maroo
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2008
*** I am copying this from my TR...***
But this next post is basically the best moment of the whole trip for Baker and his family and they have had some GREAT moments!
Something I worried about as we were planning was how to get Baker to meet Mickey Mouse. At the time of this trip, there was no such thing as a FastPass to meet Mickey. And I really wanted Baker to have some time to spend with Mickey that was sorta private but not with a bunch of people having to wait on him. There was really no way to make that happen
After we finished eating at 50's - we decide it may be a good time to try to find Mickey Mouse since Baker has taken to talking in sentences and such, we figured it would be really cool to give him the biggest reward and let him meet his HERO, Mickey!
The line for Mickey - regardless of the time of day or the time of year - is pretty much always packed with families
So imagine my shock and amazement to see only two families in the line! We were SOOOOO excited!
Even this short wait is a little much for Baker he really wants to get over there to meet his hero!
His Mom kinda has to hold him back in line.
We had been talking to the CM's in line - and both of them really were apologizing because they really hate to make severely autistic kids wait - they even tell us that they are working on a system where these kids can wait in an alternate area, which would be really cool!
Anyway it was finally Baker's turn when the character handler announces that it is time for Mickey to go get some water or a snack or something! Oh no! Seriously? What is Baker going to do when he sees Mickey walk out the door?! EEK!
But Mickey shakes his head - No No. And points to Baker. Doh! Mickey just told those folks he is staying out here and wants to meet Baker!
The first part of the meeting, Baker didn't really get into it Makes me wonder what was going through his head. Mickey really had to work at this
And Baker finally looked at him but not really for very long and Baker didn't really connect ..
We tried the group picture thing which never really works very well.
So Baker got back in his wheelchair
And was ready to move on to something else
But Mickey was not done with Baker!
Mickey was AMAZING ..
Mickey got right in his face and Mickey went the extra 10 miles to connect with Baker!!
And the magic just happened!!!
I will let the pictures tell this story....
It was SOOOOO awesome! Every bit as cool as it looked!
Mickey was AMAZING!!!!! The whole thing seemed like it went in slow motion And Mickey was supposed to be on break forever ago!
Mickey staying back to meet Baker was so very special to me. I know the "rules" I am sure Mickey was supposed to go backstage when he was told but he saw the BIG picture and ignored the rules and created a memory for his family that they will never forget! And I know I won't forget! And now many you will remember it, too!
I just want to point out a few things in these pictures ..sorry for the repeats
But in this picture Look at his Dad's face behind him Just joy and amazement! So cool!!
Every time I see this picture, it just makes me want to cry I love the look on Baker's face but I also LOVE the look on Sarah's face! She is so happy for Baker!
And...I love the lady we don't know in the background of this picture
I sometimes feel bad for the families that have to wait for a character interaction with someone I am with a wish family or autism or severely disabled...that is making that character interaction take longer than most typical families. And I feel bad for the typical families having to wait But then I catch the background of a picture like this and I realize that some of those people waiting are getting just as much out of watching this amazing encounter unfold as we are!
And I am reminded that all of us, I guess - at Disney, and in our regular lives - would benefit so much from worrying less about how long we were waiting in lines and focus more on the cool things going on around us If I could just remember that the next time I get in the slowest line in the whole grocery store to look around me what cool things can I see while I wait.