Cruise for child w/physical disability?

[twinmum]

Hello! Having had a wonderful first trip to WDW last year, we are thinking about what's next. I think a return trip to WDW followed by a cruise would be fabulous - add some relaxation to the trip. Has anyone cruised with a child with a physical disability? Our son has cerebral palsy - he is very bright and age appropriate other than his mobility. He'd want to do as many of the things that other kids do - he and his twin brother will be 9 in the fall.

Anyone have any advice? Three or four days? Will our son be welcome in the kids' club? (he doesn't need 1:1 as long as the environment is accessible?) What about Castaway Cay - any fun if you have a mobility challenge? What about excursions in Nassau?

Anyone used a handicapped stateroom to provide your child with more room for walker/wheelchair?

Any input is welcome!

Twinmum

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILTIES!

I can't answer these questions directly, but one of our regulars is wheelchair confined and works for DCL. I'm sure she will be able to give you good advice when she next shows up.

 

[twinmum]

Hello again! I am posting this again (and have also posted on DCL section) - I'd really appreciate the advice if anyone has some to share!

Thank you!

 

[Belle1997]

Hi there. The handicap rooms are very spacious on disney. I have used one and it was an inside and it was great. The biggest problem is that most of them are at the back of the ship so going down the corridors can be tricky but manageable.

Also one thing is Pirates night make sure you get there early is get very crowded up on deck and there is no special wheelchair seating. You do not want you son looking at the backs of people.

I do not know much about the kids club but have seen kids in wheelchairs participating.

But if you would like more info on accessibility of the ship just let me know I will do my best to help you.

Oh also their are beach wheelchairs. Do not know how his upper balance is and can not remember if they had a belt, so you might want to bring something to help him stay in the seat. They move fairly well on the sand but needs someone pushing it.

Nassau is not as accessible but some store owners have put up small ramps in front of their stores. Some streets have wheelchoar acessible curbs others do not. But that was two years ago so it might have gotten better.

Castaway island is very accessible. I would say 4 days is a good start. There is special wheelchair seating at the front of the theatre. If you son can get out of his chair and sit in a theatre seat.

I think your family would have a great time.

 

[dclfun]

Just wanted to chime in...your son would be welcome in the kid's clubs and the ship is fully accessible to enjoy all the activities. For the movie theater, there is w/c seating in the back and for the Walt Disney Theater ( where they have the Broadway style shows with the Disney characters or family-style shows) there is seating both in the back and in the front. If you want to sit up front, get there a bit early and ask for assistance as you are brought down one level and through a back door. Sometimes the elevators can be a challenge but at least for the lifeboat drill they will offer assistance from a crew member, both to get to the appropriate area and to leave a bit early before the crowd. There actually IS seating for the Pirates deck party or sailaway party that is for guests in wheelchairs. One section is up front by the stage ( on the left if you are facing the stage ) and up on Deck 10 on the starboard side (right side of the stage ) where you would look down. These areas are roped off just like a parade area would be at WDW. If he is able, you could also get him up front to stand is his walker so he could interact with the characters at the deck parties. You would want to request an accessible stateroom. They have wider doors, enough space for turning radius for a w/c, and a roll in shower with bench ( the two Cat. 6 verandah staterooms also have a tub with rails). If you were to choose a non-accessible stateroom he would face the challenge of a step-up into the bathroom and a much smaller bathroom as well as the narrow door and lesser space to maneuver. As was mentioned before, there are sand wheelchairs on Castaway Cay and the tram from the ship to the beach area has an accessible seating area also if you wanted to fold up a regular w/c or walker. Unless you're on the beach itself, the walkways and barbecue picnic area is all on wide pavement. I hope you decide to go- your son is a perfect age to have lots of "magic".---Kathy

 

[Belle1997]

Thanks for the info. I never saw the wheelchair seating for the sail away or Pirates. Good to know. When we went last year did not see that. Will hunt it out his time. Thanks

 

[Linda Bell]

Hello again! I am posting this again (and have also posted on DCL section) - I'd really appreciate the advice if anyone has some to share!

Thank you!

Hi Mum,

Go forth and party! He will love it.

My daughter and I (she has Myotonic MD, learning disabled, and in a wheelchair) love DCL!

Here is a link to what the ADA rooms have that I just posted in another thread:
http://www.allearsnet.com/cruise/Hcruise.htm

The rooms are very accomodating to wheelchairs. I highly recommend the verandah room at the back of the boat if you can swing it. The decks are huge.

Cruises cannot be long enough IMHO. We are doing the transatlantic in a couple of months...14 nights...too short.

Worst for us is the elevators. While needed they are a royal pain when large herds of people head for them so just relax for a while. Chances are very slim of getting on them quickly. People will crowd in front of the chairs to get on.

The sand chairs...on CC are awful to push but worth it for the experience. CMs just let me roll her into the water. She hadn't been on sand or ocean water for years. Go for it.

Servers in the dining rooms will accomodate your needs. Just let them know what you need the first night. For example my daughter can't use stemmed glassware and the chair needs to be removed so after the first night her spot was always set up.

Shore excursions are generally not available for the wheelie folks but some of our best memories are when we were on the ship when everyone else was off. Some ports you can just roll on off.

The characters are fantastic and do little extras for the special needs kids.

There is a nice expensive doctor on board. You pay upfront and then work it out with the insurance company when you get home.

Do take the meds you think you will need even if they are OTC because the going rate is one arm and TWO legs on board for the basic stuff.

Don't be shy. Most of your fellow cruisers are more than willing to help. Just ask. Need help with that door? Just grab the first person or crew member you see.

So what else do you need to know?

Linda

 

[Linda Bell]

Thanks for the info. I never saw the wheelchair seating for the sail away or Pirates. Good to know. When we went last year did not see that. Will hunt it out his time. Thanks

Go early for those too. They fill up with regular folks too not just the chairs.

Linda

 

[Linda Bell]

J... the two Cat. 6 verandah staterooms also have a tub with rails

BOTH! Wahoo. Thank you Kathy!

I'm bringing bubble bath.

Linda

 

[dclfun]

I had to ask a crew member about the w/c seating area for the deck party the last time we were onboard or I'd never have found it myself. He told me if others were there ( and ignoring the w/c placard hanging from the rope) to find a crew member and they would assist me with getting up front so I could see. The only problem for me was the area on Deck 10 was very close to a speaker and since I didn't want to torture my service dog we had to find another viewing area. As long as you get up there early there are places to wait by the rails, or there's also a raised seating area with chairs/tables that allowed me to be a little higher up and thus see the characters and all the happenings. I've heard the sand w/c's are really tough to push on the pavement but not so difficult in the sand...was it hard to push in the sand too? The accessible staterooms do get booked really quickly and there are only 2 Cat. 6's with the tubs, so do book early. Those particular staterooms only accomodate 3 people. If you have 4 guests the only thing for that party size are two Cat 5 staterooms or the four Cat 3 suites, or you could do two rooms. There are accessible inside rooms pretty close ( just not directly across) from the accessible verandah staterooms. The oceanview staterooms ( Cat 8) only sleep 2. ---Kathy

 

[Belle1997]

I am sorry your post made me chuckle in a good way. The handicap section is right near the speakers. Reminds me of a few people who see me in a wheelchair and talk extra loud. My legs don't work well but my hearing is wonderful thank you.

What we do I take my scooter to the beach part and park it where there is a cast member on CC. Then hubby pushs me and is a bit tiring for him. But so is just walking in sand.

 

[Linda Bell]

I. I've heard the sand w/c's are really tough to push on the pavement but not so difficult in the sand...was it hard to push in the sand too? The accessible staterooms do get booked really quickly and there are only 2 Cat. 6's with the tubs, so do book early. ---Kathy

Well it is much easier on the sand but they have all those pesky sunbathers and bouncy kids so you use the pavement anytime you want to to avoid them or get from say point A to point B. On pavement the wheels just kind of do their own thing, and they just can't figure out which direction that is, but you can bet it won't be the one your thinking of. Picture is for the OP. Someone emailed it to me.

So is 6654 a bathtub room? We have to have a roll in no matter what but it would be nice to have a tub.

Linda

 

[dclfun]

Yes, 6164 and 6654 have both the tub and roll in shower. They each sleep a max of three guests. Thanks for the photo of the sand wheelchairs. Since I've never used one I couldn't recall whether or not they had removable arm rests...looks like you must have pretty good trunk control or you could bring your own strap if not. ---Kathy

 

[tigger2on]

Hi
I took my dd on a 4 day Wonder cruise in May 2001. She is severely disabled, wheelchair bound and non-verbal. I brought a sitter to attend the kids club with her but they decided she didn't need one-on-one. She was 4 yrs old though and much easier to handle back then.
The only issue is that the goofy pool is not accessible. You have to climb down into it. The adult pool is much more accessible and for that reason, we will wait til she is 16 before we do another Disney Cruise. There are other lines that have hoists at their pools so for now we will use them. BY the time my youngest ones will be 7 and 5..... so still into the Disney Magic.
Come on 2013!!!!

 

[dclfun]

I'm pretty sure you must be 18 to use the adult pool on DCL, but I know what you mean about the Goofy pool not being accessible. I'm hoping the new ships will have a hoist system for guests who need help with a pool transfer. Perhaps those of us who are wishing for that type of accomodation should write to dcl guest communications. If people don't express a need then it might not be seen as something that's worth doing.---Kathy

 

[OrthoDad]

We took our 2 sons with CP on the cruise last year. The kids' club was wonderful! We were somewhat concerned about it at first, too. But, the staff there was great. You get a pager, and so if there are any problems that come up, they can get in touch with you immediately. Our kids spent a ton of time down there, and when we cruise again, they'll probably spend even more.

The beach wheelchairs were great! The rooms were spacious and wonderful! Very accessible. And, of course, all the CM's were great with my kids.

The only problem we had was the elevators. They are very small, and often times, they would be full with other guests, making us wait a long time (since our family took up the whole elevator).

We loved the cruise and highly recommend it!

 

[tigger2on]

me a letter in regards to the pool accessibility issue and my daughter's condition. Due to the fact that she is quiet and non-verbal... they stated that we "could" take her into the adult pool when she turns 16. I don't know if they are going to add a "hoist" as they didn't mention it and I wrote this since the ship announcements.
WE have our DVC for now and use **** cruiseline until DCL is accessible for our family.
Oh the other issue I had was the fact that if you have a family of 5, you have to get 2 cabins to accomodate everyone which = more $$$$

 

[dclfun]

Tigger2On- I am hoping for at least connecting accessible staterooms on the new ships that can be used by larger families or someone who has a PCA and wants more privacy. It's a shame you have to wait til your daughter is even 16 to have a pool to use that meets her needs. I'm glad you found another cruiseline and joined DVC too! Sounds like you have your pixie dust and a way to enjoy sailing for now. ---Kathy

 

[tigger2on]

I would love it if they would actually have an accessible stateroom for 5 so that one would not have to pay for 2 cabins but connecting would work too.
If we do cruise, we'd get separate cabins ... one inside/one verandah to keep costs down.
Even if they don't do an accessible pool... it would be nice if they had a waterplay area like in the Freedom... that would be good too. As long as she could get wet and cooled off.

 

[dizchick93]

I went on a cruise (not a Disney one) when I was 10, and my family had no problems, except for the size of the room. Both my twin sister and I have mild CP, and I have to use a walker, and there was no space in the room to fit it. My family is going to WDW at the end of Sept., and we were thinking of going on DCL, after hearing rave reviews from my aunt and uncle, who said it would be accessable for me.