A Halloween Adventure in Autism (11/7) Prayer Request for Catie (p.129)

[eandesmom]

Oh Kathy, what a night!

I am so so saddened about your state funding, I know we've been fighting hard to keep programs here too and I get SO mad at people throwing hissy fits because their hi-cap bus got cut when other states are looking at removing ALL funding.

We sit here and think it's so awful here and it is so much worse elsewhere. The pink slip numbers are shocking. Currently our state supreme court ruled against the state for not providing adequate funding for basic ed. Really interested to see how that plays out in this economy with the budget still 4 million off...

I love that you just gave her a hug...it is a small world and Disney makes it that much smaller in truly magical ways.

I am sitting here in tears. This is so true.

Lauren has been having a really rough time over the past few days. Her neck is so crooked now that they are talking about fusing it - and they have said it would be a very risky, painful and "awful" surgery. Nevermind she almost died after the surgery where they fused her back. They are really trying to avoid fusing her neck.

So they have ordered all of this junk for her wheelchair that holds her head straight. For this teenage girl, having all of this stuff around her hair and all of this equipment all the way over her head - well, she is really having trouble with it. It is a bit painful for her to have it all there (stretching muscles she can't use, etc)...anyway. In tears last night she said, "I just want to go to Disney World so I can feel NORMAL again."

Broke my heart in two. Then I logged on and saw this and you are so right...Disney is the perfect place for these kids (and adults) where they can get on the same ride as everyone else and are treated like everyone else in so many respects - and maybe like VIP's in some instances.

Thanks for sharing it.

Oh Mary! And Lauren breaks my heart.

Hi, Mary, and welcome!

How many times have I said to my husband, "I wonder if they would make our Disney trips part of Billy's IEP?!"

Seriously! They are very therapeutic!


Kathy

Seriously, they are.

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Hi Kathy,

It seems like a lot of states are dealing with cuts to the educational budgets. Here in NY we are facing the same issues. I have a friend who is an Adapted PE teacher and her job has been cut for next year. It really is a shame. I'm concerned about the music and drama programs that my son Dan is so involved with...it seems like those are the things that go first. I'm glad all of Billy's services will not be affected.

So cool that you found a fellow Disney lover at your meeting! Isn't it amazing how Disney really does touch people's lives?

 

[kayrosek]

So sorry to hear about your state funding. I hate that it is the kids who have to sufffer. How great that you got to meet a fellow Disney lover at the meeting! I remember reading your TR's before our trip and notricing that you mentioned several times what an effect Disney had on Billy and how you felt about it in regards to your family vacationing there. I thought it was wonderful that Billy had so much progress there and all your details alleviated some of my concerns over going there with Jonnie but I can't say I expected WDW would be like that for Jonnie. Boy was I wrong. It truly is a magical place especially for those with special needs and their families. I don't think Jonnie (or any of us for that matter, as everything that upsets Jonnie upsets me and that in turn affects our family experience as a whole) would have been able to enjoy all the types of experiences he had at Disney anywhere else.

 

[KathyRN137]

Oh Kathy, what a night!
...I love that you just gave her a hug...it is a small world and Disney makes it that much smaller in truly magical ways.

See below!

Hi Kathy,
...So cool that you found a fellow Disney lover at your meeting! Isn't it amazing how Disney really does touch people's lives?

See below!

... How great that you got to meet a fellow Disney lover at the meeting!

...WDW...truly is a magical place especially for those with special needs and their families. I don't think Jonnie (or any of us for that matter, as everything that upsets Jonnie upsets me and that in turn affects our family experience as a whole) would have been able to enjoy all the types of experiences he had at Disney anywhere else.

I called Erica, the woman I met at the meeting, and she seemed so nice! Her son and Billy have the same week off for Spring Break, so we have planned to get the boys together for a play date.

I think it will be great fun to Talk Mickey with her!

Krystal!! (kayrosek) How good to see you!

I read your update about the house fire and your back injury.

Please feel better soon! It would be fun to read the rest of your TR, but take care of yourself and your family first... we will be here when you're ready to come back to DISing!


Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

Chapter Twenty-Five: You Can't Fool Us, We Know Where Dug Went!

Day Three, continued
Monday
November 2, 2009
Hollywood Studios


When I left off, the family was still on a high from our first two rides on Toy Story Midway Mania. It met all of our expectations and more. Now we were off to see something else that was new (to us).

The characters from the movie, Up!

We had seen the movie when it first came out and had instantly fallen in love with Russell, Mr. Fredrickson, and Dug. Billy has the Dug and the Alpha (Doberman) stuffed animals and loves to play that they are “talking” to each other. Sounds commonplace, but Billy doesn’t play with a lot of toys, so it’s a pretty big deal for him. I knew when I was planning the trip that we would simply have to make time to meet these characters.

Sarah (mom2mek) guessed correctly: we were on our way to the Magic of Disney Animation!

I Love the LGMs!

Hmm. We were still doing pretty well crowd-wise. The skies remained overcast, but so far there was no sign of the rain that had been predicted for this afternoon. We ducked inside, bypassed the Drawn to Animation Theater, and went straight to the character meet area.


The hands-on exhibits were tempting but after looking at the sign and realizing that the characters were scheduled to appear in about ten minutes, I herded everyone over to the queue, which is located behind the meet and greet area. Upon rounding the corner, I could see that we were only the fourth or fifth family in line! The girls plopped down on the floor and sat, cross-legged, to wait (and text). “I’m tired,” Tricia complained. “My feet hurt.” In reality, I think she was just bored. Or hormonal. Or perhaps she just felt like being a pain-in-the-neck teenager at that moment. Catie was more amenable to the plan. “Come on, Trish, don’t be that way!” she chided. Good. Better she hear it from her cousin than from me!

Billy, as usual, was more than game. Once he saw all the Up animation cells and realized who we were waiting for, he couldn’t sit still for anything!


We really lucked out… the line of Up fans grew and grew over the next ten minutes! I was glad to be on the front end of it. Soon the CM handlers came round and announced that the characters would be arriving. A nearby door opened and in came Russell, Dug, and Mr. Fredrickson, who walked with the assistance of his signature quad cane with tennis balls. Instinctively, we all pushed forward and strained to get a look at what was happening on the other side of the wall. The first family was ushered to the other side and had their meet and greet. Suddenly, Dug whispered something to one of the CMs and quickly left the way he had come in. The next two families had their meets without him.

“Oh no!” I thought. “We’re not going to get to see Dug!”

I love Dug! I was just as disappointed for myself as I was for Billy. The CMs told the queue that Dug had to fix his flea collar or some such nonsense, but my son knew better.

“He had to go pee-pee!” Billy announced, loudly.

Hey, we have a dog! He knows why they need to go out!

Good karma visited us, however, and Dug reappeared just as we were ready to take our turn! Hooray! Suddenly, an animatronic Kevin (the bird) popped out from behind the “bushes!” I thought that was such a clever way to get this unusual-shaped character into the meet and greet!


Surprisingly, once we were face-to-face, Billy was a little shy with Mr. Fredrickson. (Billy never calls him "Carl" so I tend to call him "Mr. Fredrickson", too.) As usual, Ed let the characters know about Billy’s autism, so Mr. F. didn’t push it; he just patted Billy on the head and went on to the rest of us. Billy seemed to be more comfortable with Russell. He gave him a great big hug and ran his fingers over all the Adventurers badges he wore on his uniform. Russell pantomimed that he was very proud of them.


Just before Billy met Dug I leaned over and whispered to him, “Say squirrel!” (like in the movie.) Laughing, Billy went over to Dug. “Squirrel!” he managed to choke out between his chuckles. Instantly, Dug turned his head and posed dramatically. Billy thought that was hysterical and broke out into a succession of belly laughs. “Squirrel!” he shouted again. Dug looked expectantly in the other direction and pointed with his body. Then Dug got down on his back and we gave him a tummy rub!


Somehow amidst all this excitement we were able to get some Photo Pass pictures:

Looking on:

I thought they did an amazing job with Carl Fredrickson’s character costume!

As soon as we were done with our photo session Billy said he needed to use the rest room, so Ed took off with him and left the girls and me to play with the exhibits. First, Tricia and Catie wanted to find out which Disney character they were most like…

The girls discovered the both of them were most like Nala:

​

Then they went to “Sound Stage”… I think this game involves recording your own voice and playing a particular character’s role in a scene from a Disney classic. It was fun to spend a little time just goofing around…

Next, we walked out to an adjacent area that was exhibiting original art from the very first Disney full-length animated feature, Snow White. I believe the exhibit was in honor of the 75th anniversary of its release. If you enjoy museums like I do, you would like this section of the Magic of Disney Animation… I could’ve spent an hour here!

The boys finally returned and we set off to secure a good viewing spot for the afternoon parade. This would be another new experience for us… we had not been to Disney since the Stars and Motor Cars parade was replaced with Block Party Bash. When it comes to parades, other than SpectroMagic, I can generally take them or leave them. But, I wanted to see this new parade because it was all about the Pixar characters and had read that the interactive parts were lots of fun. Now that we were all together again we could stake our little piece of real estate along the parade route.


Author’s Note: It seems to me that Ed and Billy had been gone a long time… much longer than one would think necessary for a simple rest room break. I consulted with Ed tonight and he seems to think that Billy asked to do something that the girls didn’t want to. We agreed that it wasn’t Playhouse Disney and it wasn’t the VOLM. I have no idea what it could have been! Oh well, I will publish a correction later if Ed remembers anything…


I honestly couldn’t remember the last time we had seen the afternoon parade at DHS… I think it may have been on our first visit back in 2003! We watched Stars and Motor Cars from a very crowded Hollywood Boulevard. I had read that Echo Lake was a good place to catch the floats, so that’s where we headed.


There is a nice low wall in front of the Academy of Television Arts and Science Hall of Fame. I thought it would be a perfect spot from which to enjoy the parade. We sat ourselves down on the wall and Ed broke out the water bottles he had been carrying around in his backpack. Mmm! Refreshing! I always get so wrapped up in our touring that I forget to drink water. We had more than half an hour before the parade started, so this would be a good opportunity to take a load off. (We were planning to stay in the park all day!) The girls and I took turns getting up to stretch and we poked around looking at some of the busts of television greats:

Soon CMs began roping off the parade route… just as we had done during the Boo To You parade we found ourselves right up front. I was just about to congratulate myself for picking such an awesome spot when…

You're kidding, right??


To Be Continued….


Next Up: Pre-Pixar Parade Peevishness


Kathy

 

[mrsksomeday]

I am so happy all of you liked TSM, it is our favorite ride, we absolutely love it !

That is wonderful that Billy roleplays with Dug and ALpha. The Up animation cells in the queue had Hannah, Bill, and I happy too .

“He had to go pee-pee!” Billy announced, loudly. " That is hilarious and probably right. It was great how you had Billy say "squirrel" to Dug. The pictures were wonderful. I loved our meet and greet with them, Dug licked me on the face .

I really enjoyed all the Snow White art on the way out too. They are amazing to look at.

We never take time to go look at the busts, we have to do that on the upcoming trip, great pictures.

Oh no I think I know what might have happened . I can't wait to read about it.

 

[ty&brenmom]

How many times have I said to my husband, "I wonder if they would make our Disney trips part of Billy's IEP?!"
Kathy

I am not sure if I have posted yet on your report, but I have enjoyed reading it.
I think Disney trips would be great in an IEP - I am going to have to try that next fall.

 

[Charleston Princess]

The interaction between Dug and Billy is precious!!! I love how the characters interact with the guests!!! Billy was too funny with his comment about what Dug was really doing when he had to leave!

 

[carissanboys]

Cuts to public education around the country are so frustrating. I have heard of so many cities that are having to close numerous schools.

Glad Dug returned in time! And I think it's so cool that Carl is wearing his wedding ring.

 

[IluvXU]

Glad you met the UP! gang... I missed them but the girls really enjoyed them this past summer.

School funding...don't get me started- such a total mess. OH is a mess and my district, which is growing still has massive cuts ahead. I cringe to think what the effects of these education cuts everywhere will be on the kids!

 

[Mommy2LittleVols]

Kathy - you are the Queen of Cliffhangers!! I think I know what happened, but I'm hoping I'm wrong.

GREAT pics with the UP! characters! I can't wait to meet them. I'll have to remember to say "Squirrel!" DS will get a kick out of that.

You are such a great storyteller! How is your book coming along?

 

[mousescrapper]

Kathy that is a great story about your meet and greet from Up! I hope they are still there in Nov. I'd love to get a pic of Russel w/ Michael (wearing his scout shirt) that would be so cool.

Dug sounds awesome and Matt and I got a good laugh out of Ed and Carl hanging out together


Parade route...either some one just parked themselves right in front of you...or are you near the smoking section ?

as always looking forward to more

Scrappie

 

[Mickey_Mom]

We've not been to the Animation building since 2006, definately lots of things in there we want to see. Thank you for the details!

I love Billy's very logical explanation of why Dug had to quickly disappear and the Photopass pictures are great... I like how Kevin's peeking in.

I know someone who will adore the Snow White exhibit ... I hope its still there in Nov/Dec.

Uh-oh... I truly hope your peevishness doesn't involve people setting themselves up right in front of you.... soooo when that happens!

 

[AmandaSparks730]

We haven't seen the Animation attraction since...well, since 1999, probably.

Oh, what are your thoughts on Sci/Fi Dine-In? We made ADRs there, and I've heard lukewarm reviews about the food.

 

[MEK]

You guys are having such a great time in HS. TSM is such a blast and I am glad you got to see the UP characters. Billy's comment about Dug was too cute! You got some nice shots. Curious to see what you think of the parade. Glad you are getting an opportunity to rest your feet!

 

[KathyRN137]

I am so happy all of you liked TSM, it is our favorite ride, we absolutely love it !

That is wonderful that Billy roleplays with Dug and ALpha. The Up animation cells in the queue had Hannah, Bill, and I happy too .

“He had to go pee-pee!” Billy announced, loudly. " That is hilarious and probably right. It was great how you had Billy say "squirrel" to Dug. The pictures were wonderful. I loved our meet and greet with them, Dug licked me on the face .

I really enjoyed all the Snow White art on the way out too. They are amazing to look at.

We never take time to go look at the busts, we have to do that on the upcoming trip, great pictures.

Oh no I think I know what might have happened . I can't wait to read about it.

The Up character meet was one of the best we've had... I love when the non-face characters really play-act their parts!

I am still blown away by TSM!

I am not sure if I have posted yet on your report, but I have enjoyed reading it.
I think Disney trips would be great in an IEP - I am going to have to try that next fall.

I actually mentioned it once to Billy's case worker and she just laughed nervously...

The interaction between Dug and Billy is precious!!! I love how the characters interact with the guests!!! Billy was too funny with his comment about what Dug was really doing when he had to leave!

Yes, and quite loudly, too! I'm glad he didn't miss Dug.

....Glad Dug returned in time! And I think it's so cool that Carl is wearing his wedding ring.

I noticed that, too! It was very sweet... I just love how they brought his character to life... looks just like the movie version of Carl!


Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

Glad you met the UP! gang... I missed them but the girls really enjoyed them this past summer.

School funding...don't get me started- such a total mess. OH is a mess and my district, which is growing still has massive cuts ahead. I cringe to think what the effects of these education cuts everywhere will be on the kids!

Kids, parents, teachers, aides... everyone will suffer.

I hope you get to meet Dug and his friends this year!

Kathy - you are the Queen of Cliffhangers!! I think I know what happened, but I'm hoping I'm wrong.

GREAT pics with the UP! characters! I can't wait to meet them. I'll have to remember to say "Squirrel!" DS will get a kick out of that.

You are such a great storyteller! How is your book coming along?

Thanks... the book stalled a little, I had some financial setbacks that are gumming up my plans. But although its on the back burner, its still definitely on the stove!

I'm sure that we're not the first ones who used the "squirrel" line on Dug... but he really played along and made it fun!

Kathy that is a great story about your meet and greet from Up! I hope they are still there in Nov. I'd love to get a pic of Russel w/ Michael (wearing his scout shirt) that would be so cool.

Dug sounds awesome and Matt and I got a good laugh out of Ed and Carl hanging out together


Parade route...either some one just parked themselves right in front of you...or are you near the smoking section ?

Close, Scrappie! We actually had two "You're Kidding Me" moments!


Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

Well, DISfriends, as you can see by my ticker I'm "down" to twenty-one months 'til our next trip to WDW. Woo. Hoo.

I do have a backup scheme, however. "If" finances allow I hope to move the trip up to June of 2011, effectively slicing off six of the aforementioned tortuous months of waiting. We would have a very small window of opportunity here. Billy and Tricia are both scheduled to finish school on Thursday, June 23, but then Billy will be starting his ESP (Extended Summer Program) on Friday, July 1st.

Well, since its only one day and then on into the Fourth of July Holiday Weekend, I may just bag the Friday in favor of Disney. Missing one day of summer program isn't such a big deal, right?

The thought of these new travel dates is very appealling...

First: June would be less expensive. Airfare would be less. Dining would be less (WDW charges Holiday premiums at many restaurants). And fewer DVC points would be needed for each night. Christmas Week is the Premiere Season... the highest number of points charged for each night. And so...

Second: This would mean that we could stay more than seven nights! I'm thinking June 24-July 3.

There have been rumors that certain family members are interested in checking out Harry Potter at USIOA or possibly Sea World. It's difficult enough trying to see and do everything we want at Disney (and also get in a little resort time) within the limits of seven days, so we have never ventured beyond Disney property. Having an additional two or three days to play with would be v-e-r-y nice, indeed!

Third: I'll get back to WDW six months sooner!!


Well, I got myself all excited thinking about June. "As soon as I get a full-time job, or as soon as Ed finds a job and can retire from the police department," I told myself, "I will be on the DIS starting my June PTR that very night!!

Then I mentioned my plan to Eddie, DSS-20, the college sophomore who lives in North Carolina. *Remember, now, the idea is to plan our vacation so all three children could have one last family vacation together... preferably without any of them losing school.*

Eddie was not very supportive of June. "But your last class is in the middle of May!" I protested. "And you don't start school again until August!" What's the problem?


Well, he started mumbling something about the possibility of needing to take a summer class in June or that he might have a summer job. "That's why I liked Christmas... because I know I won't be doing anything over break!"

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Sometimes I feel like this kid!


Ed says to just leave it the way it is and plan to go during Christmas Week, but I feel that if I have to wait so very long until our next trip, then I might as well get a couple more days. (It would still be over a year until June, 2011!)

"Kathy," Ed warned, "Don't go planning for June... Eddie will wind up not coming and then everyone will be disappointed!"

Hmmm. He has a point. After all, the boy will be twenty-one and its not like we can make him come on vacation with us in June. Still... I'm not quite ready to give up just yet! If we want to reserve a Treehouse Villa at SSR (our home resort) for June, 2011, then I can make our ressie this July. That's only four months from now!!

(Sorry... the DVC rules are confusing if you aren't a member! Home Resort Privilege means that DVCers have four months "jump" on other DVCers to make reservations at their home resort (eleven months before their travel dates.) At seven months out, then any DVC member can make a ressie at any DVC resort, regardless of whether its your home resort or not.)

If I want (need) to change our reservation from June to December, then I wouldn't be able to do so until January of 2011 anyway. I would think that by January Eddie would have a pretty good idea whether or not he will need to take a summer class in June.

Perhaps I'm just being selfish, but I do think that June would work out to be a much more relaxing vacation for the entire family. Longer stay... fewer crowds... and more money to spend since we wouldn't be coming right off of Christmas!

Should I start planning for June, 2011 and keep December, 2011 as a backup plan? Or do you think (like Ed does) that I'm just setting myself up for disappointment and should simply bite the bullet and keep things planned for Christmas Vacation?

Thoughts?


Kathy

 

[mrsksomeday]

I would think that by January Eddie would have a pretty good idea whether or not he will need to take a summer class in June.

Perhaps I'm just being selfish, but I do think that June would work out to be a much more relaxing vacation for the entire family. Longer stay... fewer crowds... and more money to spend since we wouldn't be coming right off of Christmas!

Should I start planning for June, 2011 and keep December, 2011 as a backup plan? Or do you think (like Ed does) that I'm just setting myself up for disappointment and should simply bite the bullet and keep things planned for Christmas Vacation?

Thoughts?


Kathy

I don't see how he wouldn't know by Jan. 2011 whether or not he would have to take that class . The schedules come out months in advance.

You are not being selfish, you are being optimistic . I think you are right about the crowds. June is crowded, but the time at Christmas you are wanting to go is packed and I would think that would be an issue for Billy. I think more days would make a lot of sense if you are wanting to do Universal and Seaworld. I can't imagine how packed they would be too at Christmas time.

I see what you are saying if the June trip works out you have to have it booked in July to get it. If it was me, I would plan for both trips so I would have it planned out either way .

How would Ed feel if you went ahead with planning June?

 

[KathyRN137]

How would Ed feel if you went ahead with planning June?

Tracy, I don't think he would be angry or anything... just afraid that I might be hurt if I have to postpone until December and that I'd be mad at Eddie.

Of course I would be annoyed, but there would still be plenty of time to plan for December. Its not as if I would have the airfare booked yet.

I am very tempted! Especially after reading about the crowds... you made an excellent point. The GAC notwithstanding, heavy crowds would be stressful for Billy and may affect his mood and behavior.

Gone are the days when we could pull them out of school for Value Season!

BTW, I don't know if we could do both Harry Potter and SeaWorld... I think we'd have to choose one of the two. I would vote for Harry Potter!


Kathy