A PRESIDENTIAL Adventure in Autism! (8/20) ADRs Done! Be Our Guest, Here We Come!

KathyRN137

DIS Veteran
Joined
Apr 14, 2006
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The resort reservation has been made, so it's official! The KathyRN family is GOING BACK!! :woohoo:

Since I never got around to writing a TR for last November's MOTHER-SON adventure in autism, :rolleyes1 I plan to get right on the stick and be a good little DISer with this next trip report! As you may have guessed, we're going during PRESIDENTS' WEEK, which is 2/15 - 2/23 of next year. Believe it or not, the kiddos are growing up and so taking them out of school is no longer an option. Billy is 14 now and Tricia is sweet 16! She's got her learner's permit and will soon be driving!!:car:


Where has the time gone, I ask you??


The last time we went to WDW as a family was Halloween, 2009...


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(That's my niece, Catie, in the back!)​


Billy and I had a lovely time last November, but I truly missed having the rest of the family with us. A full week of one-on-one with a teenage boy with autism was a mixed bag of blessings. On the one hand, I had no one to cater to except my son... if he wanted to go on Space Mountain three times in a row, then we did! If he wanted to eat lunch at Cosmic Ray's instead of Columbia Harbor House then, fine, no problem. However....

Toward the end of the vacation I did feel the strain of 24/7 special-needs parenting. You don't realize how much of a team you are with your child's father until you go it alone for a week! I'm glad that Ed and Tricia will be coming this time.


Here are the details so far:

Dates: February 15 - February 23 (Presidents' Week)

Cast: Myself :surfweb:(the planner), Ed :cool2:, Tricia (16) :earsgirl: and Billy (14):earboy2:

Travel: Air TBD

Resort: For the 1st time -- Bay Lake Tower! :thumbsup2 My husband has been lusting after a stay at the Contemporary Resort for years! He loves the monorail!



We have a few DVC points banked from last year so I decided to splurge and go with the more expensive resort this year to celebrate us going to Disney again as a family. The One Bedroom Villa sleeps 2 adults and 2 teens comfortably because there's a King bed in the bedroom and both a pull-out couch and a pull-out chair in the living room!

From the internet:



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Personally, I'm not crazy about the decor at BLT. It doesn't seem very exotic to me... just like any upscale hotel decor. BUT (and that's a very BIG 'but') you cannot beat the location! Staying at a monorail resort will really come in handy during this busy holiday week. :thumbsup2

Hopefully we'll have good weather so the kids can enjoy the pool and water slide. The average high in February is 74°; the average low is 51°.


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Perhaps one night Ed and I can sneak away for a nightcap at Top of the World Lounge while the kids relax downstairs!


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Well, that's about it so far! My ADR date is August 19th, so we've got a bit of time to plan meals. (Not doing the dining plan.)


Thanks for reading! I'm excited to be back on the DIS!


Kathy
 
Yay!! So happy you are going back as a family and so very happy there is a PTR!! Bill has been twisting my arm for February. He said he was hoping to bump into his favorite nurse ;).

I can't wait to read more.
 


I'm so excited for a new Adventure in Autism! Your past TRs have helped me so much in planning for trips with our ASD daughter.
 
Yay! Another Kathy Report! I've never been to Disney World, but because of your wonderful story telling, I feel like I have!

Looking forward to your report!!!
 
I am joining in too :)

I feel like I learn so much from other parents of special needs kids.
 


Oh my! :eek:

Just looked at my ticker and almost fainted because it says "6 months and 2 days!" For a minute I thought my ADR window was open in 2 DAYS!

But then I realized that 6 months, 2 days doesn't necessarily equal 180 days. But still... I can make our ADRs in SIX DAYS!! Yikes!

I've been so busy with other stuff; I'd better get on the ball! I haven't even figured out which-parks-which-days!

What are we hoping for??

Well, of course I'm going to want Be Our Guest Restaurant in the MK (but they haven't announced that they are taking ADRs yet.) :hourglass

Ed has asked for The Brown Derby at DHS (we've never been.)

Too bad that California Grill will be closed for refurb... since we're staying at BLT it would've made a fabulous Date Night dinner! I'd like to stay close to home since the kids -- scratch that -- the TEENS (!) will be by themselves in the room. I guess dinner at The Wave would be perfectly lovely... followed by a nightcap at Top of the World Lounge!

I'll be sure to post with the list after I'm done with Disney Dining!


Kathy

 
I'm so excited for a new Adventure in Autism! Your past TRs have helped me so much in planning for trips with our ASD daughter.

I'm so happy to hear that! Welcome aboard!

Yay! Another Kathy Report! I've never been to Disney World, but because of your wonderful story telling, I feel like I have!

Looking forward to your report!!!

Aw, thanks! :blush: Great to have you here!

I am joining in too :)

I feel like I learn so much from other parents of special needs kids.

I totally agree! Thanks for joining in!


Hey there, Amy! :wave2: Had so much fun with you in NYC!


Kathy
 
I am in:cool1:

Autism is very close to my family as well! My brother is autistic and my mom is a para professional in an autistic charter school! :)
 
Great resort. Great temperatures. Great times ahead! :dance3:

I have been only one time in February. I sure love seeing sunshine and palm trees at the end of a cold, gray Tennessee winter. :thumbsup2
 
I can't wait to hear more about your plans!! It definitely becomes more real as ADR day approaches!! :cool1:
 
I am in:cool1:

Autism is very close to my family as well! My brother is autistic and my mom is a para professional in an autistic charter school! :)

Thanks for being here, Rachel! :flower3:

Great resort. Great temperatures. Great times ahead! :dance3:

I have been only one time in February. I sure love seeing sunshine and palm trees at the end of a cold, gray Tennessee winter. :thumbsup2

Hi MeMom! We've been in January before but never in February. I'm hoping it will be a bit warmer! :cold: The kids love to swim.

I can't wait to hear more about your plans!! It definitely becomes more real as ADR day approaches!! :cool1:

Amy, I can hardly believe how my planning style has changed... imagine an ADR window sneaking up on me!

following along

Welcome, Mike! :goodvibes

Hi Kathy! :wave: Looking forward to hearing your plans...

Hey, Tracy! :hug:

Thanks for stopping by, everyone!


Kathy
 
...be our guest!

Be our guest!

Be our guest!!

Reservations will be taken for the Be Our Guest restaurant beginning on August 20th.

Guess when my 180-day window opens for ADRs???


August 20th!!! :cool1: ::yes:: :banana: :woohoo: :dogdance:

:shamrock: Wish me luck!


Kathy
 
Subscribing! Your trip reports have always helped me with out trip planning too. Thank you for sharing them on the DIS.
 
Subscribing! Your trip reports have always helped me with out trip planning too. Thank you for sharing them on the DIS.

Thanks so much; I'm glad you're here! I've been away from the DISboards for awhile... gosh, Maddie must be a big girl by now! :)


Kathy
 

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