A Halloween Adventure in Autism (11/12) New Thread Begun on TR Board!

[kaysmommie]

I think the most important thing is to have talked about it WITH the girls and all be in understanding of the what guidelines they will have to follow- whatever it ends up being, (no time alone, a little time alone, or time enough for several rides alone) - are, so that everyone's on the same page. It's the same as everyone knowing in advance how much you will allow to be spent on snacks or souvies.

If they can responsibly navigate the park (I would never allow them to actually leave the park, or maybe even the 'land') without help, I would certainly allow two 13 year olds to go on rides by themselves. I would set up a meeting time and place, and as they build trust by making those deadlines, you can give more until you've reached your agreed upon hardstop.

Just my 2 cents.

Like someone said before, trust your mother's intuition. It's worth its weight in gold!

Kathy,
I agree with her advice 100%. Listen to your mommy instincts. I think a ride or two will be great though. Definitely not leave the park without the rest of the family . I used to go with my BF to Great Adventure when we were 14, we got dropped off by one of our parents. Mind you we found mischief to get into but things were different 20 years ago.

 

[KathyRN137]

A Happy and Blessed Easter to you All!

And to my friends who do not celebrate Easter, I wish you a very Happy Spring!!


Kathy

 

[Charleston Princess]

Happy Easter to all of you!!!

 

[KathyRN137]

Happy Easter, Charleston Princess!

all7ofus and kaysmommie: Very good advice, especially since it echos what I was thinking already! I do want them to have fun and a certain amount of independence, but I'd like the family to be together as much as possible.

The subject didn't come up... but everyone was ooh-ing and ahh-ing over the VAKL brochure I brought. (My DVC guide came through just in time!)

DSis Eileen is trying to sow the seeds of a Grand Gathering in the future: Mom & Dad, plus the six girls and their families!!! Mucho Grande Gathering!!!

Perhaps, someday!


Kathy

 

[IluvXU]

Hope you had a fantastic Easter Kathy!

 

[DisMomAmy]

I hope you & your family had a Happy Easter yesterday Kathy!

 

[mom2mek]

I hope you had a wonderful and blessed Easter Kathy!

Sara

 

[KathyRN137]

Thanks and Happy Easter, IluvXU, DisMomAmy, and mom2mek!!


Tricia had her Spring Break last week (public school), but his break is this week (private school.) So, last night as I was tucking him into bed, I whispered, "No school for Billy tomorrow! You're on vacation!"

Poor Billy! He perked up big time and said, "Go to Walt Disney World tomorrow??"

He (naturally) associates the word "vacation" with WDW, so he thought we were on our way!!

I felt so bad for him! We had to go through the months on our fingers, "May, June, July, August, September, OCTOBER!!" Then I felt bad for me! Ugh, its such a long way off...


Kathy

 

[maroo]

Thanks and Happy Easter, IluvXU, DisMomAmy, and mom2mek!!


Tricia had her Spring Break last week (public school), but his break is this week (private school.) So, last night as I was tucking him into bed, I whispered, "No school for Billy tomorrow! You're on vacation!"

Poor Billy! He perked up big time and said, "Go to Walt Disney World tomorrow??"

He (naturally) associates the word "vacation" with WDW, so he thought we were on our way!!

I felt so bad for him! We had to go through the months on our fingers, "May, June, July, August, September, OCTOBER!!" Then I felt bad for me! Ugh, its such a long way off...


Kathy

Aww.... bless his heart! And yours!

Seems like an eternity, doesn't it!

 

[carissanboys]

Awww - poor Billy. I don't blame him!!

 

[mrsksomeday]

Awww Billy and Kathy . I feel the same way, the fall is soooooo far away!!

 

[KathyRN137]

Thanks for the support!

Its been exactly one year since our last WDW trip, and I'm experiencing those well-known withdrawal symptoms! The April '08 trip report will commence shortly... I'm still hoping against hope that I can find my notes!!

I pulled apart two more boxes today, and I still can't find them!

Funny thing is, I seem to have clearer memories of the trip in November '07!! I'm looking through all the April pictures and my memory is just coming up with lots of blanks... perhaps because I made a concerted effort not to over-plan that trip. We took a lot more time "to smell the roses" (I'm speaking literally.. it was Epcot F&GF time) so I didn't even take as many pix.

I really need to do a super-duper Spring Cleaning... then perhaps they will turn up. Yeah, that's the ticket.... I'm just trying to motivate myself with whatever I can!

The doctor I work for is on vacation this week... herego, I am on (unpaid) vacation for the week... which is good in a way because I don't have to worry about childcare for Billy. Ed and I took him (and Aimee) for a really long walk earlier. It's sunny today, but still cool enough for sweatshirts and gloves... I'm determined to get back into shape, not only to help shed some winter pounds, but to build up walking endurance for WDW. You can't just go from being a couch potato to walking around the parks all day for an entire week!!

Anyway, I think that if I can find those notes and get started on that report, it would help pass the time. There's really not much to do planning-wise for our Halloween trip at this point (except to dream about it!)


Kathy

 

[Charleston Princess]

Ahhh, poor Billy and poor Kathy -- I know the feeling only too well!

 

[kaysmommie]

Billy was ready to go to Disney poor thing. It's not fun having to sit there and count on your fingers and toes to explain how much longer it will be until you go . Good thing Billy understands months and you don't have to count days . Hope you had a Happy Easter!!

 

[kimmylaj]

tell billy i feel his pain, i wish i lived close enough to have ap's and go everytime i had a day off.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Sounds like you all need a trip to Disney!! I'm glad you have one planned. Let's hope the time goes by quickly for you!

 

[moparop]

Poor Billy! I hope those trip notes turn up!!

 

[All7OfUs]

I know how Billy feels! I have to keep going to countdown websites and seeing how many days until we can make our Resort Ressie, and then how many days until the next thing, and the next. OHHH! Sept., 2010 seems sooooo far away!

I know those notes will turn up somewhere. Let's all keep hoping.

 

[KathyRN137]

Thanks, everyone!!

maroo, carissanboys, mrsksomeday, Charleston Princess, kaysmommie, kimylaj, DisMomAmy, moparop, All7ofUs!!!
I really appreciate that someone feels my pain!!

Tricia keeps telling me that she'll "start get excited in September!" But Billy and I are excited NOW!! He just came up to me now and said, "We're going to WDW in......"

ME: "October!"

"And we're staying at..."

ME: "The Animal Kingdom Lodge!"

"And we are going to see...."

ME: "Lots of animals!"

Then he chuckled and ran off! Sigh.

Well, here are some pages from the VAKL brochure I was telling you about... please forgive the quality as they were scanned...

Ugh! I cannot wait! (I think I'm coming down with Spring Fever!!)

New Lobby:

Models of Rooms:

Samawati Springs Pool
(with water slide and pool bar)​

Uwanja Camp: an "interactive water play area with fountains, waterfalls, and more!"

Billy and I have pawed through this brochure so much that it's already starting to fall apart!!

Kathy

 

[maroo]

Oh, I love the water play area!

Looks like you guys are going to have some awesome DIGS!