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

[MinnieNurse]

Some campgrounds have little cabins you can rent just like Disney (I'm sure they are not as nice, but it beats sleeping on the ground.)

I am with you. My idea of camping is our camper trailer or a cabin. Must have running water and air conditioning. Those are my 2 requirements.

You might check into a cabin, it might not be too bad. We rented a cabin on a ranch once pretty reasonable. The ranch had horse back riding lessons, fishing, and a hot tub at each cabin. It was fun.

 

[KathyRN137]

I am with you. My idea of camping is our camper trailer or a cabin. Must have running water and air conditioning. Those are my 2 requirements.

Oh yeah, definitely!!

The latest word from DSS is that he's waiting to hear about a summer job... "the boss" is supposed to call by Monday. Ed told him he could easily get him a job up here, but I'm sure he wouldn't want to leave all his friends for the entire summer. (He's in North Carolina with his mom.)

If he doesn't get the job, however, I'd like him to try to come up for at least a couple of weeks so we can see him. Of course, he's 19 now, so we can't really "force" him. Oh well, hopefully we'll know by Monday!


Between college and baseball, its been hard to arrange visits and we miss him a lot.

Kathy

 

[MinnieNurse]

Is that your house with all the Christmas decorations? If so we have something besides nursing in common. I love Christmas decorations. So far I have 3 tree's and am trying to talk my husband into letting me put one in his "man room". I have a Disney tree in my living room, a fireman tree in the dining room, and a sports tree in DS room. I really want to do a wildlife/hunting theme tree in DH room with all his hunting trophies, but so far he is not budging. He did buy me a deer stand ornament this past December, which will not go on any of my tree's, so I think that is a sign he is ready for a tree in the "Man Room". Dont you?

 

[KathyRN137]

Is that your house with all the Christmas decorations? If so we have something besides nursing in common. I love Christmas decorations....

Yes, that's our living room!
Besides WDW, I absolutely love Christmas, especially decorating!!

(But my favorite Christmas "ornament" was the one sitting in the chair!)

Good luck with the Man-Room tree!
Tell your DH he's lucky... all my DH has is a Man-Closet!!

Seriously, we call it the "Man-Closet!!"

Kathy

 

[DisMomAmy]

Hi Kathy! Sorry you were having some Disney blues... but glad you are pink again! I'm surprised I haven't been feeling more blue - I guess it's all the hustle & bustle of the end of the school year & getting ready for summer things. We usually go up to the White Mountains of NH for 4 or 5 days in June, but since we just got back from a long & expensive trip we'll either be skipping it or just going up for one night. We'll be out there at the BBQ this summer too! I just bought a bunch of new sand for our large sandbox - sounds like a summer vacation at the beach, right?

Love your MNSSHP tickets!
That cracks me up about the "teenager" stuff Disney sent!

 

[KathyRN137]

That cracks me up about the "teenager" stuff Disney sent!

Ugghh.

That's all I have to say.

Ugghh!


Kathy

 

[brookelizabeth]

Oh that planning lull, where you are eagerly waiting for the park hours to be released, is known for bringing on the blues! Your trip seems light years away and there isn't much you can do to prepare except dream.

I'm glad to hear though that you pulled yourself out of it...your home sounds LOVELY and well worth the money.

Maybe you'll be able to take advantage of some 'free' (or almost free) activites. Zoos and museums usually have a free day...maybe music in the park type things?

I'm sure the summer will ZIP by!!

 

[KathyRN137]

Well, today I decided to pull up the TGM Least Crowded Parks Chart from the first week of November '08 so I could begin playing around with a very tentative itinerary.

I got as far as Day One and then gave up!!

It's just impossible to do any kind of schedule without knowing the park hours, EMHs, or the "select" nights for SpectroMagic and Fantasmic! Ugghh! And the really annoying thing about the hours is that they probably won't be out in time for my 90 day window for making ADRs.

That's what happens when you vacation on the first week of the month. The park hours are supposed to be released three months in advance, but I've noticed that the past two years they don't get released until about the 5th or 6th day of the month. My ADR window opens on August 1st... so I guess I'll just be doing them by the seat of my pants!!

Oh well! Here's the tentative plan for Travel Day and Day One! Whoopee! It's not much, but it's a start!


Friday 10/30/09

8:30pm Depart JFK airport.
11:50pm Arrive MCO airport.
Towncar service to ASMu.

~ 12:30am Arrive ASMu and check in.
Fall into bed!


Saturday 10/31/09

Sleep in.
Check out of ASMu / arrange for luggage transfer to AKL.
Late breakfast or early lunch at Intermission food court.
Bus to AK then bus to AKL-Kidani Village.
Check in at Kidani Village.
Explore Resort / Swim if time permits.
Get into room ASAP / shower / change into Halloween costumes.

Bus to MK as early as possible for MNSSHP. Party ends at midnight.

*Turn clocks back one hour for DST before bed.


Sunday 11/1/09

Sleep in.

That's all!


The rest will just have to wait..... for another 2 1/2 months!!


Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

Oh that planning lull, where you are eagerly waiting for the park hours to be released, is known for bringing on the blues! Your trip seems light years away and there isn't much you can do to prepare except dream.

I'm glad to hear though that you pulled yourself out of it...your home sounds LOVELY and well worth the money.

Thanks, Brook! You're sweet!

It must've been hard for you to push your own trip back a few months, but it sounds like ringing in the New Year at the World will be such a blast!!

The trip does seem light years away, but thank goodness for children; they do keep us busy!


Kathy

 

[All7OfUs]

It's just impossible to do any kind of schedule without knowing the park hours, EMHs, or the "select" nights for SpectroMagic and Fantasmic! Ugghh! And the really annoying thing about the hours is that they probably won't be out in time for my 90 day window for making ADRs.

That's what happens when you vacation on the first week of the month. The park hours are supposed to be released three months in advance, but I've noticed that the past two years they don't get released until about the 5th or 6th day of the month. My ADR window opens on August 1st... so I guess I'll just be doing them by the seat of my pants!!

Kathy

I think maroo and I are in the same boat!!! Ours is Labor Day weekend and on, first week of the month. I was leaning on not getting PH's so I could just plan my days as WHOLE days at parks, but now I see that even if I try to do that I may end up not planning Spectro or Fantasmic in. UGH!!! Why can't they just go back to getting out those hours early!!?? I hate it! AND we're gonna completely mess up our ADRs if we try to make them w/o those hours!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oh, I just love reading that line, "Check in at Kidani Village."

Just to make you feel a little bit better, I have noticed since they moved the release of park hours to 90 days out, they seem to be posting them right on the first. So, fingers crossed they do that for you before you make your ADRs.

 

[KathyRN137]

Just to make you feel a little bit better, I have noticed since they moved the release of park hours to 90 days out, they seem to be posting them right on the first. So, fingers crossed they do that for you before you make your ADRs.

Jackie, I do hope you're right!

(And I'm sure Maroo and Liesa do too!)

I'm one of those people who likes to avoid EMH parks, so I'd love to have that information "on time" as well!


Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

Help!

I need your help!


I was looking at my seedling schedule and I got to thinking...

Uh-Oh! That phrase always means I'm pondering spending more money than I should!! I got to thinking, "You know, we're checking in so late on Friday night. It would be so much more convenient if we could just check right into Kidani and not have to switch resorts the next day (the day of the MNSSHP). I wonder how much it would cost????...."

Yup. Oh-Oh!

I've used up all our DVC points (and even wound up having to borrow 3 points from next year) to secure a savanna view. BUT, as DVC members, we get a discount on "cash" reservations at DVC resorts. I am feeling sorely tempted to change our first night at ASMu to a cash night at Kidani!!

But... the price difference between a discounted night in a one-bedroom savanna view at Kidani and a family suite at ASMu is around $400.

Gulp.

Is the convenience of not having to move resorts worth $400?? In my state of Disney Trip Planning euphoria I'm actually considering it!!!

Help! Please stop me from calling Member Services and making that change!!!


Kathy

 

[preschoolmom]

It's just impossible to do any kind of schedule without knowing the park hours, EMHs, or the "select" nights for SpectroMagic and Fantasmic! Ugghh!

Yep. My planning is at a stand still, too. I have it in excel, all subject to park hours...

We're only doing two ADRs this trip (in an attempt not to be tied to ADRs every day, and the dining plan...). We are planning for one MNSSHP, preferably our first night (Sunday the 25th), but that all depends on if tickets sell out before we are 100% sure this trip is a go (I think we'll be fine).

Also, airfare is so cheap right now, we're considering flying instead of driving Which we never have with the kids... So that might change our dates a tiny bit, too (and then, without a car to bring all our food, we might cave and do the meal plan... Oh, I don't know, LOL)...

 

[preschoolmom]

Help!

Is the convenience of not having to move resorts worth $400??

Help! Please stop me from calling Member Services and making that change!!!

No! This way, you get to experience ASMU Family Suite (albeit briefly), the ASMU food court... And then it is two simple bus rides (to AK, and then AKL) to your new resort.

Save the $400. $400 is a good chunk of money!

 

[maroo]

For me...I would take the $400! But...that is just me and my luggage.

If I was traveling with Lauren and all of her medical equipment...I would PAY $500 to not have to move it again...

I think you guys are somewhere in the middle of that...since you have so many people and luggage...I would go for it!

I guess the question might be...what would you do with that extra time? Would you spend time with your family making memories that will last forever? Or will staying at two resorts and moving be a memory (it could be fun ) that would be cool to remember?

How much is your time worth to you? In Disney?

Gosh...I am talking myself in saying YES for you!!

 

[KathyRN137]

Also, airfare is so cheap right now, we're considering flying instead of driving ... So that might change our dates a tiny bit, too (and then, without a car to bring all our food, we might cave and do the meal plan...

Airfares are getting better!

I keep waffling on the DDP too. The CS plan sounds good, but then we'd have to pay OOP for any character meals, and I know we want to do at least two...

When we drove last year, it was convenient to have that cooler full of drinks and snacks... it did save us some $$, so I see your point.


And THANKS for the support regarding the ressie change....

I feel like I'm an addict having a moment of weakness and I'm calling my sponsers for help!!


Kathy

 

[maroo]

Airfares are getting better!

I keep waffling on the DDP too. The CS plan sounds good, but then we'd have to pay OOP for any character meals, and I know we want to do at least two...

When we drove last year, it was convenient to have that cooler full of drinks and snacks... it did save us some $$, so I see your point.


And THANKS for the support regarding the ressie change....

I feel like I'm an addict having a moment of weakness and I'm calling my sponsers for help!!


Kathy

Uh Oh!!

I didn't realized you wanted the Fiscally Responsible answer!!

Just think of all of the OTHER things you can do with the $400! Save it!

This is ME talking myself out of telling you to go for it!

 

[KathyRN137]

Gosh...I am talking myself in saying YES for you!!

YEAH! What's up with that??

I'm trying to use some Reverse Fuzzy Disney Math to talk myself out of it....

"If you don't spend that $400, it would be as if you got your MNSSHP tickets for FREE!!"


Kathy

 

[All7OfUs]

Hmm...just me and my frugal kind of self, but I'd say no, save it and use it somewhere else- if you even really (I do mean really) have it. Start a fund for your "next trip". I don't think moving will be that hard, especially since you had planned on sleeping in anyway, and since Disney moves your luggage for you.

I'd say $400 would pay for at least those 2 character meals you want to do.

Now, having said all that, you should hop over to our PTR, and answer the same question for me, on our poll!!