Booked it and have questions (high functioning autism) [Archive] - The DIS Discussion Forums

Mary976

02-08-2009, 11:50 AM

I do not have answers to all your questions, but I wanted to let you know that I hope you have a wonderful time! Many people with the challenges you describe have really enjoyed their trips, provided that they have realistic expectations about how much they will be seeing/doing. It also helps to have a good plan, either by looking about on these boards, or using something like Tour Guide Mike or The Unofficial Guide. That being said, here are some specific answers for you.

Good luck!
Mary

I booked through Disney and the payment went through my account but so far no email? When should I receive the email?

Not sure, I would think soon? This might be a good question for the resort board.

I booked the Movie Resort with a preference for Toy Story. When will I find out where we are actually staying? Not until we arrive?

We have never found out until we arrived. Other may be able to chime in with a different experience, though.

We are not renting a car but would like to have breakfast in the room...is there a store so we can buy bagels, cereal, soy milk, etc in Disney?

Movies has a quick service area where you can buy food, but there is no grocery store per se. Also, some people have groceries delivered (check the resort board for details). FYI: the All Star resorts do not provide a fridge. They are $10 per day. You can get one free for medical reasons, but supposedly they will ask for a doctor's note for this (since it is a benefit not available to the general public) and sometimes those medical fridges are really tiny (like they only hold meds).

Can we request aisle seats at shows so we can leave is necessary? I was told by a family member that this is impossible.

If you have a GAC (see sticky for details) for special seating, I think you could get seats in the back. Aisle, I'm not sure.

My daughter loves Buzz Lightyear and I was excited to see the buzz lightyear's AstroBlaster ride....I see people talking about 4 yr olds going on this ride but my daughter is 8 years old and too short for it! She is 46 1/2" tall and the ride has a restriction for 52" tall. Is there any possibility of her riding it? I would hate to have them turn her away and would rather avoid it if she can't ride it.

The ride you mentioned is at DisneyQuest. The Buzz Ride in the Magic Kingdom AND the Toy Story ride in Hollywood Studios should both be fine for you both. But no, if you don't meet the height req, you absolutely cannot ride.

My daughter calms down when swimming but will the pool be warm enough for swimming in March? I need to know whether to pack swimsuits!

Yes, it is plenty warm. We swim and go to the water parks in March. Although you want to swim when it is sunny and not too windy. The pools are heated, but walking around in the air when you are wet may be chilly if it is overcast.

With the dr's note of my daughter's disability, will we get a free stroller?

I have never heard of this, so I don't believe so. However, you can get a GAC card/sticker so you can take a personal stroller through the lines with you. You might be able to rent a "special needs" stroller from an off-site company, though. Someone else here should know.

What are the best seats on the plane for her? Quietest spot in the plane with less traffic. (near the bathroom would probably not be good!) I really don't care about getting off quickly once we land as I am sure I will be getting out stuff together and need a few moments for that!

The quietest spot is usually in the back (bathrooms notwithstanding). Are you sure your daughter won't be upset by waiting so long to deplane? If that might be a problem, I'd recommend the bulkhead up front. Also, if she's upset, it's not like she could kick the back of anyone's seat if you're in the bulkhead.

I want to take squishy gel filled balls to keep her hands busy on the plane. I bought some new ones especially for that purpose but now I am told that they have to follow the 3 oz rule!! I don't know how many fluid ounces are in each one, will this be a problem through security??

You probably cannot take them. I had a friend who's gel-filled shoe inserts were confiscated. you can pack them in checked luggage though. Also, what about a stress ball made of foam rubber instead? They are not liquid, so it should be fine.

Cheshire Figment

02-08-2009, 11:59 AM

Hi and :welcome: to both DisBoards and disABILITIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information.

Or, if you want an easier route, click on the link in my signature.

I can answer a few of the questions here right away.

First, you might want to look at Post #6 of the FAQs, dealing with the Guest Assistance Card (GAC). Having that will probably help, especially concerning seating at shows.

A doctor's not has no authority at WDW, and they don't give free strollers anyway. Post #2 of the FAQs has information about both at WDW and off-site stroller rentals.

I know at the water parks we keep the temperatures at least 80 year round; I think all the pools are heated also

I just checked the Internal Disney Official site and there are noi height restrictions for the Buzz Lightyear attraction.

There is no grocery store as such at WDW. You can get prepackaged breakfast items at the food court, or pastries and have them boxed. At the locations with Disney Vacation Club they do have a small "general store", but it is complicated to get to from a Value Resort using Disney Transportation.

I hope this information helps as a start.

pudge the fish

02-08-2009, 12:46 PM

I would pack cereal and bagels-
Soy milk is available at some places- like the main street bakery in MK - I would call the special diet needs number or email them and ask if soy is available . I don't know if it's available at the movies food court on a normal basis but I know we asked for it in advance and it was available for us at our last stay. but that has been 3 mos ago and things change.

mechurchlady

02-08-2009, 01:06 PM

http://www.wdwinfo.com/childswap.htm
That is info on the child swapping pass you can use if your daughter is too short for a ride.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713
Post 7 lists the disabled services available for rooms like bed rails and rubber pads for the bed.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/allstarmovie.htm
That is a map of the resort. Toy story rooms start with 9 and 0. They are close to the food court and busses. There is one pool located in the middle of the resort and near the playground and laundry. The other is by Mighty Ducks at the opposite end (north) of Toy Story buildings.

Height Limits
These are the only rides your daughter could not go on.
MGM Studios Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith 48"
Animal Kingdom Primeval Whirl 48"
Magic Kingdom Tomorrowland Indy Speedway 52"
Blizzard Beach Downhill Double Dipper 48"
Blizzard Beach Summit Plummet 48"
Typhoon Lagoon Bay Slide 52"
Typhoon Lagoon Humunga Kowabunga 48"
DisneyQuest Buzz Lightyear's AstroBlaster 51"
DisneyQuest Cyberspace Mountain 51"
DisneyQuest Mighty Ducks Pinball Slam 48"

Food
You can ship to your resort a box of stuff you will need for eating. You can have the food delivered to your room for a fee. You can take a taxi to go shopping. You can take with you on the plane any foods that are special medical foods. Fill that suitcase up with a box of cereal then drag the suitcase home full of souvenirs.:lmao:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2082348
They discuss All Star Movie Resort and food. They do have a microwave and toasters to the side for resort guests to use even if they are not buying food at the food court. For $10 a day you can get a fridge in your room according to that thread.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=346
Menu for the resort.

Airplanes
http://www.seatguru.com/
It depends on where the motors are located. If the engines are in the back then that is the noisiest spot. At the TAC tell them that she is special needs and must stay in the harness for safety reasons, a runner. AT boarding explain that you need to get the child on and off first because of special needs. Not sure about letting the gel filled squishies on board but they are a medical necessity so could be allowed. Definitely call and ask for a bulkhead seat due to your child's disabilities.

GAC
You can get a GAC for certain limitations and if nothing else can explain to a CM that you need an aisle seat or back row. If you get a GAC then be prepare to state what the child's limitations are such as cannot wait in lines because of xxxx or need for a separate waiting area. Pushchairs are available at Orlando Strollers and you could strap her in and get a GAC for a stroller as a wheelchair. No doctor's note is needed for any disable service, that is the law. The exception to that law is if the person gets something beyond what others get such as free admission like at National Parks.
Sorry but no free strollers even with a doctor's note.

flynnmnstr

02-08-2009, 01:42 PM

Hi! This is a great site for info gathering it really helped us on our earlier trips with our DS (high functioning autism).

My only suggestions is that without giving away that you are going to Disney you might want to prep her a little by showing her some pictures of what to expect. You Tube has lots of videos of the rides and parades. The disney site even has some short videos. Disney is very sensory overwhelming and the prepping may help. And remember go with the flow and just have fun. Not on our son's first trip but one of our earlier ones he decided that he wasn't going on anything that took place inside-- we spent the whole week on Dumbo, the Carousel and Goofy's Barnstormer.. not kidding.

Definitely use a stroller for those moments where she might just need to relax and calm down. I forget the rental company that rents special needs ones but I think they go up to like 140lbs so much roomier for bigger kids. And I think they range from like 60-100 for a week (just search for it in this forum). We have a Maclaren Major that we got used from a fellow dis member but I have seen them on craigslist or ebay every once in a while if you get lucky.

Airport security is always the worst part of the trip-- its chaotic and face paced and crazy. Just stay calm and move at your own pace --forget the evil stares you get behind you. Get everything on the belt first. You walk through first. Then have your daughter walk through that way is something beeps or blips she not already through security. Many times if they see a kid struggling they will help you out.

Just have fun .....and don't worry too much about what can go wrong.

Tiiiigergirl

02-08-2009, 06:35 PM

The battle between telling and not telling. If you tell then you can prepare but but the anxiety kicks in and also you might miss something important and then....THE MELTDOWN.

If you don't tell then they might freak out at not knowing and then....THE MELTDOWN.

The thing that I have finally figured out is that the first time my son experiences something, he imprints. This then becomes the right way. Then everytime after had better be like that because the first time was. The first time we took our son to Disney, I made him a little booklet and gave it to him I think 2 weeks before we left. It discussed in general terms with pictures and words what we would be doing and every night before we left I read it to him. Then during our journey I showed him where we were. I left things vague about which days we were doing which parks because things happen and I wanted the flexibility.

I've made a couple of these booklets for him with great success.

BUT I think the most important part especially for my son since he was adopted as an older child but I think probably good for most kids is that I always included a picture of our home on the last page. This let him know that we were coming back home and he didn't have to worry about that.

Giving her a brochure to look at might be fun. We looked at a lot of travel videos as a family just for fun and that could prep her. If she is like most autistic children she won't come right out and ask if you are going even if she suspects. And actually if she is young, her thinking is probably linear enough that you can tell her that you are all going to watch the video for fun and enjoyment and she would not even think twice about it. And then you could give her your booklet during your flight.

I agree that the telling v not telling is tough and only you can decide because you know best. Now that my son is almost 16 my benchmark is if telling him serves any positive purpose for him or me. If the answer is no then I don't.

mom2nji

02-08-2009, 07:06 PM

I have an 8 yo DS with moderate ASD. He is very noise sensitve, but for some odd reason the parks dont bother him.
I have no help on the booking info as we live here.
But I have lots of tips for getting through the parks! We are passholders and go A LOT.
As soon as you arrive ask about the guest assitance card. We have never had an issue getting one when we tell them he has Autism. The first time I brought the first page of his IEP just in case they asked for proof. But they didnt, I guess the hand flapping a mile a minute and the tip toe walking didnt leave much room for wondering, lol.
Cast members are SUPER helpful with getting around crowds and big lines. The card is not meant to be a direct jump to the front of the line, but does help a lot with our son's needs. Dont ever be afraid to ask a cast member for help. As far as shows go, we usually go into the handicap ent. (show them the GAC and explain the autism and crowd issues, though I usually dont have to explain much) there are much smaller crowds there. They are always understanding and give us aisle seats near exits. Dont stress too much, it will be a BLAST!

bookwormde

02-08-2009, 09:07 PM

Wow I do not think I would ever be “brave” enough to spring that type of “surprise” on my DS9 (Aspergers), while most of the time he would be alright the times when he would not be would be quite a challenge and occasionally unworkable. Over thinking is what we do so I never worry about that, as for the anxiety I have found it a useful exercise to work through the root causes and create familiarity and understanding to reduce or overcome that portion.

As for airport screening, my suggestion would be to “brief” the TSA personnel before you go through the scanner and if they will not let you and your daughter go through together, then go through first facing towards your daughter and have her follow you. This has the advantage of if she takes off you can go back through the scanner and catch her an then will just need to be rescreened, the big problems occur when the child goes through first an takes off and you can not follow because you have not been screened.

As for the gel filled sensory supports they would likely be an issue, while you do not need a doctors note for WDW if you are going to try to take them if would be helpful to have a prescriptive note for them as a medical device, even then if you get an under trained TSA agent you may still have a problem.

One thing to remember is that you can get a disability preboard pass (typically at customer services in the concourse) from the airline which will allow you and your daughter to board before all the non disabled passengers and get settled before all the commotion of the “rush”. We generally sit near the back of the airplane since it is quieter at boarding and we can wait till the plane is “empty” to exit without a lot of people going by us.

bookwormde

ireland_nicole

02-08-2009, 10:04 PM

Please, please consider rethinking your surprise idea. I speak from experience, and I don't mean a pleasant one... Last Sept. we had little choice but to "surprise" DD w/ our Disney trip. Although the trip was booked, and we had planned on them getting a postcard from Mickey and Minnie (thanks to the FG who helped us out ) in mid august, giving us about 3 weeks to do all the planning, worrying, fussing, etc.

However, The first week of August DD started having seizures. When we got out of the hospital her Neuro said that we had to have another EEG before he could clear her for travel. That EEG was scheduled for less than 48 hours before our trip. Rather than have her overly ramped up for the final night before the trip, we decided to tell DD(ASD/ADHD, and other med. stuff) and DS(SPD/ADHD) when we were in the car on the way. Big mistake, Big Huge; they melted down for well over an hour, couldn't understand how they could miss school, why we weren't doing what we planned for the weekend, it was just a mess. They didn't get "excited" about it until we were there- trust me, it was a very long 20 hour car ride. I'm not saying your DD is going to react like mine, but please, for your own sanity, don't assume the surprise will be welcomed.;)

I agree that the stroller as wheelchair has been a godsend more times than I can count. Although your DD probably won't need a special needs stroller at her size, they are available from a couple of offsite companies. We have used www.orlandostrollerrentals.com for "standard" strollers and they also have special needs ones. The owner, Shannon, was absolutely wonderful and we couldn't imagine getting a stroller from anyone else.

For planes,cars, parks, etc. We pack a hip pack (fanny pack) with survival gear. a cheap Mp3 player, deck of cards, couple of fidgets from the Disney store, ear plugs, sunglasses, a small notebook and mini markers or pens, and a leapster. my kids love being able to control their level of stimulus, and it really works well

berries

02-09-2009, 11:41 AM

You guys are scaring me! LOL Seriously I know what you mean. It all sounds good in my head and then come down to it, it turns out to be the worst idea possible! I have had that sick feeling like wow I messed up bigtime and felt the disappointment of something I expected her to really enjoy and she couldn't stand it. I am hoping this will be different. For one reason...she has been begging to go to WDW from the commercials. It is the first time she has requested something she saw on tv. I told her it was really expensive and we couldn't just go this second which made her really mad. This has been going on for months now.

So hopefully it will turn out okay! I am expecting her to be amped up after finding out :yay: so don't want her jumping around during the plane ride. My child has 2 emotions, really really happy/excited or really really mad/upset.

I have a ton of guidebooks checked out from the library and told her that I am preparing for when we have enough money to go. So she is seeing lots about WDW lately. Plus the video.

She doesn't get into too many characters but the ones she likes, I found a character meal and was able to get a reservation!! I didn't think I could since I booked so late but it worked out. Little Einsteins.

I can't get maps beforehand b/c we booked so late. :( Hard to plan without park maps!

In my mind, preparing for the plane ride is big enough for her. And I worry if we are thrown off the plane :rotfl2: Can you imagine how horrible if she knew we couldn't get to WDW??? Yikes! I have heard of kids not being able to fly because of tantrums, etc. I have a drs letter plus forewarned them about my daughter so I hope things go okay! She can get loud and does often. I am loading songs on the mp3 player (also new to her) and imagine her screaming as loudly as she can along with the songs. If she does, I guess we will have to change activities. :goodvibes

Everything is going to be okay! Grandma notwithstanding...I worry about her getting fussy if dd has a meltdown! I appreciate the extra hand, really I do. LOL But she does tend to get cranky. :rolleyes:

Thank you guys for the additional tips. I am reading everything I can get my hands on! Oh and I called and they added the fridge on for free because of her allergy!

Bugsmom73

02-09-2009, 12:12 PM

Garden Grocer has a nice delivery service.

I would prepare her, make picture schedules, how to get on and off the airplanes, what is expected in security, etc. We always feel like we over prepare but DS has been as good as any NT kid on vacation is. The hardest wait for us is the airport.

BeckyScott

02-09-2009, 12:48 PM

As far as seating during shows, we had the GAC and I asked for an aisle seat or in disabled seating "just in case he starts to freak out". (putting it that way seemed to work for the CM's) It wasn't ever a big deal. If you think about it, most of the shows people don't want the aisle seats, they want the center, so it's not like you have to fight for the seat.

mechurchlady

02-09-2009, 01:32 PM

You have to calm down. Kids are worse than dogs when it comes to feeding off of emotions. If mom is fretting then the kid frets. They will not kick you off the play for a tantrum. That is your irrational thoughts building and feeding seeds of irrational thoughts into a full down mommy shut down. Have you tried swaddling where you wrap the kid in a blanket? That sometimes works.

Look in FAQs for the info on allergen free dining in the parks. Note on ADRs and get the info before hand so you know what she can have without problems. French fries are a worry as some places may use soy oil. Call and get a list sent to you of allergen free foods or what ever her allergies are.

Breath in and out, repeat over and over and calm down. The key to the trip is knowledge. You will be in AK and potty time hits so you immediately know where one is. Mom is hungry so you know what your kid can eat and where. Hey look that ride is closed for a while so lets go to Pirates. At DLR there was a monsoon type rainstorm. My next ride was bobsleds but we had to go shopping. I knew where to go. Then I had a back up which was dole whips then the saloon then pirates. No looking at maps or anything as I was prepared.

As for mom tell her that you got one kid and if she has a meltdown that mom is to help out like getting the check in a restaurant or keeping people away from you while you are with the kid. Make sure she wants to help you and get her hyped and ready.

berries

02-09-2009, 02:14 PM

That is the plan! My mom will get the food and bring it to the table. Trying to think ahead and plan what ifs. I am so glad to find out about the baby centers. Sounds like a good place to chill if dd needs to.

bookwormde

02-09-2009, 02:26 PM

For the most part you can relax about her enjoying WDW, it is very rare for our children not to really blossom there with adequate preparation and a measured pace. The only concern I have is making it a “surprise” since that adds a layer of risk. Then again if your child has enjoyed major surprises in the past it may not be an issue.

Just relax and be prepared to “go with the flow”, you should be fine.

bookwormde

kris'disneymom

02-09-2009, 05:46 PM

my son is moderately-severly autistic and is obsessed with wdw. a few tips that work for him,
we use a wheelchair (stroller when smaller) he can look around when he wants or put his head down when overwhelmed. the cms also are more accommodating when they see a wheelchair.
he has a pouch with some security items and earplugs on a string from the hardware store. before entering any attraction he can get them out and put in himself.
when you enter always ask the CM at the entrance.
at shows tell them where you want to sit, handicap enter first you will have choice. if they are resistant, tell them if your child has a melt down this will be for everyone's benefit for you to have aisle seat, etc.
you can print park maps from online web sites. just google disney maps. you will get the actual maps from the parks, my son does this all the time.
and have fun!

blondietink

02-09-2009, 07:09 PM

My DS, age 17 tomorrow :thumbsup2 , HATES surprises. He loves planning and looking forward to going different places. Of course, you know your daughter, but personally I would never go somplace without lots of preparation in advance with my DS knowing everything. Good luck. :cool2:

berries

02-10-2009, 01:19 AM

I don't think I have surprised her with anything before. I always prepare her ahead of time for everything. Talking about it in the car on the way about what she will see or hear. Warning her the day before. But with the flight too...I worry it will be too much to digest at once. I am talking about WDW as she knows we are saving up for a trip to WDW. :) I may change my mind before we go and tell her! I can't keep a secret too well and I am excited. I just know she will have a good time! :cutie:

Oh and we go to lots of new places so it isn't new that we are going somewhere we haven't been before! She is pretty much used to traveling but normally we go by car.

I bought the hotel door stop alarm after getting locked out of our hotel room when I chased her down the hallway in my pajamas. :scared1: She is tall enough now to unlock the doors!! :rolleyes1

toodycat

02-10-2009, 08:36 PM

I would recommend prepping your daughter a little before the trip. I have a high functioning son with PDD-NOS who has been to WDW about seven times. He liked it the least the time we surprised him. It took him so long to get adjusted to the idea that by the time he was pleased, we were leaving. He enjoys WDW, but definitely can't marathon it. We always return to the hotel midday for a swim to let him decompress a bit. Have a wonderful time.

teachallday

02-11-2009, 01:18 AM

>>I can't get maps beforehand b/c we booked so late. Hard to plan without park maps! <<

In planning the trip for my DD7 - I knew she was functioning more at a preschool (3 year old level) than her actual age. I found on the Disney site a place called: Traveling With Little Ones ( http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/planning-guides/in-depth-advice/traveling-with-little-ones/ )

There is a link on that page - on the right - that will bring you to the Magical Beginnings Parks Maps. They look really good, pointing out the rides and attractions at each park that would be of interest to Preschoolers. My little one may not be a preschooler anymore, but her interests are at that level. Like your daughter, mine would much prefer Little Einstiens than some of your more typical Disney Characters.

For our trip this summer, I know my little one and I can not tell her ahead of time. She has no real concept of time so if I tell her she thinks it will happen now. I have done calendar count downs (putting a sticker on each day marking off the days till a particular event), but over the years we have just found it easier to tell her at the last minute. Anything more than 24 hours ahead of time is hard for her to understand and manage. We are much better telling her on the car ride to something, than tell her the day or week before. Now with this said, that does not mean we don't do prep ahead of time.

At Christmas we definately had a Disney Theme to all the gifts. Even the DVD's she got, were all purchased to introduce her to various characters she would meet at the parks. (believe it or not her favorite of the MANY characters on the various DVD's were Chip and Dale - Although the first DVD's she went to were the Playhouse Disney ones, the first one she wanted to watch over and over was a Chip and Dale DVD). Her clothes all had Disney Characters on them. She even got a Princess Luggage set. Doing this theme, especially with the clothes, has brought her attention to some of the Disney Princesses and interest in some of them. Humorously, she fought us for 2 weeks after Christmas resisting wearing the Areil clothes, but then went to wanting the Ariel ones almost exclusively:rotfl: . Unfortunately the Playhouse Disney outfits only went up to size 5T and she is now in a size 6.

So, I understand the waiting to tell your daughter. I am planning on doing the same. I haven't decided when I will tell her, but it will be less than 24 hours from when we get within viewing distance of Cinderella's Castle. I figure I can't hide the destination once she see that (and since I am hoping to stay at the Contemporary Resort she will see it at soon as we arrive). I am not looking forward to keeping her calm between the time I tell her and when we actually get into the park.

fausz4

02-11-2009, 03:57 PM

Good luck to you! We took our DS when he was 9 to WDW for the first time. We used alot of the suggestions given here (earplugs, mp3, fidgets) to get us through the lines and waits.

About telling or not telling before had - whenever we can-we tell our DS what to expect. You need to do what is best in your situation.

For that trip we purchased the Guide Book from Birnbaum's Walt Disney World for Kids by kids! It was truly a God send. It is written very well! We gave it to him a few months in advance and he read it over and over again! (There are great photos and maps also!) I actually let him take it into the parks with us. It was neat to hear him talk about an attraction that he read about in the book. It also has a place for autographs (although we had seperate books).

For our current trip I have given him our old Unofficial Guide to WDW for him to read (he is now 12 and the ...WDW for kids book... is too young for him - although he disagrees) he still reads his old book.

Without this book - I cant imagine what kind of trip we would have had...it was that helpful.

Have a great time...take a deep breath and watch the magic come alive in her eyes!

fausz4

disneydeb

02-15-2009, 11:34 AM

we did a december trip with my 5 yr old dgs and had the time of our lives, first thing i did was to get a GAC card, that was really a life saver, i did not promise certain rides for the pure reason there were some rides we could not get on and had reached their quota for the day, what we did is go at a slow pace, i brought the stroller my daughter was complaining that my grandson would not sit in it but as grandma knows best he sat in it and wouldnt let me move it til he buckled up he would have been too tired by the end of the day if we didnt have it, when we went ot magic kingdom i parked it in fantasy land next to cinderellas castle inthe back and we walked that section then we went to adventure land and parked in one space and walked around and so on , we did not rush in the am we went to parks around 1030 every am and then had lunch first as we are not breakfast people then we did rides and at 230-3pm i made everyone have a snack popcycles and ice cream one day , french fries and a drink another day, this kept everyone from melting down too much and gave us a chance to rest and regroup, then more rides, supper whatever rides we wanted to do then back to resort for swim or spash pool, then snack before bed, showers, and off to sleep repeated the sequence next day different park, worked out beautifully. get the gac card that was tthe biggest lifesaver of all, also when waiting for the busses back to the resort if it was too crowded and we were going to stand id wait for the next one and then we all had a seat, hope this helps , as for telling her , i told my grandson the day we were going to the airport, but i told him i was going to disneyworld he said can i go with you (he always wants to go with me wether its the grocery store or for a walk or on vacation) and i said sure c'mon lets go,and he did. heres dsending you pixie dust :wizard: pixiedust: have a great trip

berries

02-15-2009, 03:06 PM

I told her, I should have known, I can't keep such a huge secret! I checked out tons of Disney guidebooks from the library and that is what she has been doing ever since--going through them all! The kids guide book I was a bit worried to give her, as the scary/dark markers on each ride looked like it would terrify her. But she is more interested in seeing if she is tall enough for the rides or not! :woohoo: I am SO glad! I hope she doesn't resist riding anything because of the darkness or scariness markers in that book!

Last night we did look at youtube too. She wanted to see pictures of the rides. So we watched a few. She seemed afraid of ALL of them except the teacups and Dumbo which I told her we aren't riding. :guilty: I heard they always have such long lines and she has ridden similar rides in the past not at WDW. I would rather her ride other rides and spend our time doing things we can only do at WDW. By the end of watching some videos, she complained of a tummy ache. :headache: She is SO nervous now about going.

Hopefully she will feel better by the time we actually go and she has more time to learn about the rides and how fun they are. :dance3:

mechurchlady

02-15-2009, 03:48 PM

I know you want to try new things but what if we never did old things again. I would never ride a pony or horse again, never ride a swing ride, and never ride a carroussel again. Let her have fun on the familiar things and be happy. Happy kid means less meltdowns and maybe she will try some other rides.

With the dark rides tell her you will take a penlight so she will have her own safe light with her. Fear of darkness is common is all kids. Now she can be a part of the planning. See so far so good. It takes time with kids to get some to ride rides. It may be annoying to do Dumbo 10 times but if she is happy then is that not why you are going?
hugs and chocolates
Laurie

berries

02-15-2009, 04:23 PM

I am all about what makes her happy and if the only thing she will willingly ride is Dumbo, you will see me in line for 3 hours if that is what it takes. :cool1: I just know she will love some of the other rides too if she will give them a chance!

I tried to explain that the videos really can't let her know how it FEELS to actually be on the rides. The realistic features is what makes WDW so cool! :cheer2: That is why she loves the Omnimax movies so much! I think she will enjoy herself once she is actually on the rides. Leading up to them and worrying will be the issue.

Oh and I pulled up character meets on youtube and she watched some of those. I wasn't sure how she would react to them as she hasn't done well in the past. (It has been a while) She seemed so excited about meeting the characters and getting their autographs. :idea: I was right about Little Einsteins though---she was more excited about them than any of the others. :cloud9:

berries

02-15-2009, 04:28 PM

Oh the others that she wants to ride, I hadn't planned on, are the water rides. I thought March would be too cool to do those! Of course those are on her must-see list! Because she HAS done those in the past. See once she does something and knows what to expect, she is fine with doing them again. But first time on a ride is difficult and nerve wracking.

mechurchlady

02-15-2009, 04:44 PM

Same for me, was scared of Space Mountain but now ride it when I can. You will need an autograph book and a fat pen. The sell them for a lot of money at the parks. You can buy them or make a nice book for her. The pens are the out of this world priced. Just keep your eyes open for a cute and fat pen because the costumed characters and gloved princesses cannot hold the skinny pens so well.

Get a fast pass for later in the day for water rides or bring a change of clothes for the kid. You can leave them in a locker. It is a trip back up front but a MK you can take the train around to Main Street.

I remember one mom posting on the board that her kid did not want to go to WDW. You will have a wonderful time. Sounds like you have a great kid.:hug:

berries

02-15-2009, 05:11 PM

I had this all mapped out in my head. I already ordered the Disney autograph book with pen IN a case so easy to carry. As I figured it might be difficult to get her to take a pic with any characters UNLESS she has a job to do--get their autograph. I am one smart mommy--if it works out. LOL So far it looks as if I was right! She is excited about the autographs.

Maybe we can save the wet rides for right before lunch and then go to the resort to change out of our wet clothes. Probably when the longest lines are as everyone has thought of that. :rotfl:

I know the space ride made me think I would be claustrophobic inside of it but I was fine once on the ride! So I totally understand that!

mechurchlady

02-15-2009, 05:48 PM

It is a long way to the resort. It would be easier to change in a companion bathroom and then walk around in the sun. I read recently about a mom with a wet kid and the meltdown that ensued. Imagine walking from Splash Mountain all the way to the front entrance then to the transportation then getting back to the resort.

There are not that many water rides at the parks. Pirates is a lap dampener at most. The Kali Rapids and Splash Mountain can drench people. Make a list of water rides and you will see there are few that drench you.

If you do do lunch you could do counter service and find a warm spot to warm up if the weather is on vacation.:hug:

ireland_nicole

02-15-2009, 09:26 PM

It's ok; you can absolutely do Dumbo; go first thing in the morning. If you're staying on site go the morning of am EMH. Then you can get in a few before it gets crowded. If she's fixated on Dumbo, then do that first! From there she might do the carosel, and you might get in on a lot more rides that way. Keep up the You Tube viewing, she might hit on rides she likes!

FWIW, even though dumbo is a typical hub and spokes ride, there is something magical about this one! It really is worth doing :)

berries

02-16-2009, 03:59 AM

Makes sense to take a change of clothes! I see what you are saying about the time to get back to the resort. Where are the lockers at WDW? I am so afraid of getting my camera wet too but don't want to NOT bring it!

I am still not sure about the extra hours. It seems we can go to a park one hour early or stay 3 hrs late. But not both. We are only doing one park a day.

So should we go early or stay late? We aren't early risers but will for WDW. May be irritable. :) Will the lines not be so bad during those late hours? Dd doesn' t sleep well and yes she CAN stay up that late and does most nights! :sad2:

AJKMOM

02-16-2009, 06:49 AM

March is Spring Break for colleges, and can be somewhat crowded. Not as bad as the time around Easter and Christmas, though.

If she really wants to ride Dumbo, just get to the Magic Kingdom on an early Extra Magic day-you can find out online at the official Disney web site- and go straight there. Most will be heading to Space Mountain first.

I hope you are able to relax and have fun, the first trip is the hardest.

Also, don't worry about what some stranger in line or on the bus might think of you and your family. If you do, you might as well stay home because there will be people who are rude, stare and make comments. Ignore them, or explain about your daughter if you want, but don't feel guilty about her behavior.

WDW is a great place to visit with special needs people, they are very accomodating. That's why my 20 year old autistic DS has been 14 times, going for 15 in November on his 21st birthday.

mechurchlady

02-16-2009, 09:04 AM

I am still not sure about the extra hours. It seems we can go to a park one hour early or stay 3 hrs late. But not both. We are only doing one park a day.

So should we go early or stay late? We aren't early risers but will for WDW. May be irritable. :) Will the lines not be so bad during those late hours? Dd doesn' t sleep well and yes she CAN stay up that late and does most nights! :sad2:
They rotate the EMH so that some days Epcot is open late and some days it is open early.

It is good to keep your home schedule so for me WDW is 3 hours later for me. 7 am is 4 am and midnight is only 9 pm. The best time is early but not if you are half a sleep and doing the Zombie. You need to be well fed, no pain, no worries and alert in order to do the parks most efficiently. What ever gets the job done and fits the kid's schedule you should do.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/earlyentry.htm
In the morning you can get there early and walk over to rides like Snow White and be first in line even if you do not do Dumbo.

http://www.stitchkingdom.com/kidcot/
Kidcot Stations are fun places to play. Get stamps from around the world.

http://www.stitchkingdom.com/discovery/
Animal Kingdom version of Kidcot

http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/
A list of street performances which is nice to keep the kid entertained.

jands

02-16-2009, 01:05 PM

My son loves those koosh balls - they're filled with air and still really squishy. We brought one on our last flight and had no problem. You might want to try some of those - they come in many different sizes.

teachallday

02-16-2009, 04:29 PM

Extra Clothes

- I wouldn't buy a locker, I would just keep them with the stroller that you are going to have for your daughter.

berries

02-16-2009, 05:50 PM

Won't they be stolen? I am a little confused by the advice on WDW website on this. If water rides can wet cameras, clothes, etc...leave them with the stroller. But then advice is to leave nothing with the stroller--take everything on the rides in case of loss/robbery. So do we lug our bags of extra clothes, snacks, etc with us on every ride? Where do you put your stuff on rides so they don't fly out? popcorn::

I am so confused by this! I have ordered a fanny pack but clothes won't fit in it!

Thank you!

blondietink

02-16-2009, 07:21 PM

We leave things with our stroller/travel chair all of the time and have never had a problem. The only thing I make sure I take on a ride is our camera and video camera. I already have my money in a pocket, so don't need to worry about that either. :cool2:

teachallday

02-16-2009, 08:30 PM

Won't they be stolen? . . . So do we lug our bags of extra clothes, snacks, etc with us on every ride? . . . I have ordered a fanny pack but clothes won't fit in it!

Anything that can not be replaced like your daughter, camera with precious pictures, personal identification, that one sensory toy your DD can't be without are all things you take with you on to the rides and do not leave in the stroller.

Other things can stay in the stroller. If extra clothes, snacks, or a bottle of water is stollen, it may be inconvienent, but it will not be a disaster. They can all be replaced. Just don't have your daughters favorite outfit as the spare clothes.

I also recommend something I saw in another post, that you customize the stroller in some way so someone does not walk off with it by mistake thinking it is theirs. Like tying a bandana around the handles, tie a balloon to it, etc.

mechurchlady

02-16-2009, 10:09 PM

Theft is parks is minimal and I have never had anything stolen. Pins were stolen by pin traders at DLR but they were an unsavory lot. People take strollers only if they do not think they will get caught and if the stroller is ordinary and usually an accident. I have even left stuff I bought in the ECV with no problem at DLR.

If you are using a "Stroller as a Wheelchair GAC" then the you would have the stroller with you in the line and would leave it on the loading platform where CMs are located. People are not going to steal clothing. Also take zip-loc bags and dump wallets and cameras into that if you do have something of value like a camcorder.

Leajess99

02-16-2009, 11:39 PM

I want to take squishy gel filled balls to keep her hands busy on the plane. I bought some new ones especially for that purpose but now I am told that they have to follow the 3 oz rule!! I don't know how many fluid ounces are in each one, will this be a problem through security??

I would see about getting a note from her doctor or occupational therapist so they can be considered medical and then they can go through.

PrincessMom4

02-23-2009, 07:52 AM

We are slowly but surely working on a proper diagnosis for my child. They say my daughter doesn't have some form of ASD based off that she has great language skills and understanding. They did some DSM form to rule this out. How do they "properly" diagnosis this condition?? If she does have say Aspergers is there medication for this or is this treated in some other way??

I just feel like I want to cry. I have tried my very best and then some to the point where I cry myself to sleep because I can't "fix" this. I have been after doctors to get a proper diagnosis since she was 4 and she is almost 10.

Thanks for any or all help.

mechurchlady

02-23-2009, 08:49 AM

Read the Tony Atwood and Temple Grandin books to understand the aspie mind. People with neurovariations (miswired brains) often adapt which means a person with very little autism may adapt so well that normal testing will not pinpoint the autism. You may never get a set answer.

The solution is to work on her weaknesses and build her strengths. You have been handed a puzzle to solve. Do allergy testing to make sure she is not over reacting to something. Bookworm and others will be by later. They have better advice. I guess you could say that sometimes you have to treat the kid like you lived in the 18th century when there was no testing. Temple Grandin is a renown autistic person who succeeded because her parents worked hard with her and at the time there was not much available for disabled children of any kind. Read her life story if you can to see what it was like growing up autistic in the 1950's and 1960's.

I send you big hugs and dole whips:hug: :hug:
Laurie:hug:

Waves to Becky :surfweb: :surfweb: :surfweb:

mousireid

02-24-2009, 10:01 PM

Sorry to butt I folks but what is a GAC? And is it available at Disneyland too? We are heading that way and my son (7yrs) is high funtioning autistic and these tips so far have been AMAZING regardless of the park! I do not get the chance to see such a wide online forum with such knowledgable people! This is AWESOME! :goodvibes

teachallday

02-24-2009, 10:25 PM

GAC - Guest Assistance Card

rather than trying to explain it here, you should read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) thread on the DisABILITIES section of this board. Post number 6 deals with the GAC.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713

I also struggle with all the abreviations that people use here on the DISboards. I don't remember where, but somewhere on this site there is a posting that lists the majority of the abreviations you will find here. It is in one of the stickeys at the top of one of the sections. Find it, it is worth looking at.

mechurchlady

02-24-2009, 10:30 PM

FAQs are stickied for this board and better explain.

Guest Assistance Card - GAC

This little piece of cardstock lets the CM know what special hidden needs a guest has. It is only for hidden disabilities. WDW does sun and autism but not DLR as that would not help in Disneyland.

Instead of repeatedly telling a CM that the guest is deaf, blind, cannot do stairs, etc the guest shows their GAC which lets the CM know that the guest needs special services like using the elevator at Star Tours at DLR.

There is a guest booklet at DLR and you could get a Stroller as a GAC if you need to take the stroller into lines. Very nice for low tone children, neurovariants, and sensitive kids.

Brer Shay

02-26-2009, 01:13 PM

Seems like you've gotten alot of good informtion here for most of your questions.

I have one other suggestion, though I know it's a bit controversial. I had similar enormous concerns about my DS (ASD) on his first flight (in 2004 as the TSA was really ramping up). After much nail biting, consulting, conversation, etc., we opted for medicinal intervention. With the confined space issue and all the stimulation, it seemed 50/50 to me whether we'd be allowed to stay on the plane through take off, let alone the whole flight. Our doctor made a suggestion, we tried it two weeks before the trip to make sure it had the desired effect (awake, able to walk, but mellow and fell asleep easily) and it was good from there. Make sure you try it before the actual event because sometimes medicines can have an opposite effect on our little ones.

As an aside, after that he's been fine on plane rides. He remembers being very calm the first time, so it's what he expects now.

You know you're kiddo best, just wanted to give another option.

berries

02-26-2009, 05:53 PM

I have called the airline SO many times that the last time I called I was told that it is noted that we will need assistance. :rotfl: Works for me! I worry about her running off in the security checks. It is hard when I will be by myself with her AND they said we had to walk through one at a time....letting go of her! I have talked to TSA officials as well and was told we can ask for a private screening which will bypass that...so we will see. I want to opt for private screening rather than the usual.

Now we have the stroller too which will make waiting easier I think. She has been sitting in the stroller a lot today so she likes it. :) It has pockets for her and she loves those. I was getting a little upset that she wouldn't get out of it so I could figure out how everything works on it before we leave. :upsidedow But it is a good thing! :banana:

I have tons for her to do when she is actually ON the plane and bulkhead seats have been requested so she won't kick anyone's seat or anything else. Hopefully that will give her a bit more room. My worry is more getting to the plane. All of the waiting around to board.

I haven't been able to stress as much THIS week as everything else that could go wrong, has gone wrong. So been dealing with other stuff! Now that has been taken care of, I can now stress about WDW and the trip. :scared1: 4 more days until we leave! (Going the night before just so we are closer to the airport and don't go late!)

mechurchlady

02-26-2009, 06:19 PM

REmember that moms and kids feed off of your energy. Last night mom sensed I was having one nasty day even with my perkiness. At the airport while waiting pretend you are at home and do things with her. At home you have an hour to kill so you would play with her or give her some music to listen to. Do not let her sense you are worried, scared or what ever.

When you board you will not have the seat in front of you as you have a bulkhead seat. They require passengers to place everything into the storage bin while taking off and landing so be prepared to put stuff up there then later take down any bags you need. You can keep your purse of course but no duffel bags on your feet.

I am waiting for the trip report. I send you lots of hugs and remember when you started out on the board, boy you are getting there and soon you will be at WDW wondering what the fuss was about.

Hugs
Laurie:hug: