"You want to ride Dinosaur again?" - New 10/21 - The End!

[hhockman]

Oh NO! You know, I think my dad told me at some point that he fell off. I'll have to ask him about it. I have some pictures from the last time we were there.

A long time ago.

I still think the kids would love the mountains, though.

Not sure if we'll make it before my kids are too old for Story Land. My dad said something about Santa's Village being near there? I should know this stuff, but it's been a while.

Glad you all had a great weekend!

 

[Charleston Princess]

What a fun weekend despite the rain!!! Those roasted marshmallows and s'mores sound really good right now! The campsite is very pretty and it looks like the boys definitely enjoyed themselves!

 

[carissanboys]

Love the camping TR!! And love that you went tent camping and didn't cheat.

 

[KathyRN137]

Enjoy the Pictures!!

I did!! Thanks!

Sounds like fun... wet, but fun!


Kathy

 

[DisMomAmy]

Oh NO! You know, I think my dad told me at some point that he fell off. I'll have to ask him about it. I have some pictures from the last time we were there.

A long time ago.

I still think the kids would love the mountains, though.

Not sure if we'll make it before my kids are too old for Story Land. My dad said something about Santa's Village being near there? I should know this stuff, but it's been a while.

Glad you all had a great weekend!

I'm glad you got your pictures before he fell off.

Santa's Village is fun too - we went last year for the first time. It's about an hour from Story Land. We may go again later this summer.

What a fun weekend despite the rain!!! Those roasted marshmallows and s'mores sound really good right now! The campsite is very pretty and it looks like the boys definitely enjoyed themselves!

Mmmmmm... smores! Actually I usually just eat the marshmallows. But of course chocolate is always good.

Love the camping TR!! And love that you went tent camping and didn't cheat.

I grew up camping in tents. We used to do overnight hiking trips too where you had to carry everything you needed on your back! Of course it was my parents carrying almost everything. I don't see that happening... probably ever.

I did!! Thanks!

Sounds like fun... wet, but fun!


Kathy

A little wet, but a lot of fun!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Before I start the next update I want to update you on some odds & ends…

First – I previously mentioned a possible girls only trip to WDW this fall during free dining! Well it looks like that won’t be happening … For money reasons & timing reasons. Tim’s grandmother is turning 90 in October and I’d like for him to be able to go down for a long weekend for the party and to visit with his brother. (I’d like for all of us to be able to go, but it’s too costly for a weekend and it’s too early in the school year to mess with the kids’ schedules.) My birthday & Zach’s birthdays are both at the end of September so the timing doesn’t work out for free dining. If I had $1000 right now – I don’t know that a long weekend away without the family would be my priority. Hopefully we’ll have another family trip in February or April, during school vacation, but if not, don’t be surprised to hear about a girls only trip after the holidays!

Second – I want to give you an update on Zachary. He recently had some neuropsychological testing done and the doctor does not think he is on the autism spectrum. We finally got the full report Friday. He tested normal or above normal in all areas. With Asperger’s Syndrome, kids test high in some and low in others, but generally not high across the board. She did see several areas of concern from the teacher & parent surveys that we completed, but basically the same issues we’ve already been working on – anxiety, sensory processing & emotional regulation. She did, however, say that he fell in the “borderline” area on the Asperger’s questionnaire so she recommended he be re-screened in a few years. I have yet to share the report with the school so I’m not sure what, if anything, they’ll do with it.


Back to the report…

Day 5: Friday, May 1st

When I left you we had FINALLY met up with Jeff & Karen, watched IllumiNations from the Martinique beach at CBR and hit the hay after a long day that had started really early. Nobody guessed my mystery picture so I’m not going to tell yet… I will give you a hint – our next park is… Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Our plan for today originally looked like this:

DHS whenever (w/ DBIL & family)
TSM if we make RD – want to see the regular line
LMA stunt show
The Great Movie Ride
ToT
RnRC
Whatever else…
50s PTC lunch ADR @ 12:25 (TS #4)
depending on time we arrived… back to resort for R&R – Sea Raycers?
MK??

I had really struggled with whether to go to DHS on a Fantasmic! day or not. In the end, I decided to avoid Fantasmic! in hopes of encountering lower crowds. Just days before our trip I discovered that Friday, May 1st would be DHS’s 20th Anniversary!!! I had no idea how this would affect the crowds but I kept the plan as is and hoped for the best. The park would be opening at 8am (rather than 9) so we were hoping for an early start.

My notes aren’t great for this day but I’ll try my best. I got up at 7 with Alex. Tim & Zach got up at 8. Obviously we weren’t going to make the 8am opening. We had hoped to leave at 8:30 to be there for 9:00. We followed our usual morning routine and when we were almost ready, Tim called Jeff. Jeff said he had been up a while but that Karen was just getting up. Uggghhh… Until we heard a knock on the door! It was them – they were just messing with us! We headed out and jumped on a bus making there around 9:00. Jeff & Karen had to stop to pick up their tickets that they had pre-purchased – including the two for J&K… luckily they were both adult tickets that never expire. We headed in to take care of the stroller and met up with Jeff & Karen once they made their way in. There didn’t seem to be any extra hoopla for the 20th anniversary. A CM handed us this flyer:

The two presentations at 9:00 & 10:45 appeared to be the only acknowledgement of the anniversary and the crowds seemed pretty low. We didn't attend either presentation. I knew it wouldn't be anything the kids would enjoy. Had I been alone, I might have checked it out.

Zachary spotted those red & blue spray bottle/fan/misters and wanted one – it was already pretty hot & he’d asked for one earlier in the week so we decided to get it for him. I can’t remember when we took these PP pictures, but I’m pretty sure it was at arrival – and Zachary is already soaked!

Introducing… Jeff & Karen:

We headed straight for Toy Story Mania! We had another great ride - Jeff & Karen enjoyed it! We stopped at the little TSM gift shop – Alex got a cowboy Mickey & Zach got a Toy Story figure set. Then we split up – Tim, Jeff & Alex headed over to ride RnRC. Karen, Zach & I went to check out Star Tours.

Karen gets motion sick pretty easily, plus she’s had neck surgery so she decided to pass on Star Tours. She sat outside with the stuff and watched the Jedi Training Class that had already begun.

Zachary, setting up his figures for Karen to babysit while we ride:

After Star Tours we met back up with Tim, Jeff & Alex so I could join them for Tower of Terror. I left Karen & Zach watching a street show on Sunset Blvd. I caught up with the others and we had an awesome ride on ToT – as usual! When we finished, Karen & Zach had just made their way to ToT after their little show.

As we made our way to our next ride, we could hear the HSM music, which inspired Alex to dance:

Karen seems to have a unique connection with Alex:

Here’s another hint:

Any guesses?

Up Next: Off to the Movies

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Ok..I was going to say the mystery pic was at Catastrophe Canyon on the Backlot Tour, but apparently I am wrong! Oh well...Now I'm stumped!

I love the dance moves Alex is workin'! Sweet!

Sorry about your girl's trip. I know how it is to really want something but know it's just not the right thing for your family. Hopefully you'll be able to fit it in soon!

OH!! HI JEFF AND KAREN!! It's so nice to finally meet you!

 

[eandesmom]

I love the beach pictures. I can't imagine being flexible enough to bite my own toenails...that's a feat right there.

Very interesting on the new testing results, he sounds a lot like my nephew who they say is in the spectrum, on the aspergers side. I've actually had teacher comments that DS8 might have aspergers but I don't think so. He's in the gifted program so they see a lot of it and while I see a couple of things, that's all I see. Is Zach in a gifted program? It's been an amazing thing for DS8.

I feel your pain on the "ex" situation. I just ranted on my own TR about my own blended family drama. I know my DH thinks his ex looks for ways to make sure the skids can't go on things. I think that's a stretch but...she doesn't facilitate it either!

 

[cjackearl]

Great update! I'm going to guess somewhere near or in Muppet Vision 3D? Like my decisiveness? Sounds like Jeff and Karen were great additions to your vacation. I love the picture of Alex and Karen getting their groove on!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Great update!!! I love the pics of Karen and Alex -- they look like they had a lot of fun together.

I didn't guess the mystery photo the first time, but now that I know you are at DHS, it's on the Great Movie Ride -- right before the gangster or cowboy scene.

 

[MRYPPNS]

Jackie beat me to the mystery picture...GMR.

Karen looks like a lot of fun....no wonder the boys wanted to see them so bad!

 

[lisalonglash]

Our plan for today originally looked like this:

DHS whenever (w/ DBIL & family)
TSM if we make RD – want to see the regular line
LMA stunt show
The Great Movie Ride
ToT
RnRC
Whatever else…
50s PTC lunch ADR @ 12:25 (TS #4)
depending on time we arrived… back to resort for R&R – Sea Raycers?
MK??

Looks like a great plan!

I had really struggled with whether to go to DHS on a Fantasmic! day or not. In the end, I decided to avoid Fantasmic! in hopes of encountering lower crowds. Just days before our trip I discovered that Friday, May 1st would be DHS’s 20th Anniversary!!! I had no idea how this would affect the crowds but I kept the plan as is and hoped for the best. The park would be opening at 8am (rather than 9) so we were hoping for an early start.

Uh oh

Jeff said he had been up a while but that Karen was just getting up. Uggghhh… Until we heard a knock on the door! It was them – they were just messing with us!

Zachary, setting up his figures for Karen to babysit while we ride:

Aww. how cute!

As we made our way to our next ride, we could hear the HSM music, which inspired Alex to dance:

Woohooo, go Alex! He's a natural!

 

[mousescrapper]

The kids really enjoyed the fireworks - I think it was even better than being at Epcot because we could just walk back to our room an be in bed 5 minutes later.



we really enjoyed watching Wishes from the Poly in 08 too....it was a sweet treat! I agree, all the fun w/ non of the hastle

Scrappie? I'm flattered, but my skills are not up to par with hers.

Aww, thanks I guess Kathy didn't have her morning coffee

Wow the camping site looked gorgeous! I'm not a campy kinda of girl, but may be willing to rent a camper to do the whole out West adventure in a few yrs w/ the kids. Plus those squiters seem to enjoy my blood...you should see how many red welts I have on my body after our MI weekend...more to come in my TR


back to Disney,

so nice to meet Jeff and Karen....


Karen seems like a wonderful Aunt to the boys how she sat and played and listened w/ Zach and then dancin w/ Alex....so lucky to have great family like that!

Nice Photopass pictures of you guys too!

Can't wait to here more about your DHS day!

J- (the real Scrappie....JK)

 

[KathyRN137]

Second – I want to give you an update on Zachary. He recently had some neuropsychological testing done and the doctor does not think he is on the autism spectrum. We finally got the full report Friday. He tested normal or above normal in all areas.

She did, however, say that he fell in the “borderline” area on the Asperger’s questionnaire so she recommended he be re-screened in a few years.

Great news on Zachary... sounds perfectly reasonable to re-test in a few years... glad you didn't get any "surprises!"

Terrific family picture!! I'm laughing how they tried to tease you about not being ready in the morning!!

I think I would've passed on those presentations if I had the kids, too, but would definitely have gone if adults only! I heard they were very interesting!

My Mystery Picture guess is.... the Great Movie Ride!!! (But only because you gave the second clue!)


Kathy

 

[DisMomAmy]

Ok..I was going to say the mystery pic was at Catastrophe Canyon on the Backlot Tour, but apparently I am wrong! Oh well...Now I'm stumped!

I love the dance moves Alex is workin'! Sweet!

Sorry about your girl's trip. I know how it is to really want something but know it's just not the right thing for your family. Hopefully you'll be able to fit it in soon!

OH!! HI JEFF AND KAREN!! It's so nice to finally meet you!

Alex was cracking me up!! No need to be sorry about a trip... it's not a bad thing - there's just too much going on. I'll make in there in early 2010 one way or another.

I love the beach pictures. I can't imagine being flexible enough to bite my own toenails...that's a feat right there.

Very interesting on the new testing results, he sounds a lot like my nephew who they say is in the spectrum, on the aspergers side. I've actually had teacher comments that DS8 might have aspergers but I don't think so. He's in the gifted program so they see a lot of it and while I see a couple of things, that's all I see. Is Zach in a gifted program? It's been an amazing thing for DS8.

I feel your pain on the "ex" situation. I just ranted on my own TR about my own blended family drama. I know my DH thinks his ex looks for ways to make sure the skids can't go on things. I think that's a stretch but...she doesn't facilitate it either!

That's a feat...

We don't have gifted programs around here... I'm glad it's been great for DS8.

I need to get my butt over to your TR- I've started reading it a couple times and gotten side tracked...

Great update! I'm going to guess somewhere near or in Muppet Vision 3D? Like my decisiveness? Sounds like Jeff and Karen were great additions to your vacation. I love the picture of Alex and Karen getting their groove on!

It was so nice to finally be touring a park with Jeff & Karen!!

Great update!!! I love the pics of Karen and Alex -- they look like they had a lot of fun together.

I didn't guess the mystery photo the first time, but now that I know you are at DHS, it's on the Great Movie Ride -- right before the gangster or cowboy scene.

Yay! You got it!! We got the gangster.

Jackie beat me to the mystery picture...GMR.

Karen looks like a lot of fun....no wonder the boys wanted to see them so bad!

You win the prize for first runner up! Karen is a blast - she's very young at heart. Not that she's old... she is just very carefree.

Looks like a great plan!

Uh oh



Aww. how cute!

Woohooo, go Alex! He's a natural!

Crazy dancing ended up being a recurring theme. (I've always wanted to use that guy for something other than a countdown dance.)

Wow the camping site looked gorgeous! I'm not a campy kinda of girl, but may be willing to rent a camper to do the whole out West adventure in a few yrs w/ the kids. Plus those squiters seem to enjoy my blood...you should see how many red welts I have on my body after our MI weekend...more to come in my TR


back to Disney,

so nice to meet Jeff and Karen....


Karen seems like a wonderful Aunt to the boys how she sat and played and listened w/ Zach and then dancin w/ Alex....so lucky to have great family like that!

Nice Photopass pictures of you guys too!

Can't wait to here more about your DHS day!

J- (the real Scrappie....JK)

A roadtrip out west sounds like fun!!

Karen & Alex just clicked the first time they met (a couple years ago). And all during our trip Karen would gravitate toward him whenever she could tell Tim & I were getting stressed. Even during one of our dinners - she insisted she sit with Alex & I sit at the end of the table alone. Jeff & Karen aren't married... I hope she sticks around!!

Great news on Zachary... sounds perfectly reasonable to re-test in a few years... glad you didn't get any "surprises!"

Terrific family picture!! I'm laughing how they tried to tease you about not being ready in the morning!!

I think I would've passed on those presentations if I had the kids, too, but would definitely have gone if adults only! I heard they were very interesting!

My Mystery Picture guess is.... the Great Movie Ride!!! (But only because you gave the second clue!)


Kathy

Thanks!! I was very glad there weren't any surprises with Zach's testing.

Jeff is a bit of a jokester, but I really thought they were serious about just waking up! He got us!!

You win the prize for 2nd runner up!

 

[hhockman]

I'm so glad there weren't any surprises with Zach's testing. Waiting a couple years to test again sounds like a good plan.

I totally was going to guess wrong on the mystery photo. I thought it was RnRC for some reason.

I'm glad Karen and Jeff were finally able to make it. It's neat that Karen has such a good connection with Alex.

Can't wait to see what happens next!

 

[mrsksomeday]

Good results from the testing, I don't like surprises. Great update, it looks like you had so much fun. I am going to make sure to have us break off like that and meet up at different things, but Abbey wants to "follow me all day every day" .

 

[DisMomAmy]

I'm so glad there weren't any surprises with Zach's testing. Waiting a couple years to test again sounds like a good plan.

I totally was going to guess wrong on the mystery photo. I thought it was RnRC for some reason.

I'm glad Karen and Jeff were finally able to make it. It's neat that Karen has such a good connection with Alex.

Can't wait to see what happens next!

New update coming up shortly!

Good results from the testing, I don't like surprises. Great update, it looks like you had so much fun. I am going to make sure to have us break off like that and meet up at different things, but Abbey wants to "follow me all day every day" .

Splitting up from time to time definitely helped keep everyone happy. I think it's a good idea - there's no need to force someone to ride something they don't like or sit through a show they aren't interested in just to stick together. It is vacation after all.

 

[DisMomAmy]

And the grand prize goes to Charleston Princess! Jackie – give yourself a pat on the back!

Off we go to The Great Movie Ride! Just what Karen needed – we had each visited several attractions and she had only been on TSM. We danced our way there, jumped in line and were boarding our theater “car” in no time. We got the gangster version this year. I always enjoy this ride and particularly enjoyed the movie montage at the end.

This one’s for Heidi:

Here comes our gangster:

And the mystery picture:

And there goes our gangster:

Tarzan is a tough guy to catch:

Everyone’s favorite character (sorry bad picture):

My favorite part of the ride:

Continued next post...

 

[DisMomAmy]

After TGMR we decided to ride TSM again. This was probably the first time Tim & I had been on a ride alone together in years. The boys each wanted to ride with Jeff or Karen. This time I took some pictures:

Tim kicked my butt:

Up next on the agenda was lunch at the 50s PTC. Alex was getting antsy so we hunted a notebook & pen set for him to write in during lunch. He had been journaling a lot in school and over vacation he wanted to write every day. This would give him something to do at lunch. We looked at several gift shops until we finally found what we needed at this little store (green awning on the right) back on the Streets of America.

On the way to 50s PTC I spotted the well near Indy's show that Julie (mousescrapper) told me about. Of course Alex had to pull the rope:

We really enjoyed the food & atmosphere at 50s PTC. I didn't take very good notes today, but I remember that we didn’t have to wait too long, which was good because I also remember Tim being really stressed about something… probably having to do with Alex. Alex was getting a bit wound up with Jeff & Karen being there. Note: The new pen didn’t work! Luckily we had another he could use to keep occupied. I know I had the pot roast – yum! I think Tim had the fried chicken. Karen & Jeff split a Caesar salad and sandwich. Alex had chicken nuggets – big surprise… Zachary had chicken noodle soup and a hot dog. He loved this lunch!! We split a couple brownies for dessert. BTW: Our server was terrific!

After 50s PTC Karen wanted to see the Voyage of the Little Mermaid. I was happy to oblige. I never get to do the girly stuff and had never visited this attraction before. Zachary wanted no part of this! Tim took Zach off to see about riding TSM again while the rest of us watched the show. I really enjoyed it! I think Zachary knew what he was doing when he insisted on skipping the show – I don’t think he would have liked the rain falling on his head.

After the VOTLM we headed over to TSM to meet up with Tim & Zach. Once we found them we returned to the Streets of America and exchanged the new pen. Believe it or not – it took the CM a few tries to find one that worked. On the way out of the park we hit RnRC one more time so I could get a chance to ride. I can’t remember what Karen & Zach did during this time, but I think it involved a snack of some sort??

We did a lot of zigging & zagging around the parks this year – more than we usually do – but I was trying to be flexible and it seemed to keep everyone happy. (But not our feet.)

Around 4:30 we decided to head out of the park.

Can you guess what we did next?

Next update: A swim & a night out!