Daughter is a T1D

[luvmytwins02]

We leave Saturday for WDW. The first time we went was in feb and because the weather was cool and lines were non existant, we didnt get a Guest assistance pass. This time I would like to get one. Due to heat and crowds.
How does it work (i know it has recently changed)
Where do we get one?
How do it help our day?

 

[luvmytwins02]

Do we need a new pass everyday for every park or is one good for the whole trip?

 

[lanejudy]

I suggest you check out the WDW Disability Access Service Card sticky near the top of this forum. It's a long thread, but the info you need is in the first post. You will have to explain her needs and why she cannot wait in a regular line environment, not her diagnosis.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[Talking Hands]

What accommodations does your daughter need in relation to remaining in a line? You are better off testing before getting in line and treating if low and carrying some fast sugar with you. Test in line if needed. Any comments from strangers can be ignored. It is none of their business. T1 for over 30 years

 

[ttintagel]

You should be prepared to be very specific about how heat and crowds make it impossible for your daughter to wait in a standby line.

Speaking as a 20+ year Type 1 veteran, I don't know what those specifics would be, since I'm able to wait in standby lines with no problem as long as I follow my regimen of frequent testing (2x as often as I test at home) and immediately treating any lows or highs.

 

[luvmytwins02]

Yep we will carry lots of snacks for her...but when she is out in hear it doesnt hit her sugars right away...but a few hours later and she can drop quick. She has been a T1D for 10 years

 

[OurBigTrip]

Yep we will carry lots of snacks for her...but when she is out in hear it doesnt hit her sugars right away...but a few hours later and she can drop quick. She has been a T1D for 10 years

You need to be able to very specific about how waiting in standby lines will be detrimental to her health. Providing the diagnosis or saying that heat isn't good for her will probably not result in a DAS being issued.

 

[acebatonfan]

We leave Saturday for WDW. The first time we went was in feb and because the weather was cool and lines were non existant, we didnt get a Guest assistance pass. This time I would like to get one. Due to heat and crowds.
How does it work (i know it has recently changed)
Where do we get one?
How do it help our day?

Hi! I am also a T1 diabetic and just about done with my current vacation to the World. Personally, I did not get the DAS, though my youngest sister (on the autism spectrum) had the DAS for this trip.

Unlike the previous GAC, the DAS does not give immediate access to the FP lane. When you want to ride a ride, you go up to the FP+kiosk, and that attendant will write a return time on the DAS card. This return time is typically the standby time minus ten minutes. When that time arrives, you can then access the FP+ line. All guest service locations in the four parks can issue DAS cards, and the DAS is good for the length of your stay.

I did not find much use for me having a DAS. I tried to focus my FP+ selections around rides that do not have primarily covered/indoor queues and also rode those types of rides when the weather was cooler (early morning, evening, after it rains). Though heat typically drops me like a stone, the combination of heat, adrenaline, and high-carb and fat meals kept my BG from going too low too quickly, and most lows were able to be brought up with under 10g of glucose tablets.

Please, don't make the same mistake I did and make sure to test BG at all times (even in the middle of the night) and make sure that you have backup insulin. I ended up waking up at 6am yesterday with a BG of 309 and moderate ketones after an emergency site change the previous night (too little insulin to make it through the night -my 1 hour BG was within acceptable ranges). Turns out, the insulin vial I used ended up spoiling, and I would have been up a creek without a paddle if I did not have a spare vial and backup MDI pens with me.

 

[ttintagel]

Please, don't make the same mistake I did and make sure to test BG at all times (even in the middle of the night) and make sure that you have backup insulin. I ended up waking up at 6am yesterday with a BG of 309 and moderate ketones after an emergency site change the previous night (too little insulin to make it through the night -my 1 hour BG was within acceptable ranges). Turns out, the insulin vial I used ended up spoiling, and I would have been up a creek without a paddle if I did not have a spare vial and backup MDI pens with me.

I got cocky on my last trip and decided not to being my insulin and a spare infusion set into the park with me. I ended up missing my Behind the Seeds tour (and JUST catching my Soarin' FP in time!) because I had to bus it back to Pop Century for an emergency change when my site went bad.

 

[Talking Hands]

I always carry extra vials of my insulin and syringes with me when I travel anywhere. In the parks I bring my pack with 1 of each of my insulin and 2 syringes because you never know when something might happen as well as meter, strips and lancets. I do not pump. Doctor says I do well enough on my long time regime to need the pump. .
While driving the insulin go in a cooler to protect them from the heat or cold depending on time of year. Also carry snacks, glucose tabs and some peanut butter crackers.

 

[bopper]

You are going to Florida in the summer, so there will be heat.
Bring a cooler or a Frio for extra insulin/test strips. Strips can be affected by heat so keep them cool. One time my DH's strips got hot and they showed his BG was high when it was actually low.
Bring snacks/beverages.
Try a neck cooling thing like: http://www.amazon.com/NECK-COOLING-SCARF-WRAP-Bandana/dp/B004XX4X9E

 

[Belle4mygrl]

My little one was dx 6 years ago. Heat drops her b/g like crazy adding to the mix of activity and junk food . there's no way to stay cool. Most restaurants don't have air or if they do some won't let you sit unless you have food. The stores like to keep people moving. (my experience on previous trips) So I am EXTREMELY nervous on how we will do on our trip in Sept.

I spoke with a lady on the disability line. She just reiterated on speaking on needs and issues not diagnosis.

I would like to hear how your trip went.

 

[Mich Mouse]

We just returned from a 13 day trip with our TI newly diagnosed son. I was very worried about taking this trip but didn't want my son to think Diabetes will stop us from doing ANYTHING! You can do this too, I promise!!!

All the sit down restaurants have AC, be sure to make reservations for a nice respite from the heat. Even better, take a mid day break at your hotel pool. Staying on property will make the trip so much easier. Most counter service restaurants have AC as well and you can ask for a free ice water if you aren't hungry and sit as long as you want. You can also visit first aid for a rest if needed. Neither location will ever shoo you out.

Being double the supplies, prescriptions, doctors letters if you are flying and plenty of low sugar treatments.

Get the DAS card. You may not need to use it but it's good to have. Please feel free to PM me with any questions or concerns. Our trip was wonderful and diabetes didn't get in the way at all.