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dm24angel
Happiness
Member since 5/05 34581 total posts
Name:
Donna
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Back from Disney World
and it was a disaster for Noah 
Byt Day 3 I was almost in tears every time he melted down b/c he was so miserable, and yet you could kinda see inside he was trying SO hard to have fun. He did have his moments. He loved meeting the characters ( most anyway) ...but he clung to daddy the entire time which was hard as we had 2 other kids to deal with and he was bothered a lot by the noise, and if one little thing upset him he would lose it so bad. He didnt want to do anything anyone else wanted to do at all, no compromise, no bribing worked. Things that should have made him happy didnt, and he was so tired if was impossible to get him up everyday , makign things worse.
And he ate nothing but 2 hotdogs all vacation. Something he normally doesnt eat but clung to. I lie, he ate snacks, lollipops and junk food which we let him have as sustainment b/c he needed 'something'...but no doubt the sugar and the dyes and additivies exacerbatted his issues.
I was and am a bit sad. In all the pictures he is smiling, but I know how hard it was on us all and I was mid way through angry at him for not enjoying it.
I just wish I understood how to help him more.
We did get the special guest assistance pass to bypass some lines and it was a godsend. We never made it to many rides or shows without it, he couldnt make it,.but it really really was such a help and I thank God Disney has it offered.
It is almost like his expectations for things are sooo huge and if they are not met perfectly he cant handle it.
anyway, thanks for letting me vent once again.
We did have a good time regrdless and I hope he has happy memories of it in the end.
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Posted 2/15/12 11:59 AM  |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15657 total posts
Name:
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Re: Back from Disney World
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| Posted 2/15/12 1:41 PM |
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EricaAlt
LIF Adult
Member since 7/08 22665 total posts
Name:
Erica
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Re: Back from Disney World
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| Posted 2/15/12 1:47 PM |
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LoveBeingMrsT
Love my Boys!
Member since 12/05 4648 total posts
Name:
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Re: Back from Disney World
ment to fm
Message edited 2/15/2012 2:21:23 PM.
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| Posted 2/15/12 2:20 PM |
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Re: Back from Disney World
I understand 10000%. We went through the exact same issues with Ava when we took her at 3 and even more so at 5. We went again last year at 6 1/2 and it was better, not great. The last visit, my Mom came instead of DH. He couldn't do it any more. Like you said, it is too hard to watch at times. To see a child struggle at the "happiest place on earth" is heartbreaking.
I agree, the pass helps a lot. My DD ate nothing as well. I brought a case of Horizon Organic Vanilla Milk and Pirates Booty from home. This was all she ate and drank.
Why do I continue to do these types of trips when it is soooo tough? Because I love my kid and I want her to have as normal of a life as possible. It's not always pretty, but it's our life.
You are a great Mother, so keep on doing what you are doing. He will surprise you in a few months or even a few years when he brings up a happy memory of his own from that trip.
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| Posted 2/15/12 5:23 PM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Back from Disney World
aaaww! Sorry it did not go smoothier! It is a bit overwhelming though. Stimulation overload.
Took 1 week for DS to "calm down".
The pass is a life savior. I can't even imagine going without it.
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| Posted 2/15/12 6:33 PM |
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Diane
Hope is Contagious....catch it
Member since 5/05 30683 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: Back from Disney World
so sorry it wasnt good
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| Posted 2/15/12 6:40 PM |
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whyteach
LIF Adult
Member since 8/06 2697 total posts
Name:
Christina
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Re: Back from Disney World
We brought our daughter 4 and our 9 month old with my parents, sister and her husband last July. The pass was a godsend and I commend Disney for having it. I know most of the vacation was a struggle for her. She went on most of the rides but I think she would have been perfectly happy just sitting by the pool for 5 days. Disney is an exhausting and over stimulating vacation for a typical child.. Throw a child on the spectrum in there......
In any case, think of the moments your child surprised you like enjoying the characters. I know my daughter went on a hell of a lt more rides than I thought she would have. Like another poster said..... We want the best for our kids.
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| Posted 2/15/12 9:33 PM |
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sapphire
LIF Adolescent
Member since 6/06 568 total posts
Name:
Elizabeth
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Re: Back from Disney World
Even though the stimulation may have been a bit of an overload for him, he will probably remember nothing but the positives from the trip.
My mother still tells me how I was hysterical over meeting Goofy when I was like 3 years old. I don't recall that trauma, :)
We just went to Disney as well, and as a parent with three little kids just like you, it's really hard work. Each child needs different things at different moments.
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| Posted 2/15/12 10:45 PM |
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: Back from Disney World
My DS had his moments, but he does talk about it sometimes and mentions the things he loved - the Halloween party and the monorail most often. I know it was tough for you, but I am sure he has some fun memories - they don't see it through our lens, KWIM?
Eating was kind of a nightmare for us, too. He lived on Goldfish, applesauce and Ritz crackers. Whenever we could get pizza at the park, we did. We even sprung for room service one night, just to get pizza for him.
Something only you special need moms will truly appreciate - I was sitting in the Magic Kingdom one afternoon and saw this guy with a sleeve of Ritz crackers at the next table. We ran out of all the stuff we brought with us that DS would eat and he was cranky. I told DH - "tell that guy you'll give him 10 bucks for the Ritz." DH wouldn't do it, and luckily DS never saw them. 
Message edited 2/16/2012 10:02:28 AM.
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| Posted 2/16/12 10:00 AM |
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cjik
Welcome 2010!
Member since 2/06 8879 total posts
Name:
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Re: Back from Disney World
Posted by sapphire
Even though the stimulation may have been a bit of an overload for him, he will probably remember nothing but the positives from the trip.
I completely understand how you feel. DS has a hard time with any vacation--he likes some of it, but a lot of it is hard for him, and I think most of it is just facing the unknown, being in a different place, having different routines. But I do think it's good for him to have these experiences.
We haven't been to Disney yet, but I remember when we went to the Bronx Zoo last June. It was the week school ended, and it was pay what you want day, so the place was beyond PACKED. Overwhelming for me, and it was hard for DS. It was good we had his stroller, he would jump in it and pull the canopy over him, almost making his own cocoon! But now, he remembers it fondly and asks when we can go again. DH and I haven't fully recovered though!
I don't know about you, but I always feel as if DSs differences are more glaring on vacation, so I wind up feeling sort of bad that he isn't able to enjoy these things just like all the typical kids. But this is my baggage really--if I open my eyes and look around I see lots of kids having meltdowns, acting badly, or just doing unusual things. And many of them probably are typical.
So I agree with Sapphire--he will probably have wonderful memories. Sorry it wasn't as good as you hoped though.
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| Posted 2/17/12 7:15 PM |
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