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

[KathyRN137]

Could you fly out of Philadelphia? I think SWA flies out of there.
I'm awaiting JetBlue and Southwest to release October fares, myself.

Too far, sweetie! I don't want the kids to miss school on Friday!

Kathy

 

[carissanboys]

As far as the luggage goes....

I have flown A LOT over the years including some very crazy flights and connections. We've flown to and from Australia (going all the way to Maine) and I've flown to a small town in Alaska for which I had about two or three connections and my luggage has NEVER been lost. It has always arrived when I did. Sometimes I have been truly amazed by that fact. I guess I'm just lucky.

Personally, I'd go for the connection to save money, but it definitely can add some stress especially if the flights are close and the airports are large and confusing.

 

[maroo]

I think the longer connections are much better for luggage. They seem to do really well with luggage in the States now. My friend that went to South Africa this week lost hers somewhere in Franfurt! Hopefully they will find it! Otherwise she just went half-way across the world to be a missionary with literally the clothes on her back.

I digress.

The other thing I would avoid is a stop that would take you someplace where you could have bad weather. I know you can have bad weather anywhere...but I would avoid hot spots...if that makes sense. Would be awful to get stuck in a connection airport with bad weather when you could have spent the extra money and been in Disney already.

My friend took a flight through Chicago one year to save money and ended up snowed in!

That is my 12 cents.

 

[All7OfUs]

I think it will all become clear to you- the important thing is that you have lots of ideas and options! Good research will lend good choices in the end. Don't sweat it. My experience is that layovers always whisk by, and even with an hour and a half layover we've cut it very close- sometimes even having to RUN to our gate. Flights are more often delayed at least a few minutes, so the hour or 1 1/2 hours often aren't really that.

We would probably save the $600-$800 and just make sure we'd pack the essentials in carry-ons. I think the statistics will bear out that only a small percentage of lugguge gets lost. What about trip insurance?? That could cover any lost luggage, then you could pick up what you needed there if you had to.

Anyway, I hope that it works out! But guess first things first- hoping for the wishes of your heart on your ressie!

 

[kaysmommie]

All caught up now. Telling your story about Billy being diagnosed made me cry. That must be much harder on the parents than the child. Sounds like he is doing wonderful though and that is just excellent. I don't know a ton about autism but my DS does have some sensory issues. I think that can be quite hard to deal with sometimes, though he has grown out of some luckily. I'm sure you are an awesome mom to say the least.

Your trip plans sound great. We love MNSSHP, so much fun. Also I know you were debating Sea World. I have to tell you that we went in 2006 and it was just amazing. My DS especially loved it and is asking to go back. We won't be able to go this trip though since we only have 6 days. I do think it's worth it though. We loved petting the dolphins. It's easy to pet them without buying the fish. Also they have a tour you can do and you get to pet a penguin. I think it is reasonably priced too like $12 pp. That is on my next time list for sure. good luck with the airfare, we are having the same dilemma. In NJ we always flew out of AC but it was only 70 minute drive for us.

 

[KathyRN137]

carissanboys, maroo, & All7OfUs: Thanks for sharing your opinions on connecting flights and the lost luggage concern; for a while I was seriously considering booking a connecting flight out of Newark.

Then I realized that NJ2Boardwalk was correct... there appears to be some price gauging going on in NJ b/c of Teachers' Convention. Ed and I decided that it was better to travel a little bit further to NY to fly out of JFK and get a more reasonable non-stop flight. (Too bad, Continental Airlines... you just lost out!!)

kaysmommie: Sorry about the I do think Sea World would be a great destination someday; as you described, there are so many great things to see and do, especially for the kids.

I'll try to work it into our itinerary sometime in the future when expense isn't such an issue.... I was pretty lucky as it was to get Ed to agree to a trip this year... we're still paying off the renovations on our house!

****************************************​

Nothing new to report on the planning front; it's still kind of early.

I did talk to DSis, Eileen (Caity's mom) and we discussed the budget (the whole airfare debate is part of that). She and my DBIL will pay for airfare and park tickets, I want to give my niece the MNSSHP ticket as a birthday present. (I have to get her something anyway, right?)


We are having a bit of a disagreement because she wants to give me $$ for my niece's meals, but I don't want to take it. First, I just don't want to be bothered keeping track of the cost of her individual meals, and second, I want to give them a little break. It's been a difficult year for them.


Just a little background on them: DSis is four years younger than me and we are very close. She is a hospice medical social worker by profession, but has recently left a job that was very low-pay and high-stress, and is enjoying being a SAHM for a little whille. She needed a little break.


After working for many years as a bicycle mechanic, my DBIL finally realized his dream last year and purchased a bike shop of his own. Although very excited about finally being his own boss, the economy hasn't exactly been favorable to him as a small business owner and he is working constantly to make up the difference.


Needless to say, they are not planning a family trip to WDW any time soon, although they have been there twice before and really love it.

So, I'm talking to DSis and she is feeling that they can at least afford to send Caity with us so she can have a vacation and spend time with her fav cousin, Tricia. But, she is being a pain about wanting to pay for my niece's food, too, which I think is stupid and since I am her big sister, I can tell her so!!

Well, we've got plenty of time to iron out those little details, don't we? The good thing is, that as it stands, DNiece Caity will definitely be coming with us. Tricia and Billy are really happy about that!


Thanks for reading along!

Kathy

 

[preschoolmom]

I think it is awesome that you are bringing her! I can't wait to bring my nephews along with my kids some day!

 

[MRYPPNS]

Tell Dsis a little white lie. Tell her that she can pay for DNiece's kids dinning plan at $10/day. Then just give that money to DN when you get to WDW so she can have control over buying her own snacks and drinks.

 

[KathyRN137]

Tell Dsis a little white lie. Tell her that she can pay for DNiece's kids dinning plan at $10/day. Then just give that money to DN when you get to WDW so she can have control over buying her own snacks and drinks.

Hmmmm. Devious, yet effective.

I like it!!


Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

I think it is awesome that you are bringing her! I can't wait to bring my nephews along with my kids some day!

I'm excited, too! I think the kids will have lots of fun, especially on Halloween!


Kathy

 

[kaysmommie]

I just read your entire November 2007 trip report since the kids were in school and it was raining out. It was excellent and well written . I see why AB is not going this time and why it is so great that Tricia is going to be spending some WDW with her cousin. I love the pics of Jessica the AG doll too. I have to show Kaylee those since she thinks everyone who turns 10 doesn't play with them anymore . Your trip report was a good read to say the least, wish I had read it last year.

 

[mousescrapper]

Tell Dsis a little white lie. Tell her that she can pay for DNiece's kids dinning plan at $10/day. Then just give that money to DN when you get to WDW so she can have control over buying her own snacks and drinks.

I like that idea too....

 

[KathyRN137]

I love the pics of Jessica the AG doll too. I have to show Kaylee those since she thinks everyone who turns 10 doesn't play with them anymore . Your trip report was a good read to say the least, wish I had read it last year.

Thanks for the compliments!

As far as the AG dolls are concerned, Tricia still enjoys dressing them up from time to time. Her cousin Catie also has several of the dolls, so its nice that they can still enjoy them together. It's all about the clothes and the hairstyles!

I'm not sure whether or not they will want to bring any dolls to WDW in October. They may surprise me!


Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

I like that idea too....

I'm not sure yet if we will be getting the dining plan. We didn't get it last April and it worked out just fine.

It's so much food; even with the "basic" plan!! And Ed didn't like getting "locked into" TS ADRs every day....

Kathy

 

[mousescrapper]

I'm not sure yet if we will be getting the dining plan. We didn't get it last April and it worked out just fine.

It's so much food; even with the "basic" plan!! And Ed didn't like getting "locked into" TS ADRs every day....

Kathy

how about the QSDDP that's 2 snacks and 2 QS meals a night plus you get a refillable resort mug (do they have those in the DVC?) anywyas that's what we're doing this time and then pop for 3 TS meals...besides the groceries I ordered from Garden Grocer and some milk to purchase there...we shouldn't have to spend any other $ on food. JAT

 

[KathyRN137]

how about the QSDDP that's 2 snacks and 2 QS meals a night plus you get a refillable resort mug (do they have those in the DVC?) anywyas that's what we're doing this time and then pop for 3 TS meals...besides the groceries I ordered from Garden Grocer and some milk to purchase there...we shouldn't have to spend any other $ on food. JAT

That is a thought....

My DSis insists that skinny Catie eats like a truck driver!!

Kathy

 

[maroo]

I like the $10/day idea, too! It will help your sister feel like she is contributing to meals and will actually offset your costs without having to think/plan.

 

[All7OfUs]

I second/or third the $10/day thang! Hey, what teen doesn't like to buy her own snacks and pop along the way??? I think it might be something DSis could live with too, and what Mom doesn't want to know they are taking care of their kids the best they can??

I just finished costing out our food for the next trip, and it's about $20 under the DDP price INCLUDING taxes, tips, and a few adult bevs.!!! And that is a TS meal everyday, about half being buffets! But, I am curious as to what you will decide. Great planning so far!

 

[KathyRN137]

Deciding on Dining


Dining Plan or No Dining Plan; that is the question!


Our family has done WDW both with and without a dining plan. Now we’re trying to decide if we want to use one in October. I know the plans are popular, and apparently Disney knows it too! There are now three different dining plans from which we can choose. But, will any of them meet our current needs?


Before Aunt Rae joined us on our last two November trips, we ate exclusively counter service meals, with the exception of two or three character meals per trip. Obviously, these buffets/sit-downs were planned because of the character interaction and not because of the food.


Case in point: will anyone really want to eat at Liberty Tree Tavern without all the characters now? It’s a lot of money to spend on Stouffer’s…

Anyway, we thought that the dining plan would work out because:

1. AR was used to “hot lunches” and sit-down dinners. (There are only so many hamburgers a 77 yr old woman can eat.)

2. Since our food was paid for in advance, there would be no hassling over who paid the check all week. AR paid for her own dining plan and we paid for ours.

3. We thought it would be a good way to save some money.


We liked the “traditional plan”, which included one TS meal, one CS meal, and one snack per person per night. We ate at some restaurants that we probably would never thought to have made reservations for: Boma, Coral Reef, `Ohana, to name a few. TS meals are great, but they are time-consuming and take that much time away from the parks. Another factor to consider is that the plan no longer includes gratuities for the TS meals. It’s hard to do one of those for five people for under $100, so that’s at least $20-$25 dollars a day extra.

So, what if we decide to avoid table service meals altogether?

As mousescrapper mentioned, this year there is a Quick-Service Dining Plan that includes two CS meals, two snacks, and one refillable mug per person, per night. This plan would preclude the character meals, however, and since we’re in the DVC villas, the refillable mugs are no longer necessary. In fact, unless we schedule a character breakfast, we eat breakfast in the villa as well. Unless I decide to stop stocking our kitchen with groceries and less-expensive cases of water bottles, we will wind up with an awful lot of snack credits left over.


Either that, or we will wind up drastically overeating! Truth be told, I felt like we overate while on the traditional plan, too. We normally don’t eat desserts at lunch and then again at dinner…several times we saved our lunch dessert for a mid-afternoon snack and didn’t use the snack credit until the end of the week. Then we blew the remaining snack credits on candy and junk just to use them up!


One other important factor to consider is the current need for ADRs for TS meals. Ed didn’t like the fact that we had table reservations every day of our trip; he felt that it made our days more “scheduled”, which he tends to rebel against while on vacation. He longs for the old days when ADRs were a nicety and not a necessity. When I informed him that Disney Dining’s policy had changed; that we could no longer make ADRs at 180 days out, we needed to “wait” until 90 days ahead of our trip, he just laughed at me. He always thought that trying to decide where you wanted to eat dinner six months ahead of time was pretty stupid.


Well, perhaps it was, but at least I didn’t have to spend 30-45 minutes on hold when I called to make them, the way some folks are reporting waiting now!

***************************************​

Okay, so this year we don’t have to worry about Aunt Rae and her hot meals. (We also don’t have to worry about taking two hours to eat them…..Yay!) Since it’s going to be Ed, me, and the three kids, we’ll most likely eat quickly and on the run most days. We’ll probably want to do at least two character meals….an early breakfast at Crystal Palace and either a late breakfast or early lunch at Play & Dine (Billy’s favorite.) So we only need two table service meals apiece for the week.


We’ll have the DVC accommodations, which give us a full kitchen to store less expensive snacks and water. And, other than one morning with Pooh Bear , breakfast will be in the room every day. Do we really need to worry about TS, CS, Snacks, Credits, and a week’s worth of ADRs?


All things considered, it looks as though we may just do like we did last April and forgo purchasing any of the dining plans. It just seemed so much simpler.

What do you think?

Kathy

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Last year was the first year that we had the dining plan. I probably would not have done it, but it was free so we thought what the heck. The one thing that I did find was that it was a LOT of food. We had the basic even but add in those snacks and you feel "obligated" to get them. My family has had the plan over the last couple of years and said that they wouldn't do it any other way.

Without the dining plan we still did make some ADR's, especially for our character meals. The down side was that we had to really budtet ourselves so that we had enough to cover whatever it was that we decided to do.

It's a hard choice and I guess I'm not much help here. I'm interested though in what you decide to do.