We were so incredibly lucky to get to join Grandma Janie and Papa Dave, along with Aunt Shelly and cousin Sam, to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary in Disneyland in November. We spent 5 full days at the park and stayed right there at the Disneyland hotel. It was just marvelous. It was definitely a longer time in Disneyland than we would have ever sprung for on our own, but it was so, so worth it and I'm so very thankful.
I had heard that Disneyland was really great for people with disabilities, but I had no idea. Our only other theme park experience with Keira had been at Legoland 2 years ago, where they had very few rides, but the one that she could go on, they made us hold her up in front of the measuring stick to see if she was "tall enough," before ultimately having to call a manager.
After checking in at guest services, we got a special access pass that was good for everyone that was with Keira, allowing us to bypass many lines. But it didn't stop there. EVERYONE was so helpful and accommodating. There were people at the beginning and end of every ride to answer questions, tell us what to do with our wheelchair, etc. Keira was able to go on many of the rides. She either rode in our lap or, on a few of the rides, the whole chair could go on. As we've seen before, Keira really enjoys being outdoors and being with the whole family. But we think she really enjoyed Disneyland for all of the lights and sounds and smells that were new. Her favorite ride was probably the monorail between the hotel and the park.
The beauty of being at the parks for the better part of the week was that we didn't feel hurried to "get it all in." We could go to the parks for a couple of hours in the morning, then go back to the hotel, swim, nap, and return to the parks for a bit in the evenings. This also helped us bypass the heat, which was up to 100 while we were there!
It was just so fun to be somewhere where we ALL could have fun and Keira didn't seem to be an anomaly or hassle for anybody there. They were so completely inclusive and accommodating that I could consider forgiving them for the amount of money they charge for the experience. It was truly magical. Such a fun, fun way to spend Thanksgiving. It was truly a vacation for all of us. I believe it was the happiest place on earth. My mommy heart was overflowing.
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