Down the Hole: A Pre-Trip Report w Alice, Madhatter, Cheshire Cat, & Queen of Hearts

[PracPerfPatricia]

Oh, thanks for the tip on Jim Dale reading Alice in Wonderland! I adore him reading the Harry Potter books, I was wondering what else he has done! He is so wonderful at all the different voices. Thanks.

I'm loving the pictures from your past trips.

His readings really are fabulous-he also has done a reading of Peter Pan and a couple of years ago-he did a one man show of A Christmas Carol LIVE ON STAGE in New York...I don't remember why I missed it but I so wish I had seen it...if he ever does it again I'm there...

Great Start! I just love the sentiment (He sometimes makes blanket statements like this which I usually just kind of ignore...) I can so relate to that! Can't wait to go along for the ride

Thanks for joining! Yeah-I truly love my husband but if I called him on each one of these statements ...I just let him say what he has to say and then usually do what I was planning to...

Oh, I love Jim Dale -- you know he is in Pete's Dragon as well!

I loved hearing about how your love affair with Disney began!

He's quite the versatile guy-apparently he did a lot of Broadway/West End musical theatre when he was younger too...

Your 2006 December trip sounds wonderful. I dream about going to Disney in December with all of the Christmas decorations, I think that will be my all out trip where no expense is spared!

How cute that your kids were dressed as Wendy and Peter Pan. You don't see many kids dress like that and I think it's adorable.

Christmas time is really spectacular-so cool to see the characters in their holiday outfits and all the parks/resorts decorated...

I have three times I know I'd really love to go (and I haven't even come back from my August trip...

1. around Halloween so we could go to the Halloween Party in MK-all those Disney Villians out and about, and the Halloween Parade...
2. I know DD would like to celebrate her 16 birthday there-which would be October 2010-she loves the Wilderness Lodge so maybe if we're lucky we could find a way to combine #1 & #2 next year-shorter trip-5 day/4 nights-would be awesome...hmmm...have to work on that one &
3. I'd love to go during one of the Star Wars Weekends...I like Star Wars but DS and DH adore Star Wars-and if you've ever seen the pictures it actually looks like a lot of fun...& the little Mickey stuffie dressed like a Jedi is one of the cutest stuffies ever...

I'm in! Your PTR looks fantastic - I'm looking forward to the rest

Thank you......Welcome!

What a wonderful start to your PTR! You really are a very talented writer and I am greatly looking forward to more on the PTR and then the TR!

I love your mini-recaps of your past Disney trips. It really looks like your family had a lot of fun! Ans I see that you really are a dedicated DISer since you made your DH wear a tie-dyed Mickey shirt. I guess your whole family had matching ones?? I was so tempted to do those for my 2008 trip, but didn't. And my sister already has informed me that no way is she going to wear matching t-shirts with me!

I can absolutely understand what you say about WL and AKL being breathtaking, they are! I think it is amazing how the architect was able to create such an impressive space while still making it look like a place where you can feel at home.

Yes -we did have some matching clothes on one trip and honestly where else can you get away with that but WDW...... but there is no way DD would ever do that now-you know-she's 14 going on 15 and she is pretty agreeable but she is a teenager and has her limits...

I have a book on Disney Architecture and it is really amazing all the detailing that go into the resorts and the parks...its one of the things that actually makes it so special...I love Architecture-it wasn't something I thought of studying in college and I'm not sure I'd have made a good one but I really appreciate it...my poor kids get a little lesson on significant buildings whenever we go into New York or any new city...(I won't do that do them at Disney though...) I'm not sure if this is good or bad-I was looking at the Lego site with DS and he was all excited that he recognized the Lego model of the Guggeneheim Museum but decided he would get that when he was a little older since it was for 12+...he really wanted a Power Miners or Star Wars set...

Your plans look great! Just remember it will be easy to have a lot of downtime since the activities and atmosphere of AKL are so appealing!

I know...-we are lucky to be staying a luxury resort with lots of fabulous amenities and we should take advantage of them-not to mention I really do think its probably smart to have down time just for the health/comfort factor-It's going to be HOT.

I love Resort downtime, so relaxing and normally peaceful.

How did I not know that the World Of Disney in NYC is closing! How sad, there is another reason for me to go to NYC soon!

I can't believe its closing either but I read it on another thread-someone who works there said it was closing in October... I've been in there twice and its a great store-3 stories-they always seemed to have customers...and I thought they had some merchandise that you really don't see very often-particularly a lot of really cute/fun New York Disney themed merchandise...they also had character signings and would some times have some of the cast members from the Broadway Disney shows in the store for special events...it's a shame...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

I am in on this one....I AKL and love to hear reports about it!!!

Just wanted to get you a big HELLO and Thanks for following...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

DETAILING EACH DAY, MAKING SURE WE PACK LIGHT BUT RIGHT & DS PRACTICES PACKING A SUITCASE-BUT WHERE ARE THE CLOTHES? HOW MANY STUFFED ANIMALS CAN YOU GET INTO A SUITCASE???

For our last several trips-we have made a countdown calendar for the last month till our trip...this year I employed DD to craft something and she came up with this:

I thought it rather cute using the black and red-which are both Mickey Mouse colors as well as playing card colors (aka-the cards in Alice in Wonderland...-she is clever... I wonder where she gets it from...


Speaking of clever...DS is getting quite excited and told me he wished to pack-not wanting to thwart his diligence I told him to go ahead...(I knew I'd unpack it but I thought it was a good practice...)

DS proudly showing off his packed suitcase...

I was curious as any mother would be would he had pack...Imagine my surprise when upon opening his suitcase this is what I found...3 stuffies-Goofy, Donald and Stitch along with 3 books-Diary of a Fly, Diary of a Spider and Diary of a Worm...

Upon asking him ummm....what about some clothes-you know tee shirts, shorts, bathing suit, socks-Underwear???? He replied laughing at my obvious foolishness that of course I would carry those in my suitcase...Silly me... (DS has an unique perspective on the world-he is cute, clever, usually kind, and definately quirky (more on that as we move along...)

On the subject of packing-I have a friend with 4 sons who manages to pack for trips having them all use one carryone suitcase and one backpack-this seemed quite brilliant and I thought we would try to emulate this formula...we shall see how this works out going forward...

I have my daily plans done...-they are sure to change as well as my ADRs in place...they probably won't change...due to Free Dining most of the Restaurants are booked...I would have liked to schedule a character breakfast at 1900 Park Fare but after I realized it...it was sadly too late.....also after reading so many positive reviews on Tutto Italia I would have liked to try that but all in all I think we did well...


Disney Trip 2009 Planner (today's version)


Monday 17th

Packed and Departing @ 7:00-our house
Arrival @ aprox. 9:30-in NY city (since we have a morning flight out of Newark I thought it would be fun to spend the day in New York)

Possible activities....
(I Promise myself that I won't make my kids have to "do" an education activity -ie a museum on this day...The educator in me has a really hard time not going into NY without enriching their developing minds...) So with that in mind here are some of the things I was throwing around...



Top of the Rock-awesome views of the city-no obstructions, opened fairly recently-in the last several years (opens at 8)

Tour of Radio City Music Hall 51st (11-3)-We saw the Christmas show here last year and it is an awesome Art Deco space-I'd like to go back and see the theatre when not so crowded...

Central Park:
--Zoo
63-66th near 5th-
inspiration for zoo in Madagascar

--Alice Statue
74th East-
HAVE to see Alice

--Strawberry Fields
71st-73rd West
Imagine Memorial-Beatle fan-want to see

--Lunch at Alice’s Teacup
3 locations-102 W 73rd St., 156 E 64th St., 220 E. 81st
Really delightful little cafe/restaurant, themed after Alice-serves breakfast, lunch, tea -DD and I love this, DH tolerates it, DS-hmm not his thing-have to see how this plays out-may split up for lunch-DH likes Gray's Papaya...

World of Disney NYStore
5th & 55th
This is an amazing store for Dis lovers-it is 3 stories, has pretty much the same merchandise you'd find at World of Disney-in DTD-maybe a little less-but with lots of fun NY Disney stuff you won't find at DTD-Sadly I heard/read it is closing in October...I'll probably buy myself a t-shirt here versus the park

NBA Store 5th & 52nd

Dinner Brooklyn-Grimaldi’s for Pizza and Brooklyn Ice Cream Wo
or Daisy Mae's Barbeque in Hell's Kitchen-Hell's Kitchen isn't nearly as bad as it sounds... and the BBQ is heavenly

Check into Hotel Newark


Possible alternatives-studio tours at 30 Rock, tour of Radio City, MOMA, Met, or American Museum of Nat.l History....(Good incase of rain...)

What I think we will do:
-Top of Rock,
-Radio City tour,
-Dis Store on 5th,
-lunch at Alice's,
-go to Central park-
-Alice Statue,
-maybe zoo,
-Strawberry Fields
-Dinner



Tuesday 18th

-Wake up at 5:00------
-Shuttle to Airport
-Departing @ Newark Airport ------MEAL AND SNACK-------
-Land about 10ish

-Shuttle Service: Disney’s Magic Express
-Check in AKL ,Pool View,7-Day Magic Your Way Ticket with Park Hopper, Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining -FREE Dining-

Still trying to decide when to have DS's "Disney Birthday Cake", ("real birthday"-one week earlier...need to order-should I have delivered to room first night or have it at Jiko-second day???

-Lunch at Mara- 1CS
-Relax-go through AKL activity sheet, swim-go check out Kidani...

Later afternoon
-Downtown Disney:to let DS burn through his Birthday Money
Once Upon a Toy
Goofy’s Candy Company
World of Disney
LEGO Imagination Center
TrenD

-Dinner at Wolfgang Puck’s Express- CS-1

Chill Time at Lodge-Lodge Activities, Swimming, Check out Kidani

Wednesday 19th

Breakfast in room-from Mara

Magic Kingdom at rope drop (as early as DH can manage to get us there-5 minutes extra sleep is not an option...I'm laughing now but I'll be crying when I want those extra 5 minutes...)

(find out at some point if the Alice Characters will be in park????-I really want pictures and Baloo-poor DD has never met her chidhood favorite...)

(Rides not currently in correct order...)
-The Magic Carpet’s of Aladdin

-Pirates of the Caribbean **

-Big Thunder Mountain Railroad **

-Splash Mountain ** (My family loves this ride- I think it has a multiple personality disorder-you know-all cute and sweet in the beginning and then POW-drop you down that hill-OK can we say passive agressive-sadly I don't like that falling forward feeling, almost straight down-which is one of the reasons I haven't ridden ToT- but I ride Splash at least once to be a team player since I don't have a medical excuse or anything like that)...

-The Hall of Presidents

-The Haunted Mansion **

-it’s a small world

-Mad Tea Party

-The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

-Mickey’s PhilharMagic?-I love this but the timing can be tricky

-Peter Pan’s Flight

-Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin**

-Monsters, Laugh Floor?

-Stitch’s Great Escape-maybe

-Tomorrowland Indy Speedway-why do the kids like this so much-it is a time drain...and I don't get it...but since Space is closed I will let them... **

-Main Street vehicles-DH always wanted to ride one back from the Castle down Mainstreet and who am I to mess with a childhood dream...)

Lunch at Pecos Bill, Columbia Harbor House or Cosmic Rays-1 CS-depending on where we are in the park

Chill Time – Swimming, Lodge activities

Dinner at Jiko @ 6:00- 2 TS -and I will be up to it...
Evening lodge activities like night viewing...(must bring a lot of insect spray from everything i've read..)



DAYS 4-6 -Cake Dilemmas, AK, Epcot, Studios and why we need new backbacks and totes to go with the luggage...

 

[tiggrbaby]

Great plans! I love how you are both organized and flexible!

 

[jordanyosh]

Okay. I'm in. Great plans so far.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Love the countdown calendar! Very nice indeed.

I think your plans all sound great. I love the idea of a NYC day before your flight.

I think I'd do the birthday cake at Jiko so they can make a bit of a fuss over him.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Beautiful countdown calendar! Your DD did a great job!

DS cracks me up! That is so something my Connor would do!

I love the sound of Alice's Teacup! You must promise to take lots of pictures there!

Your other plans look great! I am very excited about getting my AKL fix through your TR!

 

[DisMomAmy]

I have to go back and read some more but wanted to say Hi and let you know I'm here for the ride!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Great plans! I love how you are both organized and flexible!

Welcome! Thanks...I've been REALLY Organized and Really not so...and so I'm hoping that the middle ground will be the best...

Okay. I'm in. Great plans so far.

Hey! I was just reading your pretrippie-very talented writer you are...I still have a ways to go-I think I left off in China-Bejing-I'm looking forward to going back to catch up...Welcome...

Love the countdown calendar! Very nice indeed.

I think your plans all sound great. I love the idea of a NYC day before your flight.

I think I'd do the birthday cake at Jiko so they can make a bit of a fuss over him.

I thought the cd calendar was cute-DD really is a keeper....
I'm looking forward to New York-we always have fun there-very intense though...
I think you're right about Jiko-I hadn't thought of that and he really would enjoy a little fuss.

Beautiful countdown calendar! Your DD did a great job!

DS cracks me up! That is so something my Connor would do!

I love the sound of Alice's Teacup! You must promise to take lots of pictures there!

Your other plans look great! I am very excited about getting my AKL fix through your TR!

Oh DS is quite the crack up...and I usually find him pretty fun although there are moments...
Alice's tea cup is so darling...I will take as many pictures there as I can...

I have to go back and read some more but wanted to say Hi and let you know I'm here for the ride!

Thanks for coming over Amy...

 

[Flossbolna]

I love the black and red countdown calendar! Your daughter is very talented! And loved the suitcase your son packed!

The plans look great! Having a day in NYC sounds lovely. I went there for 5 days last fall and absolutely loved it. We did the Rockefeller Center Tour which was all about the architecture and that was excellent. And Top of the Rock was so amazing, we spent 45 minutes up there!

I think getting the cake on day 1 would be better. Jiko is going to be a big meal and you don't want to miss out on dessert. So having a cake on top of that might be a bit too much. It might make more sense after a CS meal in DTD. Also you then have the cake as a snack option for the following day.

 

[dismagiclover]

Love your plans so far. Planning a trip is almost as fun as going on one

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

DAYS 4-6 -Cake Dilemmas, AK, Epcot, Studios and why we need new backbacks and totes to go with the luggage...with a suprise visit from Alice and Friends

DH-surprised me with this Alice bracelet - I was admiring it on line-it's definately a little funky but very fun...

On my hand...

It doesn't photograph well-but well you get the idea...I thought it was a sweet surprise...

For curiosities sake-if you are at all interested in Alice's Tea Cup in NYC or I should say cups (there are 3 locations..) follow the link...

http://alicesteacup.com/


OK so here are plans for Days 4-6

[B]Thursday 20th[/B]

Breakfast Tusker House – Character Breakfast @ 8:00 -Park opens @ 9

(Ask if Baloo is in the park-"Baloo-where are you?" Emily needs you!)

Animal Kingdom:

Kilimanjaro Safaris

Expedition Everest

Kali River Rapids **

Dinosaur me & Em or Eric & Em

(Dad and David- The Bone yard-maybe while we are on Dino

Primeval Whirl **(might let Eric go on Dino since not sure if he is up to this.....not a big spinning fan......neither is DD

It’s Tough to be a Bug

Trails/ Nature Exhibit s (Optional—Tentative)

Wildlife Train (Optional-but affords a nice foot rest...)

Maharajah jungle trek -too pretty plus tigers-yes

Lunch at Flame Tree-1 CS

Fit in Parade @ 3:45 – Jammin’ Jungle-never seen

Dinner at The Yak and Yeti @ 5:00-1 TS

Chill Time at the Lodge


Friday 21st

Breakfast -Mara...
Epcot:

If haven’t got Alice characters yet-see if they’ll be in Epcot-UK Pavilion today and when

Lunch at Tangerine Café- 1CS

Get a passport for David-yes definately-he’ll love it meeting all the different CM's who speak different languages and getting the stamps

Spaceship Earth

Test Track **

Cool Club

Soarin’

Kim Possible Mission ** 1, maybe 2

World Show Case-must dos:

England (fab 4 performance-corny but David will love), France (movie), Morocco (hennas for Emily and Me...), Japan (museum/store), America (American Adventure -I’d like to see again) China-movie
do as much as possible in other countries...

Dinner at Epcot @ Chefs de France (4:50) SO EARLY But what can I do? hmm thinking about play with this reservation...- 1 TS

Possibly go over the Boardwalk for a stroll before going back to hotel for night...


Saturday 22nd

Breakfast -Mara

Disney Studios:

Any interesting Pixar characters in the house today...?

Rock and Rollercoaster-if DS wants to do it and is tall enough then I'm doing it too...

Toy Story Mania ( make sure we have a runnner to get these First thing after Rope Drop

Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show (figure out where to fit in)

Star Tours
Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian-Mom & Em

(Dad and David @ Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure)

The Great Movie Ride-depending on time-I love but based on time

Walt Disney One Man’s Dream

Disney Animation

The Big ? is will I finally get up the nerve to ride ToT-the whole free fall dropping thing freaks me out but I so want to do it. what to do... (I've never done it because I'm a face saver at heart and didn't want to go in and use the chicken exit-my desire to to it is at constant odds with my survival instinct-I mean did God really intend for us to be dropped from high heights...

Lunch at Si-Fi @ 11:00

Dinner at Boma @ 6:00- 1 TS


My cake dilemma...do I order the Zebra Cake which is unique to AKL and tastes like a big zebra dome? or the Mickey Head cake-which is really cute...this part of the decision may have already been made for me since (Flossbolna) Thank You... found a description of the Zebra
cake having a bit of "spirits in the filling...while I am not a teetotaler by any means I just don't feel right about letting DS having that-(maybe if he was 8 instead of 7...-but it might taste bitter to his taste buds now so I think its the Mickey Head for us...

I didn't address our luggage dilemma or can we all really pack in carry-ons and backbacks & do these make us look like the Partridge family?

DAYS 7-8 , Blizzard Beach, Pirates and Pals, More MK, -Luggage Dilemmas, ...and no it's not Ashpergers or As*burgers-it's called Aspergers...

 

[ClaireW]

Hopped over here from Brook's PTR because the title grabbed my attention. My DD (almost 2) is called Alice! We took her to WDW just after her 1st b'day and had breakfast at 1900 Park Fair on our last morning especially to meet Alice and the Mad Hatter. Hope you track down your characters - will look forward to finding out if you do.
And where can you meet the white rabbit? I've been 3 times to WDW but never seen him.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Love the Alice bracelet! It is so cute! Thanks for the link to Alice's Teacup -- it was fun looking around the site!

You crack me up about the maybe if he was eight, you would get the zebra dome cake! The Mickey Head cake is very cute!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

THE LUGGAGE-ARE WE GOING TO LOOK LIKE A 70S POP GROUP-I DON'T REMEMBER THAT ONE BEING SO GREEN...and IT'S ASPERGER'S NOT ASHBERGER'S...YOU HAVE TO SEE THE HUMOR...

We recently ordered new luggage based on our new commitment as a family to pack more lightly going forward...which basically equates to a carryon and a backback/messenger bag/tote per person...Getting everyone their own color seemed like such a good idea at the time but when they arrived in the mail...well I'm not as sure now...

Since everyone already called a color-guess what I'm left with? That's right-the Dis Green...which while fun at Disney might be a little quirky else where..I want a do over...

My Personal Experience with Asperger's Syndrome or Being in China without knowing the language or Cultural Expectations...

Speaking of quirky...I believe I mentioned earlier that DS was cute, kind, and quirky. Well his particular kind of "quirky" is neurologically based. DS has a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome or AS. In his case if you aren't familiar with AS and the different ways it can look-you could mistake it for ADD or possibly even a daydreaming child who is precocious with extremely questionable manners.

AS is an ASD. ASD stands for Austistic Spectrum. The "Spectrum" is a way of attempting to explain the severity or degree of challenges individuals who have Autism face. It is a kind of continuum approach. I personally believe that there are both benefits and inherit problems with using the spectrum model. On one hand it provides a somewhat visual way to think about the degree of challenges one is facing but to me it also seems a little like you are being graded-when really no one on the Spectrum had any say or control on where they fall on it or what their challenges are. The classifications move from one end of the Spectrum from what is sometimes called Classic Autism (having very little or no external interactions including speech) up through what is termed High Functioning Autism (more verbal, more able to interact with those around them) through to what is Asperger's Syndrome (which is sometimes explained as "having a dash of Autism") at the other end of the Spectrum.


Asperger's Syndrome is a social learning disability as opposed to the more familiar cognitive learning disability many of which can be verbal learning disorders like dyslexia. Meaning -it isn't a learning difficulty in traditional sense, in fact many individuals with an Asperger's diagnosis can be very, very bright-Einstein, Mozart and Jefferson are all thought to have possibly and quite probably had Asperger's Syndrome. The primary difficulty lies in social interactions, in picking up social cues "unspoken language" and since up to 90% of language is unspoken-ie body language, facial expressions, the tone in which something is said- This can be a huge difficulty in our society...

To get what this means in a more concrete kind of way- suppose one day you found yourself in China. You know no Chinese or anything of the culture-you were thrown on a plane-with no instruction, no guidebook-just your wits to hopefully get by on. It isn't that you don't want to interact appropriately-you just aren't sure how. That's a little of what it can be like if you have Asperger's Syndrome. You are neurologically wired differently and even though you may want to interact with other people-you don't also get the "norms" or the unwritten communication-like the look a face of a person who is bored by what you are saying (so you might want to change topic or leave them alone) or the tone of voice someone might use when becoming angry...

While DS was attending Prek several red flags appeared to his teacher. While DH was undoubtedly bright-he was apparently the only one reading-he had difficulty with writing/drawing. While he was pleasant and agreeable boy- he didn't have a lot of interest in playing with his peers and preferred to engage in his own play or ideally engage with any adult who would listen to him. Finally certain situations would cause him to be very anxious-generally transitions or unexplained changes if routine. Like all diligent parents we immediately took him on a round of testing. It was not pleasant-not pleasant at all. One opinion was non-committal-he wasn't quite "aspergery"-my word- enough, one actually didn't really believe Asperger's was a legitimate diagnosis but finally last winter he was given a dual diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome and gifted, which we have accepted.


The reason I bring this up is threefold:

One. It comes into play at DWD. While DS has very few sensory issues other than he is a sensation seeker-which is why he'll ride anything that his height will allow him to ride(-which I believe at this point is pretty much everything,) he does sometimes make social gaffs...not on purpose- but usually because he has has missed "the unwritten language" of a situation or is "too honest" or blunt. DWD is full of all kinds of people and being around tons of people leave us with multiple possibilites to say and do all kinds of interesting things. But mostly being at Disney is wonderful for our family-because David is totally blissed out and very comfortable there-as are we all and we all get to be together as a family-and being together as a family also makes him very happy and secure.

Two. A combination of feeling the need to simultaneously educate and protect. There is a lot of misconceptions about Aspergers. On one hand there are people who think that people that have Asperger's are not capable of achieving as much as people who don't have Asperger's. This is untrue. Individuals with Asperger's can achieve great things in their chosen fields. There are doctors, programers, scientists, musicians and even actors who have Asperger's. On the other hand there are people that assume that all individuals with Asperger's are as brilliant as Einstein if and that it (AS) is somehow a gift. This is also untrue. Not everyone with Aspergers is a brilliant prodigy. Some have regular rage I.Q.'s and can have all kinds of issues that come with their diagnosis, including significant sensory issues, gross and fine motor issues. The truth is if you've met one person with Asperger's- you have met one person with Asperger's. They are individuals with their own personalities.

I am protective of DS because I don't want anyone to have any preconcieved notions of who he is or what he can do based on his 'label". And he is truly the kindest person I know-he doesn't have a mean bone in his body. He has no concept of disliking anyone because of their race, religion, age, the way they look or their political affiliation-he is very sympathetic, he is funny and appreciates humor, he is very, very smart-and if you know him and he is comfortable with you-excellent company.

Third: The process of getting a diagnosis was one of the most difficult things I have had to face and I was told several times how "lucky" I was-his diagnosis was really "not such a big deal"-as if I didn't know this already. I had to deal with a lot of people who were all about labeling my child and described him and his problems in very scientific terms in reports that made his sound like testing him were a science experiment . However- I've also met a lot of incredible people during the process that were lovely and gracious who I would have never met.

& so it is very likely that during our trip-DS will probably be engaging and charming at times and at other times we will have to remind him to keep in his own personal space (or bubble) and that some thoughts are best kept in our heads-yes that gentleman is very short (we don't need to tell him) and that lady probably knows she has a mustache and no we don't have to tell her...because even if it is true we don't tell people things that will hurt their feelings...In many ways David has excellent manners since we reinforce them so much at home.

Very often the things David says aren't unkind but truly funny-he has a unique perspective. So often I laugh through the day...and occasionally cry-not because I would ever wish him to be a different person but because I knew he needs to adapt (and learn social skills to succeed and he can learn them) and I won't always be there to intervene and explain and protect him.

This is how I do feel occasionally...

But truly I know I am very lucky to have a wonderful family and I thank God for them everyday...

 

[tiggrbaby]

Beautifully expressed!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Beautifully written, Patricia! David sounds like a wonderful boy!!!

 

[Flossbolna]

Thank you very much for the explanation of Asperger's Syndrom. I have read that term a number of time here on the boards and nevver understood what it really ment. Your son sounds like a wonderful person and he is lucky that you as a family are supporting him so much to deal with his challenges!

And I would say that the green suitcase is fantastic! If you ever have to check it, it will be so easy to spot!

 

[ClaireW]

That was so well written, thank you for sharing. Even as a primary school teacher (who was also once special needs co-ordinator and has taught children with Aspergers) I still found your insight invaluable, as well as a thoughtful and positive outlook.
Will your son need you to do lots of planning and preparation together before you leave, or is he already familiar with/comfortable in his WDW surroundings? One little boy I taught seemed to cope very well with large changes (eg moving into a new class with a new teacher) but struggled enormously with the little changes in routine that others might not even have noticed.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

I love the black and red countdown calendar! Your daughter is very talented! And loved the suitcase your son packed!

The plans look great! Having a day in NYC sounds lovely. I went there for 5 days last fall and absolutely loved it. We did the Rockefeller Center Tour which was all about the architecture and that was excellent. And Top of the Rock was so amazing, we spent 45 minutes up there!

I think getting the cake on day 1 would be better. Jiko is going to be a big meal and you don't want to miss out on dessert. So having a cake on top of that might be a bit too much. It might make more sense after a CS meal in DTD. Also you then have the cake as a snack option for the following day.

Thanks......My daughter is really a lovely teenager...(95% of the time...) My son actually takes after me w/the book thing-I usually wind up pack a lot of books-not the stuffies...but thankfully I also remember to bring clothes and underwear as well...

One of the really great things about living just outside Philadelphia is that NY is a fairly easy day trip...we try to go there at least 4-5 times a year...IMHO Top of the Rock has the best views in NYC-it is much more open than the views from the Empire State Bldg.-you feel a bit like you're on a ocean liner in the sky...

Ah the cake...I'm tending toward having in the room just for the reasons you mentioned...but I also like LL's comment about them making a bit of a fuss for him...but I really don't want to miss Jiko' s desserts...--maybe we'll do it at Jiko but not eat it there and take it up to the room...

Love your plans so far. Planning a trip is almost as fun as going on one

Hello- & thanks for coming over...trip planning is truly one of my guilty pleasures...

Hopped over here from Brook's PTR because the title grabbed my attention. My DD (almost 2) is called Alice! We took her to WDW just after her 1st b'day and had breakfast at 1900 Park Fair on our last morning especially to meet Alice and the Mad Hatter. Hope you track down your characters - will look forward to finding out if you do.
And where can you meet the white rabbit? I've been 3 times to WDW but never seen him.

Welcome Claire! So you have your own little Alice do you? I like 1900 for breakfast for that very reason and the usually have Mary Poppins too...Throughout our trips- I have seen at various times-Alice and the Mad Hatter, The White Rabbit, Dweedle Dee and Dweedle Dum and once the Queen of Heart...I either read or someone told me that you can ask the CMs to call Town Hall for you and find out if specific characters are in the park/s that day...(The White Rabbit was just outside the train station/ entrance gates at MK-it was sheer luck...

Love the Alice bracelet! It is so cute! Thanks for the link to Alice's Teacup -- it was fun looking around the site!

You crack me up about the maybe if he was eight, you would get the zebra dome cake! The Mickey Head cake is very cute!

I love the bracelet too-and I really love that DH got it for me...he gets points for that...(I'll bank points so that when he acts like Goofy or Grumpy-he gets a pass...

You mean he still shouldn't have the Zebra Cake if he were 8...

Beautifully expressed!

Beautifully written, Patricia! David sounds like a wonderful boy!!!

Thanks guys-He is an awesome boy!

Thank you very much for the explanation of Asperger's Syndrom. I have read that term a number of time here on the boards and nevver understood what it really ment. Your son sounds like a wonderful person and he is lucky that you as a family are supporting him so much to deal with his challenges!

And I would say that the green suitcase is fantastic! If you ever have to check it, it will be so easy to spot!

He is a cool little boy and for every challenge he has-he has a gift- and he will be supported and appreciated for himself as much as I can help it...

That was so well written, thank you for sharing. Even as a primary school teacher (who was also once special needs co-ordinator and has taught children with Aspergers) I still found your insight invaluable, as well as a thoughtful and positive outlook.
Will your son need you to do lots of planning and preparation together before you leave, or is he already familiar with/comfortable in his WDW surroundings? One little boy I taught seemed to cope very well with large changes (eg moving into a new class with a new teacher) but struggled enormously with the little changes in routine that others might not even have noticed.

Welcome Claire-thanks for taking an interest-teachers that take an interest in understanding make such a difference to these kids-any kids really...

Since his sensory issues are minimal and he's been at WDW-we won't have to do a lot of prep-other than reminding him about other people's personal space-we we get to our room he will check it out thoroughly so he is comfortable with the lay of the land...since for him being with us is such a "safe place" the change in surrounding isn't a big deal-he is a very good traveler-he's been to London and all over California, NYC and Dc and he loves traveling-he is chomping to go to Japan and or China...

At School-since he is out of his primary comfort zone...more anxiety comes out...we were lucky this past year -He had an awesome teacher who totally got him...He does have some transition anxiety at school..Usually kids who have Aspergers (or are anywhere on the Spectrum) have a slower processing speed so it can be difficult to shift gears...you get used to doing one thing...then you have to switch gears-you see all the kids around have already begun to do it-and it can leave you panicky...That's why having a written/visual routine chart helps-you can see what's coming ahead...

Sometimes having a story to explain the ways things happen during the day...& the things that can make one child anxious varies from child to child..

Hope that made at least a little sense?...