Our last trip as a family of 4 and more PTR! July ASMO Updated 6/30 heading out!

[adisneymama]

Welcome aboard! Glad to have you...glad things are going better for your dd!

I'm uploading pics as we speak so I should be back soon with an update full of pictures from last July!

 

[adisneymama]

Here are a few photos from last July!

Chef Mickey's for My Birthday!

Meeting the princesses..

4th of July! Look at those Red faces!

YUMMY!

Mousekeeping surprise!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Cute pictures!

When is DD's last day of public school. Just our of curiosity, what was the school not able to provide for your daughter? Honestly, I'm just curious being a teacher and seeing all the services my district provides for so many students. If you would rather not answer, I totally understand.

Good luck with the homeschooling!

 

[adisneymama]

Nikki my DD has a seizure disorder. She requires additional time to complete her work and does better in a smaller more 1 on 1 type setting than in a general classroom. She was also in speech and OT thru the school. She was receiving the resource teaching for math, reading and writing. However, she was not receiving any resource class time for science or social studies. I had textbooks issued to me for both of those subjects. The teacher was suppose to let me know what they were working on so that we could review at home. In the 3 mos I had the textbooks not once did she send anything home or email the material. Twice I asked and received a general answer such as.."we are learning about famous people". Yep, I can really go over that with her. None of the information was in the textbook either. So in a nutshell we have been fighting with the school since Kindergarten and it has been a pain. The principal refused to do anything for DD after the seizure diagnosis. I had to go behind her back and get the legal forms so that she could no longer ignore the problem. Two weeks ago I rec'd a call from the school. They were wanting me to allow them to do IQ testing as well as about 5 other tests on my DD. They told me it was in an attempt to get her more services. When I questioned further, I found out they weren't wanting to give more, they were actually trying to take away. I then told them that I felt she just needed the same structure for science and social studies as she had for the rest of the classes. I was told they agree but the state won't pay for it. (Science and social studies aren't on the state testing that gives the schools their rating and therefore their money.) Next I rec'd a call stating they wanted to do an ARD meeting for my DD to go to ESY in June. She has done ESY before and we have never had to do an ARD. Why now? I rec'd the paperwork and they had marked that I would not be in attendance and that I was waiving my rights to the 5 days between notification and the meeting. It was also not just for ESY. They were trying to hold an ARD without me to discuss the things I had told them they couldn't do. So I went to the school the next morning and withdrew her.

Her last day was last Tuesday and so far things are going well. She has already learned a few math facts she didn't know and is counting by 10 and 5's by memory instead of using a chart they made her. She also took a spelling test today on 20 words and missed 3. She seems to be much happier and I'm having no problems getting her to do her work.

Sorry that got so long! I wish we were in a system that actually cared more about the kids than the test scores. I'm glad that it seems your district provides a lot to these kids!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Thank you for sharing that with us!

I'm glad that things seem to be going well so far with the homeschooling. I know that some kids just can't function in a class of 20 and some days I wish I could spend more time with each student on a one on one basis.

We offer resource for language arts and math too, but like your district, social studies and science is done in the regular classroom.

It sounds like you made the right choice for your family!

p.s. Check you PM. I might have a birthday present for you!

 

[adisneymama]

Well I am finally better!!!!

Homeschooling is still going well. We are still adjusting for sure, but I feel like it is the best decision. I'm still working on ADRS. Well really I'm just praying for something to open up at Ohana. So far no luck!


Well I guess that is about all for now. We painted DD's new room and I hope to get the pictures on photobucket soon. I'll post them when I get them on there.

Hope you are all having a great week!

 

[cruiserkaren]

I found your PTR by searching around for info on 4th of July. We are considering going the week of the 4th. The only 2 weeks my dh gets off this year are the 4th and the week of Christmas. Bad and worse, right? We have dd6 and dd2. So that is my concern about this time of year. I just went for 3 nights with dd6 on her spring break before Easter. We had no problems with the crowds but we also didn't have the July heat! Dd2 hasn't been yet. So we are trying to decide if going the week of the 4th is better then not going at all!

 

[adisneymama]

Welcome Karen!

We have done both Christmas and 4th of July. While you do have the heat issues in July, Christmas week was much more crowded! The nice thing is the extended park hours in the summer. It allows you to hit the park in the morning, take a break in the late afternoon and come back in the evenings when it is cooler. G/L with the decision but either way you can't go "wrong"!

 

[cruiserkaren]

Welcome Karen!

We have done both Christmas and 4th of July. While you do have the heat issues in July, Christmas week was much more crowded! The nice thing is the extended park hours in the summer. It allows you to hit the park in the morning, take a break in the late afternoon and come back in the evenings when it is cooler. G/L with the decision but either way you can't go "wrong"!

That is one thing dd and I loved about spring break - the park hours! The other times we had been was slow times and the parks closed at 7 or 8. We loved being at the parks late. I was pleasantly surprised by the "crowds" a couple weeks ago. I was expecting the worst and it wasn't bad at all. I'm wondering if that is how it would be during the 4th too? It was busy but not overwhelming at all.

Have you had any issues with a stroller and the crowds? My dd6 didn't use a stroller over spring break but obviously dd2 would need one. Any tips or things to think about since you've been so often with little ones at this time of year? Thanks!

 

[adisneymama]

4th of July is busy but we didn't find it overwhelming. I'm not sure how it compares to spring break as we haven't been during that time frame. As for the stroller, it was a bit trickier later in the week of Christmas week but still doable. I have never had an issue with the stroller 4th of July week.

Let's see tips I have...
those spray water bottles with the fans! 1 for each person no fighting that way!
I usually pack some of those quick dry swim trunks/rash guard shirts. This way I can let the kids play in the water at Epcot for instance but they dry very quickly.
We usually plan a break so that we can go back and clean up at the resort if we have a dinner ressie. Makes us feel better to not be sticky and yucky at dinner and then we are refreshed for the night at the park as well.
How many days do you plan on going? That will help think of other things as well.

 

[martinolichfamily]

Ok time for the ADR's!
We will arrive late on July 2nd so nothing planned for this night.
7/3 CM for breakfast for my birthday!
7/4 Playhouse Disney at HV lunch!
7/5 PSB Bk so DD can eat with Royalty!
7/6 CP Breakfast
7/7 Sci-Fi for Dinner
7/8 Donalds BK in AK for dh's birthday!
7/9 1900 PF Dinner
7/10 Cape May for Breakfast before we start the long drive home

I'm not overly thrilled with SCI-Fi so I might change that, but other than that I was able to get what I wanted.

Kids are so excited!

Hi! Just found your PTR! We are also going 7/2 - 7/10!
Looks like we will miss you at a few of your breakfast ressies by a day.
Off to read the remainder of your PTR!

Got all caught up now!

I see we are 'neighbors' too!! We are in Houston area (Humble). What a small world!

We will also be at MK on 7/3...its the 1st park that we go to as well...a favorite!
7/9 - we will also be in MK but more in the evening plus the EMH that night...open til 2am!

My DD is also going to be doing BBB this year! She is excited! That night we will be having dinner w/Cinderella @ 1900 PF so DD will be wearing a Cinderella dress to match! I think I will be taking one w/us but I dont know....maybe I can splurge for the big package at BBB!?!?

Are you wanting Ohanas for breakfast or dinner? We are having breakfast at Ohanas 7/8..so excited to check out the Poly!
We were also at WDW last July too!

 

[adisneymama]

I'm wanting Ohana for dinner. Let's plan to meet on one of the days we will both be in MK. I love meeting Disers!

Oh and you aren't far from me at all! We are in Spring!

 

[cruiserkaren]

4th of July is busy but we didn't find it overwhelming. I'm not sure how it compares to spring break as we haven't been during that time frame. As for the stroller, it was a bit trickier later in the week of Christmas week but still doable. I have never had an issue with the stroller 4th of July week.

Let's see tips I have...
those spray water bottles with the fans! 1 for each person no fighting that way!
I usually pack some of those quick dry swim trunks/rash guard shirts. This way I can let the kids play in the water at Epcot for instance but they dry very quickly.
We usually plan a break so that we can go back and clean up at the resort if we have a dinner ressie. Makes us feel better to not be sticky and yucky at dinner and then we are refreshed for the night at the park as well.
How many days do you plan on going? That will help think of other things as well.

Oh thanks for that! If we go it'll be 7/2 or 7/3 - 7/10.

 

[martinolichfamily]

I'm wanting Ohana for dinner. Let's plan to meet on one of the days we will both be in MK. I love meeting Disers!

Oh and you aren't far from me at all! We are in Spring!

I wanted to try Ohana for dinner but doing breakfast for Lilo & Stitch! DS requested that one!
Yes...we will definately have to meet up!
Too funny that we are so close! I use to have a shop in Old Town Spring and we use to live out there in a rent house about 8 years ago.

 

[adisneymama]

I got Ohana for dinner!!!! WoohOO!

Ok that is about the only news I have. Oh and we are headed out tonight to see Disney On Ice! Can't wait!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I got Ohana for dinner!!!! WoohOO!

Oh that is exciting!!!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

So, how was Disney on Ice? And congrats on your Ohana reservation!! Glad the homeschooling is going well for you guys!

 

[cruiserkaren]

I got Ohana for dinner!!!! WoohOO!

Ok that is about the only news I have. Oh and we are headed out tonight to see Disney On Ice! Can't wait!

 

[adisneymama]

Disney on Ice was fantastic! I'm working on editing some pics and will try to post them soon. I have a sick little boy though so that is putting a damper on things. Hope you all had a great weekend!

 

[__disneygirl]

Oooh... Ohana! We could not score an ADR for our trip that just passed. But the 180 day mark is coming up soon on our next one so hopefully I will be able to do that then!

I used to looove doing to Disney on Ice. Do you have any pics?

I hope your boy feels better soon!