Disneyland Day 2

Monday January 28th

The park didn't open until 10 so we ate breakfast before heading to the park.  We had decided to run straight for Fantasyland when the gates open because for some reason Peter pan is the longest wait and we wanted to get there before a line started.  They open the gates at 9:30 but you must wait on Main Street until 10.  We ran/speed walked to Fantasyland.  We were one of the first to board the ride.  We soon found out that Max does not like dark rides.  He covered his eyes most of the time.

We went on Mr toads, Dumbo, King Arthur's Carousel and the Casey Jr Train.  We did have a Lunch reservation at the Blue Bayou so we headed that way.  4 of us got the Monte Cristo, Max ate Mac and cheese and Curtis got Shrimp Jambalaya.  We noticed the boats for Pirates of the Caribbean were empty and decided that would be our next ride.

We had little to no wait boarding.  Max closed his eyes a lot and Kendall was mad that he didn't get a good nap.

We had a fast pass for Indiana Jones but the boys are too short to ride so we split into two groups, Claire Grandpa and Grandma went first while we stayed close with the boys.  When they finished Claire, Max and Grandma took Kendall to get a corndog while Curtis and I took our turn on the ride and Grandpa bought a new hat and waited for us.

When we all met up again, Max was pulling Curtis to the Astro Orbiter.  As they were in flight, we spotted Mary poppins and Bert rush by.  We followed them to a street performance.  Max was on his dads shoulders and yelled, "I Love Mary Poppins!"  It was so cute!

The people in front of us left so we ended up with front row view.  Max got off the shoulders and soon was picked to be part of the show with three little girls.  They were all given Chimminy brooms to dance with.  After the brooms were gathered, Mary Poppins had all the helpers hold hands.  Max got to hold Bert's hand at the end of the line and used his other hand to wave to the crowed and he ran by yelling, "Hi!  Hi!"  The Adults cried a little at how great of a job Max had done.

After the show Curtis, Max, Grandma and Grandpa took a spin on Autotopia.

We took the long walk from tomorrowland to Critter country.  We met Tigger, Eeyor, and pooh Then went on the Winnie the Pooh ride.  Max was a little scared when we finished (another ride in the dark).

We decided to take a brake from the rides and go to the tiki room and get a pineapple dole whip.  Turns out the tiki room is a little scary but Kendall loved the treat.

The Golden Horseshoe was doing a special program to honor the original show there.  This was out only chance to see it so a few of us stood in line to get a seat while Claire and Grandma took Max on a boat ride.
We loved the show!  It was so funny, too bad it is only playing for another 2 weeks.

After the show grandma and grandpa were ready to go back to the hotel.  They were really nice and took Kendall with them.  He was getting really tired.

Curtis, Claire, Max and I went on Alice and Wonderland then the Matterhorn. Matterhorn was a wild single seat ride so i was a little worried about Max being alone so I sat behind him and held his hand the whole way.  He said the ride was "funny".  I'm not sure what that means but he didn't say scarry; then again he didn't want to go on it again.

The Soundsational parade was starting again so we got churro's and popcorn, then found a spot to watch from.  Max was so excited and danced through the whole thing. At the end we followed the parade to Main Street, then headed back to the hotel.

Another great day!

Disneyland Day 1

Curtis has been wanting to take Max to Disneyland for a long time now.  Max loves Disney!  He's not such a big fan of Pixar.  I'm not sure why that is. The next few posts will be our 5 days in Disneyland.

Our party of 7 (Curtis, Max, Kendall, Grandpa, Grandma, Claire and Me) arrived in Anaheim around 2 in the afternoon Sunday January 27th.  After a check-in at the hotel, we headed over to Disneyland.
As we entered the boys got to see Pinocchio, Pluto and Goofy.  Our first stop was the City Hall.  They gave us "First Disneyland Visit" pins for the two boys.  After that we headed down Main Street.

The first ride we stopped at was the Jungle Cruse.  Max loved the ride!  The adults were all entertained by our seasoned guide.  He was hilarious!

We walked through adventure land and spotted a "Princess and the Frog" street show."  Dad found us a great place to watch from.  Max got to sit on our shoulders.  He was so cute as he sang along and tried to dance from his seat.  When the show ended, the cast did a short parade and one of the dancers gave Max some Mardi Gras beads.  Max was enamored with Disneyland at this point.

Of course our next stop would only deepen his love for Disneyland; Choo Choo, here comes the train.
We loaded the train at New Orleans Square and headed to Fantasyland.  We headed to the restroom but when we came out Claire told us there was a parade coming   We ran down the hill to the roped off area to watch as all of Max and Kendall's cartoon friends waved to us.  There was Micky, Minnie, Pluto, goofy, The Three Caballeros, Lion King, Peter Pan, Hook, Tinkerbell, Aladdin, the genie  The Little Mermaid (Max and Kendall have not seen this movie yet), a whole lot of princesses: Snow White, Aurora, Rapunzel, Belle and Cinderella.  The Parade ended with Max's current Favorite character, Mary Poppins!

After the "Soundsational Parade" we went to Toontown to meet Goofy and Mickey Mouse.  The whole time Max just wanted to get back on the train so we headed there next.  We took the train back to New Orleans Square to pick up the strollers again.

We headed to critter country to eat at the Hungary Bear.  After Dinner Grandma was ready to head back to the hotel.  We all went back to get dressed warm for the World of Color show.  Grandma stayed with Kendall, but the rest of us went to California Adventure.  We had an hour before the show started so we went on Soarin over California.  Claire and I both got a little motion sick but Max, Curtis and Grandpa liked it.

When we arrived we talked to a cast member and let them know we got here late and there weren't any fast passes left for this show.  He was a really nice guy and made us his personal guest.  We got to sit in the front in the spot where you get wet.   We were ready, we had our rain coats on and you will need them if you sit here.  You don't get wet until the second half but you will get really wet during the pirates part.  It was a really great show.  Max loved the part with Wall-e.  Max was really sleepy with the time change we were already and hour past his bed time when the show started.

When we were leaving the park, we could see the fire works in Disneyland.  We stopped for a little while to watch but then headed back to the hotel cause Max was falling asleep.  We had a great first day in Disneyland!

It is official, We are going to Disneyland!  We are really excited and can't wait for all the adventures we'll have with the boys.  I have been doing research each day to see how to best handle Max and his needs.  So far we know to get the Guest Service Pass for him and to ask for a quiet place when he gets over stimulated.

I think I have read every blog post about Autistic experiences in the park.  The best part is each one said they had  a great experience and they were all planning on going back.  One parent said to take a recent photo of your child just in-case   I think we will take a photo every morning before we leave...then we will have the most recent and what they are wearing.  For those who don't know, Max is a runner.  We don't usually have a problem but you never know what could happen in a big place.

We have 2.5 adults to every kid so I think we'll all have a good time.

Any suggestions for fun things or must do's in Disneyland, please let me know!

Everybody wants to be a cat

Train Ride

 The long awaited day has arrived!  Tonight we headed to the Heber Valley Railroad for a pumpkin festival and a train ride.

 Our kids had so much fun!  They had a spooky train car parked to the side.  The kids were really nervous going though but it was mostly smoke, lights and some hanging sheets.  When we were through the kids were ready to go again.

 We each got to pick a pumpkin.  Max found a really good one and Kendall seemed happy with whatever we picked up.

 Max was so excited to get on the train, we had to pace back and forth until they would let us on.  We were totally the first to board.

 Kendall liked the train as long as we were moving.  He was a little restless when we were stopped.

Max was so happy!  he even let a girl paint a bat on his face.  Grandma, Grandpa, Kenton, Angie, Jeremiah, Isaac and Emma came too.  Right before we ported to get off, Curtis took Max to the dining cart to see what it looked like.  Turns out they were selling hot dogs.  We totally could have had dinner on the train.  Next time.

FREEDOM

Max and Kendall were busy playing and watching a movie so I thought it would be a good time to shower.  After a quick rinse I came to check on the boys only to find my front door wide open and no sign of the boys.  I couldn't run out in a bathrobe so I threw on some quick sweats and ran into the cul-de-sac screaming for Max.
Max usually heads for the school so I went in that direction.  Everyone who has been to our house knows we have a lady who sits on her porch ALL the time.  I asked her if she had seen two little boys about 4 and a year and a half.  She observed the empty neighborhood and then pointed up the street, "Those two?"
I looked up to see Max and Kendall running home with huge similes on their faces.
I was still shaking a half hour after the event.
I have no idea how long they had been outside.  There was a big semi at the end of the street dropping off shingles.  I guess they wanted to investigate.  I'm so glad Kendall stayed with Max.  When we go outside Kendall always goes straight for the road.
Thank goodness for quick answer to prayer and a neighborhood watchman.

Hay Ride

 For family night we thought it would be fun/festive to go to the big red barn in Santaquin.  They offer a hay ride out to the pumpkin patch where they have 2 big slides, a maze, a big sandbox and a lot of pumpkins.

 Max really loved our ride out and totally ditched us to get to the slide first.  He loved it!

 They had this fun old truck out in a field.  Max wanted to drive, but Kendall just wanted out.

 We found the maze (I'm sorry we didn't take any pictures of it).  It was made out of old wooden apple boxes.  Curtis and I could see over the top but the little boys had no idea.  Max lead the way.  It was amazing, he never missed a corner and took us all the way to the end without any mistakes.

 At the end if the maze, there was this tractor so Max climbed on.

 We were going to spend some time in the pumpkin patch, but as soon as Max saw the hay wagon he climbed on.

On the way back, they drove through the apple orchards.  It was beautiful!  I love spending this time with Max and Kendall....Curtis too.