DS8 First Trip of Awesomeness - Dec 15-22 2013

[JamesMom]

Part 7b - Future World Afternoon and a Mexican Evening

As previous mentioned, the "plan" was to be done with future world - ha! The kids were enjoying the hands on stuff too much to rush through so we plunged ahead. DS8 proclaimed Epcot as his favorite park even despite Test Track! So, World Showcase was to be postponed for a future trip. Our plan was to hit MK tomorrow for repeat rides and parades (noon Christmas and evening). But, DH, the ever thoughtful man he is, suggested that we skip the MK rides (keep the parades) and visit Mom's favorite, World Showcase, instead tomorrow. The kids agreed - yay! With the new plan in effect I relaxed considerably knowing we had plenty of time to savor the rest of Future World.

With Coral Reef restaurant being in the SEAs section, we finished the attractions here. First was the Nemo Ride - HUGE hit with DS8 who said it was much better than the AK show. Then we did Turtle Talk with Crush. The improv Crush was great. Here is snippet of the conversation:

[talking to a 3 year old]
Crush: Hello, Do you have a question?
Girl: Where's Jasmine?
Crush: Jasmine? I don't know her
Girl: I meet her
Crush: Cool. What did you talk about?
Girl: Jasmine.
Crush: Yeah, I hear she likes to talk about herself.

The tag line for the rest of the trip in our family was "Where's Jasmine?"

DS8 Favorite Characters


Obligatory Bruce Picture


Cute Shirt I didn't want to pay for



Then it was off to one of DS11 favorite spots in the World - Club Cool. We tricked DH into trying Beverly. DS11 drained the Greek Pineapple Soda (he LOVES pineapple- remember the Dole Whip from MK?) and DS8 even liked the Bugglegum flavored drink from Peru. I agreed with DS11 on the pineapple soda - just the right balance of sweet and citrus.







Then we hit Mission Space where DH and DS11 rode Green while DS8 and I hung out in the play area. Both DS loved the extra large group video game.



My Future Space Cadets


Next was Ellen's Universe of Energy. DS8 took the dinosaurs in stride on the near empty ride - only a quarter of the cars where filled, if that. I refrained from taking a whole row and lying down for a nap.

Finally we hit Spaceship Earth which was a walk on despite the 10 minute wait sign. DS8 was bored by the trip up and freaked a little on the backwards down part until the video screens lit up.





DS11 and I took one last trip on Test Track and gave the other pair away to a thankful Mom and her son who just entered the 60 minute stand-by line. DS wanted to use the tickets, but time was ticking. We are in the back with DS arms up. It was cool to do it again at night.



Then it was off to Mexico for Dinner. Finally at around 6pm I made it to World Showcase, lol. First we practiced our Spanish (DS11 is learning in homeschool and DH and I speak enough) at the Kid Kot station getting the boys Perry signs Then we rode the Grand Fiesta Tour - arguably the worst ride in all of WDW, imho. Next, DH ventured into La Cava del Tequila to get a tasty Margarita. I then got in a 10 deep line just to register at the restaurant while DH kept the occupied with the gift shops. About 20 minutes after our ADR time we were seated.

The Tequila Menu at La Cava



DS8 Rocking on the Maracas



DS11 loved this shirt - but not enough to buy it. He loves tacos.



Our Dinner



We are from Texas and love our Mexican, albeit Tex-Mex, food. The adults ordered the Carne Asada and DS11 had kid steak tacos after we all chowed down on chips and salsa. DS8 ate a cookie I bought on the way. We had a round of the margaritas DH found at La Cava. We had an excellent waitress who forced us to speak Spanish, lol. We ended the meal with Carmel Ice Cream which was very yummy. A great meal in a great setting. The only thing missing was the Mariachi whom, unfortunately, stop performing before 6 pm.

After dinner we staked out a spot right at the fence by the Friendship boats. DS8 made a bed with our coats and lied down for a siesta. At first it seemed like a great spot, but the dock blocked the floating globe during the show, but oh well. We enjoyed the fireworks above that seemed to fill the entire lagoon. The kids loved it and enjoyed the extra Christmas touch at the end.



We joined the thronging masses and made our way out. The big fountain didn't dance (at least not that I could see all day), but the boys enjoyed the sparkling tiles by the Geosphere. After about a 10 wait our bus took us home.



Next Installment - MK Parades and World Showcase

 

[JamesMom]

Part 8a - MK Celebrate Parade

Since we had no where to go this morning as everyone wanted to sleep in though I had made MK Fast Pass+ that I let laspe, we didn't get going until about 8am.

Again we joined DH for breakfast this time in the Boatright dining area. He discovered you could sit here with the restaurant closed and escape the crowds and noise of the food court. We were amazed at the number of people at breakfast as we were used to just a few at breakfast at 7 or so. By 9 the place was mobbed. And all we could think about was the lines building at the parks these people were planning to visit. Get used to this waffle line, folks - with your late start it will probably be the shorted of the day.

DS11 was amused with the big vs. small Mickey waffles



We boarded the 10:30 am bus to MK to see the 12:30 Christmas Parade. Every one was prepped that there would be no rides today - just the parade.
We arrived at 11am just in time for me to plop down on the sidewalk on Main Street and wait... And I wasn't the only one. The guys looked in the shops until the Shake It Street Party parade started. I didn't plan this parade so it was an appreciate surprise to pass the time.





















Then the guys were released again to watch the Castle show while I protected our spot. About 20 minutes before the Christmas parade I had partes of 10 wanted to squeeze in -NOT.

A Photopass guy took some shots of us waiting minutes before the parade. Then told us to take a nap.






Next Installment - MK Christmas Parade

 

[mguilford1]

Love the trip report! We are taking our 7 yo granddaughter in October. We will have 7 days Disney (Jambo), 3 days Universal and possibly Seaworld if we are not to tired! Your report will give us things to talk about (food, rides, pools, etc..). She has ADHD and sensory issues. I was thinking that when we get back we will do a report from her perspective because I have not seen many with the kids thoughts. Plus I thought it could be her "homework". Thanks again!

 

[JamesMom]

Part 8b - MK Christmas Parade

Finally it was time for the Christmas Parade! Be ready for lots of pictures

 

[JamesMom]

Part 8c - More Christmas Parade

 

[JamesMom]

Part 8d - World Showcase

After the awesome parade we followed it the rest the way up Main Street and exited the park. Then we boarded the express monorail and transferred to the Epcot monorail at Ticket and Transportation Center.

Once at Epcot we stopped, again, at Club Cool for another round of Greek Pineapple Soda before heading to the Canada side of World showcase. That side has the countries we are most interested in - UK, France and Japan for DS8 who loves Godzilla and I who likes Anime.

After our refreshment, we stopped and got the phone for the Agent P. Game. The phone looked suspiciously like my DH current flip phone. I gave him a start when I said we found your phone to him after getting the P+F one. LOL.



So Agents J were on the case for the U.K., but our first stop was the kid kot in Canada. DH drooled over the menu at Le Cellier while the kids colored another Perry figure (left last nights ones at the hotel). Then we watched the film. It had been years since I last saw it and don't recall if Martin Short narrated it then. It was good.



Then off to the UK while passed in front of Off Kilter performing. DH and I wanted some fish and chips as we love Rose and Crown. We were glad we got to fit it in at the Yorkshire Fish Co. The fish was piping hot and the Harp Ale was good even for this non-beer drinker (Me, not DH).





We could hear the band British Invasion playing in the garden out back. Loved the Zeppelin, Queen and even Duran Duran covers. But kids wanted to solve their case so we went in and out of the stores in the U.K. DS8 stopped in his tracks when he saw the Dr. Who merchandise.

Obligatory Telephone Pics (They need a Tardis!)







Found Dr. Doofenshmirtz



It took f-o-r-e-v-e-r for the kids to find all the clues, during the British Invansion's 2nd set we finally got to turn in the phones at the station at International Gateway on the way to France.

Here the kids and I collapsed on the floor in the anteroom before the French film. DH took one look at us and decided we were going against plan again.

The original plan (even before adding WS) was to watch the Christmas parade (check) then return for the evening Christmas Wishes and Electric Main Street Parade starting at 8pm. Which meant that we needed to leave Epcot by 6pm to get a good viewing spot. No fast pass + was ever available for today's parades - I'd been checking for months.

But, after seeing our sorry faces, DH said "no nighttime parade". So we were to finish World Showcase and call it a night. Little did we know that the night was going to end even sooner...

We watched the France film - still one of the most beautiful countries I have ever visited. Then we went to the bakery next door and picked up some Macaroons. DH and I watched a Master Chef episode where one of the contests was to make a box of these. One of the contestants smashed his cookies into the box. Since that episode I have always wanted to try one and they had a box here! So, I bought one and made a big show of pretend-crushing the box to jam the cookies inside. DS11 loved them, DS8 wouldn't touch them, and I thought they were okay, but not worth the $11 I paid for the 5 of them. But I am glad I tried them anyway. BTW - that's my DH flip phone on the table - not the Agent P one, haha.





At this point, DS8 was complaining of an upset tummy. We figured he had gas from all the junk he had been eating and thought a nice long show in the American Adventure would relax him. So we bypassed Japan - a place he longed to go to - and were dismayed that the next show was a 45 minute wait. So we sat by the fountain and watched a bit of the Candlelight Show.



We caught about half of it before DS8 was really protesting. DH got him some water, but he was in serious pain. So, we passed Japan again on the way to the boat to cross the lagoon. The kid could barely walk.

Japan - as close as DS8 got









Once off the baot, he was really struggling. So I went to the store right at the dock and asked for a wheel chair. The cast member was sincerely interested and asked if wanted an ambulance 3x which we denied. The Cast Member got a wheel chair into which we poured DS8 who promptly threw up. Fortunately (?) he was sitting with his feet apart so none of the mess landed on himself. A minute later, DS8 was all smiles while another cast member spread stuff on the mess. All better now



But the mood was not to be shared. We were all tired from the long day and decided to go on ahead home despite DS8 protestations of wellness. We kept the chair all the way to the bus stop and said goodbye to an eventful day at Epcot.

Another meal at POR food court (except for DS8) and we called it a night as we heard the Illuminations fireworks outside.

 

[Ombo]

Love your report! We are going next year same dates. Crowds don' t seem to have bothered you too much?

 

[JamesMom]

Part 9- Departure Day

We woke up at around 8 which gave us enough time to pack everything up and call bell services to take our stuff for airline check-in and storage for our last day. Our flight wasn't until 7:30 so our Magic Express pick-up was at 4:30. Plenty of fun still to be had.
DS8 had no more incidences and slept quiet peacefully so no worries there.
The kids enjoyed their last "ride" on the golf card to the hotel front



After missing the bus to MK we decided to call one more cab the Poly for our 10:30 ADR. We checked out the surroundings and got a pager to wait in the TV room outside the restaurant. Thanks Disney for cartoons to keep the kids occupied!

DS8 Practices his hula



After about 10 minutes we were seated and had the best breakfast! DH was very, very happy! It was great relaxing way to start our last day.



Where'd the food go?



Here it is. Happy Man



Happy Kids. DS11 LOVES POG. We had 2 pitchers of the stuff!





Oh, and there are characters, too!









Party Time!







After breakfast, the boys wanted to split up as each one had something different they wanted to do. The plan (ha, need to stop this planning thing) was to go back to the resort pool for a swim before our bus. But, breakfast was done at 11:30 which left plenty of time to "do something".

So, DH and DS11 took off for Downtown Disney and Goofy Candy Co. to get some dipped rice crispy treats to take home after visiting DisneyQuest again for a couple of hours.

Each Boy got chocolate with M&Ms and sprinkles dipped in milk cholocate



Mom got sprinkles only in white chocolate. Dad doesn't eat sweets (!?)



However, DS8 and I wanted to hit Typhoon Lagoon as this was the first day it opened after its refurbishment season. DS8 wanted to swim with sharks (remember, loves marine life), so off we went!

The wave pool was the favorite though we did walk around the park looking for short slide lines (didn't find any - most were 20 minutes +), a older kid play area (nope, not here either), and the shark reef (which DS8 chickened out of, but did see in the submarine room). Didn't get many pictures as I wanted to swim, too!

The 6 foot waves barrelling down was too much fun. We must have surfed at least a dozen before it was time to change back into street clothes for the bus back to the resort.










DS11 spent the rest of our snack credits on bags of candy and fruit before we boarded the bus to the airport. We caught our on-time flight (a first) that had an bare cabin - DH and DS11 had their own window seat and row while I sat with DS8.

The town car was there to take us home where we attempted to rest before the madness of Christmas at home started in two days.

It was an awesome, awesome trip. DS8 had the time of his life and laments that it will mostly likely be 3 years before we return.

But I will never forget that all this was possible because of these two guys




Thanks Walt, and thanks for reading.

 

[JamesMom]

Love the trip report! We are taking our 7 yo granddaughter in October. We will have 7 days Disney (Jambo), 3 days Universal and possibly Seaworld if we are not to tired! Your report will give us things to talk about (food, rides, pools, etc..). She has ADHD and sensory issues. I was thinking that when we get back we will do a report from her perspective because I have not seen many with the kids thoughts. Plus I thought it could be her "homework". Thanks again!

Thanks for reading!

I think the things that helped the most was
1) having another adult to stay with DS8 while DS11 enjoyed his stuff. And have an idea of surrounding things to do to keep him from feeling left out while DS11 had "fun" like stores, play areas or special features.
2) having no expectations. I predicted that most stuff would be 'scary' to DS8, so I mentally prepared for character visits and people watching to be the main thing. And that I would miss most rides. Fortunately he reacted well to the characters.
3) Give plenty of down time, unstructured play at playgrounds,pools etc. Just a couple of hours on his ipod at night did wonders for him.
4) GET THERE AT ROPE DROP. The longest line we was waited in was to enter the park in the morning. We waited no more than 10 minutes for anything because of fast passes and rope drop mornings and planning rides according to lines builds (Read - Unofficial Guide to WDW faithfully). DS8 would not have tolerated long lines, but we did have his ipod ready if things got too much. Only had to resort to that a couple of times.
5) Keep "Commando" days to a minimum. Yes, we got there super early - but we left before any park closed. And we broke it up with playgrounds, pools, dinner shows, etc. Doing ride lines all-day-long will grind anybody down. YMMV.

He handled the place like a trooper but we did lots of prep work
- watched YouTube and Netflix videos so he would know what to expect.
- Explained the rules - no complaining. Use of the phrases "this is boring" or "sucks" cost him $2 off his spending allowance.
- Also, stressed the importance of following my schedule - to save time in line and make more time for other fun stuff. I did do double rides on stuff most fun for him when the crowds permitted - again - GET THERE AT ROPE DROP.
- Again, each adult was prepared to take him solo if necessary. And other than ride balks, he did fantastic!! Only one meltdown which was mostly my fault.

Know the kid and work at his level and you'll have a fantastic time. It's Disney World!

Lastly, you know you DGD , but I would seriously consider shortening your trip. We spent 8 pretty full days at just Disney with down time, and we were exhausted by then end. To sensory kid this place is crazy so take it in careful doses and don't overdose. YMMV.

 

[Disneylover99]

Really enjoyed your trip report. Thanks!