Short trip - number of ???

[rmom]

We are going for my daughter's birthday. We will be there from wednesday about @ 1pm until friday morning when we are driving to Yosemite. If anyone has made this drive - how is it, how long, any good places to stop?

We have reservations for Goofy's at 5:10. I am trying to decide what to do. We won't be able to get into DL early on thursday. My daughter (special needs) is not big on the rides -I am probable one of the few that wish they still used tickets for rides instead of what they have now. It would be so much cheaper for us! She loves the tea cups and Tarzan's tree house, likes the carosel; loves any show or parade; and likes to see the characters. She also loves to walk around.

I am trying to decide whether to go to CA for a few hours (not much for us there), or just go to DTD for the afternoon and then get a hopper pass for thursday. I know she would love the High School musical entertainment @ CA.

I am also wondering if we should do the Celebration Roundup & Barbecue instead of Goofy's. We did Goofy's last time we were there for her birthday and she had a lot of fun. We can't and don't want to do both.

Thanks for any input!

 

[KrazyKat4DIS]

I have not done the drive from Yosemite so I am no help there.

As for DCA, one of the things that I like about that park is that it's a little more quiet over there, so that may be good for your daughter. We can always find a nice, quiet bench to sit on at DCA. Also, there is the Animation Studio which offers really fun, non-ride things to do.

I have found that DTD is quite boring recently with all the closures. I like the Uva bar, but that's about it, and I am willing to bet that's not up your alley this trip.

 

[Disney Dreams]

You mentioned that your daughter likes shows. DCA has some great shows.

Muppets is fun.
Turtle Talk with Crush is great.
Aladdin is amazing.
Animation Academy is cool (if you enjoy animation).

I believe shows is one of the strong points of DCA. Just some thoughts for you.

- Dreams

 

[Sherry E]

As for the Celebration BBQ vs. Goofy's Kitchen dilemma, you have done Goofy's before and really enjoyed it. Does you daughter really love the Toy Story characters? If so, I would say definitely do the Celebration BBQ because Woody and Jessie are not so common that you can necessarily find them everywhere (although Chip and Dale ARE very omnipresent and they are there too!). Otherwise, if your daughter doesn't really care about Toy Story characters too much, you should stick with what you know she liked, which is Goofy's. However, have you tried any of the other character meals like Minnie and Friends, Ariel's Grotto or Lilo and Stitch? Would any of those be of interest to your daughter?

I always say that I think DCA is worth seeing, even if for a few hours. It took a while to grow on me but when I spent time walking around and really looking at things, I saw that there are quite a few interesting and cool things about it to appreciate. Toy Story Midway Mania is there, which is now among my top two or three favorite DLR rides, so going into DCA is a must for me now!

 

[mechurchlady]

Goofy or the Round up
Does she like barbecued food, ribs, chicken, and the items on the menu for the Round up as that is key for the child. The Round Up sounds like it has entertainment but the problem is the menu. It is a fixed menu with vegetarian and special diets available. Look at their menu and think about the food. I would not do Round Up if she would not like the food.

Goofy's has a wide variety of kid friendly food and is familiar.

There is the Brother Bear Show at the Redwoods. Billy Hill and the Hillbillies in Frontierland, the Laughing Stock show in front of the Saloon, Jazz Band at New Orleans Square, Dapper Dans in Main Street, the piano player in Coke Corner, Playhouse Disney, and the peppy High School Musical.

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20
This board is for WDW but they have a ton of help for people with disabilities around the world and not just WDW. The subforum has a lot help available from disabled people and family of disabled people.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713
Again it is for WDW but the tips and info on going to WDW is the same for DLR like how to do parks with a kid with a feeding tube, how to keep kids happy in lines, and how legal rights for the disabled. If you need anything holler as I am disabled and have been going to DLR for 49.4 years.

Hugs
Laurie