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10/12/2015 • Walt Disney World •
I am a parent of a child born with Fragile X Syndrome. My son has challenges in all aspects of his life, and easily becomes overwhelmed by his environment. That can lead to difficulty with communication and the dreaded behavioral meltdown. He was born with Disney loving parents who are determined to make our Disney trips a consistent part of our lives. Are we nuts? Perhaps. I tend to think of my family as goal oriented, determined, hopeful, persistent and perhaps, at times, incredibly brave. We were blessed with 2 additional “typically developing” children. We CHOOSE to live as “typical” of a family life as we possibly can. Why would we knowingly bring a child who has such strong sensory (especially auditory) processing challenges to an environment with an overwhelming amount of input? As I mentioned above, when we became engaged at Walt Disney World, and my fiance’ (husband now) […]
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1/25/2024 • Reviews, Walt Disney World •
Everyone Is Family at Ohana's! Welcome Cousin! 'Ohana is a Hawaiian for "family" and that's how you will feel when you enjoy you Best Friends Breakfast with Lilo and Stitch, and their friends (usually Mickey in his favorite Hawaiian shirt and Pluto) at this beautiful Polynesian Village Resort restaurant. 'Ohana's is a popular dining destination for guests, so you will want to book early (dining reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance) to ensure this dining experience is on your itinerary. This restaurant is located on the upper level of the Polynesian Village Resort and easily accessible by the monorail. This character breakfast is all-you-can-eat and served family-style, which my family appreciates. This allows us to enjoy our breakfast as a family and talk about our day without having to interrupt our conversations while someone heads off to a buffet. Your "Cousin" will warmly greet you and show you to your table. If […]
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7/14/2015 • Walt Disney World •
Raglan Road, nestled in the middle of the Downtown Disney/Disney Springs shopping and dining area, is one of the most unique and delicious restaurants on property! For those of us who remember Pleasure Island, Raglan Road was one of the first new additions to Pleasure Island when it became more family-friendly in late 2005. Built across from Mannequins, in place of what used to be an ice cream parlor, Raglan Road brought a new era of fine dining to Downtown Disney. Raglan Road is an authentic Irish Pub - and when I say ‘authentic’, I’m not just saying they have shamrocks and shepherd’s pie. What I mean is that every recipe is traditional Irish cuisine, the physical bar in the restaurant was taken out of an authentic pub in Ireland, live traditional music and Irish dancers grace crowds every evening, and beers and liquors traditionally served in Ireland are ready […]
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6/15/2015 • Walt Disney World •
Driving to Disney with Small Children: 4 tips to keep your sanity Every year my husband decides we should live the American dream and drive to Walt Disney World. Even though my opinion differs, this is the choice I usually get talked into. Here are a few of my tipsand tricks that keeps the family happy [most of the time]. 1. On-The-Road Activities: Get them pumped up about the drive, just as much as the destination. To help accomplish this, I bought my children each a plastic tote, to fill with car activities such as stickers, toys and art projects. Then, we let the kids decorate their box to their liking. One of my daughters chose classic Disney characters and the other was creative with Star Wars theming. We went to their room and choose some of their favorite toys that would entertain them for 10 minutes or more: books, magnetic […]
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1/25/2015 • Reviews, Walt Disney World •
Looking for a delicious table service meal inside the Magic Kingdom? Look no further than one our family’s favorite restaurants, Tony’s Town Square. Inside this charming trattoria located on Main Street USA, you can enjoy your favorite Italian dishes, steaks and delicious desserts. The theming of the restaurant centers around the Disney animated classic, Lady and the Tramp. In the lobby waiting area, children and grown-up kids can enjoy a few minutes of Lady and the Tramp, which plays constantly on the television. Kids can also color Lady and the Tramp coloring sheets while waiting for their table. The restaurant offers three distinct dining areas. In the main dining room, guests will love the fountain of the canine couple, Lady and Tramp, which is the focal point of the room. The main dining room offers comfortable family seating and is reminiscent of a classic New York City, family-owned, Italian eatery. […]
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9/22/2014 • Walt Disney World •
Cruise right in for a memorable meal at Hollywood Studios Sci-Fi Dine-In. This Hollywood sound stage takes you back to the era of drive-ins and sock hops. Your family will enjoy sitting underneath a sky full of your twinkling stars in your “automo-booth or table” as classic black and white science fiction clips and commercials play on the big screen. You will find classic 50’s drive-in foods, such as onion rings, milkshakes (be sure to ask about the milkshake of the day!) and build-your-own burgers, but that’s not all. The menu hosts other memorable dishes, such as New York Strip Steak, Smoked Turkey sandwiches, and St. Louis-style Pork Ribs. Your children will find a wide variety of choices on the kid’s menu, such as popcorn chicken, mac-n-cheese, cheeseburgers, and grilled salmon to just name a few. You’ll want to save room for another milkshake for dessert or perhaps some warm […]
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4/24/2023 • Walt Disney World •
When my family started planning our recent August vacation to Walt Disney World, there was one place that I knew we would need to book. While everyone has a favorite restaurant and character meal, The Garden Grill in Epcot’s Land Pavillion is always at the top of their list. We have enjoyed dinner here on our last three visits to the parks. What makes this restaurant so special? EVERYTHING!!! The Garden Grill is located in Future World of Epcot. The restaurant slowly rotates as you enjoy your meal and interact with Farmer Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale. By the time you have finished your meal, you have made one full revolution within the scenes of the Living with The Land attraction. Note: You will want to make sure that you enjoy this attraction that travels through the greenhouses before dinner. Your kids will be amazed to see how they are […]
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8/16/2014 • Walt Disney World •
“You had better eat your veggies if you want dessert!” Looking for a delicious meal and a memorable experience, then book a dining reservation at 50’s Prime Time Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Dining reservations can be made 180 days in advance and are highly recommended. If your “Aunt” is busy in the kitchen getting things ready, you may get to spend time in “Dad’s TV Room” for a little bit watching classics television shows like Father Knows Best and the original Mickey Mouse Club. When it’s time for dinner, don’t be surprised if one of your “cousins” yells that it’s time to eat!!! When it’s dinner time, get ready to step back into mom’s kitchen in the 1950’s. For a special treat, you’re allowed to watch TV at the dinner table today! While dining around the Formica dinner table, enjoy black-and-white television clips from popular prime-time shows circa 1955. […]
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8/12/2014 • Walt Disney World •
Would you like to treat your little prince or princess to a stay in a truly royal location? The Royal Guest Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside Resort is your answer! With hidden treasures from several of the Disney princesses you’ll be in awe at the details included here. The story goes that when Tiana became a Disney princess she was greeted with open arms by the other princesses. They each brought her gifts to help welcome her own guests to her “home resort”. For example, you’ll want to take a close look at the shower curtain to see some reminders of Ariel from the Little Mermaid. Your little ones will love finding the secrets that are all over these rooms. Another fun surprise for visitors is revealed each night as you get ready for a comfortable night’s sleep. The idea of going to sleep isn’t usually at the top […]
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5/3/2014 • Walt Disney World •
Calling all Wilderness Explorers! Are you ready to journey through the jungle, find your way through the forests and make your way through Animal Kingdom Park to earn your wilderness badges? Follow in the footsteps of Russell and his faithful dog, Dug from the movie UP! as you tackle dozens of self-guided activities that get you exploring and experiencing Animal Kingdom Park in a new way. With over 30 badges to earn and collect, this is a great activity to continue to enjoy on multiple visits to the park. Every challenge is different and once you complete an activity, you collect a new sticker badge to put in your official Wilderness Explorer field guide. To register as a Wilderness Explorer, head to the bridge near the Oasis to Discovery Island. Your explorer will be given instructions and a map showing the park location for each task to be completed. The […]
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