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You are here: Home / Uncategorized / Our North Pole Adventure at Westchester’s Ridge Hill {A DreamWorks DreamPlace}

Our North Pole Adventure at Westchester’s Ridge Hill {A DreamWorks DreamPlace}

November 8, 2014 by Lisa Leave a Comment

If you follow our Familiagram, you know that Westchester’s Ridge Hill is one of our favorite places to hang. We shop, eat and play there. Less than 30 minutes from The Bronx, Ridge Hill feels like no other mall in New York.


Ridge Hill is ready for the holiday season and it’s created a DreamWorks DreamPlace – 
The North Pole Adventure.

TOY DRIVE: Now through Sunday, December 14th, please donate new, unwrapped toys appropriate for children ages 3-12. Donations may be dropped off at the Holiday Tree in the lobby of the WESTMED building at Ridge Hill (73 Market Street, Yonkers, NY). Toys will be distributed to the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester, Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon, and Boys & Girls Club of New Rochelle. 

As soon as we arrived we were greeted by Shrek. We received our passports and entered the beautifully decorated house. Not really knowing what to expect, I thought we’d walk around a house and meet Santa, take a picture and that would be it. I was wrong.

We were taken on a journey. We entered the design lab to create (and name) our very own sleigh – this would be the sleigh that would take us on a magical journey guided by Shrek and his pals to the North Pole. We were now ready to board our sleigh – the Sonic Chrome – and head on our journey! 

Inside another room, we boarded a sleigh that featured “leather cushioned seats, a red body with gold filigree, and curled silver runners.” At first Norrin was a little nervous but after a few seconds he was totally into it! It was an “immersive, cinematic adventure featuring a wrap-around screen and motion based effects.” (It’s less than 10 minutes) We arrived at our destination and taken to the meet the man himself – Santa Claus. We got our picture with Santa and made our way to a little gift shop where we bought Norrin a souvenir – a Toothless t-shirt, his favorite dragon from How to Train Your Dragon. 
What I loved about the The North Pole Adventure is that it combined story-telling, technology and imagination. It was so cool – like nothing we’ve ever experienced! 
So…how do YOU have your own North Pole Adventure? Book your appointment at http://www.westchestersridgehill.com/info/santa-shrek or download the DreamWorks DreamPlace app.
As of now, there isn’t an “autism/sensory friendly” day or evening scheduled. I attended a private media event so I’m not sure how crowded it will get. BUT if you make your appointment early in the morning (and within the next few weeks before the Christmas rush really kicks in) it may be more manageable.        

Check out a few of our pics from our day! 

We are on a North Pole Adventure @shopridgehill – #Holiday14 #DreamworksDreamPlace
A photo posted by Lisa Quinones-Fontanez (@laliquin) on Nov 11, 2014 at 2:47pm PST

Shrek welcoming us to our #NorthPoleAdventure @shopridgehill
A photo posted by Lisa Quinones-Fontanez (@laliquin) on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:54pm PST

We got to hang with Shrek @shopridgehill – #DreamworksDreamPlace
A photo posted by Lisa Quinones-Fontanez (@laliquin) on Nov 11, 2014 at 2:58pm PST

Someone is excited to go on a sleigh ride to meet Santa! @shopridgehill #DreamworksDreamPlace
A photo posted by Lisa Quinones-Fontanez (@laliquin) on Nov 11, 2014 at 3:41pm PST

A rare photo of us 3 @shopridgehill #DreamworksDreamPlace #atypicalfamilia
A photo posted by Lisa Quinones-Fontanez (@laliquin) on Nov 11, 2014 at 3:46pm PST

šŸŽ¶It’s beginning to look a lot like ChristmasšŸŽ¶ @shopridgehill #DreamworksDreamPlace
A photo posted by Lisa Quinones-Fontanez (@laliquin) on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:50pm PST

Disclosure: We were invited as media to preview The North Pole Adventure at Ridge Hill. We were not provided with compensation. All opinions are our own. 

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Atypical Familia, Christmas, Events, Familia Fun, FAMILIAGRAM, MyYouTube, Places We Go, Ridge Hill, The Holidays, Westchester, Winter Fun

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Hi, I'm Lisa aka @laliquin on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest & Snapchat. I'm a 40-something mom raising a son with autism in The Bronx, NYC.

Atypical Familia is a personal blog & resource site for Typical Parents raising Extraordinary Kids. We focus onĀ autism parenting, special needs travel, work/life balance, family entertainment and more. This is parenting from a unique perspective.

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I'm Lisa aka @laliquin on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest & Snapchat. Get to know more about me and my familia!

Atypical Familia focuses onĀ autism parenting, special needs travel, work/life balance, family entertainment and more. If you'd like to work with us, send us an email: autismwonderland(@)gmail.com.Ā 

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No caption needed… my face says it all. šŸ’™ No caption needed… my face says it all. šŸ’™
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When the student becomes the teacher… I got to w When the student becomes the teacher… I got to workout with one of my (favorite) former students this morning! From the moment I met her 2 years ago, I knew she was a force to be reckoned with. In the classroom, she is enthusiastic, bright, confident and strong. But at the gym she’s next level! Mel really pushed me today and I know I’ll feel it tomorrow. It wasn’t easy keeping up with this 19 year old. I held my own up until she said 20 minutes on the stair master after our work out. I lasted 5 minutes and then did 15 on the elliptical. 🫠🫠 And obviously we needed a quick locker room photo shoot. 🤣 Also…I don’t know if it’s the angle or the lighting but I can’t believe my arms/back look like that! 😳🄹
Solid women don’t crumble. Period. Solid women don’t crumble. Period.
I’m so grateful to be his mom. šŸ’™ I’m so grateful to be his mom. šŸ’™
When I think about where I was and where I am now, When I think about where I was and where I am now, I am so damn grateful. I used to believe that I ā€œwastedā€ the best years of my life. I was so wrong. I am living my best years and fully present in my life. šŸ¤ 5/6/18 šŸ¤ 5 years one day at a time (sometimes one hour, one minute, one second).
She’s a mood. She’s a mood.
In case anyone’s wondering how my life is going… 😬😐🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Started reading Carmen and Grace by @melissacossaq Started reading Carmen and Grace by @melissacossaquino on the 6 train. By page 5, I had to close the book and take a minute to absorb the words on the page. Ok ok ok, I also may have begun tearing up a bit. I love when a book makes me feel. There are times when I come across a book, and the words are exactly what I need at that precise moment. This is that book, this is the time. ā€œThe only way out for you is through.ā€ šŸ¤ 

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I didn’t think I’d be able to make his first g I didn’t think I’d be able to make his first game but I surprised him. When he saw me he said, ā€œMama! What the hell are you doing here?ā€ But he was totally happy to see me. Grateful @d3sportsandrec exists! šŸ’™
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Also - I realize that holding on to clothing for 15 years hoping it will fit again is probably not normal. But oh well. šŸ¤·šŸ»ā€ā™€ļøšŸ¤£
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