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

[KathyRN137]

Great update!! I can't believe how long that line was for HM!! We have been so lucky with crowds on all of our trips... it's amazing to see such long lines. Can't wait to hear how TGM works out for you this time... I've used him for the past 3 trips and I think that's been part of the reason we've done so well with crowds.

I'm glad Tricia got rewarded with some pixie dust for her good manners!

And it's nice to Ed goofing around... He seems more relaxed this trip.

He was!

I love TGM... I didn't use him as much on this trip because other than the P&PP, we only did "one park for one day." When you have seven days you have a lot more flexibility.

Thanks for the Tricia compliment... she sure was surprised!

awwwww, yet another great update....... loved it!!! thanks, Kathy!!

Thanks Erin!
I'm starting to go through TR Withdrawal, though!


Kathy

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Been reading through your report...but backwards...10 pages at a time

I'm with Tricia-I don't like being called Pat or Patty...:. I like Tricia or Tish but I also do like Patricia...

Nice pictures of Ed and Billy and Tricia and Billy-I look forward to continue my reading...

 

[KathyRN137]

Been reading through your report...but backwards...10 pages at a time

I'm with Tricia-I don't like being called Pat or Patty...:. I like Tricia or Tish but I also do like Patricia...

Nice pictures of Ed and Billy and Tricia and Billy-I look forward to continue my reading...

Hi Patricia! Glad you're enjoying my report.... no matter which way you read!!

Thanks for the lovely compliments...

Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

Chapter 32: Just When You Think All's Well in the World...

Friday, 4/24/08

~The Magic Kingdom~


When I left off, our little family was headed for Pirates of the Caribbean, happily munching on roasted almonds sprinkled with sugar, cinnamon, and … pixiedust! (Courtesy of a sweet cast member at the kiosk.) I don’t recall the wait being too long, and the coolness of the pirates’ lair was a welcome respite from the blazing afternoon sun.


Billy loves to sing along! Yo-Ho! Yo Ho! A Pirate’s life for me! He also loves to play a little game during the ride. He wants me to pretend like I’m looking for Captain Jack... “Where is he? Where can he be?” Then Billy shouts out, “There he is... over there!” every time he sees him. For some reason this always brings about a cascade of belly laughs. Yes, my son has a fractured funny bone!


We emerged from the eerie caverns and looped around to FrontierLand only to discover that the afternoon parade was in full swing! We actually hadn’t planned on watching it, but we were kind of stuck in traffic. Oh well, why not? We grabbed a spot on the wooden walkway fronting the Diamond Horseshoe Saloon and enjoyed some of the Dreams Come True Parade.

Caught the tail end of Snow White & Co...

Practically perfect shot of Mary...

Ah, the Villans! Can't wait to see them on Halloween!!

"They weren't kidding when they called me, well, A Witch!"

Peter and Wendy Darling

Fairy Godmother and MK Royalty

A closer look at Cindy and her prince

Ariel and Eric

Loved those "dreamy" blue costumes!

“How did you like the parade, Billy?”

Following the parade (and the crowd) toward Liberty Square…

Time for a little Executive Office Entertainment…

But wait! What’s this?? Has Billy had a change of heart?

“No, no, no Hall of Presidents! I want Space Mountain!” We all looked at each other in surprise and shrugged. Apparently, Billy was feeling the need for speed! Well, the great thing about the NOTP (non-obsessive trip planning) method of park touring is the ability to shift gears instantaneously. We pointed ourselves toward TomorrowLand and away we went!

Back to the future…

Ed doesn’t do SM, so we had the perfect number for one rocket... three. The wait time was posted as 30 or 40 minutes, so we decided to use the GAC. Once we got to our ship I sat Tricia in front, Billy in the middle, and me in the back (so I could have the extra leg room.) Really! I’m not scared to ride in the front!

Let’s blast off through time and space!! Everybody scream!!

Trivia Tidbit: The two SM ride tracks are called Alpha and Omega. Alpha, (the left track) is 3,196 feet long, and Omega (the right track) is 3,186 feet long. Alpha is longer because it crosses over Omega at one point. ~ The Walt Disney World Trivia Book, Vol. 2.

I’m growing increasingly concerned about the fact that SM will still be closed for refurb during our next visit. Billy does not seem to be taking the news well. He keeps saying, “Space Mountain will be open!” Definitely going to have to prepare for this one!


As the kids and I were exiting, Billy begged for another ride on Space. It really has become one of his favorites. I had to say no, however. It was four o’clock and the MK was closing early because of Grad Night. At the stroke of seven, the park would be overrun with high school seniors bent on celebrating their rite of passage! We wanted to do a lot more and there was no time for repeats. (We had ridden it twice during the P&P Party, so I didn’t feel too bad.) After joining up with Ed, we made our way to another TL favorite: the Carousel of Progress. There’s never a long line here it seems, but remember, anything with audio-animatronics is a big hit in our family! (And I just plain like the old COP.)

Trivia Tidbit: (I don’t know why, but I’m just in the mood to spout trivia tonight!)
The dog in the COP currently answers to “Rover” but has been called “Buster,” “Sport,” and even “Queenie” over the years. Not only that, his coat has changed from white (at the World’s Fair) to light brown to today’s dark brown. ~ WDW Trivia Book, vol. 2.


Humming the catchy Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow, we once more found ourselves at the entrance to another pet ride of ours, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin!

Hi Buzz!!

This time I dispensed with my photography duties and just had fun playing. Boys against the girls was our usual method, but this time Tricia wanted to sit with her dad, so I had Billy for my partner. Here, Billy, let me drive and you shoot, okay? I really don’t like to spin all that much!! It was a good game, but as expected, Ed once more came out with high score. Well, he is a trained marksman, after all!

I’ll just make myself feel better with a visit to the Laugh Floor to see one of my favorite characters in action... Mike Wazowski!

Hmmm. The TL crowds seem to be thinning…

“I’m watching… always watching!”

It was fun and cute, although I’m still hoping for my husband to be “That Guy” someday! Ba-dum-bum!!

Enjoying the show…

Outside once more, there seemed scant shade to be had. We passed by one of the misters, the "Cool Scanner," and Tricia announced that she had to cool off! Surprisingly, Billy followed her. Tentatively, he held his hand out under the fine mist...

After they had taken their “shower,” we began to discuss what we wanted to do next. I believe I mentioned that we might want to check out how crowded FantasyLand was... the congestion had already begun to let up in TomorrowLand now that we were in the middle of the dinner hour. Realizing that we three were planning our next move, Billy suddenly surprised us by announcing that he now wanted to see the Hall of Presidents after all!

“Hall of Presidents, pleeeeese!!”

Tricia snorted and said she did not want to sit through “the dumb old HOP” again, which only made Billy upset and more determined to have his way. His frustration burst forth with a series of loud screeches, “Eeeeeeeee! Eeeeeeee!” which in turn, only proved to embarrass Tricia after a few passing guests turned their heads at the sharp, unfamiliar sound. “You had your chance, Billy!” she sniffed, hands on her hips. Then she threw down the gauntlet with an exasperated whine, “Why do we always have to do what he wants to do?”

Ed and I looked at each other and sighed. Our precious last day was fast dissolving into a civil war! Something had to be done…


Kathy

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oh, what a wonderful afternoon of Pirates, parade, and Tomorrowland rides! I am so sorry that things started dissolving between Tricia and Billy! Aren't brother/sister dynamics so much fun? We have the same issues at our house -- one or the other is always claiming the other one always gets his/her way...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Well now honestly I don't blame Billy one bit for wanting to do Space Mountain over the Hall of Presidents...

I just rode it for the first time last March in Disneyland (I had been a little chicken before...) and I loved it... I'd rather ride Space Mountain than do the Hall of Presidents-although I do want to see it now that its been redone...

Billy isn't the only one in denial about the Space closing/refurbishment...I'm not handling it that well that Space will be closed when we're there next month...

Sorry about the Tricia/Billy spat...it's really hard to give everybody exactly what they want/need in equal proportions all of the time...

 

[princesskelz]

Hall of Presidents....once you have seen it its a good 45 min. nap.
but wait....no dole whip??
great update!

 

[KathyRN137]

Oh, what a wonderful afternoon of Pirates, parade, and Tomorrowland rides! I am so sorry that things started dissolving between Tricia and Billy! Aren't brother/sister dynamics so much fun? We have the same issues at our house -- one or the other is always claiming the other one always gets his/her way...

It's so true... one minute they're best buddies and the next, they're sworn enemies!


Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

Well now honestly I don't blame Billy one bit for wanting to do Space Mountain over the Hall of Presidents...

...Billy isn't the only one in denial about the Space closing/refurbishment...I'm not handling it that well that Space will be closed when we're there next month...

I love Space Mountain! And we're missing the scheduled re-opening by only 11 days! We have to prep Billy very well for it, but that still may not prevent a meltdown once he realizes that he really, really, can't ride it!


Kathy

 

[mousescrapper]

Great update Kathy....

I am still amzed this is all off memory

He also loves to play a little game during the ride. He wants me to pretend like I’m looking for Captain Jack... “Where is he? Where can he be?” Then Billy shouts out, “There he is... over there!” every time he sees him.

very cute

Oh well, why not? We grabbed a spot on the wooden walkway fronting the Diamond Horseshoe Saloon and enjoyed some of the Dreams Come True Parade.

Good deal, we saw this parade as well in 05 w/ the kids on Main Street as a last minute decision too....we were heading out when it was about to begin and Mae 2 1/2 at the time was asleep in her stroller so we found a spot on the curb in front of a garbage can of all places for the twins but it worked

Sometimes those moments of being in the right place at the right time sure pan out here at WDW KWIM


Peter and Wendy Darling

My favorite!

Time for a little Executive Office Entertainment…




But wait! What’s this?? Has Billy had a change of heart?

“No, no, no Hall of Presidents! I want Space Mountain!”

Wow-E! I am quite suprised too!


I’m growing increasingly concerned about the fact that SM will still be closed for refurb during our next visit. Billy does not seem to be taking the news well. He keeps saying, “Space Mountain will be open!” Definitely going to have to prepare for this one!

I don't know if this will be the case the whole time SM is under refurb...but looking at a diff YouTube video, I found someone who posted a shot of SM w/ the lights on inside as they saw while riding the TTA...it was cool on the video, be even neater in person I bet...




Well, he is a trained marksman, after all!

He should do quite well on TSM at DHS then too....

[

“I’m watching… always watching!”

It was fun and cute, although I’m still hoping for my husband to be “That Guy” someday! Ba-dum-bum!!

Can I get tickets for that show...that would be good!


Ed and I looked at each other and sighed. Our precious last day was fast dissolving into a civil war! Something had to be done…

Hope you guys can work it out and salvage the end of your MK day!

Scrappie

 

[KathyRN137]

Hall of Presidents....once you have seen it its a good 45 min. nap.
but wait....no dole whip??
great update!

Thanks!

Yep, it's true! I've never had a Dole Whip!! (Just not that much into pineapple, I guess.) I may have to put it on my list for the next trip, however. It's as if I'm not really a true DISer until I do!


Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

Great update Kathy....
I am still amzed this is all off memory
Hope you guys can work it out and salvage the end of your MK day!

Well... three memories, actually! I do have help!

We divide and conquer...


Kathy

 

[mom2mek]

Great update as always Kathy! Hey, maybe they will be doing "soft" openings of Space when you are there. I remember when Spaceship Earth was closed for refurb (I think it was scheduled to re-open in Jan 2008), they had soft openings in early December. Can't rely on it, and you certainly wouldn't want to tell Billy, but you never know...you might get a pleasant surprise in October!!!

Uh-oh....we certainly have our share of different opinions in our family. 3 kids usually means 3 different wants! Hopefully dividing and conquering works for you!

Sara

 

[Hedy]

Thanks!

Yep, it's true! I've never had a Dole Whip!! (Just not that much into pineapple, I guess.) I may have to put it on my list for the next trip, however. It's as if I'm not really a true DISer until I do!


Kathy

I was unsure my first time too, so I opted for half-vanilla, half pineapple so it wouldn't be a complete loss.

 

[KathyRN137]

Hey, maybe they will be doing "soft" openings of Space when you are there. I remember when Spaceship Earth was closed for refurb (I think it was scheduled to re-open in Jan 2008), they had soft openings in early December. Can't rely on it, and you certainly wouldn't want to tell Billy, but you never know...you might get a pleasant surprise in October!!!

Hopefully you'll be right about that Sara! We'll actually be there for the entire first week of November... perhaps they'll be done a bit early.

One can only hope for a little

Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

I was unsure my first time too, so I opted for half-vanilla, half pineapple so it wouldn't be a complete loss.

Not a bad idea...


Kathy

 

[maroo]

awesome update, Kathy!!

I don't like pineapple either and have decided I don't really care for Dole Whips. I am still a DISer!

Maybe we need to start a club...

DISers against Dole Whips. Nah, too strong.

I don't like Dole Whips but I am still a DISer. Nah, too long.

DISers for the Love of Plain Vanilla. Uh. No.


Ok...I got nothin'!

But I don't like them either, Kathy!

 

[DearDaisyinDurham]

I like pineapple a bit but LOVE orange & vanilla. I had my first Dole Whip in May & it truly was so good, the next day I had one for breakfast - you know, that healthy pineapple juice plus the dairy of the ice cream! Two food groups there!

 

[eandesmom]

Chapter 32: Just When You Think All's Well in the World...

Friday, 4/24/08

~The Magic Kingdom~

When I left off, our little family was headed for Pirates of the Caribbean, happily munching on roasted almonds sprinkled with sugar, cinnamon, and … pixiedust! (Courtesy of a sweet cast member at the kiosk.) I don’t recall the wait being too long, and the coolness of the pirates’ lair was a welcome respite from the blazing afternoon sun.

I love Billy's fractured funny bone!


Following the parade (and the crowd) toward Liberty Square…

Great parade pics!


Well, the great thing about the NOTP (non-obsessive trip planning) method of park touring is the ability to shift gears instantaneously. We pointed ourselves toward TomorrowLand and away we went!
Trivia Tidbit: The two SM ride tracks are called Alpha and Omega. Alpha, (the left track) is 3,196 feet long, and Omega (the right track) is 3,186 feet long. Alpha is longer because it crosses over Omega at one point. ~ The Walt Disney World Trivia Book, Vol. 2.

I am loving the trivia!

After they had taken their “shower,” we began to discuss what we wanted to do next. I believe I mentioned that we might want to check out how crowded FantasyLand was... the congestion had already begun to let up in TomorrowLand now that we were in the middle of the dinner hour. Realizing that we three were planning our next move, Billy suddenly surprised us by announcing that he now wanted to see the Hall of Presidents after all!

“Hall of Presidents, pleeeeese!!”

Tricia snorted and said she did not want to sit through “the dumb old HOP” again, which only made Billy upset and more determined to have his way. His frustration burst forth with a series of loud screeches, “Eeeeeeeee! Eeeeeeee!” which in turn, only proved to embarrass Tricia after a few passing guests turned their heads at the sharp, unfamiliar sound. “You had your chance, Billy!” she sniffed, hands on her hips. Then she threw down the gauntlet with an exasperated whine, “Why do we always have to do what he wants to do?”

Awww.... Tricia. NOTP can be frustrating in it's own way...

 

[mrsksomeday]

So sorry to read about the issue with Tricia and Billy . You and Ed walk a fine line to keep both of them happy. I can't wait to see how you worked it out.