Trip+Dining: Why can't we live here? -Photo Heavy!- 12/30 updated

[Singledad]

Okay, Currently uploading hundreds of photos. Seriously, hundreds. That isn't counting the photopass photos I still need to claim. So, while waiting for things to upload, I figured to at least get this started.

We did do a pre-trip report located: Here.

Cast of characters:

"Me, 27, single parent of one little girl. Name is Scott. I am allergic to the sun (PMLE), and even sun block doesn't help. I also have other medical problems and tons of anxiety. Oh, and I am Transgendered (FtM) and we go in June for Gay Days!"

DD: she is 5 and is suspected to be on the autism spectrum (high functioning/Aspergers?) She does have Sensory Integration Disorder/Sensory Processing Disorder (same thing, different names). Seeker for most things, avoider for just a few. She also gets tired very easily.

Trust me, I will be adding photos.. tons of photos. But as I said, we are still uploading.

Our plans:

Sunday:
Pack car
11pm go to work

Monday:
7am get off work
SLEEP
Drive from school to BIL's (Chicago)

Tuesday, may 31st:
7:55am Fly out of midway
Arrive at orlando around 11:30am.
Check-in, All Star Music
Epcot
4:30pm Garden Grill

Wednesday, June 1st: MK day
Magic kingdom
2:05pm Lunch in park @ The Crystal Palace
7:00pm Dinner @Liberty tree tavern
9pm - main street parade! MUST SEE!!!

Thrusday, June 2ed: DHS day
7:40am Chef Mickeys @ Disney's Contemporary Resort
DHS
12:5opm lunch in park @ Hollywood and Vine
6:00pm Supper in park @sci-Fi Dine-In theater
DTD?

Friday, June 3rd:
Move hotel day-move to CBR

8:15am head to MK, then monorail/boat Disney's Polynesian Resort.
9:50am breakfast @ ohana's

Blizzard beach.
dinner off proptery @ Kobe's
Maybe DTD/Disney Quest?

Saterday, June 4rd: MK day/Red day!

9:10am Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in the Castle
10:05am breakfast @ Cinderella's Royal Table
4pm snacks in Adventureland @ aloha isle
Possible Fireworks: 10pm

Sunday, June 5th:

Check out day
DTD
magical express to airport by 2:30pm or so
5:20pm fly out
7:10pm arrive in chicago

Monday, June 6th:
Turn 28!(my birthday!)
Drive Home


~~~
Now, to see what really happened!


Pre-trip

Day one: Aren't you tired YET!?
Day one: Epcot!
Garden Grill

Day Two: Magic Kingdom!
Day Two: MK day goes on.
Crystal Palace
Liberty Tree Tavern
Day Two: after the kingdom

Day Three: Chef Mickey's in photos
Photopass interlude
Day Three: The most magical day
Day Three: Magic goes on
Day Three: Yes more magic! <-- Includes Sci-Fi Dine INN
Day Three: Is that Pixie Dust in my eyes?
Day Three: Photos and more

Update? Maybe - pow-wow

Hollywood and Vine/Play N Dine *NEW*

Day Four: Moving Day! *NEW* <--Includes Ohana breakfast!
Day Four: Kobe's! *NEW*

 

[Singledad]

Our plans:
Sunday:
Pack car
11pm go to work

Monday:
7am get off work
SLEEP
Drive from school to BIL's (Chicago)

~~~
What happened:

Well, I didn't end up finish packing our stuff before work on sunday, so I didn't pack the car before work. I also didn't get off work at 7am, but rather closer to 9:30am. Since I was all pumped and wide awake, I hurried home, finished packing, tossed everything into my car, child included . Then drove off to... wait, BIL informed me the day before that even He wasn't planning on sleeping at home Monday night due to a family wedding bringing in the hordes. Thankfully my dad and family where actually home, unlike originally planned. So we drove to my dad's instead. This was actually a very good thing.

Not only did I have an hour less to drive that evening, I got to see my dad, DD got to sleep in a familiar place, and I got to wash our clothes before our trip. Why didn't I just pack clean clothes? well most of them were clean, yet reeked of smoke due to my mother being a chain smoker. So This saved me needing to wash clothes first thing at disney.

We went to be around 8pm. Mind you I was awake for nearly 24 hours at this point. Lets see how day one goes!

Next Posting

 

[Singledad]

So, since we had to drive to my BIL's to drop his car off first we had to wake up around 3am.

We left my Dad's around 4am, but not before Dad slipped me some more money! (Thanks dad! I really really really appreciate this! )

Off to BIL's then I get to ride, and him drive. Off to the airport!

DD is awefully awake for this crazy hour! I pray she naps on the plane, But will she?

I had done check in online so had our boarding passes, just needed to check our luggage. See, we fly southwest airlines. DD has never been on any other flight than SW. I love the fact you get two checked bags per ticket, there is no fee to change your flights, and I just always get a great ticket price.

as i was in line to check bags i noticed we forgot a bag in the trunk!! I was willing to go without it, but when i told DD i forgot the bag with her blanket and pillow she started to tear up. so i called BIL and had him come back through. All bags now accounted for, we checked them in and got through secruity. This year no one did any tests on my auto-pap (like a c-pap) guess x ray is enough now. and we made it through pretty easy.

ate breakfast there from mc donalds, snapped a pic with my laptop:

Our plane arrived a little early, which was great. We had a DISmeet on the plane, with chwgmjay. Poor guy was being man handled and talked to death by my DD.

But she did PRETEND to sleep... for a moment.

Got to airport, said bye for now to chwgmjay. I wanted to rush right to ME but DD had other ideas... photo time!!

Eventually I convinced her we didn't need a photo of every last inch of the airport. Of course, this will be the last time DD *wants* me to take photos of her. -.-'

On to ME and ASMu.

Our room was ready! Sure it was nearly the farthest from the front you could get... or so it felt. But still, it was ready. (ETA: We were in Broadway.)

Nothing says home like mickey towels!

We also had our first and only towel animal of the trip:

So, after removing some of the things from our carry ons, to create our park bags... and me figuring out I am stupid and didn't carry on any of our sun screen.... (but remembered the benedryl cream!) We were off to Epcot!

Next Posting

 

[anjalee6]

Yay! I am glad you started your TR. I can't wait to read more. Great start!

 

[cindianne320]

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[itsalebeau]

Subscribing!
I love your daughter's glasses.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Here at last!

 

[Singledad]

Yay! I am glad you started your TR. I can't wait to read more. Great start!

Thanks, now if only I can keep it going!

Can't wait to hear more!

Well, alas you will end up waiting from time to time.

Subscribing!
I love your daughter's glasses.

So does she! We had a different pair that she got with the insurance that cost more. The black ones we got a few weeks later for super cheap from walmart. (the frames themselves were only 9 bucks!). We got them as a just in case back up pair. She loves the black ones, and doesn't wear the pink ones! So the backups became the main pair.

Here at last!

of course you are the LAST to show.

 

[Singledad]

So, last we left you, we were on the bus to Epcot. First stop once we got inside was to Guest Relations to get our Guest Assistance Card. (GAC) I cannot stress how much I love Disney. The fact that they go above and beyond to make sure everyone has access to attractions has filled me up with some near cry moments. I cannot thank Disney enough for something as 'simple' as a stroller as wheelchair tag. I cannot think of a single park I've been to offhand, outside of Disney, that has a system in place, and personal trained how to handle situations such as children in Strollers who need them for medical reasons. Such a relief and a trip saver.

Okay, I think I can go back to the trip report. Well, maybe..

On to the report!

After getting that taken care of, I noticed I didn't have any real plans, or even good idea's on how we should go about this park. It wasn't on our original plans, I didn't know what DD may or may not care for, plus I wasn't sure how our energy levels would be. I really should have looked over the map and plan things out a bit better before we went. Even if you don't plan to spend much time in a park, still plan as if you do. Would have saved me A LOT of wandering/travel time within the park. (Ie: going back and forth between Sea's and Land, etc.)

First ride we took: Spaceship Earth. I reminded DD before we went in that this is Disney. Nothing will touch you, nothing on the rides will hurt you. I asked her if she wanted to go on the ride in 'the big golf ball' that takes us into outer space. She did, she liked it. I think this was a great first ride, even though we 'paused' on it for a while. This really concerned her, as we were near some of the audio-robotics. She asked me 'They can't touch me, right?' and I explained to her that no, they are just robots, just computers making them move the same way, saying the same thing over and over.


She then exclaimed, they are like Statues! But with computers in them! After that she was no longer scared! I cannot tell you how much this 'small' yet extremely big step was for her. I don't know why we paused in the room we did, but it sure did cause some big pixie dust! no longer did I have to try to avoid every ride and attraction with the 'robots'. Anytime she was getting nervous about them, I would hear her say to herself, 'they are just statues with computers'. And times when I thought she was getting nervous I would say it for her.

So, I lost track of what rides after that first one we rode in which order. We rode Test Track, living with the land, Figment's journey into the imagination.

DD really didn't know how to 'work' this section, so she walked around, randomly stepping on things. She did LOVE making music with her arms though!

Am I the only one who was disturbed by this boy's feet?

We then headed to our dinner at Garden Grill (which will be posted about after this.)... Oh my, did we have fun!

After Garden Grill, we headed over to the seas and rode Nemo, did Turtle Talk (which she was meh about, and I loved.), and spent plenty of time looking at the fish.

We started to think about doing world showcase, but with it getting closer to 9 and ILLUMINATIONS it was so crowded! We managed to do the mexico boat ride, and the kidcot station there, but then we ran from the crowds and hit Soaring!

Yes, that is right. I didn't bother with the crowds, and didn't try to see Illuminations. We had very little wait for Soaring during this time. I'd recommend doing this yourself if you didn't get a fast pass.

DD didn't hate it, but I didn't like it. Maybe the fact I am scared of heights, or the fact I had people's feet in my line of sight. Either way, I am glad we didn't wait long.

After we got off the ride, it was PM EMH's. Here I thought maybe then would have been a good time to try soaring. Thank GOODNESS I didn't wait! We never would have gone on! That line was at least an hour long by the time we walked out! Oh well, off to Test track again as this was the requested 'last ride'. This line LOOKED long, but really moved along nicely. I think we had less overall wait (lack of a fast pass lane maybe?) than earlier.

After this I decided I didn't care what DD said, we are going to BED! She kept trying to get me to say she could swim soon as we got back to the hotel. I gave in and said if you are awake enough then yes.

When I was headed out the gate, this is what I saw in the stroller:

That said, she woke up when we got to ASMu and said she was hungry. Since we had such an early supper/late lunch, (3:30pm home time.) and we normally eat supper around 7pm (8pm disney time.) I was hungry too. So off to the food court to grab something before they closed for the night. (Anyone else think they need to stay open even a half hour longer at night? Every night it is CRAZY in there. Even during the Pizza only hour.)

DD asked for pizza, and by the time I got both of our meals, DD had passed out again. Oh well, I figure pizza can keep well enough. Esp since I have a/c down the lowest it goes.

So, that was our first day! Up next: Garden Grill, then day two!

Next Posting

 

[Singledad]

So, we both had not eaten since McDonalds at the airport. So yes, we both were very much so ready for food. Thankfully we didn't have much of a wait.

Since I want this TR to be part Dining Report as well, I think I will do dining first, then the meets. Tell me if this format confuses you or is just fine.

So, Salad: Neither of us eat salad regularly, and we both didn't want to try it today. So sad of a waste, if I had been asked first I would have told him not to bring it out for us. But he brought it before drinks were even ordered. Which if you are hungry (and like salad) could be a good thing.

See, this is a start of a trend. We did eat some of the tomatoes before this photo was taken. So, most of the time either I forgot to take photos all together, or got them after we ate some.

thankfully I did get to ask for a lack of fish on my plate. Yes, another 'theme'. I am a *very* limited/plain eater. My kid eats more than I do. I dislike any and all types of 'seafood'. I *used* to eat shrimp as a kid, but then my mom thought she was being funny and explained what the 'vein' is. Mind you, as I was busy eating popcorn shrimp my older sister had just told me 'isn't de-veined'. That was the last of my seafood eating days.

All of it was super good. Nothing super weird here. I am getting hungry all over again looking at these photos.

DD however was less pleased with her meal.

She doesn't like broccoli. I love it, and this was super tasty, and steamed just right! Nor does she eat french fries, nevertheless sweet potato fries. These I enjoyed a few of as well. They were okay, but not crispy enough for me.

She was very taken aback by the goldfish crackers on top of the mac and cheese. She actually gagged and nearly did the multicolored yawn due to them. She was forever suspicious of all mac and cheese the rest of the trip. After I removed all crackers left in it, she did eat more... a bit slowly as she examined each bite for the smallest hint of cracker.

She did enjoy the chicken though!

We did have our birthday pins on, and mentioned it when we checked in. Because of this we ended up with some pixie dust and some extra dessert.

I want to go back simply to beg for more of this cake! I am not big on chocolate, but this was sheer heaven on a plate.

As for our normal desserts, DD got this tasty treat:

At this point DD had eaten all her cake and was full to bursting. She did try it after I made her, and she said it was very yummy. I enjoyed it too, but also was quite full.

Now we come to the adult dessert.

Now, I am not big on rubarb. In fact, when I was told that was the dessert I was half thinking of just asking for him to not bring it. However, I got caught up in other things (characters, getting DD to eat, etc) that I forgot. Thankfully! I tried it,and I liked it! So now we know something else that I can enjoy from time to time.

Now, we had the DxDP. I paid out of pocket for the tip and the light up thinggy on my DD's drink.

This is how our first receipt looked like:

The receipts confused me.

So, I wrote down my tip in the tip box, and when he came by I stated that I was going to charge the tip and the out of pocket cost to my room. gave him my card (which was valid for charging.) and I got two (well three, one I signed for them. two I kept for myself.) and these are what they looked like:

The longer one was a copy of the 'store copy'. and the lower portion read this:

The only complaint I had with using dining plan was if you had something extra out of pocket you are paying for, it leaves you up to do the math on it if you don't want to wait forever for them to bring you a new receipt after the dining plan is taken off. If they even do that? IDK, I am STILL confused on this.

Okay, on to the characters. I felt like they often rushed right by us. I think part of it is my fault for not pulling someone aside and explaining that she may not act over joyed, but really is. Nor will she be all that verbal in her happiness. I could tell she wanted to just get some more time hugging them, but that didn't happen. Even when I watched chip dance and do the hula with the kids at the next table, we got all of an eye blink. sign, a hug, one more moment (a wave, a laugh, a clap, something.) then off they went. Even compared to other character meals, this one was a bit more rushed character wise.

Now, for the photos I grabbed:

She really loved kissing the characters.

Oh, and being sung to:

Next Posting

 

[PrincessInOz]

Nice update and I love looking at food porn. I haven't eaten at Garden Grill, so I was interested to see the food. The dessert looked heavenly....and for Disney Pixie Dust magical cake.

 

[Singledad]

Nice update and I love looking at food porn. I haven't eaten at Garden Grill, so I was interested to see the food. The dessert looked heavenly....and for Disney Pixie Dust magical cake.

I mainly looked for this ressie because my dad raved about it, and I vaguely remember it from when I was a kid. However, they have dropped lunch and is dinner only. I think that change also changed most of what my dad loved about it. (food the kids will actually eat, etc)

I enjoyed the food, and I think most people will like the food here. I just wasn't impressed with the character interaction here compared to some of our other meals.

 

[chwgmjay]

LOL... I had an awesome time meeting ya'll on the plane.

 

[anjalee6]

I agree. The dining plan receipts can be very confusing. It was also hard for me to keep from losing them. I mark what meals we eat on my planning sheet though so that I know what we have used. It seems to work well for me. I can completely understand how it would be confusing to pay for some things out of pocket. IDK how to make that part better though. I love Garden Grill. I am really hoping the character interaction is good when we go in a couple weeks. My kids love it there and we have always had really good luck with them. I hope that hasn't changed. Can't wait to read more.

 

[Singledad]

I love Garden Grill. I am really hoping the character interaction is good when we go in a couple weeks. My kids love it there and we have always had really good luck with them. I hope that hasn't changed. Can't wait to read more.

Well, as I said, other families had some great interactions. I think it had a lot to do with them thinking DD wasn't *into* it. It can be hard for others to read her.

 

[Belle83]

I love the picture of her crashed in the stroller, it's just beyond adorable! Looking forward to reading more.

ETA: I like your TR title. Our whole trip (May 2011) I kept telling my SO that I want to live there forever, lol.

 

[Singledad]

I love the picture of her crashed in the stroller, it's just beyond adorable! Looking forward to reading more.

ETA: I like your TR title. Our whole trip (May 2011) I kept telling my SO that I want to live there forever, lol.

my daughter said before we even got there "know what would be cool? If we could live at disney"

then said it again throughout the trip. "I wish we could live here"

 

[WDWCP96]

I read your PTR but don't know if I ever posted or not. We just returned from our trip and were there the same time as you.

We also ate at Garden Grill. It was the first time my DH had eaten there and my first time since they had changed from offering all 3 meals to just dinner. Unfortunately I didn't get to enjoy the food that much since I was feeding my youngest and making sure we got pictures and autographs. Our character interaction wasn't all that great either, we had the best time with Dale but the others kind of rushed.

We too never stayed for Illumniations either since DS1 doesn't like loud noises.

Can't wait to read more about your trip.

 

[Tygerlilly]

Yay! Finally found your trip report! Can't wait to read and see more pics!

 

[Lidian]

Ack! I had no clue you started a TR! I'm here, hope you don't mind.

I tried so hard to get an ADR for Garden Grill this year, but it wasn't in the cards. That salad was right up my alley, and it looked so YUM. (Now I want a salad!) Your dinner looked good too!

And seriously, what is up with Gold Fish on the mac 'n cheese? My kids aren't picky, but I think even they would have turned their noses up at it. (They love them separately, but can't see them being happy with it being together.)

I'm sorry that the character interactions weren't great. On the bright side, your DD is absolutely adorable! I'm glad that she made a great realization on the animatronics and was able to enjoy the ride! Sounds like you had a great arrival day! And the pics of her snoozing in her stroller - priceless!