7yo with DD after cruise

[jellymoon]

We are going on the 7 day Western Disney Cruise on 9/28. We'll be doing 4 days in the park before the cruise, and 1 day following. We've been to Disneyland in California about once a year since he was two, and have always used a Maclaren Push Chair. His endurance has improved remarkably over the course of the past year, so we passed the Maclaren Chair onto another family who needed it more--- before we knew we were going to take this trip to Disney World. It is my hope that he will be just fine, but I'm wondering what suggestions you have if he isn't. I'm especially worried about how he'll do with "sea legs" following the cruise.

Do you know if they have kid sized wheelchairs that we could rent? Or, are there strollers for rent which would accomodate a 60 pound kid? And, if we use the stroller, would they allow us to keep the stroller with us in line? The difficulty is that if he is exhausted, he looks like a drunken sailor--- he stumbles, leans, and falls down. I'm hoping he won't get to this point--- especially as we also have two toddlers and a preschooler.

Should we ask for a GAC just to conserve his energy and avoid his getting to that point all together? Or, should we just go gangbusters and rent a chair and get a GAC when and if he crashes? Will they do some type of GAC if you have endurance problems but aren't using a wheelchair or pushchair?

Thanks for the help!!!
Sara

 

[Nanajo1]

The GAC is ideal for someone who has difficulty with endurance and needs to have a place to wait out of the sun etc. It also can get you fast pass access if warranted. I would definitely get the GAC the first day explain what your DS needs to be able to enjoy the parks, if he can't wait in lines or tires easily let the CM know and have your stroller designated as a medical assistance even if it is not the medical type so you can take it in line. Use the GAC as necessary, take advantage of Fast Pass when you can. From past posters: check the GAC before you leave Guest services to make sure everything you need is spelled out.
I don't think the resorts have child size w/c but check with the offsite vendors, Walker's, Care Medical they may be able to help.
Have a wonderful trip.

 

[Michigan]

The strollers will hold more then a 60 pound kid. Also there probably won't be that much waiting in lines because of the time you are going. We went the last week in September and just walked on all the rides most of them we could stay on and ride again because of no lines.

 

[SueM in MN]

Safari Steve (a MK CM) has written that the rental strollers will hold up to a small 12 year old, so you could rent one at WDW. As Nanajo mentioned, you can get a GAC that allows you to use a stroller as a wheelchair. Renting a stroller in the parks might work just fine, but you might want to rent from outside just so you don't have to worry about transporting your DS back to your hotel if he hits the "drunken sailor" point (especially since you will also have 2 other kids who will likely be tired).
According to their websites:
Care Medical:
http://www.caremedicalequipment.com/

Walker Mobility:
1-888-726-6837
www.walkermobility.com

Colonial Medical
http://www.colonialmed.com/about_cms.html

are full service medical equipment rental places, so they should rent special needs strollers and children's wheelchairs. Two of them (I think Care and Walker) did have something on their websites about children's equipment. There is also a company http://www.all-about-kids.com that rents baby equipment. I've been told they also rent special needs strollers.

We had the same experience as Michigan when we went 2 years ago in September. We didn't even bother to get a GAC since there was no need. You can always go to Guest Services during your trip and request one if needed; no need to do it the first day. I think if he's to the point of having endurance problems in line, you will need a stroller much more than just a GAC since the distance and time you will be in line is much shorter than the amount of time you will be walking between things.

 

[jellymoon]

Thanks for all the great responses!!! I agree that the stroller or other helpful device is actually much more important than the GAC. DS has NO trouble waiting in line, so long as he can sit down when he is exhausted. Thanks again for all the help!!!! I can't wait to go--- ten more days until we leave. Yippee!!! My kiddos are watching the Disney trip planning video as I type!

Jelly