Dan1
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2011
- Messages
- 561
File this one under 'you cannot make this stuff up'.
This actually happened.
I have told this experience (more of an emotional one than any particular ride or attraction) to a few people who asked me to share it on Notre Dame fan boards last year. In the wee hours of the morning before the sun has even risen here I thought I would share it with all y'all.
We have a special needs DD who uses a wheel chair. As it frequently happens, as special needs children grow up to be special needs adults they loose their friends and outside interests. Yes, as you can expect, her interest in Disney and WDW has remained (as it has with I).
Our family has gone to WDW around 2 ouf of every 3 years for the past two decades, always staying off property.
For various reasons, and even though for the first time we had reservations at a WDW resort (so exciting
) I found myself taking my DD by myself for a week last year solo (i.e. just DD and myself).
I was very nervous, apprehensive, etc. A full week of looking after her and her needs on my own; everything from travelling just the two of us on the plane, toileting (just where are those companion washroom again?), bathing, feeding, pushing her wheel chair in the hot Florida weather, etc.
So, the flight down was uneventful (which by our standards is
) and we used the Magical Express to arrive safe and sound at the WDW resort.
After check-in, I thought it would be nice for us to head on over to Disney's Market Place Village to grab a bite at the Earl of Sandwich and so she could visualize all the Disney 'stuff' and understand that we were actually there even though we were not in one of the major parks.
After walking around for a bit we entered the Team Mickey Athletic Club store filled with various Disney and non-disney athletic apparel. OK, this store was more for me.
.
Well, no sooner had we entered this store than did the store music system start to play the Notre Dame Victory March!
Now I realize most of you are likely not college football fans, yet we all have our recreational passions. Notre Dame's athletic teams, yes including its football team, is one of my relaxation outlets.
I took that as a sign, omen, call it what you will that we were indeed going to have a great week, my DD would have a great time and I would be able to get through it 'all' on my own.
It was a very hot Florida week with temperatures in the low 90's every day which was surprising to me being in the spring.
We went from park to park throughout the week and of course had a great time. On a couple of occasions I would have a total stranger shout out to us 'GO IRISH!' because of me wearing my Notre Dame baseball cap. That was pretty cool and made my day on those occasions, even though my DD didn't know what to make of it.
Then on our last day we went back to Epcot. It was once again very hot and humid.
In the evening we left through the main entrance to catch the bus to return to our resort. I walked past the 'big golf ball'
pushing her wheel chair (which was easier than having to do that in AK earlier in the week) through the collections of flower beds, families arriving late getting their pictures taken, other families leaving the park as we were.
As we made our way through this part of the park I started to hear softly a bouncy little tune in the park's sound system near the entrance.
As we got closer and closer to the exit turnstiles I finally recognized that tune.
It was none other than Hike Notre Dame!
Sure, for non-Notre Dame fans that song doesn't mean anything.
Yet for me I took it as a sign that my DD did indeed have a great time (she's not overly verbal).
What are the odds of hearing a song at the start and a song at the end of our time together from my beloved ND?
You really can't make this stuff up.
Talk about a little pixie dust!
Thank for listening and sorry for being a little overly sappy.
And yes, DD and I are going again by ourselves to WDW.....next year for two weeks!
Have you had a bit of the Luck of the Irish at WDW?
Dan
This actually happened.
I have told this experience (more of an emotional one than any particular ride or attraction) to a few people who asked me to share it on Notre Dame fan boards last year. In the wee hours of the morning before the sun has even risen here I thought I would share it with all y'all.
We have a special needs DD who uses a wheel chair. As it frequently happens, as special needs children grow up to be special needs adults they loose their friends and outside interests. Yes, as you can expect, her interest in Disney and WDW has remained (as it has with I).
Our family has gone to WDW around 2 ouf of every 3 years for the past two decades, always staying off property.
For various reasons, and even though for the first time we had reservations at a WDW resort (so exciting
) I found myself taking my DD by myself for a week last year solo (i.e. just DD and myself).I was very nervous, apprehensive, etc. A full week of looking after her and her needs on my own; everything from travelling just the two of us on the plane, toileting (just where are those companion washroom again?), bathing, feeding, pushing her wheel chair in the hot Florida weather, etc.
So, the flight down was uneventful (which by our standards is
) and we used the Magical Express to arrive safe and sound at the WDW resort.After check-in, I thought it would be nice for us to head on over to Disney's Market Place Village to grab a bite at the Earl of Sandwich and so she could visualize all the Disney 'stuff' and understand that we were actually there even though we were not in one of the major parks.
After walking around for a bit we entered the Team Mickey Athletic Club store filled with various Disney and non-disney athletic apparel. OK, this store was more for me.
. Well, no sooner had we entered this store than did the store music system start to play the Notre Dame Victory March!
Now I realize most of you are likely not college football fans, yet we all have our recreational passions. Notre Dame's athletic teams, yes including its football team, is one of my relaxation outlets.I took that as a sign, omen, call it what you will that we were indeed going to have a great week, my DD would have a great time and I would be able to get through it 'all' on my own.
It was a very hot Florida week with temperatures in the low 90's every day which was surprising to me being in the spring.
We went from park to park throughout the week and of course had a great time. On a couple of occasions I would have a total stranger shout out to us 'GO IRISH!' because of me wearing my Notre Dame baseball cap. That was pretty cool and made my day on those occasions, even though my DD didn't know what to make of it.
Then on our last day we went back to Epcot. It was once again very hot and humid.
In the evening we left through the main entrance to catch the bus to return to our resort. I walked past the 'big golf ball'
pushing her wheel chair (which was easier than having to do that in AK earlier in the week) through the collections of flower beds, families arriving late getting their pictures taken, other families leaving the park as we were.As we made our way through this part of the park I started to hear softly a bouncy little tune in the park's sound system near the entrance.
As we got closer and closer to the exit turnstiles I finally recognized that tune.
It was none other than Hike Notre Dame!
Sure, for non-Notre Dame fans that song doesn't mean anything.
Yet for me I took it as a sign that my DD did indeed have a great time (she's not overly verbal).
What are the odds of hearing a song at the start and a song at the end of our time together from my beloved ND?
You really can't make this stuff up.
Talk about a little pixie dust!
Thank for listening and sorry for being a little overly sappy.
And yes, DD and I are going again by ourselves to WDW.....next year for two weeks!
Have you had a bit of the Luck of the Irish at WDW?
Dan
