An APRIL Adventure in Autism: 2008 (8/8) Time to Say Good-Bye....

[KathyRN137]

Oh, I guess that it could have been dangerous...

Hey!! Is Stitch sitting at your keyboard??

Because I know that an like you would never misquote a fellow DISer!!!


Kathy

 

[MickeyLover20]

Great update! The party sounds like a lot of fun, glad you could enjoy it and not let the disappointment of missing the parade ruin the rest of your night.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

The party looks fun!

Just wait until MNSSHP! It is incredible, you are going to have a blast!

And don't miss the Boo to You Parade...it's the BEST!

 

[KathyRN137]

Great update! The party sounds like a lot of fun, glad you could enjoy it and not let the disappointment of missing the parade ruin the rest of your night.

Thanks so much! I tried to act like a big girl...

The party looks fun!

Just wait until MNSSHP! It is incredible, you are going to have a blast!

And don't miss the Boo to You Parade...it's the BEST!

Goodness, if I miss that parade I'll never be able to show my face on the DIS again!!!

Kathy

 

[wvdislover]

Great update! Sounds like you guys had a FABULOUS time! I think MNSSHP would be a lot of fun, but DH (and I, too, I guess) just can't see paying another $200 to get into a park we already have tickets to for 10 days If only someone would offer us discounted, or, better yet, FREE tickets! Hey, I can dream, can't I?

 

[mom2mek]

Wow - I missed 2 updates! And great ones at that! (like they ever aren't great...)

Sorry you missed the parade - I know how hard that can be for us trip planners! And to hear the music...like it's mocking you!

Great picture inside Haunted mansion....very cool!

The fireworks sound fantastic! And I love that you got on Big Thunder and Space Mountain two times in a row! Woo-hoo!


Sounds like a fabulous night!

Sara

 

[KathyRN137]

... I think MNSSHP would be a lot of fun, but DH (and I, too, I guess) just can't see paying another $200 to get into a park we already have tickets to for 10 days If only someone would offer us discounted, or, better yet, FREE tickets!

It is a splurge, but lots of fun! We had purchased our AP's the previous trip, so the cost of the party tickets didn't hit us quite so hard. Oh, and we had a small discount for being DVC members.

AP holders get discounts on party tickets, too. If your next trip is 10 days long, you might want to look into getting APs. Discounts on resort rooms are often available for AP holders, too.

Wow - I missed 2 updates! And great ones at that! (like they ever aren't great...)

Sorry you missed the parade - I know how hard that can be for us trip planners! And to hear the music...like it's mocking you!

Aww, you're sweet!

You hit it right on the head, though, with the parade passing right by the restaurant like that. "So close, yet so far!!"

Oh well... I'll get to see all those pirate floats on Halloween!!

(Maybe a family of Giraffe will wander into the MK and stop in the middle of Main Street so I can take a ton of pictures!!)


Kathy

 

[mom2mek]

AP holders get discounts on party tickets, too. If your next trip is 10 days long, you might want to look into getting APs. Discounts on resort rooms are often available for AP holders, too.

Nothing like some good old-fashioned DIS enabling! You get a gold star!

Oh well... I'll get to see all those pirate floats on Halloween!!

That parade is so good - you will love it!! (And you will definitely be humming that song ALL night!

(Maybe a family of Giraffe will wander into the MK and stop in the middle of Main Street so I can take a ton of pictures!!)

Kathy

Sara

 

[DearDaisyinDurham]

What a wonderful update!! Hope to try the party someday.....

 

[KathyRN137]

Nothing like some good old-fashioned DIS enabling! You get a gold star!

What a wonderful update!! Hope to try the party someday.....

Thank you! Come on down for Halloween, why don't you??

(More DIS-enabling)


Kathy

 

[eandesmom]

Great updates as always!

Your family's response to missing the parade made me smile, it is completely what I would have heard from mine. I can only imagine what kind of adult outfits might come out at MNSSHP. I would love to take the younger boys to that and originally had hoped our next trip would be late Sept 2010 and could probably get it in (and be there for F&W) but...August looks like it's working better for everyone and eliminates school conflicts. You can't get everything I guess!

I couldn't agree more about BTMRR in the dark! We did it several times on our trip in the dark (trying to remember if we got on it during the day to tell you the truth, I think only the big kids and DH did...while we were at MSB). Fun fun!

What a fabulous party, thank you for sharing the scoop, it sounds like it was well well worth it.

 

[princesskelz]

i had to catch up on the updates i missed.
school had kept me too busy!

that bites that you missed the parade. i heard it was awsome.
go on YouTube if you REALLY wanna see it....because i hear it was really good..

Have a nice weekend!

 

[KathyRN137]

i had to catch up on the updates i missed.
school had kept me too busy!

that bites that you missed the parade. i heard it was awsome.
go on YouTube if you REALLY wanna see it....because i hear it was really good..

Have a nice weekend!

Thanks!!

(Dan Radcliffe's closet has Wi Fi??)

That's so cool!!


Kathy

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Thanks!!

(Dan Radcliffe's closet has Wi Fi??)

That's so cool!!


Kathy

I can explain, Kathy!

See, Kelsey and I have this whole thing about her stalking Dan Radcliffe and hiding in his closet

Oh, and updated my TR

 

[KathyRN137]

Chapter 24: A Storybook Breakfast in Norway


Thursday, 4/24/08

Epcot ~ World Showcase


Having narrowly missed being turned into pumpkins the night before by managing to leave the Magic Kingdom’s P&P Party just before midnight, we of course were none-too-pleased when the alarm began to ring at eight the following morning. I say “began to ring” because I’m sure that I hit that snooze at least twice!


Our plan for the day was to tour Epcot... normally not a one-day park, but for this abbreviated trip, it would have to be. This was our first time visiting WDW in the spring and I wasn’t quite sure how the Flower and Garden Festival would affect the crowds, so I wanted to begin touring the World Showcase early and then backtrack into Future World. What better way to get us where we had to be after a late night than to schedule a mid-morning breakfast with the princesses in Norway?


Hmmm. Well, it had seemed like a good idea at the time! I yawned and stretched a bit, then looked over at the two sleepyheads in the next bed. Perhaps I should cancel?? Nah, this was one of those dining experiences that we had yet to try, and who knew how soon it would be before the kids began balking at character meals? Our ADR was for 10:25, but I wanted to leave plenty of time for us to get over there via the bus, so I dragged myself out of bed and announced to the rest of the family that I would take the first shower. Not, however, before running some hot water through the coffee maker for tea. Food I could wait for, but I could not wait for my morning caffeine!


Another warm day was in store for us and we didn’t even bother with a second layer as we headed out to the bus stop wearing our matching Soarin’ tee shirts:

There was a bit of a bottleneck at bag check, but we eventually got through and proceeded to walk directly through Future World and into the World Showcase without stopping for even a single picture!! Billy was a bit thrown... normally we hit Future World first...

“I want Soarin!” Billy called out.

“Yes, Billy, after breakfast.” We continued walking.

“First breakfast, then Soarin!” Then a minute or so later: “I want Test Track!”

“Yes, Billy, we’ll do that later,” we reassured him. We continued walking.

“First breakfast, then Soarin, then Test Track, then Lunch, please!” Billy likes his Disney rides, but he likes his food, too! I guess he was hungry!


We quickly passed through the Mexico pavilion and arrived at Norway in plenty of time. These pictures were taken at 9:45. Whew! My shirt was beginning to stick to my back already!!

I stopped at the podium and checked us in, giving my usual request for a table by a wall or a window, then went to join the others who were wandering around looking in the windows and gazing at the gentle waterfall:

The Stave Church replica:

Mmm. The Bakery! A cool dish of rice cream sounded so good to me just then!

None of the shops were open, however, so there wasn’t anything to do but stand around and wait. Fortunately, we did not have to for long. Within ten minutes, we were being called and were ushered into the pleasantly cool banquet hall for our photo session with Belle. Not bad...our actual ADR time wasn’t supposed to be for another half-hour!

Billy had a little chat with Belle, who was very sweet to him. He held onto her hand the entire time and gave her a kiss on the cheek when it was time to say good-bye! His daddy was pleased. “That’s my boy!” he chuckled. A couple of minutes later, a hostess led us to a quiet side room and a perfect table by a window cut in the thick stone wall.

This fireplace was not too far from our table...

A waiter came with a pitcher of orange juice and Ed and I ordered hot tea and some water for Billy. Our first princess entered the room and was soon at our table for pictures and hugs:



Princess Aurora:

Meanwhile, the waiter had brought our Twinning's tea. No other princesses were in sight just yet, so Ed and Tricia went to the fresh fruit and pastry buffet while Billy and I held down the fort at our table. Three minutes later, the waiter brought our food, served family style. I managed to hold everyone off long enough to snap one picture before they began to dig in...

The food was hot and very tasty, and I am somewhat particular about scrambled eggs. These were neither too dry nor too runny. And the potato casserole was so very yummy! So much so, that instead of pastry, I had two helpings of potatoes! Billy happily munched away on Cheerios that we had brought and the rest of the Storybook princesses came along in a cheery procession, beginning with Jasmine:

Princess Mary Poppins:

And Mulan:

All the characters were very pleasant and took the time to talk a bit with the children before moving on to the next table.


During breakfast, the waiter came round and brought a second platter of food without being asked, and also refilled our juice glasses. It was an exceptionally good experience, and I was very pleased at the relative calm atmosphere. Sometimes character meals can get so noisy... this was really great for Billy... fun but not over-stimulating.


*I'm editing this to add something I completely forgot to mention when I posted this. (Ed reminded me.) I suppose it slipped my mind because we didn't take a picture.


One of the CM handlers that was escorting the princesses around the room really made a strong connection with Billy. He was a little person and Billy was just facinated by him. Here was this adult man with facial hair who was almost a head shorter than he was! As soon as he came over, Billy turned to him, cocked his head and put his face close to the CMs to get his attention. He was so happy when the CM talked to him... darn, wish I had his name... stupid lost notes....


Anyway, we explained to the CM (as we do all character handlers) that Billy was autistic. Fortunately, the CM had some experience with autistic children and he didn't seem to mind that Billy was so interested in him. He talked with us for a while and came back to the table to talk some more after the princesses had finished their rounds. When he came around the second time, Billy got up and gave him the biggest hug, just like he was an old friend!! He really made Billy feel special... I can't believe I forgot about it!!


The photographer came by the table with our pictures from the session with Belle and Ed thought one of them turned out very well, so we purchased it. Here it is (scanned.)

We finished up, tipped the waiter (who only charged us for three since Billy didn’t eat anything, which was nice) and stopped for a restroom break before moving on. The Ladies’ Room was very small, but quaint, and full of little Scandinavian touches. This castle may not be as grand as Cinderella’s, but it was a lovely storybook setting just the same. I was so glad that I hadn’t cancelled this breakfast!



Once outside, we blinked a bit in the bright sun and Tricia asked right away if we could ride Maelstrom. It was only 10:45 at this point and I didn’t think that it would be open yet, but sure enough, the queue was open and since there was a minimal wait posted, we decided, “why not?”


(You can tell from the picture how quickly the lens fogged up after being in the air-conditioned banquet hall.)

Ah! Just smell that Disney water! Back once more into the cool darkness and, sure enough, within five minutes we were boarding our dragon-headed ship and setting sail toward the mythical Norwegian forest. Oh no! A three-headed troll! Billy laughed as it (they?) cast a spell on us and we hurtled backwards into the rapids!


“Mom, does this boat go down a hill?” asked Tricia, a bit apprehensively. We had missed this somehow on our last trip, so she didn’t quite remember. Before I could even give her an answer, our boat suddenly moved forward and we were now headed towards the open sea and an ocean storm. The troll hadn’t bothered Billy, but he covered his ears and cuddled close to his Daddy during the (mild) thunder and lightning.


Soon enough we had passed through it and we floated into the calm fishing village. Our boat docked with a small “bump.” We all climbed out and slowly exited with the rest of the crowd. The door opened into the next part of the attraction, the theater that ran a movie about Norway, but we bypassed this and went straight on through to the next phase... the gift shop! There was a big crowd of people waiting to take pictures with the giant troll, and since we had pix of him from earlier trips, we decided not to wait and instead went off in search of some pretty butterflies!


Up Next: Flower & Garden Festival Fun!


Kathy

 

[maroo]

Great update! Looks like a yummy breakfast!

I am glad you decided to keep the ressie!


Would you believe that I feel like this one is a cliffhanger?!? I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE butterflies! I didn't know Epcot had butterflies? Does Epcot have butterflies?

 

[KathyRN137]

Would you believe that I feel like this one is a cliffhanger?!? I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE butterflies! I didn't know Epcot had butterflies? Does Epcot have butterflies?

It does during the Flower and Garden Festival!


Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden -- Hundreds of butterflies will flit inside a walk-through screened enclosure that includes a live exhibit showing how caterpillars form a chrysalis and emerge as butterflies.


Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

I can explain, Kathy!

See, Kelsey and I have this whole thing about her stalking Dan Radcliffe and hiding in his closet

Oh, and updated my TR

Ahh...

Well, he is a cutie, Kelsey, but I'm afraid he's just a tad too young for me to swoon over.... So he's all yours!!


Kathy

 

[MickeyLover20]

Great update!!! The breakfast looked very tasty...will have to try to remember it for the next time we go, whenver that will be. Can't wait to hear more!

 

[KathyRN137]

Great update!!! The breakfast looked very tasty...will have to try to remember it for the next time we go, whenver that will be. Can't wait to hear more!

You definitely need to get a countdown ticker in your signature!!

Thanks for reading...

Kathy