KathyRN137
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2006
Author's Note: This PTR/TR was begun over a year ago for a trip we took in April of 2008! I'm finally getting around to finishing it! Thank you for your patience! ~ Kathy
Hello, DIS-Friends!!
Because this trip is only 2 ½ weeks away, I intend to dispense with the customary detailed introductions in the interest of time. If you are new to the Adventures in Autism series, please allow me to refer you to previous reports if you desire full and complete background information!!
For those who are fine with an abridged version of the intros, here you are:
The Cast:
Ed (DH), 47: Dad & Police Lieutenant.
Tricia (DD), 12: Sixth-grade student.
Billy (DS), 10: Autistic, Special Ed student.
Kathy (Me!) 44: Mom & RN.
Past Disney Trips:
9/03: Caribbean Beach Resort: Our first visit; all planning info obtained from guidebooks and family members who had visited before. Seven days, eight nights. I was hooked!
1/05: Port Orleans French Quarter Resort: We celebrated Ed’s BD with our longest stay to date: 10 days, 9 nights!
12/05: Saratoga Springs Resort, 1BR Villa. Our first trip as new DVC members! WDW at Christmastime…wonderful! MVMCP and the Candlelight Processional were really magical. Short trip, though. Only 5 days, 4 nights.
1/06: Port Orleans French Quarter: Ed and I take a three-day weekend trip alone. (The first time we had been away without the kids overnight!) We got to do fun, grown-up Disney things like Pleasure Island, a couples’ massage at the Grand Floridian Spa, and the Keys to the Kingdom Tour.
11/06: Old Key West Resort, 2BR Villa. My first trip planned as a DISer!! Also the first time we were joined by Ed’s Aunt Rae (77), and for a few days by my DSS, Eddie (17). Six days, seven nights. We were really getting spoiled by the spaciousness of the DVC villas! Our first trip using the Dining Plan.
[thread=1118895]Adventures in Autism: WDW![/thread]
1/ 07: The Swan: Ed and I take our second three-day weekend without the kids. Ed runs in the WDW Half Marathon and I cheer him on. I somehow manage to walk/run with him in the Family Fun Run 5K.
[thread=143572]The Half and Half Report![/thread]
11/07: The Villas at the Wilderness Lodge, 2BR Villa. Another Jersey Week! Aunt Rae joins us once more for a 7 day, 8 night stay in the World.
[thread=1778544]ANOTHER Adventure in Autism![/thread]
April Pre-Trip:
The Dates: Sunday, April 20 through Saturday, April 26.
The Travel Plans: Driving (gulp!) with the kids (double gulp!!) from New Jersey to FL for the 1st time! Stopping for an overnight stay en route each way.
The Resort: Old Key West, Studio. 7 days, 6 nights. We originally had a ressie for SSR and were waitlisted for OKW. I’m glad our waitlist came through because the studios at OKW are a bit more spacious and the second bed is a regular, queen-sized bed. The other studios have a sleeper-sofa for the second bed. I think the kids will be more comfortable in the regular bed.
I’m sure going to miss having that washer and dryer in the villa, though. I’ve really been spoiled!
Background:
If you have been following along in my current report, you recall that this upcoming trip was not as carefully planned in advance as our previous ones. We have been blessed with the ability to visit WDW just about every year since we fell in love with it, thanks in part to our DVC membership.
However, this summer we plan to do a full-scale renovation on our “real” home in New Jersey, which will make it financially difficult to do our annual Jersey Week trip come November. Well, we had some DVC points for 2008 left over plus annual passes that we purchased on our last visit (thinking that we would be doing an RV camping trip at Fort Wilderness this summer.) As you may know, those plans fell through.
So here we were with DVC points and annual passes… the only thing we would need to pay for was travel and dining. Sometime in December, we decided to go for a Spring Fling during our children’s spring break so the aforementioned points and passes would not go to waste. Only thing was….we only had so many points to play with. We could do fewer nights in a 1BR, or a longer stay in a studio. We decided to go with the longer stay (of course!)
But, the holidays were upon us and we just couldn’t afford to book the airfare. We had to wait for our ’07 tax refund to finance that little purchase. Once we had the money, however, I realized that ticket prices had just become too costly. I thought that that would be the end of our plans, but Ed proposed that we drive to Florida instead.
Which brings us to the next issue: Aunt Rae. We certainly could not invite AR to come with us this time because of the limited space in the studio. And, since we were trying to do this trip “on the cheap”, we just wouldn’t be able to spring for an extra room for her.
I was a bit nervous about telling her that we would be going to Disney without her this time. After all, she had been so excited about the last two trips and I didn’t want to disappoint her. Plus, she didn’t really do so well physically and mentally this last time (see TR) and I was afraid she might think that we simply did not want her along. She can be quite sensitive about these things.
My fears were put to rest, however, once I had explained to her about the limited DVC points and the smaller accommodations. And when she discovered that we would be driving down, well, that clinched it. She said she would rather not make that long drive.
Whew! What a relief!
So there you have it. In two weeks, we will be hitting the road. Disney or Bust!!
Now, back to work on my other report!!
Love to all,
Kathy
********************************************************
**I'm having a bit 'o trouble re-naming the links with AOL...but here are links to the corresponding chapters:
PTR #2:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24257154&postcount=20
PTR #3:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24276664&postcount=27
PTR #4:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24343402&postcount=38
PTR #5:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24399957&postcount=47
PTR #6:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24423873&postcount=57
PTR #7:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24442456&postcount=63
PTR #8:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24456594&postcount=74
PYR #9:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24458608&postcount=79
PTR # 10:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24466063&postcount=83
PTR #11:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24507039&postcount=92
PTR #12
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24545614&postcount=99
PTR #13
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24773363&postcount=108
PTR #14
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31435072&postcount=132
**************************************************
TR #1 Ready For a Road Trip??
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31442246&postcount=134
TR #2 The Duck-a-Duck-a and the Nung-a-Nung-a!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31501363&postcount=157
TR #3: "Mom, What Are GRITS??"
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31512805&postcount=167
TR #4: Hola, Pedro! Adios, Pedro!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31541829&postcount=182
TR #5: Open Up That Golden Gate!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31567583&postcount=200
TR #6: Welcome Home!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31583596&postcount=213
TR #7: "Mom, Are There Alligators in the Water??
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31591186&postcount=228
TR #8 A Dreamy Kind of Morning.
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31629634&postcount=244
TR #9 Pay it Forward!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31650923&postcount=267
TR #10 A Dream Team Knock-Off & Drip Dry at the Sci-Fi!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31730251&postcount=286
TR #11 Talk About Animal Magnetism!!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31769327&postcount=316
TR #12 It's Just Nature's Call!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31775165&postcount=319
TR #13 Kiss of the Spider Daddy!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31823445&postcount=353
TR #14 Brush! Brush! Brush!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31833369&postcount=367
TR #15 The KEY to a Relaxing Vacation Is...
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31844259&postcount=379
TR #16 Pool Days, Pool Days, Dear Old Golden Pool Days!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31857245&postcount=399
TR #17 Bossy Betty and the Bewildering Boat Blunder!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31920654&postcount=427
TR #18 Hats Off to Mom!!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31950021&postcount=456
TR #19 Just Another Addition to Davy Jones' Locker!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31967900&postcount=485
TR #20 Pirates and Princesses... and a Crusty Old Crab!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32015044&postcount=513
TR #21 The Captain and the Kid...
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32029591&postcount=530
TR #22 Revenge of the NOTP!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32159187&postcount=583
TR #23 Magic, Music & Mayhem!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32177820&postcount=615
TR #24 A Storybook Breakfast in Norway!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32238466&postcount=655
TR #25 Butterfly Flutterby!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32261205&postcount=693
TR #26 Playfully Picture-Perfect!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32285355&postcount=716
TR #27 More Future World Frivolity!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32355672&postcount=757
TR #28 Coming to America...
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32460414&postcount=784
TR #29 Cross My Heart, It's NOT Beverly!!!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32479577&postcount=801
TR #30 Our Epcot Evening Comes Full Circle
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32598589&postcount=843
TR #31 Putting All the Pieces Together
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32705519&postcount=879
TR #32 Just When You Think All's Well in the World...
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32759933&postcount=904
TR #33 Divide and Conquer (the Endoftripitis!)
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32989119&postcount=939
TR #34 Going out with a Bang! ... I mean, a Splash!!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33061952&postcount=972
part two:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33062140&postcount=973
TR #35 Time to say Good-bye...
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33076889&postcount=995
Thanks for reading!
Kathy
Hello, DIS-Friends!!
Because this trip is only 2 ½ weeks away, I intend to dispense with the customary detailed introductions in the interest of time. If you are new to the Adventures in Autism series, please allow me to refer you to previous reports if you desire full and complete background information!!
For those who are fine with an abridged version of the intros, here you are:
The Cast:
Tricia (DD), 12: Sixth-grade student.
Billy (DS), 10: Autistic, Special Ed student.
Kathy (Me!) 44: Mom & RN.
Past Disney Trips:
9/03: Caribbean Beach Resort: Our first visit; all planning info obtained from guidebooks and family members who had visited before. Seven days, eight nights. I was hooked!
1/05: Port Orleans French Quarter Resort: We celebrated Ed’s BD with our longest stay to date: 10 days, 9 nights!
12/05: Saratoga Springs Resort, 1BR Villa. Our first trip as new DVC members! WDW at Christmastime…wonderful! MVMCP and the Candlelight Processional were really magical. Short trip, though. Only 5 days, 4 nights.
1/06: Port Orleans French Quarter: Ed and I take a three-day weekend trip alone. (The first time we had been away without the kids overnight!) We got to do fun, grown-up Disney things like Pleasure Island, a couples’ massage at the Grand Floridian Spa, and the Keys to the Kingdom Tour.
11/06: Old Key West Resort, 2BR Villa. My first trip planned as a DISer!! Also the first time we were joined by Ed’s Aunt Rae (77), and for a few days by my DSS, Eddie (17). Six days, seven nights. We were really getting spoiled by the spaciousness of the DVC villas! Our first trip using the Dining Plan.
[thread=1118895]Adventures in Autism: WDW![/thread]
1/ 07: The Swan: Ed and I take our second three-day weekend without the kids. Ed runs in the WDW Half Marathon and I cheer him on. I somehow manage to walk/run with him in the Family Fun Run 5K.
[thread=143572]The Half and Half Report![/thread]
11/07: The Villas at the Wilderness Lodge, 2BR Villa. Another Jersey Week! Aunt Rae joins us once more for a 7 day, 8 night stay in the World.
[thread=1778544]ANOTHER Adventure in Autism![/thread]
April Pre-Trip:
The Dates: Sunday, April 20 through Saturday, April 26.
The Travel Plans: Driving (gulp!) with the kids (double gulp!!) from New Jersey to FL for the 1st time! Stopping for an overnight stay en route each way.
The Resort: Old Key West, Studio. 7 days, 6 nights. We originally had a ressie for SSR and were waitlisted for OKW. I’m glad our waitlist came through because the studios at OKW are a bit more spacious and the second bed is a regular, queen-sized bed. The other studios have a sleeper-sofa for the second bed. I think the kids will be more comfortable in the regular bed.
I’m sure going to miss having that washer and dryer in the villa, though. I’ve really been spoiled!
Background:
If you have been following along in my current report, you recall that this upcoming trip was not as carefully planned in advance as our previous ones. We have been blessed with the ability to visit WDW just about every year since we fell in love with it, thanks in part to our DVC membership.
However, this summer we plan to do a full-scale renovation on our “real” home in New Jersey, which will make it financially difficult to do our annual Jersey Week trip come November. Well, we had some DVC points for 2008 left over plus annual passes that we purchased on our last visit (thinking that we would be doing an RV camping trip at Fort Wilderness this summer.) As you may know, those plans fell through.
So here we were with DVC points and annual passes… the only thing we would need to pay for was travel and dining. Sometime in December, we decided to go for a Spring Fling during our children’s spring break so the aforementioned points and passes would not go to waste. Only thing was….we only had so many points to play with. We could do fewer nights in a 1BR, or a longer stay in a studio. We decided to go with the longer stay (of course!)
But, the holidays were upon us and we just couldn’t afford to book the airfare. We had to wait for our ’07 tax refund to finance that little purchase. Once we had the money, however, I realized that ticket prices had just become too costly. I thought that that would be the end of our plans, but Ed proposed that we drive to Florida instead.
Which brings us to the next issue: Aunt Rae. We certainly could not invite AR to come with us this time because of the limited space in the studio. And, since we were trying to do this trip “on the cheap”, we just wouldn’t be able to spring for an extra room for her.
I was a bit nervous about telling her that we would be going to Disney without her this time. After all, she had been so excited about the last two trips and I didn’t want to disappoint her. Plus, she didn’t really do so well physically and mentally this last time (see TR) and I was afraid she might think that we simply did not want her along. She can be quite sensitive about these things.
My fears were put to rest, however, once I had explained to her about the limited DVC points and the smaller accommodations. And when she discovered that we would be driving down, well, that clinched it. She said she would rather not make that long drive.
Whew! What a relief!
So there you have it. In two weeks, we will be hitting the road. Disney or Bust!!
Now, back to work on my other report!!
Love to all,
Kathy
********************************************************
**I'm having a bit 'o trouble re-naming the links with AOL...but here are links to the corresponding chapters:
PTR #2:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24257154&postcount=20
PTR #3:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24276664&postcount=27
PTR #4:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24343402&postcount=38
PTR #5:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24399957&postcount=47
PTR #6:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24423873&postcount=57
PTR #7:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24442456&postcount=63
PTR #8:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24456594&postcount=74
PYR #9:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24458608&postcount=79
PTR # 10:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24466063&postcount=83
PTR #11:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24507039&postcount=92
PTR #12
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24545614&postcount=99
PTR #13
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=24773363&postcount=108
PTR #14
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31435072&postcount=132
**************************************************
TR #1 Ready For a Road Trip??
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31442246&postcount=134
TR #2 The Duck-a-Duck-a and the Nung-a-Nung-a!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31501363&postcount=157
TR #3: "Mom, What Are GRITS??"
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31512805&postcount=167
TR #4: Hola, Pedro! Adios, Pedro!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31541829&postcount=182
TR #5: Open Up That Golden Gate!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31567583&postcount=200
TR #6: Welcome Home!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31583596&postcount=213
TR #7: "Mom, Are There Alligators in the Water??
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31591186&postcount=228
TR #8 A Dreamy Kind of Morning.
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31629634&postcount=244
TR #9 Pay it Forward!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31650923&postcount=267
TR #10 A Dream Team Knock-Off & Drip Dry at the Sci-Fi!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31730251&postcount=286
TR #11 Talk About Animal Magnetism!!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31769327&postcount=316
TR #12 It's Just Nature's Call!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31775165&postcount=319
TR #13 Kiss of the Spider Daddy!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31823445&postcount=353
TR #14 Brush! Brush! Brush!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31833369&postcount=367
TR #15 The KEY to a Relaxing Vacation Is...
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31844259&postcount=379
TR #16 Pool Days, Pool Days, Dear Old Golden Pool Days!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31857245&postcount=399
TR #17 Bossy Betty and the Bewildering Boat Blunder!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31920654&postcount=427
TR #18 Hats Off to Mom!!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31950021&postcount=456
TR #19 Just Another Addition to Davy Jones' Locker!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31967900&postcount=485
TR #20 Pirates and Princesses... and a Crusty Old Crab!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32015044&postcount=513
TR #21 The Captain and the Kid...
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32029591&postcount=530
TR #22 Revenge of the NOTP!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32159187&postcount=583
TR #23 Magic, Music & Mayhem!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32177820&postcount=615
TR #24 A Storybook Breakfast in Norway!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32238466&postcount=655
TR #25 Butterfly Flutterby!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32261205&postcount=693
TR #26 Playfully Picture-Perfect!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32285355&postcount=716
TR #27 More Future World Frivolity!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32355672&postcount=757
TR #28 Coming to America...
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32460414&postcount=784
TR #29 Cross My Heart, It's NOT Beverly!!!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32479577&postcount=801
TR #30 Our Epcot Evening Comes Full Circle
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32598589&postcount=843
TR #31 Putting All the Pieces Together
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32705519&postcount=879
TR #32 Just When You Think All's Well in the World...
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32759933&postcount=904
TR #33 Divide and Conquer (the Endoftripitis!)
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32989119&postcount=939
TR #34 Going out with a Bang! ... I mean, a Splash!!
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33061952&postcount=972
part two:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33062140&postcount=973
TR #35 Time to say Good-bye...
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=33076889&postcount=995
Thanks for reading!
Kathy