A Halloween Adventure in Autism (11/7) Prayer Request for Catie (p.129)

[KathyRN137]

Muppet Vision!

Nope! Been there, done that!

Hmmm, do you squeeze in a ride on RNRRC before Fantasmic?

Nope, did it already! (plus, we were taking it easy because of Billy.)

I vote you're either going to do ToT or MuppetVision!

Did that and... did that, too!

Can't wait to see what the kids picked next....

I think you will be surprised...

Awww..it really is sad when they grow up and don't want to watch the "little kid" shows anymore.

I know! It happens so quickly, too....


Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

I'm actually beginning to lean more toward Old Key West...


space or location? I really want to to the treehouses one day...but think if my parents or other family want to travel w/ us that trip...we'll need more space and more bathrooms...I'm now thinking 2BR AKV...is actually less points (well speculating off the 2011 point charts for a trip in 2013...)


Well, Julie, mostly the decision is based upon my change from Christmas Week to June. Because school will be out we'll be able to stay nine days instead of seven using fewer points at OKW.

I think the THVs look awesome, but I've been reading some mixed reviews. Apparently the bedrooms are on the small side and the bus transportation is slow. (You have to take an internal bus from the Treehouses to The Grandstand section of SSR, then transfer to a bus that will take you to the parks.)

Since we never rent a car, that just seems like a lot of extra work to get around.

2BR at VAKL would give you three bathrooms! We absolutely loved Kidani Village... we will definitely stay there again!


Kathy

 

[mom2mek]

Awww...cute! A crush! Well, he has good taste! Ariel is a knockout!

Hmm....did you check out the Honey I Shunk The kids playground??? Backlot Tour? Although I think they both close at dusk, don't they? I have no idea....don't keep us hanging too long!

Sara

 

[KathyRN137]

Awww...cute! A crush! Well, he has good taste! Ariel is a knockout!

Hmm....did you check out the Honey I Shunk The kids playground??? Backlot Tour? Although I think they both close at dusk, don't they? I have no idea....don't keep us hanging too long!

Sara

Sorry!


Kathy

 

[mousescrapper]

I'm actually beginning to lean more toward Old Key West...


space or location? I really want to to the treehouses one day...but think if my parents or other family want to travel w/ us that trip...we'll need more space and more bathrooms...I'm now thinking 2BR AKV...is actually less points (well speculating off the 2011 point charts for a trip in 2013...)


Well, Julie, mostly the decision is based upon my change from Christmas Week to June. Because school will be out we'll be able to stay nine days instead of seven using fewer points at OKW.

I think the THVs look awesome, but I've been reading some mixed reviews. Apparently the bedrooms are on the small side and the bus transportation is slow. (You have to take an internal bus from the Treehouses to The Grandstand section of SSR, then transfer to a bus that will take you to the parks.)

Since we never rent a car, that just seems like a lot of extra work to get around.

2BR at VAKL would give you three bathrooms! We absolutely loved Kidani Village... we will definitely stay there again!


Kathy

thanks Kathy....

we'd figure we'd have to rent a car if we stayed there...not a big fan of that either.

well I have lots of time to decide huh?

 

[kayrosek]

A crush huh? How cute! Jonnie had one of those this trip too, but hopefully I'll get around to it in my TR soon so I'll keep her a secret for now. Jonnies just growing out of Barney and while less of that annoying voice is a good thing. It is a little hard to see him grow up. Glad the motrin made him feel a little better but I'm worried now . I would have loved to see OMD but it's one of the many things we missed.

 

[KathyRN137]

... I would have loved to see OMD but it's one of the many things we missed.

It's really one of those attractions that is difficult to enjoy with young kids in tow... unless they are asleep in a stroller! It's more of a mini-museum and little ones must certainly get bored quickly.


Kathy

 

[irish dancer]

Just love VOLM, especially the Under the Sea song with all the puppets. Daniel didn't want to do Playhouse Disney last time we were there either. Confession......we've never done One Man's Dream either but I'm definitely going to put it on our list for next time.

We've stayed at THV and they are nice but if you don't have a car I think transportation is a hassle. The internal busses come very often but I find that will all the stops within SSR that it just takes too long. We love AKV too and the added bathroom is a definite plus! You can't go wrong with OKW though, the rooms are huge! Plus they are undergoing a renovation starting this summer so they'll still be pretty new next year.

Let's see, where did you go next? Was it GMR? Daniel loves the movie clips that they show in the waiting area, I bet Billy does too!

 

[eandesmom]

Oh my goodness on the parade! Your saga reminded me of why we skip them. Poor Tricia and Catie though.

Poor you and Ed. 50 minutes of waiting period or anyone acting up is exhausting and I can't even imagine how stressful and tiring the stimming was. Poor Billy!

Bummer about PTC Pot Roast and a rather lame CM, I am glad the parade seemed to perk everyone up and OMD and Ariel just continued getting everyone back in the groove.

I can't wait to see what you do next!

 

[KathyRN137]

Just love VOLM, especially the Under the Sea song with all the puppets. Daniel didn't want to do Playhouse Disney last time we were there either. Confession......we've never done One Man's Dream either but I'm definitely going to put it on our list for next time.


Let's see, where did you go next? Was it GMR? Daniel loves the movie clips that they show in the waiting area, I bet Billy does too!

Why does the Playhouse Disney thing feel like such a milestone to me? I suppose its easier for me to think of Billy being younger than he is because of his developmental delays.

Oh my goodness on the parade! Your saga reminded me of why we skip them. Poor Tricia and Catie though.

Poor you and Ed. 50 minutes of waiting period or anyone acting up is exhausting and I can't even imagine how stressful and tiring the stimming was. Poor Billy!

Bummer about PTC Pot Roast and a rather lame CM, I am glad the parade seemed to perk everyone up and OMD and Ariel just continued getting everyone back in the groove.

Gee, I hope I didn't bring everyone down! Waiting for the parade was tough, but we're tougher! I still love PTC... one bad pot roast doesn't spoil the whole bunch of... well... you know!


Kathy

 

[Hedy]

...........Or, perhaps, after Ariel, nothing else could measure up!

 

[KathyRN137]

I so agree, Hedy!

Thanks for stopping by...


Kathy

 

[mrsksomeday]

That is too cute about Billy liking Ariel, he is growing up too fast .

 

[MeMom]

Well, Julie, mostly the decision is based upon my change from Christmas Week to June. Because school will be out we'll be able to stay nine days instead of seven using fewer points at OKW.

More time for less points.
Sounds wonderful!

 

[All7OfUs]

I was really laughing at the comments about Billy "enjoying" Ariel more and more. I always take that as a good sign; one that they're growing up.

 

[KathyRN137]

More time for less points.
Sounds wonderful!

I couldn't agree more!

That is too cute about Billy liking Ariel, he is growing up too fast .

I know... *heavy sigh*

I was really laughing at the comments about Billy "enjoying" Ariel more and more. I always take that as a good sign; one that they're growing up.

Ed takes it as a very good sign! "That's my boy!"

All I can think is: Hoo Boy!

Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

Monday Evening
November 2, 2009
Hollywood Studios


It's been so busy lately... I'm really trying to get this report moving! Even if it means posting in little bits and pieces!


Chapter 30: Darn! We Got the Gangster AGAIN!


It was nearing six o’clock and I was already worrying about getting good seats for the eight o’clock showing of Fantasmic. For us, “good seats” mean top row, middle. Not the most popular place to sit, but it works for us. Although Billy had expressed a keen desire to see the nighttime spectacular, he nevertheless was still afraid of the fiery lake portion of the show. I wanted us to sit as far away from the smoke and heat as we possibly could; Ed wanted to sit in the back row so we could get a jump on the rest of the crowd when it came time to exit the theater.


There was time for one more attraction, I announced, and then we had to start moving in the direction of Sunset Boulevard. Ed suggested one of his favorites, the Great Movie Ride, and fortunately it met with the girls’ approval. We had done both the thrill rides early that morning and it had been a pretty long day, so I think that at that point they were content to roll along with whatever came along. Billy loves to watch the movie clips in the queue and since it’s a nice, slow ride it seemed to be a good choice. He had uncharacteristically picked at his dinner and because of the little elevation in temperature he had, I felt as if I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. I didn’t want to risk anything that might precipitate an upset stomach.


It was a short walk to the entrance and we took some time looking at the hand- and footprints in the cement outside the replica of Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Tricia took a few pictures of the architectural details… unfortunately they came out a bit blurry.

Moving inside and into the queue:

You’ve seen dozens of pictures of the carousel horse from Mary Poppins, but this seems rather new… a costume from one of the more recent Queen Elizabeth I movies:

A modest wait lay before us… enough so that we were able to see the entire reel of “preview” clips at least once. Then we boarded out vehicles and set off for our tour through the magic of movies! Again I find myself apologizing for the quality of the photos…no flash photography allowed… I suppose this camera doesn’t do too well with dark settings….

Gene Kelly in Singing in the Rain:

Mary Poppins and Bert:

Darn! We got the Gangster side again! (Are they even doing the Wild West bank robber side any more?) And although I’m all for equal opportunity employment, I really think it loses something when your 30’s “gangster” is a young woman wearing her hair long… women just didn’t wear their hair like this back then! (Boy, am I being picky!)

Billy reached over and grabbed Ed’s hand, put it up to his ear and pressed his other ear against his chest when the gunfire started. Otherwise, he did just fine.

John Wayne, forever tall in the saddle. (Personally, I think this is the most realistic Audio-Animatronic in the entire attraction.)

Maureen O’Hara as Tarzan’s Jane:

Rick and Ilsa will always have Paris…

Uh-Oh… her sister’s gonna be reeaaallly mad!

Unfortunately, none of my munchkin pictures came out… perhaps I was shaking too much from laughing! Billy was bouncing up and down and shrieking with laughter during the Yellow Brick Road number!


I just love the MGM montage of film clips at the end… so many memorable pictures! So many fabulous actors and actresses! We finished our “tour” and climbed out of our tram. Time to get a move on… we had to get ourselves over to Fantasmic!

Would it be as jam-packed as predicted?


Kathy

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Ahh...the Great Movie Ride! I think it's completely under-appreciated! I'm glad you all enjoyed it.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I just love the MGM montage of film clips at the end… so many memorable pictures! So many fabulous actors and actresses!

I always get really weepy during the montage scene!

 

[MHTeacher]

We love Great Movie Ride over at our house!

Hmmmmm, how crowded would Fantasmic be? It doesn't matter to me, because I that show!