Disney

What is it about Disney that make us want to torture ourselves with a grueling twelve hour car trip only to arrive at our destination to spend the next five days marathoning throughout every tourist attraction in a 100 mile radius? Add on top of that an autistic child for whom "the happiest place on earth" is more likely "the most horrific place on earth". Disneyland with its massive crowds, flashing lights, loud noises, and darkened rides is my son's worst nightmare. And yet we spent thousands of dollars to, more or less, torture our child. Disney is great about accommodating our specific needs. They provide us with a pass that allows us faster access onto every ride in the park. This is a huge blessing, but I am not sure if it is for our benefit or for the other guests. Imagine having to stand in line for an hour next to a child who is screeching (in a pitch that seems inhumanly possible) with arms and legs flailing uncontrollably, and very possibly soiling himself due to the stress. Yes, you heard me right. Sounds fun, huh. But this last vacation it turned out that the lines were not the most stressful parts of his experience. Almost every ride he went on caused him to scream out over and over, "Want to get off now, want to get off now!" He did enjoy "It's a small world". That ride is an autistic's paradise. The rocking motion of the boat, the bright colors, the spinning dolls, the same song repeated over and over and over and over. It is everything that Daegan loves, all rolled into one fifty minute ride. I swear that ride got longer and longer every time we rode it, however I must admit that seeing Daegan happy for the first time in days caused it to rise to the top of my favorites as well.