WDW Escape?

[MinnieVanMom]

I just have fallen for WDW and people have pointed out to me that is not "normal". My response has been that we don't have "normal" life and if it were perfect with a perfect child and no problems we may not like Disney so much.

For us it provides an escape from our reality and problems. Yes DS still has autism but for a few days, we are at least in a place where we can escape and enjoy. It takes me away from the constant worry.

Does WDW, even just thinking provide an escape for you from your "normal" life also? Is it a bad thing?

 

[mazz1]

i think you will find that you are definately in the majority when it comes to wdw providing and escape from daily worries

personally for us it gets us through the other 50 weeks of the year having something to look forward too, ok so the autism is just hard hard to manage and live with on holiday somedays it's worse not having the familiarity of home but for the most we are away from everyday strains and stress

i don't think that's a bad thing at all, a lot of people with and without disability feel exactly the same way in their jobs and normal daily lives

wdw in florida is a magical place to visit for all ages, we are closer to paris but prefer florida despite the 9 hour flight as you americans are so nice and friendly not just in wdw but also in the shops and restaurants it makes our holiday that extra special, france is great for a quick disney fix but they have yet to get the hospitality right and imo could do with a few lessons from the cast members in the US

my countdown gets ever close only 6 weeks now and we have been discussing the holiday again tonight and what we are most looking forward too

 

[ireland_nicole]

I agree; planning and taking our WDW trips is my escape - and why not? Every day is so hard (I love my kids and wouldn't give them up for the world, but let's face it-it is hard) I have to be able to get away for a while, and think about our happy place.
Nicole

 

[MightyMom]

I agree..... it is an escape.

I've often said this to family and friends who don't understand why we are "going AGAIN?!?!?!".......

When we are on Big Thunder Mountain and DS's hands are in the air and he's screaming like a little girl...... he's just like every other kid on that ride and for those few minutes he's not a kid in a wheelchair.

 

[mechurchlady]

Mom and I had a fight and life stunk big time but one hour in a local restaurant was a mini vacation for me and all I needed to be happy again. I would be blissed out and in heaven if I went to WDW.

What is wrong with wanting a place that an autistic child can find a niche just for them. It might be one ride, food, character but to have a happy kid is something special. It is nice to have people care about you, treat you nice and spoil you rotten. It is abnormal to not want to have fun, be treated nice and not have to do them dishes and chores at home.

 

[KPeveler]

WDW is my haven - for just a few days i can be "normal." when i am there, i am not sick, i am not the weird one who cant do anything... i get to be treated like a princess!

so, no, i think falling for WDW makes perfect sense!

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I know it rang true when I read it. Our DS is not the wee one with autism but for just a few moments, when at Disney, he is just a wee one! That is what I love and why I want to keep going back.

 

[Livin4DisneyTime]

My parents don't understand why I like it sooo much. Why I spend so much money when I should buy a house (don't want one!). When I am at Disney, I don't have time for those oppresive thoughts to role around in my head. We are a family, having fun together, not worrying about anything. We take our time. We have gone before so whatever we do or see is great fun. Yes my son still has diabetes and my husband still can't walk much but we actually are less stressed than many other kinds of vacations. There is plenty to do that we all like to do and since we pay it all off before we go and buy Disney Dollars for everything else, there is no bean counting! We cant wait to escape from reality. IT IS A WHOLE NEW WORLD!

 

[SandrainNC]

Well, I think I would like WDW no matter what!!!! But, I know exactly what you mean. At WDW, there are no IEPs, no daycares discriminating against your child because they are not toilet trained (this happened to us last week), etc. Planning the trips sometimes takes my mind off of things (like the above already mentioned). I loved it before my oldest child was born though, so I think I would be a Disney "weirdo" no matter what.

Sandra

 

[BeckyScott]

DH thinks I'm completely obsessed.

(because he's never been there)

I just have faith, and told him as much. By Day Three, at the latest, he'll understand.

 

[minkydog]

No one in our families understands our affinity for Disney, but thats okay--they don't have to. We discovered another side of WDW about 4yrs ago when we bit the bullet and took our youngest child to Disney. Christian is very mentally handicapped and autisitic; he is vision impaired, has trouble eating, wears diapers and has low muscle tone. But we packed his w/c and all his diapers & special snacks, and off we went to Florida.

I cannot tell you how well we were treated. It was the vacation of our dreams--everything is flat & handicapped accessible. We were treated not as special, but as "normal." Oh, what a feeling!

Then DH became disabled shortly after that trip. Wow! for a family with two disabled persons, there is no better vacation place. Having transportation available, on-site lodging & meals, plus full accessibility is just not something you have available in every location. Not only that, but Orlando has some great healthcare, should one of them need to use it.

We go to WDW about every 18months. Because we tour slowly, we never really get enough of it. For us, Disney is very relaxing. It's expenzive, but we get what we paid for and we are willing to pay for the kind of vacation that Disney delivers.

 

[BeckyScott]

There are very few places where you can go, where you just go un-noticed.

I've only found two, besides Disney. One was at Judevine, where autism rules anyway. The other is at the big children's hospital we go to for evals and stuff, where there are so many kids with so many things going on that nobody pays too much attention to much of anything.

I know it sounds wierd, but I actually don't mind taking him to that hospital, just because nobody looks twice.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have seen autistic children improve with every trip to WDW. My niece's husband is in the miltary and for several years they were stationed in Florida. Every time they came to WDW their autistic son did a great improvement spurt.

In the main disABILITIES forum, at http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1780865 I posted a recent incident at WDW that was published in an internal newsletter; it is definitely with reading. (At least I think so.)

 

[twinmum]

I agree with everyone who has posted about how WDW is a break from the challenges we face with our children with special needs. (One of our twin sons age 9 has cerebral palsy and other medical issues)

Here's what one CM said to us on our 1st (of 2)trips: "When we see a beautiful family like yours, we know that you all face special challenges every day. Our job when you are visiting with us is to do everything we can to make those challenges easier or go away and make your stay magical."

OK, it may have sounded like a canned speech, but it was backed up with actions and facial expressions that said it all. I know I've got it pretty much word for word, because it blew me away.

Come to think of it, it's time to plan another trip!

 

[mom_2a_sept_princess]

My Emma is the happiest at Disney World. We have been twice already ~ she is 4 and we have another trip planned for the end of this year.

I don't care how much it costs, if I have to take her out of school, she is happy in Disney World.

My Emma has Spinal Muscular Atrophy and is in a wheelchair full time. She can't walk nor has she ever been able to walk.

Amy