Disney done differently, (BOG dining updates pages 202 and 203)

[kaoden39]

You are blessed indeed!

SWW stuff is great because it's something we can all do as a family. I'm as much of a fan as they.



Did you use Abeka all the way through 12th?

I like the phonics based reading. Our public schools use more of a whole word approach.



Thanks!! He is excited! Instead of a party, he opted to go to his grandparents for a visit. Which actually means fishing every day and ends with a giant fish fry, though much of the fish gets smoked or baked too. It's a drop in type of thing where friends and family pop in through out the day. It's alot of fun, we were there the last 2 years, but it was just too much stimulation for Anakin all day. He ended up inside with me watching the Disney channel to get away from all the people.



I have never seen the Big Bang Theory. Maybe I'll have to check it out. And it is true there is that snobbery at SWW too. I saw a couple Trekkies who were braving it with Star Trek shirts. I like both Star Wars and Star Trek.

It's on tonight!! On CBS 8 o'clock. That show is funny, I love the main character Sheldon. He is quirky and well, I get quirky!!

 

[lovethattink]

It's on tonight!! On CBS 8 o'clock. That show is funny, I love the main character Sheldon. He is quirky and well, I get quirky!!

Is it appropriate for Anakin? If so, I will check it out!

 

[kaoden39]

Is it appropriate for Anakin? If so, I will check it out!

Oh I think that it is. There shouldn't be anything you really have to explain. It is a show about a group of their nerds. It is always good for a laugh, although if you are afraid of that they show repeats on TBS later at night.

 

[lovethattink]

Oh I think that it is. There shouldn't be anything you really have to explain. It is a show about a group of their nerds. It is always good for a laugh, although if you are afraid of that they show repeats on TBS later at night.

We saw a few minutes of it. I think I'd love the show.

 

[kaoden39]

We saw a few minutes of it. I think I'd love the show.

They are a funny group!!

 

[blessedmom4]

I LOVE Big Bang but there IS some sexual connotations at times... Sheldon often says things David says...But David is less anal.

I LOVED your side by side comparison of The Palms vs Pop! I am spoiled I just like room to spread out!

 

[kaoden39]

I LOVE Big Bang but there IS some sexual connotations at times... Sheldon often says things David says...But David is less anal.

I LOVED your side by side comparison of The Palms vs Pop! I am spoiled I just like room to spread out!

That is an apt description of Sheldon!!

 

[momabaarjo]

Congrats Grumpy!

And ready to hear about the next weekend of Star Wars...so excited to see pictures!

 

[Moodyzblu]

The Palms looks pretty nice. I'm looking for an off property place for next time since the boys are insisting on going back to Universal. I'd like to find a place that is pretty central to WDW and Universal so we can switch out days. But I don't really need a kitchen ... But I DO like extra space.
Lots to think about !!

 

[lovethattink]

They are a funny group!!

Just in those couple minutes it sure seemed so!

I LOVE Big Bang but there IS some sexual connotations at times... Sheldon often says things David says...But David is less anal.

I LOVED your side by side comparison of The Palms vs Pop! I am spoiled I just like room to spread out!

Some time I'll have to catch the show when Goofy and Anakin are in another room.

Goofy and I talked about The Palms vs POP and and it really is a tough toss up between them. They both have there good selling points, but spaciousness mights just win out. But between CSR and The Palms if the price was right at CSR, there is no hesitation, it would be CSR hands down!!

That is an apt description of Sheldon!!

Congrats Grumpy!

And ready to hear about the next weekend of Star Wars...so excited to see pictures!

Thanks!! He wrote his valedictorian speech at the last minute, finished it yesterday and this afternoon is practice. He would prefer to skip graduation completely. He doesn't like to speak in front of people, but thankfully he doesn't get nervous doing it. I'm sure his speech class in the fall will help him gain more confidence giving speeches. Our church offers a Dale Carnegie course and I was thinking he should take that some time too. He loves being behind the scenes back stage. Sound and lighting he really enjoys.

He's been in a few school plays and did some street Shakespear, he has a photographic memory and can memorize lines in no time, not just his own but the entire cast's. He gives a great performance and easily picks up the dialogue and blocking, but fishing is his forte.

The Palms looks pretty nice. I'm looking for an off property place for next time since the boys are insisting on going back to Universal. I'd like to find a place that is pretty central to WDW and Universal so we can switch out days. But I don't really need a kitchen ... But I DO like extra space.
Lots to think about !!

It is very conveniently located off I-4. It's right by Arabian Nights. It would be an easy drive to WDW, Universal and Sea World. We only used the sink and the refrigerator. The extra space was soooo nice. They could use a few more chairs though. There was the chair and ottoman, the couch, a desk chair and a kitchen chair. It was perfect for our family of 4 though!

 

[lovethattink]

Today we will be missing the Star Wars Weekend events. Anakin is too tired to get up, it's raining outside and we found out yesterday afternoon that Grumpy has graduation practice this afternoon.

I need to cancel my ADR for Sci Fi for lunch today.

Tomorrow Grumpy, Anakin and I are going to SWW if everything goes as planned.

Did I tell you that yesterday I learned that I need to set up a memory table for Grumpy for tonight. Do you all remember how creative I am??!! Not very! I gathered up a bunch of framed pictures and some photo albums, some awards, and crafts from when he was little. Can you please give me some ideas on how to set up the table and make it look decent? I have my choice of a round table or a 12 foot long rectangle table. I can use a church table cloth or I can run to a party store and get something. I have a 5 foot gradution banner, but it's plastic so it might look tacky with a cloth table cloth?? HELP!!

 

[kaoden39]

I have been meaning to say congratulations to Grumpy! What an exciting time!!



As far as the table and setting that up what about going to the party store and getting some latex balloons blown up in his colors? And what about glitter confetti thrown onto the table? Since this is such short notice I am drawing a blank because you don't have time to really do anything. I hope it all goes well!

 

[momabaarjo]

Get some extra table clothes and find some sturdy empty boxes of different heights so you can layer items...meaning put some on the boxes covered so that everything has different heights. Maybe throw in some of his little collection things too...I think you have found some neat treasures in his room!

But an empty basket with blank cards and pens with a sign asking people to leave a tip for him about the future...

 

[mommy2mrb]

sorry I didn't see this earlier...sure whatever you came up with was wonderful! hope it was a special night for you all!

 

[lovethattink]

I have been meaning to say congratulations to Grumpy! What an exciting time!!



As far as the table and setting that up what about going to the party store and getting some latex balloons blown up in his colors? And what about glitter confetti thrown onto the table? Since this is such short notice I am drawing a blank because you don't have time to really do anything. I hope it all goes well!

Thanks!

He is allergic to latex but everything worked out just fine.

Get some extra table clothes and find some sturdy empty boxes of different heights so you can layer items...meaning put some on the boxes covered so that everything has different heights. Maybe throw in some of his little collection things too...I think you have found some neat treasures in his room!


But an empty basket with blank cards and pens with a sign asking people to leave a tip for him about the future...

I wish I would have seen the tip about boxes sooner! That would have worked better. Oh and the tip thing would have been great to see too!

sorry I didn't see this earlier...sure whatever you came up with was wonderful! hope it was a special night for you all!

It was special!

 

[lovethattink]

We missed SWW Friday and Saturday. He was just too tired. Tonight we are going to see the Hoopla again, and that will be the extent of this weekends SWW. Hopefully next weekend he will be doing better and we'll be able to finish most of the list!

 

[momabaarjo]

We missed SWW Friday and Saturday. He was just too tired. Tonight we are going to see the Hoopla again, and that will be the extent of this weekends SWW. Hopefully next weekend he will be doing better and we'll be able to finish most of the list!

I hope he gets feeling better soon...I need my picture fixes from you and to see a certain little guys smile to make my day better.

How was graduation? Did you get your table set up?

 

[macleod1979]

Grandparents took my son to SWW on Sunday. He had a wonderful time.

 

[lovethattink]

Last night was an adventure. Lessons learned​

.

In order to get us to DHS sooner, I picked up DH at work. I've only driven there twice, and I missed my turn off. Ended up having to drive further before I could turn around and head back the other direction.

I assumed everything was in the car, but it wasn't. Missing was the medical stroller. We debated driving back home to get the stroller, but Anakin said he felt fine and would walk. We should have known better!!

It was 90-some degrees outside. On the plus side, they were parking people in the Stage parking area. On the downside, the parking spaces were way down. DH pulled into row 44 and dropped us off near the tram before driving all the way down.

When Anakin said he felt find and would walk, it was nice and air conditioned in the car. Once he got out in the heat, just walking that little bit to the tram was very taxing on him. He no sooner sat down on the tram when he began whining he wanted to go home, it was too hot.

I assured him we'd take it easy, walk slow, sit on benches, etc. The tram sat there a long time. Long enough for dh to park and join us on the tram.

Anakin had a very hard time getting off the tram. Especially making the last step to the ground. We both had to support him to get him off.

He stepped off the tram and into Schmolland. Explanation of schmolland. He barely made it to the security check. DH said we are just going to go back to the tram and back to the car. There were people behind us at the security table and Anakin just sits down. People can't get around him. He won't talk to us. I don't know how I did it, but somehow, I bent over and picked up all 88 pounds of him and carried him through security.

We held a quick family meeting off to the side and explained to him why he can't just sit down on a whim like he did. We said we had to make a decision right now to either change attitudes and go in the park or go back to the car. Reluctantly we all decided to give the park a try.

We made it as far as the curb near the restroom close to the entrance. He sat in the shade, but it was so stinking hot and humid that the shade didn't really cut it. So we walked into the stores and found a bench inside one of the stores. He rested for a bit and we walked inside any stores that connected all the way towards B&B. He did fine walking through the stores.

Once we got outside and started walking to the Darth Mall tent, that heat heat him hard. He made it to the Darth Mall, but it was a very labored process. The tent is air conditioned, and within a minute or so, he was perfectly fine again.

We ordered him a name tag from Endor. And he used his money to buy another light saber. Dh found 2 DK books about Star Wars and he bought them for Anakin, but I think it was more for himself! We decided to go see Luke Skywalker again inside the tent while dh paid for the purchases. Wouldn't you know it, the queue had just closed.

I didn't know how he would take the news after how he was behaving from the heat and the missing stroller. He was fine that the line was closed. He understood that the character lines close so that they can get ready for Hyperspace Hoopla.

We got back outside and within minutes we were back in Schmolland. All the available benches only had seating available in the sun, so we encouraged him to keep walking til we could find some shade to sit in. We cut through the smoking area and found a table with an umbrella providing plenty of shade.

He and Goofy sat down while I went and got us food. A kid's pizza for Anakin and a deli sub with a side ceasar salad for Goofy and I. While in line for food, the woman after me ordered an R2D2 souvenier bucket without food. She was rung up and paid. Holly, a cm getting the food together, notified the person ringing register that they can't just sell the bucket. (But all the other food places have been doing this, so I'm not sure if this was something new or just Holly's rule.) The cm at the register tried to explain to the lady that she can't get just the bucket, even though he had already rung her up without any problems. The lady didn't understand, so he told Holly that she should let this one go, and he will let future guests know they can't get just the bucket.

Holly got the bucket and before giving it to the lady, she reprimanded her in front of all of us in line. I have never seen a cm so nasty to a guest in all my Disney visits. I was shocked!!!

We all enjoyed our food, and while we sat there, the temperature dropped. Anakin's demeaner got much better and he left Schmolland and came back to us. We walked to the Hoopla with no further complaints or whining. He enjoyed the Hoopla. Saw his cm buddy Joel who has always made DHS more magical! Then we headed out of the park after stopping for some photopass pictures. We got on the tram, we were the 3rd stop. He again had some difficulty getting off the tram, but no problems walking all the way down to the car. No doubt he and heat do not mix!

 

[lovethattink]

We got Mickey mail today!! I sure wasn't expecting it. While we were at CSR I booked a bounceback offer for Celebration 6!! I cancelled our reservation for the Hilton Orlando. We were able to save approx $200. Goofy said he'd rather have that $200 to spend on food or Star Wars souveniers.

Anyway, the new Mickey mail is different than previous. Instead of the monorail mailing, it's a 5X7 booklet called Your Story The _______ Family Vacation. And they fill in your name! There are full size maps of each park, a page for writing all your ADRs, several pages about our resort, Dining tips and info, etc. It's very nice!

I hope he gets feeling better soon...I need my picture fixes from you and to see a certain little guys smile to make my day better.

How was graduation? Did you get your table set up?

I will get pictures up very soon. Got alot of things on my plate the next few days.

Grandparents took my son to SWW on Sunday. He had a wonderful time.

Glad he had fun! What was his favorite thing?

Last night was an adventure. Lessons learned​

.

In order to get us to DHS sooner, I picked up DH at work. I've only driven there twice, and I missed my turn off. Ended up having to drive further before I could turn around and head back the other direction.

I assumed everything was in the car, but it wasn't. Missing was the medical stroller. We debated driving back home to get the stroller, but Anakin said he felt fine and would walk. We should have known better!!

It was 90-some degrees outside. On the plus side, they were parking people in the Stage parking area. On the downside, the parking spaces were way down. DH pulled into row 44 and dropped us off near the tram before driving all the way down.

When Anakin said he felt find and would walk, it was nice and air conditioned in the car. Once he got out in the heat, just walking that little bit to the tram was very taxing on him. He no sooner sat down on the tram when he began whining he wanted to go home, it was too hot.

I assured him we'd take it easy, walk slow, sit on benches, etc. The tram sat there a long time. Long enough for dh to park and join us on the tram.

Anakin had a very hard time getting off the tram. Especially making the last step to the ground. We both had to support him to get him off.

He stepped off the tram and into Schmolland. Explanation of Schmolland link . He barely made it to the security check. DH said we are just going to go back to the tram and back to the car. There were people behind us at the security table and Anakin just sits down. People can't get around him. He won't talk to us. I don't know how I did it, but somehow, I bent over and picked up all 88 pounds of him and carried him through security.

We held a quick family meeting off to the side and explained to him why he can't just sit down on a whim like he did. We said we had to make a decision right now to either change attitudes and go in the park or go back to the car. Reluctantly we all decided to give the park a try.

We made it as far as the curb near the restroom close to the entrance. He sat in the shade, but it was so stinking hot and humid that the shade didn't really cut it. So we walked into the stores and found a bench inside one of the stores. He rested for a bit and we walked inside any stores that connected all the way towards B&B. He did fine walking through the stores.

Once we got outside and started walking to the Darth Mall tent, that heat heat him hard. He made it to the Darth Mall, but it was a very labored process. The tent is air conditioned, and within a minute or so, he was perfectly fine again.

We ordered him a name tag from Endor. And he used his money to buy another light saber. Dh found 2 DK books about Star Wars and he bought them for Anakin, but I think it was more for himself! We decided to go see Luke Skywalker again inside the tent while dh paid for the purchases. Wouldn't you know it, the queue had just closed.

I didn't know how he would take the news after how he was behaving from the heat and the missing stroller. He was fine that the line was closed. He understood that the character lines close so that they can get ready for Hyperspace Hoopla.

We got back outside and within minutes we were back in Schmolland. All the available benches only had seating available in the sun, so we encouraged him to keep walking til we could find some shade to sit in. We cut through the smoking area and found a table with an umbrella providing plenty of shade.

He and Goofy sat down while I went and got us food. A kid's pizza for Anakin and a deli sub with a side ceasar salad for Goofy and I. While in line for food, the woman after me ordered an R2D2 souvenier bucket without food. She was rung up and paid. Holly, a cm getting the food together, notified the person ringing register that they can't just sell the bucket. (But all the other food places have been doing this, so I'm not sure if this was something new or just Holly's rule.) The cm at the register tried to explain to the lady that she can't get just the bucket, even though he had already rung her up without any problems. The lady didn't understand, so he told Holly that she should let this one go, and he will let future guests know they can't get just the bucket.

Holly got the bucket and before giving it to the lady, she reprimanded her in front of all of us in line. I have never seen a cm so nasty to a guest in all my Disney visits. I was shocked!!!

We all enjoyed our food, and while we sat there, the temperature dropped. Anakin's demeaner got much better and he left Schmolland and came back to us. We walked to the Hoopla with no further complaints or whining. He enjoyed the Hoopla. Saw his cm buddy Joel who has always made DHS more magical! Then we headed out of the park after stopping for some photopass pictures. We got on the tram, we were the 3rd stop. He again had some difficulty getting off the tram, but no problems walking all the way down to the car. No doubt he and heat do not mix!

Things are going much better today. He slept until 11:30am, is well rested and feels great! His behavior is very good. We have been reading those new Star Wars books and he's been playing Star Wars bowling.