Child with Downs Syndrome

[Lizardbeth61]

Do they have any provisions for children like this? Friends of ours have a child who is three years old but is developmentally 2-2.5. I guess she'll be closer to 4 years when they sail. Anyway, do they make exceptions to the diaper rule in the clubs for children like this? Do they even take them? If anyone would be compassionate toward special needs children, I would think it would be Disney.

Maybe they can go to Flounders free or at a discount? The parents are paying full child's price for her and yet it appears that she won't have the same excitement as other children.

Just curious. I love this board and thought if anyone could steer them in the right direction, it would be all of you.

 

[BCV23]

We have a son with Down's. He's 21 now but has been enjoying WDW since he was a baby. We were actually at WDW when he turned 21 during our March/April trip this year.

Anyway, I have to say that he has always enjoyed WDW as much as our other two if not more. I have never begrudged paying the appropriate admission price because he absolutely gets his share of enjoyment out of the place. I do wonder about paying the extra $25/night adult fee at the resorts because it's not as if he could ever afford a room of his own. But whatever...he loves WDW.

I don't know what Flounders is ..is it like the Neverland Club, etc..? If so, I'm sure they'll accept her with open arms if she's out of diapers. I don't know if they would have the facilities to make an exception though if she still isn't potty trained.

Our three spent one evening at the Neverland Club many years ago...perhaps the first year it opened. Besides our son with Down's we have another son and a daughter with CP. I checked ahead of time if they could accomodate our two special needs children and was assured that they could. They were not in diapers however.

Perhaps someone else can help you more but this is a start.

 

[peg2001]

It sounds like the OP is talking about the Disney Cruise. The kid's club counselors are not allowed to change diapers or help a child use the potty. Also, they are not set up to provide one-on-one care, if this is needed. HOWEVER, I am sure the child would be welcomed with open arms at the kids clubs if a parent stayed as well to attend to his needs. In fact, when I cruised in January, I often saw a special needs teenager in the kids club (for 3 to 7 year olds) along with his caregiver.

Flounders would be an alternative if the parents wanted to do an excursion or dinner by themselves. I'm afraid they would have to pay the standard fee, however.

Be sure to remind them to fill out the medical information form and get it to DCL to let them know of any special needs they will have (diet, rails for the bed, etc).

Peggy

 

[BCV23]

Just an update...we were at the Polynesian for three nights last weekend sandwiched by stays at DVC. The Polynesian did not charge us for the extra adult....so nice. I made it clear that he was 21. Thanks Polynesian!

 

[eek40]

Lizard....you may want to post also on the disney cruise board here , there has been a lot of talk about this on those boards as well. I think that you will find that Disney will do a lot to help out if possible but the diaper thing is a biggy for them for insurance reasons. Flounders Reef will do diaper changes, but they do charge, however if you contact Disney direct they maybe able to offer you something else. I know parents are welcome anytime in any of the clubs. I dont know when you are planning on travelling but you may try to encourge the training along with talks of the cruise. I know this may not work with a child with Downs but it may, you never know they surprise you Also there is so much to do on board beyond the clubs that even if you dont get to use them you and your child will have a great...um MAGICAL.....or WONDERful trip. Feel free to pop over to the cruise boards and check them out
Aimee

 

[SueM in MN]

I remember reading a post about how one family handled the diaper problem at one of the (non-cruise) kid's clubs by using a pager. The parents were eating at the same resort and arranged to be paged if needed. for the Florida kid's clubs, the ADA applies and they have to work with you. Someone reminded me in a thread though that the Cruise ships are licensed/registered outside the US and the ADA doesn't apply to them (although they will probably try to figure out a way to make things work for you).

 

[eek40]

On the Disney Cruises all parents are given pagers, no matter what, its standard issue
Aimee

 

[Amaris]

My children have always stayed at the neverland club with no problem ( autism) . BUT they have always been potty trained. The potty training may be more of an issue than the disability. They never had an issue with autism with our children. I would call ahead and ask if you can leave the child if you come back at frequent intervals to diaper change.. or they can page you when the child needs a diaper change if that is a policy that they don't change.

 

[debm]

Our little boy with Down sydrome loves to cruise. He has been on 2 in the past year. Even though he is 7 he still does have accidents every now and then. We just went with the idea that he was potty trained but every time he went into the club we went with him to the bathroom first. They are not even allowed to help them pull up their pants although I'm sure they discreetly helped him at times . They are REALLY good about being nice to all of the kids. Once he got a little overly excited and they had to tell me about it when I picked him up. But in their explanation to me they said how they talked to the other kids that were playing with him to help them understand his special way of talking, etc.

Because of all the activity on the ship we don't find that we use the playrooms that much. Just during the "important" times for us---trying to finish our dinner which he eats his in 10 minutes!!!

Just ask when you get there what will work for the child and don't let the family stress about it ahead of time. Something will work out. It is a time for families to be together so look at the playroom as an added bonus.

Always remember they are a child first, but they do have Down syndrome---never a "Down's child." Our son is a Mitchell child and we have 3 other Mitchell kids too.
Debi Mitchell