an educational experience. I'm hoping that Sarah has some big accomplishments while we're there, too (ADHD, anxiety issues, sensory integration issues, borderline LD, mild Asperger's). Can't wait to hear more of your TR! I'll have to consider writing my own!

[KathyRN137]

I just booked a trip to WDW for the 2nd week in Sept. for my family..... I'm pulling my DD's 10 and 6 out of school for 5 or 6 days to go (DD10's OT isn't so sure it's a good idea, but I don't think she'll miss much the 3rd week of school).


Our first trip in '03 was the 2nd week of September; low crowds, but high humidity! I wish we could travel in Value season again, but as you say, it gets stickier as the kids get older...so much school work to make up! :rolleyes:

Thanks for reading,

Kathy

[jackdis]

Kathy,
I also got the goosebumps and had tears in my eyes as I read about Billy and Eeyore - again. That is Disney magic at its finest. It truly is a special place!:goodvibes

I am really enjoying your trip report!!

Do you know more about the High School Musical pep rally? Is it at scheduled times? Is it just at Magic Kingdom? I thought I read somewhere that it's at MGM, but I might just be having one of those moments. LOL!!
Jackie

[Montana Disney Fan]

I was a tiny bit apprehensive b/c this was Billy’s first time on SM. He always did very well with other coasters, in fact, he loves rides that go fast and rattle him around a bit, so I decided that he could try it this year. (He certainly is big enough.) Regardless, it was still a new experience and I was hoping it would go well.

“There goes a chocolate chip cookie, Billy, did you see it?” said Tricia as we stood under the ceiling of stars. (She thinks the meteors look like cookies.) Before they could spot another one, our “rocket” was ready. I positioned myself in the back and put Billy in front of me so I could keep my hands on his shoulders if he became frightened. Tricia braved the front seat and she was very sweet to give constant reassurances to her brother. Neither she nor I should have worried b/c Billy was giggling uncontrollably from the moment we took off!

Trey went on SM with me for his first time also just two weeks ago. I was afraid since he'd be riding all alone without anyone sitting next to him. He didn't even notice and loved it. We had to ride twice.


I like sing off key also. I love to embarass the family.

My step father went to WDW with the clan one year and they all went at Thanksgiving :scared1: How dumb was that! Anyway, they stuck him on the TTA and the Railroad where he spent most of the day going around and around and around...:woohoo:

[Gabrielsbigtrip]

Day Three: Wednesday Morning, 11/08/06 Magic Kingdom


"Hello, Eeyore! Do you want to play a game?" Eeyore, thinking quickly, began to play pat-a-cake with him and Billy played along!

I stood there in shock and tears just streamed down my face. Now I was the one who had no words. The CM “handler” looked at me and I sputtered something about how Billy never talks and how amazing this moment was. She put her arm around me and said, “Isn’t it wonderful?” pixiedust:

Then, Billy hugged Eeyore really tight and took him by the hand. “Come on, Eeyore. Let’s go home!” He began pulling Eeyore toward the door. He wanted Eeyore to come with us. I wanted Eeyore to come with us! Oh please, Eeyore, come home and live with us so Billy can talk like this all the time!

I smiled as Billy and Tricia hugged this Eeyore, remembering that watershed moment at Epcot. That was the moment I knew that somehow, some way, we had to come to WDW every year.


Kathy

Next Chapter: Tricia and Mommy discover the F&WF Fun Run, We twirl at Alfredo’s, and Mommy invades France.

Okay - I am blubbering like a fool!

My son is 5 and has autism. We are going in early May for the first time to Disney. I just found your report and I'm loving it.

My son is high functioning and I know he is going to have the time of his life. I hope I am not following him around sobbing like an idiot just by looking at his reaction to everything:hug:

My favorite repetitive saying he has is from Toy Story - he goes into that whole tirade from Woody saying "YOU ARE A TOY!!!!!!!!!!! ~ A CHILD'S PLAY THING!"

Gosh they can be so difficult but aren't they absolutely amazing? They see the world through such innocent eyes.

I haven't finished reading the entire thread but I will! Thanks for taking the time to post all of this.

[KathyRN137]

jacdis and wvdislover: Aha! I thought I remembered telling that story before....maybe on the DisAbilities board?? I must be getting like my Dad; he's got his favorite stories that we've all heard time and time again! :laughing: I will cherish that particular Disney memory as long as I live.
jacdis..I'll send you a PM on the entertainment schedules...

MDF: Wait 'till you see how he did on ToT !!

GBT: Billy was 5 when we made our first trip to the World; it's
not too young, not too old, "just right"!

Thanks for reading...

Kathy

[Montana Disney Fan]

Trey won't even go on ToT but he'll ride RRC. What gives with this kid?!?!? :confused3

[Marion]

jacdis and wvdislover: Aha! I thought I remembered telling that story before....maybe on the DisAbilities board?? I must be getting like my Dad; he's got his favorite stories that we've all heard time and time again! :laughing: I will cherish that particular Disney memory as long as I live.

Actually it was on page 3 of this thread :thumbsup2 but in your defense, it's a great story and totally deserved to be repeated! And I'm not just saying that because I have adored Eeyore for over 40 years! :love:

I'm truly enjoying your trip report and am looking forward to more :)

[MomToAp1699]

Kathy,
I just finished reading through your whole thread and can honestly say that I have never read a trip report that has made me cry from start to finish. I Hope my sons trip to WDW is as incredible as yours was.
Your trip report has been a lot of help for me since my family ( my husband and myself as well as my mother and stepfather for two days) will be travelling with my son Alex who is an 8 year old with Asperger's Syndrome. He is high functioning but easily confused and overwhelmed. So I had a few questions for you.
1) does the GAC allow you to utilize handicap seating for events like Fantasmic? My son wants to go but I am leary. I know he won't be able to wait in line the 1.5 hours ahead of time we have been told you should arrive for seating and I KNOW without a doubt he would never be able to survive standing room only. His greatest terror in crowds is being at butt level with everyone else and has no problem screaming that there are BUTTS IN MY FACE...

2.) Did you rent a stroller at all during your visit??

I think that is it for now. We haven't told Alex we are going because he is the flip side of the coin in ASD.. There is the one side where they need to know everything well ahead of time in order to prepare and be ready .. and then there is the side that Alex lives on. You can't tell him ahead of time when something big is coming, he worries and perservates and gets himself so anxiety ridden that nothing else matters but the questions and worries.. We leave April 16th and our plan is to tell him the Friday prior to leaving. Though we are not sure how we are telling him just yet. As I am sure you understand yourself, Alex is oblivious to clues and even obvious things. So we can't tell him by clues or hints or even by waiting til he figures itout when we get there as I don't know how long that would take.. I made him a special journal ( a jiminy journal like in Kingdom Hearts) as that is one of his BIG perseverations.. and I am thinking of putting a letter in the front of it to read to him with barely veiled clues that I know he will pick up on.. but any suggestions for that.. OR anything else woudl be sooooo greatly appreciated..

[KathyRN137]

Actually it was on page 3 of this thread :thumbsup2 but in your defense, it's a great story and totally deserved to be repeated! And I'm not just saying that because I have adored Eeyore for over 40 years! :love:

I'm truly enjoying your trip report and am looking forward to more :)


:rotfl: Ooops! That's what happens when you start your report 6 months before you actually go!!:rotfl:

Kathy

[KathyRN137]

Double post.

[wvdislover]

My son is high functioning and I know he is going to have the time of his life. I hope I am not following him around sobbing like an idiot just by looking at his reaction to everything:hug:

Pack the tissues!!! It's OK, though. You're supposed to cry at Disneyworld. At least that's the way that I've always understood it--I cry when I go. Now that I think about it, even my usually unemotional DH cried last Feb. when we were there w/o kids watching Mickey's Philharmagic! Go figure! (He was thinking of our DD's back home, esp. DD8 (now 9) who has several issues going on). Have a magical time!!!
Missy:goodvibes

[wvdislover]

MomtoAp1699:
We rented a double stroller for our DD's 8 and 4. They walked part of the time and rode part of the time. Disney requires A LOT of walking and Alex may not be up to the challenge (we're talking 5-10 miles a day, depending on how long you're in the parks and how much you move around). If you're not sure if he'll like it, they let my kids try the stroller out right there and see if they fit OK. Some people also have suggested a wheelchair for older autistic or sensory challenged kids. It gives them a space of their own, without being cramped. We're planning on taking our girls again in Sept. and are hoping our older DD (she'll be 10 when we go) will still fit in the stroller, if necessary. She really stresses and can melt down when she gets tired, and I don't know if she would do a wheelchair. Besides, we'll still need the stroller for DD6 (she's really little and her poor short legs would never make it through the day!). BTW, if you do opt for the stroller, go ahead and pay for the entire vacation's rentals the first day. They'll give you a discount, and if you end up not using all the rentals, they'll refund you for the unused tickets. Good luck and have a great time! :cool1:

[KathyRN137]

.. but any suggestions for that.. OR anything else woudl be sooooo greatly appreciated..


Happy to help! I'll PM you....

Kathy

[MomToAp1699]

MomtoAp1699:
They'll give you a discount, and if you end up not using all the rentals, they'll refund you for the unused tickets. Good luck and have a great time! :cool1:

Thanks, he does get worn down really easy and has a lack of stamina. He was in Physical Therapy for it but has improved. We have planned on buying a cheap one and taking it with us since I hate how hard and huge the ones at parks are.. Part of me says to just chuck it and figure it out when I get there.. and part of me says just buy the dang umbrella stroller and gate check it.. I decided for the most part to leave it at.. If I have enough money left after I buy everything else I will need I will buy a stroller.. cause its only 30$ to buy one and its gonna cost us 80$ to rent one..

[KathyRN137]

Wednesday Afternoon, 11/08/06: EPCOT

Soon we arrived at our stop on South Point Road. Once again, I marveled at the lush tropical landscaping of OKW. The palms and crepe myrtle that surrounded the pastel-colored villas made me feel truly immersed in the Key West theme!

Let’s see. So far we have experienced the Islands of the Caribbean, the French Quarter of New Orleans, and the pastoral Lakes Region of Upstate New York, all courtesy of WDW Resort Imagineering. “You know,” I remarked to Ed, “This is our fourth trip to Disney and it’s the first time I feel like I’m actually staying in a resort that’s in Florida!”

We climbed the steps to our 2nd floor villa and quickly settled in for a siesta. I closed all the blinds and while Tricia and Aunt Rae retired to their room, Ed and I put Billy between us in the king bed and snuggled up together. It was 2:45pm and our alarm was set for a meager one-hour nap.

Ed was soon dozing but Billy had a case of the wiggles & giggles; he just couldn’t settle down after all we had seen and done that morning. Oh well, no hope of a real nap today. At least an hour of quiet time in a darkened room would give him a little break from all the stimulation.

At 3:45 the radio began playing and I groped my way over to hit the snooze button. At some point Billy must have drifted off, because now he was peacefully snoring away! A few minutes later, the radio went off again. Once more, the boys remained completely unconscious while I smacked that poor button just a bit harder than necessary. :headache: Ugh!

I mentally reviewed my plan. This year, one of my goals was to see more of the live entertainment in all the parks. Originally, I had hoped to catch the World Showcase Players before checking in at Alfredo’s for dinner. Forget about it! We just couldn’t get up.

Note to self: Don’t stay so late at the park before break; it’s not worth it!

After yet another “snooze”, I managed to drag myself out of bed and into the bathroom to wash up. I padded across the living room and peeked into the next bedroom. Aunt Rae was dressing but Tricia was still asleep. I nudged her awake and she yawned and stretched and promised that she would get dressed quickly. I went back across to the master bedroom and began the arduous task of rousing the boys.

Ed got up without too much difficulty. He’s used to a certain amount of sleep deprivation, anyway, from working nights for the past seven years! But Billy was another story. I opened the blinds and went over to shake him. At first, there was no response.

“Good night!” he said, as I shook him again. “Go to sleep!” he said, echoing my pleas from earlier. I had to stifle my laughter when he pretended to sleep by screwing his eyes shut and making loud snoring noises, “Crruuuuuunk—shooo! Crruuuuuunk—shooo!” ;)

Then I said the magic word: “EPCOT!”

His eyes popped open and he began reciting the plan. “First, Magic Kingdom, then EPCOT, please!”

“Yes, Billy, now we’re going to EPCOT”, I reassured him (and myself!)

We all gathered ourselves together and headed toward the bus stop. It was a quarter after five and I knew we’d have to hustle to get to Alfredo’s by 5:45, especially with the Food and Wine Festival going on.

Billy started in. “First, Test Track, then, Soarin’, PLEEEASE!” Sigh. He repeated this over and over despite being told each time that we were going to dinner. Big sigh. He did this for a full 10 minutes until the arrival of the EPCOT bus broke the rhythm of his thoughts.

It can often be like this; it’s like the needle getting stuck in the groove of a record (I’m dating myself…that’s for those of you who are old enough to remember record albums!) :rolleyes: It took another 10 minutes to reach EPCOTand we decided not to try to rush Billy and Aunt Rae through the park. We split up, and Tricia and I took off at a trot through Future World toward World Showcase.

It was dinnertime in WS and, as expected, the crowds were thick. Guests clustered around the F&WF kiosks sipping their wine, nibbling their treats, and generally blocking the usual flow of traffic around the lagoon. Tricia kept trying to sprint around the clumps of people, ECVs, and strollers while I attempted to navigate them in a more respectable fashion. I repeatedly called out to her to slow down and stay within my sight, and prayed that she would avoid any collisions! Thankfully she did.

When we arrived at Alfredo's we found a huge crowd waiting to check in. It amazed me that so many parties were attempting to get seated without ADRs. I felt really sorry for them as they were turned away from the podium. With the popularity of the Dining Plans, it is virtually impossible to walk up to a Disney TS restaurant for dinner without an ADR. And Ed thought I was crazy for making mine six months ago!

After all that agita, we were only 10 minutes late and were given our pager without any fuss. I phoned Ed; they were just entering WS. I told them not to hurry; there were a lot of people waiting with us in Alfredo’s lobby. As luck would have it, they appeared just as our pager went off! How’s that for good timing!

A gentleman was leaving as we were going in and he had a service dog, a yellow lab that looked a lot like our Aimee. Billy called out across the room, “Aimee, come here!” Naturally, the dog did not respond. It took a little convincing before he understood that it was not his dog, and we all suddenly realized how much we missed her. paw:

This really was a beautiful, albeit crowded, restaurant. Now that it has been announced that Alfredo’s will be closing permanently in August, I’m glad that we had a chance to dine here once more. (We ate here two years ago on Daddy’s birthday.) I admired the trompe l’oeil murals that adorned the walls and the beautiful crystal chandeliers above our heads. Ed admired the colossal cannolli we passed on the way to our table!

The only thing about Alfredo’s that I do not like is how crowded together the tables are. :crowded: There barely seems to be enough room for the servers to squeeze through with their trays, but they do somehow. Its one of those places where you can’t help bumping your chair into your neighbor’s when you get up from the table!

We couldn’t get a table by the wall, but we were buffered somewhat by the tall leather seat back of our half-booth. Between the strolling accordion player and the conversations of so many people, the noise level was really high. Billy was stimming a lot, (“First, Test Track, then Soarin’…”) but otherwise did okay. Any place that he can get a huge bowl of pasta is okay with him!

Aunt Rae and I had the prosciuto and melon, while Tricia had the fresh mozzarella and tomato. I thought the prosciuto was a bit tough, so I didn’t eat too much. Ed was “saving room” and skipped the appetizer. He wanted to be able to finish every last bite of his Fettuccini Alfredo! (He did.) Aunt Rae and I had the lamb and roasted potatoes which was so good, but the portions were so large that we felt a bit guilty that we left so much on our plates to leave room for dessert. We managed to wash away the guilt with a glass of wine!

The chocolate nutella cake was delicious yet not too rich. Tricia loved the chocolate mousse and Ed had his favorite, cannolli. Twice during dinner the entire restaurant broke into the napkin-waving song. We all waved our napkins wildly, except for Billy and Aunt Rae, who kept eating diligently throughout!

It was 7:45 by the time we rolled out of Alfredo’s. I had wanted to see the World Showcase Players in Italy, but we were just too long at dinner and missed them. I’m not too fond of these long TS dinners; they’re nice but they’re really starting to cut in on our touring time! We took a few pictures by Neptune’s Fountain and drifted over to the American Pavilion next door.

WS was really crowded; most likely b/c this was the last week of F&WF. We were also in the vicinity of the America Gardens Theater and there were a lot of folks lining up for the next concert. Fittingly, the band was Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. (Remember, this was “Jersey Week”!!) We went inside the American Experience Theater and discovered that the next showing was not until 8:15. We walked around and looked at all the many paintings in the rotunda.

Billy was really stimming heavily so I gave him his chewy tube, but it didn’t help much. I was beginning to think that this was not such a great idea, but Ed and AR really wanted to see this. I was getting nearly as fidgety as Billy. With all these people here in WS tonight, I was anxious that we would not be able to find a good viewing spot for Illuminations.

We’ve seen it a couple of times so I wasn’t so concerned about the rest of the family, but this would be AR’s first time seeing it and I wanted her to be able to enjoy it fully. I suggested to everyone that they go ahead and see the show while I went ahead to stake out an Illuminations spot and they agreed. We checked our cell phones and off I went.

In the past, we’ve seen Illuminations from Canada and Mexico. With the crowd level tonight, I decided to try the opposite side of WS in hopes of finding fewer people there. I made my way through Japan (beautiful), Morocco (exotic), and into France (romantic), and began scouting. There were some tables by the water that were already claimed. I spied a family who appeared to be getting ready to move on. I waited about 5 minutes for them to finish their glaces and as soon as they stood up, I pounced!

Surprisingly, I did not seem to have too much competition. I placed my jacket on one chair and the kid’s extra sweatshirts from my backpack on the other 2 chairs and sat on the long stone bench with my back to the lagoon and proceeded to people-watch.

I got a pretty good eyeful right away. :magnify: There was a young couple making out on the bench next to me. I guess the romance of Paris was too much for them to resist. :love: Perhaps that’s why no one else seemed interested in this table! Hopefully by the time my kids arrived the two would discontinue making their own fireworks and pay more attention to Disney’s!

I was really hoping that this would be a good spot! There were a few tree branches overhead, but overall I was just thankful that we had seats. I especially wanted a seat for AR; I guess I was still feeling a bit guilty for making her sit on the ground earlier for the Share a Dream With Mickey show! :guilty:

Just then, Ed called. They were finished with the American Experience and were on their way. I was glad. Illuminations was scheduled to begin in about 15 minutes and people were beginning to crowd along the stone bench where I was sitting in order to get a better view of the lagoon. Back, claim-jumpers, back! Hurry up, family, I can’t hold ‘em back much longer!

I struck up a conversation with a woman who was standing next to me with her family. I had overheard her talking to her husband about TGM and I introduced myself. We found out that we were both DISers :bounce: and TGMers! :jumping3: We compared our touring strategies for a bit and when the rest of my family arrived (whew!), Tricia had a good time talking pins with her kids. It was nice chatting with you, Momof__and__. :grouphug: (I’m sorry; I forgot the children’s names!)

All the kids took the bench and kneeled on it facing the water, waiting for the fireworks to begin. AR was visibly relieved that she actually had a chair and that we would not be making her sit on the ground again! Both she and Ed complimented me on my success and I willingly accepted the praise.

Veni, Vidi, Vici.

My feeling of satisfaction turned to apprehension as 9pm came and went and still, no Illuminations! :confused: At 9:10 an announcer began to speak and, for a moment, I feared that the fireworks were going to be cancelled! Oh no! It can’t be! The weather was fine! Please don’t be cancelled! Fortunately, the announcer informed us that it was merely a short delay due to “technical difficulties”. Whew!

Illuminations was spectacular, as always, and it was really special sharing it with AR for the first time. Even Billy did well. Using the ever-important earplugs, he tolerated the noise much better than he had at Wishes last night. “Hurray, we did it!” he exclaimed when the music ended and the last puffs of smoke drifted away. ::yes:: Yes, we did!

Afterwards, we took a leisurely walk past the fountain and the Eiffel Tower, and over the bridge to the International Gateway. It really was a soft, beautiful night! After a brief restroom stop, we all took the surprisingly short walk over to the Beach Club resort.

We checked out the lobby. Pretty, but not as cozy and visually interesting as OKW, IMHO. But, the Stormalong Bay pool complex looked absolutely incredible, especially at night! Ed was really impressed with the close proximity to EPCOT and Tricia begged for us to stay here next time so she could swim in that awesome pool. I think we may be trying for BCV next year!

Everyone was rather pooped, so we called for a taxi and zipped back to OKW. I threw a load of clothes in the washer and we all fell into our beds. Thank goodness we are planning to sleep in tomorrow morning! :goodvibes

Kathy

Next Chapter: Aunt Rae goes Soarin’, Billy has a tough time with Turtle Talk, and the Big Brother arrives for the weekend.

[KathyRN137]

Day Four: Thursday, 11/09/06

This morning’s official plan read: “SLEEP IN and RELAX!”, and we were all for it! It felt so good to wake up naturally and not have to smack that alarm clock! Today would be a big day for us… Eddie was coming in tonight!

I got out of bed around 8:30, just as Ed was leaving for his run. I tiptoed :tiptoe: out to the kitchen to put on the hot water for tea and coffee. After putting the clothes I had washed into the dryer, I poured myself a glass of orange juice and eased past Billy (asleep on the sofa-bed), and out to the balcony.

It was so peaceful and relaxing to just sit and enjoy some quiet time alone. This was the first time that I had ever “scheduled” a sleep-in morning for us; I wish I had thought of this before!

My solitude did not last for long; soon Ed returned and everyone else began stirring. I set about making a breakfast of oatmeal, fruit, eggs, and toast for the bunch of us. Well, except for Billy…he’s eaten nothing but a bowl of dry Cheerios for breakfast every morning for years. For the rest of us, however, it was a welcome change from the hurried bowls of cereal that we had consumed the past two mornings.

After breakfast, we began taking turns in the showers. Billy had been begging for a bath in the whirlpool tub since we had arrived, so I filled the tub, poured in a capful of Mickey bubble bath (from home), and helped him in. He laughed and splashed about when I turned on the jets and the tub filled with bubbles. He is sensory-seeking most times, and the deep pressure of the water felt especially good to him!

I opened the louvered doors on the half-wall that separated the tub from the bedroom and kept an eye on him while I folded the laundry on the bed and put it away. I obviously wasn’t watching closely enough, though, b/c he took the bottle of soap and poured half of it into the tub for even more bubbles! :rotfl: All you could see was his little head sticking out of a sea of foam! He had himself a good old time!

Then Tricia began clamoring to be taken to the Community Hall. I showered Billy and then Ed took the two of them over to Conch Flats while Aunt Rae and I tidied up and got ready for an afternoon at EPCOT. I remembered that today our villa was scheduled for full housekeeping, so just before we left, I put out the little “Mousekeeping” envelope that Tricia had decorated with stickers and curly-cues. :artist:

We caught the bus at about 12:15 and I called to let them know we were on the way. The last stop was the Hospitality House and Ed and the kids were waiting. They climbed on board and we were off to EPCOT!

Tricia had not been in the mood for arcade games, so they had spent their time playing shuffleboard. Now, this is always a point of mild contention when we come to WDW. Ed always wants to spend time at the resort swimming, relaxing, and doing resort activities. I’m more inclined to want to spend as much time as possible at the parks! So I was glad that they had had an opportunity to do some recreation this morning. But now, Tricia was complaining that she would miss the poolside crafts activity posted for this afternoon: “How to Make Towel Animals.”

Towel animals?? Well, they are cute, but how can you compare towel animals to Soarin’ and Turtle Talk? And if they want to swim they can go to the YMCA any day of the week and swim until they look like prunes! Well, next year we can schedule an entire day to hang around the resort, but for now, we’re sticking with Mom’s Operational Plan, thank you!

Future World was quite crowded. (Remember, it was now Thursday and the next day was Veteran's Day.)

Our first stop, naturally, was Soarin'. It was as awesome as ever! I get chills every time. Tricia had a hard time containing herself; “Aunt Rae, can you smell the pine trees? Aunt Rae, smell the oranges!” We all enjoyed it thoroughly. “Let’s do it again!” cried Billy. So, we did! TGFG. (Thank God For the GAC.) We waited about 20 minutes each time, which was pretty good, considering the standby wait was posted as 50 minutes!

Then Billy saw the marquee for The Circle of Life. Oh no. :eek: When it comes to certain attractions, I can just do them over and over. When it comes to CoL, however, once in a lifetime is enough for me. (We last saw it in ’03).

Billy, however, had recently become a big fan of Timon and Pumba’s show on the Disney Channel so we decided to do it just for him. It was a short wait amongst a large crowd and, thankfully, it’s only a 12-minute movie. It has a nice environmental message, but, frankly, ZZZZZZZZZZZ!

Test Track was just the thing to wake me up! It was about a 15 min wait for us and when it came time for the pre-show, Aunt Rae was just a bit unsure as to whether or not she would like the ride. “Don’t worry, Aunt Rae” we all reassured her. “It’s not a roller coaster, it just goes fast.”

Ed, Tricia, and AR sat in front and Billy and I were in the back. We put our car through its tests and I kept praying that the ride would not break down, as it seemingly often does. When we got to the best part, where we go really, really fast, Billy shrieked with delight and we all screamed our heads off!

All of us, that is, except Aunt Rae. Once more, the tiny lady felt herself sliding from one side of the seat to the other during the banked curves, just as she had during BTMRR. Even though she was seated in the middle, she did not like it at all. “Again, Again!” shouted Billy, but AR had had enough of it. We all felt a bit sorry, but as she observed, “at least she had tried it” and now knew that this ride was not for her.

We crossed back to the west side of Future World towards HISTA. Again, not one of my personal favorites, but the kids both really wanted it so we got in line. The CMs herded us like cattle into the dreaded pre-show area. “Please move 10 steps forward and 10 steps to the left! Keep moving! Keep moving!” The Kodak ad began and a woman nearby kept asking loudly, “Is this it? Is this Honey I Shrunk the Audience?”

Billy was jumping up and down with excitement; he loves all the 3D movies at WDW. :love: I spent most of the time keeping him from landing on our neighbors’ toes! Finally, the doors opened and we filed in. I had warned Aunt Rae in advance about the special effects, but a rather large, muscular man sitting next to Ed was apparently not prepared because he yelped and jumped about a foot in the air when the “mice” ran over his feet!:scared1:

Afterwards, the kids had fun watching the jumping fountains and the upside-down waterfall.

We would like to have visited the Imagination Pavilion but we were getting a bit short on time and had to content ourselves with merely waving at Figment, who was signing autographs outside.

Next, we walked over to The Seas with Nemo and Friends. A small crowd of children was gathered around the audioanimatronic seagulls now perched outside the entrance. “Mine! Mine! Mine!” all the kids were laughing and chanting along. Billy joined them and he jumped and laughed and flapped and nobody even seemed to notice!

We boarded our clam-mobiles, anticipating the enhancements recently made to this attraction. :fish: It was supposed to be really cool to see the animated characters “swimming” among the real fish, but there weren’t that many real fish swimming in the tanks! Where were they, having dinner? We got off the ride, looked at each other and said, “Eh! What’s the big deal?” Perhaps the shortage of real marine life spoiled the effect; we’ll have to try it again sometime. On to Turtle Talk with Crush!

I understand that since we visited in November, TT is in the process of being moved to a larger theater. Bravo, Disney! The queue for this very popular attraction was very disorganized and way too small for a theater that was also way too small! (Now all they need to do is to make it a FastPass.)

Although we were lucky enough to be one of the first families to queue up, the crowd of Crush fans soon began to “crush” toward the entrance, and we found ourselves being slowly pushed to the side. :crowded: The CM did not make any attempt at keeping order; he seemed to have his hands full trying to keep little kids from standing where they would get hit when the automatic doors opened. When they finally did open, there was a mad push and we did our best not to get trampled :crazy2: as parents hustled to get the first few rows.

Ed took hold of AR’s arm so she would not get knocked over (really! It was scary!), and I guided the kids toward the front and told Tricia to sit with Billy and the other kids on the floor. I put them up against the wall near a CM. When I turned around, I found the others on a bench all the way in the back. When I sat down, I couldn’t see the kids sitting down on the carpet, but I could hear Billy! :listen: He was making loud noises and laughing deep in his throat as the show began.

Last time we saw TT, which was two years ago, he and Tricia sat up front and did just fine. Tricia had even been picked to ask Crush a question! She still talks about that:

C: “So, little dudette in the blue shell! Where do you live?
T:: “In New Jersey.”
C: “Did you swim the Australian Current to get here?”
T: “No, we flew.”
(Crush’s eyes BULGE out:eek: , and the audience laughs)
C: “Whoah! Do you have wings?”
T: (Laughing) “No, we flew down in an airplane!”
C: “Duuude!”

It was a lot of fun for her and I’m sure she was hoping to be picked again this time.

We were enjoying listening Crush interact with some of the smaller kids when Tricia came back to us pulling Billy by the hand behind her. She was crying! :sad1: Billy was saying, “No! No!” and we managed to get the story from Tricia through a hail of tears and hiccoughs.

Seems that when the show started, Tricia tried to quiet Billy b/c she was afraid he would be interrupting the show with his verbal stimming. Well, after being told to “Shush!” just once too often, Billy pushed her. She had explained to the CM that her brother was autistic but apparently the CM did not want to have any trouble. According to Tricia, he told her to bring him back to Mom and Dad, which she did. Ed just took Billy out (even though I think the “No” was merely his way of protesting being sent away from Crush!)

Tricia was crying, primarily from embarrassment. I asked her if she wanted to leave, but she didn’t want to. I put my arm around her and we watched the rest of the show. I felt bad for her, but then again, she can get so impatient with her brother sometimes and she doesn’t always handle the situation favorably.

She’s only a kid herself, and it’s hard for her to understand. But we really try to emphasize to her that Billy cannot help the noises he makes and, although they can be really irritating, she can’t make him stop by scolding him. All brothers and sisters squabble, but in Billy’s case, if his sister annoys him enough he will push her away b/c he doesn’t have very good language skills and gets easily frustrated.:headache:

It was a real disappointment for me that the kids didn’t get to enjoy TT like they had the last time! If I had not had my vision blocked in the theater, I would have been able to intercede before the whole thing got out of hand. Lesson learned: next time, we’ll just keep them seated with us to avoid any problems.

After the Crush fiasco, we were ready for a break. As luck would have it, it was time for our 4:50 ADR at the Coral Reef, which is housed in the Seas’ pavilion. (Okay, luck had absolutely nothing to do with it…I had planned it that way!) This was an early time for dinner, but we wanted to be finished in plenty of time to get back to OKW to meet Eddie (who would be arriving via Magical Express.)

We checked in and were given one of the famous pagers. There was just enough time for a restroom break and then we were called. (One of the other advantages of eating early.) I asked the hostess for a table on the 2nd tier and she seemed relieved. I suppose that most people want to sit right up next to the tank, but I was afraid that Billy would be so distracted that he would spend the whole meal with his nose pressed up against the glass instead of eating his dinner! “I have a wonderful table for you!” she said and she led us to a high-backed, semi-circular booth in the center of the restaurant.

The view was perfect! The aquarium tank is quite tall and I think the view was actually better from one level up. Here were all the :fish: :fish: :fish: that we had missed earlier! Billy was entranced!

The booth was large enough for the five of us to be seated comfortably, and the tabletop was covered in blue mosaic tiles. The colors on the walls were varying shades of blue, and the wave pattern, coupled with low lighting, gave us the impression that we were dining in a shimmering undersea world.

Ed and I had the grilled Mahi-Mahi and it was wonderful! AR really enjoyed her pan-seared tuna, and Tricia (who, at age 10, had the option of ordering from the adult menu), chose the N.Y. strip steak, which she nearly finished. Billy was more than content with his old standby—chicken fingers and fries!

We marveled at the many varieties of fish, rays, sea turtles and even sharks that we observed throughout our dinner. At one point, several divers swam through the tank and all the kids in the restaurant were delighted when they waved. Everyone, including the adults, waved back! It was a wonderful experience, although I felt a tiny twinge of guilt watching all the fish while I enjoyed my Mahi-Mahi!

Even though we were full, we felt obligated to order dessert. (I tell you, that dining plan is a real two-sided coin!) Ed and AR really liked the Chocolate Wave, but they found it to be a bit rich and couldn’t finish. I think I did better with my cheesecake, although I do love chocolate! Tricia was so proud of her make-your-own sundae that she asked me to take a picture of it!

After dinner, we made our way over to World Showcase. This was to be our last night at EPCOT and I was absolutely determined to see the Dragon Legend Acrobats in China! We had never been able to catch them on previous trips and we hadn’t been able to see any entertainment last night b/c we had arrived so late.

We arrived at their stage area with lots of time to spare and we plopped ourselves down by the rope to wait. Well, AR didn’t exactly “plop”, we kind of eased her down! Fortunately, I had remembered to bring a towel for her “seat”. :rolleyes:

The young performers came out and a crowd quickly formed. All I can say is, “Wow!” :thumbsup2 They were really amazing and well worth the wait.

We worked our way back through Norway and Mexico, taking time to ride Maelstrom and El Rio de Tienpo, respectively. Oh that wonderful, distinctive, Disney-water smell! :laughing: Tricia is getting older now and is beginning to think these little boat rides are a bit lame, but Billy and AR enjoyed them immensely.

Oh, and speaking of “lame”, Ed somehow scraped his leg when exiting the boat in Maelstrom and got a pretty good-sized scratch! Who knew that riding Maelstrom could be dangerous?! Although the scratch wasn’t very deep, it was too long for any of the Band-aids I had with me, so I gave him an antibacterial wipe and he held pressure on it so it stopped bleeding pretty quickly. It stung him, though, and I caught him wincing a few times.

His bad luck continued when we stopped at a kiosk for some of the sugared almonds he loves and they were sold out! They told him that if he wanted to come back in about 15 minutes they would make some more, but it was getting late so he decided to pass on them. Poor Ed!

We felt a little like salmon swimming upstream as we walked toward the Future World main entrance. It was about 8:15 and the masses were migrating toward World Showcase and Illuminations. The kids hopped from one fiber optic-embedded pavement square to the next on the way out. We waited at the bus stop for about 15 minutes and Ed was beginning to get anxious about missing Eddie. :worried: Just as he uttered his concern, along came the bus!

We returned to OKW and everyone except Ed got off at our usual stop. He remained on the bus and got off at the Hospitality House, where he planned to meet Eddie coming in on the ME bus. The rest of us climbed the stairs to our villa and went inside. It had been spotlessly cleaned but, what’s this? The mousekeeping envelope Tricia had decorated was still there in the foyer! :confused3

She was disappointed, but I explained to her that the housekeeper probably didn’t realize that the envelope was for her. “But I wrote ‘mousekeeping’ on it in big letters!” she pouted. “Don’t worry, perhaps we’ll see her tomorrow”, I reassured her. I made a mental note to label the next envelope in English and Spanish, just in case!

A short while later I received a call from Ed; he had just heard from Eddie. It turns out that the flight had been delayed, so the plane had not even landed yet. Ed decided that he might as well just hang around the HH and wait. I really think he just wanted a shot at playing in that arcade!;) I did my best to get the kids settled down and ready for bed, but they were both bouncing around with excitement! They put on their pajamas and watched a DVD while AR and I relaxed with a cup of tea.

When 10pm came around and they had still not returned, I put my foot down and the lights eventually went out. It didn’t do any good; Tricia crept into bed with Billy and I could hear them whispering and giggling as they waited for their brother. :hyper2:

The door finally flew open at 10:45 and there was an explosion of hugging, kissing, laughing, and talking as Eddie came in with his father and was tackled by the rest of us! :grouphug:

He had landed at MCO at 9:40 and it had taken only a short time for the ME bus to leave the airport. They had made one stop at SSR before arriving at OKW, but the whole trip took about an hour. I was glad that he had only brought a carry-on bag; it was so late and it was good that we did not have to worry about when and if he would get his luggage delivered in the middle of the night!

Woo-Hoo! :woohoo: The whole family is together at last! All my favorite people together in my favorite place!

I showed Eddie around and he was impressed with the size of our digs. That’s saying a lot; 16 year olds are not easy to impress these days! By the time he had a snack and we got everyone settled back into bed it was about 11:30, and I was praying that we would all be able to wake up early the next morning!

Kathy

Next Chapter: Dodging Soap Fans at the Studios, Thrills and Chills for first timers on R&RC and ToT, and Welcome, Welcome, Welcome to the Big Blue House!

[Montana Disney Fan]

Wow, two trippies back-to-back. You're good! :thumbsup2

Your poor Aunt riding on Test Track! sliding back and forth :rotfl2:

Those OKW villas are nice. Anyone would be impressed. I'm glad Eddie like it.

That's too bad about Billie and Tricia. At least he got his chicken fingers and fries. Trey won't even eat them anymore. I guess he's just flat sick of chicken fingers.:rolleyes:

[KathyRN137]

Wow, two trippies back-to-back. You're good! :thumbsup2

At least he got his chicken fingers and fries. Trey won't even eat them anymore. I guess he's just flat sick of chicken fingers.:rolleyes:


1) Well, I had the day off, so I had a choice...clean the house or write my report! :confused3 It was a tough choice.;)

2) :confused: How did our generation ever survive without chicken fingers?

Off to check if you've posted on your report yet.....

Kathy

[SueM in MN]

1) does the GAC allow you to utilize handicap seating for events like Fantasmic? My son wants to go but I am leary. I know he won't be able to wait in line the 1.5 hours ahead of time we have been told you should arrive for seating and I KNOW without a doubt he would never be able to survive standing room only. His greatest terror in crowds is being at butt level with everyone else and has no problem screaming that there are BUTTS IN MY FACE...
You don't really need to be in line for 1.5 hours ahead.
People will start lining up then, and if you come between 1.5 and 1 hours before the show starts, you will see long lines of people waiting in line.
But........
they start letting people into the auditorium about 1 hour before the show actually starts. If you wait until people actually have started walking in, you won't have to wait in line. You will be in a slow moving line walking into the auditorium, but it's not really a tight line.
People using wheelchairs are going in with the regular line until an area where there are some bathrooms. At that point, the guests with wheelchairs and those with GACs if they need special seating wait for a CM to lead them in.
The wheelchair/handicapped area is the whole back row of the theater. That row has empty spaces for wheelchairs or ECVs to park. There are a few seats next to those empty spots. The remainder of their parties sit in the 2 rows directly in front of the back row. People who need to sit at the rear, but don't have wheelchairs would sit in those 2 rows. We have sat next to people who had GACs.

An advantage to sitting near the back is that it is easy to make an escape if you need to - or - once you have gotten seats, you can get up and walk around the area behind the seats. There is a snack bar and the restrooms that you passed on your way in. The wait inside the auditorium sounds bad and long, but you are seated during the wait. If you have something your child likes to do (movie, Gameboy, coloring, eating), you can do that during your wait. There is Disney music playing and people doing things like "the wave".
When the show is over, wait to leave until most of the crowd leaves. If you leave right away, you will run into all the crowds and will be in crowds until you get out of the theater area. You will probably come out about the same time if you wait to leave, and you will have a much easier/more pleasant time.

Another possibility is to use the Fantasmic dining package. You eat a specific restaurant that is part of the package and you get to enter the theater about 1/2 hour before the show begins. You use a specific entrance that is reserved for the dining package and one section of the theater is reserved for the dining package.
Some people also have suggested a wheelchair for older autistic or sensory challenged kids. It gives them a space of their own, without being cramped. We're planning on taking our girls again in Sept. and are hoping our older DD (she'll be 10 when we go) will still fit in the stroller, if necessary. She really stresses and can melt down when she gets tired, and I don't know if she would do a wheelchair.
CMs that work at WDW have said that the WDW strollers can fit up to a small 12 yr old. If you are concerned about her fitting, you could try a double stroller for her.
I have seen lots of kids (even big ones) in the WDW strollers and they looked pretty comfortable. Most of the kids I have seen in rental wheelchairs did not look that comfortable - the seats are sling seats and sling backs. They are OK if the child is near adult size, but I don't personally think they look very comfy for a child 5 feet or less.
There are some places that rent special needs strollers; you can find links to to some of the places in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the disABILITIES Board.

[SueM in MN]

I've enjoyed reading your report.

[KathyRN137]

Day Five: Friday Morning, 11/10/06 Disney Studios

Oh, it was tough to get up that morning! We hadn’t expected to be up so late last night. But, it was the first of only three days with Eddie and we had to make the most of it! Upon entering the living room, I was greeted by the sight of the two brothers sleeping on the sofa bed. Billy had his arm around Eddie. Even in his sleep he gives hugs! :hug: Oh, it was so cute! Too bad I had to wake them!

These next few days would be interesting. We now were touring with: two school-age children (one autistic), a teenager, two adults, and a senior. Naturally, Eddie was interested in doing thrill rides. And if you recall, Aunt Rae found BTMRR to be too wild! I was hoping that we could make everyone happy without having to split up too often.

The “uniform of the day” was the character baseball shirt that I had ordered from Disney on line. Each family member was asked to choose a different character and then we all had matching royal blue sleeves:

Me: Winnie the Pooh
Ed: Mickey Mouse (as a cop!)
AR: Cinderella
Eddie: POC ghost pirate
Tricia: Tink
Billy: The Little Einsteins


Miraculously, we made it to the bus stop by 8:30. The Studios bus came right away! Woo-hoo! It was the Friday before Super Soap Weekend and I wanted to do the Studios today before it turned into a madhouse on Saturday. :crowded: Little did I know that there were a few pre-weekend activities planned for that day! The increase in traffic congestion on the roads was unmistakable.

We arrived at the Studios in time for rope drop and it was crowded! In past years, we would have headed straight for Little Mermaid, but that was before we had a 16 yr. old with us! Normally I would have taken some time to soak up the old Tinsletown atmosphere, but there would be time for that later! We had to get over to those thrill rides before the crowds became unbearable.

The three kids and I left Ed and Aunt Rae to enjoy morning coffee at Starring Rolls Bakery and we steadily made our way through the throng headed toward Sunset Blvd. I knew that the two older ones would want to ride R&RC more than once, so they got 2 FP’s and then we all went in on standby, since the FP queue was not open yet.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I love going on a WDW attraction with someone who is doing it for the first time ever! :goodvibes It’s so much fun, almost like being able to experience it for the first time all over again! I had never been able to do R&RC on past family trips and had been lucky enough to finally ride it last year when Ed and I came to WDW without the children to celebrate our wedding anniversary. (Ed has an inner ear problem that prevents him from going on rides that go :upsidedow …it makes him queasy for hours. It drives him crazy b/c he misses out on some good rides.) But, I digress…

Since Billy had loved Space Mountain so much the other day, I felt confident that he was ready. He loves anything that goes FAST! Eddie is crazy about coasters and Tricia, who had been on the fence about the whole thing until just then, decided to be brave and try it. But only if she could sit with her big brother! I reassured her that if she wanted to change her mind at the last minute, that it would be okay.

The queue moved slowly but steadily past the vintage concert posters and other Rock memorabilia. “Antiques” Eddie called the LPs and 45s I recognized from my youth …hmpfff! :snooty: They are not antiques, dear boy! Antiques denote that the objects are from antiquity. These are merely the trappings of classic rock. Old school, if you will.

“Yeah, WAY OLD”, he insisted, cracking himself up.
“Yeah, OLD!” Tricia chimed in, eager to align herself with the 16 yr old.
Even Billy, my sweet and lovable Billy, sensing the general mood of the conversation, looked up at me and laughed, “Mommy! MomMomMommy!”

They were all ganging up on me. I was outnumbered, so I decided to quit while I was ahead.

Guess what? We got invited to an Aerosmith concert! :rockband: Just before we boarded our limos, I reminded everyone once more to press their heads back against the headrest during the launch! (Always the Mommy) The music got Billy excited and he was bouncing up and down so much I had to hold him still so the restraint could be placed over his shoulders! “Here we go!” he shouted, and we took off like a shot!

We hurtled through the dark with Aerosmith blasting in our ears. My favorite part was when we zoomed right through the Hollywood sign! The ride was really fast, really smooth, and really short! It was over before I knew it.

“How was it?” I asked Tricia. “THAT WAS TOTALLY AWESOME!” she shouted. Billy was saying, “We did it, hurray! We did it, hurray!” over and over. Eddie was really sweet and congratulated his sister for doing so well on her first “upside-down coaster”. Tricia was beaming with pride.

Flushed with our success at R&RC, we moved on to ToT. This would be my first time as well, and, I have to admit that I was a bit apprehensive. I love coasters, but I wasn’t so sure that I would enjoy being dropped over and over! I said something to the effect that I could always use the chicken exit, but Eddie would hear nothing of it! He had been determined for months to get me on this ride!

Tricia definitely did NOT want to ride, so I explained the concept of the child swap to Eddie and he agreed to swap with me. Knowing that she was not going to be made to go on the elevator, Tricia was able to relax and enjoy the visual effects of the dusty, cobwebby haunted hotel. Once again, an attraction with a themed queue that is as much of an attraction as the ride itself!

We were in the boiler room and ready to board in about 20 minutes. There was a young girl, about 2 or 3 years younger that Tricia, who was sobbing and telling her parents that she didn’t want to go on the ride. All they did was tell her not to worry, that it would be fine. Sometimes, I just don’t know…:sad2:

We spoke to the CM, who was dressed in an old-fashioned bellhop uniform, about doing the child-swap and he led Tricia and me off to the side and down a back service elevator. I knew that Billy would be fine with Eddie. Billy is even better about listening to his big brother since his voice deepened and he sounds like their father! This was, however, my first time doing the child-swap, and so I was mildly anxious.

Tricia and I waited near the exit and scanned the ride photos that were appearing on several T.V. screens to see if we could spot the boys. There they were! I searched Billy’s face. He seemed to be laughing and holding on tight to Eddie’s arm! Tricia laughed at some of the funny/frightened faces that people were making. :scared1:

The boys soon exited with their group and the CM was there to escort me upstairs. Billy wanted to “go with Mommy, please!” I looked at the CM and he said it would be okay for Billy to ride again. I left Tricia with Eddie and (gulp!) went back up the service elevator with Billy and our “bellhop”.

We sat down and strapped in. Billy was giggling uncontrollably and as soon as the lights went out, he was positively squealing with delight. “Here we go! Here we go!” he shouted. Even though his laughter was out of place, it made a lot of people laugh. Hopefully, it broke the tension for anyone who was feeling really nervous! I was so busy focusing on Billy that I forgot to be nervous! I felt around beside me in the dark and found handles on either side. I told Billy to hold onto his handles as I gripped mine for dear life as we plummeted down the “elevator shaft” for our first drop!

I was taken aback when I felt myself lifting off my seat during our descents! Now, I am by no means a small woman and, truthfully, the sensation of being even slightly airborne was a bit disconcerting! It was, however, a much better experience than I had anticipated; I didn’t feel queasy at all. I received congratulatory high-fives from Eddie and Tricia as we exited.

It was getting late, and I hoped that Billy and I would be able to make it over to Mickey Avenue in time to meet up with the others for the first showing of Playhouse Disney. We all double-checked to see that our cell phones were working and I dropped the older two kids off at R&RC so they could use their FPs. It was a good thing they had them; the standby wait was already 45 minutes!

Billy and I walked hand in hand down Sunset Blvd. and again felt the experience was like swimming upstream! There was a large crowd, mostly female, gathered by a small stage set up in front of the Sorcerer's Hat.

Three bubbly female performers were pumping up the crowd by singing a song about “waiting for Luke and Laura” (from the General Hospital soap), and I gathered that they would be making a personal appearance. No wonder it was so crowded! I’d long since lost touch with the continuing story of Luke and Laura, but the song brought a smile to my face as I recalled rushing home from high school each afternoon to catch the latest on GH!

By the time we circumnavigated the crowd we had missed the first showing of Playhouse Disney: Live on Stage, so we all stood there for a minute trying to decide what to do. The next show was not for another 30 minutes, but the line was already forming. The Little Mermaid was between shows as well, so we decided to just wait for PD. Besides, I figured the older kids were probably riding R&RC by now and wouldn’t be able to use their cell phones if I tried to phone them with any change in plans.

Fortunately, the outdoor queue is dotted with small television screens showing clips from the Playhouse Disney shows, so Billy was happily occupied. The older kids soon came along to join us and although they were surprised, they were pretty good sports about the prospect of having to see the “baby”show with us after all.

It was somewhat worth the half-hour wait because by the time the doors opened, the queue was overflowing with families. We were ushered to the center stage area and found our places on the carpet about 4 rows back. Perfect! Even though he is eight, Billy just loves, loves, :love: this show and I was so glad that he would have a good view this time! (In past years, we’ve been stuck in the back.) The rest of us settled in to watch Billy watch the show! He danced and sang and bounced with joy the entire time! We got a few strange looks; after all, he is a pretty big boy. But he was so obviously enjoying himself that most people just smiled.

Next, all the kids wanted to do Star Tours. Ed and AR bowed out of that one; they headed over to Walt Disney: One Man's Dream. We agreed to meet for lunch afterward at Backlot Express. (Always do Star Tours before lunch!)

The kids and I queued up for the galaxy far, far away. While waiting, we said hello to R2D2 and C3PO. I was glad that we were to be seated more toward the front of the simulator, but as far as the kids were concerned, the rougher the better! When the CM asked for two to fill in the back row, Eddie and Tricia volunteered so they could get tossed around even more!

It was an exhilarating trip and no one in the room got sick—hooray! Billy exploded into giggles as soon as we took off and continued throughout the whole ride! He was having such a great time!

We exited and walked next door to the Backlot Express. It was 11:40 and it was just beginning to get busy; we ordered our food and found a table outside. Soon, Aunt Rae and Ed came along. They had really enjoyed One Man’s Dream, but had decided to skip the movie part because they had spent so much time looking at the exhibits. They arrived a mere 10 minutes after we did, but even in that short time, the lines had grown incredibly and all the tables were filled.

I had a really tasty sandwich of smoked turkey and cheese on grilled panini bread. AR was able to keep to her gluten-free diet by ordering a grilled chicken Caesar salad (minus the croutons), while Ed and the kids enjoyed some giant hot dogs and fries. I gave my little “cheesecake in a cup” dessert to Eddie b/c I was full. He inhaled mine right after his. No food goes to waste if you have a teenage boy around; they’re like human garbage disposals!

There was only time for one of the stunt shows and, since we four had seen them both before, we left the choice up to Eddie and Aunt Rae. AR, as usual, was “happy with either”, so that meant the decision was Eddie’s. He chose Lights! Motors! Action! We hurried down the Streets of America and I hoped that we would not be late, ‘cuz we were cutting in close!

We made it just in time but, egads! A CM was directing us to climb waaaay up to the top of the packed grandstand! Now, I don’t mind sitting up there; I actually think the view is better from up high. But poor Aunt Rae! I looked to see if there were any seats in the handicapped section, but before I could ask about it, she stopped me cold. No handicapped seating for her, thank you! She stood there looking up at the long flight of stairs when, suddenly, a burst of loud music signaled that that the show was about to begin. Startled, she was off like a shot!

“I’m okay! I’m okay!” she insisted as she attempted a 75 yr old’s version of a sprint up the concrete steps. :eek: “Don’t rush! Slow down!” we all called out. OMG! Please, don’t fall! Ed took her by one arm and Eddie took her by the other and they “escorted” her up to the top. She got a bit of a scolding from her nephew. I don’t know why she felt the need to start running! I’ve been a nurse for over 20 years and, trust me, I understand! Relax, who cares if the show is starting! Take your time and be safe, for heaven’s sake!

We finally made it up to our seats in the clouds and settled in to watch the show. This was my third time seeing LMA and, I have to admit, I personally could take it or leave it at this point. But, everyone else really liked the high-speed action, so I was glad that we could fit it in. It’s all about the give-and-take!

It was really getting warm now, and I was glad that we were far from the heat of the fiery explosion special effects. So was Billy, but for his own reasons! (He is afraid of fire...not such a bad thing!) The show ended and we decided to do one more attraction, hopefully air-conditioned, and then head back to the resort for a swim. The choice was obvious…

I can’t even think about coming to the Studios without seeing the Muppets! (Insert imaginary Kermit smilie here.) We cruised over to the Muppet*Vision 3D theater and were thrilled to find that we were going to get to see the entire pre-show! Muppet humor at it’s best! We watched the pre-show while standing under A Net Full of Jell-O!! (Waka-Waka!)

Growing up, I watched The Muppet Show every week with my family, and developed a real fondness for all the Muppet characters. When I was 14 I actually had a poster of Dr.Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, featuring Animal on drums, hanging on my bedroom wall. On my first date ever, I had the poor boy take me to see The Muppet Movie. Yes, I love the Muppets!

I love that the theater is an authentic reproduction of the theater from the original show, complete with hecklers, Statler and Waldorf! We put on our 3D glasses and had fun watching Kermit, Miss Piggy & Company put on their wacky show. Naturally, we have all the Muppet movies and the original Muppet Show Collection on DVD, so Fozzie, Gonzo, and Rizzo are all old friends to my kids.

Afterwards, I persuaded Ed to stop in the adjacent gift shop to see if they had any good Muppet t-shirts and to pick up some more Muppet character dolls. Billy chose Beaker (“Bee bee beep!”) and Dr. Busnen Honeydew to add to his collection!

I’m sorry to say that the t-shirt selection was dismal. I wish they would carry more merchandise! Better yet, how about a new Muppet attraction! Wasn’t there a rumour awhile back about a possible Muppet version of the Great Movie Ride? That I would like to see! ::yes::

Having received our fix of Muppets, we strolled past the Streets of America where the lights for the Spectacle of Lights were plainly in evidence. Our last evening in WDW will be the season’s first showing of the SoL, so we will be back!

We moved toward Echo Lake where we passed a column of marching green army men from Toy Story who had just completed “maneuvers” for an appreciative crowd in front of The Hat. We all waved! Then we came upon Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater from Cars. The “celebrities” were swamped with children and their parents who were trying to get pictures. Billy did not feel like going up to them, perhaps the crowd was too overwhelming. But, we stood for a minute or two and watched them. Then we waved goodbye and continued on our way.

Now that we were not in a rush, I could enjoy the ambiance created by the graceful palm trees, vintage billboards, and art deco architecture of the Hollywood Blvd area. Ed stopped to purchase some sinfully rich chocolate fudge for later and somehow we resisted the urge to devour it immediately!

We passed the Studios Christmas tree on the way to our bus stop. It seemed like everyday, more and more festive Christmas decorations were appearing in the parks. It was exciting to know that the holidays would soon be here! :santa:

And, with thoughts of mistletoe and holly, we headed toward the swaying palms of OKW and a refreshing dip in the pool!


Kathy

Next Chapter: Hoop-Dee-Doo!

[Montana Disney Fan]

We've never done the Hoop dee doo so I'm excited for the next installment.

I'll bet you were smiling from Ear to Ear when you walked into the living room and saw Billy hugging Eddie while sleeping. :)

Trey loves RRC and usually rides with mom as we don't let Loud Girl ride it yet. Both kids loved ToT last time but didn't want to ride it on our last trip? :confused3

We would NEVER make our kids ride something they didn't want to. In October last year we had made a Fireworks Cruise reservation and when we showed up, Trey made it very clear to us that he didn't want to go. Even though we had spent $200 I was ready to leave. The nice Disney cast member refunded my money though.

I love the Muppet show also. I really like the pre-show. It's one of the best IMHO.

Great segment. Thank you.

[Halloweenqueen]

I was so delighted to scroll down and see another new installment!

Can't wait for more!

[KathyRN137]

Day Five: Friday Afternoon/Evening 11/10/06

I had decided ahead of time that we could skip the nap today since the only thing we had planned for the evening was the Hoop-Dee Doo Review. The kids wanted to swim, but AR preferred relaxing in the villa. Ed just needed to decompress by falling asleep while watching yet another Law and Order re-run! By the time the kids and I got changed and were ready to leave for the pool it was getting late, so we opted for the nearby quiet pool. Well, we thought it was nearby! For some reason we took a wrong turn and took a little unexpected tour of part of the golf course!

We doubled back and found the correct path that led to the pool. The kids delighted in spotting little lizards and some incredibly skinny-looking squirrels. They looked positively anorexic compared to the plump squirrels we were used to seeing this time of year in Jersey!

At this point in the middle of the afternoon, it certainly was a quiet pool. Other than two couples that were relaxing on lounge chairs by the Turtle Shack, the pool was ours! I had brought along some brightly colored dive sticks for the older ones and they were happy that they could use them. (I had warned them that they couldn’t if there were a lot of people in the pool.) Once again, I found myself so appreciative that 16 yr. old Eddie never minded playing with his little sister. :goodvibes They took off for the deep end to play, while I stuck close to Billy in the shallow end.

Billy loves the water, (remember the whirlpool tub), and he happily splashed around. :fish: My only complaint about the pool was the temperature of the water. It was so warm that it felt like I was swimming in a bathtub, not very refreshing, really. Oh well, the kids were having a great time making cannonballs, diving for their sticks and playing Marco Polo. Before we knew it, an hour had passed and it was time to head back to our villa.

We showered and dressed. The last time we did the HDDR, which was about 3 yrs ago, we ran late and it was a source of major agita for Ed. (He can’t stand being late.) :mad: I, on the other hand, am always running 5 min late for everything! I was determined not to be late this time! We were all showered, dressed, and ready to leave by 6pm, so I was confident that we would make it to the 7:15 show. Gotta keep this the Happiest Place on Earth!

We grabbed the MK bus and then had a rather long wait for ferry from the MK to Fort Wilderness. I was glad that we gave ourselves so much travel time! I knew that AR and Eddie would be seeing the show for the first time and we would all have a blast! :woohoo:

Eventually the ferry arrived and we climbed aboard. Apparently a lot of mosquitoes were planning to attend the HDDR as well, because the ferry was filled with them! :scared: Billy and Tricia were both freaked out and kept swatting at them furiously. This was the only mosquito encounter we had this week, and I was really surprised. I hadn’t even thought to pack bug spray in November! It must have been something unique to the ferryboat because thankfully, once we arrived at the dock and walked to Pioneer Hall, the mosquitoes disappeared!

After waiting in the queue for about ten minutes, Billy announced (loudly) that he needed the bathroom, probably related to the fact that he drank half the water in the pool, so we ducked into the restroom. We made it back to the others just as the line began moving inside. We checked in and I momentarily held my breath. This was just before the seating was changed to a tiered pricing system. At this point it was anyone’s guess where we would be seated.

My excitement rose as we dutifully followed the hostess past table after table through the dance hall. There was an open table for six in the third row, center. Could it be? Yes! Awesome! I mean, Hoop dee doo! :banana: :banana: :banana:

Our waitress came right away and when I asked, she reassured us that the gluten-free meal was already ordered for Aunt Rae. Disney’s been doing a great job with accommodating our special requests. I ordered (what else) a chicken fingers meal for Billy and we settled in for a great show.

I’m surprised that we were able to keep any food in our mouths we were laughing so hard! :lmao: The gags were as corny as the cobs on our plates, but the show was so much fun! We chowed down on fried chicken (grilled for AR), BBQ ribs, corn bread and baked beans while the Wild West troupe sang and danced and did their slapstick.

The “ditsy blonde” performer even came over to our table and sang to Eddie. :blush: Darn! Didn’t have my camera ready! Billy wanted to get on the action. “Hi!… Hi!… Hi!” he called to her as he tried to get her attention, but she had moved on. The brunette must have noticed because she did come over to him. But he just turned his head away when she bent down for a kiss! I guess my little gentleman really does prefer blondes! :flower3:

We waved our napkins…

And had strawberry shortcake…

And Tricia got to play a washboard!

There came a point in the show when the performers asked for volunteers to "get into the act". Oh, Eddie, Tricia and I waved our arms and shouted like mad for them to pick Ed, but they didn't. Drat! The Dad that they did pick wound up stealing the finale in his pink tu-tu! What I wouldn't have given to have seen Ed up there in that getup!:rotfl:


We had a great time and I’m so glad we did it. Yes, we missed out on an evening at one of the parks, but it was Saturday night on a holiday weekend and the parks would have been really crowded, anyway. As it turns out, it was a really fun and relaxing evening for the whole family.

Tricia and I made a quick stop at the pin kiosk outside of Pioneer Hall, but were disappointed to find that they were sold out of the HDDR pins. Oh well, we bought some consolation pins to make us feel better! :)

We had a pleasant walk to the buses (no mosquitoes). There were resort buses waiting nearby; we didn’t have to transfer to the front of Fort Wilderness. We spent the entire ride chatting about the show and our plans for Animal Kingdom the next day.

Next Chapter: We escape from a Yeti and a Dinosaur!

[KathyRN137]

Day Six: Saturday Morning, 11/11/06 Animal Kingdom

I woke up and began preparing for the day with mixed feelings. On the one hand, I was feeling a bit wistful because we had passed the halfway mark of our vacation. On the other hand, I was really psyched about going to AK for our first time on Expedition Everest and possibly a preview showing of the brand-new Finding Nemo: The Musical.

The Weather Channel reported that another clear, sunny day was in the forecast. Hopefully it would be warm enough for Kali River Rapids! We were on the bus by 8:30 and pulled up to AK by 9:00, just in time for rope-drop. Our plan was to split up: Ed and AR would first check if any previews of Finding Nemo were scheduled today and then they would explore the Discovery Trails until ITTBAB opened. The kids and I would hotfoot it over to EE and hopefully ride twice in a row!

Jambo! I have always loved AK. I think it is the best-themed of all the parks, and so lush, beautiful and green. The first time we visited AK was three years ago in mid-September and it was hot, hot, HOT! :earseek: Ed and the kids were not too impressed, and we wound up spending the clichéd “half a day” here. Since then, we’ve visited in cooler weather and the park has really grown on them. ::yes::

We dodged the other EE pilgrims as quickly as possible and trekked over the ornate bridge into Asia. I nearly gasped as the incredible form of the snow-capped “mountain” rose into view between two sections of dense foliage. I could not suppress the urge to stop for a photo at the Kodak Picture Spot; then I had to pull poor Billy along by the hand to catch up with the two bigger kids!

I gave out a real gasp when I saw the standby queue; at 9:15 it already snaked out the entrance and up the path toward KRR! :faint: The posted wait time was 20 minutes! Ha! No way that was accurate! It looked to be at least three times that, maybe more!

Now, I would trade all the GACs in the world for Billy to be a neuro-typical child. But I was thanking :worship: God for the GAC that morning! The CM showed us to the FP entrance and we were soon immersed in the aura of the Forbidden Mountain. The queue moved just quickly enough so that Billy did not get too antsy, but just slowly enough that we could enjoy the fabulously exotic details.

I had been lucky enough to catch the “making of” special on the Discovery Channel a couple of months back and it really added to my appreciation of the imagineering that went into this attraction. I actually had to drag Eddie and Tricia away from some of the props so we could move along to the ride!


We inched closer and closer to the station and watched as excited passengers filled train after train and then left the station whooping and cheering. There were obviously not only a lot of first-timers here, but some experienced and exuberant EE fans as well. (Although I did not see the famous “Yeti Man”.) We climbed in; Eddie and Tricia in one seat and Billy and me right behind them. All was secured and off we went!

Billy, as usual, was laughing and chortling uncontrollably as we began the steep ascent, and Eddie began pointing out EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth and even DS’s Tower of Terror in the distance! We girls knew better! We kept our eyes straight ahead! And then, SWOOSH! We were off on our adventure through the chilly darkness! :woohoo: It was amazing, especially the mangled track then backwards part. (Hint: don’t look back. I read somewhere that it makes you dizzy.)

Suddenly, the Yeti was upon us and then, just as suddenly, we whizzed past him! So much work went into that huge audioanimatronic monster and we hardly got to see him! I guess it’s to keep him as mysterious as possible.

We roared back into the station and before we had even disembarked, Billy began shouting, “Let’s do it again!” over and over. “Yeah! Yeah!” echoed the older two, as they high-fived each other with excitement. So we exited, turned right, and entered the queue for a second time! As we passed by the Himalayan artifacts once more, I discovered that Billy had added something new to his vocabulary: “snow monster”!

“Snow Monster! Snow Monster!” he called out at the top of his lungs as we wound our way through the queue. I looked around but no one seemed to mind. :rolleyes1 In fact, they smiled at him and seemed to be amused by his very vocal excitement!

After another wild ride, we called the others and we met up in DinoLand. Aunt Rae declared that It's Tough to be a Bug was “very cute”, then she and the kids rode Triceratops Spin twice without any wait. There was disappointing news about the Nemo show, though. No AP or DVC member previews today! :sad1: Drat!

Ed and I relaxed on a bench while we watched them spinning happily in the air. I was still coming down from my EE high! Eddie went off to check out Chester and Hester’s midway games, but soon returned, reporting that they were “lame”.

He perked up as we moved over to Primevil Whirl. Neither Ed nor AR wanted to get sick, so they went for coffee! We “whirled” our way around the curves and dips, laughing and screaming as our car jerked us all around. The older kids thought it was very funny when I stepped off the ride and staggered for the first few steps! :laughing: I didn’t feel sick, just a little dizzy. So glad I could amuse you, kids!

We regrouped and noticed that one of the live entertainment acts was setting up for their performance at the edge of DinoLand. It was a comic juggling group. :clown: I think they called themselves Smear, Slat, and Dip(or something like that). In any case, they were very good!

Their show already had a holiday theme and they gave out candy canes to the kids when they were finished. I like being able to stop once in a while to enjoy some of the live entertainment instead of just rushing from ride to ride; it really adds to the whole park experience! :thumbsup2

We made our way over to Dinosaur! This is one of Ed’s favorites, but I always thought it was rough and way too LOUD!! AR and I were going to sit this one out, but Ed persuaded us to try it while wearing earplugs. We always bring several sets for Billy and my dear husband, anticipating my reticence when it comes to Dinosaur, brought even more with him this time.

I agreed, with the added stipulation that AR and I could sit in the center of the Time Rover and let the kids sit on the outside to get bounced about to their heart’s content! I must say that I found it much more enjoyable this time around. Billy shrieked with delight as the Time Rover pitched about and the dinosaurs roared and tried to eat us.

We liked our picture so much that we later bought it. The kids had startled faces, but AR looked calm, cool, and collected as she faced the giant Iguanadon! She showed him! Everyone laughed when we noticed the absolutely terrified faces on the family sitting in the front row! :scared1:

It had turned out to be another sunny, gorgeous day. :sunny: Big, fluffy white clouds filled the sky and the temp felt like the low 80’s with absolutely no humidity. Nevertheless, no one wanted to do Kali except me! No one felt like getting wet! C’mon, Eddie! You’re a teenager! You’ve got to! Nope. Didn’t want to get his perfect hair wet! :rolleyes: Oh well, maybe next time.

We walked through Discovery Island on our way to Africa, stopping to admire the incredible Tree of Life and to get a family picture. The park was getting very congested now, and I was glad that we had the operational plan.

Even with the GAC, the wait was about 20 minutes at Kilimanjaro Safaris. It was shaded, though, and the fans felt good. Billy was stimming a lot so out came the chewy tube. ( www.chewytubes.com ) We boarded the truck and I knew I was in for it b/c we were seated in the last seat, traditionally the most bumpy. There was a fair amount of animals, but I began to get frustrated b/c I felt I couldn’t get any good pictures with all the bouncing and jostling I was getting. I handed the camera to Ed and he said we got some good shots. Yessiree, some really good shots: the best one caught the rear ends of not one, but two elephants! :laughing:

Little Red was saved once more and we began to think about where we wanted to go for lunch. I wanted to be finished eating in time to get over to Camp Minnie Mickey by 12:30 for the 1:00 FOTLK, so we crossed over to Discovery Island and stopped at Pizzafari because it was on the way. (And I know I can get my kids to eat pizza, even Florida pizza! :rotfl2: )

We had never eaten here before and were struck by the beauty of the colorful animal murals that covered the walls and the intricate mosaic designs in the tiles under our feet. The lines were not too long, as it was still early, and Eddie stayed with me to help carry the trays while Ed lead the rest to the back of the restaurant to find a quiet spot for us

Aunt Rae and I had the chicken Caesar salads and it was probably one of the best that I’ve ever tasted. Ed ordered the hot Italian sandwich, which he said was quite tasty. The kids, naturally, had pizza. Eddie was still hungry after the individual-size pizza, so I gave him my dessert. It was chocolate cake or a brownie, I think. Anyway, I was perfectly happy with my frozen lemonade beverage as dessert. It hit the spot on a hot day. We finished right on time and after a restroom stop we were on our way to see Simba, Timon, and Pumba.

It was a short walk over to FOTLK and we were there by about 12:40. The outdoor queues were hot and packed with people and more and more arrived behind us every minute. I was so glad that we had finished with lunch when we did!

The doors opened and we streamed into the circular theater, our eyes taking a moment to adjust to the darkness. We crossed to the opposite side at the direction of a CM and found bench seating somewhere around the 5th row up. They were great seats. I didn’t want to be too close to the action b/c it would be too overwhelming for Billy. Besides, the front rows are ground level and I think there is a better view if you are slightly elevated. There is so much going on in this show that you almost have to sit back a bit to be able to take it all in.

The theater quickly filled and there were still people showing up, mostly out of breath, just a minute or two before the show was to begin! We were all asked to slide as far as we could to the right and the CMs helped the latecomers to find seats. Once the doors were closed, they stayed closed!

The show was amazing as always! We had to miss it on our first trip to WDW in ’03, because the theater was being refurbished/enclosed at the time, and I remember being so disappointed! :( Since then, we’ve made it a priority to see the show each year. I knew that Eddie and Aunt Rae would be blown away since this was their first time seeing the show, and I was right. The costumes, the floats, the stilt-walkers, the acrobats, and the very talented singers delighted our eyes and our ears.

Billy was a little apprehensive when the fire-eater was performing, but we were far enough away from him that the flames only bothered him a little bit. (We don’t use candles in our house--not even on his birthday cakes--b/c he is afraid of them. :eek: ) Daddy held him tight and he was fine. We all clapped and sang along, and we made our animal sounds on cue. It was lots and lots of fun! :goodvibes

Having finished our visit to AK on this wonderfully high note,:cloud9: we slowly meandered our way back onto Discovery Island, drinking in all the sights and sounds around us. We passed by a gift shop and AR wanted to look inside. As she lingered over some postcards, Ed mouthed, “Let’s go!” to me as he stood there shifting his weight from foot to foot. “I thought we were going to do the shopping at Downtown Disney”, he grumped, obviously ready for a break. :headache: I shrugged my shoulders, held up my hands and pointed at AR. For once, it wasn’t my fault that we were snagged by the lure of a gift shop! AR completed her purchases and we headed for the door.

As we passed by a hair-wrapping kiosk, Tricia gave us the big, sad eyes and tried to sweet talk her way into getting her hair wrapped and decorated with beads. :rolleyes: “I’ll use my own money!” she pleaded. It was not an issue of money, however, it was an issue of time. :hourglass And we had no more to spare!

She settled on a clip-on beaded braid and was placated. Privately, Ed remarked that it looked like a fancy roach clip, but she was happy with it and still wears it on occasion, when she can find it!

We finally managed to make it out of the park and stood waiting at the bus stop for our ride back to the resort. It arrived in about 10 minutes. Hakuna Matata!

Kathy


Next Chapter: The Little Nap That Couldn’t, Mommy gets kidnapped by Goofy, and there are fireworks in the MK (and I don’t mean Wishes!)

[csuzannet]

Wonderful report!

Isn't Hoop-Dee Doo the silliest? After it's all done it seems too corny to be funny, but while I'm there tears are streaming down my face.

Speaking of tears, the Eeyore story made me cry.

Twice.

;)

[Linnie The Pooh]

Excellent report-sounds like such a fun trip. Makes me want to go back already and we just got home!!

I don't want to let the cat out of the bag for our TR, but I thought you might appreciate this story. Trey and I rode Rock N Roller Coaster. It's our routine-Buzz takes DD5 on ToT and Trey & I go on RnR, then we meet up later. This year we changed it, b/c no one except Buzz likes ToT. I HATE the feeling of falling and I think my attitude rubbed off on the kids. Anyway, at opening Buzz & DD headed for the Little Mermaid and Trey & I headed to RnR and the line was already one hour long. Trey does fine in lines, so it was not a problem, but I had a hard time. It was a looooong wait. My back was killing me.

As we walked into the alley, Trey started to whimper. I reassured him it was a fun ride-he loves it and we proceeded. We finally got in our limo and I realized we weren't moving. The CM was talking to someone and I realized he was talking to Trey-and delaying our ride. Trey was covering his ears and had this horrible look on his face. The CM kept asking him if he was ok and I said, "Yeah, he's fine." I'm thinking "We've been waiting an hour-let's get this show on the road!!" He kept asking Trey if he was ok and of course, Trey wasn't answering him.

I kept saying he was fine and the CM finally said to me, "Well he isn't talking." I said, "Yeah, he's handicapped." I never use that word (I always use people first language), but in a moment of stress and frantic-ness, I thought it would make the CM understand better and he asked me one more time if Trey would be ok. I wasn't thinking to tell him he's been on this ride a ton-I just kept saying he's fine, he's fine. The people in front of us turned around and were trying to see what was up. We finally got our launch and he was totally fine after the ride. Always an adventure...

Billy snoring-too cute!! He sounds so much like Trey. Trey did the broken record last fall with us-I finally told him he couldn't say "Test Track Tomorrow" anymore so he gave up on me and railed Buzz with it. Buzz being the ever patient one, let him say 'til his heart was content.

Aimee the dog-how sweet that Billy called the other dog Aimee. I love labs.

I was disappointed in the Muppet merchandise they offer. They need more-I'm a huge Muppet fan.

Trey loves Beeker-he has a little PVC figure of Beeker that he named "Trey." Poor Beeker/Trey is missing a few limbs now though. He's been played with a lot.

My heart goes to your daughter-she sounds awesome. Our DD takes care of Trey and she's only 5! She is such a mother hen and such a good soul-she doesn't see any difference in people and if she does, it doesn't matter to her. She is so accepting-it's really neat to see. Last week at speech, she heard this sound and went to check it out. It was another boy that oddly enough, looks like he could be Trey's twin in the way he looks and acts. DD said, "It's just a boy, smiling and excited. Just like Trey does." I hope she stays this way forever.....:love:

Can't wait to hear more!! Great TR!!

[KathyRN137]

Linnie: :thanks: for your feedback; I really appreciate it! This report is probably a snoozer for most DISers, but I'm writing it mostly for the parents of kids like Billy and Trey...especially if they haven't been to WDW because they are afraid that their child will not do well there.

If I can convince just one AS parent of the pixiedust: then I will be happy!

csuzannet: HDDR is the best! HDDR is the best! (Did I repeat myself again?? :laughing: )

halloweenqueen: Thanks for coming out of lurkdom...I sometimes think that Buzz and Linnie are my only readers!!

SueM in MN: I've learned so much from you and the others on the DISability board...thanks! There is no other place on Earth that is as accommodating as WDW...aren't the CM's terrific?

Kathy

[KathyRN137]

Day Six, Saturday Evening, 11/11/06 : Magic Kingdom

We arrived “home” and because we had left the park a bit later than we had planned, we wasted no time settling in for a nap. Normally I find myself puttering around a bit when we come back for our break. Today all I did was transfer some wet clothes from the washer to the dryer, take off my shoes, close the blinds and slip into bed.

Tonight would be a late night at MK: there were two SpectroMagic parades scheduled (8pm & 10pm) and I wanted to stay for the later, less crowded one. Even Eddie tried to rest. He snuggled with Billy on the pull-out sofa and tried to get him to settle down. Billy was not cooperating. :rolleyes: Naturally.

Every time Ed and I began drifting off to sleep, Billy would wake us. He got up about three times to use the bathroom. Normally a child doing this might not disturb a parent, but Billy was in the habit of announcing, at the top of his lungs, “I need to go to the bathroom, PLEEESE!” It must be a habit from school. He always asks for permission, even at home.

After each trip, he would return to the pull-out and start giggling loudly b/c Eddie was there. After repeated rounds of,

E: “Billy, be quiet!”
B: “Quiet!” (Giggle Giggle)
E: “Billy, go to sleep!”
B: “Go to sleep!” (Giggle Giggle)
E: “Billy…” (Rustling sounds)
B: (Very loud) “No! No! Noooooo!

Ed had had enough. He brought Billy in with us so Eddie, at least, could get some rest. Billy would get quiet for a while and we would fall asleep. Then he would begin stimming: humming, singing, and scripting to himself, and it would wake us. Then he would be quiet and the cycle would begin again.

Sleep. Wake. Sleep. Wake. :confused3 I thought about putting Billy in the whirlpool since he obviously was not going to nap, but I was so groggy by now that I just couldn’t get up!

The alarm went off. Of course, by this time, Billy had finally crashed! :rolleyes2 I groaned and opened one eye to look at the clock. I knew that I now felt ten times worse than I would have if I had just skipped the nap altogether. I would have to seriously reconsider this whole nap idea. It may have worked for Billy when he was 5 or 6, but it sure wasn’t working now!

I reset the alarm to give us another half hour. Seemingly in an instant, the alarm went off again. It was now 4:30 and we had a 5:30 character meal at Liberty Tree Tavern that I did not want us to miss.

With superhuman effort I got myself out of bed, staggered to the sink and splashed my face. I first went across the hall. AR was already up and dressed and Tricia woke easily. Well, at least they got their naps! I then moved to the living room and shook Eddie—hard. He grunted.

I shook him again and told him it was time to get up. We’ve always called him the Log because he sleeps like a log! Even when he was little, you could send a marching band through his bedroom while he was sleeping and he still wouldn’t wake up! And now the Log was a Teenage Log. Oh boy. I shook him once more. He grunted again and sat up. Good.

Now came the really hard part: I had to deal with the other two! Ed was like a grizzly bear that had been disturbed during hibernation. :chewy: (Okay, that's not a bear, its Chewy, but its the best I could do.) He must have felt even worse than I did. (Remember, his body was used to working through the night and then sleeping during the day.) I know he truly loves me :lovestruc b/c he dragged himself out of bed to take me back to my beloved MK; he would have liked nothing more that to roll over and go back to sleep!

And now, it was time to wake the sweet little boy. Ahem! I pulled back the covers. He pulled them back, his eyes still closed. “It’s time to sleep!” he muttered. Uh, negative.
“Let’s go, Billy-Boy”, I coaxed. “It’s time to sleep!” he responded, pulling the covers over his head.

“BILLY, GET UP RIGHT NOW!!” barked Ed, in his best Drill Instructor voice. ::cop:

Billy shot out of bed and ran to the bathroom! “Go to Magic Kingdom?” he asked, sleepily as he pulled off his pajamas.
“Yes, Billy” we said.
“First, Hall of Presidents, then Mickey’s Philharmagic, please!”
“Oh no, not again!” we groaned in unison.

We gathered our things and I packed some bologna and goldfish crackers for Billy to eat, since I knew that LTT did not serve chicken fingers or pizza! We all donned the YOMD t-shirts that AR got for us, (except for Eddie…he was a poop and wanted to wear his HS t-shirt…teenagers!) Well, I try not to sweat the small stuff!

Naturally, b/c we were running late this time, the bus did not come right away! Tick Tock! Tick Tock! Ed was getting his Grump on; lack of sleep AND running late! It was almost 5:30 and we were still en route to MK. We weren’t going to make it.

I called the Disney Dining number and explained that we were running late for our character dinner. The CM told me that she would call the LTT and let them know. There, problem solved!

“First, Hall of Presidents, then Mickey’s Philharmagic, please!” Ugh! I lost count of how many times he repeated this. :crazy: Social stories were not working tonight.

We breezed through security and then the turnstiles. My heart got that little flutter as we emerged through the tunnel and onto Main St. USA. It was twilight and the street was hung with twinkling Christmas garlands. The hanging planters were filled with poinsettias and the shop windows glistened with holiday delights.

But there was no time to linger.

We turned left at the Crystal Palace and then over the bridge into Liberty Square. We approached LTT and found people sitting all along the front steps and, inside, even more were standing about, waiting for tables. It was now 6pm and we were ½ hour late for our ADR. :rolleyes1

I checked in and, yes, they had been informed that we were going to be late and, yes, they would still honor our reservation. I gave Ed an “I told you not to worry” look, which I really shouldn’t have (it annoys the heck out of him) and he raised an eyebrow. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, Billy announced to everyone there, “I have to go to the bathroom, please!” Ed took him by the hand and led him to the restroom, and I was saved from another I-hate-being-late lecture!

I put in my usual request for a quiet table and ten minutes later we were led to a large round table in one of the intimate side rooms that was far less noisy than the larger main dining area. It was the Ben Franklin room to be exact. His countenance gazed down upon us from his portrait as we gave our beverage orders to the waiter in Colonial garb.

The characters began circulating immediately. First came Minnie ::MinnieMo in a gown and mobcap. So sweet and perky! She greeted each of us and posed for pictures.

Billy wasn’t too interested in her, which was unusual. Perhaps he was hungry, he just kept stuffing goldfish in his mouth while she went ‘round the table! The waiter brought fresh rolls and a family-style salad bowl and we served ourselves.

Then came Dale, who did a quick round of photos and hugs. Next came pluto: Pluto, who was very playful. Billy seemed more interested now. Pluto let Billy pat him and kiss his nose…which can be quite a maneuver around those big rubber whiskers of his!

By now, we were served our main course, family style. Moist turkey, ham, and flank steak with mashed potatoes, stuffing, and vegetable was set before us and we all dug in. Then came Chip (nose looks like a chocolate chip!), who was as mischievous as ever! He greeted everyone and struck a pose with Eddie: Back to back; arms folded in “cool dude” stance. :cool2:


Then Minnie came around a second time and spent a little time with everyone. Dale crept up and grabbed Eddie’s baseball cap and ran around the table with Eddie running after him! He finally retrieved the cap and sat down. No sooner did he begin eating again when Goofy came along and took his cap and put it on Tricia’s head! He posed with everyone, kissed Aunt Rae’s hand and gave me a big hug. A really big hug.

“Hey Goofy, stay away from my wife!” Ed laughed. (The food must have revived him.) Goofy responded by pointing to himself, and then to me, as it to say, “She’s mine, now!” He grabbed me and led me away to the next room. Ed played along and followed us! He took out his wallet and showed Goofy his badge. Goofy put both his hands in the air, surrendered, and “gave” me back! He even put both hands up against the wall in case Ed wanted to search him! It was a lot of fun and AR and the kids got a real kick out of seeing “the parents” playing with Goofy!

Pluto came around again, as did Chip. They spent more time playing with the kids. Of all the character meals we have enjoyed, this one had the most character interaction, by far. Most often, characters would give a hug, pose for a picture, and then move on to the next table. The other exception on this trip was Pooh at the CP last Wednesday. Here they not only came around twice, they really took time to play with everyone at all the tables.

It was a slower, more leisurely meal, not recommended if you want to get in and get out quick, but definitely worth it if you want a lot of character interaction.

Dessert was warm apple cobbler with vanilla ice cream. Billy was getting fidgety by now and repeating his mantra of “Hall of Presidents, then Mickey’s Philharmagic, please!” over and over. Even though it was a fun time, we had been sitting at the table for a l-o-n-g time, so Ed decided to take him over to the HOP while the rest of us (AR) finished dessert. We finally finished our meal and, after a little rest room stop, walked across the square to the HOP to join the others.

We arrived just a little too late; the 7:30 show had just begun. Ed and Billy were inside and I didn’t want to make Ed’s cell phone ring now that the show had started. Eddie and Tricia were itching to go do something and didn’t want to wait the 25 min for the show to end. Eddie wanted to see the new POC since he’s a big Captain Jack fan. I wavered a moment, then decided we should go for it. We walked over to POC and saw the wait posted as 20 min.

Now, I had read before that WDW uses 20 minutes as their “default” wait-time and that the actual time is often much less. Hmmm. It didn’t seem too crowded in Caribbean Square; perhaps people were staking out their viewing spots for the 8pm Spectro. Hmmm. :scratchin Finally, at the urging of the two older kids, I decided to take a chance.

We started our way down into the underground pirate cave and seemed to be moving along pretty well until, Bam! We hit a wall of people waiting in the queue. Uh, it looked like the wait was going to be about 20 min after all.

I checked my watch and when it hit 7:55 and I knew Ed and Billy would be done with HOP, I tried to call Ed. Nothing. No service. Well, duh! :rolleyes: We’re in an underground “cave”, after all! It was exactly 8pm as we boarded our boat and while Eddie really enjoyed the new effects, I was stressing b/c Ed had no idea where we had gone.

When we emerged outside we found that we ALL had several voice messages on our phones and they were not nice ones! Ugh! I called Ed and got an earful. By now, Spectro was in full swing and was running from Frontierland toward Main Street. We literally fought our way through the crowd, using the little wooden walkway by the water in Frontierland because the main walkway was impassible.

We finally met up with Ed in front of the Liberty Belle Riverboat and he was :furious: that we had gone off without telling him where we were going. It didn’t help that Billy was chanting “Mickey’s Philharmagic, please” over and over. That would get on anyone’s nerves after awhile. I apologized and tried to explain that I didn’t want his phone to start ringing in the HOP, so I thought I would wait until he and Billy were done with the show.

“Why didn’t you just text me before you went on the ride?”
“Huh?”
“You know, leave a text message!”
“What? Oh, sorry, I forgot I could do that.” (I am a techno-phobe.)

“I can’t believe you just took off like that!” “Why bother carrying a cell phone if you can’t remember how to use it!” “Grumpity-Grump-Grump…” His eyebrows knitted together in a scowl and I believe I even saw actual steam coming out of his ears.:mad:

Aunt Rae wisely busied herself by intently studying the tail end of the parade. Eddie and Tricia exchanged guilty looks. Eddie tried to explain that he had tried to TM him, but by the time he remembered, he could no longer get service. It didn’t help. Ed was just in a really bad mood now.

Well, it seems that every family vacation we ever had included one “big miscommunication” episode that resulted in one of us getting really peeved. Now that we had just experienced the requisite blowout, I was anxious to patch things up and get rolling again. I apologized once more and tried to take Billy’s hand from his. “Let’s just go”, he grumbled, as he held tight to Billy’s hand and stalked off.

“Mickey’s Philharmagic, pleeeese!”

I glanced over toward the Liberty Tree Tavern and wondered, briefly, if Goofy would still be interested in running away together.

Deciding that this was improbable, I joined the others as they trotted off after Ed, who was power walking toward FantasyLand. Oh, well. Billy really needed to get Mickey’s Philharmagic out of his system, and I think we all needed a little levity at this point.

Now, before you come down too hard on my poor old grumpy DH, try to remember that he has good reason to feel irritable. Assuming that you have a normal work shift, imagine for a moment how it would feel doing all this “vacationing” on a nighttime schedule:

At eight-thirty in the evening, you would head out the door to start your tour of whatever park you were visiting that day. You would stop to eat just before midnight, then try to take a short nap around 3am. You are back out in the parks at about 5am and tour until 9 or 10 in the morning. Hopefully, you would be in bed before noon. You would wake up at 6:30pm, go for a run, and then do it all over again! :upsidedow


After a few days of that, you’d be Grumpy, too!

And because, for the most part, I am a wonderful wife, I chalked up my husband’s grumpiness to his change-of-shift lag and let it go.

Much to everyone’s relief, the next showing of MP was just about to begin. We entered the “Concert Hall” and were able to find great seats in the middle. Soon we were laughing at Donald’s misadventures once more. I never get tired of this attraction. (Neither does Billy!) Even 16 yr old Eddie was impressed with all the 3D effects, smells, and sensations. I especially like “flying” on the magic carpet with the “wind” in my hair!

I glanced inside the gift shop as we passed by on the way out and got a laugh. I never noticed before that Donald’s “other half” was sticking out on the other side of the wall! :lmao: We dropped off our glasses and backtracked into Liberty Square so we could do the Haunted Mansion again, this time with Eddie.

No matter how many times you go through the Haunted Mansion,there are always new gags to find. I sat with Billy, who, as usual, giggled the entire time. I still couldn’t find those elusive hidden Mickeys; I’m going to have to break down and buy the book!

AR sat with Ed, and Tricia sat with Eddie. When the holographic ghost appeared between them, Eddie pretended to pummel him and kick him out of the doom-buggy, much to his sister’s amusement. From here, we passed once more through Fantasyland on our way to TomorrowLand.

As we passed the Mad Tea Party, Tricia begged to go on the teacups. She had asked for them earlier in the week but we had never seemed to have time to fit them in. The other kids and even AR(!) wanted to go with her. The queue was very short, so we sent them off to spin themselves silly.

I warned the kids not to spin the cup too fast b/c of AR. (Ha! Like that’s gonna work!) They began slowly spinning ‘round and ‘round just as Wishes started. The music played and the fireworks burst overhead as Ed and I sat on a bench and watched them spin faster had faster, laughing and shrieking. It was such a perfect moment that I felt like we were in the middle of a WDW commercial! pixiedust: (Where’s the hidden camera?)

The fireworks were still exploding overhead as they came off the teacups. AR said the spinning wasn’t too bad since she had kept looking straight ahead at Billy’s happy face.

We had one hour ‘til Spectro and we had two Tomorrowland rides that we just had to do with Eddie: Buzz and Space Mountain. Fortunately they were both FP attractions and we could use our GAC if necessary.

Lots of people were moving out of the park now that Wishes was over, so we were able to get on Buzz rather quickly. Tricia and Eddie took one car, Billy and Daddy took another, and I was paired with Aunt Rae. We zapped “Zs” with our lasers and Ed won again! He even beat Eddie! It’s amazing what winning that laser game did toward eradicating his bad mood. Men! AR was excited; her score went from 200 to a whopping 500! :cool1:

She and Ed bowed out of SM once more and the kids and I raced up the long FP queue until we came to the end of the line. It wasn’t too bad, only about 15 minutes, and when we finally boarded Eddie was thrilled to find that he was in the front seat. We hurtled through space and we all cheered at the end. I was laughing so hard from listening to Billy that Eddie had to physically help me out of the spaceship! I was so glad that we had been able to do most of Eddie’s MK favorites tonight.

We backtracked through Fantasyland and Liberty Square to get to our viewing spot in FrontierLand. We could hear the Spectro music in the distance. I knew that we had time, though, b/c the earlier parade route had begun in Frontierland and ended on Main Street. The second parade would reverse the route, so we had a while before it reached us.

Because the streetlights were already dimmed, we were very careful to watch our steps as we pushed further into a darkened Frontierland. I pulled out the glow bracelets that I had brought from home (pkg of 12 for $1) and the younger kids “lit” the way for us! There were definitely other people there, but nothing like the utter gridlock we had experienced in this area during the early parade.

At 10:15 we found a nice spot and Ed even had time to go get Mickey Bars for everyone before the glittering parade turned the corner at Liberty Square and came into our completely unobstructed view.

This is most definitely my favorite parade at WDW! :cloud9:

On this magic night
A million stars will play beside us
Cast a spell of light
Glimmering, shimmering, carouseling
'Round the world tonight
A symphony in SpectoMagic
Pure enchantment lights the way...


As the final float eased past and the last strains of music disappeared, we gathered our things and began a slow walk out of the park. Main Street is always so beautiful when it’s lit up and tonight, with the added Christmas lights and decorations, it was absolutely stunning!

The OKW bus was filled to capacity tonight, :crowded: the first time that we had to stand all week! (Except for Aunt Rae) We were all tired, but happy that we had such a great time. We got home by 11:30 and everyone went to bed.

One more thing about having separate sleeping areas in the villas… it’s really nice to have for when you want to kiss and make up! :love2:

Kathy


Next Chapter: A space rescue for Billy and we wave good-bye to Eddie.

[Montana Disney Fan]

Great segment Kathy. We all love the MP also. Donald just cracks us up!! :rotfl:

My kids are walking around the house right now playing "Going to Disney". Trey just said he was at the Denver Airport :hug:

Anyway, Billy sounds like he had a great time. One thing Trey likes to do is when we get "home" from parks he doesn't want to leave again. He just wants to stay and play. We make him go to dinner every single night which he soons come to expect as part of the routine.

[jess98ac]

Linnie: :thanks: for your feedback; I really appreciate it! This report is probably a snoozer for most DISers, but I'm writing it mostly for the parents of kids like Billy and Trey...especially if they haven't been to WDW because they are afraid that their child will not do well there.




Not true!! :)
I'm not a mom (yet) and I have enjoyed reading this so much. I have no personal experience with autism, but your TR is so interesting to me, it makes me a little teary that WDW can bring your son out of his shell so much.

[blue_river]

Hi Kathy :wave:

I just wanted to stop by and let you know that I've read up to page 5.

You're quite the planner - a TR that starts 7 months ahead of time :rotfl2:

I already feel like I know your family and I'm looking forward to reading about your trip and your adventures with autism. I must admit that I don't know a whole lot about that and appreciated some of the short explanations you gave throughout the pre-trip. I'm thinking you're a pretty special mom with a whole lot of patience. :goodvibes

I will try to catch up over the weekend - post ya soon! :thumbsup2

[KathyRN137]

jess98ac: Thanks! If only I could get an annual trip to WDW as part of Billy's IEP (Individualized Education Plan)!! ;) I really appreciate your comments.

blue: Thank you. I'm not really that special...we all love our kids and try to do anything for them, right? I did start this report kind of early, didn't I? :rotfl: My family just got so annoyed with my constant blathering on and on that I felt that If I didn't get it out somehow that I would burst!

MDF: "Going to Disney" Hmmmm...I think I've played that game, myself lots of times.!:laughing:

Kathy

[KathyRN137]

Day Seven: Sunday Morning. 11/12/06 EPCOT

We had all gone to bed late, so when I set the alarm the previous night, I thought that we could all do with an extra hour of sleep. Even so, we had big plans for today and so we could not afford to waste any more time lollygagging. We bustled about with what was now our natural routine of cold cereal and hot showers.

It was to be Eddie’s last day with us; that afternoon Ed would be taking him to the airport. :sad1: He needed to get back to school the next day. He was certain that missing even one day of his honors classes :teacher: would put him behind and, as it was, he still had homework to finish on the plane. “Where have the past two days gone?” I wondered as I watched him pack his carry-on bag.

Billy broke my train of thought. “We’re going to EPCOT, pleeeeese!” he begged for about the tenth time that morning. “First, we go to Soarin’, then we go to Test Track, pleeeeese!” That sounded like a good plan to me, so we headed to the bus stop.

It was about 9:30, but for once I didn’t stress about getting to the park. After all, we had stayed out until late last night and today an easy morning was more important to us than running around. It was cloudy and a bit cool, but the forecast called for sunny skies and a high of 75*, so we remained optimistic and left our ponchos behind.

The EPCOT bus arrived after about 10 minutes and we all climbed on board. Today would be the last day of Jersey Week, and I was hoping that we would see a smaller number of guests at the park. We were soon entering through the turnstiles.

It was difficult to tell if the crowd level had improved b/c our first attraction was the incredibly popular Soarin', which Aunt Rae had declared as her official favorite! :thumbsup2 It’s definitely my favorite, too. Well, at EPCOT anyway!

Tricia and I became really excited when we were directed to our row. Hooray! Top row, middle section for Eddie’s first flight ever! :cool1: We were gently lifted in the air and as the music swelled we again found ourselves gliding over land and sea. Two enthusiastic thumbs up from Eddie and we were off to Test Track!

Surprise! Test Track was down, :rolleyes: so I took the kids to Mission Space while Ed walked with AR to Spaceship Earth. Filled with anticipation, we approached the large red sphere representative of the planet Mars. This would be everyone’s first time on MS; we had always avoided it before because of fear of getting sick!

Now that the non-spinning option was available, I couldn’t wait to try it. Eddie, however, insisted that he did not want to do the “wimpy” Green version (“Hey, who are you calling a wimp!”) He decided to fly on the Orange Team on the singles queue. We were given either green or orange tickets and we entered the International Space Training Center.

We enjoyed looking at all the props in the pre-show area; Billy was particularly fascinated with the gigantic spinning wheel! :) Then the green and orange teams split into separate queues and I instructed Eddie to meet up with us at the Space Base playground.

The younger kids and I remained on the longer, slower moving Green queue. We eventually boarded our training vehicle and received our assignments. The autistic child was our designated pilot, so I knew it would be an interesting ride! :laughing: As soon as he was buckled in he began pressing every button within reach and pushing the joystick around wildly. Tricia said we would probably miss the planet Mars completely and wind up on Venus instead! :lmao: Well, I’m not sure how, but we passed our flight test and returned safely to Earth.

We exited toward the playground area and I was surprised that Eddie was not there waiting for us. Surely he would have been done by now; the orange queue was so much shorter that ours! :confused: Billy and Tricia ran over to the kid-sized hamster habitat and began crawling up inside while I asked a CM if this was the only play area. It was.

I looked over toward the Advanced Training Lab (video games), but he wasn’t there. Hmmm. I called his cell phone and just got his voice mail. Small groups of guests were exiting the ride. Another Hmmm. :scratchin Perhaps he loved the ride so much that he went on for a 2nd time. But, it wasn’t Eddie that I should have been worrying about…it was his little brother.

“Mom, Billy wouldn’t come down when I told him to, he just climbed up higher!” I whirled around to find Tricia standing there with her hands on her hips.

“Where’s your brother?” I asked, incredulously.
“Up there!” I followed her pointed finger up, up toward the highest level of the tunnel.
“Why did you leave him alone up there?” I sputtered.
“I just told you, he won’t come down! It’s not my fault!” She began to cry.
“Alright, alright, I’ll get him” I reassured her.

I stood under the maze and called up to him. “Billy! Billy, come down here!” but he couldn’t hear me above all the noise of the other children and the video games. I watched as his tail end disappeared down a hamster tunnel.

There was no way that I could climb up after him. I considered it for a fleeting moment, but the image of me getting wedged in one of those narrow tubes :eek: and then having to be extricated by a team of CMs gave me pause to reconsider. If only Eddie was here!

I cast my eyes about the play area, hoping that Eddie had finished and was looking for us. No such luck. Where WAS he? I checked my voice mail: no messages. I was considering my options when I began to hear Billy calling, “Daddy! Daddy!” from inside one of the tunnels. I could see that he was trying to back out and a clog of kids that had been climbing behind him was blocking his way. This looked like a job for :charac4: Super CM!

I grabbed Tricia and we sprinted over to a group of three male CMs who were standing together on the other side of the play area. “I need help! My 8 yr old son is autistic. He’s up in one of the tunnels and he can’t get himself out!” They immediately sprang into action, reassuring me and asking me to describe him and what he was wearing. The youngest (and thinnest) among them volunteered for the rescue mission and we hurried over to the maze.

Just then, Billy’s head popped out of the tunnel’s entrance. “Mommy!” he called out forlornly. “Daddy!” He stopped as soon as he saw the video games.

“Let’s play, Tricia”, he shouted, and they were off like a shot, the crisis completely forgotten. :blush: I thanked the CMs profusely and then hurried off after them.

I stood close by while the kids tried to help their virtual astronauts walk on the surface of Mars. Remember way back when I told you that Billy sometimes likes to watch his DVDs in foriegn languages? Well, he suddenly reached out and pressed one of the language control buttons. Billy was thrilled, but Tricia was exasperated because now the two of them had to figure out how to play the game in French.

Someone tapped me on the shoulder.

“Hey!” said Eddie.
“Where have you been?” I exclaimed. “I really needed you!”

Turns out that the orange ride had broken down for a while and he was stuck waiting on the other side of the building. I filled him in on our mishap in the play area; then Eddie told me about his ride: “ It was Sweeeet!”

Just then, we had a call from Ed. They were waiting for us outside! The kids abandoned their game and we met up with the others.

Test Track was up again, :car: so we all went next door to ride. Well, all of us except Aunt Rae (even though all three kids begged her.) She opted to sit in the shade and people-watch. It did appear to be somewhat less crowded today, but there were still lots of guests milling about for her viewing pleasure.

We put our car through its simulated tests, ending with that wonderful, rapid acceleration through banked turns at 65 mph with the wind in our faces! :woohoo: Billy loves this ride so much that I snuck off to the gift shop and bought him a TT play set for Christmas and had it mailed home. The set included a Test Track car and Mickey and Goofy in racing clothes!

By this time all we were ready for lunch. Since we wanted to stay in FW for a while longer, we ate at the Electric Umbrella for the convenience rather than the food. All the tables outside were full, so we found one indoors. This place always seems to get a bad rap, but the burgers were fine as far as the kids were concerned, and I had a turkey sandwich that was good. Besides, I like listening to the soaring, futuristic soundtrack!

We had about an hour or so before we had to head back to OKW, so we decided to go play in Innoventions West. We started with Where's the Fire?, an interactive game that pits two teams of about a dozen against each other to see which one could find the most fire safety hazards in the game house. It was a lot of fun! Ed, Billy, and I were on one team and Eddie, Tricia, and Aunt Rae were on the other. We moved from room to room, zapping fire hazards with our special laser gun. My team won! :cheer2:

:firefight We admired the shiny red fire engine parked outside the exhibit and then watched as the three kids played Play It Safe with some other children. After brief instructions from the CM regarding the safe way to evacuate a room/house in the event of a fire, the kids all got to practice as the CM flipped a switch and a swirling light representing a fire appeared in various places in the “house”.

Billy must have been tired b/c he just wanted to lie down on the bed and rest! Eddie helped him to crawl safely out of the house, keeping low to avoid the smoke, and to meet up in a designated “family meeting place” with Tricia and the other kids. They liked this so much that they did it again!

The rest of Innoventions was a blur of various other hands-on exhibits and virtual reality games that we all took turns either playing or watching each other play. :hourglass The hour went by quickly and we soon were forced to accept the fact that it was time to go.

We left the exhibit and walked past the whirligigs and spinners, then past Spaceship Earth and the Leave a Legacy Monuments, and finally, out of the park.

We trudged down the long walkway to the resort buses, feeling sad that our time with Eddie was ending. Eddie could hardly walk b/c Tricia and Billy were literally hanging all over him.

We waited for the OKW bus and the longer we waited, the more anxious Ed became. :worried: The thought of Eddie missing his flight was giving him agita and he paced back and forth like a caged tiger. There was a line of taxicabs parked beyond the bus stop and he made a quick decision to grab one for himself and Eddie. There was one last round of :love1: and they were gone.

Billy was unhappy. “Daddy! Eddie!” he called out over and over. :sad1: Tricia distracted him by grabbing his hands and dancing with him to the piped in music while we waited.

Our bus finally arrived and perhaps since it was only 3:30, we were the only ones on board as we rumbled back to OKW for our break.

Next Chapter: Tricia gets Bibbity-Bobbity-Beautiful and we STWD at Downtown Disney.


Kathy

[Marion]

I'm sorry... I just had to laugh at the image of Billy trapped in the hamster tunnels :upsidedow I've totally been there with my very sweet but VERY energetic adhd sons. It's not that funny in the moment but after the fact? :rotfl:

It must have been so hard to say goodbye Eddie :grouphug: It was really nice to read about your travels through Epcot... I know so little about that park. Looking forward to more! Thank you for sharing your travels.

[Montana Disney Fan]

This is why it's important to read as many trip reports as possible: You learn something new!

I had no idea that Mission Mars now had a "Non-spin" version! That is awesome. I rode it when it first opened with my sister and I was sick as a dog for the rest of the day. Since then, nobody in my family will ride it.

I also didn't know about the giant hamster habitat. Where is that? My kids love those tubes.

Thanks Kathy.

[KathyRN137]

This is why it's important to read as many trip reports as possible: You learn something new!

I had no idea that Mission Mars now had a "Non-spin" version! That is awesome. I rode it when it first opened with my sister and I was sick as a dog for the rest of the day. Since then, nobody in my family will ride it.

I also didn't know about the giant hamster habitat. Where is that? My kids love those tubes.

Thanks Kathy.

MDF: The Space Base Playground was right there in the building as we exited the ride. The tunnels were actually a lot of fun for the children. Just don't accidentaly let your kids go in through the out door as I did! :rolleyes1 There are games for older kids, too.

Kathy

[KathyRN137]

I'm sorry... I just had to laugh at the image of Billy trapped in the hamster tunnels :upsidedow I've totally been there with my very sweet but VERY energetic adhd sons. It's not that funny in the moment but after the fact? :rotfl: l


Marion: Well now, if I was a size 4 and could climb in after him I wouldn't have been in such a pickle! Thanks for reading...

Kathy

[slk537]

Kathy - I just read through your whole pre trip and trip report and have enjoyed it all! I especially loved the part with you describing the conversation with everyone deciding what to eat (fries!).

Your writing style is just funny and witty and wonderful and I look forward to the rest. You are also a very loving stepmother - how lucky your DSS is to have you!

A question for you - we get a GAC for my DH and have for a few years now. We have said the same as you: we'd give up everything to not NEED it, but since we have it, we love it. How often do you use it? Do you still use FP? And do you turn around and ride again right after you finish? We generally don't do that, but I am curious as to what other people with the GAC's do.

Thanks!

[KathyRN137]

A question for you - we get a GAC for my DH and have for a few years now. We have said the same as you: we'd give up everything to not NEED it, but since we have it, we love it. How often do you use it? Do you still use FP? And do you turn around and ride again right after you finish? We generally don't do that, but I am curious as to what other people with the GAC's do.
Thanks!

slk537: Thank you for your very kind words! :goodvibes I'm glad that you and your DH have discovered how accommodating WDW can be for those with disabilities/challenges.

Well, as far as using the GAC...it varies! Sometimes the standby wait is managable, in which case we just do standby. If it is not too crowded, we sometimes go an entire day without using it once. :cool1: (Like our first trip in mid-Septemer of '03...we only used it on the last day, Saturday!)

This last trip it was a bit more crowded because of Jersey Week/Veteran's Day/F&WF, so I found that we used it more. Generally, if the posted wait is 30 min or more, we will consider using the GAC.

Our family has become used to Billy's inappropriate/loud/never-ending scripting and noise that he makes when stimming, but even we can get irritated after a while. I doubt the people standing around us would enjoy hearing them for half an hour! :rolleyes:

The accommodations specified on his GAC are only available at attractions that offer alternate queue, in other words, FP attractions. For all the other attractions, we are in the same boat as everyone else!

Of course, if Billy is not riding, the other family members use FPs. Like the morning we went to DS and the older kids wanted a 2nd ride on R&RC....we got 2 FPs for them, we all rode R&RC standby, rode ToT with GAC, then Eddie and Tricia used their FPs for another ride on R&RC while I took Billy over to Playhouse Disney.

Sounds more complicated than it really is...

Thanks again,

Kathy

[KathyRN137]

Day Seven: Sunday Evening, 11/11/06: Downtown Disney


Aunt Rae, the kids, and I returned to the villa for a little rest. I didn’t even want to attempt a nap. We had to leave in about an hour to make Tricia’s 5:30 appointment at the Bibbity-Bobbity-Boutique in Downtown Disney.

Tricia had been looking forward to this for a long time, ever since she first learned about the BBB, really. We need to focus so much of our attention on Billy because of his autism; I wanted to do something special just for her! princess:

Billy asked for another whirlpool bath. Besides being just plain old fun for him, it was a great way for him to unwind and decompress from the excitement he had today. I put him in the tub, this time being sure to put the bottle of bubble bath away! :laughing: He was having so much fun that Tricia asked if she could go in, too! The tub certainly was large enough, so I said yes.

AR was resting on the couch and I put my feet up and relaxed on the bed with the “window” open so I could hear the kids in the tub. They splashed around and played with the bubbles for about half an hour. “Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!” I knew Billy was covering the lower part of his face with bubbles and pretending to be Santa Claus! :santa:

Eventually they had to finish playing and shower off. It was easy to get Tricia out of the tub; she was excited about going to BBB! Billy needed more coaxing. As Tricia showered, I pulled the plug and the water slowly drained out of the tub. Billy still didn’t want to come out. “No! No! Bubble bath, pleeeese!” He lay on his tummy on the bottom of the empty tub and “swam” in the few remaining bubbles until he finally gave up and climbed out!

We were cutting it close as we walked downstairs and out to the bus stop. It was already after 4:45 and we hadn’t even left the resort. We really wanted to take the boat to DD, but I made everyone agree that if the DD bus showed up first, we would bag that idea and just take the bus straight over. Tricia grinned when the first bus arrived and we could see that it was for one of the parks. We road the bus to the HH and then walked to the marina and waited for the boat.

It was a pleasant little ride, and a nice change from the buses we had been riding all week, but I found myself fidgeting as we slowly, slowly made our way to DD. :worried: Aunt Rae was able to see a bit of our home resort, Saratoga Springs, as we stopped to pick up some more passengers. (We stayed there last year.) To the right was Downtown Disney!

The sun was just setting and the neon signs and twinkling lights on the shops and restaurants were just beginning to shine across the water. We disembarked at the Marketplace and slowly worked our way over to the World of Disney. The store was filled with shoppers and when we realized that the BBB was on the other end of the store, we all just took a deep breath and plunged into the fray!

I checked us in at exactly 5:29!! We breathed a collective sigh of relief. Tricia was introduced to her "Fairy Godmother-in-Training and led to her throne (chair). We laughed when we found out that she was originally from N.J.! In fact many of the Fairy Godmothers were from Jersey! We talked a bit about the number of guests who were down this week, the weather, etc., but then we had more important things to discuss.

Tricia had been debating all week about which of the three hairstyles to choose and, after seeing them on several girls in the parks this past week, had decided upon the Princess style, with a small tiara. Her FGIT clinched the deal when she informed Tricia that it was the style that most of the “older” girls chose! :thumbsup2

There were some little girls, about 5 or 6 yrs old, who were getting the whole package: hair, make-up, nails, and princess costumes, complete with shoes. “Oh, aren’t they cute?” Tricia cooed. :hourglass It really wasn’t so long ago that she was the one playing dress-up and choosing Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty for a Halloween costume! Now she was into this experience more for the pampering than for the princesses.

Nevertheless, that didn’t stop her from issuing her first royal command: “Mom! Take a “before” picture and an “after” picture, okay?”

Aunt Rae and I tried to hide our smiles as we listened to Tricia chattering away with her FGIT about school, friends, and fashion while her hair was given an up-do and the little tiara was carefully placed atop her head. She smiled every time her FGIT addressed her as “m’lady”. :cloud9: She was enjoying being treated like a royal pre-teen.

“It’s 'tween, Mom, not pre-teen!” she would probably say.

Let me rephrase that. She was enjoying being treated like a royal 'tween. ;)

Her brother, on the other hand, was acting like a royal pain! Understandably, he was bored with all this frou-frou girly stuff and wanted to go look at toys and DVDs. :hyper: He squirmed and fidgeted as I held onto him to keep him from running away. Thankfully, Ed came along just in time!

“How do I look so far, Daddy?” she beamed, eyelashes fluttering as her FGIT applied a pastel eyeshadow. He paused a moment to look at his daughter, smiled, and said, “You look beautiful”. Then he rolled his eyes at me, as if to say, “I can’t believe she’s growing up so fast” :sad2: Poor Daddy! He couldn't take it! He led Billy out into the store while we finished in the Boutique.

Tricia’s magical transformation was soon complete! Glittering "jewels" were pressed onto her ears and cheeks and a pink BBB sash was slipped over her head and across her body, tied at the hip. Her FGIT waved a wand and Tricia was covered in little sparkles. pixiedust: She was handed an elaborate mirror so she could admire herself; then a photographer took pictures of her with her FGIT. She was just beautiful! :angel:

Gosh, I wish I could bring myself to post those pictures! I know how everyone loves pics and there are so many that I would love to share. I’m just a bit paranoid about posting pictures of my children anywhere on the Internet. :worried: That’s why I’ve just have to make do with an over-use of smilies!

We finished up and joined the rest of the eager shoppers in World of Disney. Aunt Rae picked out presents for her cousin and nephew, and chose some cute refrigerator magnets for herself. I scooped up the Official WDW CD and the SpectroMagic CD, so I could listen to park music when we had returned home and was feeling lonesome for the World. :music: (Billy has asked for the SpectroMagic CD in the van almost every day since then; so I now know it by heart!)

It was not our hearts, but rather, our stomachs that were now talking! “Dinner time! It’s dinner time”, Billy announced. He was right! ::yes:: We emerged from the store and stepped out into the Marketplace. This weekend had been Festival of the Masters and we passed some incredible chalk art on the sidewalks. The booths and carts that must have held some of the artists’ work were all covered up, though, so there was nothing to be seen there.

We wanted to try Wolfgang Puck Express for the first time, so we walked over toward the Disney Days of Christmas store and found WPE tucked around the corner. We looked over the menu that was posted above and I took orders from everyone. Then Ed took AR and Billy outside to find a table.

When it came our turn to order, the apologetic CM behind the counter informed me that the meatloaf Ed had wanted was excluded from the dining plan. :confused: I did not want to hold up the line, so I quickly chose some pasta dish that I thought he might like. Its one thing to have to quickly change your own dinner order, its quite another thing to have to quickly choose an alternate for someone else! Talk about pressure!

I looked over to find Tricia filling up our cups with sodas from the fountain. We carried our drinks outside and soon spotted the others. It was beginning to get a bit cool, but it was still a lovely night. We all took out our sweatshirts and put them on. Then we settled into our chairs to wait for our dinners.

It wasn’t long before the waiter came with the food. The portions were HUGE! There was enough pasta on my plate to feed two truck drivers and Aunt Rae just stared at her plate of rotisserie chicken. :eek: It was supposed to be half a chicken; it looked more like half a turkey!

Ed was mildly put out. “I was really in the mood for meatloaf!” But, he apparently got over it b/c he was soon digging into his pasta! I forget what it was, exactly, but I think it had artichokes in it. I remember that’s why I chose it; he likes artichokes. The kids had the four-cheese pizza. Billy wolfed his down but Tricia was less than thrilled with hers. I think she’s a regular-plain-cheese-pizza kind of gal!

We were all too stuffed to eat any dessert, so we took them “to go.” We chose giant cookies for the kids and crème brulee for the adults. I found myself wishing that we could have them sent back to the resort just like our other merchandise! We carefully packed them away and, after a quick restroom stop, regrouped and planned our next move.

I wanted to go next door to the Christmas store, but I was outvoted! Grinches! We strolled over to Once Upon a Toy instead. That was fine, too. I was on a mission for one of my sisters. She was giving the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse play set to my nephew and wanted to know if there were any figures available to add to the set. I searched high and low, but none were to be found.

A CM told me she didn’t think they were available yet. :( Bummer! I did some discrete Christmas shopping of my own while Ed distracted the kids; and had all the goodies shipped home. It was getting pretty crowded in there, so we left.

Right in front of us was Disney's Pin Traders. :woohoo: Tricia and I practically ran over, leaving the others in our (pixie) dust! We eagerly searched through hundreds of pins and began the agonizing process of trying to choose just a few from the tempting array of choices!

Each trip Tricia likes to choose a “theme” for her pins. Last year, it was Minnie dressed as all the different princesses. This year, it was Disney Cuties. I don’t collect by theme; I just get whatever appeals to me. I spied one pin that seemed particularly appropriate: a pin that stated, “I’m with Grumpy!” I showed it to Ed and he countered by picking up the matching Grumpy pin that said, “I’m with Dopey!” and promised to get it if I got the Dopey. Fine with me, he doesn’t wear his pins anyway!

BTW, why does the Grumpy pin proclaim, “I’m with Dopey"? Judging from the amount of Grumpy tee shirts, coffee mugs and hats that are available for purchase, there are obviously many Disney men out there who identify with the Grumpy character. So why do all of us women have to be identified with Dopey just because we love our grumpy men? Why can’t we have Grumpy say, “I’m with Happy” or, better yet, “I’m with the lovely and beautiful Snow White,” hmm? ;) That makes perfect sense to me!

Anyway, after about a half hour my own Grumpy began urging us to wrap it up and move on. I made my selections and while Tricia was over with her dad, quickly picked out a couple of the pins that she couldn’t get because she was “over her limit” and brought them to the cashier.

"I’ll slip them into her Christmas stocking”, I thought. I looked over at Ed showing a few pins to Tricia, who nodded and then looked over at me a few times with a big grin on her face. They moved over toward another cashier. Tee-hee-hee! I knew what was going to be in my stocking!! :teeth:

From here we decided to go back to the WOD store. I picked out a light blue Year of a Million Dreams hoodie for myself, a POC tee shirt for Eddie, and, what else? A Grumpy tee shirt for Ed! Last year, Tricia got a plush “baby princess” Belle doll and she wanted some more dolls so Belle would not be lonely! She added Cinderella and Jasmine to her collection. All Billy wanted, naturally, was more DVDs, so he chose Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey Saves Santa and the Christmas at WDW DVD. (Oooh! I’ll definitely be watching that one!)

It was getting late and we wanted to wake up early for the Magic Kingdom tomorrow, so we tore ourselves away from material temptations and started on our way back to the resort. We got about as far as Goofy's Candy Co.

Now, we had been eating breakfast every day in the villa. Then we would eat so well the rest of the day on the dining plan that we had lots of unused snack credits left. “Thirty-two to be exact”, the cashier informed me when I asked him to scan my card. We went wild! :goofy:

Each person picked his or her favorites as we gleefully tried to spend down our credits. Cotton candy, candied apples, rock candy, rice krispie treats, caramel corn, and not one, but three varieties of fudge! You know that expression, “like kids in a candy store?” Well, as Goofy himself would say, “Gawrsh!” Everyone had a little “taste”, and then we left the store laden with about a dozen little white boxes.

By now it was 9:45 and, though I dearly wanted to go to the Disney Days of Christmas store, I knew that we had to get the kids to bed soon. It had been a long day. Ed consoled me by pointing out that there was a Christmas shop in the Magic Kingdom, and that I could shop there tomorrow. :hug:

We waited for about 10 minutes for the OKW bus and soon we were back “home”. We unpacked our things and I got the kids ready for bed.

They begged for more candy, but it was much too late and I knew they would be bouncing off the walls if they had all that sugar. They had to settle for brushing their teeth with mint-flavored toothpaste instead! :rotfl: I tucked them in and gathered up some clothes to put in the wash.

When I finally came into the bedroom, I found Ed relaxing on the bed, watching TV and….eating candy! Well, I figured we were so tired that a little thing like pure sugar wasn’t going to keep us from falling asleep, so I joined him! (Sometimes it’s good to be the parent!) We nibbled on candy until his show was over and then turned in for the night. Tomorrow would be our last full day at WDW. :sad1:

Next Chapter: Tricia becomes a gold mine, Billy does the Hokey-Pokey, and we finally come face to face with the Big Cheese.

Kathy

[Halloweenqueen]

Wow, three new installments...I'm in heaven!! :cloud9:

What a wonderful break from listening to the sad Sunday news! I popped on to catch up on my emails to find new posts! Now I'm sipping my third cup of coffee in my robe dreaming of our first trip!

I can't believe how excited I am about this vacation, thanks to reading these delightful trip reports!

I'm actually now planning our second trip in October and we haven't even left for trip one yet!

[KathyRN137]

I'm actually now planning our second trip in October and we haven't even left for trip one yet!


Oh yeah! That's the way to do it!! :banana:
Thanks for reading...

Kathy

[SueM in MN]

SueM in MN: I've learned so much from you and the others on the DISability board...thanks! There is no other place on Earth that is as accommodating as WDW...aren't the CM's terrific?

Kathy
If you don't mind, I would like to put a link to your trip report in the disABILITIES FAQs thread, with the link we already have to a past thread about autism. That way, it will be 'findable' for people who might benefit from reading it after it disappears from the front pages of this board.

[KathyRN137]

Sue M in MN: That's fine with me; thanks!

Kathy :grouphug:

[KathyRN137]

Day Eight: Monday Morning. 11/13/06 Magic Kingdom


Well, I was right about one thing. That late night candy didn’t keep Ed and me from falling asleep that night, not one little bit! In the morning I came out into the kitchen and found Aunt Rae already putting the water on for coffee and tea, so I went into the laundry room and put the clothes from last night’s wash into the dryer. Then I put in another load. We would be leaving tomorrow and I had almost forgotten about our broken clothes dryer at home! I wanted to come home with as little dirty laundry as possible! :laundy:

Ed returned from his run and reported that, even at that hour, it felt a bit humid outside. The Weather channel predicted another warm, sunny day so we donned tee shirts and shorts. Since it was our last full day, we decided to go out with a bang and wear our red "Jersey" shirts one last time.

Our plan for our Magic Kingdom morning was to do our favorites, plus anything we had not had the chance to do earlier. I was glad that it was warm b/c Splash Mountain was definitely on the list for the kids and me! In our backpacks we carried extra shirts and I brought along two hand towels, as well!

Once more, we found ourselves arriving at the park just minutes after opening. One of these years, I vow, we WILL be one of those families that arrives bright and early to be the first ones at rope drop!

We decided to revisit a few of our favorites in FantasyLand, and our first stop was Winnie the Pooh! We followed the silly old bear through his colorful storybook and I congratulated myself for resisting the seemingly inescapable gift shop once more.

Next, we flew with Peter Pan and then hopped across to IASW for another whimsical trip around the world. So far, everything was practically a walk-on. Over Tricia’s objections (“Not again!”), we put on our :3dglasses opera glasses one more time for MP. (“Well, it’s Favorites Day and it’s Billy’s favorite!”) We made it up to her by letting her have another spin with Billy on the Teacups before heading to Mickey's ToonTown Fair, which we had yet to visit.

The first thing the kids wanted to do was Goofy's Barnstormer. I hinted that they were perhaps getting too big for this kiddie coaster, but they clamored to go on so I agreed to go with them. Meanwhile, Ed and Aunt Rae bought some fruit at the little farmer’s market and sat down to wait for us.

The wait was about 10 minutes (for a 1- minute ride!) At least the barnyard props in the queue were really cute! When we were done, Tricia reluctantly admitted that she was, indeed, getting too old for this ride. Now that she and Billy are able to ride Space Mountain and R&RC, this will probably be our last time on the Barnstormer. Well… until I’m a grandmother, that is!

We sampled a bit of the fruit as we walked over to Minnie's House, which was decorated for the holidays with pink and white lights. I wished we could see it at night! We toured Minnie’s house, taking lots of time to look at all the details. Minnie is really a very multi-talented mouse! Fortunately, it was not very crowded, so we could see everything we wanted. The house had little touches of Christmas everywhere, and we noted lots of presents for Mickey under her tree! We strolled through her garden and out the gate in the white picket fence with cute little heart cutouts.

Our next stop was Mickey's House. Mickey had his tree up, too. We laughed at all the little sight gags, especially the mess that Goofy and Donald made in the kitchen! We took the path out into the garden and Tricia showed AR all the Mickey-shaped vegetables.

There was a bit of a wait for Mickey in the Judge's Tent, but we had not really had the chance to see him as yet, so we decided to get in line. It wasn’t too bad. Vintage black and white Mickey cartoons were playing on a large screen and it helped to entertain the kids, both big and little, while we waited. The nice thing about this particular meet and greet is that each group is given a private audience with Mickey, so it’s worth it.

When our turn came, Mickey gave us lots of hugs and we were able to take as many pictures as we wanted. The photopass photographer was taking pictures as well. If only Billy hadn’t become so character shy all of a sudden! Once again, all we had to do was explain to the character that Billy was autistic and the CM “inside” did his (or her!) very best to put Billy at ease and to help make it the best experience possible. ::MickeyMo

We said good-bye to Mickey and we mosey-ed on over to the RR Station so we could catch the next train. We made a slow half-circle around to the other side of the park and enjoyed a scenic tour of Tomorrowland, the Main St. Station, and part of Adventureland before finally disembarking at the Frontierland Station. I would say that the entire journey took about 10-15 minutes.

Lively fiddle music greeted us as we walked across the platform and descended the wooden stairs to the red earth below. Walking into FrontierLand always feels like you’ve wandered onto the set of a Hollywood Western! We still had a little time before lunch, so I took the kids over to Big Thunder while Ed accompanied Aunt Rae on a paddleboat ride along the Rivers of America.

We made our way around the queue, through remnants of the old abandoned mining town. The last time we rode BTMRR, it was in the dark. Riding in the dark is pretty cool in its own way, but the daylight allowed us a better opportunity to see all of the amazing prop details.

We queued up into our little “stalls” and awaited the arrival of our train. Suddenly, a woman walking past said, “Oh, you’re on the DisBoards!” I whirled around. Someone had FINALLY noticed the large LGMH tags that I had been wearing on my backpack for the entire week! One person in one whole week! And I didn’t even get to talk to her b/c she was being herded to the other end of the train. Oh, well! Better luck meeting DISers next time. I guess I should have been wearing lime green instead of red!

Tricia was excited for me, though. “Mommy that person is from The Dis, too!” She said it as though we were both visitors from a strange, far off land who happened to meet unexpectedly while traveling abroad. Perhaps it’s no small coincidence that the actual name of that paint color is Alien Green!

We held on tight as we rode the coaster through the Wild West. It was exhilarating, as usual, and I was impressed when I saw Tricia dare to lift both hands in the air on some of the turns! We would have gone again, but, it was time for lunch and I wanted to maintain our pattern of eating early to avoid the crowds. :thumbsup2

Ed and Aunt Rae were waiting for us at the exit. AR had enjoyed the paddleboat ride very much. We walked toward the main street of the Old West town, only to discover that the Woody's Cowboy Camp show was just ending. Oh no! I really wanted to see this show, especially since Billy really likes the Toy Story 2 characters. (At this point in time, the show was a brand-new live entertainment offering and the Times Guide only listed show times as “Intermittently throughout the day.”) I don’t know if that has changed since then.

Billy called out, “Woody! Jessie!” but the characters were all waving good-bye and leaving the area, so he became upset. Aunt Rae sprung into action! Her special little boy was not going to miss the show if she could help it! She marched right up to one of the CM performers and asked him what time the next show would be given! “In about 45 minutes, Ma’m!” was the answer. Good work, Aunt Rae! We have just enough time for lunch at Pecos Bill's before the next show!

Once again, we split the mealtime “chores”. Ed took Billy and AR to find a quiet table, while Tricia and I rustled up the grub. It took us a little while to find them; the seating area is as spread out as a cattle range! We found them at last and we settled in to eat.

Aunt Rae declared that if she ate one more chicken Caesar salad, she was going to start clucking! I suppose the surroundings gave her a hankering for some beef, because she chose a burger, minus the bun. (She can do that b/c she’s not allergic to gluten, just intolerant.) She’s been able to eat wonderfully at the TS restaurants, but CS has had a much narrower selection from which to choose. Fresh lettuce and tomato from the fixin’s bar rounded out her platter.

Ed had the BBQ pork sandwich, which he said was delicious. Tricia played it safe with a cheeseburger meal, while I was more than happy with a tasty chicken wrap sandwich.

The only one who we couldn’t find anything for was the Billy. There were no chicken fingers on the menu, just grilled chicken strips, which I knew my rigid eater would not even look at. I didn’t want to waste the CS credit, so he just shared fries from everyone’s meal and we got him a bottle of water. Oh well, there was food in the fridge at OKW if he was still hungry later. The meals all came with some juicy red grapes, which made a nice alternative to the fries. I tried to get Billy to eat some, but he just made a face and spat them out. It’s a good thing that young’un will eat his vitamins!

We needed to get done in time for Woody’s Cowboy Camp, so we tried our best not to linger over our food. Everyone was finished in about a half-hour, a speed-eating record for us on this trip! ;) (Sorry, Aunt Rae, I’ll be good!)

We ventured outdoors and squinted into the bright sunlight. We began to stake out a good viewing spot along the street. :sunny: The sun was high in the sky, so there wasn’t much shade to be found. We settled upon what seemed to be a good vantage point, but soon had to abandon it when a man began feeding french fries to several long-legged birds. That was not a good idea. :sad2:

Soon a small flock gathered around and they began fighting for the food, flapping their expansive wings and squawking loudly. (“Mine! Mine! Mine!”) Billy became agitated and fearful, so we moved further down the street and stood anxiously awaiting the show while trying to reassure him that he was safe. Billy held on tight to his dad, furtively glancing back at the birds and staying on guard lest they try to flank him.

Billy has a bit of a history when it comes to the birds and french fries at the Magic Kingdom….

It was September of 2003, on our first WDW vacation. Tricia was seven and Billy was five. We had arrived at the MK rather late in the day on a Saturday and slowly made our our very first walk :cloud9: up crowded Main Street toward the Castle. After the initial wave of awe and wonderment passed over us, we realized that it was dinnertime and our only lunch had been a turkey sandwich the size of a dinner roll that we had eaten hours ago on the plane.

We decided that Casey's Corner was as good a place as any, so we found a little outdoor table and began to eat our hot dogs, gazing in absolute amazement at the Castle and trying to absorb the fact that we were really, really here at last! Billy was not as verbal as he is now, but he was certainly as rigid with his food. He was happily eating his fries while we were busy talking about the evening to come.

There were numerous birds around: some ducks, some seagulls, and some of those long-legged white birds (are they small cranes?), that were swimming in the water nearby and strutting around, in and about the little tables, looking for scraps of food. A sign, clearly posted, read: Please Do Not Feed The Birds.

As if in a bad dream, I watched as a duck suddenly waddled up to where Billy was sitting, his hand dangling down with a french fry in his fingers, his attention momentarily drawn to something in the distance. He let out a blood-curdling scream as the duck nipped the food out of his hand! :eek: His scream, in turn, caused many of the surrounding birds to fly upward, wings flapping and making a general commotion, startling him even further.

Talk about the magic spell being broken!

It took us a long, long time to calm him down after that. And he has been afraid of any and all birds that come near him ever since, especially the birds at WDW.

The birds were momentarily forgotten as the announcer proclaimed that Woody's Cowboy Camp would soon be rolling into town! Western music blared as a horse-drawn wagon led Woody, Jessie, Bullseye, and a group of brightly costumed cowboys and cowgirls as they sang and danced their way up the street. They stopped right in front of us!

They sang a rousing greeting to the crowd, “Hey, Howdy, Hey!” and everyone clapped and cheered. We formed a large circle around the performers and the characters walked around for a moment, waving and giving high-fives. (Or in Bullseye’s case, high-hooves.)

The members of Woody’s two-steppin’ posse then went among the crowd looking for kids to help out with the next number, “She’ll Be Comin’ 'Round the Mountain.” Tricia and Billy were chosen, but Billy didn’t want to leave us, so only Tricia went over to the wagon with the others. We explained to the cowboy that Billy was autistic and might not be able to participate, anyway. He understood and said, “I’ll come back later, pardner!”

The younger kids were given hobby-horses and the older kids were given special prop hats. Their job was to play the part of mountains and other obstacles for the little ones to ride around. Tricia was given the part of an old mine. We all sang along as the little ones rode their horses in and out between the older ones. It was really cute! :cutie: Naturally, all this was accompanied by a whole lot of stompin’ and whoopin’ and hollerin’ from the cowfolk.

When the song was done, the kids returned to their places and we were all introduced to a “newfangled dance” called the Hokey-Pokey! Billy began jumping up and down excitedly. He knew the dance from school! :dance3: The same cowboy from before came back and started doing the Hokey-Pokey with us. Billy was laughing and dancing and having such an obviously good time that he attracted the attention of one of the pretty cowgirls. She came over and, surprise! Billy reached out to her and said, “Let’s dance!” She was able to keep him engaged and focused throughout the entire dance! :woohoo:

It was time for the troupe to leave. The cowboy and cowgirl praised Billy for doing such a good job with his cowboy dance. I told them that Billy really liked Woody and had even dressed up as Woody for Halloween. When the cowboy heard that, he brought Woody over to say hello! Billy was thrilled and gave him a big hug! :hug:

Those CMs made that one little show such a wonderful experience for both the kids, but especially for Billy. Once they realized that he might not be able to participate in a group with the other children, they made it a point to seek him out and to include him in the fun. It became one of my favorite memories of the entire trip!

Having stood in the hot sun for a while, we were ready to sit somewhere cool and dark. We hadn’t been over to the Enchanted Tiki Room yet, so we cut through the passageway from Frontierland into Adventureland and went to go visit with the Tiki Birds.

Billy skipped and pulled his daddy along as we approached the exotic looking building. There was a short wait and then the little pre-show with Iago and Zazu entertained us in the queue. When the doors opened, we filed inside and found seats on one of the middle benches.

As soon as the music started, Billy started laughing and flapping his arms wildly as all the colorful audioanimatronic birds and flowers began to sing. There is so much to look at in this show! He must have the song memorized, b/c he stood up and looked around expectantly just before Iago appeared to interrupt the song. When the obnoxious bird made his entrance in a big puff of smoke, Billy sat down, threw his head back, and laughed until,again, the tears came down his face! :lmao: We couldn’t help but walk out of there wearing smiles on our own!

There was time for one last attraction before we had to leave the MK, and we decided to go out with a Bang! Uh, I mean Splash!

AR and Ed were definitely NOT interested in getting wet, so they took off to find some more of the sugared almonds while the kids and I walked quickly to the Splash Mountain entrance.

Just as we were about to enter the FP queue with the GAC, Billy balked. “NO! Go with Daddy!” I was really puzzled. Billy had been on SM before and loved it. I reminded him about the big splash and sang some of the song to help him remember, but he still said, “No!” We moved to the side and I called Ed on the cell phone and asked him to come pick up Billy so Tricia and I could go by ourselves. He soon appeared, looking as puzzled as I was.

“Hey, Buddy, you love Splash. What’s the matter?”
“Go with Daddy”, he repeated. “Go with Daddy.”
We shrugged our shoulders; we just couldn’t figure it out. :confused3

Now, this left Tricia and me in a bit of a pickle. Without Billy we obviously couldn’t use the GAC, we would need to use the standby queue, which by this time of day would be at least 40 minutes. We didn’t have FPs and we didn’t have 40 minutes. When I suggested that there would not be time, Tricia became upset. She really wanted to do Splash. :sad: When the tears began to flow, Ed told us to just hurry up and go. Even Grumpy didn’t want to end our last MK day on a sour note.

As the two of us began walking up the standby queue, the rest of the family turned to leave. Suddenly, Billy broke free and ran to us.

“I want Splash Mountain. Go with Mommy!”
What the…? Ed and I looked at each other.
“Billy, come here!” Ed said, taking him by the arm.
“No! No! Go with Mommy!”
“Fine, then go!” Ed said.

I took Billy by one hand and Tricia by the other and did a U-turn out of the standby queue and into the FP queue. The young CM who had witnessed this entire scene gave me a bemused look. Hey, kid, someday you’ll be a parent, I laughed silently.

We followed the winding queue until we reached the tail end of the line. Tricia was bouncing all around and talking a mile a minute as we inched closer to the loading area. There were no further protests from Billy, so we eagerly boarded our log and prepared to enjoy the ride.

The kids sat together and I sat behind them so I could keep my eye on the both of them. Just as we took off, Billy began to call softly, “Daddy! Daddy!” Oh no! :( I’m one of those terrible parents who forced her child on a ride when he was afraid!

We emerged into the light and gently floated on our way. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a wave of water washed over us and we were completely drenched! The trip had barely begun and already we were soaked! We were in shock for a moment and then the entire log burst out in shrieks and laughter!

“We got wet”, Billy observed simply.

We settled back and began to gaze about us as the colorful characters from “Song of the South” cavorted along the river. My heart sunk as I heard a plaintive, “Daddy! Daddy!” coming from the front seat.

Tricia and I did our best to reassure him, but I felt completely helpless as I reached out and patted his shoulders and wondered why :confused: all of a sudden he was acting afraid on a ride that he had always loved riding before…loved riding before…with his Daddy!

“Go with Daddy!” :idea: He wasn’t afraid! He just wanted to go with Daddy on the ride! Ugh! I can’t believe that I missed that! He and Daddy always rode the big rides together, and this time it was different! He wasn’t supposed to be sitting with Tricia; in his mind he was supposed to be sitting with his daddy!

I was so focused on Billy that I hadn’t been paying much attention to Brer Rabbit and his pursuers. The gentle part of the ride was over! We started up, up the incline and Billy excitedly began to call out, “Here comes the splash! Here comes the splash!” and suddenly we were hurtling toward the briar patch!!

I didn’t think we could get much wetter but, oh yes, we could! Laughing, we all climbed out and dripped our way through the gift shop and then outside to meet the others. They chuckled when they saw how wet we were. :rotfl: Billy ran over to Ed. “Let’s do it again! Go with Daddy!” Too bad there wasn’t time, I would have enjoyed seeing him get drenched!

Tricia and I ducked into the ladies’ room to change into dry shirts while Ed took care of Billy’s. Our shorts were still wet, though, and I regretted not wearing ponchos like we had always done in the past!

We made our way back through Frontierland and stopped in Liberty Square I wasn’t about to let Ed forget his promise that I could visit Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe! He checked his watch and started to open his mouth when AR declared that she, too, wanted to have a look inside. Ha! We promised not to be too long, (double Ha!) and we went in with Tricia while Ed took Billy for a look at the Liberty Bell replica.

We browsed for a while among the ornaments, trying to choose from among the many delightful offerings. I brought my treasures to the cashier and quickly filled out the ticket that was required for shipping items home. Tricia skipped outside to where Billy and Ed were seated on a bench and I went to help AR along. She got on the end of the short line and I went outside and sat with the others to wait. And wait. And wait!

“Perhaps she went out the wrong door and is looking for us on the other side”, I offered. :confused: Ed just shook his head and frowned. Uh oh. “Why don’t you take Tricia over to the Liberty Tree and let her count the lanterns?” I didn’t wait for the reply.

Instead, I went inside and discovered that a long line had built up at the cashier, and at the front of that line was AR, s-l-o-w-l-y and painstakingly filling the paperwork out in her tiny, perfect penmanship. Then she took out her wallet and s-l-o-w-l-y, deliberately, counted out exact change. Twice. The guests behind her sighed and shifted their baskets from one arm to the other. Some looked at their watches and others rolled their eyes. :rolleyes2 The smart ones left to find another cashier!

I quietly backpedaled my way out the door. “It’ll just be another minute” I fibbed. “She’s paying right now.” We sat in silence until AR appeared, happily declaring that she had been able to find just the right sized ornaments for her new tabletop tree and doubly happy that she could have them shipped home. “They’re breakable, you know”, she added, knowingly. ::yes::

We continued on our way. After a few paces, Ed whispered, “She had to fill out those forms, didn’t she?” he said. I nodded, “And she had to give exact change.” He shook his head and laughed. He was more than familiar with his aunt’s idiosyncrasies when it came to both her penmanship and her pennies.

We took one last, slow walk down Main street, USA and I sighed heavily the whole way. This is always the worst part of leaving: saying good-bye to the Magic Kingdom. :sad1: In fact, I can never bring myself to turn my back on it and walk away. I always walk backwards so I can keep looking at it for as long as possible!

Tricia walked in front of me so that I wouldn’t bump into anyone unwittingly. She understands. Her father, as usual, thought I was nuts and just shook his head again. Still, in his own way he tried to make me feel better.

“Don’t be upset, you’re coming back in two months, remember?” he chided.

That was true. He and I were planning to come back for a quick weekend in January so he could run the half-marathon. So it wouldn’t be very long, really. Sigh.

The thought of that helped a bit, but it couldn’t completely remedy the nagging ache in my heart as we boarded the bus and rumbled off down the road. The spires of the Castle slowly grew smaller, until we dipped under an overpass and they disappeared completely from view.

Kathy

Next Chapter: Mom gets “electrified” at 50”s PTC and we observe a Spectacle in the Street.

[blue_river]

I am finished pages 6 & 7 and wanted to quote a few things.



Sometimes I wish our kids came with a snooze button.

:rotfl2: :rotfl2: I agree!!!!!


I set the alarm for 3:30 and soon drifted off to sleep, feeling pleased that we had all had a really fun morning, and secretly reveling in Aunt Rae’s comment that she had “seen and done more in one morning” than she had done !

That's wonderful. I'm sure you were pleased after all the planning that went into the trip. :thumbsup2

AR still had on her slippers! Can’t walk around the park in those! (A running joke…she did this every afternoon…after a while, we would say “Everybody ready? Lanyards? Cell phones? Aunt Rae, are you still in your slippers?”)!

That's funny :lmao:

The chef came to the table to discuss AR’s dietary needs, which impressed her immensely. I had told her that WDW was really accommodating in that way, but having the chef come to speak with her personally made her feel very special.!

I'm impressed as well, I didn't realize they were that accomodating.

As usual, we let the characters know that Billy is autistic. Cinderella seemed a bit surprised, though, when our big boy threw his arms around her waist and squeezed her tight! Ed got a kick out of that. “That’s my boy!” he laughed. Then he told Cinderella that Billy liked the blonde princesses best b/c they reminded him of his mommy. Ha! !

:laughing: That's sweet :goodvibes

“This is our first time up front”, I told the driver.

“Mine, too!” he quipped.

It was a difficult to see due to the darkness and the water droplets on the expansive glass, but they all enjoyed it. “Mom, this is COOL!” Tricia grinned. I enjoyed the oh-so-short-lived status of being a “cool” mom in the eyes of a pre-teen!!

I wanted to ask to ride up front but my girls are older and figured the CM would rather choose a family with younger children. Maybe next time. :guilty:

It was really getting congested in that area by now, so AR, Billy, and I stayed put while Tricia and Ed went back. Fortunately, the ride operator saw her tears and quickly guessed that the lanyard filled with Minnie and princess pins was hers! Tricia was very relieved and she learned her lesson. From then on, if she needed a rest for her neck she gave her lanyard to me and I kept it safe in my backpack.!

Wow!!! I'm so glad you found it - she was lucky :cheer2:

We marched up the exit ramp and Tricia asked Billy if he wanted to go again. I thought for sure that he would say yes, but instead he blurted out, “Hall of Presidents, pleeeeeese!” Egads!!

He's a persistent little guy :)

She rolled her eyes when I began singing along with “Great, Big Beautiful Tomorrow” (I have the WDW CD). “MOM! You’re EMBARASSING ME!”

“It’s in my job description, look it up!” I told her.!

:rotfl:

I stood there in shock and tears just streamed down my face. Now I was the one who had no words. The CM “handler” looked at me and I sputtered something about how Billy never talks and how amazing this moment was. She put her arm around me and said, “Isn’t it wonderful?” !

What a magical moment for you and your son. :grouphug:

By this time, he was done with all this affection and wanted to eat! Poor Piglet! I gave him an extra hug to make up for the rejection!

Suuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeee that's why you did it ;)



I'm really enjoying your TR Kathy. Hopefully, I can catch up on the next 3 pages sometime today.

[KathyRN137]

I'm really enjoying your TR Kathy. Hopefully, I can catch up on the next 3 pages sometime today.

Thanks so much, but please don't forget to continue working on yours!! ;)

Kathy

[teentoddlermom]

I have so enjoyed your TR!
It is a such a positive view of a family dealing with Autism. What comes across to me so strongly is your glass half full (really glass all full!) enthusiasm of your family challenges.
Looking forward to the rest! Love how you've been so faithful about posting!

[KathyRN137]

....It is a such a positive view of a family dealing with Autism. What comes across to me so strongly is your glass half full (really glass all full!) enthusiasm of your family challenges.


Oh, you are really kind, thank you!

But really, I'm no supermom. It has been nearly six years since we learned of Billy's diagnosis and our lives were changed forever. I went through all the stages of grieving. It's not unlike grieving for a death; the death of your child's "normal" life and "normal" expectations for the future.

With the help of God :worship: I have learned to accept it and make peace with our situation. I choose to focus my energy on his education and therapies, and to just love him as hard as I can! :love:

Discovering the magic of WDW and sharing the fellowship of so many other WDW fans on these boards has been very therapeutic for me! :grouphug:

Kathy

[debster812]

Linnie: for your feedback; I really appreciate it! This report is probably a snoozer for most DISers, but I'm writing it mostly for the parents of kids like Billy and Trey...especially if they haven't been to WDW because they are afraid that their child will not do well there.

Kathy--NOT True at all. This TR can be a WONDERFUL introduction to folks with nuero-typical kids, or child-free folks who just have no experience with kiddos on the Autism Spectrum. Your explanations are WONDERFUL. My favorite cousin has a little boy who is 8YO, non-verbal, and autistic. He is the light and apple of our family, and we are actually collecting money within the family to send them to WDW. They simply cannot afford it all, and we think it would do wonders for him. I'm printing out your trip report to share with other members of our family to help with the 'shake-down' :lmao:

[jcc0621]

This is an awesome TR. :thumbsup2

My nephew is autistic so I know where you are coming from with the Magic of Disney and the litle breakthroughs. My nephew is now 20 (going to be 21 in November). He will be graduating in June (Has been doing landscaping at his school for this past year). He also lives in NJ, South Jersey.

My SIL & Brother has issues with his schooling. The home district didn't offer the services he needed but didn't want to pay for him to go to another sitrict until SIL sat in the superintendent's office and said "you will either give me what I want or I will go to Channel news" Amazingly they changed their minds:rotfl:

Can't wait to read the rest of the TR.

[Halloweenqueen]

I've really enjoyed your trip report Karen! I can't wait until the next one. I bet you are excited about your couples trip. Have fun!

My eldest is in the middle of testing. We have always thought aspergers, and that is what the doctors are thinking also.

Life is full of challenges. That is what makes it so special! :thumbsup2

[blue_river]

I obviously wasn’t watching closely enough, though, b/c he took the bottle of soap and poured half of it into the tub for even more bubbles! All you could see was his little head sticking out of a sea of foam! He had himself a good old time!

:lmao: It's a good thing it didn't start flowing over the tub! I've seen that happen.

I had warned Aunt Rae in advance about the special effects, but a rather large, muscular man sitting next to Ed was apparently not prepared because he yelped and jumped about a foot in the air when the “mice” ran over his feet!

:rotfl2: :rotfl2: :rotfl2:
That was just freaky, especially if it is your first time!

Apparently a lot of mosquitoes were planning to attend the HDDR as well, because the ferry was filled with them!

I read about the mosquitoes being bad in certain areas, like at Fantasmic but there were none around when we went in August. :confused3

I handed the camera to Ed and he said we got some good shots. Yessiree, some really good shots: the best one caught the rear ends of not one, but two elephants!

:lmao:


Finished page 8 and look forward to reading page 9 tomorrow with my morning tea :thumbsup2

[wvdislover]

[QUOTE=KathyRN137;17853537] If only I could get an annual trip to WDW as part of Billy's IEP (Individualized Education Plan)!!

I have an IEP meeting for Sarah today. Think I could convince them to add it in? It sure would make it easier to take her out of school for our Sept. trip!
:banana:

[KathyRN137]

debster812: I can't think of a better gift!

jcc0621: So glad your nephew got what he needed. Go Mom!

Halloweenqueen: Sending you pixiedust: for your son!

wvdislover: Well, you can always try!

blue: Wow! you really are reading!

Thanks everyone,

Kathy

[MomToAp1699]

[QUOTE=KathyRN137;17853537] If only I could get an annual trip to WDW as part of Billy's IEP (Individualized Education Plan)!!

I have an IEP meeting for Sarah today. Think I could convince them to add it in? It sure would make it easier to take her out of school for our Sept. trip!
:banana:

Request mental health days to be used at your discretion .. Then use Disney as your mental health days :)

[blue_river]

blue: Wow! you really are reading!

You say that like I'm pre-schooler, learning how to read :lmao:
Yes, I CAN read. I CAN read!!! See spot run.... I'm hooked on phonics now :teeth:

“Hey Goofy, stay away from my wife!” Ed laughed. (The food must have revived him.) Goofy responded by pointing to himself, and then to me, as it to say, “She’s mine, now!” He grabbed me and led me away to the next room. Ed played along and followed us! He took out his wallet and showed Goofy his badge. Goofy put both his hands in the air, surrendered, and “gave” me back! He even put both hands up against the wall in case Ed wanted to search him! It was a lot of fun and AR and the kids got a real kick out of seeing “the parents” playing with Goofy!

I loved this part!!!!

There was no way that I could climb up after him. I considered it for a fleeting moment, but the image of me getting wedged in one of those narrow tubes and then having to be extricated by a team of CMs gave me pause to reconsider. If only Eddie was here!

:rotfl2: You're a hoot

“How do I look so far, Daddy?” she beamed, eyelashes fluttering as her FGIT applied a pastel eyeshadow. He paused a moment to look at his daughter, smiled, and said, “You look beautiful”. Then he rolled his eyes at me, as if to say, “I can’t believe she’s growing up so fast” Poor Daddy! He couldn't take it! He led Billy out into the store while we finished in the Boutique.

That is so sweet. :goodvibes

I wish my DD's were a bit younger so I could have taken them to get their hair done.

Once more, we found ourselves arriving at the park just minutes after opening. One of these years, I vow, we WILL be one of those families that arrives bright and early to be the first ones at rope drop!

We never made it either and I doubt we ever will :sad2:

The first thing the kids wanted to do was Goofy's Barnstormer. I hinted that they were perhaps getting too big for this kiddie coaster, but they clamored to go on so I agreed to go with them. Meanwhile, Ed and Aunt Rae bought some fruit at the little farmer’s market and sat down to wait for us.

Whatchoo talkin bout??? My girls are 12 and 15 and loved this ride. They went on it 4 or 5 times :rotfl2:

“Oh, you’re on the DisBoards!” I whirled around. Someone had FINALLY noticed the large LGMH tags that I had been wearing on my backpack for the entire week!

No one said anything about mine and now I'm rethinking the whole thing. Do I really want to be noticed on our next trip???? I can picture it now:

Fellow Diser: "Oh, you're on the DIS? What's your name?"
Me: "Blue"
Fellow Diser: :eek: (says to partner "Run - it's those crazy Canadians")



Aunt Rae declared that if she ate one more chicken Caesar salad, she was going to start clucking!

:laughing: :laughing:

[wvdislover]

MomToAp1699: What an idea! Unfortunately, I don't think it would fly. Oh well, we can dream, can't we? :)

[Montana Disney Fan]

We used to always wear the DIS colors and nobody ever noticed. Finally, a couple of years ago, we ran into a DIS’er at DTD’s Adventurer’s Club. She knew my handle but I didn’t recognize hers. :confused3

We have the toughest time at Pecos Bill’s also!! Just with Trey. Like your son, there’s nothing on the menu he likes. DD is fine with a cheeseburger as well as Pooh and I but poor Trey is left out in the cold. He gets fries like Billy and never complains about it. He’s a trooper. :hug:

It’s so funny reading your reports and seeing all the similarities. We also have a procedure for getting food. Actually, we have a procedure for darn near EVERYTHING!! With the food our drill is for me to go get it, then wander around aimlessly looking for the brood (all the while juggling enough food for an army!!).

Trey had a piece of breaded fish at England in Epcot when a crazed sea gull swooped in and stole it right out of his hands and flew off. Part of the fish broke off and fell and the ground and Trey says: “oh no, Fish all gone”. :sad2:

Trey also wants either Mom or Dad at any given moment. Most of the time though, he just wants mom. :rolleyes:

Important Tip for Splash Mountain: Keep Mouth Closed when going down the big slide!! :eek:

My wife gets a little sad leaving ANY park on the last day. We just LOVE WDW.

Thanks for the report.

[MomToAp1699]

MomToAp1699: What an idea! Unfortunately, I don't think it would fly. Oh well, we can dream, can't we? :)

Ya never know, My sons teacher agreed that is was an invaluable emotional and social growth tool for my son and even wrote that on my absence request. Hey, Dreams do come true right?? After all we are talking about Disney... I can't wait to tell my son we are going. He spontaneously began singining " when you wish upon a star" in the car this morning on the way to school

[KathyRN137]

You say that like I'm pre-schooler, learning how to read :lmao:
Yes, I CAN read. I CAN read!!! See spot run.... I'm hooked on phonics now :teeth:



Come on, now! :rotfl: I didn't mean it like that!!

Kathy

[KathyRN137]

MomToAp1699: Valerie, I'm on pins and needles waiting for your Big Reveal!

MDF: Buzz, we should coordinate our families' 2008 trips...Billy and Trey would go together like peas and carrots!

wvdislover: Hey, you could argue that WDW is like a giant lab for practicing language and social skills!!

Thank you all for reading...now on to the next installment...

Kathy

[Montana Disney Fan]

MDF: Buzz, we should coordinate our families' 2008 trips...Billy and Trey would go together like peas and carrots!
It really sounds like they would! :)

[KathyRN137]

Monday Evening: 11/13/06 Disney Studios

The inevitable End of trip Blues was beginning to creep over me as I folded our clean laundry and we began to pack our bags. From the day I had made our reservation nearly seven months ago, I had planned for, dreamed about, and talked about this vacation most every day…and now it was nearly over! Tomorrow we would be leaving, and although we had been blessed with a wonderful week, the realization that it was all coming to an end made looking forward to our last evening a bittersweet expectation.

We settled down for our nap, but this time I was the one who couldn’t sleep. I could not get my mind to turn off. Everyone else was snoozing, so after a while I just got up and went out onto the balcony with a cool drink. It was peaceful and quiet out there, so I just sat under the slowly circling fan, listening to the chirping of the birds and writing in my travel journal. The smell of fresh-cut grass wafted across the golf course and other than occasional golfers buzzing by in their carts, I was all alone with my thoughts.

After a while, I remembered that I needed to call Continental and make sure that we were seated together for our flight home. We didn’t want to find ourselves scattered around the entire plane as we had on the flight down! :sad2: The gentleman from the airline assured me that all would be remedied, so I said a little prayer and hoped for the best!

After about 45 minutes, I heard the sound of the alarm going off in the bedroom and went in to rouse the boys. This afternoon we were not in our usual post-break rush to get out the door. I had not been able to procure an ADR for 50's Prime Time Cafe at the Studios any earlier than 6:40, and in a way I was glad. None of us felt like running around tonight. All I really wanted to do was have dinner and see the Spectacle of Lights display; perhaps even Fantasmic! at 8:00, if we could swing it.

Despite the fact that it was a Monday, I knew it would be a busy night :crowded: at the Studios. Fantasmic had been closed last week for refurbishment and was now re-opened. It was also the opening night of the Spectacle of Lights, as well as EMH. Normally I would have avoided a busy evening at a park, but we really wanted to see SOL and this was our last night at WDW.

After a bit more packing, we were out the door and down the stairs to the bus stop. It was just going on 6:00 and my prediction about this evening’s crowd level appeared to have been accurate; we piled onto the DS bus along with lots of other EMH guests. (So glad we had our ADR!)

We arrived to find Disney’s version of Tinseltown sparkling with lights and garlands. Naturally, the garlands that hung across Hollywood Boulevard each contained a large, brightly lit star! And for the first time, we heard Christmas music playing in the park! My blues were swept away as we entered into the festive spirit of Christmas at WDW! :santa:


We checked in about 10 minutes early at 50's PTC and I made sure to tell the hostess that we were hoping for a corner table and a server who wanted to “play”. Then we were led to a waiting area near the bar that was themed to look like the “average” American living room of the fifties, complete with loud wallpaper, black and white TV, and lots of knickknacks. Even the Christmas tree was decorated with large old-fashioned bulbs, tons of heavy tinsel and kitschy ornaments (I think I recognized several from my parents’ collection!)

We busied ourselves with looking over the menu so we would be able to order as soon as possible. We were hungry for some of Mom’s home cookin’! Billy began taking off his socks and sneakers; he was ready to stretch out on the plastic-covered couch to watch some TV!

I was suddenly in the mood for something from the bar, so Ed agreed to share some of “Dad’s Electric Blue Lemonade” with me. It came with one of those flashing blue plastic ice cubes so it was fun to look at. And perhaps I’m just a lightweight when it comes to drinks, but it…was…strong! Woo-hoo! :drinking1

We passed a bit of time looking at all the props and listening to Aunt Rae reminisce about what her home had looked like in the fifties. Our ADR time came and went. We were just considering going to the podium to ask how much longer our wait would be, when the hostess paged us and we left the cozy little living room and were shown to our Formica-topped kitchenette table. Once again, we were given exactly what we needed: a (relatively) quiet corner so Billy would not get too overstimulated.

Our waiter, Uncle Chris, soon came and I could see that this was going to be a good time! :jester: Of course, the first thing we did was to let him know that Billy was autistic. Chris took it is stride. We were all treated like little kids at this table!!

He handed us a basket containing our silverware wrapped in cloth napkins and instructed Tricia to set the table and for all of us to be sure to wash our hands before dinner! AR, who always carries antibacterial wet wipes in her purse, and who always wipes her hands with them before every meal, got into the mood and waved them at Uncle Chris, who then teased her for trying to earn brownie points!:rotfl:

He took our order, and reprimanded me for not saying “please”! “How come the autistic kid can remember to say ‘please’ and you can’t?” he demanded. Remorsefully, I repeated my order, this time using the magic word.

As with all the other TS restaurants, the chef came to our table to discuss AR’s dietary needs with her. She told Nelson that she wanted to order the meatloaf and he said that he could easily make her a special meatloaf using gluten-free breadcrumbs. AR still couldn’t get over how accommodating all the chefs at WDW were and how she had been able to stay on her diet while on vacation.

As we were waiting for our meal, the kids colored on their placemats with crayons. Tricia was soon engrossed in her artistic creation, but Billy soon lost interest. Then he spied one of his favorite toys sitting on the ledge of a pass-through in the wall. It was a View-Master! He kept himself busy holding it up to the light and clicking from slide to slide. “What’s on the reel?” I asked Ed. Billy was a good boy and shared the toy with his dad. Ed chuckled. “It’s the dessert menu!” he said. What a clever idea!

Uncle Chris came along with our appetizers and promptly scolded Ed for looking at desserts before he was finished with dinner! He began to take it away from Ed, when Billy protested loudly and said, “I want the toy, please!” Uncle Chris rewarded him for saying please by letting him keep the View-Master throughout dinner.

“And how old are you, princess?” he asked Tricia. “I’m ten!” she exclaimed. Chris cupped his hands alongside his mouth and loudly shouted out, “Attention, everyone! We have a ten year-old girl here who’s looking for a boyfriend!” :lmao: Tricia covered her face as the surrounding tables erupted in laughter. "We've got one for you over here," a dad from a neighboring table teased, pointing to his son. Tricia turned a lovely shade of pink! :blush:


Each table was outfitted with its own little TV, and we watched vintage clips from “The Mickey Mouse Club”, “The Donna Reed Show”, “I Married Joan”, and others while we finished our soup. Just as the kids were getting antsy, their food came and they were soon munching happily away on fried chicken, which I had to convince them was the fifties’ version of chicken fingers. Tricia had a special kid’s drink with a red flashing ice cube and she took a special delight in clinking her cup with mine and “toasting” everyone and everything that she could think of!

AR had her “special” meatloaf (“delicious”), while Ed enjoyed the regular version. I think that I had the pot roast. I’m not sure. By this time, Uncle Chris had brought a second glass of Electric Lemonade just for me and I was too busy having a good time to take notes for my travel journal! Whatever I had, it was good!

I looked over at Ed’s plate and tried to suppress a smile. Oh, I knew that he was in for it! You see he has a funny habit of eating his dinner one food at a time. First, he eats the meat, then the starch, and last, the vegetable. He has always done this, whether at home or at a restaurant. So far, he had worked his way through everything except….the veggies! I winked at Tricia as Chris came over to “see if everyone was cleaning his plate.” ;) This was going to be good.

“Young man, you’re not eating your vegetables”, he scolded. “I’m just going to have to help you!” With that, he took a forkful of Ed’s green beans and fed it to him. “Open wide!” He held the forkfull of beans in front of his mouth. "Here comes the airplane!"


At first, Ed protested, but then he eventually gave in and played along. Well, the kids almost fell out of their chairs, they were laughing so hard. I know the servers must get tired of doing this schtick every night, but trust me, seeing the children’s faces as their parents get treated like little kids is just priceless!

Once our plates were satisfactorily empty, Uncle Chris took our dessert order and we mapped out our plan for the rest of the evening. We had been sitting here enjoying our dinner for quite a while. It was well past 7:30 and no one felt like rushing through dessert and running across the park to get seats for the 8:00 Fantasmic, so we decided to let it go. We agreed that we would head directly over to the SOL so we could walk off some of our meal.

I realized this was definitely a good idea once I got a look at our desserts! Ed and I were faced with huge slices of warm apple pie a la mode, and AR determinedly set out to finish her bowl of ice cream. Billy ate one of his customary chocolate-chip cookies from home, while Tricia set out to tackle this chocolate brownie monstrosity whose name escapes me, but which I will simply refer to as Diabetes on a Dish(!)

After some more eating and laughing, we were finally finished and left the restaurant. We had been there for a very long time; nearly an hour and forty-five minutes had passed since we originally checked in. But thanks to our Uncle Chris, we had a rollicking good time as well as a wonderful meal! His enthusiasm and sense of humor really made it a fun experience for our family. If we eat here in the future, I will definitely make a request for him to be our server! ::yes::


We rolled on over to the Streets of America and were amazed at the breathtaking display of Christmas lights dancing in time to “Carol of the Bells.” It was a bit chilly, now, so we donned our sweatshirts. Most of the guests must still have been over at Fantasmic!, because we were struck with how relatively uncrowded it was as we walked around craning our necks to see the millions of lights that were both around and above us.

“Snowflakes” fluttered down and both kids danced and whirled around, calling out in amazement, “It’s snowing! It’s snowing!” It was so realistic that more than once we had to tell them not to stick out their tongues to try to catch the flakes, which, I believe, are made of soap!

We took our time here and continued our leisurely walk down past the HISTK Movie Set and to the square in front of LMA Stunt show. A host of angels with flickering, moving wings floated above us as we strolled across to admire a beautiful crèche, the strains of “Joy to the World” ringing through the streets.


I silently blessed the Disney Company for their prominent display of the Holy Family, angels, shepherds, and wise men throughout the entire SOL. In recent years it seems that, at least in our part of the country, there has been a noticeable push toward the secularization of Christmas. Department store windows are decorated with plain white lights, and snowmen; there’s not a single Baby Jesus in sight. Our municipal buildings are hung with red, white, and blue, so as not to “offend” anyone. And in school our children sing only about Rudolph and Frosty in the “Holiday” program. It was such a wonderful feeling to know that, at least at WDW, Christmas was still Christmas, and you could openly celebrate the coming of the season with a sense of joy! :cloud9:


Fantasmic! must have let out, b/c the crowds were beginning to thicken noticeably as we completed our tour. Billy caught sight of the Muppet*Vision 3D theater and begged to see it again. We were all in the mood for another dose of Muppet humor, so we walked over to the theater (just for the halibut), stopping as we entered to look for the key under the mat!

After the show, we considered our options. We really didn’t feel like battling the crowds in the super-congested Sunset Boulevard area for another ride on R&RC, so we continued with our slow and easy pace and made a left on Commissary Lane and walked over to the Great Movie Ride. I knew Aunt Rae would enjoy this one. We spent some time looking at all the hand and footprints cast in cement outside of the replica of Grauman’s Chinese Theater, then we entered the queue.

We wound our way quickly around some famous movie props in large glass display cases: a carousel horse from Mary Poppins, children’s costumes from Narnia, and something from Raiders of the Lost Ark (I think). We joined a group of other guests in the next room, a sort of “holding area” of the queue sectioned off, naturally, with red velvet ropes. A huge silver screen showed clips and trailers from the movies that were about to be featured in the attraction.

We boarded the tram and headed off for a tour of some of the wonderful films of yesteryear. We gazed upon life-sized audioanimatronic characters that sang, danced, and spoke with their “real” voices on the sets of famous movies. We saw Gene Kelly dance around a lamppost in Singin' in the Rain, watched as Rick and Ilsa said their heart wrenching goodbye in Casablanca, and sang along as Bert the chimney sweep cavorted with Mary Poppins. Our tram was hijacked in Gangster Alley and Billy covered his ears and scrunched his eyes shut when the really LOUD “shooting” started!

But, I think our favorite scene was the dazzlingly colorful Munchkinland from the Wizard of Oz! When the Wicked Witch of the West appeared in a cloud of fiery smoke, I could swear that I was really looking at the pea-green face of Margaret Hamilton! Oooh, I remember having bad dreams about that witch when I was a child! As the ride ended, we were treated to a stirring montage of scenes from dozens of classic movies. Everyone applauded as we exited the tram and found ourselves once more in Hollywood Plaza.

Unbelievably, it was now about a quarter to ten and we needed to get going so the kids could get to bed. We had to check out first thing in the morning and then we had a 9:15 ADR for breakfast at Boma.

We walked slowly under The Hat and down Hollywood Boulevard toward the main gate. Although the urge to shop for pins and other souvenirs was strong, I resisted the many inviting shops that lined the street and before I knew it, we were out the gate and at the bus stop. Soon we were headed back to our villa at OKW one last time.

Kathy

Next Chapter: Breakfast with the animals—Not! A sneek peek at Nemo, and we wave goodbye to WDW. :sad:

[Montana Disney Fan]

The inevitable End of trip Blues was beginning to creep over me as I folded our clean laundry and we began to pack our bags. From the day I had made our reservation nearly seven months ago, I had planned for, dreamed about, and talked about this vacation most every day…and now it was nearly over! Tomorrow we would be leaving, and although we had been blessed with a wonderful week, the realization that it was all coming to an end made looking forward to our last evening a bittersweet expectation.
Yes, yes. I know EXACTLY what you're feeling. ::yes:: Great description also.



We settled down for our nap, but this time I was the one who couldn’t sleep. I could not get my mind to turn off. Everyone else was snoozing, so after a while I just got up and went out onto the balcony with a cool drink. It was peaceful and quiet out there, so I just sat under the slowly circling fan, listening to the chirping of the birds and writing in my travel journal. The smell of fresh-cut grass wafted across the golf course and other than occasional golfers buzzing by in their carts, I was all alone with my thoughts.
This is part of the vacation "experience" for me and I know exactly how you felt. I can't remember what floor you're on but we were on the second in our 2-bdr and I went out there every day while the troops played or watched TV. For some reason, our family doesn't nap. I wish they did. :sad2:


Billy began taking off his socks and sneakers; he was ready to stretch out on the plastic-covered couch to watch some TV!
I can totally picture this! :rotfl2:


I was suddenly in the mood for something from the bar, so Ed agreed to share some of “Dad’s Electric Blue Lemonade” with me.
I don't think I've ever shared a drink with my wife. We've shared a bottle of wine, but not a drink. ;)


Question: Do they have boothes at the 50's PTC?

After some more eating and laughing, we were finally finished and left the restaurant. We had been there for a very long time; nearly an hour and forty-five minutes had passed since we originally checked in. But thanks to our Uncle Chris, we had a rollicking good time as well as a wonderful meal! His enthusiasm and sense of humor really made it a fun experience for our family. If we eat here in the future, I will definitely make a request for him to be our server!
This is why you dine with Disney. It it expensive? Yes. But the atmosphere makes it all worthwhile.


Unbelievably, it was now about a quarter to ten and we needed to get going so the kids could get to bed. We had to check out first thing in the morning and then we had a 9:15 ADR for breakfast at Boma.
We've never done b-fast at Boma but we dinner there and it was good.

Great Report! :thumbsup2

[Linnie The Pooh]

Day Eight: Monday Morning. 11/13/06 Magic Kingdom

When the song was done, the kids returned to their places and we were all introduced to a “newfangled dance” called the Hokey-Pokey! Billy began jumping up and down excitedly. He knew the dance from school! :dance3: The same cowboy from before came back and started doing the Hokey-Pokey with us. Billy was laughing and dancing and having such an obviously good time that he attracted the attention of one of the pretty cowgirls. She came over and, surprise! Billy reached out to her and said, “Let’s dance!” She was able to keep him engaged and focused throughout the entire dance! :woohoo:

Kathy, you made me almost cry! I wanted to go back and read it again, but I knew I'd lose it for sure. (Just ask Buzz, he knows how much I hate to cry-it takes a lot to even make me cry) :flower3: But this was awesome-really struck a chord with me. If it had been my son, I definitely would've been bawling right there. We've never actually had anyone do something like that for Trey-most people realize he's different and back off. This just really touched my heart.

AR sounds like a kick!! Reading your TR gives me such a happy feeling-I love MK too and although I tell Buzz Epcot is my favorite park, I really think my favorite is MK. Reminds me of when I was a kid and just brings back memories of watching the Walt Disney Show on Sunday nights with my family.

I did all our laundry the night before we left so I wouldn't come home to a full laundry load too. One less thing to do!

[Linnie The Pooh]

Oh, and I do NOT blame Billy for not liking the birds! I don't care much for them myself! ;)

[Halloweenqueen]

That was my favorite entry yet!

It made me call Disney Dining and book an ADR for 50s Prime!

[KathyRN137]

Question: Do they have boothes at the 50's PTC?



Buzz:

Answer: ::yes:: Yes!

We usually like booths, too, but with Aunt Rae we were five people and the booth would be a tight fit for one side of the booth.

At PTC you always ask for a server who likes to "play"; that way you get someone fun. Some servers are more fun than others and the experience can be a real dud if you get an "aunt" or "uncle" who isn't into it.

From what I've read about you and your family, I think you would have a blast!


Lin: After reading your report, I totally understand your bird "issues" !!

BTW, I have teared-up many, many times at WDW. We get to experience these little, unexpected magic moments all the time. Usually they are 100% due to some incredibly wonderful CMs. I have never met one CM who was unkind or insensitive to our family's special needs. pixiedust: It more than makes up for the little aggravations that we parents inevitably experience while vacationing with our kids, especially if they have challenges like ASD.

We may take a well-deserved vacation from our jobs, our housework, our volunteer commitments; whatever. But we can never be completely on vacation because we are still attending to our most important work...parenting!! :love: I love that I can take our kids to WDW and show them a place where compassion and caring are the norm.

That really is a Dream Come True!

Kathy

[csuzannet]

Day Six, Saturday Evening, 11/11/06 : Magic Kingdom


I glanced over toward the Liberty Tree Tavern and wondered, briefly, if Goofy would still be interested in running away together.

Deciding that this was improbable, I joined the others as they trotted off after Ed, who was power walking toward FantasyLand. Oh, well. .

Ha!! I refer to stressful family times as "FUN with Family." (That kind of fun deserves extra emphasis.)

But as an infamous DIS trip reporter once claimed (eeks! Was it Mell Happyhaunt?) . . . family . . . can't live with them, can't love without them.

[KathyRN137]

Halloweenqueen: You will love it! See above post....

csuzannet: Well, Life's little ups and downs don't stop just because you're at WDW! Fortunately, the ups greatly outweigh the downs!

Kathy

[Linnie The Pooh]

We may take a well-deserved vacation from our jobs, our housework, our volunteer commitments; whatever. But we can never be completely on vacation because we are still attending to our most important work...parenting!! :love: I love that I can take our kids to WDW and show them a place where compassion and caring are the norm.

That really is a Dream Come True!



I couldn't agree with you more. I feel so fortunate we are able to do WDW vacations every year.

Your dinner at the 50's diner sounded AWESOME! I would love that! It sounds like a really neat place. We'll have to try it next time! :banana:

[KathyRN137]

**You get two installments today because I'm giving up the DisBoards tomorrow for Good Friday!!


Our Last Day: Tuesday, 11/14/06 Boma and the Animal Kingdom


This morning was a blur of activity. Not only did we need to get ourselves up early, and get showered and dressed as usual; we had the added (and as you know) very unpleasant chore of clearing out our rooms and packing up to go home. :sad1:

Before we knew it, the bellman arrived to pick up the bags! Aaggh! :crazy: We all ran around like chickens making doubly sure that we had not forgotten anything in the drawers, showers, closets, clothes dryer or DVD player! Then our luggage was gathered up on a cart and taken to Bell services to be checked. We were free to go directly to breakfast! We said goodbye to our beautiful villa and went down to the bus stop. We couldn’t have had a nicer stay!

I kept reminding myself that we still had half a day at WDW and that we could squeeze a lot of fun into the time we had left! We were off to see the Animal Kingdom Lodge for the first time, and to have breakfast at Boma-Flavors of Africa.

We had been planning to take the bus to the AK and then the AK bus over to AKL, but we were running late, so we took the internal bus to the Hospitality House and engaged one of the many taxi vans that were lined up just waiting for fares. It was fast. It was cheap. And, most importantly, it got us to our ADR on time!

As the taxi pulled up to the AKL, I craned my neck to get my first look at the thatch-roofed resort. I just love touring different WDW resorts! We try to visit at least one new one on each trip! I’ve read so many great things about the AKL, and I was so excited to finally see it in person, especially since rumours had been swirling about the possibility of a DVC addition to the Lodge. Yay! :yay: (Remember, this was mid-November!)

We entered the huge, high-ceilinged lobby and I was hit with the same “Wow Factor” that I had experienced the first time we visited the Wilderness Lodge. It was just as awesome as I had expected! My eyes were immediately drawn to the four-story wall of glass at the far end that led to the savanna beyond! No time to gape, however, we had to hurry over to Boma! We’d come back after breakfast to explore a bit.

We checked in, received the good old pager, and then sat down to wait. Oh! The aroma of that delicious food cooking suddenly made us realize how hungry we were! Billy was really antsy, so Ed took both kids outside to look at the Uzima Pool while AR and I waited with a host of other guests. I was encouraged by the large number of guests that were leaving the restaurant, most likely anxious to get out to one of the parks.

I felt a quick pang of envy; it was Tuesday and they all most likely were just beginning their vacation, unlike me, who would be leaving today and back in my own bed that night! Whaaah! :sad: Okay, I’m just not going to think about that now!

Ed came back with the kids. Presumably looking at all that water gave them the urge to go, b/c Ed needed to take Billy to the men’s room and Tricia asked me to go with her to the ladies’. The door was marked not only in English, but also in Swahili, and the inside was as colorful and as exotic as the lobby. This is one of the reasons I love WDW resorts. They take the time and effort to meticulously extend the theme into all areas, even the restrooms!

“Mom, that pool is awesome! We’ve got to stay here next year!” Tricia said excitedly.

“I thought you wanted to stay at the Beach Club Villas because of their ‘awesome’ pool!” I teased. “Make up your mind!”

“Didn’t you say the vacation club was going to come here, too?” she countered.

“Perhaps. It’s only a rumour, but perhaps there will be villas here eventually”

“Okay, here’s what we’ll do…” (I smiled.) “Next year, we’ll stay at the BCV and then the year after that, we’ll stay here!” she said triumphantly. (I smiled even wider.)

Now I’ve got her thinking like a true DISer! :thumbsup2

We joined the others and after a few moments our pager lit up. The “village marketplace” was bustling, even at this late breakfast hour. A smiling CM dressed in tribal costume led us to our table. I was hoping to be shown to a table by the window, but there was no such luck. At least we were seated at the far end of the room and not smack in the middle of the noisy crowd.

“This is great, we’re close to the food!" Ed remarked, hungrily.

The food, we soon learned, was offered from eight different stations that were spread out around a wood-burning grill. Our server, similarly attired in colorful garb, brought a pitcher of Frunch to the table and gave us a brief orientation to the layout as she poured. Soon after, a friendly chef, wearing a very tall white hat, came to the table to assist AR with her food choices. Upon learning that she would like toast with her eggs, he promised to return with some rice-flour bread and was off to the kitchen to arrange it.

Ed wasted no time. He made a beeline for the omelette station while I stayed with Billy and set him up with his Cheerios. AR and Tricia went off in search of their food and as soon as Ed returned with his plate overflowing, I joined them.

What a selection of food! The savory aroma of exotic cooking hung heavy in the air; it smelled spicy, sweet, and smoky all at the same time. There was the usual assortment of pastries and fruits, but with unexpected additions such as mango and papaya and dried coconut! One chef was preparing pancakes and waffles, while another was whipping up eggs and omelettes to order. Bacon, sausage, and ham were offered, as well as more unusual choices such as cured pork loin and bobotie, “a West African dish of corned beef, eggs, and potatoes mixed with cream and onions.” Familiar cold cereals and granola took their place alongside oatmeal, quinoa porridge and pap, made from white corn meal.

It took forever, but I finally made my selections and returned to the table. It looked as though Ed had tried a bit of everything to go with his omelette, and he was working his way through each food one at a time. All was to his liking, except the bobotie, which he expected to taste like corned beef hash, but was much spicier.

The chef returned with profound apologies to AR; it seemed that they were out of the rice bread for her toast. No matter, she was content with her bacon, eggs and potatoes, which were seasoned with red and green peppers.

Tricia had scrambled eggs, a huge bowl of watermelon chunks, and some cheese Danish. She took a sip of the juice and made a face. “What’s that?” she sputtered. “It’s Frunch” I replied. “It’s disgusting!” she said, wiping her tongue off on the cloth napkin for dramatic emphasis.

The menu said it was made up of lemonade, orange juice, pineapple juice, guava juice, and papaya juice. Not what I would call disgusting, but perhaps too heavy and sweet for my taste. We both opted for glass of good old Florida O.J.!

Having eaten our fill and after picking up as many Cheerios as we could off the floor, we wandered back out to the immense lobby to take a closer look.

We had just spent the past week at OKW, where a mix of pastel colors and bright, sunny spaces gave the entire resort an open, airy feel. By contrast, the Lodge’s dark earth tones, dramatic architecture, and colorful African artwork and fabrics worked together to create an atmosphere that was both warm and exotic at the same time. We walked around and examined the tribal shields, sculptures, and carved furnishings, marveling at the stunning beauty of it all.

Like its cousin, the Wilderness Lodge, the AKL boasted a small spring that began inside the lobby and cheerfully bubbled its way to an outdoor stream. The tremendous expanse of vine-covered glass that separated us from the outside world beckoned. We decided that as much as we had wanted to admire the interior of the Lodge, we now wanted to see the main attraction: the animals that inhabited the surrounding savanna.

We made our way out to the rocky Kopje Overlook and eagerly shielded our eyes from the sun, searching for wildlife. We searched and searched and…nothing! Not a single mammal or bird to be found! :confused: Puzzled, we asked the CM dressed in safari gear about the empty savanna. Seems that we had just finished our breakfast, but the animals were back at their little houses having theirs! Oh well, not much sense sticking around if there were no animals. Timing is everything, and our timing stunk!


Other than our breakfast at Boma, I had left the rest of the day open. We were leaving OKW for MCO at 4:00, and would need to be back there by 3:30. That meant that, not counting travel time, we had at least four hours to play with. We had narrowed it down to either Downtown Disney or AK. Since we were so close to the park and had pretty much spent all our money anyway, we decided upon another visit to Animal Kingdom!

We made our way back through the dark, majestic lobby and out the front entrance. I was surprised that we had about a 15-min wait for the AK bus; we must have just missed it. Nevertheless, it was a quick ride to the AK, and we soon making our way past the rocky waterfall toward the front gate. There, we greeted by an unexpected surprise! Some children were gathered around a small potted palm tree that was magically talking and moving on its own. It was Wes Palm!!

Billy joined the group of children, fascinated by the animated tree.
“Hello, little boy in the yellow shirt! What’s your name?” The tree asked as Billy hovered nearby.
“Its Billy!” he replied, jumping up and down excitedly.
“How are you today, Billy?”
“I’m fine!” He reached out to pat the tree.
“Can I have a hug?” Wes asked.
Several of the kids, including Billy, hugged the little tree before it wheeled off.

If only the remote control operator knew how much that little conversation between an autistic boy and a little palm tree really meant! A reciprocal conversation with Billy is a very rare thing; a completely different language skill than a simple statement such as “I want Hall of Presidents.” It was more Disney magic! pixiedust:

We entered the gate and started on a path through the lush vegetation of The Oasis, keeping our eyes peeled for any movement in the trees that might signify the presence of wildlife. We spotted a few of the more colorful birds in the branches above and were careful not to walk directly under them (!) as we passed through this aptly named tropical garden.

We emerged from the Oasis and the towering Tree of Life slowly came into view. Every time you get that first glimpse of this amazing creation it is breathtaking! I crossed by fingers as we stopped by the tip board, hoping that there would be a preview of the new Finding Nemo stage show. There was nothing listed on the board, but a CM was standing in the little booth behind it talking on the phone. I waited and when she was finished, I asked her about the show. Yes! :cool1: A preview was tentatively scheduled for 2pm! I thanked her and we stood in front of the Island Mercantile and plotted our strategy.

It was already 11:30 and we were unaccustomed to arriving at a park this late. I was certainly not accustomed, as you know, to touring a park without a pre-set operational plan! We wanted to see the Nemo show and Flights of Wonder, which would be starting in about 15 min. If we timed it right, we could see both shows and perhaps another attraction in between. Although the temptation was there to try to squeeze in as much as possible, we wanted to be able to enjoy our last day at WDW by just enjoying the atmosphere of the park :goodvibes and not running around like crazy.

We walked over the red brick footbridge to Asia, pausing to look to the right at the picture-perfect view of the snow capped “mountain” of Everest. “Snow Monster! Snow Monster!” Billy shouted as he remembered the wild train rides he took earlier in the week. “I want a Snow Monster, pleeeese!” Tricia soon joined in, begging for another ride on EE. I fell back on the old reliable “We’ll see” in order to placate them for the time being. Right now, I wanted the family to stay together.

Aunt Rae, I had noticed, was moving quite a bit slower today. If I was feeling a bit tired after a week of park touring, our 75 yr-old aunt must have been getting positively weary. “You okay, Aunt Rae?” I asked, scanning her face for signs of fatigue. “I’m fine, just fine” she insisted. “I just need to sit a bit, my ankles are acting up.”

I quickly looked down at her feet. Hmm. No swelling, but her arthritis was probably bothering her. She must have read my mind. “Really, Kathy, I’m fine. I took some Advil this morning, I’m fine!” She quickened her gait sharply in order to convince me.

“Knock it off, Aunt Rae”, Ed scolded lovingly. “You’re going to fall and break a hip, and then we’ll miss our flight!”
“You be quiet, or you won’t be my favorite nephew anymore!”
“Slow down or I’ll give you ticket!” he growled.
“Better listen to him, Aunt Rae”, Tricia advised, “He’s a cop!”
“Bad Boys! Bad Boys!” chirped Billy.

Tricia laughed and they both began to dance around her singing to the melody of the COPS theme song:

"Bad aunt, bad aunt, whatchagonna do?
Whatchagonna do when Daddy comes for you!"

By now we had arrived at Flights of Wonder and we easily found good seats in the large shaded, open-air theater. We enjoyed watching the owls, hawks and other more exotic birds demonstrate their talents while we learned our lesson in animal conservation along with “Guano” Joe.

We left the show thinking that we could visit the tigers next door in the MJT before heading over to the Theater in the Wild. Then the kids started clamoring again to be taken on EE. After a bit of hesitation, the adults gave in and we split up. “For the last time!” I insisted. Ed and AR went off down the path for MJT and I hurried the kids along to EE.

Once again, the GAC saved us and a 45 min wait was cut down to fifteen. When we boarded the old tea train, we found ourselves seated in the very last two rows! This made the already- thrilling ride even wilder, especially the backwards part!

We decided to take a look at our ride photo and this time, we just had to get it! Tricia was feigning a look of absolute terror and Billy was clutching my arm and laughing while I held onto the safety bar for dear life! The photo was embellished with huge Yeti claws reaching out as if to grab us! Yep, that’s a keeper!

We exited the gift shop and sat ourselves down on a large “rock”. I called Ed to let them know that we were done and were heading over to Nemo. They had been taking it nice and slow through the Jungle Trek and were almost finished, so the kids and I crossed over the new bridge from Asia into DinoLand, USA, and proceded to wait for them in front of the Theater in the Wild.

A placard set up in front of the theater entrance announced the upcoming show. Many guests traveling on the path toward Asia stopped and were surprised at the “unadvertised” nature of the performance. The queue swelled with people and spilled out into the path. I held onto the kids, nervously tapping my foot and hoping the others would get here soon. :worried: Eventually, I broke down and called again.

They were not far away, but were “caught in traffic” around EE. “Get a move on!” I implored, not wanting to be shut out of our only chance to see the new show until next year. Ed insisted they were moving as fast as they could, considering the congested pathway and AR’s ankles.

Deep breath in, exhale! Deep breath in, exhale! I tried to relax as the theater doors opened and I watched the crowd pushed forward. Then I spotted them, slowly wending their way toward us. Tricia and I waved our arms wildly until they caught sight of us, then I motioned that we were going inside to get seats.

We negotiated the heavy merge and became one with the stream of guests that poured inside. As my eyes became accustomed to the dark, I could see that the theater was quickly filling with the expectant crowd and I searched for the best viewing spot. We moved forward along the middle level and I could see that the seating had not changed much from the old Tarzan show, but the theater was completely enclosed. CMs directed guests to higher seats since the “orchestra” sections already appeared full.

We walked to the far end and slipped into the first row of the “mezzanine” section, right behind the runway where the rollerbladers used to dart around the theater in the previous show. (I don’t like to be too far from an exit, just in case Billy needs to leave before the show ends.) :rolleyes:

There was a large group of costumed CMs, from all over the park apparently, seated to our immediate right, as well as a number of WDW “suits” who were preparing to preview the show as well. Ed and AR appeared and joined us on the bench seating. I breathed a sigh of relief and looked around while we waited for the performance to begin.

The audience was buzzing with anticipation. :hyper2: It was exciting to realize that most if not all of us were seeing the show for the first time! Just as in the Coral Reef restaurant, the theater and lighting were designed to simulate a shimmering blue undersea environment.

On either side of the curtained stage were huge plexiglass bubbles that allowed the audience a peek into the teeming waters off an Australian coral reef. From time to time, the image of the little clownfish was projected onto them to make it appear as though he was swimming from one bubble to the next. "Nemo!" “There he is!” the younger children in the audience called out and pointed excitedly each time the little fish appeared!

The lights dimmed and the curtain opened to a dazzlingly colorful set with an animated backdrop. We followed the story of Marlin and Nemo as performers held each character puppet over their shoulder and sang and spoke for them. After a while, you forgot the puppeteers and just got caught up in the story.

“Mr. Ray” was a huge, expansive puppet; so large that the performer rode a bicycle when he swam with his pupils! Bruce and the sharks were a riot! Translucent jellyfish puppets, colorful fish, and rays with their wings gently flapping “swam” among the amazed audience and put us right in the middle of the aquatic action. :thumbsup2 :thumbsup2 It’s definitely a must-see, just like FOTLK.

The show ended to thunderous applause and we slowly moved back outside into the bright sunlight. “That was incredible!” I said. “How did you like it, Aunt Rae?” Ed grinned and AR looked a bit sheepish. “I must have dozed off after the first few minutes!” she admitted. :blush: “I know. Your head was on my shoulder!” he laughed. “Well, tomorrow you can sleep as long as you want.”

Yes, soon it would be tomorrow and it would all be over. We found a bench under a shady tree and sat eating ice cream and watching all the people go by. Ed looked at his watch and then at me. We could put it off no longer. We retraced our steps back out through the Oasis, then through the turnstiles and over to the bus stop.

I wasn’t feeling quite as emotional as I had yesterday when we left the MK, but I still could not suppress a steady stream of heavy sighs as the bus brought us back to the Hospitality House at OKW. I checked in at bell services and asked them to retrieve our bags while the rest of the family walked around to the dockside Good’s Food to Go and used up the last of our CS credits on sandwiches to go.

I was at the front desk getting our box of sundries shipped home when, suddenly, Ed burst inside and shouted that the driver was waiting for us!:scared1:

“But he’s almost a half hour early!” I pouted, not wanting to be cheated out of even two minutes at WDW! "Our flight doesn’t leave for almost three hours!"

But Ed was like a maniac, gathering up the bags, the food, the kids and AR, and hustling them over to where the van was parked!

Sigh. :sad2:

I’ll just take a few more pictures of the resort before we leave…

“Kathy, let’s GO!! Ed snapped.

“Okay, okay, I’m coming.” I glared at the annoying early-bird driver as he smiled and held the door open for me. :mad: Hmmph!

The door slammed shut and we settled back for the ride. As we passed through the WDW Gate, Ed noticed my glum expression and laughed.

“Cheer up, honey, Christmas is coming!”

I sighed again and smiled at him wryly. Well, that was true.

Our wonderful vacation was over, but the holidays were coming and there was no time for moping. Next week would be Thanksgiving! I had so much to do! The house needed to be decorated; there was all the Christmas shopping to do; what was I going to bring to my mother’s for Thanksgiving? Where did I put those cards I bought last year?

:santa: I needed to make a plan….

Kathy


Next Chapter: Epilogue

[Montana Disney Fan]

MDF: Buzz, we should coordinate our families' 2008 trips
You are the second bravest woman I've ever met! ::yes::

I'll read & reply to your post after dinner.

[Montana Disney Fan]

I felt a quick pang of envy; it was Tuesday and they all most likely were just beginning their vacation, unlike me, who would be leaving today and back in my own bed that night!
Lin gets this way at the airport. When we arrive she's feeling all snooting since they all have to go home. When we get to the airport to go home, she's all sad because the new groups of people are showing up and we have to leave.


“Perhaps. It’s only a rumour, but perhaps there will be villas here eventually”
Not a rumor but true.


Next year, we’ll stay at the BCV and then the year after that, we’ll stay here
Not a big fan of the BCV. We like the proximity to our favorite park but the pool is always a madhouse and the place is just a little too "stuffy" for us. :confused3


Seems that we had just finished our breakfast, but the animals were back at their little houses having theirs! Oh well, not much sense sticking around if there were no animals. Timing is everything, and our timing stunk!
Darn! That's too bad. :sad2:

If only the remote control operator knew how much that little conversation between an autistic boy and a little palm tree really meant!
That's soo cool! Trey and LA both like the talking trash can in MK's Tomorrowland. LA casually asked her mother "Mom, why is that trash can talking?" :hug:


By now we had arrived at Flights of Wonder and we easily found good seats in the large shaded, open-air theater. We enjoyed watching the owls, hawks and other more exotic birds demonstrate their talents while we learned our lesson in animal conservation along with “Guano” Joe.
The one and only time I took my family to this I thought it was a movie. When we walked in my wife looked at me with a piercing glaze and stated "I see no SCREEN". :lmao: Oops :rolleyes:

The show ended to thunderous applause and we slowly moved back outside into the bright sunlight. “That was incredible!” I said. “How did you like it, Aunt Rae?” Ed grinned and AR looked a bit sheepish. “I must have dozed off after the first few minutes!” she admitted. “I know. Your head was on my shoulder!” he laughed. “Well, tomorrow you can sleep as long as you want.”
LOL!!! :rotfl2:

Our wonderful vacation was over, but the holidays were coming and there was no time for moping. Next week would be Thanksgiving! I had so much to do! The house needed to be decorated; there was all the Christmas shopping to do; what was I going to bring to my mother’s for Thanksgiving? Where did I put those cards I bought last year?
Bravo! Nice ending. I can never figure out how to end each trip report post. So what I do is basically just quit typing. :confused3

[KathyRN137]

Epilogue: Why We'll Be Back


:thanks: Thanks so much for reading my first TR and for coming along on our latest WDW adventure; I had a lot of fun reminiscing about our trip and I really enjoyed sharing our experiences with you! Just a few more comments to round out the report and then I will bid you farewell…

We really had such a wonderful time last November! Even with all the notes I took, it was impossible to record each and every moment of wonder, each and every grin and giggle. It feels like each time our family goes to WDW the whole experience just gets better and better.

Human nature being what it is, my first impulse is to brag that it was all due to my extensive planning and preparation. I went back and read my earliest pre-trip entries from almost a year ago and had a good laugh at myself…such ridiculous obsession over each and every detail! :rolleyes:

How many times did ADRs get made, cancelled, and done over? How many late nights did I spend pouring over our itineraries? How many versions of the Operational Plan got scrapped before I was finally satisfied??

And in the end, did we have perfection? Well, no, of course not! So many variables are beyond the control of even the most intrepid of planners.

There were a few glitches. I didn’t get the room location I wanted. Wishes was spoiled by bad weather. My son got stuck in a hamster tunnel and booted out of Turtle Talk. My husband got grouchy and my daughter didn’t get to make towel animals. Oh well! There goes my perfect “10”!!

We put so much time and effort into researching and planning the “perfect” vacation when, in reality, we all must face the fact that it is all an illusion…there is no such thing as a perfect vacation! Problem is, in our culture we tend to expect that everything in our lives will be perfect. If only we do A, B, and then C; we will have the desired outcome…

Eat these foods and you won’t get heart disease…
Use this face cream and you will look ten years younger…
Drive this car and you will always walk away from an accident…
Follow this tour plan and you will have a perfect day at WDW with no lines…

We are masters of our own destinies! We have the ability to control our lives! Through sheer force of will, planning, and preparation, we can make it happen!

What a crock!!

Yes, it is important to have a plan in life, to think things through and prepare for the future. But, if you delude yourself (like I once did) into thinking that you have the power and control over everything in your life because of that, then you would be missing out on one of Life’s greatest lessons. Remember what was written on that tee shirt:

Life is all about how you handle Plan B.

The “B” side. The flip side of the hit single. You started out listening to the hit song, but then something happened. The record got flipped and now you can’t change it back.

When the role of parent to an autistic child is thrust upon you, it’s natural to ask, why? Why did our lives have to get flipped around like this? Why did this terrible thing have to happen to my child? To me? Why? Why did God allow this?

And, while we are at it, why are there so many terrible things in this world? Why is there war and injustice? Why do families suffer because of Autism and Cancer and AIDS and Alzheimer’s? Why can’t life just be filled with happiness, health, and peace on earth?

Why can’t life always be as beautiful and as wonderful and as magical as it seems to be at Walt Disney World? Well, perhaps I don’t have all the answers, but I think that I have at least learned to live with the questions.

And, forgive me, but perhaps because it is Good Friday, I am sitting here thinking about the suffering of our Lord and feeling a bit more introspective than usual.

Do you remember an old movie from the late 70’s called Oh God!, starring George Burns and John Denver? Or, maybe it was Oh God II, I’m not sure. Anyway, George Burns plays the role of God and he appears to John Denver’s character and calls upon him to “spread the Word”.

There is a wonderful little scene in that movie where John, overwhelmed with the task he has been given and discouraged that he is not succeeding, puts the question to God: Why did you create Evil as well as Good? So many terrible things in the world…why not just have created all good things? Why?

God takes a puff on his cigar, looks thoughtfully at John for a moment, then says something like this:

"Well, kid, I could never create anything that had a top that didn’t also have a bottom…a front without a back…an up without a down. It’s the same way with Good and Bad; you just can’t have one without the other…"



********************


I had already been a nurse for several years before Ed and I were married and both our kids were just a twinkle in his eye and a cherished wish in my heart. At the time, I had taken on extra work as a hospice nurse on the weekends, and was “on call” during the night.

Sometimes I had just a few calls; other times I was out all night visiting dying patients and their families at home. Usually, it was to help them manage the patient’s pain. Sometimes I would sit with them as they breathed their last, other times I was called after the fact to make a pronouncement of death. Occasionally, a family member wouldn’t need a home visit; they would just call late at night because they needed someone reassuring to talk to. And that was okay; that’s what I was there for.

Ed would sometimes be awakened by the phone and overhear me talking to a patient’s wife or husband, son or daughter--whoever it was. As I returned to bed, he would shake his head in disbelief. He couldn’t understand why I would choose to work with all those dying people and their families, when there was “no hope” for them. Wasn’t it all just too sad? Well, not really. It could certainly be stressful, but it was also a powerfully moving spiritual experience, one that has served me well.

I remember that there was this saying around hospice, something about “letting your loved one die at home was the ultimate gift that you could give him.” During my orientation, I even heard nurses tell this to distressed family members. I always kind of choked on the words and could never really bring myself to say them. To me, it didn’t seem that the family was giving the patient a gift. Rather, it was the other way around…

I personally feel that when people are sick or in need, they are the ones who ultimately have a gift to give. All parents, but especially the parents of special needs children receive this gift every day. Our children give it to us innocently and freely.

The gift is an opportunity to put aside our own needs and place another’s first. The gift is the chance to reach beyond our own little spheres of existence and touch the lives of others. The gift enables us to learn the powerful lesson of “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” We lay down our lives for another. The gift is God’s love, alive here on earth.

*******************


Whenever we read or talk about Walt Disney World, there are always one word that get used quite often… Magic! It’s that wonderful intangible element that makes life-long fans of so many. It draws us back time and time again.

Yes, the parks are beautifully designed and the entertainment is superb. But that’s not what truly enchants us. That wondrous feeling that brings us so much joy comes from Walt's gift. He started with a dream of a place where families could play together and have fun. He was already a successful filmmaker. He could have just built a private playground for his own children and left it at that. But no, he needed to share his dream with the world. He wanted a place where everyone could play, young and old alike.

Walt’s legacy does indeed live on in the theme parks that bear his name. Everyone can come to WDW to play, even if they have physical or psychological challenges. It’s the most accommodating vacation place on earth. And that means so much to families that live with the day-to-day struggles of autism. The cast members really seem to care about you and your children. They just make you feel so welcomed, so accepted, and so valued. It does feel magical. It feels a lot like….love.

That’s why we love Walt Disney World and that is why we will go back again and again.

Wishing you all the best,
Kathy :grouphug:

[Mary Anne]

Bravo, bravo.... what a wonderful report. I enjoyed every minute of it. It was a long read starting months and months ago, but a wonderful one. I wish you and your family all the best.

[Linnie The Pooh]

Billy joined the group of children, fascinated by the animated tree.
“Hello, little boy in the yellow shirt! What’s your name?” The tree asked as Billy hovered nearby.
“Its Billy!” he replied, jumping up and down excitedly.
“How are you today, Billy?”
“I’m fine!” He reached out to pat the tree.
“Can I have a hug?” Wes asked.
Several of the kids, including Billy, hugged the little tree before it wheeled off.

If only the remote control operator knew how much that little conversation between an autistic boy and a little palm tree really meant! A reciprocal conversation with Billy is a very rare thing; a completely different language skill than a simple statement such as “I want Hall of Presidents.” It was more Disney magic!

Awesome, simply awesome!!!:cheer2: Yay for Billy!!


Lin gets this way at the airport. When we arrive she's feeling all snooting since they all have to go home. When we get to the airport to go home, she's all sad because the new groups of people are showing up and we have to leave.

Yep, he's right I do. When I read that in your TR, I was thinking I feel the same way-jealous when I see the people starting their vacation and mine is ending!

I wouldn't say I feel snooty when I get off the plane and see the people whose vacations are ending. I would say I feel very special-definitely feeling the Disney magic from the moment I get off the plane!! :woohoo:

[Linnie The Pooh]

And btw, I LOVED your TR! I can't wait to hear about your next trip!!

[Angelrose]

What a wonderful outlook you have on life and death. Thank you the beautiful epilog.

[jackdis]

I had tears in my eyes and major goosebumps after reading your epilogue. Thank you so much for sharing!!!
Until the next trip......:)

[jess98ac]

I enjoyed reading your TR so much. I love pictures, and many times end up skipping the ones that don't have any, and this has convinced me to start reading more. As I said in an earlier reply, I have no personal experience with Autism, but your TR helped me learn a lot. It will force me to take a step back and think before getting "angry" at someone in the parks who may not be behaving as well as other people. (that's not exactly what I'm trying to say, but I hope you get my meaning. I'm not the kind of person who would point it out or say something, but reading your TR may help me and others understand that just because you can't "see" someone's disability doesn't mean they don't have one)
I will be looking forward to next year's report!!
:)

[KathyRN137]

Thank you all:

MaryAnne: It's true, you've been with me from the start....and I'm so glad! :goodvibes

LTP and Buzz: It's meant so much to me that you felt such a connection with my family. :grouphug: I feel the same way about yours.

Angelrose: You are very kind...thanks. :flower3:

jackdis: That is so sweet of you to say that. :hug:

jess 98 ac: That's okay, Jess, I know exactly what you are trying to say! And it means the world to autistic families ...::yes::

With warmest regards...

Kathy

[Goofydiane]

Kathy -

What a wonderful family you have. I enjoyed reading about your adventures.

thanks for taking the time to create and post your trip report!

Diane

[wvdislover]

Kathy, loved the epilogue! Your TR was fantastic! I looked forward to reading it every day, and am disappointed it's now over. Can't wait for your next one. I guess I need to consider writing one about our trip this Sept. with our ADHD DD9, who is suddenly becoming more adventuresome ("Next time we go to Disney, I'm going to ride Rockin' Rollercoaster!"), and our DD5, who will be going with her best friend (SURPRISE!!!). Could be interesting! :rolleyes1

[KathyRN137]

Goofydiane: You're very welcome!

wvdislover: Please do write a report; I would love to read it! Have a fantastic time!

Kathy

[blue_river]

Human nature being what it is, my first impulse is to brag that it was all due to my extensive planning and preparation. I went back and read my earliest pre-trip entries from almost a year ago and had a good laugh at myself…such ridiculous obsession over each and every detail! :rolleyes:

I'm still like that and I don't think it will change :lmao:


Life is all about how you handle Plan B.

T-shirts give good advice ;)




Walt’s legacy does indeed live on in the theme parks that bear his name. Everyone can come to WDW to play, even if they have physical or psychological challenges. It’s the most accommodating vacation place on earth. And that means so much to families that live with the day-to-day struggles of autism. The cast members really seem to care about you and your children. They just make you feel so welcomed, so accepted, and so valued. It does feel magical. It feels a lot like….love.

That’s why we love Walt Disney World and that is why we will go back again and again.

Kathy, you're epilogue was so well written. It brought tears to my eyes.

I hate when trip reports have to end.

Thank you for sharing your adventures with us. I don't know about the others, but for me, it was funny, entertaining and educational.

You are one special lady :hug:

[KathyRN137]

I hate when trip reports have to end.



It's funny, but ending a TR feels just a tiny bit like re-living the end of the vacation! No wonder some of these trippies go on for 20 or 30 pages!:rotfl:

Blue: It was so nice having you along, take care!

Kathy

[csuzannet]

Excellent TR. :goodvibes
I highly recommend that you keep writing them.
Thank you for taking us along for the ride while you re-live your trip!

[kpk89]

I am still way back in the pre-trip part of your report, but I had to tell you that this

Like the time we were at EPCOT UK and Pooh and Eeyore suddenly popped into the toy store and Billy just walked up to Eeyore and started talking to him in complete sentences. “Hello, Eeyore, do you want to play a game? (Eeyore starts to play patty-cake with Billy) “That was fun!" (He takes Eeyore by the hand.) “Come on, Eeyore, let’s go home!” I was standing there in shock and then the tears just started welling up in my eyes. My son was seven years old and I had never heard him actually carry on a conversation with anyone. Not even me. I felt like grabbing Eeyore by his other hand and running so I could take him home with us and it could never end. The CM handler just put her arm around my shoulders after I had blubbered a quick “My son is autistic; he never talks this much”, and she said to me, “Isn’t it wonderful!” Then she started crying, too!

The parents who started lining up behind us must have thought we were nuts or something, but I didn’t care! It’s the countless little WDW moments like these that give me such joy and hope , and allows me to cope with the day-to-day struggles of parenting a handicapped child.

brought tears to my eyes. How excellent is THAT!?! :cloud9:

[Halloweenqueen]

Simply wonderful!

Thanks for sharing!

[teentoddlermom]

Wonderful epilogue to your trip report!
:thanks: :angel:

[KathyRN137]

Sorry to go on and on, but I just feel like I need to say "Goodbye" to everyone! :hug:

csuzannet: It was a pleasure!

kpk89: I think I remember you from Dorkapalooza, right? I'm glad you enjoyed that story because I accidentally tell it again later on!!

Halloweenqueen: I'm looking forward to reading about the Seven Dwarfs' trip!

tweentoddlermom: Thanks! Love your avatar!

Kathy

[soonermickey]

Wonderful report Kathy. Please bless us with more of your travels whenever you can.

[Montana Disney Fan]

I hope Linnie doesn't read your final post. She'll fall apart. Brought a tear to my eye also. Very good report. There should be a link to this report on the disabilities board.

Great report and thank you for all your time and effort on it.

Look forward to reading the next one.

MDF

[KathyRN137]

Thank you and good-bye! :wave2:

Kathy

[Marion]

Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us. You're a beautiful writer and storyteller and I thank you :hug:

[tiggerbell]

Wow. What a great story. I laughed, I cried, I felt so connected with your family. Thank you for sharing this with us... :hug:

[lalapodip]

It's not really "good-bye" Kathy - I am leaving tomorrow for WDW with my 12 year old autistic son. You should know that your trip report was wonderfully written and lots of us will follow you....of course, I couldn't hope to match your wonderful report. Thanks again for sharing! :sunny:

[KathyRN137]

soonermickey: I will, but I'm not starting so early this time!!

Marion: :hug: to you, too, and thanks!

Tiggerbelle: You are really sweet (and so funny!) Have a great trip next month!

lalapodip: Oh, I do hope you and your family have tons of magical moments! :goodvibes Bon Voyage!

Kathy

[KathyRN137]

Well, I know my report is done....I've just been itching to post some pictures. Forgive me, but I have this fear of posting images of my children's faces anywhere on the internet, including a family site such as the Dis. I didn't have too much to choose from because:

1) 90% of my pics are of my kids,

2) I am the family photographer, so there are very few of just me,

3) My still shots are just the same old shots that everybody takes,(the castle, the hat, the golf ball, blah, blah, blah), so I didn't think they were particularly interesting!!

Next trip, I will try to take pics with a TR in mind!::yes::


First up: A shot of our villa from the "front"; our door was on the 2nd floor right behind the palm tree in the middle.


http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s261/kathyrn137_photos/wdwtrip06-438okw.jpg



The view from our "verandah":


http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s261/kathyrn137_photos/wdwtrip06-442okw.jpg



Billy and Tricia holding hands in Epcot:


http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s261/kathyrn137_photos/wdwtrip06-123epcot.jpg



Billy gives Pooh-Bear a big hug:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s261/kathyrn137_photos/wdwtrip06-77mk.jpg


Eddie poses as Aunt Rae looks on:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s261/kathyrn137_photos/wdwtrip06-241ltt.jpg


(Well, he's already posted a bunch of pictures on My Space, so I guess one on the Dis won't hurt!:rolleyes1 )


Tricia and Billy contemplate Splash Mountain:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s261/kathyrn137_photos/wdwtrip06-436mk.jpg


This is the CM that was so kind to us during Woody's Cowboy Camp:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s261/kathyrn137_photos/wdwtrip06-408mk.jpg


Billy doing the Hokey-Pokey with the CMs:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s261/kathyrn137_photos/wdwtrip06-424mk.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s261/kathyrn137_photos/wdwtrip06-426mk.jpg

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s261/kathyrn137_photos/wdwtrip06-427mk.jpg


A hungry Ed in the "living room" at 50's PTC:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s261/kathyrn137_photos/wdwtrip06-450ptc.jpg


Ed and me with "Dad's Electric Lemonade"...can you tell I'm a lightweight??

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s261/kathyrn137_photos/wdwtrip06-452ptc.jpg


Uncle Chris...what a funny guy!

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s261/kathyrn137_photos/wdwtrip06-467ptc.jpg


Aunt Rae with Nelson, the PTC chef:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s261/kathyrn137_photos/wdwtrip06-456ptc.jpg


Billy having a blast with the dessert menu on the view-finder:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s261/kathyrn137_photos/wdwtrip06-471ptc.jpg


Tricia is mortified when Uncle Chris tries to play matchmaker:

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s261/kathyrn137_photos/wdwtrip06-468ptc.jpg


"Here comes the airplane...!"

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s261/kathyrn137_photos/wdwtrip06-466ptc.jpg


I guess I was taking too long to set up this shot....

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s261/kathyrn137_photos/wdwtrip06-474ptc.jpg


And I guess I'm taking too long to f-i-n-i-s-h this report!!!

Good-bye, again, until the next pre-trippie!!

Kathy

[blue_river]

Kathy! I can't believe you did it!!! :cheer2: :yay:

The villa looks gorgeous :thumbsup2

It really looks like you were all having a great time - even Aunt Rae! :goodvibes

Thanks for sharing your pictures. I know how nervous you were about posting them but don't feel bad, you're not alone in this. I still have some anxiety about it.

[jackdis]

Thank you for sharing your photos. It means a lot. I understand your aprehension about posting them. They were wonderful pictures of your WONDERFUL family!!!

Until next time......

[wvdislover]

Love the pics Kathy!!! It's so great to be able to put faces to names, since we have come to love your family so much over the past few months. Can't wait for the next TR! :banana:
Missy

[Halloweenqueen]

So great to see pictures! I love the ones from 50s Prime!

Do you plan to do a trip report of your couple's trip?

[KathyRN137]

So great to see pictures! I love the ones from 50s Prime!

Do you plan to do a trip report of your couple's trip?


I'll try. At first, Ed was skeptical about this whole TR thing. But after he read about our trip he now wants me to do a report on our marathon weekend. Of course he does, because he is the star! ;)

It may be difficult because I didn't take any notes. So I'll give you the standard Mommy reply...."We'll see..."

Kathy :flower3:

[medicgirl911]

Kathy-- Bummed I am just finding your trip report at the end of it!!!!! I made it through the first four pages, but I will come back to finish it..brings tears to my eyes already, what a wonderful family you have!!!

[DebIreland]

Kathy, I want to get in here and post to your TR before it's put in the Completed TR section (cause I know you can't post to those).

I love your TR! It's absolutely brilliant! :thumbsup2 I'm not finished it yet but wanted to tell you how great it is! Wonderful job you did! :woohoo:

[KathyRN137]

Thanks, Deb! I'm lovin' yours, too!

(Now go and finish it!! :rotfl: )

Kathy

[DebIreland]

(Now go and finish it!! :rotfl: )

:lmao: I'm on Day 8. I promise by the time the next 10 chapters are done I'll be onto Day 9. :rotfl2:

[robertl30]

This thread (which took me about a week to read!) gives me hope that my vacation next week will go well. I was last at Disney in 2004 when my son, then 5, was not yet diagnosed on the Spectrum as HFA/SID. Now that we know about this I think things will go better. I'm hoping to see some of the benefits you cite (great idea about adding this to his IEP!). But if we don't that'll be ok too. I love your philosophy about being flexible. I'm definitely going to try to adopt that.

My pre-trip report is here: <well ok then. apparantly I'm too much of a noob to be allowed to post a link. But it's thread #1423157>. I hope to do live posts throughout next week if I find time. I will probably also focus on my own adventures in autism.

Wish me luck.

P.S. OK. I'll admit it. I teared up at the Eeyore story too. :sad:

[Linnie The Pooh]

Excellent job on the pictures. I love to be able to see what people look like. I picture them in my mind as I'm reading the TR so it's fun to compare what I'm picturing vs. what people really look like. Great job! I'm eagerly awaiting your next TR.

PS-You have a BEAUTIFUL family!!

[KathyRN137]

Robert: Thanks! :goodvibes I sent you a PM. Have a wonderful time next week. (I am jealous!)

Lin: Wishing you and your family lots and lots of pixiedust:

Kathy

[preschoolmom]

I also have a child on the spectrum ;) I don't want to leave this thread and not be able to find it again! :lmao:

Edited: Wow. I just finished. Thank you. You are an amazing writer - and I enjoyed every page.

[kpk89]

kpk89: I think I remember you from Dorkapalooza, right? I'm glad you enjoyed that story because I accidentally tell it again later on!!

Kathy

((blush)) I play a minor role in Dorkapalooza, written by my friend AshClan. I am one of the original Disney Dorks! :rotfl:


I just finished reading your report, and it is wonderful!!! You really sum it all up in your epilogue, about gifts and sharing them and making the moments count. I will be sharing your report with a friend who is planning her family's first visit this fall, and whose oldest child has Aspergers. I'm sure your tales will be helpful to all families, and especially those with a child on the spectrum.

Thank you for writing this, Kathy!!!

[KathyRN137]

I will be sharing your report with a friend who is planning her family's first visit this fall, and whose oldest child has Aspergers. I'm sure your tales will be helpful to all families, and especially those with a child on the spectrum.


Kim: That's why I decided to write it... Thanks! I hope your friend's family has the best time ever!

preschoolmom: :grouphug: Thanks for reading. (And posting!)

medicgirl911: Hope you get to finish; I know you're busy planning your trip... I keep checking in on your pre-trip report! I'm starting to get addicted to those, too!

DebIreland: Let's get a move on, shall we? You've still got nine days to go!! :hourglass

Halloweenqueen: I finally found my itinerary from Marathon Weekend. I've started a small TR... hope I can remember most of the details! If I hadn't taken so many notes last November, I would have never remembered half of what we did! ;)

Kathy