Disney World: Part 1 - Sensory Seeking and ADHD

Disclaimer:  I owe you some posts.  Lots of posts.  I owe you the following posts (listing them so I will remember what I want to post on later): medications, occupational therapy and why we quit, 5th birthday party!, school updates, family counseling and attachment.  I'll get to them but first a series of fun posts.  About the greatest place on Earth.

We went to Disney World!  And survived!  And actually enjoyed every single minute of it!!!

So, a little back story before I start my series of posts about Disney World (cause it really is so fantastic that one post won't cover it all!).  I've always loved Disney World and I always sort of thought that I'd take M there when she turned 5.  The last 18 months or so kind of tarnished that dream - there was no way I was going to single-parent it all the way to Disney World with the diva.  No way.  However, when things started to get better this winter/spring, I started to think that maybe, just maybe, we could do it.  Since M's birthday is in March, I decided to surprise her with a trip to WDW.  We couldn't go ON her birthday because it's just too busy and crowded (and more expensive) around that time.  So I planned to surprise her on her birthday with a backpack full of "clues" to guess, etc.  She had been looking at my photo albums and books about WDW and loved to ask questions and talk about them.  But then, about 2-3 weeks before her birthday she started to tell me that she never wanted to go, "It looks really cool, Mom, but don't ever take me there."  Um, yeah.  Not good.  I tried to talk it up as much as possible and she always agreed that it is awesome but was adament she wasn't going.  Three days before her birthday, I decided I had better tell her at home so we didn't ruin her birthday party.  That was a wise decision (score one point for Mommy!).  She hyperventilated, almost threw up, and absolutely refused to go.  She told me to give the money back, go by myself, and even told me to take another kid with me!  By the end of the night, I had her convinced to go for just one day and then decide if she wanted to stay longer (nothing like pressure for a fantastic first day, huh?).

I was so apprehensive (but excited) about going.  I was worried about sensory overload, tantrums, meltdowns, etc. etc. etc.  M was worried about character encounters (she is petrified of people dressed up in costumes) and just has an overall aversion to anything new.

In preparation, I decided to keep our plans very loose.  Other than some dinner reservations that we made daily, we were not going to schedule anything nor were we going to be on a "must see, have to do" kind of game plan.  We would just plan our day, literally, as we went (so so hard for this Type A mommy!).  One thing I was worried about was the possibility of us getting separated.  I mean, we have this problem in Wal-Mart so I was really worried about Disney World.  I was also worried (I'm a worry-wort, in case you haven't figured that out yet) about the possibility of something happening to me and then M would be hundreds of miles from home alone.  Luckily, we have a great friend (fellow adopter) who lives in the Disney area and agreed to be our "emergency" contact locally.  So I made up ID cards for both of us with various phone numbers on them and also included our pix.  I had M practice her "I'm lost" speech before we went.  It was pretty hilarious - "Hi, my name is M and I've lost my mommy.  Here is her phone number (M knows her # but she might not remember it if upset), please call her.  This is her picture - she's pink, I'm brown."  She even explained to someone on the bus one day that she had a picture of her mommy with her in case she got lost because "they might not know to look for a pink mommy if a brown girl is lost."  Thankfully, this was never an issue.  We got separated a couple times in the crowd but I could always see her, she just wasn't tall enough to see me - these brief moments of OMG were enough to keep her close.

I think she was more excited about the plane ride than the trip.  She insisted she needed a window seat and she told everyone she came across about the plane.  We had a long talk before we left about security procedures (like needing to put her lovey on the conveyor belt) and where our suitcases would go when we checked them.  She handled it like a pro and was even mad that she didn't have to take her shoes off like I had prepped her.

I had been told ahead of time, and researched it myself, about something called a Guest Access Card (GAC).  These are given to people that need special assistance due to a variety of conditions - obviously, things like wheelchairs and physical handicaps are included but they also recognize the needs of ADHD, sensory processing, and autism.  You just need to be prepared to tell them what sort of accommodations you require.  They do not require a doctor's note but it helps.  We did not pursue this option, although I left it open as a possibility throughout the week.  Things that can be accommodated in relation to our diagnoses are shorter waiting lines (usually they just send you through the fast pass line), quieter waiting areas away from crowds, and special entrances that are less sensory-overwhelming.

We did adjust her medication while on vacation from twice a day to three times a day.  We skipped naps and medicated mid-afternoon.  There was never any issue with rebound hyperactivity nor did we seem to have any problems with excessive fatigue from skipping naps.

I was really surprised by M all week.  She was a rock star!  I was so worried about her being overwhelmed but Disney World is a sensory-seeker's delight.  She loved it!  There were always colors, sights, smells, sounds, tastes to fill up her sensory bucket.  She was so satisfied (sensory speaking) that she behaved SO awesomely.  She never minded waiting in lines - we went at a good time, so lines were pretty minimal - and never minded going going going.  So happy!

Her favorite rides were the outdoor ones.  She was more hesitant about the inside ones and I was surprised at just how many of the rides have dark portions.  Even if it was just a dark moment or two before the ride actually began, I didn't remember this from my trips until I was with a kid that's afraid of the dark.  She even rode a roller-coaster (Goofy's Barnstormer) twice the very first day we were there.  She actually asked me if she was tall enough, I wasn't even going to suggest it.  I thought it looked a little scary - one of the few rides that you can see all of since it's outside - but I'm guessing being able to see all of it and know there were no surprises is what gave her the courage to do it.

She loved any ride that went in a circle (Dumbo, Aladdin, Astro Orbitor, Triceratops Spin, Carousel) and she absolutely LOVED the Teacups.  We rode several times and she would beg me to go "faster, Mommy, faster" and then she'd sit back and just relax completely.  Not sure how you can be completely relaxed when the whole world is spinning violently out of control but what can I say, she's a seeker!

This picture below is one of my favs.  The crowds were so low that we walked onto the Aladdin ride 3 times in a row with no wait.  I got my timing down and was able to line her up to get squirted by the camel on the 3rd time.  She shrieked in delight and I had my camera ready!

I mentioned before that she does not really like the dark.  She really did not enjoy the Jungle Cruise.  First, she took everything the tour guide said very literally.  And if you've ridden this one, you know that the tour guides make it a point to make a million puns about shruken heads, never returning, getting lost in the jungle, etc. 
I find it interesting that every time she goes into the dark, she covers her ears.  I don't know if she's worried that because it's dark, there is going to be a surprise that is potentially noisy or if she is covering up one sense to help her focus on another.

One of the reasons she was so fearful about Disney World was the characters.  I tried to convince her that #1 - the characters don't just walk around aimlessly (anymore), you have to actually seek them out, and #2 - that the characters (and everyone at Disney) want to make your day so special that they can tell just by looking at you whether they should get close.  We also talked about the fact that, if she did see a character that was scary (like Hook), it would be just fine to run away.

The very first 5 minutes that we were at the Magic Kingdom, she saw Chip & Dale and started shaking and begging to be taken home, "all the way home, not just the hotel".  We practiced our "run away" and all was okay.  The next day, she saw Pluto from behind, about 50 feet away.  We again practiced our running away.  She finally, mid-day, got up the courage to get in line to see Woody from Toy Story.  She lasted about 5 minutes in line and started hyperventilating.  So we left.  I was starting to get really worried at that point because we had dinner reservations that afternoon for a character dinner (I figured she'd be over her fear by then) and it wasn't looking so good.

Then, all of a sudden, we happened upon Donald.  It was a short line in an area that was relatively quiet and M just jumped in line and asked for her autograph book.  She almost backed out when it was her turn but she braved up and DID IT!  I was almost crying.  It was my proudest mommy moment yet!  (I had quite a few during our vacation!!).

We went on to meet many, many characters; we became character stalkers before the week was over.  She was still hesitant after Donald; she started crying on the porch of the Crystal Palace before we went in to eat with the Pooh characters (more pix later in another post), but the older waitress that we had took her by the hand and told her she was a big girl and needed to come on in.  And she did!  It was all better after that.

Our first parade was an interesting affair.  She was so excited and waited patiently but then realized it was full of characters.  She almost killed me trying to claw her way out of the area.  But she managed to get herself together and sort-of enjoyed the first parade.  After that one, parades were awesome affairs.

She also had a fear of one of the shows in front of the Castle as it had 4 short bursts of fireworks in  it (she hates fireworks - we never stayed at any of the parks late enough to see them).  We watched it 3 times from the side until finally, on our last day, she got up the courage to watch it from the front.

One of my strategies for the week was (non)planning our downtime.  Since we went off-season and got a discount on our accommodations, I upgraded to one of the moderate resorts.  I wanted a place that was truly relaxing to come back to after all the sensory overload.  We picked the Caribbean Beach Resort since we love the beach so much.  It was perfect for us and I'll post more on it later! 

We spent every evening at the pool, the beach, or dancing at the food court.

I love her intensity as she watches Disney Channel Rocks show...she ended up getting up and dancing with them!

When we went to Epcot, I (finally) allowed M to get her face painted.  I have nothing against face painting, it's just that she always seemed to find the booth at the end of the day when we were heading back to go swimming.  She found it early in the morning at Epcot and picked out a fairy face.  I can't stand anything on my face but she loved it.  Never messed with it and protected it all day.  Isn't she beautiful?

We loved the Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot.  Seems like we were the only ones that headed that way and had the place to ourselves.  Such a hidden gem!  The Pixie Hollow Gardens (Tinkerbell!) were completely empty and so quiet.  They give the kids a sheet to go around and rub etchings of the characters' signatures.  When they find them all, they are rewarded with a sheet of fairy stickers.  This was such a fun activity!!

The butterfly house was nearby and, again, empty.  It was so beautiful and had that wonderful mix of quiet calmness but stimulating to the visual senses.

Sometimes even fairies need a break!  I stayed very in-tune to M all week - probably why things went so well - and if she started to get the least bit grumpy, we found a patch of shade and I forced her to have a snack and some water.  The only argument we had all week was surrounding food; she just wasn't interested in eating all week.

I had many people suggest strollers to us.  Take one with you, take ours with you, rent one, buy one when you get there, etc. etc. etc.  I kept that option open but M has never been much of a stroller person.  It never became an issue.  She would start the morning running to the bus stop and would still be running at the end of the day.  She never once complained about walking or being tired.  The only time she ever asked me to hold her was when we were just standing and waiting in line.  (And I was secretly very glad because I did not want the nuisance of a stroller).

Forced break time!

M needs a high volume of physical activity daily to keep her sane.  I was worried that this would be an issue, despite the walking we did.  It was not.  I completely underestimated the amount of pool time we would have and I didn't know about all the fun activities there were to do in the parks.  Every day, there was some kind of dance party.  While we were waiting on one parade to start, they brought out a zillion hula-hoops for the kids.  It was just right.  Everything about Disney is just right.  They really know what kiddos need and when.

M, hot and sweaty and very happy, after dancing at the Move It, Shake It Dance Party.

The last day was the only day that M fell asleep on the way back to the hotel.  It took 6 full days to get her exhausted!!  But after a 15 minute power nap, she was up and ready to hit the pool!

Our plane ride home was late at night.  She is usually in bed before we even boarded the plane.  I expected her to sleep all the way home and was worried about carrying her and both backpacks through the airport.  I didn't need to worry, she saw the awesome lights outside after take-off and was wide awake, running through the airport at 10:30 pm after landing.  It was a great, cooperative end to a wonderful week.

More posts coming soon - posts about characters, our resort, the parks, and eating gluten-free at Disney.