ABCs of Trip Reporting, Pt. 2-Life Can Be Crappy and Then You Move On (3/7)

[glennbo123]

Awesome post Maroo!

 

[onelilspark]

Yay for Disney magic!!!

 

[marvali]

Marv, you're working yourself to death!! Come back and play!! I mean really hang out and play.

Maybe in a couple of days! Two more days of 5:00am to about 6:30pm and I will get a short break before doing it all again.

BTW, I really did try to send you a response to the letter "G" but I screwed it up. I had no idea what it was when you posted, but a google search of Mrs. Potts and tile floor lead me right to the answer last Wednesday. Didn't get a chance to post the answer and just happened to check the DIS boards on my cell phone while waiting for Graduation to start and saw answers due by "tonight" even though I think it was from the night before but you hadn't posted the answer yet. Typed up my PM response, sent send and then got off my phone as graduation started. After I asked you if you got the PM and didn't get a response, I called up the internet on my phone to find.....my PM that didn't go through.......because I neglected to enter a topic AND a username I wanted to send it too!!! You win some and you lose some!

Maroo, what a fantastic post and how great that Baker was touched by some Disney magic!!!

 

[Poolrat]

I do love it! I enjoy the lively music- one of my favorite polkas of all time (I listened to it a LOT in my training last year, as it paces perfectly with my running!) and all the fun details. Of course, the view is unparalleled!

Supercali ( not even going to try the rest ) was a running song for me as well as some of the parade songs.




Maroo- Love love love the update and magic that was sprinkled on Baker.
THAT'S what it is all about!!!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Wow Maroo, just wow! I have to admit that your update made me a little teary-eyed. What an amazing effect Disney had on Baker! No wonder the whole table was crying. I'm sure that is a memory his family will cherish forever. So incredibly moving. I think I mentioned before that my dearest friend in the world has a son with Asperger's. Reading Baker's story reminds me that those rare glimpses of interaction are possible (and beautiful). Thank you for sharing.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Liesa, somehow in my haste to compete in your letter game, I missed two TWO updates!

Love that you met up with Brook, Joe and little Henry! And over corn dog nuggets to boot! Though I'm not a fan, I hear good things about them. You also look quite at home with that sparkly tiara, do you happen to be royalty??

Great pictures too! Don't you just the MK? I do! We also love the Swiss Family Treehouse. It's a great family film and was so fun for my girls to see something similar to what they'd seen in the movie. My oldest DD11 has a crush on Fritz. Though, didn't we all?

You can't go wrong riding Pirates! Such an awesome ride and I love how they added Jack Sparrow to the story line.

Fab updates as usual Liesa!

 

[maroo]

If I am going to make you cry...the least I can do is try to limit kleenex usage...so I will go ahead and post the next one...because it will make you cry if the first one tonight didn't.




I know it has been months since we started this story…

But this next post…is basically the best moment of the whole trip for Baker and his family…and they have had some GREAT moments!

Something I worried about as we were planning was how to get Baker to meet Mickey Mouse. At the time of this trip, there was no such thing as a FastPass to meet Mickey. And I really wanted Baker to have some time to spend with Mickey that was sorta private…but not with a bunch of people having to wait on him. There was really no way to make that happen…

After we finished eating at 50's - we decide it may be a good time to try to find Mickey Mouse…since Baker has taken to talking in sentences and such, we figured it would be really cool to give him the biggest reward and let him meet his HERO, Mickey!

The line for Mickey - regardless of the time of day or the time of year - is pretty much always packed with families…

So imagine my shock and amazement to see only two families in the line! We were SOOOOO excited!

Even this short wait is a little much for Baker…he really wants to get over there to meet his hero!

His Mom kinda has to hold him back in line.

We had been talking to the CM's in line - and both of them really were apologizing because they really hate to make severely autistic kids wait - they even tell us that they are working on a system where these kids can wait in an alternate area, which would be really cool!

Anyway…it was finally Baker's turn when the character handler announces that it is time for Mickey to go get some water or a snack or something! Oh no! Seriously? What is Baker going to do when he sees Mickey walk out the door?! EEK!

But Mickey shakes his head - No… No. And points to Baker. Doh! Mickey just told those folks he is staying out here and wants to meet Baker!

The first part of the meeting, Baker didn't really get into it…Makes me wonder what was going through his head. Mickey really had to work at this…

And Baker finally looked at him…but not really for very long…and Baker didn't really connect…..

We tried the group picture thing…which never really works very well.








So Baker got back in his wheelchair…






And was ready to move on to something else…




But Mickey was not done with Baker!









Mickey was AMAZING……..


Mickey got right in his face…and Mickey went the extra 10 miles to connect with Baker!!

And the magic just happened!!!

I will let the pictures tell this story....

It was SOOOOO awesome! Every bit as cool as it looked!

Mickey was AMAZING!!!!! The whole thing seemed like it went in slow motion…And Mickey was supposed to be on break forever ago!

Mickey staying back to meet Baker was so very special to me. I know the "rules"…I am sure Mickey was supposed to go backstage when he was told…but he saw the BIG picture…and ignored the rules…and created a memory for his family that they will never forget! And I know I won't forget! And now many you will remember it, too!



I just want to point out a few things in these pictures…..sorry for the repeats…


But in this picture…Look at his Dad's face…behind him… Just joy and amazement! So cool!!

Every time I see this picture, it just makes me want to cry…I love the look on Baker's face…but I also LOVE the look on Sarah's face! She is so happy for Baker!

And...I love the lady we don't know in the background of this picture…

I sometimes feel bad for the families that have to wait for a character interaction with someone I am with…a wish family or autism or severely disabled...that is making that character interaction take longer than most typical families. And I feel bad for the typical families having to wait… But then I catch the background of a picture like this and I realize that some of those people waiting are getting just as much out of watching this amazing encounter unfold as we are!

And I am reminded that all of us, I guess - at Disney, and in our regular lives - would benefit so much from worrying less about how long we were waiting in lines and focus more on the cool things going on around us…If I could just remember that the next time I get in the slowest line in the whole grocery store…to look around me…what cool things can I see while I wait.

 

[chloe770]

I sometimes feel bad for the families that have to wait for a character interaction with someone I am with…a wish family or autism or severely disabled...that is making that character interaction take longer than most typical families. And I feel bad for the typical families having to wait… But then I catch the background of a picture like this and I realize that some of those people waiting are getting just as much out of watching this amazing encounter unfold as we are!

And I am reminded that all of us, I guess - at Disney, and in our regular lives - would benefit so much from worrying less about how long we were waiting in lines and focus more on the cool things going on around us…If I could just remember that the next time I get in the slowest line in the whole grocery store…to look around me…what cool things can I see while I wait.

AMEN! I personally love watching other people's kids reactions to things at Disney. It's all part of the magic for me. Special moments like those just bring our everyday life into perspective. Don't sweat the small stuff.

 

[All7OfUs]

WOW!! With you, when it rains, it pours... pours WONDERFUL, smile-inducing, happy tear making updates!

How neat to have a glimpse into this family's joyous moments of Baker's discovery and experience. I loved every moment of hearing about it all over again- the first time was great, this was just as much so!

The pictures were so fun to scroll through! Thanks for sharing!

 

[All7OfUs]

And I am reminded that all of us, I guess - at Disney, and in our regular lives - would benefit so much from worrying less about how long we were waiting in lines and focus more on the cool things going on around us…If I could just remember that the next time I get in the slowest line in the whole grocery store…to look around me…what cool things can I see while I wait.

Just echoing Dawn's AMEN here!! Beautifully said, Mary!

 

[KatMark]

Mary, I just finished making cookes for my baby who is graduating college on Saturday and thought I'd take a quick peek at the DIS, and found your update and I'm sitting with tears in my eyes laughing and crying! Way to go Baker. Glad he had a great grilled cheese!

 

[KatMark]

AMEN! I personally love watching other people's kids reactions to things at Disney. It's all part of the magic for me. Special moments like those just bring our everyday life into perspective. Don't sweat the small stuff.

Ditto what Dawn said so eloquently.

Great updates, Maroo!

 

[mommy2mrb]

Wow, those photos are so amazing and I know will be treasured forever by you all!
that was so wonderful that Mickey went the extra mile for Baker!

I agree with you Mary, take time and look around, you never know what you might get to experience and see!

 

[englishrose47]

Mary those pix of Baker are just awesome !!!As for the grilled cheese !!No words can express the joy to Baker and his family!!!!!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Mary, you did have me crying. Thanks for sharing such special moments with Baker and his family. I love the Grilled Cheese and the fact that the CMs were right on it for him! I noticed Baker's dad in the background the first time - what special moments to cherish forever!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Mary, this is the very first thing I did this morning - for some reason, rather than praying morning prayer, I came here to see of you'd posted the rest of the story...and my oh my, now I know why...yes, tears, but happy tears for Baker and his family...and YOU, because we all know how much love goes into these trips for you.

Thank you so much for sharing the photos and story of Baker meeting Mickey - what a wonderful reminder of what Disney can be. Walt would be so proud of Mickey.

 

[jenb1023]

Mary - I should know better than to read your updates at work! I am sitting at my desk trying not to cry. Such wonderful experiences for Baker - both asking for the grilled cheese and in the interaction with Mickey Mouse. To me, when they talk about Magical Memories at WDW, this is exactly what they are talking about and those special moments and memories are two of the many reasons I love Disney so much. Thanks for sharing!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

wow what great updates, and very cool how the chef came out to see him after hte grilled cheese. just a small reason why most people dont understand why people continually go back to disney...it is the extra mile they put in and the extra things they do that make them better than other vacation destinations.



and like others have said what an awesome interaction with mickey...he really did go the extra miles to show he cared.

 

[JPFamilyMom]

I have no words, I can't even see the screen as I'm typing because I have so many happy tears filling my eyes, you just made my day. What a beautiful and AAAAmazing experience for Baker and his family. I'm sure everyone around had to be touched by what was going on right there.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Oh my goodness Maroo! I had already commented on your post with Baker at 50's Prime Time and then you posted this next one!

I'm just moved beyond words and I'm sure if I'd have been there, I would have shed a few tears! It's just incredibly touching that Mickey (and those CM's) went out of their way to bring a little joy to Baker, and consequently his family as well. Just beautiful! How did they know? It's so heartwarming and it's little touches like this that make Disney a special place.

(Last summer we went to DL for the first time and my DD8 was having some issues. At breakfast, Chip and Dale came by and noticed how sad she looked. Dale then hopped over to her, got up her and started parading around the room with her. He brought the biggest smile to her face and her entire mood changed. It was so very sweet!)

The look on his dad's face is one of pure joy. His sister's face is even more telling, total happiness for Baker!

And I love the random lady who's watching from afar! It's an excellent reminder that there's no reason to be huffing and impatient waiting in line. If you slow down, you may just seem some magic happening! Thanks again for sharing this with us.