All-around HELP!

[Teatrodog]

A bit of background - I am the father of two non-verbal children w/ Autism. Alexa (4) and Logan (2) We are planning our 2nd trip (w/ the kids) to WDW for April 2007 (Wife's a teacher). The first was a success although different in almost everyway from when we went prior to Lexx's birth. The most frustrating thing for me was being designated to "pack-mule" (i.e., backpack, diaperbag and two single strollers) and having to lug these needed items on and off the buses and monorail. <sigh> My wife has OCD (obsessive, compulsive dissorder) which only adds to my stress and struggle... We took two single strollers because if one child is having an "episode" due to being tired or overstimulated then we could seperate them without the handicap of a double stroller. This aspect worked out very well in one regard but was a burden in another.

1) We have talked about booking the Contempory for the sake of one less vehicle to board and unload from but it is pricey. Is this something we could do a payment plan on rather than pay all at once? Bad enough we're going to be needing FOUR seperate seat on the plane.

2) Having been to WDW 5X (including the last time w/ the kids) I feel like a seasoned veteran but now with thw "wee ones" I feel like a stranger in a strange land. Any good advice - other than "not go" NOT an option - I need my fix

3) As I've mentioned, my wife is a teacher and I was wondering if there are any discounts w/ NEA?

Thanks in advance for any sanity you can restore.

 

[ducklite]

There are often discounts for teachers at the Sawn and Dolphin, but WDW itself doesn't offer teacher discounts.

I don't think WDW allows a "payment plan" but you only have to put down a deposit, and then depending on if you book a package or room only you have intil 45 days or check-in to pay the balance.

You might want to check on the Budget Board for tips on saving money both while at home prior to your trip and during the trip.

Anne

 

[SueM in MN]

Don't have time for much typing right now, but one thing for the "budget plan" I've heard people do is open a separate savings account just to make payments into. That way, even though you didn't pay WDW the payments, the money is there, saved in one place.

 

[Selket]

My children do not have autism but one has other medical issues (diabetes, allergies) and we stayed in the CR last year when he was 3 yrs old. I can't say we stayed there because of his issues - mostly cause I had a good rate!

In any case you can certainly walk to the MK from the CR as you probably know and it can be easier to take the monorail back. Depending on the time of year you go you may find that the monorail is a bit crowded. We often folded up the stroller because of the crowds and this was in May - usually at peak rider times. I found the monorail to Epcot to be not just all that much better than taking the bus because you have to change at the TTC - walk down a long ramp and over to another and wait for another monorail and go through the whole boarding thing again. So we'd have to unfold the stroller and reload it and then fold it back up many times. Also he did NOT want to sit in the stroller on the monorail - he wanted to sit in a seat if possible (by the window).

I guess I'm saying that I LOVED the CR for walking to the MK where we spent most of our time that trip - well worth it. But to get anywhere else it was the same as staying at other resorts IMHO. I think if you plan to spend most of your time at the MK - and with that age children no doubt you are - then the CR is a great choice. It does NOT have a baby pool though - if that is a problem. That was the biggest downside of it for us. It had a small little "splash" area that wasn't working when we were there. Otherwise your kids would need to wear life jackets for the pool or you have to hold them all the time I'd think.

I bought an annual pass because the discount on the CR rooms - for a week's stay - more than paid for the extra $$$ of the pass. In April you might find some luck with discounts and there is more on the budget boards (and codes and discounts board) on how to figure if an AP is worth it. I did use our AP this past April during spring break for a trip to POR so I know they did have spring break discounts this year - but who knows about next year?

Finally I'll add that I have used Tour Guide Mike (he is sponsor of the Theme Parks board and there is a discount coupon if you use the link from there) for our last 4 trips and I can't say enough good things about his touring plans. I use the ones for young kids and thrill rides (now that my other son likes them) and his advice is always spot on. I especially like that he explains the reasons for doing rides in a certain way so if you get "off track" (as you do with little kids) it is easy to pick it back up and hit the least crowded things for whatever time you are at the park, etc. Costs about as much as a tour guide book.

Have a great trip!

 

[GretchGraham]

I got tired of being the pack mule for the stuff we needed to keep my DD with autism happy in the parks. I ended up taking two bags with me to the MK, one with only the immediate things we needed--kool aid, one pull up, small bag of wipes, small toys, candy, etc. I was able to attach this to the stroller handle and not carry it around all day. The other bag with the extra pull ups, extra outfit, etc., I placed in a locker. I would go back to it as necessary (and after bathroom trips, obviously).

The first time it was suggested that I do this, I thought it would be too much work going back and forth to the locker, but I found it was easier on me physically than hauling the extra pounds as all of our equipment wouldn't fit on the stroller.

I agree that the Contemporary would be a wonderful choice if you are planning on spending most of your time in the MK. However, the other, less expensive resorts can be workable as well.

I obtained the GAC for my daughter and one of the things it allowed me to do was to use her stroller as a wheelchair (now that she is older and too big for the stroller, we actually do use a wheelchair). She has issues regarding the closeness of the crowd and she is also low tone and could not walk the parks even if it was safe for her to do so. The closeness of her stroller and now the wheelchair was wonderful sensory input and it helped to calm her down. She found the busses very stimulating and would sometimes melt down. Once I began to use her stroller as a chair, the bus drivers would let me roll her on the bus in her stroller and she could remain in the stroller. She was much more calm this way and it was a much more enjoyable ride for me and for my fellow passengers. (Sorry if any of you were on the bus with us before I knew this and suffered a screaming fit starring my DD.)

If this is also the case for your children, you should be able to allow them to remain in their strollers. This would keep you from having to fold/unfold and load/unload. As you are aware, this is one of the most dangerous times for the children to slip away because your attention is diverted. Or at least it was for me as my DD would slip away in a heartbeat.

I guess what I am trying to say is that with the proper planning, you can have a wonderful vacation without going bankrupt. I'm sure you will get some really good advice from the others on this board and I hope you are able to work it all out and enjoy yourselves.

 

[Selket]

Once I began to use her stroller as a chair, the bus drivers would let me roll her on the bus in her stroller and she could remain in the stroller.

Not that I doubt you, but I thought the WDW bus drivers (assuming this is the bus you were on?) would not let strollers be kept unfolded with a child riding in them even if they are being used as a wheelchair (because of some safety issues).

Here is a previous thread about this very thing: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=778390&highlight=stroller+wheelchair+bus

You perhaps would not be required to fold the stroller on the monorail - either using a GAC for stroller as wheelchair, etc. - not sure how that would work. DS always wanted to sit in a seat so we didn't have that issue.

Maybe Sue can clarify this?

 

[GretchGraham]

Not that I doubt you, but I thought the WDW bus drivers (assuming this is the bus you were on?) would not let strollers be kept unfolded with a child riding in them even if they are being used as a wheelchair (because of some safety issues).

Here is a previous thread about this very thing: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=778390&highlight=stroller+wheelchair+bus

You perhaps would not be required to fold the stroller on the monorail - either using a GAC for stroller as wheelchair, etc. - not sure how that would work. DS always wanted to sit in a seat so we didn't have that issue.

Maybe Sue can clarify this?

I had no idea they weren't supposed to allow you to do this. We always stay at OKW and did this in '03 and '04. I didn't have any problems, but maybe I was just been lucky.

 

[SueM in MN]

Yes, I can clarify. The thread that Selket linked to has most of the facts; I'll just add a bit.

I'm sure there are some bus drivers who have allowed children to stay in their strollers when the parent showed them a "stroller as a wheelchair" Guest Assistance Card. It may be that the bus driver didn't realize this was not safe or assumed that because the parents requested it, they had a special needs stroller that it was safe for. But, whether the driver allowed it or not, a regular stroller is not safe to sit in during bus rides.

The tiedowns used to secure wheelchairs and ECVs into the buses have a heavy hook that is used to hook them onto a sturdy part of the wheelchair or ECV. Two hooks are placed in the front and two in the back, then the belts are tightened to hold the wheelchair securely in place. Wheelchairs have sturdy frames that are attached together by welded joints or high strength connectors. They can be tied down like this without damage and without folding if an accident occurs. The wheels on a wheelchair are also much sturdier and attached more securely than those on a stroller.

Because many people who use wheelchairs can't easily leave their wheelchair, some wheelchairs have even been crash tested to make sure they are safe.

Stollers are designed to be light weight and to fold. The metal pieces on a stroller are much lighter weight and usually more flexible than the framing on a wheelchair. During an accident, or sudden stop, the tiedown staps or hooks could put enough stress on a particular part of the stroller to bend or break it (especially the parts that connect together - which are often just held together with rivet-like attachments).

If the child stayed in the stroller, that could be very dangerous during an accident. There is a seatbelt attached to the floor/frame of the bus that is used to secure the person to the wheelchair. To protect someone, the thing they are sitting in needs to be sturdy or the seatbelt becomes just another thing that could harm/crush them during an accident. A regular stroller isn't.
Someone sitting in a wheelchair will usually be in a good position relative to the seatbelt. Someone in a stroller is riding much lower, which also puts them in a possibly dangerous position.

There are some (but not all) special needs strollers that have been designed for use during transport. They have been reinforced to withstand the forces of use during an accident and the frame has been designed to use with a vehicle seatbelt. Those specially designed special needs strollers have actually been crash tested with child size crash dummies.

So, even though a driver in the other thread said they could secure a stroller (without a child in it), I would just fold the stroller. There is a pretty good risk of damage if your stoller is secured in the tiedowns, even if the child is not sitting in it and even without an accident.

And, just to be thorough; It can sometimes be challenging to find safe, secure tiedown points on some ECVs because they are not designed to be ridden on in a moving vehicle. That's why some people prefer to have the ECV secured and then ride on a bus seat.

 

[tacomaranch]

Just wanted to add that our DS also has autism and loves the boat ride to DTD at night from the OKW, POR and POFQ and I am sure more. The water and sound seem to calm him.

Good luck and enjoy. Our first trip in April had me just crazy. I was posting like nuts trying to plan for everything. But in the end, we had a great room, wonderful weather, our family together and DS had a magical time.

Wishing you the same.