podsnel
<font color=blue>just skippin' around, amusing mys
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2007
Well, here I am again, with another tale of what we did and how we did it. I'm Ellen, official Disney nutcase assigned to planning all vacations for my dear family. Of course it is my pleasure to plan these trips, and I feel very, very fortunate after having planned this one- because on THIS trip, we were ALL going to WDW for the first time in 2 years. Hopefully. There was no issue with myself, or my DH (Pods), or with our 2 younger sons, DS12 (Tyler) and DS10 (Timmy). We are all very happy to go, go, GO! wherever and whenever we can. The issue was with DS15 (Sean). Sean is a beautiful, intelligent, sweet young man who happens to be autistic, too. And his autism very often gets in the way of fun things like....going to summer camp (when he screamed for an hour and wouldn't get out of the car) or going to Florida to visit his Grandma & cousins (which he let us know when he wouldn't get out of the car at the airport). Fun, fun stuff. I guess Sean had decided he would prefer to sleep in his bed- ONLY. Makes it a little tough to go anywhere that way. But, I was DETERMINED he was going to WDW in November 2009. Because we have been going to WDW every other year for most of his life. And WDW, well, he loves it there. And the CMs are SO KIND, the characters SO WONDERFUL to him... it is a TRULY magical experience for us all, and I was NOT going to give it up!! So, I dug my heels in, and over the course of a year, we were successful in getting him de-sensitized to hotel stays (by taking him on overnights to various Embassy Suites in NJ). All that was left would be getting him on de plane! Well, how about getting him into the airport even? Off the plane? Onto the DME? Into the hotels? Into the parks? Out to dinner? Oh boy, this is a little more challenging than it sounds. A 15 year old throwing a tantrum like a two year old is NOT ever a good thing and really needs to be avoided as much as possible. Soooo....
What I did was make a book for him. It's about 40 pages in length. And it details EVERYTHING we would be doing over the course of our trip to WDW. Along with photos. Photos of EVERYTHING...Newark airport. The Continental plane. The monorail at the Orlando airport. DME. ALL the DVC villa rooms (including photos of the pull-out chairs, thanks to some very kind DIS friends! ) and the HRH room. Even the shower stalls. Every park and every ride we know he loves. Even every restaurant we had ADRs for. And we read this book together everyday, several times, for a month before D-Day- November 4th. And everyday, about 100 times a day, I asked him, "Where are we going on November 4th?" to which he would reply, "Walt Disney World". "How do we get to WDW?" "On the airplane." Until, it was finally November 4th, and we were waking him up to get into our van and go to the airport. But would Sean do it? Would he be able to conquer all of his inexplainable fears? Would we FINALLY be going on a family vacation with our whole family, or would he be escorted home from Newark Airport at the final moment by our friend Ann who was kind enough to wake up so early and ride along in our van with us just in case? Would he be spending the week with my cousins Sheree & Henry again (the saints who watch him for us when we do go away without him)? Stay tuned to find out!!
As a side note, on my last TR, I was able to finally figure out how to post links to individual posts, so I'll be doing that HERE-
And....we're OFF! http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34774095&postcount=9
C'mon Sean...you can do it!! http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34778636&postcount=16
Happy New Year Everyone! http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34824179&postcount=29
It's time for club Cool! http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34825064&postcount=31
A night in Germany- dinner at Biergarten http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34843290&postcount=37
The Yankees win the World Series! http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34855657&postcount=44
Some old Scrapbook pages http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34864259&postcount=49
EE in the FRONT row! http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34867151&postcount=51
Flying lessons at Sanaa http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34882755&postcount=56
Hangin at Kidani http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34883209&postcount=58
A Room with a view http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34932681&postcount=68
Finally! MK then Jambo for BOMA http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34933835&postcount=79
Goodbye Kidani, Hello DTD http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34963658&postcount=86
A Great day with my son in DTD http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34965278&postcount=90
Osprey Ridge Golf http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34967057&postcount=92
We're walkin' right down the middle of Main St, USA http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34990112&postcount=103
More MK with my Sean http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34990837&postcount=104
Uh-Oh at HRH http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35004122&postcount=119
Never Underestimate the power of a DVC 1 bdrm villa http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35004152&postcount=120
The Simpsons Ride ROCKS! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35021188&postcount=137
Give a Day, Get a Day (off topic- OOPS!) http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35067891&postcount=157
Lunch at the beachclub- with Squirrel, but not Moose! http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35068333&postcount=160
Twistin' by the Pool... http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35083113&postcount=172
Visiting Aunt Irma http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35083895&postcount=175
Rip Ride Rockit- is it worth it? http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35085167&postcount=176
Another Blast from the past- U & IOA 2005 http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35097958&postcount=184
Off to Mythos for lunch! http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35098903&postcount=185
A visit with Irma, circa 2003 http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35113825&postcount=197
SPLASHDOWN! At IOA http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35302384&postcount=209
A Little Hoops before we go http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35304596&postcount=211
Back to the Mothership-Checking into BLT http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35326979&postcount=218
Chef Mickey's...for the last time http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35360916&postcount=227
My name is Ellen, and I am fireworks challenged http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35362140&postcount=234
TOWL, baby! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35366275&postcount=239
Yum Yum- Kona Cafe for breakfast! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35389751&postcount=248
Sidetrack-Skiing & Chinese New Year http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35467682&postcount=287
Buzz Cuts & Tea Cups http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35469160&postcount=288
More MK http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35469807&postcount=290
Sum of All Thrills with Satan's Spawn http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35484343&postcount=299
The Ooh La La Part http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35485632&postcount=300
DHS http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35605144&postcount=313
It's a SNOWICANE!! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35609821&postcount=321
Timmy takes on Rockin Rollercoaster! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35770132&postcount=336
50's PT http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35835676&postcount=341
BLT pool at night with my Shawnee http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35892440&postcount=354
TOWL & UH-OH.... http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35990407&postcount=357
Here in OBX http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36043354&postcount=363
The sun is shining! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36046875&postcount=365
DVC & CR Management ROCK! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36117987&postcount=379
Update from OBX last week http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36118203&postcount=380
Timmy gets in one last Thrill ride http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36166303&postcount=389
OBX Ring in the Spring! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36235641&postcount=390
OBX http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36236914&postcount=391
OBX http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36237774&postcount=392
OBX http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36240875&postcount=396
What I did was make a book for him. It's about 40 pages in length. And it details EVERYTHING we would be doing over the course of our trip to WDW. Along with photos. Photos of EVERYTHING...Newark airport. The Continental plane. The monorail at the Orlando airport. DME. ALL the DVC villa rooms (including photos of the pull-out chairs, thanks to some very kind DIS friends! ) and the HRH room. Even the shower stalls. Every park and every ride we know he loves. Even every restaurant we had ADRs for. And we read this book together everyday, several times, for a month before D-Day- November 4th. And everyday, about 100 times a day, I asked him, "Where are we going on November 4th?" to which he would reply, "Walt Disney World". "How do we get to WDW?" "On the airplane." Until, it was finally November 4th, and we were waking him up to get into our van and go to the airport. But would Sean do it? Would he be able to conquer all of his inexplainable fears? Would we FINALLY be going on a family vacation with our whole family, or would he be escorted home from Newark Airport at the final moment by our friend Ann who was kind enough to wake up so early and ride along in our van with us just in case? Would he be spending the week with my cousins Sheree & Henry again (the saints who watch him for us when we do go away without him)? Stay tuned to find out!!
As a side note, on my last TR, I was able to finally figure out how to post links to individual posts, so I'll be doing that HERE-
And....we're OFF! http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34774095&postcount=9
C'mon Sean...you can do it!! http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34778636&postcount=16
Happy New Year Everyone! http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34824179&postcount=29
It's time for club Cool! http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34825064&postcount=31
A night in Germany- dinner at Biergarten http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34843290&postcount=37
The Yankees win the World Series! http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34855657&postcount=44
Some old Scrapbook pages http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34864259&postcount=49
EE in the FRONT row! http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34867151&postcount=51
Flying lessons at Sanaa http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34882755&postcount=56
Hangin at Kidani http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34883209&postcount=58
A Room with a view http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34932681&postcount=68
Finally! MK then Jambo for BOMA http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34933835&postcount=79
Goodbye Kidani, Hello DTD http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34963658&postcount=86
A Great day with my son in DTD http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34965278&postcount=90
Osprey Ridge Golf http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34967057&postcount=92
We're walkin' right down the middle of Main St, USA http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34990112&postcount=103
More MK with my Sean http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34990837&postcount=104
Uh-Oh at HRH http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35004122&postcount=119
Never Underestimate the power of a DVC 1 bdrm villa http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35004152&postcount=120
The Simpsons Ride ROCKS! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35021188&postcount=137
Give a Day, Get a Day (off topic- OOPS!) http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35067891&postcount=157
Lunch at the beachclub- with Squirrel, but not Moose! http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35068333&postcount=160
Twistin' by the Pool... http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35083113&postcount=172
Visiting Aunt Irma http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35083895&postcount=175
Rip Ride Rockit- is it worth it? http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35085167&postcount=176
Another Blast from the past- U & IOA 2005 http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35097958&postcount=184
Off to Mythos for lunch! http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35098903&postcount=185
A visit with Irma, circa 2003 http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35113825&postcount=197
SPLASHDOWN! At IOA http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35302384&postcount=209
A Little Hoops before we go http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35304596&postcount=211
Back to the Mothership-Checking into BLT http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35326979&postcount=218
Chef Mickey's...for the last time http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35360916&postcount=227
My name is Ellen, and I am fireworks challenged http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35362140&postcount=234
TOWL, baby! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35366275&postcount=239
Yum Yum- Kona Cafe for breakfast! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35389751&postcount=248
Sidetrack-Skiing & Chinese New Year http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35467682&postcount=287
Buzz Cuts & Tea Cups http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35469160&postcount=288
More MK http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35469807&postcount=290
Sum of All Thrills with Satan's Spawn http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35484343&postcount=299
The Ooh La La Part http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35485632&postcount=300
DHS http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35605144&postcount=313
It's a SNOWICANE!! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35609821&postcount=321
Timmy takes on Rockin Rollercoaster! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35770132&postcount=336
50's PT http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35835676&postcount=341
BLT pool at night with my Shawnee http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35892440&postcount=354
TOWL & UH-OH.... http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35990407&postcount=357
Here in OBX http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36043354&postcount=363
The sun is shining! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36046875&postcount=365
DVC & CR Management ROCK! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36117987&postcount=379
Update from OBX last week http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36118203&postcount=380
Timmy gets in one last Thrill ride http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36166303&postcount=389
OBX Ring in the Spring! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36235641&postcount=390
OBX http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36236914&postcount=391
OBX http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36237774&postcount=392
OBX http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36240875&postcount=396