twinmum said:
Janet2K: Welcome back...and thank you, thank you for the photo's. We will be in a deluxe room, and it sounds like it's likely going to be the one just off the lounge, or quite close by. I guess we'll find out soon, because we leave in 12 days!!!
All the details about the wonderful things the private dining/catering folks at the GF have done for you over the years has me wishing we'd been able to set something up
I had considered planning a special family meal for the last night, then decided it would be lost on our 8 year old twins.
Once we see how accessible/wheelchair friendly everything is, I suspect we'll be planning ahead to the next trip. The boys are going to LOVE it...and if they're having a marvellous time, so am I!!!
Twinmum, thank you for the warm welcome back. Im hoping I can stick around a little more frequently (real life has been difficult).
Im sorry to hear of your mothers breast cancer. My older sister is a breast cancer survivor, as are many of my friends. I will add your mother to my prayers. And here are some <<HUGS>> for your family.
Im glad to hear that your trip is quickly approaching. I hope the deluxe room that the resort puts you in is suitable to your familys needs. I also hope that you will be able to find the time to simply relax and enjoy the beauty of the resort. Over the years I have learned that to make me truly happy, all I need is a swimming pool. Of course if that swimming pool is at the Grand Floridian, Ive got a lovely backdrop to look at as I float about in the water (I can stare at the resort for hours and never tire of it).
And speaking of swimming pools, I dont know if your boys swim, but if they do, maybe theyll enjoy the water slide at the resorts Beach Pool:
click here. My daughter loves the slide, and, believe it or not, during our vacation at the resort this summer, we were able to convince one of my friends to try it out (she was staying at the resort too). But my friend got a nose full of water when she exited the slide into the pool. My advice is to tell your boys to plug their noses on the way down. It makes for a better water experience until theyre used to the slide.
You mentioned a wheelchair in your post. I am assuming that it is for one of your boys (forgive me if my assumption is incorrect). Three years ago I broke my leg. I actually broke my foot completely off my leg (I think it happened while I was stupidly setting my own leg as I awaited the paramedics do not attempt this at home!). Because of the severity of my injury, I had surgery to repair my leg. The hardware that was placed inside my leg remains there to this day (I like to call it my "bionic" leg).
While I was healing, I was confined to a wheelchair for a few months. I almost cancelled my WDW trip because I didnt want my disability to hamper my familys vacation fun. But one of my friends here on the Dis outted me on the
disABILITIES! Board. Through the kindness of the folks there, I found the courage to go through with my vacation plans. My family went on to have the time of our lives. I will forever be grateful to the folks on the Dis website.
I bring this up for a reason (yes, I do have a point!). During that vacation my wheelchair traveled with me. Since I have already stated how important floating in a swimming pool is to me, I had to learn how to enter the resorts two pools as a disabled person. I had never done that before and wasnt sure how to do it. Since I had been unable to find photos of the pools' handicap entrances or the resorts water wheelchair, I made a point of taking photos of those things during my vacation. I wanted to be able to share them with others in the future.
If you click on the link that Im going to give below, youll see those photos. Theyre not the greatest, but that was back in the day when I didnt share photos of my familys faces. (The girl with the "blanked out" face is my daughter.) Because of my desire for privacy, it limited the photos that I took. I apologize for that. Heres the link to my photo album:
click here.
Even though it sounds like you are very familiar with dealing with disabilities, I thought I would share those photos simply to give you an idea of how the resorts two swimming pools are set up, and also an idea of what the resorts water wheelchair looks like. I hope it helps.
Now in regards to Private Dining, dont forget that you can use them when youre sitting out by the pool. Or sitting out by the marina. Or sitting in the lounge. Simply pick up the phone and press the Private Dining button. They normally will deliver your meal within 45 minutes (thats been my recent experiences with them, give or take 15 minutes). Ask them to bring a tablecloth in order to make the meal more personal (they normally do that, but it never hurts to ask for it in advance). I remember one vacation when my son ordered popcorn and soft drinks. He got the biggest kick out of watching Private Dining place a tablecloth (and a flower) on the table in our resort room. Its amazing what little touches make for big impacts with the kids (and with the adults, too).
Anyhow, just thought Id mention that. Private Dining doesnt have to be a big to-do in order to make magical vacation memories. I know that Ill cherish the memories of my sons popcorn delivery always.
Have a wonderful vacation, Twinmum.
Thanks for the welcome. I should have taken the time to join a lot sooner, everyone is so friendly and helpful. Oh well, better late than never!
