Advice-Accommodations for toddler

[Bcarrier1983]

Hi All, I am looking for some advice. We are going to Disneyland for a couple of days this coming week. For background, my 3 year old has a significant speech delay which he is getting treatment for, as well as signs of ADHD/sensory processing issues. No diagnoses for those yet, per se, due to his age but the doctors are keeping an eye on him. I do know that guest services won't ask for a diagnosis. At any rate, we went to Disneyland back in October and tried doing things the normal way with my son and 6 year old daughter but it was a disaster. We would get half way through a line with everything being OK and then it would be a giant thrashing tantrum and we had to leave the line, or other times he would push his way through the crowded queue and escape. We had to chase him down several times, and once or twice I actually lost sight of him for a minute and someone had to point out which way he went. He is VERY fast and has no concern for his own safety. We've tried the backpack and bracelet type leashes and those work sometimes but also sometimes result in extreme screaming/tantrums. We ended up keeping him in his stroller and then leaving very early. I feel uncomfortable about whether to try to get some sort of accommodation so that my son can actually go on some rides (which he does enjoy once he is on them). I was thinking of whether using the stroller as a wheelchair to allow him to be sitting in his safe place for longer (with distraction), or trying to use DAS for a few rides, would be appropriate. I have read all of the descriptions about how that all works, but I guess I have a couple questions:

1. Does anyone have tips on how to get little ones to accept the "leash"....is it just practice all the time?
2. Does this sound like it qualifies for assistance? I'm feeling uncomfortable about whether my son is "disabled" enough to "deserve" accommodation, or if I should just plan for my husband to keep him at the hotel 80% of the time and hope it is better when he's older.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts or suggestions.

 

[TwoMisfits]

If the stroller as wheelchair accommodation works (which it sounds like it does), that's what I would ask for. It does the most to contain him, and seems like it does solve your problem...and no one will care about a 3 year old in a stroller...

 

[DisSurfer878]

I think the stroller as a wheelchair sounds like it works really well for him. If he has a problem waiting in long lines due to emotional regulation even if he is in his safe place of the stroller and/or has other entertainment (iPad, phone, snack, whatever) then the DAS may be something to consider. The great thing about the DAS is you can get it anytime, so if you go, try the stroller as a wheelchair tag, and find that that accommodation isn't enough to keep your son from having difficulties, then you can go right back over to guest services and inquire about the DAS then.

 

[Lilsia]

He sounds like a typical 3 year old. Not going to lie, they are crazy at that age and are runners, some worse then others. I think you should do what everyone else does with a kid that age, keep him in the stroller when you are walking around, buy the maxpass for shorter lines, makes sure that he gets plenty of time to run off his energy, make sure he gets enough snacks and water, etc. No kid that age can handle long lines. The reality is that you really can't do everything that you want to do when you have a child that age. Sometimes you have to split up and have one parent take the older child on rides while the other parents walks around with the toddler. We took our kids at that age and we only managed a few of the rides that has shorter lines. We spent a good chunk of our day looking at the ducks. LOL

 

[TwoMisfits]

He sounds like a typical 3 year old. Not going to lie, they are crazy at that age and are runners, some worse then others. I think you should do what everyone else does with a kid that age, keep him in the stroller when you are walking around, buy the maxpass for shorter lines, makes sure that he gets plenty of time to run off his energy, make sure he gets enough snacks and water, etc. No kid that age can handle long lines. The reality is that you really can't do everything that you want to do when you have a child that age. Sometimes you have to split up and have one parent take the older child on rides while the other parents walks around with the toddler. We took our kids at that age and we only managed a few of the rides that has shorter lines. We spent a good chunk of our day looking at the ducks. LOL

My 1st boy had me riding the train for almost an hour our 1st park day b/c he refused to ride almost everything, but that was a huge winner...so spouse took the older 2 on rides and I memorized the entire train script. He slowly grew into trying and enjoying more rides over the trip, but it was a 1st day to remember...

We did find on his "awful 3s" trip that if we started the day swimming (his favorite activity), had lunch in our condo, and then went to the parks at 2-3pm, we were in a "better ride time" mindset, and we'd burned off some energy already...it made for short parks days, but much more enjoyable ones...although this was when adding on a ticket cost only $10/day and we had 7 days to burn anyway, and did go into the parks for all 7 b/c they were short days...

 

[DisneyOma]

I think the stroller as a wheelchair sounds like it works really well for him. If he has a problem waiting in long lines due to emotional regulation even if he is in his safe place of the stroller and/or has other entertainment (iPad, phone, snack, whatever) then the DAS may be something to consider. The great thing about the DAS is you can get it anytime, so if you go, try the stroller as a wheelchair tag, and find that that accommodation isn't enough to keep your son from having difficulties, then you can go right back over to guest services and inquire about the DAS then.

I would refrain from offering food in the queues, as that is usually not allowed, is it? Also, if the child is going to be diagnosed with ADHD, then exposing him to electronics as a pacifier may lead to huge issues down the road. I work at a high school, and nearly every student with an ADHD diagnosis has a huge issue putting the phone away during class. They still use it as a pacifier.

 

[Lilsia]

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I think that it depends on the person. Some with ADHD don't need the extra stimulation of a screen because it makes it worse and for some, it helps them if used in moderation. Also, the child in question is 3, which is way too young to be diagnosing them with something like ADHD. I have ADHD but am old enough to where no one was really diagnosed with it. I also grew up without screens because they didn't exist back then. I am grateful that I had to deal with the world without distractions like screens because it forced me to be able to function in society as an adult. No one even knows that I have ADHD. Every method has it's pros and cons and there is no evidence that screen time helps kids with ADHD. In fact, the research is leaning more that the increase screen time is what is causing ADHD symptoms. DisneyOma is not wrong in saying that more screen time is never better. Could have been said a bit differently, but she is not wrong.

 

[DisneyOma]

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At WDW, there are signs that say no food or drink beyond this point. They have been there before the mask mandate. For the rest of your post, for me to reply would be off topic, so I won't get into it here. Would you like a private conversation? If so, feel free to PM me.