A Mother-Son Adventure in Autism! (8/29) Itinerary, 1st Draft (!)

[mousescrapper]

Even though I know what happens next in the trip planning process of deciding when and how to go...I am still eager w/ anticipation to find out ...I love your writing Kathy and how you tell these stories

 

[DisMomAmy]

Oh a cliffhanger... what will happen...

 

[MRYPPNS]

I'm on pins and needles!

 

[KathyRN137]

at being able to visit Disney World at Christmas!! It seems like a great time to go apart from the crowds!

Trish seems like a great student - if my mum had mentioned Disney when i was younger I would have gone no matter what!

Also I read your blog post. You sure are a great writer! I also listened to Lou (who I had never heard before) and now have bookmarked the page for easy reference

Thanks, you're very kind!

Lou has several listeners from the UK... the live shows are a bit of a challenge due to the time change, but you can listen to the recorded podcasts at any time!

And really, I was the same way when I was younger. Miss a few days of school for a vacation -- no problem!

Even though I know what happens next in the trip planning process of deciding when and how to go...I am still eager w/ anticipation to find out ...I love your writing Kathy and how you tell these stories

Thanks, Scrappie! Yes, I'm just filling up a little of the waiting time explaining the numerous changes that have been made to the plan!

And thank you for the compliment.

Oh a cliffhanger... what will happen...

I'm on pins and needles!

Har-dee-har, you guys!!!




Kathy

 

[Native NYer]

Your daughter is such a dedicated student! I'm a teacher and 2 days is really not a big deal, especially for a good student.
Can't wait to read what happens next.

 

[Poolrat]

Until…


To Be Continued


Kathy

I have missed those - not really, but you are back writing so that is what counts.

 

[KathyRN137]

Your daughter is such a dedicated student! I'm a teacher and 2 days is really not a big deal, especially for a good student.
Can't wait to read what happens next.

I kind of think she's overreacting, but...

I have missed those - not really, but you are back writing so that is what counts.

Can't help myself, I guess!


Kathy

 

[MEK]

What??????? A cliffhanger?????? Now I am totally confused!

 

[KathyRN137]

What??????? A cliffhanger?????? Now I am totally confused!

Sorry for the confusion, Mary Ellen! I'm relating the roller-coaster ride that I was on before settling on our current trip dates!



Kathy

 

[mommytothreeboys]

A Kathy cliffhanger......YAY!

 

[JPFamilyMom]

Great update Kathy, I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the until... (hehe )

 

[KathyRN137]

A Kathy cliffhanger......YAY!

Old habits die hard, Missy!

Great update Kathy, I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the until... (hehe )

Sorry, Jess, not much of a cliffhanger for the Spectrum Moms! But, so glad to have you along for the planning fun!



Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

/

Part 3: I'll Be Home for Christmas!


During my last post I explained how we came to pick Christmas Week, 2011 for our next Disney vacation. We would brave crowded, noisy, crazy, expensive Christmas Week so that our little family of four could enjoy our Happy Place with zero loss of school for our oldest child. Then I got to thinking…


WHAT? Am I NUTS?


We can’t take a teenager with severe Autism to Walt Disney World during the most crowded time of the year. It would be pushing the vacation self-destruct button! Obviously, far too much time had passed since our last trip. How could I forget Billy’s long list of sensory and behavior issues? It must’ve been that same amnesia phenomenon that occurs after a woman gives birth: the memory of the contractions somehow fades with time... and a shift in hormones.


It wasn’t until January, when I spent an uncomfortably crowded evening in Disney Studios with six friends, a few hundred strangers, and a gazillion Brazilian tour groups that I finally came to my senses.

This was January... supposedly one of the least crowded times of the year!


No Way, Jose. Christmas Week was O-U-T- out!


“Just as well,” my husband said, “we don’t have the money for that kind of trip, anyway.” He followed up with a suggestion that we simply try to put up with the heat and humidity of August.

“I guess I can suffer through,” I said with a sigh. “And at least then we would only have eight months until our trip.” (There’s nothing like a weekend at WDW to whet your appetite for a longer stay!)

Two bushy eyebrows became one as he cleared his throat -- not a good sign. “I was thinking more like August, 2012….”

Wha-ah-ah-at??? Eighteen more months before we could return? On top of the fourteen that had already passed oh-so-slowly?

I felt my heart begin to pound; my mouth went dry and my left eye twitched uncontrollably. There had to be another way….



To be continued….



Kathy

 

[Native NYer]

I feel the same way about Christmas week. As beautiful as the decorations are, I could not handle those crowds!

BTW, you're a great writer. Love your ptr style!

 

[KathyRN137]

I feel the same way about Christmas week. As beautiful as the decorations are, I could not handle those crowds!

BTW, you're a great writer. Love your ptr style!

Thanks! And really, I don't know WHAT I was thinking!




Kathy

 

[MRYPPNS]

I get hives just thinking about that line....so glad we got O-U-T of it

And it's not just the crowds of people, it's the extra waiting that goes along with it EVERYwhere for EVERYthing.

 

[lovethattink]

Hello! I'm joining in the fun! Christmas is my favorite season at Disney!! It's a great season to visit the Mouse!! Busy, yes. But it's totally doable!!

 

[KathyRN137]

I get hives just thinking about that line....so glad we got O-U-T of it

And it's not just the crowds of people, it's the extra waiting that goes along with it EVERYwhere for EVERYthing.

Yes... too overwhelming, for him AND for me!

Hello! I'm joining in the fun! Christmas is my favorite season at Disney!! It's a great season to visit the Mouse!! Busy, yes. But it's totally doable!!

Welcome! Glad to meet you!

But, as far as Christmas goes... we will be attending MVMCP, but it will NOT be during Christmas Week! (Read on...)


Kathy

 

[lovethattink]

Yes... too overwhelming, for him AND for me!





Welcome! Glad to meet you!

But, as far as Christmas goes... we will be attending MVMCP, but it will NOT be during Christmas Week! (Read on...)


Kathy

Nice to meet you too! Looking forward to reading on!

I love that Disney's Christmas season starts from the day after Thanksgiving and goes into the first week of January!

 

[DisMomAmy]

I was so nervous for you when you were going Christmas week. I think your current plan will work out much better.