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Post by Jenifer on Mar 23, 2010 18:28:11 GMT -5
We've waited 8 years to take Joy to Disneyworld because we wanted her to be old enough to really enjoy and remember it.
So we're going at the end of next month. Any advice from you seasoned Disney goers? Anything we absolutely MUST see?
Also wondering if it's worth the hassle to get the special needs pass. Seems like a lot of work to get one, but Joy is very impatient and tires out quickly.
I would appreciate any advice my Uno friends can offer ... thanks!
Jenifer, mom to Joy
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Post by wrblack on Mar 23, 2010 19:03:57 GMT -5
Advice? Sure. 1. Don't go. 2. Take my wife. Please. I've been only 5 times. I think she's been 16 times. And is whining and b.i.t.c.h.ing like mad because I'm too broke to take her for 3rd year in a row. 3. The Guest Assistance Card (GAC) is no hassle and comes in handy. Just stop in Guest Relations in first park you visit. In Magic Kingdom it's in Town Hall, just to the left as you enter the park and walk under the steam train tracks, on the trolley circle just opposite Tony's Town Tavern. Chat with a friendly Cast Member about Joy Daisy, what she can do, what she has trouble with and they should hand you a GAC in just a couple of minutes. Might get some stickers and balloons too. Think the card is a bigger hassle in Disneyland that at WDW, because people were abusing the card at the Calif. location. 4. Don't know Joy's toilet habits but took me until last visit to figure out could use first aid station as changing station for older kids with special needs. The nurses were really nice and helpful. Even gave me a contact lens case when I had forgotten to bring one. 5. Next time I go, which hopefully won't be for two or three years when they're done tearing up Fantasyland and putting it back together, I'd like to get to at least one of the parks in time to see it open. Let's see if I can find a link to a rope drop at MK on YouTube. Sure, www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYqNDu6-f5A there's a bunch on YouTube. 6. And since you've obviously money to burn, otherwise you wouldn't be going to WDW, then you should have already booked a character breakfast. Probably too late to get a reservation to breakfast with princesses at the Castle or with Pooh and friends at Crystal Palace. You could check on Chef Mickey at the Contemporary, though I think we'd like to do Lilo and Stitch at the Polynesian. So, do you want my wife's email addy or cell number? -- Bob ps Have fun and bet Joy will, but don't tell anyone I said so. pps Gawd I'm getting old, must have read this six times before I noticed I had "guess" for "guest." Maybe Lynn's right, we do need a vacation. Oh, and Barb no doubt knows more about where to hook up with princesses than I do. |
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Post by Jenifer on Mar 23, 2010 21:03:02 GMT -5
I heart Bob.
Just sayin'.
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Post by Jodi on Mar 23, 2010 22:42:34 GMT -5
We have annual passes at disneyland... and have been to WDW 3 times in the past 4 years! The GAC is perfect! We actually took a letter from Ryan's Dr that stated he has difficulty standing for long periods of time in lines, and that always does the trick. We requested the letter about a month before the trip... our Dr. has done it each year we have gone, but I'm not sure it is really even necessary! Keep in mind that some of the special assistance lines can still be a bit of a wait. Character breakfast/lunch/dinner are really good for our kids. The characters come to you, fill out an autograph book, allow you to take tons of pictures, and most characters are super good with kids of all ages. They are sweet to the young one's and give teenagers a run for their money too! Does Joy like the princesses? There is a Princess Fair in Mickey's Toontown... one side has Cinderella, Belle and Aurora... the other side has Tinkerbell and some other fairies. Hate to say it, by Ryan LOVES the princesses right now!!! He was in love with each of them... and each princess was so very good with him  The Lion King Show and the Nemo Show at the Animal Kingdom are awesome! Ryan has participated in the Lion King show 2 times! At the end of the show, the characters will come invite children to participate in a parade that goes in a circle around the stage while playing different hand-held instruments (can shakers etc). I don't know if you are going to any other park other than the Magic Kingdom... but this is our 2nd favorite! We did go to the Poly to see the Lilo and Stitch Luau show... it was just "ok" for us, and we wouldn't do that again. It just didn't really hold Ryan's attention, but maybe Joy would enjoy it more. Some packing advice... we bought a cheap over-the-door shoe organizer for our stuff. They are only a few bucks at the local drugstore. They are great for keeping all sorts of things in, like hair brushes, lotions, and other types of toiletries Keeps your counter space available too. Have a great time!!! Jodi |
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Post by wrblack on Mar 24, 2010 5:43:44 GMT -5
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Post by CC on Mar 24, 2010 23:16:23 GMT -5
Advise from one that has been there 6 times now is have FUN FUN FUN  Hey the special pass is simple as 1 2 3 to get. At the Magic Kingdom once you enter go to guest services on the left once you are in. Go in and tell them why you need it and BINGO its that simple. What should you absolutely see, Hmmmm everything but that will not be possible on one trip LOL so plan on going back We were just there in January and plan on going back as soon as we can. Chris loves Disney more then anything but one of his favorites is eating at Chef Mickey's which is at the Contemporary where we love to stay when we go  The characters Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck, Goofy... come to your table lots while you eat, great photo op Amazing firework show at Epcot and Magic Kingdom both a must see. Day parade at Magic Kingdom and night parade both a must see at least once Beauty and the Beast show at Hollywood Studios is very cool and certain days they have one signing the show. YIKES I could go on and on and on. What kinds of things does Joy enjoy would help more in me sharing on what she and you all should do there. Most important is have fun and know you can't do it all in one trip, you will just have to go back again one day CC~ |
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Post by wrblack on Mar 26, 2010 15:12:02 GMT -5
Uh, so, if anybody was wondering who wears the pants in my house, anybody going to be at WDW end of June, beginning of July? -- Bob  |
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Post by alisonzmom on Mar 27, 2010 15:13:53 GMT -5
We took Alison to Disney last June and would definitely recommend the Princess lunch/dinner at Epcot, Norway! If Joy is into the Princesses it's a must do. You get a nice souvenier picture, Alison's was with Belle. Belle, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty ( whose name we learned from some little 3 yr old is Aurora), Cinderella, and Arrielle all come to the tables while you're eating. Alison was in her glory! We also did the Crystal Palace one with Winnie the Pooh and Friends which was great too.
Definitely get the guest pass..... was no hassle at all, just had to explain that she tires very quickly and needed the stroller for standing in long lines...... saved us HOURS waiting in lines and got us a great seating at things like the Playhouse Disney show, the fireworks at MGM Studios, the parades ( there were special areas for wheelchair/strollers). One of the best things was no waiting to get on Soaring at Epcot...... downside was made it way too easy to go on the Flying Dumbos 25 times in row since we didn't wait any more than a ride or so inbetween!!!
Have a great time and we'll be looking to pics!
Barb
PS... Alison would be more than happy to go with you guys so that Joy has a little buddy for all the rides!!!
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Post by Googsmom aka Jennifer on Mar 28, 2010 11:32:32 GMT -5
Have a GREAT time!!! BTW, Bob, your so funny {{{{{HUGS}}}} |
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Post by laurasnowbird on Mar 30, 2010 10:48:40 GMT -5
OMG, I am totally rolling on the floor laughing, because before I read even one response I knew Bob would post something like "Ummmm, don't go."
But he didn't even say Ummmmm first.
And Bob, I'm sure you wear the pants in the house! Lynn just tells you which ones and how to put them on. LOL!!!
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Post by wrblack on Mar 30, 2010 13:07:05 GMT -5
Well, I'm just thrilled and delighted to learn that Snowbird finds us so amusing. Do Ethan and Aidan know that a new Legoland is opening in Florida, just 45 minutes from WDW, fall of 2011? www.legolandfloridaresort.com/Bit of an update, don't expect any major dislocations due to overhaul of Fantasyland until towards end of the year, maybe about the time Legoland opens. But Electrical Parade and new fireworks show are scheduled for June 6, which I think is after Jenifer will have been there but before we get there. So, Jenifer and Joy should still be able to find princesses and see Spectromagic and Wishes. Fantasmic is performed only on selected nights at Hollywood Studios, worth checking on that. But one of my favorites is seeing Tink fly from Cinderella's castle. But you don't need to go to see that, even I have that on YouTube, well, under Lynn's account, of course, www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aEGjOQoylcthough I don't seem to be able to get it to play at the moment. Hmm, so much for communicating by YouTube. And, Jenifer, Disney web site has planning your trip, creating an itinerary, look under My Disney Vacation, disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/myVacation/index?id=MyVacationIndexPage&bhcp=1but it's really slow and clunky. Lynn ran out and bought a new Passporters book. Whew, TMI, Bob |
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Post by wrblack on Apr 10, 2010 7:27:18 GMT -5
From disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/category/walt-disney-world/As we’ve shared here on the blog, work is beginning on the expansion of Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park. And as the transformation begins, there are some updates you should know about. Beginning April 12, Ariel’s Grotto, Scuttle’s Landing snack location and Pooh’s Playful Spot will be closing. You’ll still be able to find several of your favorite Disney Characters in some other locations and continue to experience other favorite Fantasyland attractions –- in their normal locations. Ariel will continue to be seen in the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade and SpectroMagic Parade at Magic Kingdom Park as well as at the Voyage of The Little Mermaid attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Ariel will have a new grotto greeting location and ride-through attraction called Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid as part of the Fantasyland expansion scheduled for 2013. We’ll post any new updates on the expansion project on the blog. ------------- Not a biggie in our book, though Lynn says I've missed my chance to try to hook up with Ariel. Yeah, about 40 years ago. -- Bob |
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Post by wrblack on Apr 27, 2010 14:30:22 GMT -5
OK, so is Joy visiting with the Mouse now? Are we going to get a trip report? Guess it's too late to point out that I hear there are new set of park maps. Snip from DISboards disABILITIES forum, www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2450554"WDW put out new park maps for Guests with Disabilities in the last few months - the maps actually started appearing a little over a year ago, but they recently put them in the park map kiosks with the regular park maps in all parks. The maps list the wheelchair/handicapped entrance for each attraction, and in most cases, they say to enter thru the regular line or get a Fastpass to use the Fastpass entrance. The maps say that the entrances listed on the maps are the wheelchair/handicapped entrances My suggestion is to pick up one of those park maps for each park." I thought the regular park maps did a good job of giving info about alternate entrances, transfer or not transfer, that sort of thing. But would like to see these new maps. Will look for them the next time we go. -- Bob |
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Post by momofrussell on Apr 29, 2010 12:58:15 GMT -5
HA! I too knew Bob's first response would be "Don't Go" LOL ;D ;D But you ever notice that he DOES know plenty about it and does give sound "fun at WDW" advice, push come to shove....I think Bob has a hidden love for the mouse with big black ears....and I am also pretty sure Bob is a SMART man because he wants to keep his wife happy Even if that means going to WDW ;D A. |
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Post by momofrussell on Apr 29, 2010 12:59:12 GMT -5
OH..and I have no advice on taking a child w/spec needs to WDW...when we went 2 yrs ago we left Russell with the grandparents at home and only took the girls...and did NOT regret it at all. Russell wouldn't like it there.....no point it torturing him or us for that price......
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The characters Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck, Goofy... come to your table lots while you eat, great photo op 
