Disney Dreaming

[Chester]

I'm hooked! We decided to stay at one of the Disney resorts, take the meal plan, and went for a week, so that we wouldn't need to go back......WRONG. I'd go back in a heartbeat, well after we save up some money again.

Thanks to the advice on here, we did get the sticker that allowed JT's stroller to be a wheel chair. The sticker is part of what made the trip so nice. We felt bad about using the sticker at first, and would park the stroller and then CARRY JT when he got tired. It was hot, and sticky and miserable. We got over the stigma fast and decided that the wheel chair sticker wasn't a luxury but needed.

I'm also thrilled to report that we didn't have any wandering incidents and the door alarm on the hotel doors worked like a charm. JT was so exhausted he didn't move, but it was nice to have the added security so I could sleep!

JT's vocab expanded, his new favorite saying is "yeehaw, Dude" a combination of the yeehaw from a bbq with Mickey and Crush the seaturtle from Nemo saying "dude".

I was worried about how JT would handle all the noise, people, rides, stimulation....my worry was not needed. He THRIVED, he EXCELLED. How could he not.....a place where there is always a parade, a place that it's okay to wave, throw kisses and hug big furry creatures, the ice cream was endless, dancing music everywhere, swimming, riding busses, trains and rides, seeing Buzz Lightyear and Zurg. More than anything, I'll remember the other tourists. For the most part everyone was SO willing to engage JT. They loved to hear him laugh, see his eyes light up, and see him dance, dance, dance. He opened a lot of eyes.

My other two kiddos loved it too. My daughter who will be 11 this week, and is a tall tall girl, was ticked off that they didn't have princess dresses in her size......what?! She's not a frilly girl at all, she got bit by the disney magic too.

Dawn

[ALLISA]

aaawww.....sounds like a great trip !! Glad you had fun !!!

[wrblack]

My condolences. Maybe someday there'll be a vaccines for mouse virus and rat-bite fever. But am afraid these will be developed too late to thwart Lynn's plans for August. -- Bob

[Jessie]

Glad to hear you had a great time!!! Can't wait until my two little ones are old enough to enjoy going there.

Which resort did you stay at?



Jessie

[Chester]

Which part of August Bob? Did you know that there is a two week time period where they give the meal plan for free? I'm pretty sure it's sometime in August, you have to ask for it to get it.

Jessie, there are 5 in our family, which limits the places you can stay. We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside. Beautiful, great food, pools everywhere, so were the Gecko lizard critters which the kiddos loved. The only bummer was that we were on the second floor, no elevators. I'm sure they would have moved us if I would have asked. I just didn't want to go through the hastle of the move.

Dawn

[Jessie]

Good choice! That's a nice one, I've stayed there a couple of times. The ones that only accommodate 4 people are pretty small. I've stayed at the Music one (can't think of the name) and the rooms are small and not very 'resort' feeling.

[wrblack]

Oh, jeez, am I really going to get into a discussion about WDW?
Well, glad you had a good time, Dawn. And, of course, even better that your kids had a good time. We stayed at what was then Dixie Landing back when there were only 5 of us. Hope you took JT to the Ol' Fishin' Hole. I'd like to take Charlie and Robert there, early in the morning, very quiet, good fun.
But now there are 7 of us. When I hit the lottery, we'll take a suite at the Contemporary. But last 2 times we've gone to WDW we stayed in those cheap rooms that Jessie doesn't like. Time before last met my sister and mom there and took 3 adjoining rooms at All Star Sports. Last time took two adjoining rooms at Pop Century. Robert still talks about wanting to go back to his room.
Think Robert's very favorite part of WDW was riding the !@#$ buses. Loved them, couldn't wait to wait in line. Next favorite was monorail. We bought him a Disney bus at one of the gift shops and he's acquired another one since.
Think Charlie's favorite part was the sprinkler fountains in the pools. Think his least favorite part was getting caught in a really violent and very loud thunderstorm over near the Pirates of the Caribbean. For a kid with Ds and autism he rarely has any behavior issues, but he had his first real meltdown there, inconsolable. Some guy, stranger, asked if a lollipop would help. No, but thanks for the concern.
I'm hoping we'll stay cheap in 2 rooms at All Star Movies. Lynn's theory is okay to stay in cheap rooms, because you want to spend a minimum amount of time there. Only need a place to sleep, crash when you're totally exhausted, from spending all day at the parks, rides, shows, parades. And with 2 rooms, there are 2 TV's.
Thanks for the tip about meal plan. We've never done one of those. Talked about a different dining experience last time we went, but, nah, Robert had not had the pleasure of breakfast at Chef Mickey's. So, we didn't want to foist off on him some substitute, like breakfast with Donald at that dinosaur place. Most days we were good with breakfast at the food court, catch a bus, lunch at counter service place in one of the parks. Tried twice to have dinner at the drive-in movie themed place at MGM
disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/dining/diningDetail?id=SciFiDineInTheaterDiningPage
but never got in. Maybe next time. Believe park hopper option worth the investment. Oh, and both Lynn and her sister are addicted to the carrot cake you can pick up at food court for late night snack.
So, are you going back in August? Will we see you there? Wonder how hot it'll be in Animal Kingdom. Wouldn't think it could get much hotter there, but in August, maybe so. -- Bob

[Emilysmom]

Sounds like you had a blast! I don't blame you for wanting to go back again........I'd go in a heartbeat! I'm glad JT had so much fun.
Susan

[CC]

Yea Dawn I am so glad you guys had such a GREAT time OMG we LOVE it at Disney ;D Chris is truly obsessed with it

We have been three times and plan on going back maybe next year. Although if you mention Disney in ear shot of Chris he will tell you we are going December 27 LOLOL its a long story but this boy never forgets anything LOL

We have stayed at the Boardwalk, Caribbean (sp?) and the last time was at the Contemporary. I loved all three places ;D

Would love to see photos hint hint

CC~

[momofrussell]

HOW COOL! We are going to TRY to plan again for next year.... TRY. I have a new job so who knows if I can go and leave work (not be there a year yet when I want to go) but we want to go SO BAD!!!!!!!

Glad you had a great time!!!!! We too have a family of 5 and I noticed it does limit where you can stay on the budget end of the disney spectrum. I will keep where you stayed in mind!

A.

[edugatortracy]

A great alternative to the parks and Orlando is the Disney Cruise! It is FABULOUS! The rooms are HUGE, the food is incredible and never ending, and the private island is beautiful! And did I mention the child care? My kids didn't want to LEAVE the kid areas! If you live in Florida there are FL Resident rates offered at certain times of the year, but overall the prices are slightly higher than other cruise lines because it is Disney service and accommodations. You can get pretty good rates from www.allseastravel.com - it is more expensive to go through Disney directly, although you can visit the disney cruise website to see the ships, the rooms and the island. HIGHLY recommend it-
even to Bob!

[Jessie]

Oh yeah, the Disney cruise is pretty darn awesome I must say! Last time we went and did the cruise, our land part of the stay was at Wilderness Lodge and THAT was great. I would love to go back there to stay again.