Dog in Disney - Preparing for our first trip together

[TwitterMouse]

Hello everyone! Welcome to my first pre-trip report!
Quick disclaimer- my spacebar is malfunctioning, so if some words are stuck together, I'm sorry and please know that I can type

So, I think I'll start off with an intro.
My name is Ash, I'm 19. Six years ago I stopped going to Disney (not by choice, by circumstance). Last year I went, had a difficult but good time. This year, I'm going again and will attempt to rectify the mistakes I made last time. That is, last year I learned that while on vacation I still need to take care of myself.

This trip I've noticed it's the first time I'm doing a few things. First time camping at FW, going with both my moms, first time going with my service dog, and first time not going in June. Oh, and the beginning of my trip will be my dog's birthday, end of the trip is mine. How exciting, I've never had a Disney birthday!

Since I like (okay, love) pictures I'll be putting some in here, as well as my planning and research and what not. Travelling with a service dog is a bit (in my opinion) like travelling with a really helpful kid. He helps me, but rides/shows could scare him, he could not be allowed on some and stuff like that. I also need to be careful because he's so small, he tires quickly, gets too hot and all that.

This is me and my dog:

Physically and mentally I have a lot of preparation to do. I'll write about it here.

I hope I'm doing this right...

 

[sunlver]

Great start to your pre trip report I am looking forward to reading more.

We re going in mid June. I love to read as many trip and pre trip reports as I can.It certainly will be interesting to read your report traveling with your service dog.

 

[TwitterMouse]

Hi sunlver!!! I've gone many, many time in the end of June. I loved it, and I've never been to the parks during a time when the crowd levels are low. My mom said it will be easier for us during low crowd levels. I'm going mid September.

I'm hanging out at a bookstore, and I'm considering getting the Passporter Special Needs book. It's the only Disney book I can find that is geared towards special needs. They don't have it in, so when I get my paycheck I think I'll order it from them (this way I don't pay shipping ). I flipped through the regular passporter and liked it a lot.

I talked to my mom, and we're making reservations tomorrow! She wants me to call and do it, because it will be good phone practice. I spent years being terrified of phones, and am now working on being able to talk on a phone properly and having decent phone etiquette. I hope the Disney phone people are nice.

 

[TwitterMouse]

The publishing company my mom works for publishes Frommers, Dummies and The Unofficial Guide. When I was at the book store, out of those I like The Unofficial one best. And now I get it 60% off and no shipping.
Still need the passporter one...

 

[sunlver]

So when is your trip going to take place? I feel like such a big kid waiting for our trip in June.

What kind of dog is that in the picture? I love dogs, Ive got two big dogs of my own.

Are you driving down to Disney or flying?

 

[TwitterMouse]

I'm going Sept 8th - Sept 15th. I feel like a big kid too
He's a doxie/chihuahua.
We're driving down. I love driving down. My mom said as long as it's still daylight when we get to Florida (it will be, she can't count) I get to drive through Florida to Disney. Yay! If while I'm driving it starts to get dark I have to let someone else, I hope it doesn't because I want to drive into Disney. That would be cool.

I think I found a way to help my dog prepare. I'm going to New York the week after next to get pierced (eek! ow!) and there's a World Of Disney there! They even have characters to meet. So not only do I get to test him on walking all day, I'll get to try him out with characters. woot! Poor dear will have to sit through me getting two piercings though, and he hates that. But at least we'll get to do some very Disney work! I think this trip will give me a good idea what areas I really need to work on.
Ha, I make it sound like this trip to World of Disney is all for him... haha, I'll be in there all day!!! I wonder if they have dog things... he needs quite a few things! I would LOVE if they had a yellow mickey poncho!!! Or a little mickey ear hat! Maybe a cute pin for his vest! Or an adorable collar! Okay... I need to stop.

I was also thinking for at night in Disney, to get a blinker for his collar. He's so low to the ground, I'd hate for someone not to see him and him get stepped on.

And, I've decided that I'm going to the Night of Joy on Sept 8th. My fave band, Flyleaf is playing My mom said she'd get me the ticket because she owes me from a concert I missed last year.

I mustsay sunlver... I'mglad someone else is feelinglike a littlekid too.

oooh. I hatemyspace bar!

 

[TwitterMouse]

I need better guiding at night, so I'm currently making our own leash. I couldn't find what I need anywhere (even through places that have service dog supplies) because my dog is so small. I have most everything I need. A bit more material, pliers, and some thread is all I need. I'll have this done by the end of the week.

My sisters want me and Pi to go to Disney in June. I don't think I can afford two trips, and I don't like the idea of bringing him in June. Meh.

My moms keep saying we'll make reservations tomorrow. I think maybe we should do it sooner than later and if we keep saying tomorrow, it will sneak up on us. They also do not want to make ADR's.

I'm bringing Pi to his first 3D movie on Thursday. Somethings I read said to be careful with the dog in Honey I Shrunk The Audience, ITTBAB, and Philharmagic. I don't get why sitting through a 3D movie would be different than any other movie. So, we'll give it a shot and see how it goes. I really don't forsee any problems though.

 

[TwitterMouse]

Pi did fine in the 3D movie Good doggie.
On Monday we're going to bring him to NYC. Should be cool.

 

[TwitterMouse]

We went to New York yesterday. Giant Disney store was awesome!!!
Pi did really well. I brought him through a big toy r us to test him around hyper kids, and he did really well. Didn't get upset and stuck to my sister like glue.
He did very well all day, we walked six miles and he is cranky and tired today. meh.

 

[TwitterMouse]

Ok, problem!
My moms still haven't given me their card to make reservations (it'll be two weeks at least until I get mine back). They keep saying we can wait off making them. I'm not so sure. :-\
They don't want to make ADR's at all. I've never made those before either, so I don't know that it's all that important. But at the same time, we didn't always eat when/where we had originally planned to. I think we should make ADRs.
Ack!
Oh, my mom has decided we should get Disney Crocs (yay!). I can't find them anywhere though, except kids sizes. I don't know if they even make them in adult sizes.