April 16th-20th POR
My first trip report.. Characters are DGM (me) just turned 60,with 15 visits, and DGS will be five the last day of the trip. I am long overdue for a trip to WDW. It has been three years since my last trip. I'm addicted, my husband is not. So, at Christmas I asked my son and daughter-in-law if they would let me take Little Buddy for his first visit, with the excuse that it would be his birthday gift. They finally said yes! DGS was a premie born at 28 weeks, and he weighed 2# 5oz. A rocky start, and now we know he is autistic. He maybe is an Aspergers. We just know he does the oddest things. Got to love him though, my first grandchild,he is my little buddy. So, I have been planning this trip around him. I found a lot of information and help on the disABILITIES board.
First decision was where to stay. The All-star resorts and Pop Century looked great for kids, but I knew there was too much stimulus and distraction there for him. We might never leave the resort. So I decided on POR which is quiet and peaceful, and my favorite resort anyway. Booked four nights. Second decision was where to fly from. We live in Upper Lower Michigan. Its 45 miles to our local airport in Traverse City, but then we'd have to change planes in Chicago or Detroit. I don't like driving to Detroit, even though its a whole lot cheaper. By the time I get there, I feel like I might as well just drive to Orlando. So we fly out of Grand Rapids which is only 150 miles away. The best part is (drum roll please!) direct flights both ways!! No Chicago, No Detroit. No dragging an unpredictable child from one terminal to another. Yahoo! Third was gound transportaion in Orlando. Usually I rent a car, but I knew my buddy wouldn't be into outlet shopping.Everyone says good things about the Magical Express, so no brainer, I leave the driving to them and I don't have to tote a car seat along. Fourth would be food. Everyone knows you make ADRs/ Have I made any? No .Little Buddy doesn't like for anything to pass his lips. He has a very limited menu. There are only about five things that he will eat, and they don't involve chewing. This guy hunted for Easter eggs last Sunday. Then he snifted every color. Those eggs with approved scents made it in to his mouth for a taste test. And everyone of those came back out because they would involved chewing. Same scenario with the Peeps. M&M are the only approved candy. So I don't see any table service restaurants in our future for this trip. I have packed the emergency peanut butter and jelly. So here I sit watching the clock wondering why its so slow. I have been packed for weeks. I think I have everything he might need like ID bracelet, ear protectors and plugs because he doesn't tolerate loud noises, there is even a leash so he doesn't wander too far. I can't wait for someone to make a remark if I have to resort to the leash. I've got my smart retort already for them. Tomorrow I pick up Little Buddy two hours away, then drive one and a half hours to Grand Rapids. I decided that I would spend the night before our trip at a hotel there since our flight was at 10:30 in the morning. Little Buddy doesn't transition well, and I'm not a morning person. The other reason to leave early is the weather. We have had sixteen inches of snow in the past week, and we hope we have seen the end of it, but that is what we thought last week, and two weeks before that. I'm ready for warm. WDW here we come.
My first trip report.. Characters are DGM (me) just turned 60,with 15 visits, and DGS will be five the last day of the trip. I am long overdue for a trip to WDW. It has been three years since my last trip. I'm addicted, my husband is not. So, at Christmas I asked my son and daughter-in-law if they would let me take Little Buddy for his first visit, with the excuse that it would be his birthday gift. They finally said yes! DGS was a premie born at 28 weeks, and he weighed 2# 5oz. A rocky start, and now we know he is autistic. He maybe is an Aspergers. We just know he does the oddest things. Got to love him though, my first grandchild,he is my little buddy. So, I have been planning this trip around him. I found a lot of information and help on the disABILITIES board.
First decision was where to stay. The All-star resorts and Pop Century looked great for kids, but I knew there was too much stimulus and distraction there for him. We might never leave the resort. So I decided on POR which is quiet and peaceful, and my favorite resort anyway. Booked four nights. Second decision was where to fly from. We live in Upper Lower Michigan. Its 45 miles to our local airport in Traverse City, but then we'd have to change planes in Chicago or Detroit. I don't like driving to Detroit, even though its a whole lot cheaper. By the time I get there, I feel like I might as well just drive to Orlando. So we fly out of Grand Rapids which is only 150 miles away. The best part is (drum roll please!) direct flights both ways!! No Chicago, No Detroit. No dragging an unpredictable child from one terminal to another. Yahoo! Third was gound transportaion in Orlando. Usually I rent a car, but I knew my buddy wouldn't be into outlet shopping.Everyone says good things about the Magical Express, so no brainer, I leave the driving to them and I don't have to tote a car seat along. Fourth would be food. Everyone knows you make ADRs/ Have I made any? No .Little Buddy doesn't like for anything to pass his lips. He has a very limited menu. There are only about five things that he will eat, and they don't involve chewing. This guy hunted for Easter eggs last Sunday. Then he snifted every color. Those eggs with approved scents made it in to his mouth for a taste test. And everyone of those came back out because they would involved chewing. Same scenario with the Peeps. M&M are the only approved candy. So I don't see any table service restaurants in our future for this trip. I have packed the emergency peanut butter and jelly. So here I sit watching the clock wondering why its so slow. I have been packed for weeks. I think I have everything he might need like ID bracelet, ear protectors and plugs because he doesn't tolerate loud noises, there is even a leash so he doesn't wander too far. I can't wait for someone to make a remark if I have to resort to the leash. I've got my smart retort already for them. Tomorrow I pick up Little Buddy two hours away, then drive one and a half hours to Grand Rapids. I decided that I would spend the night before our trip at a hotel there since our flight was at 10:30 in the morning. Little Buddy doesn't transition well, and I'm not a morning person. The other reason to leave early is the weather. We have had sixteen inches of snow in the past week, and we hope we have seen the end of it, but that is what we thought last week, and two weeks before that. I'm ready for warm. WDW here we come.
