Not even a brain tumor can keep me away from WDW!

[DizNee Luver]

Diznee Lover :Welcome: I know what you mean about feeling unqualified to homeschool. I dont always feel qualified but our public schools here give these kids nothing. Their special ed classrooms are a joke, He had a great experience in pre-k. His teacher was wonderful, she actually chose to teach special ed. K and 1st, this was not the case. He lost all the information he learned in pre-k and none of his IEP goals were being worked on. The teachers were overwhelmed, unorganized, and I am not sure why they were teaching special ed but I really dont think it was by choice. I would ask about curriculum and they told me there was none. No papers being brought home, when I asked what they did all day, I was given no information. Every time I went to the school I would see kids in various therapy equipment that limited their movement and the teachers and aids were sitting around chatting ignoring the kids. It didnt matter what time I showed up, this was the case. Luke was the only child in this class who was even capable of speech and he was the highest functioning child in the room. They made no efforts for inclusion or no attempt to try and find something to encourage him to learn. The first grade teacher told me I should just be happy that someone else was dealing with his behavior 7 hours a day and not expect anythign more. I wasnt willing to do this. Homeschooling him frankly scared me. I didnt really think I could do it but in the last year and a half he has learned and improved more than he did in k and 1st grade so I must be doing something right. I think its great that you have such a great school program. Life for us would be very different if we had lived somewhere with great school support.

As for trip specifics, we are planning to stay at AOA- since it is Jessa's bday and that is where she chose and we are thinking the 4th through the 11th so 8 days. Of course our plans are not set in stone at this point. There is a good chance they will change as they nearly always do.

OMG, this is heartbreaking to read!! I can't imagine someone treating my child that way. Michayla is non-verbal & the fear of something bad happening to her & her non-communication to tell us is a mom's worse nightmare. I would be homeschooling in those conditions as well. I pray that when the girls make the move next fall that they get the care & education they deserve. I am truly sickened by that attitude that you should be happy you're getting a break. So sad......

 

[cogero]

Chiara, does NY have a homeschooling legal group or a state support group that can advocate and/or direct you if you need it? We do in FL. We have the FPEA and HSLDA. I am a member of a local homeschool group and the FPEA state group. I probably should join HSLDA since my youngest has many years of school left.

Not sure but J goes to a private preschool that only deals with children on the autism spectrum and I belong to their parents group and have learned several things. Tuesday I am going to a meeting dealing with dealing with the education department and what I need to know. This school has been a fabulous resource.

 

[lovethattink]

Thanks Tink, I am doing better today. Yesterday was kind of rough. I hate being in pain and I think the tumor is messing with my moods. I seem to cry all the time and I am so not a crier.

Glad you are doing better!!

OMG, this is heartbreaking to read!! I can't imagine someone treating my child that way. Michayla is non-verbal & the fear of something bad happening to her & her non-communication to tell us is a mom's worse nightmare. I would be homeschooling in those conditions as well. I pray that when the girls make the move next fall that they get the care & education they deserve. I am truly sickened by that attitude that you should be happy you're getting a break. So sad......

That's one of the reasons we homeschool, just the thought of something bad happening. I do hope your girls will get the care and education they need. You are your children's best advocate. The more you are involved in the school or classroom the more it will help.

So I just did a quick calculation and it looks like May 27th is my 180+10 dining reservation day, so that gives me a little over 4 months to figure out where we are going to eat. Any suggestions?

Let's see. Luke like chicken nuggets and Jess was a picky eater, but I can't remember what she likes. Are you looking for restaurants with fun atmosphere or are you looking for great food? What restaurants worked last trip?

We really like Whispering Canyon at the WL, but it's loud and JJ wears his earmuffs. The guys like the all you can drink milk shakes.

The Coral Reef is nice and relaxing watching the fish, but service is notoriously slow. It's one of JJ's favorite places. It's not really a place for picky eaters though. JJ gets grilled chicken and french fries since they don't have chicken nuggets there.

T-Rex was fun, but again it was loud and the meteor shower caused some anxiety for JJ. He liked his food but was on edge the whole time about the next meteor shower.

We all like EoS and the buffet lunch at CSR at the Pepper Market.

Alot of time we head off site and eat at Fridays at Cross Roads or The Cheesecake Factory at the Millenial Mall...YUM!!

 

[sl_underwood]

Luke is verbal but his communication skills are somewhat limited. He only talks when he wants and about what he wants, but it is still scary. When he was attending pre-k he was non verbal but thankfully we had a great teacher who allowed me to volunteer in the classroom and was so open with everything. She was really amazing. He was also in foster care so he got to take advantage of a home based head start program one day a week. Our head start teacher was so awesome. She really helped me feel confident in homeschooling him. Taught me as much as she taught him. I think it is very hard to send a child with limited communication skills anywhere because of the fear of what could happen. I would love to have a private school option but the schools here do not accept kids with special needs, not even our montessori school.

As for dining, Luke isnt to picky. His favorite food is crab legs, but doesnt eat fish. He really doesnt care for mexican food. His favorite restaurant is Coral Reef. Jess on the other hand eats practically nothing. She needs places with chicken nuggets, mac n chees (the plain stuff, had a meltdown a few years ago at boma because they put pimentos in theirs) and anything itallian. She really isnt a big eater. Her favorite restaurants are Tonys and RFC. Stephen and I like to try new things and we like just about everything. We are somewhat adventurous. Stephens fave restaurant is Boma.

 

[lovethattink]

You know about the food search engine here on the DIS? You type in what you're looking for and it shows all the restaurants that serve that. So you could type in what she will eat and find all the restaurants that serve her foods. You can shoot off an email to special diets and ask if they can accomodate her with "regular" chicken nuggets or mac and cheese.

 

[sl_underwood]

No I didnt, please send the link. I really need that for Jess.

 

[lovethattink]

No I didnt, please send the link. I really need that for Jess.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningmain.cfm

Scroll down to the lighter blue search menu, about midway down the page.

 

[Lidian]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningmain.cfm

Scroll down to the lighter blue search menu, about midway down the page.

Tink, you are just awesome!

 

[sl_underwood]

Tink is amazing! Thanks!

For those of you who have been at Christmas, which resorts have the coolest decorations? Jess is wanting to do some resort hopping so I may base a little dining on which resorts are decked out the best.

 

[cogero]

Ilove the Giant Gingerbread House at the Grand Floridian and I love the ethnicity of AKV.

 

[sl_underwood]

Awesome!
Dh wants to try biergarten. Allears says they have mac n cheese, anyone know if it is plain mac n cheese? Jess seriously wont eat anything else on the menu.

 

[lovethattink]

Tink, you are just awesome!

I'm just at Disney too much and play on these boards too much.

Tink is amazing! Thanks!

For those of you who have been at Christmas, which resorts have the coolest decorations? Jess is wanting to do some resort hopping so I may base a little dining on which resorts are decked out the best.

All the gingerbread decorations are great! The GF has a big gingerbread house, at certain times (outside) they have complimentary chestnuts roasting on an open fire and hot apple cider. The Beach Club has a huge carousel gingerbread display! The horses go around even!

Each resort's tree is themed for the resort. Except for the last 2 years, we had always taken a picture of the boys at the tree at the Yacht club since it was nautical themed and masculine.

DTD has a cool tree between WoD and EoS. AK had a ton of trees back at Camp Mickey Minnie, I don't think I posted them all, but I got many of them in my TR.

Awesome!
Dh wants to try biergarten. Allears says they have mac n cheese, anyone know if it is plain mac n cheese? Jess seriously wont eat anything else on the menu.

Grumpy says the Mac and cheese at Biergarten is gross, but I think Jess would like it. He says it's typical Disney's kid mac and cheese. We love Biergarten! I especially like the Barvian Cheesecake!!

 

[sl_underwood]

Thanks Tink. Kid mac n cheese is exactly what she wants.

 

[sl_underwood]

A funny from our first trip...
Jedi Training Academy was pretty new in March of 2006 (outside of SWW that is) and Jess decided she wanted to do it. So we plan our entire day around this one activity, knowing that they may or may not pick her. Finally (after her second try) she gets chosen and gets up there. I really wish I had a video. It was hilarious.

She first tries to twirl her light saber and ends up dropping it. Then, she accidentally hits the Jedi master who reminds her that he is on her side, lol. But the best moment was when Darth Vader comes out and he says "Join me" and Jess stands there and you can see on her face that she is really thinking about it.

The Jedi Master yells "Be strong, young padawan, be strong" He actually looked scared, like he really had never dealt with that before. I am sure some kid has said yes to Darth Vader, lol but I thought it was kind of funny that it was my child who really wanted to. She ended up fighting him, her reasoning was that while she liked Darth Vader and wanted to join him she was afraid she wouldn't get to use her light saber if she did.

 

[DizNee Luver]

That's awesome!! My son wanted to do this, so my oldest boy took him while the rest of us were doing other things (I had the 5yr old at Princess Fantasy Faire) & we had warned him that he probably wouldn't be picked. We didn't bring a sign or anything like that......well wouldn't you know it~~he got picked & we weren't there!!! I felt horrible we missed it!! Luckily we did get the photopass pics of it, but it still wasn't the same. My son did say, that one of the kids did join Darth......everyone was cracking up!!

 

[Moodyzblu]

My boys love Star Wars .. but are too shy to do this. Your dd looks so cute fighting Darth Vader !

 

[Lidian]

Awesome!
Dh wants to try biergarten. Allears says they have mac n cheese, anyone know if it is plain mac n cheese? Jess seriously wont eat anything else on the menu.

We loved Biergarten, both of our kids had multiple plates when we went in May! Granted, my kids aren't overly picky and eat a lot of foods that most kids don't. However, I don't recall seeing Mac 'n Cheese there. If it was there, my kids didn't ask for it. (However, the Amazing Tink has the answer for you!!)

I'm just at Disney too much and play on these boards too much.

Grumpy says the Mac and cheese at Biergarten is gross, but I think Jess would like it. He says it's typical Disney's kid mac and cheese. We love Biergarten! I especially like the Barvian Cheesecake!!

Tink, I wish I had your problem.

Where was the mac 'n cheese at? I didn't see it, and wonder if the kids did. DS is a big fan (DD can't have it), so I'm surprised it didn't end up on a plate. Maybe they just didn't have it out when we were there. And yes, I agree, that Bavarian cheesecake is divine!!!!


Totally loved the JTA story! That's hilarious that she stood there (probably starstruck?)! I've seen them before where the kids were a bit hesitant (maybe unsure of what to do) and the Jedi Master dude has to coach them with their response. Those make the best shows!!!!

I saw one once where the kid was wearing a Darth Vader shirt and the Jedi Master dude was... "I'm not so sure about this one..."

DD enjoyed your JTA pictures, too! She's asking to do it this year. I secretly hope she agrees to join the dark side. It would be even better if she just asks "Does it have milk and cookies?" I think I'd be in heaven if she did. DS, however, he's a huge DV fan. (He loves his Dark Vader -- yes, Dark, not Darth.) I'm looking forward to how he handles JTA.

Okay, enough threadjacking. MORE!

 

[sl_underwood]

Lidian, I agree it would be fun to see them choose the dark side.

Moodyzblu- Luke has never done JTA and probably never will. It would be very hard for him to manage in that environment with so many people watching- his anxiety would be through the roof.

DizneeLuver- It stinks that you missed seeing your child participate. I know what its like though having kids who want to do so many different things. It can be very hard to work around.

 

[Corrine 1973]

Liam has done JTA during both of our trips to DHS and had a blast doing it. He loves Star Wars so much and though he loves Darth Vader I don't even think he would even consider joining the Dark Side. He always make his younger brother the bad guy when they are playing.

 

[sl_underwood]

So yesterday I decided to actually price the trip we are planning to take in Dec. I am sure it seems crazy that I haven't done so earlier, huh? Anyway the point is I need a code to do this- or to win the one more disney day sweepstakes like thats going to happen!
Right now the total cost looks like this
7 nights at Art of Animation with 4 day base tix and the regular dining plan No discounts $4361.40

Add in airfare which I really have no idea the cost but figuring $1400- hopefully will get a better deal than that and MVMCP Tix at $238 and IOA tix at $334 and transportation costs to and from IOA which are estimated at around $70 and tips for DP and meals at IOA which I estimate at about $300 and then figure spending money (usually do $100 per person) and well lets just say I am over the budget DH set.

I did price the DP vs no DP based on the ideas my family gave for where they wanted to eat and DP was cheaper by about $100 without adding tax or tips.

I do recognize that Art of Animation takes up a huge chunk of my budget and its a value- I could stay at AKL with a 40% discount cheaper. I can change the resort but Jess must have her own bed. She is such a mover that no one and I really mean no one will share with her. She leaves bruises. It truly hurts to share a bed with her.

So now I am a bit stressed, but it is the good kind of stress, the fuzzy disney math stress, lol. I just need to come up with an extra $2000 to make DH happy. Is it wishful thinking that a code would come out and a great airfare deal that would make it all fall into place?