Back from Wonderland:wAlice,Madhatter,ChesCat&White Rabbit 11/11Thank You

[mickeysmyboy]

Oh!!! I wanted to add, I totally agree with KathyRN137's suggestion to rent DVC points at VWL and impress DH with the size and amenities DVC has to offer

 

[cjackearl]

How exciting that you have two trips planned next year! Ah, Paris. I haven't been since I was a poor college student eating pain du chocolate for nearly every meal and wishing I could move in to the Musee D'orsay. I'd love to go back as an adult who could actually afford a hotel room instead of sleeping in a train car! DLP sounds beautiful. I'm looking forward to your day trip TR! And what a fun 16 year celebration you will have with Emily in WDW.

 

[eandesmom]

Jumping in late here. I just wanted to say I was perusing your PTR today and read your beautiful explanation of Aspergers. While my DS9 has never been officially diagnosed, he was been referred to more than once by his teachers as being in the spectrum but to paraphrase one of your diagnoses..."not aspergery enough"

To date we don't see the need for official diagnoses and my sense is he would have a very similar one to the one you received but I can well relate to the assumptions and misconceptions you must encounter. We have been fortunate enough to get him placed in our gifted program and they are well versed in some of the behavioural challenges. An official diagnoses would exaggerate the perceptions he already has to deal with simply by being in the program.

Much of what you describe, is my Eric, to a T. The sweetest, nicest, most loving boy in the world. But it is HIS world.

I look forward to reading more.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Such exciting news from you! You all are going to have such a wonderful time in all of your "Frenchness"!
However you decide to write about this trip you know we will all be here reading.....

Love the photopass pics and you got a great one with the family being munched by Bruce...

Yes, I do have lucky money envelopes.

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Ah Paris. Oh my how lovely that sounds. Yes, you really must do a TR on that, I would love to see all the pictures!

And your birthday celebration trip will be so much fun for you all! You're very lucky to be creating these wonderful family time memories.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Of course we will want to see Paris pictures! You could probably do a whole mini-Paris TR if you wanted. I'd be willing to read it!

Thanks...I think I'll make the emphasis the trip to DLP to stay on topic and put in little things like Notre Dame, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tour as "little side adventures"...

Are you planning to do the WDW half marathon in January 2011??? I am planning to do that, too! I chickened out from a 10k this August due t lack of training and I really want to have something that seriously keeps me training. I think comitting myself to a race on the other side of the Atlantic would really make me train hard! It would be so emberassing to fly over there and then chicken out of it!!!

Bad news about DLP (or actually rather good news): nearly all of the attractions there are much better than at WDW as they are newer and they put much more money into it... So very little should be skipped. But I think nodnol and I will do a few comparisons on our TR which might be still in time for your trip. In 2003 we were in DLP in March and had perfect touring weather, so it can be nice, but you could even have snow! But then again, DLP was built as an all year park at a place where they have real winter. I am sure you will have a great time!!

Gulp-yes I am very seriously considering running the half marathon in 2011...I think if I really put my mind and body to it...I could do it with a LOT of HARD work...but I can't think of many things more motivational then the thought of running down Main Street-I have to see how far I get in the next 6 months and then make a call...but I will definately do it some day...

Sigh...oh dear...I was afraid of something like DLP being really awesome and having to pick the best of the best...well I'm going to have to think...would it make any difference staying one night...I can't let this creep out of control-if we pack light maybe we could swing a night or two...I mean who needs a day trip to Versailles...when they could have a night or two at DLP-(I"M KIDDING-well actually Hatter and I have been to Versailles...the kiddos haven't...hmm...Floss I'm going to pm you I need HELP...)

Hi Patricia,

love the photopass pictures....especially the one in front of the EE view at AK...can't wait to see the DHS ones...very cool!

I also got the cutest from Jedi Mickey and French Minnie on their Moroccon date....

love the news of the additional trip you so can do two PTR's or a combined one...you know I'll be reading

Scrappie J-

You know I started out with the Jedi Mickey idea to do a book for David but I found myself adding French Minnie-to entertain myself...

I am loving your blog btw...Shout out for Julie's Blog......look in her siggie...

Oooh-la-la! DLP! How exciting!

(Oh, yeah, and the rest of Paris, too...)

You know what excites this crowd!

The October BD/MNSSHP trip sounds amazing and the WL is the perfect choice! Perhaps you could rent DVC points and impress Hatter with how comfortable the villas are for families!


Kathy

Yeah I know the DLP is the draw here...Paris is just a nice little bonus...

Hatter is pretty sold on DVC...its just a matter of when, how many points, etc...We really want my inlaws to go and see what a good time they could have there also...we'd like a place where they could be with the kids in a relaxed but fun environment...they're getting older (early 70s) and get stressed traveling because of the details...we think they'd really like the DVCs-first they would love Magic Express...they'd love the kitchens to make breakfasts and all the great restaurants...in other words we think it would be good for their mental health to travel a bit more without too much stress...WE don't think Kidani is their taste-I love it but we think they'd love WL or BCV...

I'd be totally up for renting points-but I thought that was really hard if you didn't already have some yourself...

Yippeee for getting you photopass CD!!! I love the pictures!!! I'm still on the fence about pre-ordering a CD for next month! I'm affraid if I do I we won't get enough photopass pictures taken to be worth it!

WOW!!! Next year will be a fun filled year for you guys!! I can't wait to hear about your Paris trip!! One of these days DD and I are goingto take a girls only trip to Paris and do DLP on the side!

I'm soooo excited that your going to get to go to MNSSHP next year!!! I know you really wanted to go!! MNSSHP and WL?! Sounds like a great trip to me!!

Yep I was on the fence about the photopass too...but because of our day at the Studios-I had to get it-oh dang it I can't stand it and yes I do sneak around like a 5 year old looking for my holiday gifts-and I'm darn good at rewrapping them too...I'm so bad at secrets...Rabbit had a pretty magical moment at the Studios...

Ok...I feel better...but I'm not going to talk about it until I get to the Studios...which is the day after Epcot which I'm posting now...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Oh!!! I wanted to add, I totally agree with KathyRN137's suggestion to rent DVC points at VWL and impress DH with the size and amenities DVC has to offer

If we can manage to rent the points-I'd love it!!! I'll have to start looking into the possibilities...

How exciting that you have two trips planned next year! Ah, Paris. I haven't been since I was a poor college student eating pain du chocolate for nearly every meal and wishing I could move in to the Musee D'orsay. I'd love to go back as an adult who could actually afford a hotel room instead of sleeping in a train car! DLP sounds beautiful. I'm looking forward to your day trip TR! And what a fun 16 year celebration you will have with Emily in WDW.

Hey a good pain du chocolate is nothing to sneeze at-btw-Rabbit ate several crepes at Epcot and would have had more if I had allowed it...mean mommy thought some protein and veggies might be in order...

The Musee D'Orsay is my favorite...

Yes...I'm feeling pretty lucky about next year's travel...

hmmm...train car huh...sounds like a good story there...

Jumping in late here. I just wanted to say I was perusing your PTR today and read your beautiful explanation of Aspergers. While my DS9 has never been officially diagnosed, he was been referred to more than once by his teachers as being in the spectrum but to paraphrase one of your diagnoses..."not aspergery enough"

To date we don't see the need for official diagnoses and my sense is he would have a very similar one to the one you received but I can well relate to the assumptions and misconceptions you must encounter. We have been fortunate enough to get him placed in our gifted program and they are well versed in some of the behavioural challenges. An official diagnoses would exaggerate the perceptions he already has to deal with simply by being in the program.

Much of what you describe, is my Eric, to a T. The sweetest, nicest, most loving boy in the world. But it is HIS world.

I look forward to reading more.

First welcome... I am happy that you are here...

and I'm so happy that you read my PTR...and that anything I wrote about Asperger's was helpful to someone...

I don't find myself talking about it a lot on my TR because fortunately for us...Rabbit is so relaxed and happy to be there -DWD- and with his family that a lot of his specific issues don't come up there...although I will be talking about it a bit on our Studios Day...

The whole issue of the spectrum is so complicated...there's a saying to the effect "if you've met one person with Asperger's-then you've met one person with Asperger's...while all of the Spectrum disorders have some over riding similarities (to help to be able to diagnosis)...not everyone is going to appear the same...

Personally, I think that there are a lot of adults out there who are underdiagnosed also...(I think my dad might be one of them...)

Any kind of giftedness comes with its own challenges as well because you are also viewing the world through your own lense...

Your son may or may not have AS-but he sounds like a wonderful boy and the fact that you watch him and his behaviours are so much to his benefit...btw...you might find this interesting...Apple did a campaign several years back "Think Different or Differently"-you can google it -I'll try to look for it as well...but it featured different people who thought differently and brought major changes to their fields...at least 1/3 of them are strongly suspected of being on the spectrum...---hmm I had forgotten about this-I have to look this up again myself...

Such exciting news from you! You all are going to have such a wonderful time in all of your "Frenchness"!
However you decide to write about this trip you know we will all be here reading.....

Love the photopass pics and you got a great one with the family being munched by Bruce...

Yes, I do have lucky money envelopes.

Ooo thanks-I have to pm you today...

btw-our back to school went great...but it was very traditional...teachers in the classroom...no watermelon...

I know-nice mom _huh letting a shark eat her kids for lunch...

Ah Paris. Oh my how lovely that sounds. Yes, you really must do a TR on that, I would love to see all the pictures!

And your birthday celebration trip will be so much fun for you all! You're very lucky to be creating these wonderful family time memories.

I think I'll open a PTR at the beginning of October-one year out from Alice's B-day-it's really nice to know I'll have readers...

But first I better get to going on this TR...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

EPCOT...Missing rope drop isn't a federal offense...I love Spaceship Earth...I really do...the Living Seas...Characters and I've had enough...


Somehow, we were running a little later than usual Friday Morning...Epcot Day...normally since Hatter is all about the rope drop-we are there and have the first ride/strategy all figured out but for some reason we were a little slower getting done...

we had a nice breakfast and got finished, and made the bus but oh no...we were going to be about 10 minutes late...hmmm...even though he wouldn't admit it Hatter wasn't happy about this...he likes his rope drop...

we had agreed to rent a stroller for Rabbit today-at 7 he's probably pushing it but we hadn't done it yet and Epcot is a big park...if nothing else we could throw our bags in it...

So the plan was to ride Space Ship Earth...and then I would take Alice and Rabbit over to the seas while Hatter got us fast passes for Test Track...

We rode the new interactive SSE-and I wish I had my camera but I had given it to Hatter...I wanted the photo of Alice and I in the the future...sulk...I think the fine tuning at the "dawn of time" was pretty good too...

I like the new narration by Dame Judi Dench...(she's such an awesome actress...you have to love a women who can play Q in Bond films but also play Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth I and do Britcoms like "As Time Goes By..." I am such a sucker for this ride...it pretty much makes me mildly weepy...all of that history and progress...and you realize how amazing a story it is -creating writing and theatre and the (I do miss the corny line that went something to the effect of "behold the Sistine ceiling..."

So I went over to the Living Seas with the kiddos where we rode the clamshells...with no wait...looked at the manatees-Rabbit was fascinated by them...we spent a little time with Bruce the shark and we were heading over to the Character stop...

There was a 25 minute wait which I didn't think was too bad when you take into consideration who is there...Hatter was asking if I was sure I wanted to to this...(which is kind of code for "I don't"...

But the queueing area was cool and there were DD cartoons from the 30s playing...Rabbit and I were happy enoug....although i was esperate for a coffee..Alice and Hatter were nit picking...at each other...I don't even remember half of the stuff but it was all ridiculous...

In our household...Rabbit and I tend to be fairly mellow...live and let live...kind of tempraments...

Alice and Hatter are both serious type As=although neither of them see it that way...and they are exactly alike...

Rabbit and I pretty much get along with everyone about 95% of the time...Hatter will nit pick on something that Alice is doing that he doesn't like...and then Alice starts to get a little flippant which send Hatter into a disrespectful kind of roll...sigh...I really think its about picking your battles...I tend to let the little stuff go so I can fight for things that I really care about...the two of them can just argue and it becomes about the winning...don't get me wrong...the adore each other...and when things are going well...they are thick as thieves but when they're both sure their right...(it was starting to get on my nerves...give it a rest we're at DWD...

we got to meet the characters...

and it was time for Test Track...


Outside, I had had it...

and I felt the tears coming...

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Oh no! Here's my hug for you! Your description of Alice and Hatter could be a description of George and Alex. The start, the flippancy, the feelings of disrespect... ack! Simmer down people! I am exactly like you... pick your battles and don't sweat the small stuff.

I hope things get better.....

 

[dismagiclover]

Rabbit got to fight Vader! I'm glad the yellow shirt worked I can't wait for you to get to the Studios day so I can hear all about it. We rented DVC points for our SSR stay last trip and I'm renting again in Jan. and in June. It's a pretty simple process actually. You just have to find someone on the rental boards to fill your request. It does involve a large amount of trust, however. You have to pay in full well before you go and there is nothing stopping the member from canceling the reservation and keeping your money. Nothing except their integrity and I'm one of those idealists who like to believe most people in the world have a decent amount of integrity Anyway, renting points has worked out for me well so far. Now that we'll own DVC we won't rent points anymore. Probably just do transfers if we want more points, but that is a different topice.
Anyway, good update. Love the character pictures. Sounds like your wait had a little tension Sorry about that. I'm bracing to hear about the tears. Sometimes stuff like that just happens. Hopefully it is short lived

 

[jenjolt]

Awwww... I really hope everything picks up as the day goes on!!

I'm also a huge Spaceship Earth fan! I love the history and the way they have you travel through time and the ending is a new favorite of mine! I think I laughed so hard at my future I cried tears of joy!!!

I'm looking forward to reading more about your EPCOT day!

 

[cjackearl]

Uh oh, the tears of frustration. I've been there. We all have, I'll wager.

I'm with David, manatees fascinate me.

Your children are such cute shark bait!

 

[KathyRN137]

I noticed in the pix that you and the kids are color-coordinated! Was that planned?

Don't people know that there's no fighting in Disney??

Hope the tears were few...


Kathy

 

[eandesmom]

Any kind of giftedness comes with its own challenges as well because you are also viewing the world through your own lense...

Your son may or may not have AS-but he sounds like a wonderful boy and the fact that you watch him and his behaviours are so much to his benefit...btw...you might find this interesting...Apple did a campaign several years back "Think Different or Differently"-you can google it -I'll try to look for it as well...but it featured different people who thought differently and brought major changes to their fields...at least 1/3 of them are strongly suspected of being on the spectrum...---hmm I had forgotten about this-I have to look this up again myself...

I think I'll open a PTR at the beginning of October-one year out from Alice's B-day-it's really nice to know I'll have readers...

But first I better get to going on this TR...

I'll check that out, it sounds very interesting. Yes you are right about gifted having its own set of challenges...

I'm loving the 1 year out PTR's, you should do it!

There was a 25 minute wait which I didn't think was too bad when you take into consideration who is there...Hatter was asking if I was sure I wanted to to this...(which is kind of code for "I don't"...

But the queueing area was cool and there were DD cartoons from the 30s playing...Rabbit and I were happy enoug....although i was esperate for a coffee..Alice and Hatter were nit picking...at each other...I don't even remember half of the stuff but it was all ridiculous...

In our household...Rabbit and I tend to be fairly mellow...live and let live...kind of tempraments...

Alice and Hatter are both serious type As=although neither of them see it that way...and they are exactly alike...

Rabbit and I pretty much get along with everyone about 95% of the time...Hatter will nit pick on something that Alice is doing that he doesn't like...and then Alice starts to get a little flippant which send Hatter into a disrespectful kind of roll...sigh...I really think its about picking your battles...I tend to let the little stuff go so I can fight for things that I really care about...the two of them can just argue and it becomes about the winning...don't get me wrong...the adore each other...and when things are going well...they are thick as thieves but when they're both sure their right...(it was starting to get on my nerves...give it a rest we're at DWD...

Outside, I had had it...

and I felt the tears coming...

Oh

That kind of stuff is SO draining! I know how it is to see your loved ones nitpicking each other to death, it is draining! I hope it was short lived and the tears stopped them in their tracks.

DLP! I hope to go there in 2011....

I have a master plan. A big FAT master plan.

DH doesn't need to know it all yet though...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Oh no! Here's my hug for you! Your description of Alice and Hatter could be a description of George and Alex. The start, the flippancy, the feelings of disrespect... ack! Simmer down people! I am exactly like you... pick your battles and don't sweat the small stuff.

I hope things get better.....

Thanks for the hug...right back at you... Yeah...it can be a bit frustrating-and the thing is they're both amazing...Hatter is an awesome dad and Alice is a great daughter (and usually remarkably easy teenager...they are just so alike in some ways...they butt heads...if one of them could just stop...Hatter should no better due to his age...and Alice should yield-he is her father

anyway things did get much better...I didn't mean to cry truly but they were both duly ashamed of themselves......

Rabbit got to fight Vader! I'm glad the yellow shirt worked I can't wait for you to get to the Studios day so I can hear all about it. We rented DVC points for our SSR stay last trip and I'm renting again in Jan. and in June. It's a pretty simple process actually. You just have to find someone on the rental boards to fill your request. It does involve a large amount of trust, however. You have to pay in full well before you go and there is nothing stopping the member from canceling the reservation and keeping your money. Nothing except their integrity and I'm one of those idealists who like to believe most people in the world have a decent amount of integrity Anyway, renting points has worked out for me well so far. Now that we'll own DVC we won't rent points anymore. Probably just do transfers if we want more points, but that is a different topice.
Anyway, good update. Love the character pictures. Sounds like your wait had a little tension Sorry about that. I'm bracing to hear about the tears. Sometimes stuff like that just happens. Hopefully it is short lived

Rabbit fought Vader and it was awesome!...shirt......first show of the day... I'll get into much more detail when I do the Studios...I couldn't stand it though...I had to post the photos like a 5 year old...

I definitely see DVC in our future-just a matter of when...I am going to look at renting points...

yeah...thankfully the tension died away...like it had never happened...

Awwww... I really hope everything picks up as the day goes on!!

I'm also a huge Spaceship Earth fan! I love the history and the way they have you travel through time and the ending is a new favorite of mine! I think I laughed so hard at my future I cried tears of joy!!!

I'm looking forward to reading more about your EPCOT day!

Actually for a day that started out dicey...the afternoon was one of my favorites of the whole trip...

SE is so great...I don't know why anyone would skip it...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Uh oh, the tears of frustration. I've been there. We all have, I'll wager.

I'm with David, manatees fascinate me.

Your children are such cute shark bait!

big tear drops of frustration...that become bigger as I try to stop them...

Manatees are pretty cool-they are such gentle, empathetic creatures...I really would love to go to one of the preserves/sanctuaries they have in Florida...

They are cute shark bait-but kids are friends not food...oh boy I'm tired I should go to bed...

I noticed in the pix that you and the kids are color-coordinated! Was that planned?

Don't people know that there's no fighting in Disney??

Hope the tears were few...


Kathy

No we didn't plan the color coordination but I noticed it too-kind of funny isn't it?....

I agree Disney should be a no fight zone...

The tears were big but few and then all was well...

I'll check that out, it sounds very interesting. Yes you are right about gifted having its own set of challenges...

I'm loving the 1 year out PTR's, you should do it!



Oh

That kind of stuff is SO draining! I know how it is to see your loved ones nitpicking each other to death, it is draining! I hope it was short lived and the tears stopped them in their tracks.

DLP! I hope to go there in 2011....

I have a master plan. A big FAT master plan.

DH doesn't need to know it all yet though...

Draining is a very good word for it...


I always have big fat master plans in the works... Personally I believe the less they know( about some stuff)...the happier they are...

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Oh no, I'm sorry there were tears! I fear I too will be writing about some after our December trip.....

 

[Charleston Princess]

Rabbit got to duel Darth Vader!!!! Oh, I am beside myself with excitement and cannot wait to get the full details! How awesome!!!

"Mildly weepy" person on SSE here, too! Isn't that bit about your future hysterical?

I don't blame you for getting more and more upset at Hatter and Alice!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Awww.

I hope the tears don't last long!

I love Spaceship Earth too. I just get all warm & fuzzy thinking about all the history in that ride.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Oh no, I'm sorry there were tears! I fear I too will be writing about some after our December trip.....

Yes there were tears......but fortunately they were short lived...oh no...you too...

Rabbit got to duel Darth Vader!!!! Oh, I am beside myself with excitement and cannot wait to get the full details! How awesome!!!

"Mildly weepy" person on SSE here, too! Isn't that bit about your future hysterical?

I don't blame you for getting more and more upset at Hatter and Alice!

...yeah the Rabbit-Vader dueling was pretty amazing...I'll probably get happy-weepy when I write about it...

I loved the new interactive piece on SSE

Oh don't worry I guilted them into good behaviour the rest of the day...

Awww.

I hope the tears don't last long!

I love Spaceship Earth too. I just get all warm & fuzzy thinking about all the history in that ride.

Nawww...they don't last long...but I think it should be a rule that Disney is a no fight, no tears zone...

btw-LL-I'm sitting in bed recovering from a little stomach thing (my immune system feels low this September...stress I think...but anyway I just watched the first two episodes of the John Adams miniseries-and IT WAS FABULOUS-I read it on your PTR and I got it from Netflix...so good....Thanks....