Disney Revisited

Last week I wrote about my family’s first vacation ever, which happened to take place in Disney World. I spoke briefly about our experiences there, and talked mostly about Disney’s new Disability Service Access Card (DAS card), and how the system needs to be improved to accommodate all families with children with special needs. As I indicated last week, the new program worked for us. I am certain however it would now preclude some families with autistic children from taking a trip to Disney, or would simply make it prohibitively difficult to attend.

          I’d like to share with you that I did eventually get off “hold”  with the corporation and was able to speak to a live person, who actually listened to my concerns, took my suggestions, and indicated the possibility (again, I stress the possibility) of accommodations being made in the new year on a case by case basis. I’m not sure if this will come to pass, but my fingers are crossed, and yes, I’ll be calling them back down the road (squeaky wheel and all that jazz…).

          So, while I wrote a lot about the new disability program last week I didn’t tell all of you much about our trip or share photos (trying to keep the kids alive is not conducive to picture-taking, had to wait for my sister-in-law’s fabulous zip file). I just want to go on record as saying I have never been more proud of my eldest son, who unfortunately caught a bug the day we left for Florida, but was a trooper none-the-less.

          This same ten-year-old child who had never flown before and has spent a total of three nights away from his bed in the last seven years flew the friendly skies like a champ, and slept through four consecutive nights (a fact for which his mother is eternally grateful). Although it was quite clear he wanted to go home (grabbing my face frequently and saying his approximation of the word was a good clue) he hung in there, and when he began to feel better he clearly liked the rides, and even enjoyed a few of the attractions.

          I’ll admit, he seemed the happiest on the morning I started packing, but I’m hopeful that now he has Disney in his “repertoire” he may enjoy it more when we go back, which I hope to do in a year or two. Justin was basically out of his comfort zone for five straight days, which for him is an incredibly stressful situation. He was so brave, and I’m so grateful he was, for this enabled our family to truly partake in the magic that is Disney.

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