My trip to the Idlewild amusement park was wild, but worth it
FSHD may complicate things, but I'm always thankful for time with family
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Idlewild, which is near Ligonier, Pennsylvania, is an old-style amusement park that’s been around since the days when the gentry from Pittsburgh took the train to their summer homes in the foothills of the Laurel Highlands. It’s a wonderful park for all ages, but it’s absolutely perfect for younger children like my grandkids, Iva Jane, Julia, and Theo.
The train is no longer an option, so my wife, Wendy, and I drove to Idlewild on a recent Saturday, where we had a wonderful day of joy with our grandkids. I debated whether I should go along or stay at home to make it easier on Wendy and the moms and dads who had to wrangle three excited children through a crowded amusement park.
I was told it was entirely up to me. Because of my facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, Wendy knew that after a few hours, I’d be uncomfortable in my wheelchair. She also knew that there’d be times when I’d be sitting by myself while the other adults went on rides with the kids.
I’ve struggled to decide whether to go on past family outings. On this particular Saturday, the weather looked perfect, with no rain in the forecast and temperatures in the mid-60s F. I felt pretty good, so I decided to go.
I’m glad I did. It was a wonderful day that I hope my grandkids will remember for a long time. I know I will.
Making memories
Idlewild, like many parks in the northern United States, extends its season into October by featuring a Halloween theme and inviting folks to come in costume. Iva Jane came attired in a beautiful fox costume, while Julia “flew” around the park in a flowing Tinker Bell dress. Theo wasn’t quite feeling the Halloween spirit yet, so he attended the park dressed as a typical 2-year-old. He looked perfect to me, as did the girls.
Idlewild includes Story Book Forest, which features Old Mother Hubbard, the Three Little Pigs, Humpty Dumpty, and many other storybook characters. It was our first stop. The characters handed out candy and other treats to the children and posed for photos.
This section of Idlewild has some hills, so my son, Ryan, took charge of my wheelchair as the kids gathered their goodies. My new wheelchair has a SmartDrive, a power assist device that can help out on hilly terrain. It wasn’t fast enough for Ryan, though. He’s a steamfitter, so he muscled me up the hills.
The next area of the park was called Jumpin’ Jungle. My granddaughters both wanted to jump, crawl, and climb their way through it. Theo isn’t quite big enough to do these activities yet, so Wendy and I moved to the next section of the park with him and Ryan. The rest of our crew stuck around to watch the girls navigate the giant playground.
Theo and Nanna enjoyed some rides together while I enjoyed a nice conversation with Ryan. Between work and all his other responsibilities, I don’t get to spend as much time as I’d like with my son. It was great to catch up on his life.
Iva Jane, Julia, and the rest of our crew rejoined us as we went to Raccoon Lagoon Kiddeland, the section of Idlewild that’s specifically for the preschool crowd. By this time, Theo was tiring out, so he spent some time on Pappap’s lap between rides.
For our last hurrah, Wendy rode the Turtles with all three grandkids. As we headed for the exit, Theo fell fast asleep.
On our way out, I took advantage of the family restrooms, a feature of Idlewild that I especially appreciate. While these restrooms aren’t specifically for people with disabilities, they’re big enough to allow someone to assist me in getting into the restroom. That person can then step out, affording me some privacy while I take care of business. As an aside, the Kennywood amusement park, just outside of Pittsburgh in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, also has family restrooms that I’ve taken advantage of.
Iva Jane and her dad weren’t able to join us, but we enjoyed an excellent dinner with Ryan’s family on our way back to Pittsburgh. The restaurant we chose was well-equipped for customers with disabilities. Julia and Theo jumped in to hold the doors open as Wendy wheeled me in. We enjoyed a great meal with excellent service — a perfect end to a perfect day.
I’m so glad I decided to go. I would’ve found things to do if I’d stayed at home, but I also would’ve missed out on so much joy. Carpe diem!
Note: Muscular Dystrophy News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Muscular Dystrophy News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to muscular dystrophy.
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