A Magical Moment at WDW!

[Brightsy]

I went to WDW this weekend w/ my family unit.(Hubby, Me, and two DSs 5 and 3.) My younger DS is autistic. This was our second weekend at Disney and I knew we'd have fun, but... what happened is almost miraculous to me!
On Fri. evening we met w/ my Uncle Mike, and my Momma and her SO. We went to Epcot and had dinner at the Biergarten in Germany!
First, the food was yummy and the atmosphere fun... especially for all us adults, each of us has been stationed in Germany at one point in our lives.
We were having fun, the DSs were actually eating! Then the floor show started! Vinny, my younger, started really grooving in his high chair. So we decided to let him loose and see what happens. He took off for the dance floor, and I followed. There were bunches of kids dancing around. Vinny started dancing and clapping and singing. He stimmed a little, but not too much. HE was having SO much fun! And then... he started to dance WITH ANOTHER CHILD! He actually initiated social contact with other people! He even danced with one of the waitresses and played Ring around the Rosie in a large group! He joined the parade around the restaurant!!!!
I was so thrilled I shared this w/ our waitress, and she gave me a sheet of paper so I could let the management know! After a bit one of the Managers approached me and asked to meet Vinny. He was still dancing so we stood and watched. Then she asked if we had taken pics yet. I told her my camera's battery had died and I didn't have a replacement with me. So, what did she do? She went to the gift shop and gave us a disposable camera! Then after the show she arranged for us to meet the Oom-Pah band! We took bunches of pics!
They treated us super-special! And Vinny came alive in a way I haven't seen before! For a few moments in time he was almost neuro-typical. *snff*
We also went to a couple of character meals. We did lunch at the Crystal Palace and Vinny did all right with the characters. But I learned a few things.So the next morning at Chef Mickey's we told the CMs about Vinny. The handlers made sure that the characters approached Vinny slowly and cautiously. They put us in a place so we could make sure Vinny had plenty of notice of the characters approaching. They approached hand out first, slow, (almost like approaching a horse or a strange dog really...) and let Vinny take the lead.
All in all we had a blast!

Sara

 

[tmli]

Sara, I am so happy for you! Your story touched my heart...my ds has an ASD amongst other issues and I know that feeling when they do something most other parents would take for granted!

 

[SueM in MN]

That is sooooooooo cool. Thanks for sharing.

It's so nice too that the CMs recognized it was a really magical moment and helped you to prolong it (and get pictures of it).

 

[mommie2angels]

Sara, that's awesome!!! I am so glad Vinny had such a wonderful time. That was great that so much magic happened. Thanks so much for sharing that.

 

[bairdbeth]

Wow! That's awesome!

 

[JudithM]

Sara, what a magical story! Thanks for sharing it with us!

 

[Figment1964]

Thank you, Sara, for sharing this with us. I, too, have a ds with an ASD and I got teary eyed reading how your son responded!

Way to go, Vinny!

 

[missyc]

Wow, how wonderful! (happy tears for you all)
How old is your son?

ETA: never mind...I just re-read and saw that he is 3.

 

[mbb]

for you...how wonderful!!

 

[Poohnatic]

Sara,

How exciting for you! I'm glad the CM's made sure that your magical event didn't go unnoticed.

I have to say, with an 8year old Aspie, Biergarten is our salvation. My picky eater will eat the brats, it's dark and inside, the kids both love the music and we get a good meal.

Your experience makes me happy for you and Vinny!

Suzanne

 

[leise]

That is a great story, it brought tears to my eyes too. It is wonderful when you have these moments , and it's great you got photos too, that was a lovely touch from the CMs.

My son has ASD too, and when he was 3 and we were at WDW, we had a wonderful moment at Crystal Palace, when he ran after Tigger and got him to bounce with him!!! . This from a child who would have a meltdown if he went within 20 yards of a character at the start of the holiday. We were totally stunned. We got loads of pictures and I have to say I get them out and look at them with him. It was totally magical, and he can't wait to go back. He loves Disney as much as me, and it seems to motivate him to push back his boundaries

By the way, the Biergarten sounds great, DS loves live music. Do they do fries? It's all he'll eat in any restaurant......

 

[Brightsy]

The Biergarten doesn't have fries, per se. They DO have roasted potato chunks that are very yummy.
Also, it's been my experience that if you need something the CMs will do their best to provide. Maybe if you asked for fries in advance they'd be able to arrange it... or let you bring them in from outside.
As for the rest, my kids ate bread and cookies and not much else... oh, Vinny did like the Black Forest Cake, the frosting at any rate...lol!
Anyways, it's a great place!
We also did the character lunch at the Crystal Palace. Vinny wasn't too keen on it initially. but he warmed up to Piglet. And the next day we went to CHef Mickey's for the b-fast buffet. We told the CMs that Vinny has "issues" and asked to let the characters know so they could approach him more cautiously. The handlers took care of that and it worked out nicely! They would approach Vinny slowly, making sure he had plenty of warning they were on the way. And then instead of just coming up to him they'd kind of sidle with a hand out and let Vinny make first contact! It worked great! Vinny didn't have any problems with anyone, except Goofy, who was just too big and funny looking for Vinny.

We're going back to WDW next month and can't wait to see what new things the boys will discover! The Osbourne lights will be up at MGM by then and I can't wait to see how VInny reacts to them! He loves x-mas lights, both kids do... it should be fun!

 

[SueOKW]

GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks for sharing - wonderful to read!

 

[leise]

Thanks Brightsy, I think we'll give the Biergarten a go. We go in 12 days, and I too can't wait to see what the boys make of all the Xmas decs.
Thanks again for your story
Leise

 

[Lives4Disney]

Loved your story. Thanks for sharing!

 

[saymama]

Disney truly does have magical moments that can mean so much to moms like us. Both my boys have autism. In May we had our second trip to Disney. While sitting on the beach watching the fireworks, my younger non-verbal child walks up to me points up and says "sky". I thought I was gonna lose it right there. Everyone was so nice. I'd live there if I could just to hear my kids talk!

 

[AJKMOM]

I have a 16 year old son with autism, and every time we go to WDW, he really enjoys the trip, and returns a little more connected with the real world. That is why we bought into DVC, and why he has been there 8 times. It can be too stimulating for autistic kids, but not ours!

 

[kazzie]

Thanks for sharing this,it brought tears to my eyes too in a lovely way

I am so happy for you that your family and son shared some special moments,you deserve them so much

 

[pampam]

Wow. I am sooo happy for you. And to think! You were able to save the memories in pictures. I hope the photos turn out great. Post them if you can. We'd love to see them.

 

[CynJ]

This is so awesome!! Not just for Sara but for all of you with special kids!!

too bad we can't get the health insurance companies to pick up the costs of trips to the World as therapy (me thinks that would take a LOT of pixie dust!)