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

[eandesmom]

Oh good...you can start a new club with Scrappie and me...The "We've never eaten in Le Cellier club"... We need a motto and some tshirts...

That sounds like a DISign challenge Hmmn...

 

[Charleston Princess]

Buy the Mary Poppins book-have you read it?...its just a little differnt in places than the movie......another one that's fun is the 101 Dalmations by Dodie Smith-it was the basis for the movie-very similar just a little different in parts...sigh...I like all those English stories...

Speaking of Dodie Smith, she wrote one of my all-time favorite books ever -- I Capture the Castle -- have you read it? If not, you must! It is absolutely fabulous -- about a girl and her sister growing up in an English castle in the 1930s!

Yep...Bakugan...Lego...Star Wars...we have the little green men too...I'll bet we have a lot of the same toys in our homes...

I am sure that we do!

Oh good...you can start a new club with Scrappie and me...The "We've never eaten in Le Cellier club"... We need a motto and some tshirts...

I meant to tell you that I have never eaten at Le Cellier either so you are not alone!

 

[TxMickeyLover]

Count me in as someone else who hasn't eaten at Le Cellier. We do have ressies for our upcoming trip, though!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Please explain this no eating at Le Cellier!?! If I didn't get a ressie there my lower lip would be dragging the ground.....

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

That sounds like a DISign challenge Hmmn...

I'm going to think about it too...

Speaking of Dodie Smith, she wrote one of my all-time favorite books ever -- I Capture the Castle -- have you read it? If not, you must! It is absolutely fabulous -- about a girl and her sister growing up in an English castle in the 1930s!


I meant to tell you that I have never eaten at Le Cellier either so you are not alone!

Ooo thanks for reminding me...I actually bought I Capture the Castle-I haven't gotten around to reading it...I need to pull it and put in on my night table...

No.. Le Cellier for you either...

Count me in as someone else who hasn't eaten at Le Cellier. We do have ressies for our upcoming trip, though!

Well good for you...I'm glad you were able to get in...

Please explain this no eating at Le Cellier!?! If I didn't get a ressie there my lower lip would be dragging the ground.....

NO--I'm not boycotting Le Cellier or dogging it by any means... I actually wanted to eat there our last trip and couldn't get a ressie...

Originally -it wasn't on my radar...I always wanted to eat at Chefs or Rose and Crown...or something else when we were in Worldshowcase...

then I starting hearing that it was good...and I wanted to try it but for some reason it never fit in...

then more recently (like the past several years-it just seems almost impossible to get in because of the buzz......

I was starting to feel like the only one on the boards who had never eaten there... but as it turns out I have some company...

We have never had the pleasure of tasting those coffee rubbed steaks, that famous filet with the cheese mashed potatoes, the pretzel bread or the maple creme brulee...It's kind of sad...don't you feel the teeniest bit sorry for us...?

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I do feel very sorry for you! It's one of our favorite meals! I "almost" hate the fact that we are eating there on the second day of our Christmas trip... I would love to have a little more time to salivate and yearn....

 

[cjackearl]

I love the book signing idea too! I don't know why the characters wouldn't sign them, I think they'll sign anything, except maybe body parts.

We cancelled our Chefs ADR in June because we decided we couldn't possibly fit in 2 TS in one day, but I know I would have loved it. Our favorite Chicago restaurant is a french bistro that serves some similar dishes. Remy is cute but I would have jumped as well. Rodents with bare nekkid tails freak me right out.

If you figure out how to create that Grand Marnier slushie at home, please pass on the recipe.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Goodness you move quick over here! I had just caught up, now I had to catch up again-but, I'm loving it! All your updates are wonderful!!! Let's see if I can recall everything I was going to comment on...

-CONGRATS on your upcoming trips!!!! Pleaaaaaaaase do a TR, and I certainly wouldn't mind hearing about the "side-trips" laughing to other locations in Paris.

-I'm looking forward to reading about Rabbit fighting Darth Vader!!! That had to be just awesome for him--and you!

-Don't feel silly about dancing when your Photopass CD arrived, I always dance at Mickey Mail.

-I was laughing out loud at the CM in China trying to teach Emily (your family) Chinese. Oh too funny! I'm sure you and your DH exchanged a few "looks" during that time. (Have I ever written about how glad I am to have a boy?! I would NOT look forward to those teen years with a girl if she turned out anything like me!!!)

-Your bit on FM and JM was HILARIOUS!! So creative. I am hoping for a Fairy Tale Disney Wedding and Disneymoon. Does FM or JM realize that if you book a Fairy Tale Disney Wedding, the bride and groom get annual passes AND a night at the GF???? Tempting.

-I didn't realize you guys were looking into buying DVC! Though we are DVC Newbies, we don't regret it for a moment. Even though I am leaving the workforce and things will be tighter, we are holding onto that baby!

-I love the idea you have for Emily's birthday next year-buying the books and asking the characters to sign them--what INCREDIBLE souvenirs that would make. I am certain the characters would sign them, I've read reports of them signing everything from t-shirts and pillowcases to basketballs!

-It seems Epcot is the park for tears and meltdowns this year. You aren't alone in crying in Epcot (as I'm sure you've already heard from your readers!).

I'm sure there was more to comment on...but just know this-loving your reports, every bit! Looking forward to more!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

My goodness I am so far behind! I loved the romance of JM and FM... I can see her dilema, she must be so torn. Personally I too am hoping to see Nobby officiate a Disney wedding. Oh the pictures!

You've done far too much for me to comment on so I'm just going to give an all around and will try to keep up now!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Hey Triple P!!

I got behind Too much going on around here!!

Sounds like a nice afternoon/evening at Epcot!!!

I have eaten at Le Cellier, although only once!

DH and I ate there in March on our aniversary trip! I actually have to give the man at the next table when we ate at Le Cellier with part of our DVC purchase! He told us how wonderful DVC is, how worth it it is and so on! I think DH was much more receptive when it came from someone other than me!!

I keep going onto the dining website and trying to get a reservation for next month in hopes someone will cancel. I haven't had any luck Imagine that

It sounds like I have a lot of the same toys in my house as well! We're all about legos, star wars, lego star wars, bakugan blah, blah, etc, etc!!! OMG! I'm a big fan of legos! something creative that requires a little thought is ok in my book! I love when I hear "Look at what I made Mommy!"

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Hi everyone......I feel like I'm having Dis withdrawal...I haven't been on the boards for 5 days...we've all been down with a stomach virus... not pretty at all...the virus and the withdrawal...

I'm planning on updating later today-the Studios-the TSM mayhem morning mass movement and Channeling the Force... ...

I love the book signing idea too! I don't know why the characters wouldn't sign them, I think they'll sign anything, except maybe body parts.

We cancelled our Chefs ADR in June because we decided we couldn't possibly fit in 2 TS in one day, but I know I would have loved it. Our favorite Chicago restaurant is a french bistro that serves some similar dishes. Remy is cute but I would have jumped as well. Rodents with bare nekkid tails freak me right out.

If you figure out how to create that Grand Marnier slushie at home, please pass on the recipe.

I think they'll sign them too...for a moment I was thinking about copyright issues but honestly I don't think I have to worry about that...and you're right...they do sign anything...within reason...

I love French food...especially the bistro kinds of stuff......."bare nekkid tails" pretty much describes it... Once I got over the surprise...I liked him...I still prefer the film...

If I figure out how to make the GM slushie-I consider it my obligation to pass it forward...

I do feel very sorry for you! It's one of our favorite meals! I "almost" hate the fact that we are eating there on the second day of our Christmas trip... I would love to have a little more time to salivate and yearn....

Yes...it seems very difficult to get these days...maybe when they move back to 180 ADRs....

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Goodness you move quick over here! I had just caught up, now I had to catch up again-but, I'm loving it! All your updates are wonderful!!! Let's see if I can recall everything I was going to comment on...

-CONGRATS on your upcoming trips!!!! Pleaaaaaaaase do a TR, and I certainly wouldn't mind hearing about the "side-trips" laughing to other locations in Paris.

-I'm looking forward to reading about Rabbit fighting Darth Vader!!! That had to be just awesome for him--and you!

-Don't feel silly about dancing when your Photopass CD arrived, I always dance at Mickey Mail.

-I was laughing out loud at the CM in China trying to teach Emily (your family) Chinese. Oh too funny! I'm sure you and your DH exchanged a few "looks" during that time. (Have I ever written about how glad I am to have a boy?! I would NOT look forward to those teen years with a girl if she turned out anything like me!!!)

-Your bit on FM and JM was HILARIOUS!! So creative. I am hoping for a Fairy Tale Disney Wedding and Disneymoon. Does FM or JM realize that if you book a Fairy Tale Disney Wedding, the bride and groom get annual passes AND a night at the GF???? Tempting.

-I didn't realize you guys were looking into buying DVC! Though we are DVC Newbies, we don't regret it for a moment. Even though I am leaving the workforce and things will be tighter, we are holding onto that baby!

-I love the idea you have for Emily's birthday next year-buying the books and asking the characters to sign them--what INCREDIBLE souvenirs that would make. I am certain the characters would sign them, I've read reports of them signing everything from t-shirts and pillowcases to basketballs!

-It seems Epcot is the park for tears and meltdowns this year. You aren't alone in crying in Epcot (as I'm sure you've already heard from your readers!).

I'm sure there was more to comment on...but just know this-loving your reports, every bit! Looking forward to more!

I'm definitely looking forward to planning and writing about our upcoming trips...I think a day at DLP warrants a TR-don't you......not to mention the fact that I just have a feeling that which ever way the JM and FM relationship goes...we owe it to her to see her homeland...and JM might need to come along for protection services...

Poor Em...all of this talk about Disney Wedding Planning has me thinking...(ALL THOUGH SHE IS SO NOT GETTING MARRIED FOR A VERY LONG TIME......anyway it would be really fun to plan a Disney Wedding......just sayin...

DVC is looking more and more appealing to us...I just think we'll probably going for resale because of DH's interest in some of those earlier properties...you hold onto that baby Brooke-vacations are important to you and if you have to cut...cut in areas that you can live with...

My goodness I am so far behind! I loved the romance of JM and FM... I can see her dilema, she must be so torn. Personally I too am hoping to see Nobby officiate a Disney wedding. Oh the pictures!

You've done far too much for me to comment on so I'm just going to give an all around and will try to keep up now!

I think that Nobby would be a great officiant too...but Jen might be afraid he's getting some grandious ideas... but really with his wonderful hat-I just think he has a presence...

The photos would be fabulous...

Hey Triple P!!

I got behind Too much going on around here!!

Sounds like a nice afternoon/evening at Epcot!!!

I have eaten at Le Cellier, although only once!

DH and I ate there in March on our aniversary trip! I actually have to give the man at the next table when we ate at Le Cellier with part of our DVC purchase! He told us how wonderful DVC is, how worth it it is and so on! I think DH was much more receptive when it came from someone other than me!!

I keep going onto the dining website and trying to get a reservation for next month in hopes someone will cancel. I haven't had any luck Imagine that

It sounds like I have a lot of the same toys in my house as well! We're all about legos, star wars, lego star wars, bakugan blah, blah, etc, etc!!! OMG! I'm a big fan of legos! something creative that requires a little thought is ok in my book! I love when I hear "Look at what I made Mommy!"

Hey...if you're confused you're in the right place... I get confused on a daily basis-I like to think its because I've got so many different things running in my brain at once...but who knows...

Yep-I'm starting to wonder what the harder ressie to get is...CRT or Le Cellier?...good luck with trying to get it...I'll send you some...

Yes-I like the legos too-I think that they are still one of the best toys out there...they encourage creativity, fine motor skills, if you lose pieces-you can still add them to each other...a whole host of stuff...Bakugan...I'm not sure about......but the guys seem to LOVE THEM...

Isn't it funny when your child sees someone else's toys? It's always like wow-that kid is sssssoooooo lucky...and they are so deprived...even the other child has the same reaction at your house...bless their greedy little hearts...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

DHS-TSM Manic Madness March and Channeling the force...

Saturday morning appeared to be sunny and bright...between that and a lovely breakfast from the C Lounge...

...we all had a bright outlook getting reading to begin our day at the Studios...

We all got out to the bus bright and early 8:10ish so we would be towards the front-having read about the rather dramatic rope drop and rush for TSM-I wanted to be toward the front...

when we got there...there was already a nice line of other people waiting to get in...but we were still in good shape...As usual I had my morning coffee...thank goodness for the in room coffee machine and my stash of Starbucks...

There was a big push this particular morning (and I'm assuming every morning) to recruit contestants for American Idol...I think they need a lot of contestants because they do multiple shows throughout the day...I found the recruiters a bit tenacious for that early in the day...or maybe I just needed more caffeine...(I have to admit while adoring music...I'm not a big AI fan...not because of the contestants but largely because of the games the judges and producers play with the contestants...)

The line behind us had increased much more than the line in front of us...Hatter and I had had a discussion about everything I'd read about the TSM mob scene-and we had decided that since we wanted to ride this fabulous sounding ride twice-he would run ahead to Fastpass it while the children and I got in standby...his goal was to get as far ahead and to the left as he could get to avoid crossover by the ToT and RnRC riders...

They started to let people through the turnstiles and down to the end of the street...where they were going to begin the entry "show"...we were probably about back 5th row deep -Hatter looked to be close to the front-when I looked behind me-it was a little intimidating...as people stretched way back...(now I must admit-I am not a huge fan of crowd...ironic being in Disney...I have less a problem with a lot of people spread out...this reminded me less of that and more of a soda in a glass bottle that had been shaken and was ready to explode...

The show was cute...something about a Hollywood Director and his starlet making a movie including a family selected from the crowd-creating the opening of the movie to include everyone entering the park but I have to admit to being a little distracted about the official rope drop

...3...2...1 and Gggggggggggggggooooooooooooooooooooo

Oh my...I had read about it...in books and on this board...but nothing had quite prepared me for the actual thing...I'm not sure if I had run with the bulls in Spain... I'd have been prepared for it...

This was crowded, intense and just a bit nerve wracking...we were just carried along on a mass of people...I actually picked up my tall 7 year old because I was a little nervous for his safety...while I believe that most of the crowd had good intentions I saw a couple of grown men who I think might have sold their mothers to procure a quick fastpass/ride...

We finally made it to standby-bypassing all the fast passers...I had lost sight of Hatter...we started to get in standby but I was a little nervous that Hatter wouldn't make it to us in time-that we'd be in and out before he showed up...fortunately he turned up and we got in standby-10-15 minutes top...(we were saving our fast passes for a bit later...)

WOW-what a fabulous ride, what fabulous queueing, just WOW-We're all huge Toy Story Fans-I think that they Imagineers did an amazing job with this one...

I was grateful to ride it -I wouldn't have missed it for anything...I just wish there was a way that wasn't so completely stressful...I'm not sure what the answer is?

Right across the way...we ran into these guys... absolutely awesome timing and interaction...

We had been planning to head towards the first showing of the Jedi Academy...along the way...we found ourselves on some of the back streets of America...

and my favorite...San Francisco...

I may have mentioned earlier that Hatter isn't a morning person...although we had made him this shirt...based on some ideas gleaned from Disneymagiclover...ok pretty much stolen from her...(Hey Jennie...

we didn't insist he wear it to the park...he needed to wake him up and decide if he wanted to try to be selected for Jedi Academy-we had talked about it earlier so he had a sense of what it entailed...as we made our way over...we asked him...do you want to try to get selected...


Yes-he did-time for a quick change...



and time to see if we had a destiny with the Force...

 

[praisehisname]

OMG I so want to ride TSM, but I am scared out of my mind about the trampling herd of people to get there! Can't wait to hear if Hatter got picked for Jedi training!

Denise

 

[Lady Lallie]

The Toy Story Running of the Bulls is a little scary. Okay...a lot scary. I can't imagine it with kids, it was nerve wracking enough with Marc. I went ahead to get the fast passes and he caught up to me. We didn't even do standby but we should have. Such a fun ride!

I have a feeling Hatter ends up wearing that shirt....

 

[mickeysmyboy]

OMG! That TSM bull run is a bit scary!! Well, like LL said, a lot scary!!

I would have a massive anxiety attack! No joke!

I'm planning our DHS arrival for a little bit after rope drop. Early enough to still get a TSM FP, late enough to miss the craziness of a rushing crowd

I love the shirt!! Something tells me he wore it and it worked

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oh, how perfectly you captured the running of the hordes to Toy Story Mania! I felt like I was reading about my own experience -- it is truly crazy!

Cute pics of the kids with Buzz and Woody! Are you all going to go to the 3D double feature in the next couple of weeks? I promised the kids as soon as we returned from our weekend we would go -- I even got Connor a Toy Story shirt for the occasion the last time I went to the Disney Store.

By the way, Connor is so not a morning person either -- yet another thing the boys have in common!

I hope all of you are on the mend -- I have missed you around on the DIS boards!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Toy Story Mania! Aptly named... Mania! We're counting down the hours to the 3D movies!

Do you think they'll move the Fast Pass distributions to the front of the parks? I can see pros and cons of doing it that way.... anything must be better than the bull run.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

CHANNELING THE FORCE

Well after a quick shirt change...Rabbit decided he wanted to give it a shot...he wanted to become a Padawan learner...and learn how to wield the Light side of the Force.

(Granted he adores Star Wars-we have the Fandex and the lego sets and now the light sabers... and I had explained the basic concept of the whole thing to him before hand...how the stage was next to the Star Wars ride...how children who wanted to try it were picked out of the audience...how not everyone got selected and to seem like he was interested if he really wanted to be selected...and that after learning some Padawan fighting moves there was a good chance that you would have to try them out on a Star Wars villain...)

Well when we got there the area around the stage was pretty full-but a lot of people were bunched up by the stairs leading to the stage...it isn't a very large stage-so we moved around to the front middle...

I have to admit that my heart was pounding...I know Rabbit wanted to do it...and I wanted him to be able to do it...since he can get anxious if he isn't sure what's going on...I wasn't sure how he would feel when it began...well we were about to find out...

(Ok -picture the theme from Star Wars in your head...) Out comes this "Jedi" in his brown robe channeling the young Obi Wan crossed a little bit with that guy from American Idol...Ryan Seacrest...the basic idea is that he was attractive and charming with a touch of smarmy...more charming than smarmy though...

So he come out with his two "assistant" Jedi and starts his whole "we are looking for new Padawan learners...do you have the force in you"...yada ya ya...David is smiling and really engaged in this but there are some kids jumping up and down toward the steps..."Obi" starts selecting..."you and you...you....and you...you"...AND "so you want a be a Jedi, young one"-looking right at David-(-who has his yellow I want to be a Jedi shirt on) - Well today you shall have your chance...(Thanks Jenny...)

So I'm thinking...OMG-he got picked...this is awesome...and then OMG...he got picked...I hope he's ok...will he be ok? He doesn't knew these "Jedi" grownups and he can get nervous and he's not sure what he's doing and I was praying and nervous and hoping that everything would go well...


(an Asperger interlude-if you'd like skip down...)

(I know I've mentioned that Rabbit was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome before now...and in my PTR I talked a little bit about what it is, how it displays itself in David and a little bit about how it impacts our family...When I talk about it or bring it up...it isn't because I feel sorry for myself or Rabbit for that matter...In fact I believe that we are very fortunate overall although we can have frustrating times/moments just like anyone. I sometimes even feel out of my element because in relation to the needs that many children with autism have...I don't know or always feel that I even have a right to talk about it... Usually when I do its because in some small way I'd like to be able to help someone out there who may see certain behaviours in their child that they don't understand or have concerns about and are perhaps wondering if their child or spouse for that matter could be on the Spectrum...many people don't understand how broad the spectrum is or that not everyone on it looks or acts in exactly the same way...( and -there are a LOT of undiagnosed adults)...also I feel I'm paying forward the info/help that I've gotten in the last 20 months from so many really amazing people...in both understanding AS and in how to best help a person you love get the help they need learning to navigate the social world...)

But I do have a lot of residual anger in what happened to David and my family after his diagnosis last January (2008)...upon revealing his diagnosis to his school in good faith and not even understanding what it meant ourselves-we had just gotten the name, and were trying to make heads or tails of what it all meant...we we received a phone call from his school head telling us he would not be able to come back for kindergarten...but "he was welcome to reapply for first grade"...basically he was kicked to the curb...despite the fact that he was the most academically advanced in his class, kind and not aggressive or oppositional in the least-he was not being welcomed back for the next year because "they weren't sure they could meet his needs"...interpretation...they didn't even want to know what his needs were or if they could meet them...they didn't want to deal with him and particularly his anxiety...his Autism...(If it sounds like I'm angry I am...I had no idea what I was dealing with at the time, was very distressed and my child-my beautiful boy, my smart, kind, funny, not a mean bone in his body child was being rejected by people I now realize had absolutely no idea what Asperger's was or wasn't, had no capacity to see outside the box, and basically subscribed to the philosophy of "out of sight, out of mind...or we won't have to deal with what isn't here..."

Well since then I have learned quite a bit...I've learned that by far my son's primary needs are in the area of social thinking...that he is wired in a different way and doesn't automatically pick up social cues...but he can be taught to look for them...its an ongoing process...(and in the process he probably has some of the best manners of most 7 year olds-since they've been drilled into him by his mama)...I've learned that that's where a lot of his anxiety comes from-if you didn't understand some of the subtle social nuances- of course you'd be anxious too...and some of that can be lessened and/or alleviated...I've learned he has Executive Planning Issues...(to oversimplify- organizing does not come easily or naturally to him). I've also learned that he is easily one of the kindest persons, most decent person I have ever met. He is also extraordinarily intelligent and quite funny and a very pleasant companion.

I've learned that people with Asperger's are not a homogeneous population-meaning that while they have social cognitive needs...their other needs are all over the board...some may have sensory needs, or have coexisting conditions like ADD or anxiety disorders...others like David don't have too many of these. Some (1 in 4) can also be gifted. So basically if you've met one person with Asperger's-you've met one person with Aspergers....

When I think about where we were last January as opposed to now I am overwhelmed, grateful and still a little angry...Overwhelmed because I had to learn so much so quickly, grateful for some truly amazing, kind and smart people who came into our lives whom I might never have met and angry because of the ignorance of people who really should have known better...There is no way with what I know now that things would have played out the way they did last January. David would still not be attending that school BUT because it wasn't a good place for him and not due to my ignorance of realizing how ignorant they were actually being about a little boy who is now in an entirely mainstreamed classroom and moved up a grade to boot-and that they were freaked out by the label...

In some weird way I suppose that I should be grateful because the whole experience not only made me willing and able to advocate for my son but has also given me a burning desire to advocate for other children as well...not just on the Spectrum but with a whole host of other issues as well...

(interlude over...)


Ok- so this moment has now taken on epic proportions to Hatter and I- symbolic implications...not only is it awesome and incredibly cute and a major Disney moment to have Rabbit up there learning to fight the "Dark" side...but we're picturing those people who were so negative about him and his abilities when he was first diagnosed and seeing this as being symbolic of all of those people who had such little faith in my son...

Not only does Rabbit learn his battle moves...(thank you karate lessons...-highly recommend martial arts for kids with ADD or Asperger's-awesome for focus/confidence) he is up there taking it very seriously and focusing intently and since he understands what is expected of him-not seeming nervous in the least...

Rabbit is up there with his comrades and doing great...and now Darth Vader shows up...this is big time...will Rabbit choke-it would be understandable...but NO-he aces it...he has his routine...and Vader is going down...(and in my mind anyone who lacked faith in his ability to be everything he is-is going down too...) and I'm tearing up and Hatter looks like he is going to absolutely burst with pride...as does Alice with a huge smile on her face...

My little guy just defeated Darth Vader and struck a blow for the light side of the force...

I WILL remember this moment for the rest of my life...

My son, the Jedi defeated Darth Vader...

It really doesn't get much better that this.

 

[cjackearl]

Oh Patricia, what an absolutely magical moment for all of you. A metaphorical battle was playing out in that Jedi ring for you all. Thanks for the interlude, I read it with interest. Three cheers for Rabbit, prevailer over the Dark Side!!!!