to MNSSHP or not to MNSSHP?

[ireland_nicole]

I know this is probably a stupid question, but does anyone have experience with MNSSHP w/ kiddos w/ ASD? DS and DD have mult. challenges and I don't know if the party is a great idea or delusional.

The details: would be going 9/12 Fri. Last night of trip (even though it's on Friday it should be a little less crowded b/c of the timing). We are returning home by car (approx. 19-20 hrs. straight through) but the kids seem to do pretty well in the car-they are used to long road trips. DS (6) loves singing the HM song, gets excited about the "scary" parts of Disney movies, etc. DD (8) doesn't like anything scary (REALLY doesn't- I think I have permanent hearing loss from a previous incident...) To complicate things, my DM is coming w/ us, and it's her B-day, and she really wants to do it.

For now, I've tried to just say let's see the day before, but I probably need to give DH and DM a clue as to which way the winds blowing, and make alternate plans...

So-has anyone else done this w/ kids w/ ASD? Or have I finally just become way too masochistic and should seek treatment?
Thanks for your response

 

[disneydeb]

dgs 4, dd, and i did it last year and had a blast. dgs has asd, watched fireworks from in side of its a small world, dgs grinning ear to ear, loved trick or treating, was a little nervous about pirates of the carribean, but a glow stick fixed that crisis. all in all did pretty well, only meltdown, it was about 1130 pm , we were in front of toon town, daughter did not want to use stroller, by that time dgs was tired and cranky, solution, she picked him up and carried him on her shoulders, he was fine.

 

[Ohio Disney Girl]

My DS3 with PDD did it last year and barely survived the MONSOON that hit for most of the night ( He HATES wet clothes and we went through THREE spare sets that night with a poncho to keep him dry!), but enjoyed the HM, candy stations (He learned "Trick-or-Treat" there and was a pro by the time Halloween rolled around back home! ) I found the park to be LESS crowded then and a much more relaxed atmosphere overall (could've been the rain, too!)

If it is in the budget (as it is expensive), I'd say do it. I would NOT advise staying in MK all day and then trying to do MNSSHP, but I'd say that to ANY parent! We go to MK in the a.m., then go back to the hotel and "chill out", then return fro MNSSHP in the evening.

The Hallowishes parade is VERY cool and both of my kids got a kick out of guessing what their favorite characters whould be dressed up like as all of the characters wear Halloween costumes also!

 

[ireland_nicole]

Thanks ya'll. If we do MNSSHP, we would go to DHS and just hit the highlights, and then downtime in the hotel (cause my kids do not nap.period. Heck, my 6 y/o only gets maybe 5 hrs a night anyway.) I was thinkin' DHS at rope drop, TOT(they love speed and falling) TSM, maybe VOLM and then back to hotel. So not particularly hectic. I'm just worried that it will just be too much - but if we're going to do it, at least on that night I don't have to worry about the next day - at least they're contained in the car! We road tripped to Chicago last week and that worked pretty well, saw the fireworks (from a distance) Fri. night so were up til 11, but then rode 20 hrs. Sat. so they slept pretty well in the car. (Thank God for in car DVD players).

 

[Schmeck]

If DD8 does not like anything scary, avoid the headless horseman galloping before the parade... Also, Main Street has ghosts/bats lighting the buildings, you know, like big spotlights with bat/ghost cutout parts. Is Haunted Mansion too scary for her? If so, she may not like the ghouls in the parade either then.

Warning - the trick or treat lines my be very long at the beginning of MNSSHP. We skipped the long lines, did some rides, then found the more obscure places for it (look on the map they have there for spots) and the kids got plenty of candy.

 

[ireland_nicole]

Thanks; I like your ideas about the trick or treating (and know both kids would love that) but am worried re: parade w/ DD; I've been watching the youtube video of HM and keep telling her to count the silly ghosts and whoever finds the most "wins" but since she doesn't totally seperate reality and fantasy it might not work on the actual ride; Oh well, I suppose if we go DD and I can just shop through the parade ; thanks so much for the warnings!