2 adults, 4 kids (3 have special needs) what to do?

[nuts4wdw]

Hi, my dh and I are planning a trip to WDW and have a question which should be easy to figure out, but I don't know which would be the easiest. Hoping that maybe you can help. We have 4 children and I'm type I (although, I don't worry about me).
My oldest ds (9 years old) is high functioning autism with huge sensory issues to sound, crowds, and heat (in fact, he would actually prefer to go on vacation elsewhere because of the "noise"). However, once in a stroller he feels safe, and does enjoy the attractions. He can walk till it gets to be too sensory-wise much he weighs about 65 pounds.
My 2nd son has some sort of foot disorder, he's been going to Shriners and they can't figure out the cause of his foot pain. They suspected Kohlers, but now that the bone is beginning to heal that tears apart that theory. They've tested him for juvenile arthritis, lupus, and checked for spurs and tumors. All negative, however, he still has pain. Anyhow, he can't walk long distances (like through costco) without hurting. He is a tall kid and weighs 65 pounds.
My 3 year old son also has sensory issues, but not bad so not a worry, but will not be able to walk WDW. Weighs 35 pounds.
Then I have my miracle baby who will be 18 months on the trip, he suffered a subtle brain injury after birth and is very small, about 6 months behind developmentally, not walking, difficult to feed, and has poor tone which means riding in a umbrella stroller is not an option because he ends up curling up like a newborn due to poor trunk support. However, he is very happy and easygoing. Weighs 20 pounds, wet.
We will be staying onsite and we can't figure out how to tote all 4 of these guys around. Our thought is to bring a small collapsible double stroller for the younger two and rent a double from the parks. It would be nice though to use the rented double as a wheelchair for both the older boys for Fantasmic due to the sensory overload and the long walk, but do they do that with rentals. By the way, all the boys' problems are not visibly apparent so I'm sure we would get many glares, except my oldest when he gets into one of his "zone outs" which don't happen too often until meds wear off. We have gone in the past and are familiar with the GAC, but the older two were younger, we didn't have our smallest "miracle", and my 2nd ds foot problems began summer of 2009. So, do any of you have suggestions? This is the first trip my dh and I have taken without the help of my mom, so maybe that's why it seems so overwhelming. Also, some of you with HFA kiddos how did they handle the bus rides and possibly being packed and having to stand? We've always rented a car, but not this time. We are trying to have a budget trip after a pretty bad year with surgeries and my dh being laid off for about 6 months last year, this trip is a celebration of my youngest ds of sorts and a thank you to all my other boys of being so accepting of mommy and baby being gone multiple times to visit the hospital. Sorry so long, thanks in advance!!

 

[jmartinez1895]

You can use the rental as a wheel cair as long as you get the GAC and they dont care where you get the stroller. We used one of the rental before and it was fine. I would think the only option for you at this point would be to use 2 doubles, unless you are very strong and can carry all those kids all day.. lol.

 

[SueM in MN]

Is there any chance of getting someone else to go along and help you?

I don't know the weight limits of the WDW park rental strollers, but if you look in post #2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, you can see a picture of the current strollers. The off site rental double strollers have weight limits for each side of the stroller - I think the highest weight ones will only hold a total of 100-110 pounds, 50-55 on each side. You would need a special needs stroller for each child to get strollers that will hold 65 pound children.

I would suggest using a double for the 2 youngest, but that still leaves 2 strollers to push for the other 2. You can use a double stroller as a wheelchair.
Some people have rented a park wheelchair for 2 kids too big for strollers, but with 2 kids the size of yours, it would be a tight ride and maybe a very difficult situation because of the one child's sensory issues.

For the buses, you will have the best experience if you try to avoid busiest times. Don't be in a hurry to leave the park after parades or at closing. Just sit tight someplace until the crowds thin going out. That will make your trip out easier and the first few packed buses will have left by the time you get to the bus stop. We do that and are often the first in lime for the bus we end up riding. If possible, go all the way to the back. Even when the bus us full, people tend to congregate at the front door.

You may want to look into tour plan services like TourGuide Mike or Ridemax. You don't have to follow he tour plan exactly, but they can help to steer you toward the quietest part of yhe quietest park. This will help with attraction, but also with just getting around.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

For the oldest you might get a pair of shooter earmuffs. That cuts down a lot on the loud noises. I have a grandnephew with an aversion to loud noises. And he is at a point where he knows when he needs to wear them.

 

[christymarie]

I am also voting for you to get someone else to go with you. We used a rented double stroller for my then 8 yo who was about 87 pounds and he had room but not much. His similar sized cousin rode with him for a few minutes but they were so uncomfortable they were miserable. Since one of those two has sensory issues like my 8yo I'm not sure he will tolerate being so close to someone else like that.

 

[tinytreasures]

I agree with taking someone with you
for our oldest son that hates noises we used earplug but I agree the muffs would work well too, we use those everyday here so he can do his school work
what about wearing your baby in a backpack and pushing a double and a single stroller. Can one of your older children hold the baby in the stroller if the baby wants to ride?

 

[nuts4wdw]

I would LOVE to take someone with us! However, since there are 6 of us, we would then have to get two rooms vs. one which would cost us about 600 extra not counting aifare which is over 500 per person because it is Memorial Day. So, over a thousand dollars to have grandma go! I don't think my sensory kiddo will be in the stroller the whole day, mainly for shows and parades, I believe. The deep pressure of walking and running actually helps him cope, you should see him clog We will bring some of those foam construction ear plugs, they are small enough that he can carry them and be in control. We've taught him to plug his nose on "the skunk ride" and he refuses to go on ITTBB. We will go with the flow, this trip isn't about my dh and I it's for the kids. I might try wearing the baby, but I don't think I'm strong enough to tote him through the parks for 6 days. That is a good idea and I think it will definately help free up some hands when they have to walk. Anyway, I'm glad to hear that you can use a double rental as a wheelchair. We thought about the wheelchair to share, but was afraid of what people may say with two kids with "invisible" problems, and unfortunately, I'm very self counscious about my kiddos. As I have sat in far too many dr. offices with my kiddos and for the upteenth time to have someone say, "well child check?" "wow, I would've never guessed" "your lucky he doesn't look like there is anything wrong" "you know back in my day we solved those type of problems (autism) with a spanking not a dr. visit" I know people on this board may understand better than anyone else. We know it is going to be a hard trip, heck a trip to the grocery store is hard, but we are going to make the best of it! Thank you for the tips. I think we will bring our collapsible double for the two little ones and either rent a double disney (are they smaller than they used to be?, they look like they are) or have the two big boys try and take turns in a regular chair (don't know how that will work with the foot pain, we'll see). Thanks, wish us luck

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Excuse me, but with the six that you show in your signature you will probably need two rooms anyway. The normal limit is almost all the resort room is four plus an infant in a crib.

Your options for a group your size would be (a) an All-Stars Family Suite, (b) a one bedroom or larger villa, (c) one of the larger Deluxe which has two beds plus a daybed and will also allow a crib, or (d) getting two connecting rooms in a value or moderate, which will give four double beds plus two bathrooms. There is one moderate which can fit five, with two double beds plus a trundle bed, but you cannot also fit a crib in that room.

 

[nuts4wdw]

Actually, you can fit 5 plus an infant at POR with a trundle according to disney reservations. That is where we are planning to stay. That is what is on our reservation it says 2 adults, 3 children, 1 infant on our itinerary details on our reservation and has been verified with disney multiple times. Once he turns three then we are outta there but we most likely won't be back for a while anyway. Thanks for checking up on us, wouldn't want any trouble.

 

[SueM in MN]

Actually, you can fit 5 plus an infant at POR with a trundle according to disney reservations. That is where we are planning to stay. That is what is on our reservation it says 2 adults, 3 children, 1 infant on our itinerary details on our reservation and has been verified with disney multiple times. Once he turns three then we are outta there but we most likely won't be back for a while anyway. Thanks for checking up on us, wouldn't want any trouble.

That is correct. There are some rooms at Port Orleans Riverside in the Alligator Bayou that have a trundle bed and do sleep 5 plus one infant.

Back to the question about where the older kids can ride - I was assuming that the 2 older kids might need a stroller at the same time. If they could switch off, you could probably use one of the park double strollers for them.

That may be more comfortable than sharing a wheelchair. The wheelchairs are adult size and may not be comfortable for a child who is not adult size. They have sling seats and backs - similar to a director's chair. Because of the sling, kids sitting in them tend to slide toward the middle. With 2 kids, that means they are pretty close together.