Child with emotional disabilities

[Threehearts]

I am looking for advice about how to make this WDW vacation better than the last.
My daughter is 6 and has been psychologically ill since she was 18 months old. The problem is becoming clearer now and she probably has childhood mania. My child gets psychotherapy 4 times a week and the family goes once. She is in a class for the emotionally disabled. All of these things are well documented. My problem is that last summer my daughter couldn't wait in lines without having a complete breakdown. We would have to leave the park and go back to the hotel. At one point a parent thought that my husband was stealing our daughter because she was hysterical and sreaming for me and I was trying to get my 4 year old on at least one ride. I don't want to cut in front of the line, I just want her to be able to be in an open space area while I wait in line with the 4 year old and then have her join in with us. Any ideas? I am not sure if mental illness is considered a disabilty at WDW.

 

[teri]

{{{{{hugs}}}}} Threehearts! Welcome to our board. You have come to the right place.

Yes, your child will certainly qualify for using the Guest Assistance Card, or GAC. You can read about the GAC in the disABILITIES FAQ - just click on the link in my signature below. Feel free to ask questions - that is just the starting place.

You are not cheating or taking advantage of anyone by using the GAC -- this is a legitimate need. You don't have to be separated, you can go with her to the alternate entrances.

 

[Threehearts]

Hi Teri,

Thanks for the quick response. From reading the FAQs, it seems that with the card, my daughter and husband would go to an enclosed area and wait for me and my son to get to the head of the line. If the area is very small and she has o wait more than 15 minutes I'm not sure if she can handle that. If it's not too much trouble could you tell me exactly where they would wait for my son and I? Thanks so much. I really appreciate your efforts.

 

[SueM in MN]

Adding my welcome. This is the right place. As teri mentioned, you have a legitimate need for a GAC. The type of assistance that is needed depends on the disability, sometimes it's just waiting out of the sun. Sometimes it's being able to wait out of the mainstream.
The GAC will allow your whole family to wait together. They will not separate you if your party is only 4 people . That should make any wait easier. I can't give you a lot of info about waiting places; since we are using the wheelchair entrance for rides, sometimes we are waiting somewhere else. When you go to Guest Services to ask about a GAC, let them know that it will be a problem for your DD to wait in an enclosed space.

You can always ask the CM at each ride/attraction where you will be waiting and how long the wait will be. Most of the CMs are working at WDW because they like people and they want people to have a good time. Most of them will try hard to help you as long as they know what would be helpful.
Here's some Pixie dust calming sprinkles for your whole group.

 

[teri]

At WDW, you can all stay together - you don't have to split your party. You all go the the alternate entrance or waiting area together. At Universal Studios and IOA, they have family waiting rooms where you meet up.

Many times, for shows and such, there is no real quiet or enclosed area, you just wait off to the side or in front of the crowd. You don't really bypass the queue, you just wait in a n area that has more personal space. And if there is a FastPass, they request that you always use that system if you are using your GAC. I hope that as she gets older and more used to the attractions, there will be less anxiety and being in the lines will not be as difficult. But having that GAC is a Godsend, especially if you have it on a lanyard and quickly available to flash to the CMs when things get tense. The CMs are often very helpful - even if it is just in a supportive attitude - if they know this is a situation that is more than just a child making a fuss.

 

[Threehearts]

Thank you! Thank you! I have an autoimmune disease and take chemotherapy but I am in such better shape than my poor litlle girl that I think it's wonderful that these passes are out there. After reading about some of the real trials that many of you are going through, I must say that your courage is amazing. I've always had a positive attitude and I can see that this board is more about "can-do" than limitations. Good for you. As a pediatric critical care nurse, I am very sympathetic to those of you who have had to deal with far more serious problems than my family has had to. Good luck with all of your planning.