A Halloween Adventure in Autism (11/12) New Thread Begun on TR Board!

[aspen37]

Hi Kathy,

Well, I have read all of your PTR's & TR's. I just read all of this PTR and as usual I'm hooked and jonesing for another update. Your reports are like crack! Once you get a taste your hooked.
And as usual I have laughed and cried . You should write books for a living! I can't wait to hear more about your upcoming trip, and good luck playing Resort Roulette!

 

[All7OfUs]

Still here enjoying your posts. I don't think DVC will EVER be part of my life, as I have an almost completely anti Disney DH. Ah, well, I can always dream through you

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

Not too far off from March 30th, are we???!!!

So, I have a question. If you are able to book Kidani at 7 months, but not BLT ... will you book Kidani and waitlist BLT, or would you just stick to Kidani? I think BLT would be absolutely awesome, especially if you are going to MNSSHP.

 

[aspen37]

bump

 

[KathyRN137]

PTR #5: Should We See Sea World?

Not sure how this came up, but today we were talking about whether or not we should venture outside the confines of WDW and visit Sea World.

It's not that I couldn't happily spend a week (or two!) at the four Disney Parks, because believe me, I could! (Keep in mind that this is the family that "boos" the Universal billboards as we drive in from Orlando International Airport!)

No, no, a thousand times NO! I have no interest whatsoever in US or IOA. I am a Disney Gal, through and through! And I have brainwashed my children to be the same!

But...Sea World. Hmmmmm. That has always interested me. The kids are older now and I know they would enjoy it. They both love aquariums...and AK...and Free Willy! I think I would enjoy it....

But on the other hand, the one-day ticket is around $70!! (Do I really want it that bad??) We are splurging on MNSSHP tickets already....

And, does anyone know if they have the equivalent of the GAC (Guest Assistance Card) at Sea World? I checked their website and didn't see anything.) That might really be a factor in my decision.....


Kathy

 

[IluvXU]

My sister in law just got back from WDW and they went to Sea World and had a good time. I do want to visit someday, but think that I want to wait until the kids are a bit bigger and can remember it (don't mind that Hannah at age five has been to WDW five times and I am taking an infant). I totally agree finding about the GAC would be good... a teacher at our school used to work there, so if need be I can investigate for you, she might know.

 

[KathyRN137]

melk: You're #1 now! (Thanks for laughing/crying with me!)

IluvXU: Might just take you up on that, thanks!

CharlestonPrincess: You can't wait! How do you think I feel?!

DisneyFanShawn: Hey, you found me over here, too!

preschoolmom: ...still waiting to see your ticker....

Halloweenqueen & DisMomAmy & Mousescrapper: Don't you just feel like breaking out into a rousing chorus of We're All in This Together!! from HSM?

irishdancer: Hello! Good to see you again!

All7ofUs: I just noticed the TR link in your siggie. Hmmm.....

Nu2wdisneyw: Goodness! Do I qualify as an expert?!

aspen37: You must be talking to nu (above). Between the 2 of you, you better watch it... all the compliments will make my head swell!

starrzone: DVC is complicated, but it's great!

Hedy: BLT is #1, but I will be just as happy with VAKL! 2nd bath is

eyeheartgoofy: I would waitlist BLT, for sure, but I will be truly amazed if we score it this year....lots of demand for those villas!

mom2mek: Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion! ~ Steel Magnolias


Thanks, everybody!

Kathy

 

[wigdoutdismom]

subbing, now I need to go back and get it read!

 

[KathyRN137]

subbing, now I need to go back and get it read!

LOL! With so many trips in the works, where do you get the time??


Kathy

 

[preschoolmom]

Sea World is on our list for the trip after next! I can't wait to see what you decide!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

LOL! With so many trips in the works, where do you get the time??


Kathy

I totally rely on my dis friends to plan my trips for me!

 

[Charleston Princess]

We went to Sea World in 2004, and it was cute. Our mistake was that we went our very last day in Orlando and were completely exhausted. I couldn't have cared less about going and just wanted to head home. However, it is a very nice park -- the kids loved seeing all the animals, the Shamu show was really neat, and they even fed the dolphins. The only thing is that the rides are more geared towards older kids -- the roller coasters and such were too wild and crazy for my two at five and seven -- if Tricia is a roller coaster kind of girl though she will love them. If you know anyone that works for Anheiser -- they get tickets for free.

 

[MRYPPNS]

Kathy - I'm a huge lover of Sea World. We last went in 2007. I have extra park maps if you would like me to mail you one....just PM me. A couple things to help you make your decision: I don't know if there is a GAC like thing at Sea World but I can only think of 3 rides that you would need it for and that's if you tried doing them later in the day: Kraken (the tallest roller coaster in Florida), Journey to Atlantics (one of the coolest rides I've ever been on) and the Wild Arctic ride (it's a motion simulator/movie that you can actually opt out of and just watch the movie part in a different room, then continue to the polar bear exhibit, and there is hardly a line if you don't do the simulator). You can buy tickets online....adults at kids price...and you can turn your one day tickets into 2 day tickets for free before you leave on your first day. We took a cab from POFQ to SeaWorld...I believe it was $20-$30 each way....cheaper then renting a car. There are taxis at SeaWorld waiting to pickup guests at the end of the day. If you think the kids will want to feed the seals, dolphins (you have to feed the dolphins in order to be allowed in to touch them) and the rays then I would beg you to budget money to do so. I always feel badly for the kids who aren't allowed the money to feed the animals when they really want that interaction......I'll get off my soapbox now on that subject
I think I have pictures in my PTR from our 2007 visit to SeaWorld....let me know if you have any questions.

 

[KathyRN137]

PTR #6: Sea World GAC Update!


Well, after reading your responses regarding Sea World (thanks!), I am really starting to lean further and further toward making it a part of our trip!

I figured that I might as well just hear it from the horse's mouth, so to speak, so I called Sea World Guest Services and spoke to a very nice woman who answered my questions. Turns out it was a perfect match....I'm a Sea World Newbie and this was her first day on the job!!

The answer to my burning question is, YES! Sea World does have accommodations for those with special needs (autism) that is similar to the Disney GAC. Just need to stop at Guest Services first, just like we do at WDW.

Now I am really going to do some Sea World park research in earnest!

But......

(You see this coming, right?)

To make the one-day park admission more of a value, I may want to take advantage of their "second day for free" offer. Not such a bad idea, actually. From the looks of the on-line map, Sea World is pretty big. I wouldn't want to be temted to rush around trying to do everything in one day.

But....

(Here it comes.....)

I don't want to take away time from my precious WDW!!

I wonder if we should try for the lower-point accommodations at OKW so that we could get an extra night???

Hmmmmmmm.........

Perhaps this would be a good "consolation prize" if we are unable to get ressies at either BLT or VAKL.....

Kathy

 

[DisMomAmy]

Aaaaaaahhhhhh...

Fuzzy Disney math at it's best!!

 

[MRYPPNS]

ouuuuuuu! Two days at Sea World.....me like! All of the shows at SeaWorld are worth seeing but they are scheduled and located in a way that makes it hard to see them all in one day and go on rides.

 

[mrsksomeday]

Extra night at the beginning or end of the trip?? Bill is still trying to see if we can "bump" into you while we are at Disney World .

 

[KathyRN137]

Extra night at the beginning or end of the trip?? Bill is still trying to see if we can "bump" into you while we are at Disney World .

Hi Tracy!

That would be awesome, wouldn't it?

Ed is partial to getting down there on Friday night (10/30) so that we don't have to travel and stay up late for MNSSHP on the same day (Sat.) Unfortunately, I won't be sure of our dates until I can make our DVC ressie on 3/30.

If we do add an extra night, I'm hoping that we can arrive late Fri. 10/30 and check out on Sat. 11/6.

But, we won't be able to do the extra night if we get our first choices of BLT or VAKL, because we wouldn't have enough DVC points.

I'm trying to view this at this as a WIN-WIN situation!

Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

ouuuuuuu! Two days at Sea World.....me like! All of the shows at SeaWorld are worth seeing but they are scheduled and located in a way that makes it hard to see them all in one day and go on rides.

Hi Heidi!

I'm guessing we'll have it a bit easier b/c our gang won't be as interested in the big thriller rides...just shows and exhibits.

I'd like to go earlier in the week so that, if we fall in love with it, we could go back for half a day later on.

But, my DNiece loves thrill rides and may want to drag Tricia (or me!) on a few so that she can do them! In which case, we would need to do some serious negotiating.

Now, Tricia is asking about doing Typhoon Lagoon instead of Sea World! (We've never done a water park.) Let the begin!!

Kathy

 

[mom2mek]

Oh boy! Decisions, decisions....

I have never been to Sea World, but I have heard of people getting some discounted tickets before through some links on the DIS. I have no idea where though. $70 is pretty steep, but for 2 days, well, that makes it a little bit more doable! Of course the Disney Fuzzy Math is a factor here....getting your "value" out of those $70 tickets by spending more time in FL all together! Love it!

Sara