With snow white closing....

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biggiedisney123

New Member
Original Poster
Does anyone know if the boy with autism is still riding the ride? Did he find something new? The only info I could find online capped his riding at a little under 2,100 rides in 2008.

Sara Miles was his mother's name I believe...
 
Californian Elitist

Californian Elitist

Well-Known Member
I believe the boy's father is on the forums here. If we're thinking of the same person, the boy's father said MK is planning something for Ben(?) on Thursday night, which is great news.
 
Lokheed

Lokheed

Well-Known Member
Yes. We will be there with him all evening on Thursday. There will be a special moment for him that Disney is putting together at 7pm.

We appreciate your kind thoughts. If you happen to be there that night you are welcome to say hello. Just please understand that Ben isn't likely to have any kind of photogenic "magical moment". We've been trying to explain to him that the ride is going away, but we have no idea how much he understands about it. Our primary concern on Thursday night is to help Ben say goodbye and give him some kind of closure. I am worried that, particularly in the last hour, the ride is likely to be mobbed by people coming to say goodbye as well, and I don't want Ben to get overwhelmed.
 
Tom

Tom

Beta Return
Lokheed said:
Yes. We will be there with him all evening on Thursday. There will be a special moment for him that Disney is putting together at 7pm.

We appreciate your kind thoughts. If you happen to be there that night you are welcome to say hello. Just please understand that Ben isn't likely to have any kind of photogenic "magical moment". We've been trying to explain to him that the ride is going away, but we have no idea how much he understands about it. Our primary concern on Thursday night is to help Ben say goodbye and give him some kind of closure. I am worried that, particularly in the last hour, the ride is likely to be mobbed by people coming to say goodbye as well, and I don't want Ben to get overwhelmed.
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Since Disney is WELL aware of Ben and the entire situation, I sincerely hope they do something over-the-top magical for him.

And more importantly, I hope he is either able to grasp what is happening and cope with it.....or just think it's another wonderfully magical time at Disney and move on to the NEW Snow White ride (assuming he's able to ride it) when it's done. You think he'd be able to handle the mine ride?
 
Lokheed

Lokheed

Well-Known Member
I don't think he will like the mine ride, no, he doesn't like coasters at all. But I am positive that he will LOVE the new Little Mermaid ride.
 
Tom

Tom

Beta Return
Lokheed said:
He turned 18 this year. He has literally spent half his life going on this ride.
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18?!?!?! Wow. Seems like yesterday I was reading all about it....

Well, it's time to have a life change and find another favorite ride to break a record on. Time to shine, Ben! Go out on SWSA with a bang, and ring in a new era of Fantasyland.
 
Californian Elitist

Californian Elitist

Well-Known Member
Lokheed, would you consider visiting Disneyland with Ben? I know the Snow White attraction is different from the MK version but do you think he would still enjoy it? Not to mention we've got four other dark rides in Fantasyland, along with some others spread throughout the resort.:)
 
Lokheed

Lokheed

Well-Known Member
A few years ago the thought of getting on a plane with him was terrifying, but I think he is much more equipped to deal with that kind of travel now. I think he would like Disneyland. He's never been there, but I suspect he would like the Alice in Wonderland ride in particular, as well as the real version of Pirates. (Sorry, WDW, but our version is just a pale imitation). We don't currently have plans to take him, but we would certainly consider it.
 
spoodles

spoodles

Member
Lokheed thanks for posting. I remember your touching story, it was the first thing I thought of when I heard of the ride closing. I hope Ben adapts well to life without SWSA.
 
B

Bob Saget

Well-Known Member
Lokheed said:
His current ride count is 3,451 rides.
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:eek:
Ok, that's impressive.

Just a thought. What will WDW be doing with the ride cars once closed down? Could you imagine his excitement if they let him keep one of the ride cars as a lifelong souvenir? That way he'd always have a piece of this attraction to take with him. If WDW is going to be keeping the cars in storage or auctioning them off, what would it hurt?

Of course this would also be dependant on whether or not there would be room to store something like that at Ben's house, or if WDW had plans in place to use the carts elsewhere. But would be a nice surprise.
 
Tom

Tom

Beta Return
Bob Saget said:
:eek:
Ok, that's impressive.

Just a thought. What will WDW be doing with the ride cars once closed down? Could you imagine his excitement if they let him keep one of the ride cars as a lifelong souvenir? That way he'd always have a piece of this attraction to take with him. If WDW is going to be keeping the cars in storage or auctioning them off, what would it hurt?

Of course this would also be dependant on whether or not there would be room to store something like that at Ben's house, or if WDW had plans in place to use the carts elsewhere. But would be a nice surprise.
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I think that, after their last ride tonight, Ben and family should just pick up one of the vehicles and take it with them. I mean, they've paid for it, so it's rightfully theirs :)

Only a few more hours until another MK original is bulldozed to make way for a Meet-n-Greet. :(
 
THEMEPARKPIONEER

THEMEPARKPIONEER

Well-Known Member
As an Epcot thenatic I shoud be verry thankful that I dont have what this kid has. I know what its like to loose a favorite attraction and it crushes me to see this guy loose his favorite, I hope he finds something new. Maybe he will be a genious behind some great Disney attraction someday.
 
Laura

Laura

22
Premium Member
Lokheed said:
He turned 18 this year. He has literally spent half his life going on this ride.
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Holy crap. I can't believe that little boy is 18 already. I've been following your stories for years. I hope this evening went well and that Ben is able to get through this without too much heartache. Poor little (big!) guy.
 
dopeylove

dopeylove

Member
Lokheed said:
He turned 18 this year. He has literally spent half his life going on this ride.
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Lokheed, how did he do?

You and I have chatted a few times as my son, also 18 and has autism, is a big fan of the Snow White ride. We were not able to make it back before the ride closed because we are in South Florida. We hope to be there soon and I'm anxious and nervous to see how he reacts and if he'll understand that he can't go on anymore.

Anyway, how did Ben do? What did WDW do for him? Hope you took lots of pictures. Maybe we can meet sometime in the park. We plan to be there in October (F&W Festival), November for Thanksgiving and December for Christmas.

Best regards!
 
Tom

Tom

Beta Return
dopeylove said:
Lokheed, how did he do?

You and I have chatted a few times as my son, also 18 and has autism, is a big fan of the Snow White ride. We were not able to make it back before the ride closed because we are in South Florida. We hope to be there soon and I'm anxious and nervous to see how he reacts and if he'll understand that he can't go on anymore.

Anyway, how did Ben do? What did WDW do for him? Hope you took lots of pictures. Maybe we can meet sometime in the park. We plan to be there in October (F&W Festival), November for Thanksgiving and December for Christmas.

Best regards!
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Scroll to the end of THIS thread for more details. I think the discussion has migrated there. There's a nice video, and Lokeed said he'll be writing a nice blog about the entire event once he catches up on some sleep. Overall, Ben seems to have had a wonderful experience. He received some very heartwarming applause after he took the VERY LAST RIDE - which you'll see in the video.
 

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