MareSINY
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2005
- Messages
- 2,150
My family (myself, my sister and 3 nieces (ages 10, 8 and 4) went on a trip to Disney World during Jersey Week (November 5 - 11.) The last family trip we took my youngest niece was miserable, she was 2 at the time and recently diagnosed as autistic with several different therapists she was seeing daily. Her schedule was so off from the trip that she literally never left her stroller while we were there, it became her safety blanket.
So fast forward... Kyleigh is now 4, she is in full day preschool and is smart as a whip! She's come so far in 2 years, but we were still a bit worried about how she'd handle the stress of travel, staying in an unfamiliar location and going to the parks every day.
Well, she showed autism who was boss last week! LOL
We started the trip at DTD, where Kyleigh was happily building a Mr. Potatohead, only to be picked for a Magical Moment when her potato was chosen as "Potato of the Day." We were ecstatic, so happy and magical for her! The next day we hit MK, starting at the teacups because that's the only ride she kept discussing wanting to ride. First ride, not so magical... she cried, we don't know why. When we got off the older kids wanted to go ride Space Mt., so I went back on the teacups with Kyleigh, we had to wait an extra ride around to get the specific color she wanted, but once on she was laughing and smiling and loved it. "What's next? That one!" She asked and answered her own quesiton, next we headed to the race cars. She drove, I pushed the gas. Her smile was truly magical for me. After that I took her on the People Mover, by the time we finished the rest of the gang was off SM and we all headed back to the race cars for another go-around. By midday Kyleigh exclaimed to me, "I LOVE WALT DISNEY WORLD!" Needless to say my heart melted. 
She hugged Mickey Mouse, she hugged Sully and Mike, she hugged and met with Cinderella, Belle and Sleeping Beauty. One thing after another, each moment more magical than the last. We never had a major meltdown (after the first morning at Guest Relations when getting her GAC... where better to have a meltdown though, right?) all the kids got along well together, we all had a really great time and we've officially passed on the Disney love to our girl, Kyleigh Love.
I think this was honestly one of the best trips we've had in a very long time and I can't wait to go back and do it all again!
So fast forward... Kyleigh is now 4, she is in full day preschool and is smart as a whip! She's come so far in 2 years, but we were still a bit worried about how she'd handle the stress of travel, staying in an unfamiliar location and going to the parks every day.
Well, she showed autism who was boss last week! LOL
We started the trip at DTD, where Kyleigh was happily building a Mr. Potatohead, only to be picked for a Magical Moment when her potato was chosen as "Potato of the Day." We were ecstatic, so happy and magical for her! The next day we hit MK, starting at the teacups because that's the only ride she kept discussing wanting to ride. First ride, not so magical... she cried, we don't know why. When we got off the older kids wanted to go ride Space Mt., so I went back on the teacups with Kyleigh, we had to wait an extra ride around to get the specific color she wanted, but once on she was laughing and smiling and loved it. "What's next? That one!" She asked and answered her own quesiton, next we headed to the race cars. She drove, I pushed the gas. Her smile was truly magical for me. After that I took her on the People Mover, by the time we finished the rest of the gang was off SM and we all headed back to the race cars for another go-around. By midday Kyleigh exclaimed to me, "I LOVE WALT DISNEY WORLD!" Needless to say my heart melted. She hugged Mickey Mouse, she hugged Sully and Mike, she hugged and met with Cinderella, Belle and Sleeping Beauty. One thing after another, each moment more magical than the last. We never had a major meltdown (after the first morning at Guest Relations when getting her GAC... where better to have a meltdown though, right?) all the kids got along well together, we all had a really great time and we've officially passed on the Disney love to our girl, Kyleigh Love.
I think this was honestly one of the best trips we've had in a very long time and I can't wait to go back and do it all again!
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