Disney Blog Hop – The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
Have a Very Happy Thursday, as Pooh would say. Thursdays ARE a Very Happy Day around here, because of course, it’s Blog Hop Day! If you’ve never been here before, welcome! If you’re an old friend, welcome back!
Today’s Blog Hop theme is “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.” I originally planned to do something cute with pictures – a good picture, a fuzzy (bad) one, and maybe one of Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters…then I read Lisa’s post about her day alone in WDW and I realized that just wasn’t gonna cut it. I’ll admit, I like to focus on the warm, fuzzy, positive memories. But reality is, taking four kids ANYWHERE, even to Disney World, is going to be a roller coaster. So here goes. Keep your hands and arms inside the vehicle at all times…
when Disney was good, it was very very good . . .
The boys being inducted into Jack Sparrow's crew
Disney is like that – our boys had just finished devouring the Jack Sparrow novels, and as we’re walking through Adventureland who should call them out from the crowd but Captain Jack Sparrow himself! Their pirate commissions are stored securely under their pillows, awaiting that fateful night when the Black Pearl will come for them.
and when it was bad, it was horrid.
“horrid” is really the only word I can use when the combination of autism and sensory overload comes crashing down in the middle of dinner. Maybe if it weren’t so loud, or so busy, or if the poor kid hadn’t spilled his ice cream and gotten dirty….but it was, and he did, and we survived. Ish.
And then there is the ugly. That one moment (at which I did NOT whip out the camera!) when the kids were hot, tired, and whining, a certain husband (who shall remain nameless) was well beyond the limits of patience, and the ugly little thought creeped into my head, “if they’re all determined to be miserable, let them! Just keep walking and let HIM deal with it….” *cringe*
No, I did NOT abandon my husband with four whining kids and go back to the resort for a swim…but I did seriously consider it!
Yep! Not unfamiliar with any of those situations. Really makes one dream of a day alone in the parks, doesn’t it?
Maybe just a little! 😉
Yes- one particular ASG meltdown in the middle of the old Lion King attraction still raises the hairs on my neck when I think about it. Luckily, most of the other memories drown it out!
Aww Bless you for not abandoning him! I know I might have been tempted to do the same in the same situation! That’s so cool about Jack Sparrow! I love seeing kids faces in moments like that! 🙂
I love that I snapped the photo at just the right moment, when their feet literally weren’t touching the ground!
you negleted to mention that we had jsut finished rideing the pirates of the carabian ride when we came accross jack…we literaly walked out of the rides exit and into his show.
There was also th e ugly of ASD kid and two yearold both wanting the rental stroller (the very nice castmember came ot our rescue and gave let us take a second stroller at no charge)
That’s right, I forgot about that! (the coincidence of the ride, not the fight over the stroller. You’re right, that was verging on the ugly too.)
I completely understand (well not 4 kids then I’m one of 4 so ya I understaand that too from a kids viewpoint)
I have 2 non-verbal austic myself
I sat down in Epcot & cried because of Hot, tired & nameless
I’ve had a moment of thinking about ditching the hubby too. The things we go through… hehehe.
Thanks for sharing this moment! I am hopping by on the Blog Hop and enjoyed you post!
I have read many “UGLY” posts today, and I’m glad we’ve all “survived.ish” (love that)
I JUST got my post up! Hope you’ll stop by! http://tinyurl.com/3qhox22
I can only try to understand how hard it must be to visit the parks with your kids & trying to manage everything. I really admire you & other parents who take their kids with Autism & other disabilities to Disney. I know its never easy, but its something they’ll never forget.
Thank you Melissa! You’re right, it is something they will all remember forever. My 6 year old, who is my most severely autistic child, told me the other day “Mama, I like everything about Disney. Even the hotel rooms.” High praise indeed!
And actually, taking the kids to Disney WAS easy, in a way. It gave us parents the chance to relax and actually ENJOY our kids, instead of thinking of therapies and strategies and education, etc. We got to constantly tell them “yes!” For them, it was a whole week where they got to just be kids. The autism didn’t go away, but their differences didn’t seem so striking there.
what a great post! Thanks so much for sharing your good, bad and ugly! I appreciate your honestness (is that a word?!?!) with your family.