Disney

[Guest guest]

My folks work at Disney seasonally, and we live in Tampa, so we go often. We've

figured out the way to maximize the " fast pass " system. You get a fast pass for

a ride, it typically will be more than an hour for your assigned time. You can't

get another fast pass for an hour, so you spend the hour near your next choice

(not all rides are fast pass so you can ride in between). Then you get your

second pass just before you go on the first pass ride. Then it works out to be

around an hour between the good rides, with time in between for other things. If

it is really crowded, then it is longer, but it works well and you can ride more

rides this way. End of August and September is one of the least crowded times.

My dad has the whole system worked out with proximity to other rides and things.

" You get a pass for Space Mountain, then right before your time, you get Buzz

Lightyear, it's right near by. " He has it all worked out. And he loves it when

we get lots of rides. " Let me tell you how to work this park " Gotta love him.

We went in the height of the onset of OCD and it was a little difficult, but

mostly fun. We didn't ride many of Ben's old favorites. He was suddenly scared

of them. But we enjoyed other things he didn't like before that.

Have fun! We love Disney. Oh, we brought a Gameboy for the lines. My mom got him

a Disney themed game and he liked that. We also got one of those stroller things

(big kids sit in them too, keeps them from getting tired) It helped him move

through the crowds without freaking out. And keeps them from getting tired. They

are big and kids up to probably 10yo sit in them.

OH! Also, if your kids are older, get the book " Hidden Mickeys " There are Mickey

heads hidden all over the parks, put there by the artists and designers. This

can keep them busy looking for Hidden Mickeys, and distracted if needed. When

Ben would get anxious, we would say " look for hidden mickeys " it calmed him down

and focused him on something else. The book tells you where some of them are,

the general area, you get a clue and then have to find it. It is a lot of fun.

You'll be seeing hidden Mickeys everywhere. There are also websites.

Another tip, we give Ben a map and he tracks up, another good distraction. Have

fun!! He also pin trades.

J

Re: Parental stress during treatmment

In a message dated 8/10/2006 11:28:14 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,

autumn71A@... writes:

disney

allows special accomodations such as waiting in a separate place - not

skipping lines

Eileen

Disney also offers 'reservations' for rides (not sure if it's all rides, or

just the big ones), but that might help you out a few times at least. You

can go in advance to, say, Haunted Mansion & get a reservation ticket for a

specific time to go on the ride - then you go do other things, come back at

your

specified time and just basically walk right on the ride - or the wait is

only a few people in front of you while the regular line could be an hour or

longer wait.

This is something they started after the last time I was at any Disney

park.... but my friends go all the time & say this feature is great. Like I

said,

at least it might help a few times. You can only use it on one ride at a

time though.

Have fun.... we're going for 4 days in August as well.

LT