Disneyland

It was about 18 years ago when we last visited Disneyland. Jonathon was three at the time and had just been diagnosed with autism. We were in that stage when the diagnosis is so new that it sounded awkward, uncomfortable, coming out of our mouths. We knew it was true, but speaking it released it for the rest of the world to know. Saying that word, autism, somehow made it even more real.  

We were struggling with Jonathon’s behavior; trying to enjoy our visit. I thought he’d like the submarine ride so we embarked for our underwater voyage. We didn’t even get submerged before we had to have the ride pulled back up to the surface so we could disembark. I broke down in tears. Here we were in the “happiest place on earth” and our family didn’t fit.

Fast forward 18 years. We’ve planned our first family vacation EVER!  Tim and I are hopeful that our family has reached the point of being able to go back to Disneyland and be a part of the Disney celebration… hopefully anyway.

The morning started out a bit rough. I pulled Jonathon aside and reminded him that his job was to “handle it.” Handle it, are the words he has chosen to use when he needs to be patient and calm. Once on the shuttle headed to Disneyland he settled down.

Our first ride was of course, Pirates of the Caribbean. Jonathon has been talking about that ride for as long as we’ve been saving for this trip… a couple of years! He was in complete awe! He sat through the ride and was completely still and quiet, studying it, taking it all in. Each new ride was better than watching him open a gift. His world, the world of his movies was coming to life for him and we got to share those moments with him.

Tim and I sat together on one of the rides with Lindsey and Jonathon ahead of us. Tim and I visited about how far we’ve come as a family… the wave of emotions that hit me was overwhelming and I found myself in tears, but this time for a very different reason. We moved from ride to ride, we sat and had lunch, we shopped, we did everything all the other families were doing… and it was absolutely wonderful!