by Sarah | Jun 20, 2019 | All About Denver, All About Erik, All About Family, All About Kennedy, All About Me, All About Molly, All of Us, Blogging Life, Disney, Disney Mom, Florida Dreaming, Make-A-Wish, Redefining Perfect, Universal, Universal Studios Mom
Our road to Disney and Universal was not paved with flowers and sunshine. That goes without saying. I could go into logistics about Make A Wish’s former CF rules, refusals, and hope coming our way again, but that’s another story for another blog post. Suffice it to say, it was a bumpy, long road…until it wasn’t.
When the time came for us to approach the kids and say they were getting wishes, and to ask what they wanted, both of them thought pretty hard. I, myself, hoped for Disney, but didn’t push either of them in that direction. I did mention to the obsessed-with-Harry-Potter Kennedy that there was this magical place called Diagon Alley at Universal Studios, but we discussed other options. Things like trips in an RV, remodeling the bedroom were discussed among others.
When the day came, the wonderful Wish Granters asked the kids what they wanted.
Kennedy said, “I want to see Harry Potter World!” (It was only then that I learned when you wish for one FL theme park, you get both) I was not upset by this declaration.
From that moment everything flew by in an instant. Before any of us knew it, we were in the limo and on the plane for Florida.
Months of planning, talking, anticipation all came down to that one moment…
You know the one…
The one where we stepped through the brick passage and onto Diagon Alley.
Every moment after when Kennedy’s face looking like this —->>
Excitement. Spotting everything left and right, pointing out everything.
When Ollivander selected her and her sister (believing them twins, methinks) to get their own matching wands.
When she saw, and felt, the dragon breathe fire down on us.
When she sat in the sidecar (look how tiny, my goodness).
Every moment in Diagon Alley that day was so much magic we could have gone home right then and never complained a moment that it wasn’t worth it.
To see K become completely immersed into the world we both loved so much.
Every single second was one I wanted to bottle and hold onto.
That was the moment I knew magic was real.
And the look on her face made every struggle that led us up to and through the brick passage way was worth it.
So damn worth it.
by Sarah | Jan 31, 2019 | All About Family, All About Kennedy, All About Molly, All of Us, Blogging Life, Disney, Disney Mom, DisneyTips, Florida Dreaming, Make-A-Wish, Redefining Perfect, Universal, Universal Studios Mom
So many times people think Molly and Kennedy are ACTUAL twins instead of Irish twins.
Oftentimes they (and I) have found it rather annoying…
Then…then…then…
You go on a trip to Disney/Universal for the youngest’s Wish.
Because Kennedy is SO in love with the Harry Potter books/movies/everything your very first stop on your very first day is none other than Ollivander’s so you can beat the crowds you’d heard were so crazy and have a chance at your little one getting the most awesome treat of being picked by Ollivander to get her very own wand.
It truly was our first day so we had no idea the true meaning of the magic of our Make-A-Wish badges and buttons…but within the walls of Ollivander’s Wand shop we learned quickly.
We also learned that it can be a good thing that people think Molly and Kennedy are actual twins…
Because when Ollivander selected those that would get their wands –
He picked Kennedy AND Molly.
(Here is where I would insert the video if it was not such a colossal mess of flipping sideways and darkness and not being able to hear everything. Sorry. The tale alone will have to do.)
First, he learned their names, then the wand selection began.
First, he handed Kennedy a wand made of Willow with a unicorn hair as its core. She waved with a “Wingardium Leviosa” and…well…the shelves went crashing down.
Then, he handed Molly a wand of hazel with a unicorn hair as its core. He instructed her to light it…and much to our surprise, she said in a very strong voice despite the crowd “Lumos!” Lightning flashed through the building, loud claps of thunder.
Ollivander used a quick spell to disperse the storm, and turned to my girls, tutting that they were indeed very difficult…
Then, the moment of brilliance.
He picked up the wands before each of the girls, making a statement to their twin cores…before crossing his arms so that each girl got the opposite wand to their first attempt, Molly with the willow and Kennedy with the Hazel…and then…
The moment of perfection, light and wind brushed across them as they found their perfect wands…or the wands found them.
Of course, we happily paid for the wands because they were chosen by Ollivander himself and brought them home with us. They had a prominent place until we began packing up to move. Soon enough, they’ll be on display again…and put to good use within the park itself.
It is true magic to see the wands choosing its wizard…and pure joy that both our girls got to experience the magic…together.
by Sarah | Mar 17, 2016 | All About Family, All About Molly, All of Us, Autism, Disney, Make-A-Wish, Redefining Perfect, Special Needs
2014 – Disney, Universal, Make-A-Wish…My dear sweet Molly.
Oh, how she loved so much about the parks.
The princesses, the speedway (because she can drive!), the ice cream (because, DUH).
Just about everything was just AWESOME.
There was one thing that held her back.
One thing that kept her sitting on the sidelines about 50-75% of the time.
She was afraid.
Of the rides. Of the roller coasters. Of anything that left the ground in any fashion.
Lucky for her, her brother wasn’t too keen on the rides either. They sat out most of the rides.
Fast forward one year.
2015.
The year started out much like the year before.
Molly holding back.
Then something changed.
Something small.
She noticed the Barnstormer. She was afraid, but jealous of us going on all these rides and coming off super excited.
And so she took a chance.
She rode the ride.
And came off exhilarated.
She wouldn’t ride one that went upside down, but she went on every roller coaster from that point on. We went on the Barnstormer three times. She even, on the last night, went on Space Mountain. It terrified her, but she ended up loving it.
Little by little she went from Molly the Meek to Molly the Daredevil(ish). It was so much fun watching her emerge from that little ball of fear into eagerness.
She admitted after our last roller coaster (Space Mountain), that every ride scared her, but that was half the fun.
Molly stepping out of her comfort zone is a huge deal.
So thank you, Disney. Universal. For bringing out the daredevil in this one. It’s awesome. You’re awesome.
by Sarah | Sep 3, 2015 | All About Family, All About Kennedy, All of Us, Disney, Make-A-Wish, Redefining Perfect
Kennedy had never been to a theme park before.
Ever.
No roller coasters. No thrill rides of any sort.
Day one at Universal – she rode ALL the roller coasters.
We started with Escape from Gringotts and from there…IT WAS ON.
Every possible thrill ride she could go on, she did. She got MAD when she wasn’t tall enough. She wanted to ride them ALL!
Flight of the Hippogriff? Check. Dr. Doom’s Fear Fall? CHECK! If it spun, flipped, soared, fell, or raced, Kennedy was on it.
The thrills continued at Disney World. First day, first ride – Space Mountain. Kennedy and I rode it twice. The Rockin’ Roller Coaster was another huge hit.
By the time we left Disney we’d bought Kennedy a shirt that declared her a “Thrillseeker” because holy cow was she ever! This child LOVES being scared.
When it came to the Dragon Challenge at Universal – she was not tall enough. She was SO MAD. She actually forbade Erik & I from riding it (we did anyway, because DUH)…and has since insisted on regular measurements to see if she’s tall enough yet for the ride. Even though she’s going to be 14 the next time she’s aware she’ll be going again, she wants to know the minute she’s tall enough for that ride (for the record, she broke the height requirement in August).
So watch out…our little thrillseeker is ready to take over the world and every single theme park ride you can throw her way…because she’s ready to take them all on.
Our road to Disney and Universal was not paved with flowers and sunshine. That goes without saying. I could go into logistics about Make A Wish’s former CF rules, refusals, and hope coming our way again, but that’s another story for another blog post. Suffice it to say, it was a bumpy, long road…until it wasn’t.
The one where we stepped through the brick passage and onto Diagon Alley.
When she sat in the sidecar (look how tiny, my goodness).
