SAFD: (apologize in advance for the length) two years ago, we went to Pandora for the first time, and as we were waiting for our FoP FP+ time, the Pandora drummers started their show, so we sat down and started watching. Our son (~12 or 13 at the time), who has high-functioning autism, was totally into it. I mean, he felt the music and drummed his heart out during the show. So, the show ended, and we started walking towards FoP. We got about 50 feet away, and one of the CMs from the show caught up to us and handed our son her painted drumsticks from the show stating that he was amazing and understood the Na'vi way. It was awesome; he was excited; those drumsticks were carried around with pride. He had a constant smile on his face. My wife looked online to see if they did that at every show, and it sounded like they didn't and only handed them out if they truly thought someone deserved it. Also, the CMs paint their drumsticks themselves. In any case, it was incredible for our family.
Fast forward a few hours later... we were riding EE, and my son was slightly apprehensive (although he loves pretty much all rollercoasters once he's done them once), so I took his drumsticks, put them in the provided seat pocket in front of me, and focused on him throughout the ride. Needless to say, he had a blast, and we were so caught up in our exciting conversation after the ride, that I totally pulled an idiotic dad move and forgot all about the drumsticks. We realized this within a few minutes (before exiting the ride area), and I returned through the exit to ask a CM to check the next few trains on our row. Unfortunately, they were gone. The CM said to comeback throughout the day to see if they had been turned it, and although we returned several times, they never turned up. It was just about all my son could think about, and I felt horrible.
As we were waiting to be seated at Tiffins for dinner that night, my wife heard the drummers starting a new show, and she got up and said she would be back. I knew exactly what she was planning, but I couldn't say anything because I didn't want my son to get his hopes up. My wife walked over to the drummer show, waited for it to end, then went up to one of the CM and explained the whole story. Needless to say, he immediately handed his drumsticks to her, and once again, when my wife returned with the drumsticks, the excitement returned to my son.
It truly was magical: the original CM tracking us down to give the drumsticks to my son in the first place, the CM at EE who tried everything possible to find them for us, and the final CM drummer who gave his drumsticks up based on my wife's explanation. I still have tears sometimes thinking about this.
Trying to sign my daughters up for at least 1 race since they are planning to join us.
