A Remarkable Day at the Magic Kingdom

[lokheed]

Today's visit went as follows:

• Parked, took the tram, then took the monorail
• Stopped and used the bathroom on Main Street next to City Hall
• Snow White, 3 times
• WALKED THROUGH FRONTIERLAND
• TOOK THE TRAIN FROM FRONTIERLAND TO TOON TOWN
• WALKED THE QUIET PATH FROM TOON TOWN TO SPACE MOUNTAIN
• Got fries at Cosmic Ray's
• Snow White, 3 times
• WENT ON PETER PAN'S FLIGHT
• Snow White, 3 times
• Bathroom break
• Snow White, 3 times
• Winnie the Pooh
• Stopped for more juice
• Snow White, 3 times
• Mickey's Philharmagic
• Snow White, 3 times
• Visited the art store in the castle
• Snow White, 3 times

He would have stayed in the park longer, but by then it was 8:30, and honestly twenty one times on Snow White was probably enough for one day. The whole time we were in the park he was as happy as could be. He was running, skipping, hopping, jumping, dancing.... I just can't imagine him any happier than he was today. He was understandably nervous during the walk through Frontierland and during the wait for the train, but I just kept talking to him and telling him how well he was doing and how brave he was, going to a different place in the park. He never went over the line to being actively upset, although he teetered on the edge for a bit. Once the train was moving he was ok, and he seemed to like that back pathway from Toon Town to Tomorrowland because there were so few people there and it was quiet.  I honestly can't remember the last time he set foot in Frontierland or in Toon Town.  I also can't remember the last time he went on Peter Pan's Flight.  As for the other rides, it used to be like pulling teeth to get him to go anywhere besides Snow White but lately all it has taken is a suggestion that we "go visit Pooh and Tigger" or "go see Mickey's Magic".  His Snow White addiction persists as strongly as ever, but at least he seems to be slowly realizing that there are other fun things to do in the park.

The last time we were on Snow White, one of the managers from Tomorrowland gave him another present* - one of those scepter things that lights up and spins (not the stringy, spinny things but the ones where there is a sphere with lights on it that spins when you press the button). Ben said thank you with a little bit of prompting.

He's winding down now, and has been yawning for the last hour. I expect he'll be asleep shortly.

* The first present:  Last Wednesday when we were in the park, one of the Tomorrowland managers recognized Ben, and asked if Ben had gotten his pictures yet.  I had no idea what he was talking about, so the manager told me that one of the cast members had told him about Ben, and that they wanted to do something special for him.  He had me write down Ben's name and address for him.  A few days ago, Ben got something in the mail from Snow White.  It was two autographed pictures.  The first is a photo of Snow White in front of the castle, and it is signed "To Prince Ben, Love Snow White".  The second is a photo of Snow White with the Seven Dwarfs, and it is autographed by all of the dwarfs.  I framed both photos yesterday so that Ben wouldn't damage them, and he has them with him right now sitting next to him while he watches tapes.