Balance/Light/Noise Issues

[Jen_R]

Hi Everyone! I'm new to the boards but someone told me that you guys might be able to help. I've read through the FAQs and several threads but am hoping for advice.

Background: My son was a premie and was born with ear/nose/throat issues (not developed properly). He's now a 6'5" 17 year old - but the ear and nose issues still cause some problems similar to vertigo as well as other balance issues because he also had a stroke at birth. His doctor is planning on prescribing medication to help him while we're at Disney and gave us other information to help.

Here's what he needs:

• Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. (We already are planning breaks in the afternoon, bought him clothing with sunscreen, and he'll have a hat).
• Avoid any extra stimulation outside the rides. (He'll be bringing noise cancelling earphones for lines to help with this)
• Avoid being bumped into in lines or crowded areas. (We booked dessert dining packages for the fireworks he wants to see, will try to avoid the most busy times of the day and if parks seem to busy stick to less crowded areas, and will encourage him to have a hand on the rails at all times).

It's hard because he looks like a super 'normal' 17-year old boy until he has a reaction to the medication or lights or noise - then he gets extremely weak and/or sick. We know that going to Disney is a risk and we are prepared to have quiet time but would just like his time in the park to be as successful as possible. This trip was his request.

I realize that there are no guarantees about what Guest Services will do if I explain his needs, but we will be hoping for a DAS so that he can wait outside of the busy lines. We have absolutely no problems waiting but just don't want to put him in the long lines full of people, extra sounds, etc. if at all possible.

Does anyone else have any suggestions for what might help us with his needs while at Disney?

Thanks in advance.

 

[DisneyOma]

Hi Everyone! I'm new to the boards but someone told me that you guys might be able to help. I've read through the FAQs and several threads but am hoping for advice.

Background: My son was a premie and was born with ear/nose/throat issues (not developed properly). He's now a 6'5" 17 year old - but the ear and nose issues still cause some problems similar to vertigo as well as other balance issues because he also had a stroke at birth. His doctor is planning on prescribing medication to help him while we're at Disney and gave us other information to help.

Here's what he needs:

• Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. (We already are planning breaks in the afternoon, bought him clothing with sunscreen, and he'll have a hat).
• Avoid any extra stimulation outside the rides. (He'll be bringing noise cancelling earphones for lines to help with this)
• Avoid being bumped into in lines or crowded areas. (We booked dessert dining packages for the fireworks he wants to see, will try to avoid the most busy times of the day and if parks seem to busy stick to less crowded areas, and will encourage him to have a hand on the rails at all times).

It's hard because he looks like a super 'normal' 17-year old boy until he has a reaction to the medication or lights or noise - then he gets extremely weak and/or sick. We know that going to Disney is a risk and we are prepared to have quiet time but would just like his time in the park to be as successful as possible. This trip was his request.

I realize that there are no guarantees about what Guest Services will do if I explain his needs, but we will be hoping for a DAS so that he can wait outside of the busy lines. We have absolutely no problems waiting but just don't want to put him in the long lines full of people, extra sounds, etc. if at all possible.

Does anyone else have any suggestions for what might help us with his needs while at Disney?

Thanks in advance.

Luckily, most, if not all of the FP queues are shaded, out of the sun, so that shouldn't be an issue. Waiting at some of the bus stops might be, though, or getting into the parks.

The FP queues can run parallel to the standby queues. A good way to avoid being bumped into is to make your son travel between other family members. The noise cancelling headphones can work in the queues as well. You could be in a FP queue for 15-30 minutes during the busy season, especially if a thunderstorm disrupts some attractions.

A good way to help him is to either bring a rollator or a wheelchair for him to have a seat when he gets weak or sick. Then you don't have to try to find a seat for him, backtrack through endless loops (even the FP queues fold back on themselves in some attractions) to get out.

 

[Jen_R]

Luckily, most, if not all of the FP queues are shaded, out of the sun, so that shouldn't be an issue. Waiting at some of the bus stops might be, though, or getting into the parks.

I knew that bus stops would be bad so we've rented a car. We'll be staying at the Poly so it's also easy to use other transportation and not far away for when we need breaks during our MK days.

The FP queues can run parallel to the standby queues. A good way to avoid being bumped into is to make your son travel between other family members. The noise cancelling headphones can work in the queues as well. You could be in a FP queue for 15-30 minutes during the busy season, especially if a thunderstorm disrupts some attractions.

Great idea to keep him between my husband and me. We know the FP queue can still be a wait and we're just hoping to avoid the worse of the worse. We'll be making FP reservations and using a touring plan as well.

A good way to help him is to either bring a rollator or a wheelchair for him to have a seat when he gets weak or sick. Then you don't have to try to find a seat for him, backtrack through endless loops (even the FP queues fold back on themselves in some attractions) to get out.

If he starts feeling bad we plan to take a day at the hotel to recover. I am also bringing information with in case it does get to be too much and we are not ruling out a wheelchair. We are really hoping though that with careful planning we won't have any episodes.

I really appreciate your advice!

 

[gap2368]

Hi Everyone! I'm new to the boards but someone told me that you guys might be able to help. I've read through the FAQs and several threads but am hoping for advice.

Background: My son was a premie and was born with ear/nose/throat issues (not developed properly). He's now a 6'5" 17 year old - but the ear and nose issues still cause some problems similar to vertigo as well as other balance issues because he also had a stroke at birth. His doctor is planning on prescribing medication to help him while we're at Disney and gave us other information to help.

Here's what he needs:

• Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. (We already are planning breaks in the afternoon, bought him clothing with sunscreen, and he'll have a hat).
• Avoid any extra stimulation outside the rides. (He'll be bringing noise cancelling earphones for lines to help with this)
• Avoid being bumped into in lines or crowded areas. (We booked dessert dining packages for the fireworks he wants to see, will try to avoid the most busy times of the day and if parks seem to busy stick to less crowded areas, and will encourage him to have a hand on the rails at all times).

It's hard because he looks like a super 'normal' 17-year old boy until he has a reaction to the medication or lights or noise - then he gets extremely weak and/or sick. We know that going to Disney is a risk and we are prepared to have quiet time but would just like his time in the park to be as successful as possible. This trip was his request.

I realize that there are no guarantees about what Guest Services will do if I explain his needs, but we will be hoping for a DAS so that he can wait outside of the busy lines. We have absolutely no problems waiting but just don't want to put him in the long lines full of people, extra sounds, etc. if at all possible.

Does anyone else have any suggestions for what might help us with his needs while at Disney?

Thanks in advance.

here is what I would do.

rent a wheel chair, it sounds like your son can walk just fine but this will be a place where he can get to where he will have a little bubble around him,

ear protectors are a must and if need be you can put ear buds on and listen to music and have ear protecters over them ( talk about you own little world) a wide brim hat and a light weight pice of cloth over it if all the vision stimulation is nothing him, ( another good thing about a wheel chair he will not need to worry about bumping into people or the other way around as he can have one of you push him.

as fair as being in the sun for a long time I find that using a DAS I am in the sun a lot more then if I did not need me, and when waiting for my return time if I try to find shade, or go in a store that is where most of the people are and I am getting constily bumpded into ( one person bumped into me so hard I fell and hit a shelf and ever thing fell, a CM and an under cover CM both saw this the undercover CM came and took the person that did this back stage,)

With that said you may do better in line with him in a wheel chair or between the two of you, or just give the people in front of you more room. having a wheel chair will also help with thing the DAS will not like show that they put every one in one big room and you wait to be let in the show but they often have a different area for wheel chair that they wait or you can find a place agent the wall and stay there.

I would book FP for earliest morning starting around an hour to 90 minutes after the park opens, try to have then back to back and then see what FP you can get after you use your first 3, if you can not find any more then maybe go back to the hotel to rest swim. until latter in the day when it is cooler and then head back to the parks ( If you do not want to go back every day at lest do it once ever 3 days.

RD ( getting to the parks when they open) will be your friend not a lot of people are there MK is really nice as they let you in an hour early on Main Street is does get a little crowded where the entrances to the lands are but if you stay back a little you should be ok.

same for the other parks

about the DAS you are more then welcome to talk to GR and I would not even ask about a DAS tell them your sons need, you know your son best they know Disney best and this way you get what will work best for you son ( not what you think and not what someone on here thinks) a DAS maybe best but something else maybe too.

I would to to plan your trip as if there was no DAS how would you do it then. I am saying this incase you do not get one but I find that using other tools ( like noise canceling headphones) help out so much that if I just relied on the DAS ( and I did my first few trip) then my trips were really bad ( to the point of going to the ER) but now the DAS is just another tool I use at Disney to make the trip more doable for me.


I hope this helped and made since I do have a hard time communicating my thought sometimes so if something I said dose not make since I would be happy to try and reword something.

 

[lanejudy]

I recommend sunglasses, a big hat or a lightweight hoodie to block additional stimulation in addition to his earmuffs.

Alternate indoor shows/attractions/dining with outdoor time.

How many in your party? If you have 4-5 you can sort of circle him in crowded areas. Otherwise it's going to be hard to prevent bumps by other people without a wheelchair. WDW seems to have gotten busier and busier in recent years, with crowds pretty much all the time. Use a touring plan to help decide which parks or sections of parks may be most/least busy throughout the day.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[mamabunny]

Remember that if he needs a brief "stress break" that you can go to First Aid in any of the Parks. It's cool, and (relatively) quiet there (as long as no one is crying) and he can even lie down for a bit if need be. They have Tylenol, ice packs, and little cubicles or rooms where he can have some privacy and space to recharge.

The other suggestion I have is that if you are using Park Hoppers, then strongly consider the new Express Transportation option to travel between Parks. It's an extra fee per person, but you travel directly between Parks on a bus that is typically MUCH less crowded than the standard buses - and you get to see a tiny bit of "backstage" as travel between the Parks!

Because you go through Security at your first Park of the day, you don't have to go back through bag check and/or meal detectors as you go from Park to Park on the Express.

We used this on our last trip (April/May of this year) and felt like it was worth every penny! On more than one occasion we would be on that bus with less than a dozen other people! I know it will be more crowded in the summer, but even so - the fact that it drops you well into the Parks, and away from the entrance where it can be crowded and congested - may be something to consider.

I hope you all have a lovely trip!

 

[Jen_R]

Thanks for all the replies and tips everyone! We are getting so excited and know that no matter what it's going to be a great trip!

The good thing is that my son really understands his limitations and is completely open to breaks, hanging out at the hotel, resting, etc. I'm actually looking at seeing about renting a cabana or shaded area around the pool at the resort for one afternoon. He is very opposed to a wheelchair but also knows that he might have to consider it. As I said, we're working closely with his doctor to create a plan of action and so my son knows that we can try his way first and see how it goes.

We will also be considering the Express Transportation option because we have Park Hopper tickets and have been reading how that can be a bit easier in terms of getting around quickly.

I've also been purchasing him really light weight tops with sun protection - and even found a couple with hoodies! Love the idea of the hoodie to block out some of the extra stimulation.

We are all going into the trip with the expectation that we're just there to have fun. If we go on a few rides each day, enjoy time together, and soak up the Disney magic then all is good!

Thanks again everyone!