The Force is Strong in This One: SWW and Celebration VI, Disney Done Differently

[addictedtonostalgia]

Praying antibiotics do their thing and get Anakin feeling better!

 

[lovethattink]

My little man had a peaceful sleep last night. From midnight until 7am he had no coughing!

Hoping to write an update to finish day 11 and getting it posted today.

hope the new meds will get him feeling better soon !

Thanks! He liked the flavor of the liquid antibiotic.

Boy I can only imagine.

Yes.

I hope your son is on the fast track to recovery!! I hope the antibiotics do their job quickly!!

I have been enjoying your trip report so much! My grandson has aspergers and is on the autism spectrum. He is 6, but normally we still bring out huge double BOB, as he can isolate himself under the huge canopy when need be.

This September will be our first trip without BOB. It will be interesting to say the least. There are times that my grandson determines when we leave parks, whether or not we eat at CS or in a restaurant, as you say, pick your battles.

Looking forward to more!!

Welcome! Thank you so much! I hope all goes well in September! How do you think he will handle the change if he's always used the BOB? My son doesn't like people touching him in the queue. He had problems in the Splash Mt FP line when a foreign tour group was behind us and packed in like sardine, actually pressing their bodies against us, not understanding that we value our personal space. DH and I ended up as blockers and we put him in front of us giving him some space. The medical stroller acts as a place of refuge for him. It has a canopy, but we don't use that unless it's raining. He usually wears a hat so that he can't see all the people around him.

Does your grandson like patterns? My son can spend hours at Epcot with all the fiberoptic lights in the ground. There is one area that has a little "court yard" with benches surrounding the lights. Those are his favorite!

My son and a couple of Aspies he's met, really like the Sorcerer's of the Magic Kingdom Game at the Magic Kingdom. He will gladly foresake going on attractions to play the game.

One trick that works for us at the parks, is making a list ahead of time of a few things we are going to do that WE want to do, ADR, a certain attraction, a particular store. He likes lists and he likes a definative plan. In between those things he can pick what he wants to do, it give him a sense of control over the situation and makes him feel more confident being there.

I also bring a "survival kit" in my back pack.
-a brush for Wilbarger brushing.
-a glow stick or flash light in case we get stuck on a dark attraction
-hand sanitizer in a scent he can handl and wet ones for sensitive skin wipes (they stink less)
-ear phones to block some sound
-sun hat to wear to block out seeing all the people.

Praying antibiotics do their thing and get Anakin feeling better!

Thanks!!

 

[lovethattink]

Another lightsaber?!​

Lunch at Sci-Fi was lots of fun! With bellies filled we had some time before A Conversation With Dave Filoni. Anakin still had more spending money. He began to have a panic attack over his Boba Fett gun at home. We told him there was NO WAY we were going home to get it. He insisted he could buy another one with his money. Apparently this was festering in him since Boba Fett compared costumes earlier, but he didn’t say anything to us about it until he was about to “lose” it. He was so concerned that his costume was not complete.

We walked over to Tattooine traders. He found a Boba Fett gun and was not happy with the price. He asked if we would buy it for him. We told him no, if he wanted another it was his money to be spent. He said he could get another light saber for that price. We told him it’s his choice. We also assured him that he looked great as he was. It felt like he spent an eternity making his decision.

There was a lightsaber that looked like a gun. He determined that a green one would be kind of like a Boba Fett gun and it would be different than any other of his lightsabers. He said it would make him stop worrying about what he left behind at home and it would be exciting to have a different kind of light saber.

A Conversation with Dave Filoni​

We really love this guy! His recent credits include Star Wars and the newest Avatar series.

We sat under a tree to watch the show. For the first time in the day, it was starting to feel hot. We couldn’t see too great. We could if we stood, but Anakin couldn’t see whether he sat or stood. He quickly got bored at listening to the show. Dh thought he was annoying others who were trying to watch so we left.

Another Visit to Darth's Mall​

We still hadn’t found anything for dh to get signed at his celebrity M&G. We headed for Darth Mall to see if there was something we overlooked. While dh searched high and low, I took Anakin to see Princess Leia.

While Anakin and Leia talked about his new lightsaber, I asked Melissa about a good time to come back to see R2D2 and C3PO, since we seemed to keep missing them.

Dh did not find anything to have signed. One of the cm suggested buying a Boba Fett helmet. They are expensive, but very cool. Dh liked the idea, because it gave him an idea. He could get Anakin’s mask signed. But this posed a potential problem…How would he convince Anakin that this was a good idea?

He was about to bring it up, when a manager came up to us and asked if she could take a picture of Anakin. He put on his mask and she took the picture. He was thrilled!

Heading out of Darth’s Mall, he pretended he was Boba Fett and was shooting with his lightsaber. Near the LE merchandise there was a cm who informed him that it was a lightsaber and not a gun. I’d be willing to bet that this cm is a black and white thinker too. He and Anakin really clicked. Anakin told him that he realizes this is a light saber, because he bought it at the Build-a-Saber. But because of the handle he was pretending it was a gun since he left his Boba Fett gun at home and this was the next best thing.

Mickey M&G​

It was almost the time that Dylan told us to go find Jonathan for the Jedi Mickey M&G. We walked over there and found a Jonathan right away! But this was not the Jonathan we were supposed to fine. He sent us to a shady spot by the ABC commissary and told us he would motion when the Jonathan we were suppose to see was there. We opened the cooler and drank some water and ate some fruit I had packed. I opened up Anakin’s costume and we put frozen bottles of water around him while we waited. We got the signal and headed over to the M&G. The “real” Jonathan was very helpful and Anakin got to meet Jedi Mickey!

Jedi Mickey didn’t know what to make of Boba Fett with a lightsaber. He acted scared of the lightsaber, which tickled Anakin’s fancy.

Mickey helped Anakin to get into a pose. It was very sweet and this turned out to be my favorite Mickey picture!!

Into position..

Mickey was still acting scared of the light saber. He gently took it away from Anakin and gave it to us. Then motioned for Anakin to put on the mask and helped him into another pose.

Up next: A mask torture or treasure?

 

[addictedtonostalgia]

Thanks! He liked the flavor of the liquid antibiotic.

Well that is a small but definite plus! Sometimes those liquids can taste so icky, glad I'm older and do pills now!

Another lightsaber?!​

Lunch at Sci-Fi was lots of fun! With bellies filled we had some time before A Conversation With Dave Filoni. Anakin still had more spending money. He began to have a panic attack over his Boba Fett gun at home. We told him there was NO WAY we were going home to get it. He insisted he could buy another one with his money. Apparently this was festering in him since Boba Fett compared costumes earlier, but he didn’t say anything to us about it until he was about to “lose” it. He was so concerned that his costume was not complete.

We walked over to Tattooine traders. He found a Boba Fett gun and was not happy with the price. He asked if we would buy it for him. We told him no, if he wanted another it was his money to be spent. He said he could get another light saber for that price. We told him it’s his choice. We also assured him that he looked great as he was. It felt like he spent an eternity making his decision.

I'm glad that you were able to avoid a meltdown and hold firm that it needed to be Anakin's money. One of my friends with Aspergers has his parents buy tons of expensive things for him, but I don't judge them, because I'm sure they are trying to avoid meltdowns. I feel him on the indecisiveness though, choices are impossible.

Up next: A mask torture or treasure?

Still torturing me with the mask suspense, are you?

 

[lovethattink]

Well that is a small but definite plus! Sometimes those liquids can taste so icky, glad I'm older and do pills now!

[/SIZE][/COLOR]

I'm glad that you were able to avoid a meltdown and hold firm that it needed to be Anakin's money. One of my friends with Aspergers has his parents buy tons of expensive things for him, but I don't judge them, because I'm sure they are trying to avoid meltdowns. I feel him on the indecisiveness though, choices are impossible.



Still torturing me with the mask suspense, are you?

I wish he could swallow pills, but he just can't coordinate it. He says he's not that good at multitasking.

Meltdowns stink. Thankfully they are becoming less. We are using the book The Explosive Child: A New Approach to Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children by Ross W. Greene.

See it's a matter of perspective. Hopefully tonight or tomorrow morning I can write the last part of day 11. Then your suspense, I mean torture, will be over.

 

[ShortStuff]

Welcome! Thank you so much! I hope all goes well in September! How do you think he will handle the change if he's always used the BOB? My son doesn't like people touching him in the queue. He had problems in the Splash Mt FP line when a foreign tour group was behind us and packed in like sardine, actually pressing their bodies against us, not understanding that we value our personal space. DH and I ended up as blockers and we put him in front of us giving him some space. The medical stroller acts as a place of refuge for him. It has a canopy, but we don't use that unless it's raining. He usually wears a hat so that he can't see all the people around him.

Does your grandson like patterns? My son can spend hours at Epcot with all the fiberoptic lights in the ground. There is one area that has a little "court yard" with benches surrounding the lights. Those are his favorite!

My son and a couple of Aspies he's met, really like the Sorcerer's of the Magic Kingdom Game at the Magic Kingdom. He will gladly foresake going on attractions to play the game.

One trick that works for us at the parks, is making a list ahead of time of a few things we are going to do that WE want to do, ADR, a certain attraction, a particular store. He likes lists and he likes a definative plan. In between those things he can pick what he wants to do, it give him a sense of control over the situation and makes him feel more confident being there.

I also bring a "survival kit" in my back pack.
-a brush for Wilbarger brushing.
-a glow stick or flash light in case we get stuck on a dark attraction
-hand sanitizer in a scent he can handl and wet ones for sensitive skin wipes (they stink less)
-ear phones to block some sound
-sun hat to wear to block out seeing all the people.

I'm not too sure yet how he will handle the lack of BOB, but we are driving from TX in my daughters Fiat 500, so there is no way to bring BOB. I think he will do ok, as we also are 'defensive backs' for my grandson, making sure we give him his personal space in lines and in crowds.

Because I also have a younger grandson, we only plan 1/2 days in the parks. We have been to WDW several times and know when it is time to go. lol. The thing that could be harder this year is the new fast pass rules. We try to do most rides with as short a wait as possible. We would get a fast pass asap for Peter Pan, go on Winnie the Pooh, go see Philarmagic and then head to another area.

Our second day at MK we would start in Tomorrowland, ride Buzz, get a fast pass for Buzz, and go from there. We would save the fast pass until it was crowded, too hot or as a last surprise.

WDW is my grandsons 'happy place'! He truly is a different child there. We usually get a GAC card for him, so that we could bring BOB in line with us. This year, we will go by how much he seems to be handling. We will be getting cheapo umbrella strollers, so he will still have some space, but not the cover. I am hoping it will go well.

Thank you so much for your survival tips!! We always carry lots of baby wipes, unscented, a plushie, as he loves them, glow sticks, for the same reason you do and for night time walks and time at the pool.

We also make sure to have a snack or two that he will eat for sure, as he is NOT a good eater at WDW. The heat, crowds, excitement, tend to cause him not to eat much. If we have something he can snack on in line, or while we are on the bus, we at least get something in to him, which prevents a lot of hunger related problems!!:

Loved Anakin's interaction with Jedi Mickey!! : He made a good and logical choice for his light saber/gun, I would say!!

Looking forward to more!!!! And ty again for your tips and your understanding!!

 

[kaoden39]

Anakin did not look thrilled to see Princess Leia.



I love, love, love the Mickey pictures!! That was so cute!!



I am glad to hear Anakin had a better night!

 

[lovethattink]

I'm not too sure yet how he will handle the lack of BOB, but we are driving from TX in my daughters Fiat 500, so there is no way to bring BOB. I think he will do ok, as we also are 'defensive backs' for my grandson, making sure we give him his personal space in lines and in crowds.

Because I also have a younger grandson, we only plan 1/2 days in the parks. We have been to WDW several times and know when it is time to go. lol. The thing that could be harder this year is the new fast pass rules. We try to do most rides with as short a wait as possible. We would get a fast pass asap for Peter Pan, go on Winnie the Pooh, go see Philarmagic and then head to another area.

Our second day at MK we would start in Tomorrowland, ride Buzz, get a fast pass for Buzz, and go from there. We would save the fast pass until it was crowded, too hot or as a last surprise.

WDW is my grandsons 'happy place'! He truly is a different child there. We usually get a GAC card for him, so that we could bring BOB in line with us. This year, we will go by how much he seems to be handling. We will be getting cheapo umbrella strollers, so he will still have some space, but not the cover. I am hoping it will go well.

Thank you so much for your survival tips!! We always carry lots of baby wipes, unscented, a plushie, as he loves them, glow sticks, for the same reason you do and for night time walks and time at the pool.

We also make sure to have a snack or two that he will eat for sure, as he is NOT a good eater at WDW. The heat, crowds, excitement, tend to cause him not to eat much. If we have something he can snack on in line, or while we are on the bus, we at least get something in to him, which prevents a lot of hunger related problems!!:

Loved Anakin's interaction with Jedi Mickey!! : He made a good and logical choice for his light saber/gun, I would say!!

Looking forward to more!!!! And ty again for your tips and your understanding!!

Sounds like you are all set! I hope the umbrella stroller works well!

Anakin did not look thrilled to see Princess Leia.



I love, love, love the Mickey pictures!! That was so cute!!



I am glad to hear Anakin had a better night!

He was disappointed that he missed R2D2 and C3PO. Despite his serious look, he did enjoy Princess Leia and they talked a long time about his new lightsaber.

Update coming in the next few minutes.

 

[lovethattink]

The Mask​

It was time to head over the Celebrity M&G. It was raining lightly. There were a few people under a giant sun umbrella, and dh recognized them as the people who were in front of him to get the FP/wristband early that morning. He said hi to them, but they didn’t recognize him with his costume on. He told them he was behind them line, then they remembered.

Anakin right away noticed their R2D2s. Each girl had one and each had autographs on the unit. Anakin had a million questions to ask them. Where did you get it? What does it do? Whose autographs are on it? Etc.

While they were talking I went over to a cm, PJ, and asked him how this works. He explained that only people with wrist bands AND a fast pass will be allowed in the queue. He said a cm inside the “tent” will take a picture for the signing with that person’s camera. I asked if I can stand on the outside and take a picture instead? He said sure. He said everyone will get into queue, but it will only be tentative, as people are lined up by times on the FP. So as people arrive, they may be placed in front of you if their time is before yours.

I went back to dh and told him how it works. They were all still talking about the R2D2’s and standing under the giant umbrella. PJ came up to us and started talking. He told us that dh could give his spot to Anakin!! Now it was Anakin who was excited but also worried that he had nothing for the celebrity to sign. It was the perfect opportunity to bring it up. DH suggested he have him sign his mask. Now the million questions about R2D2 shifted to a zillion questions about the mask.

-Will he be able to wear the mask if it’s signed? Mom wasn’t allowed to wear her shirt after Ashley Eckstein signed it last year.
- Can he still use the mask for pictures?
- Can he get another costume because this won’t be complete if he can’t use or wear the mask?
-and the questions went on and on and on, even asking the same ones over again to make sure he heard it right.

With reassurance that we would head back to Darth’s Mall right after the signing to get another costume he settled down and was able to enjoy the wait for the celebrity.

The rain began to come down harder. We asked if they will cancel it due to rain? PJ said we won’t find out until the last minute. But he thought they would probably hold the M&G unless it thunders. BANG! A thunder sounded in the distance…GR!!

The people began lining up by FP times. The rain felt good, but the thunder in the distance worried me. PJ was engaging Anakin in different antics. They were making sound effect of Watto, asking each other trivia, etc.

It was a couple minutes past time for the M&G to start when out came Jeremy Bulloch! He immediately commented about Anakin’s Boba Fett costume.

and asked my dh as he made a scared face, “Do you think it is safe to have two Boba Fetts?” Anakin was eating it up!!

He asked if they had something to sign, and Anakin presented his mask. I think there was a hint of reluctance, but he handed it over.

The whole time Jeremy Bulloch and Anakin talked. The line behind them was getting very long. But both the celebrity and Anakin seemed oblivious to anyone around them. It was an amazing M&G!!

As we were walking away, a cloud must have burst open, because the rain began to dump! We ran into the stores that are right by Hollywood and Vine. We thought it was raining hard when we were out in it, but now it was raining even harder, and the lightning and thunder was frightening to Anakin. We stopped at a cashier and asked if we could have a bag to put the mask in. She handed dh a clear plastic bag.

We asked where we could park ourselves out of the way until the rain slowed down. A manager directed us to a spot. The store began to fill quickly as people escaped the storm. The manager began using a squeegee (?spelling) to push the water out of the store. I asked him if the water was from it raining in? He said no, this was from the water off soaked people. His squeegee wasn’t working. He told us there was a better one in a different store, he must have gone and got it because he came back with one that worked great. The amount of water he pushed out of the store was surprising!!

He stopped and talked to us again. In the adjoining store, a man began screaming at people to move. As he approached our area, he was yelling at everyone. The manager stopped him. Right at us. Anakin was scared by his yelling. The manager handled the situation very well. At first he was pointing his finger at the guy and it made the man even more irate. So he put his hands on the squeegee and kept them there as he calmly asked the man to lower his voice and leave. The man was in this managers face saying how he had just as much right as anyone to be in the store. The manager asked him to please calm down or he would call security. The man quieted down and left the store.

By this time, the rain had slowed down. Anakin was overstimulated from what had taken place in front of us. He wanted to go home, but he also wanted the new costume. We went out in the rain, hoping the signed mask would stay safe.

Darth’s Mall was relatively empty. R2D2 and C3PO were out!! I went over to Melissa to see how much longer they would be out. She said two more minutes. So another attempt to see them was foiled again! I told her that’s ok, we will be back tomorrow. I asked her what she suggested and she told us to be there by 9 the next day and she would make sure we were the first family to see them!! I went back to Anakin and dh and explained to them that we would see R2D2 tomorrow.

Anakin was very tired. He wanted to go home. We left DHS and headed back to the motel. We got back to the motel, ate supper, and Anakin went to bed after he ate.

Up next…Last day of SWW, will we see R2D2? Will we get up early enough to get FP/wristband to see another celebrity? What line will DH wait in for 2 hours in the hot sun for his son?

 

[kaoden39]

Sounds like you are all set! I hope the umbrella stroller works well!



He was disappointed that he missed R2D2 and C3PO. Despite his serious look, he did enjoy Princess Leia and they talked a long time about his new lightsaber.

Update coming in the next few minutes.

Oh okay.


What a crazy amount of rain. The meet and greet sounds great. It's so nice when they take the time like that.


I don't understand how people can be like that guy in the store. You are at the happiest place in the world, get with the program!! It sounds like the manager is a good judge of how to handle people by body language.

 

[addictedtonostalgia]

I wish he could swallow pills, but he just can't coordinate it. He says he's not that good at multitasking.

Meltdowns stink. Thankfully they are becoming less. We are using the book The Explosive Child: A New Approach to Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children by Ross W. Greene.

See it's a matter of perspective. Hopefully tonight or tomorrow morning I can write the last part of day 11. Then your suspense, I mean torture, will be over.

Tell Anakin not to feel bad, I couldn't swallow pills until I was probably around 12 or 13. Then it was by necessity. It is very difficult to master, I have friends who still struggle with taking them!


What an amazing M&G it looked truly magical! Glad Anaking got his mask signed without too much hesitation. Did you wind up getting his costume that day? I can understand why he would want a new mask, but it is too cool that his other one is now signed!

 

[lovethattink]

Oh okay.


What a crazy amount of rain. The meet and greet sounds great. It's so nice when they take the time like that.


I don't understand how people can be like that guy in the store. You are at the happiest place in the world, get with the program!! It sounds like the manager is a good judge of how to handle people by body language.

It was fabulous. The rain was torrential, but the timing of it perfect for us. Though not so perfect for so many others.

Tell Anakin not to feel bad, I couldn't swallow pills until I was probably around 12 or 13. Then it was by necessity. It is very difficult to master, I have friends who still struggle with taking them!


What an amazing M&G it looked truly magical! Glad Anaking got his mask signed without too much hesitation. Did you wind up getting his costume that day? I can understand why he would want a new mask, but it is too cool that his other one is now signed!

My brother is in his 30's and still can't swallow pills.

Yes, it was! Yes, he got another costume. So for Celebrations VI, he will be Boba Fett two different days.

He is very proud of his signed mask and says it was worth it.

 

[Moodyzblu]

Loved reading about the meet and greet .. that was awesome ! Good idea about having the mask signed .. makes it that much more special.

Sorry about the rain and the rude guy in the store. How scary !

 

[petals]

love the mickey meet Hoe cool with him helping Anakin into the poses

 

[lovethattink]

Loved reading about the meet and greet .. that was awesome ! Good idea about having the mask signed .. makes it that much more special.

Sorry about the rain and the rude guy in the store. How scary !

Thanks!

love the mickey meet Hoe cool with him helping Anakin into the poses

It was very nice, several other characters did that too.

 

[kaoden39]

When Scotty and I went in February it poured one of our days. My top part stayed dry because of my wonderful Mickey Mouse poncho but from the knees down I was miserable!! When we got back to the hotel they gave us a stack of newspapers to use in our shoes to dry them out. My poor shoes were so bad that they didn't dry over night. Thankfully I had spare shoes.

It took me a while to warm up after the day in the rain but we stuck it most of the day. When it rains it clears out in the parks, I love that.

 

[blessedmom4]

Tink, I have to get to bed but had to comment...LOVE the pics, but my old eyes need them bigger please!

Tip to swallowing pills and YES it does work, try it yourselves!
Place the pill under your tongue and forget about it while you take a swallow of your drink...it will AUTOMATICALLY go down...come on. You KNOW you want to see if it works.

 

[kaoden39]

Tink, I have to get to bed but had to comment...LOVE the pics, but my old eyes need them bigger please!

Tip to swallowing pills and YES it does work, try it yourselves!
Place the pill under your tongue and forget about it while you take a swallow of your drink...it will AUTOMATICALLY go down...come on. You KNOW you want to see if it works.

I am going to have to try this.

 

[addictedtonostalgia]

Tink, I have to get to bed but had to comment...LOVE the pics, but my old eyes need them bigger please!

Tip to swallowing pills and YES it does work, try it yourselves!
Place the pill under your tongue and forget about it while you take a swallow of your drink...it will AUTOMATICALLY go down...come on. You KNOW you want to see if it works.

Huh, I have no problems with swallowing pills whatsoever (in fact I love to show off how many I take in one gulp ) but I'm gonna have to test that theory out!

 

[scottny]

Read your report tonight and it is such a great one. Loved all the pics of Star Wars. Anakin looks like he really enjoys it and who can blame him.