Cruising with disabled children?

[tigger2on]

Anyone done this or attempting to in the near future. We did 4 years ago and are looking to in Jan 2005. But want to see if experiences have changed at all?

 

[Tandyc]

Just to be able to answer your question more accurately, how is the child disabled? In a chair, asthma, ADHD?

I have traveled alot with a disabled person who is confined to a wheelchair and Disney was way ahead of the game. They had chair accessible areas long before the ADA was heard of.

Best of luck!

 

[goofyforus]

We will be cruising in June with my disable teen. She is 17 (18 in July), has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. Disney assured me that they will take care of us. But, I am worried. She is vocal and very outgoing, very normal, just confined to the wheelchair.
We have reserved a handicapp room, deck 7 and hope this is big enough. I know some of the on-shore excursions will not be accessible, but if there is enough to do on the ship, we should be fine.

There are not many vacation places to go but we're giving this a try.

A

Any words of wisdom?

 

[CAMICKEY]

I truly hope she has the time of her life and if anybody can accomodate the handicapped, DCL should be the one. They seem to go the extra mile when it is most needed. - Mike

 

[inkkognito]

Did you look at the handicapped staterooms photos on my website? There is plenty of room to maneuver a wheelchair, plus a shower instead of a bathtub with a fold-down seat. They even have sand wheelchairs on Castaway Cay to get onto the beach.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[cathie]

We just returned from our 2nd cruise with our disabled friend who has Muscular Dystrophy & uses a ventilator. The stateroom he had was awesome & the verandah was huge! We met people on board who couldn't believe the size of it! Disney treated Steve (our friend) & our entire party like royalty. On the last day when Steve was unable to make it down to breakfast early due to his treatments, our server brought him a complete breakfast right from Animator's Palate along with one for myself & sister who were helping him. Steve was able to get around the ship very well for someone in a very large power wheelchair. We met a family at breakfast one morning that had a 4 yr. old girl in a small version of Steve's wheelchair. They quickly became friends & it made the family more at ease to meet someone else traveling with a disabled family member. Enjoy your cruise & don't be afraid to let Disney know about any special needs you might have. They were fantastic to Steve & will be for you & your family too!! Cathie & The gang