Admission for severely handicapped child?

[SingingMom]

My 11 year old niece is in an open-eyed coma, brain damaged, with a feeding tube. She is in a reclining wheelchair that resembles a stroller. The travel agent told my sister she needed a regular park admission ticket. Was this correct information? This child cannot ride any rides and can not eat or drink. The only reason to be in the parks is so that both her parents can accompany the other two siblings and all be able to sit at dinner together in Epcot.

Are there any discounted admission tickets for this type of situation?

Thank you for the info.

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[smitch425]

My 11 year old niece is in an open-eyed coma, brain damaged, with a feeding tube. She is in a reclining wheelchair that resembles a stroller. The travel agent told my sister she needed a regular park admission ticket. Was this correct information? This child cannot ride any rides and can not eat or drink. The only reason to be in the parks is so that both her parents can accompany the other two siblings and all be able to sit at dinner together in Epcot.

Are there any discounted admission tickets for this type of situation?

Thank you for the info.

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

The travel agent was correct. All guests ages 3 and up require a ticket to enter the park. There are no discounts based on physical or mental disabilities.

 

[SingingMom]

The travel agent was correct. All guests ages 3 and up require a ticket to enter the park. There are no discounts based on physical or mental disabilities.

Thanks for the quick response!

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Michigan]

She will be able to go on stay in her chair and go on It's a Small World, Jungle Cruise, Buzz Lightyear, if her chair frame at the bottom is high enough Aladdin's Flying Carpets, Under the Sea, Carousal of Progress, Country Bear Jamboree, Toy Story Mania, Great Movie Ride, The Land boat ride, Under the Sea, Boat ride in Mexico, Kilimanjaro Safari and all the shows.

While she won't be aware it will be nice for the family to experience riding together.

 

[SteveMouse]

I am unsure as to how buffets will be handled. It is possible that there would be a charge for her. Sometimes, Disney may only charge an entertainment fee (for meals w/characters).

 

[SueM in MN]

Just agreeing that there is not discount for guests with disabilities.
If they plan to go to Seaworld, that park does offer a discount for disabled guests.

Some things about WDW they might not be aware of:

- First Aid station in each park
There are private rooms or cubicles with cots that may be used for diaper changes, just getting out of the wheelchair for a change of position, treatments, etc.
First Aid can also store things like supplies or refrigerated medications (there are also lockers available for a charge in all parks).

- Wheelchair accessible spots in all shows/theaters.
All theaters and shows have spots where wheelchairs can be parked so the person does not have to leave the wheelchair during the show. There will be at least one seat for a companion to sit right next to the wheelchair, with seating nearby for the rest of the party (up to a total of 5 plus the person with a disability).

- Some rides have wheelchair accessible ride cars where the guest may stay in their wheelchair for the experience.
Some are very gentle rides (Small World, Mexico, Great Movie Ride, Jungle Cruise).
Some have more extreme motion and require the wheelchair to be fastened down (Toy Story Midway Mania, Safari, Backstage Tour).
Some have a small space that a reclining wheelchair may not fit in (Buzz Lightyear, Aladdin's Magic carpets, Ellen's Energy Adventure).

Follow the link in my signature or look near the top of the board for the disABILITIES FAQs thread for more helpful information.

 

[mistysue]

Just agreeing that there is not discount for guests with disabilities.
If they plan to go to Seaworld, that park does offer a discount for disabled guests.

Some things about WDW they might not be aware of:

- First Aid station in each park
There are private rooms or cubicles with cots that may be used for diaper changes, just getting out of the wheelchair for a change of position, treatments, etc.
First Aid can also store things like supplies or refrigerated medications (there are also lockers available for a charge in all parks).

- Wheelchair accessible spots in all shows/theaters.
All theaters and shows have spots where wheelchairs can be parked so the person does not have to leave the wheelchair during the show. There will be at least one seat for a companion to sit right next to the wheelchair, with seating nearby for the rest of the party (up to a total of 5 plus the person with a disability).

- Some rides have wheelchair accessible ride cars where the guest may stay in their wheelchair for the experience.
Some are very gentle rides (Small World, Mexico, Great Movie Ride, Jungle Cruise).
Some have more extreme motion and require the wheelchair to be fastened down (Toy Story Midway Mania, Safari, Backstage Tour).
Some have a small space that a reclining wheelchair may not fit in (Buzz Lightyear, Aladdin's Magic carpets, Ellen's Energy Adventure).

Follow the link in my signature or look near the top of the board for the disABILITIES FAQs thread for more helpful information.

If they have never been on Toy Story Midway Mania and if her chair would allow it- they may want to know how much that one turns.
My youngest has hypotonia and at 17 months taking him on that ride was terrifying. He was not able to sit well at the time and couldn't stay in one spot because of the movement so one of us had to spend the ride making sure he wasn't going to fly out of the car. It may quickly turn into the type of experience where you board and 5 seconds later start praying for the ride to end. Buzz is like a light version of the spinning, so if they experience that first they may be able to guess if they are up for trying TSM.

 

[joanchris]

I am unsure as to how buffets will be handled. It is possible that there would be a charge for her. Sometimes, Disney may only charge an entertainment fee (for meals w/characters).

We have never been charged for my daughter for buffets at Crystal Palace, Cape May, Ohana (I know it's not a buffet), Chef Mickey's.
We have not done shows, like Hoop De Doo, but would expect to pay for those as it's entertainment as well as the food.

 

[SingingMom]

Thank you, everyone, for your responses. They were not charged for any meals, just the park admission. I guess I never looked at it from the "entertainment" point of view. I just thought there might be a discounted version of admission for a severely brain damaged guest. It makes sense that it would probably be too difficult to monitor.

They had a pleasant trip and are heading home via train now. (Niece can not fly due to cabin pressure.)

"SingingMom" ....Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[TRICKY_TINK]

Glad they had a wonderful trip

 

[mrspxyz]

I realize that the family has already taken their trip but I wanted to add that if you stay in Disney and want to take the dining plan, Disney makes you buy a plan for everyone staying in the room. My son is fed by a feeding tube at night and does not really eat much at mealtime. Disney told me that if I did not buy a dining plan for him that I could not buy a dining plan for my husband and I. That was back in August 2013. We just went again to Disney this week and did not take the dining plan.

 

[smitch425]

I realize that the family has already taken their trip but I wanted to add that if you stay in Disney and want to take the dining plan, Disney makes you buy a plan for everyone staying in the room. My son is fed by a feeding tube at night and does not really eat much at mealtime. Disney told me that if I did not buy a dining plan for him that I could not buy a dining plan for my husband and I. That was back in August 2013. We just went again to Disney this week and did not take the dining plan.

Yes, this is true, but if/when your child is 10+, you could do the plan and use his credits for yourselves. You could do some of the nicer 2 credit TS places and use any CS meals for your third meal of the day. This would work to your advantage more if you travel during free dining periods.

 

[Sunnywho]

I realize that the family has already taken their trip but I wanted to add that if you stay in Disney and want to take the dining plan, Disney makes you buy a plan for everyone staying in the room.

It's a work-around but if you book the reservation for just you and your husband with the dining plan, and then wait until a day ahead or at the resort itself to add him to the reservation, it will be too late for him to be added to the dining plan, and he will not be charged for or get any credits.

 

[FortForever]

It's a work-around but if you book the reservation for just you and your husband with the dining plan, and then wait until a day ahead or at the resort itself to add him to the reservation, it will be too late for him to be added to the dining plan, and he will not be charged for or get any credits.

I was going to suggest the same. When you add a person at check-in, you don't have to get the dining plan, or even pay any extra if it's another adult.