Disney helped me feel free.

[DisneyDreamersUK]

Hi,

Disney is the one place as a parent that I felt free, no funny looks or judgemental glares from members of the public. Our DS is 8 very soon to be 9 and he has "mild" CP and some social learning problems. During our Disney holiday he had what we call "meltdowns" which are tantrums and it can take a while to calm him back down. These happened in several places in different parks and no one even noticed and for the first time in motherhood I haven't felt like people were casting judgement on my mothering ability.
Do any other parents feel like this when your at Disney? or is it just me?

 

[jmartinez1895]

Disney is great like that. I am so happy that you had a chance to relax and enjoy yourself. I have found that most people at Disney are so bussy trying to get to a ride or show that they do not even notice what is going on around them, which make it great for families like yours.

 

[DisneyDreamersUK]

Thank you. We did have a a lovely time despite the "meltdowns" and I can't wait to go back.
The GAC helped us loads and made things a lot easier. I always worry about stuff like that as I find that people make a judgement on the lack of a wheelchair or walking aids, he can walk but not very stable on his feet often trips and falls in fact he did scrape his knees one morning on the way to one of the parks.

 

[POOHsie]

Yes, I believe WDW is very welcoming and very accommodating for families with special medical issues. And I would conclude that this is why special needs families return time and again for another wonderful vacation at WDW.

Speaking for myself, I use an ECV full-time. I have no problems at all getting around WDW and getting on most rides. The resort experience is always fine, shopping is always fine. Employees and visitors are very kind and helpful to me if they sense that I may need assistance. That is why I am perplexed to read outright attacks on wheeled guests on the DisBoards sometimes. But since I know that my actual visits have none of the drama of the anonymous internet posts, I am comfortable in thinking that people on the internet are just whipping up drama because they get a kick out of getting away with being socially incorrect. Something they don't get to do in their real life among real people.

 

[kylmac]

With so many people hurrying around trying to get from park to park or rides, my son yelling at me does not cause me to bat an eyelash. I hear so many tired cranky kids and adults, my son having a meltdown does not even faze me anymore. As long as he is not hurting anyone, I try to move him away from the crowds. His problem is he is overstimulated because of Disney and we have not properly worn him out from walking all day long. Disney has waved it's magic wand again-I am never relaxed after a trip to Disney but I have a smile on my face for weeks afterwards.
Best-Elizabeth

 

[roadtripper]

It's why we joined DVC and return every year. We have had some issues with disability situations from time to time, but overall, it is one of the best places we've ever gone with DS. As he gets older and can predict more of what's happening and can tune out the overstimulating attractions, he has fewer meltdowns--even though we go Pres Week, which is incredibly busy. We have spent weeks "talking about Disney" and getting ready for next week's trip. Glad you had a great trip!

 

[ZPT1022]

glad to hear you had a good time! I have a child with sensory issues and he loves WDW, even before when things were rougher than they are now, he did well there. For what its worth, when I see another parent with a kid throwing a tantrum I usually try to give them a smile. Yesterday we were at a local children's museum and a mom was there with two boys who were throwing fits (twins) and I looked at her and smiled and said "I am just so glad it isn't mine for once". I think a lot of parents probably feel the same way- grateful that it isn't their kid having a meltdown this time

 

[jenanderson]

We totally feel this way. Our DS is now 12 and Disney has always been our magical happy place. He also has mild CP with low muscle tone (making him get tired quickly and often needs a wheelchair by mid-day), an immune deficiency (which means he is almost always on extra meds when we travel), photosensitivity (because of all the meds), mild sensory disorders and other little things. There was one year that I felt like we traveled with more medical gear then we did other luggage.

Despite it all, once we get to Disney it is like the whole family can relax no matter what because it is just magical.

I am so glad that you had a great experience as well!

 

[bedogged]

Yes, I believe WDW is very welcoming and very accommodating for families with special medical issues. And I would conclude that this is why special needs families return time and again for another wonderful vacation at WDW.

Speaking for myself, I use an ECV full-time. I have no problems at all getting around WDW and getting on most rides. The resort experience is always fine, shopping is always fine. Employees and visitors are very kind and helpful to me if they sense that I may need assistance. That is why I am perplexed to read outright attacks on wheeled guests on the DisBoards sometimes. But since I know that my actual visits have none of the drama of the anonymous internet posts, I am comfortable in thinking that people on the internet are just whipping up drama because they get a kick out of getting away with being socially incorrect. Something they don't get to do in their real life among real people.

I love your post! This is exactly how I feel and this has been my experience as well. Please don't be afraid of a bunch of cowards hiding behind their computer monitors.

 

[twinmum]

I know how you feel! We made our first WDW when our twin boys were 8, and have returned to WDW/DL/DCL each year since...and we feel very blessed to have had these opportunities.

Something a CM said to me on the very first day of our first trip summed it up. Our boys were extremely premature and one son has cerebral palsy with significant mobility challenges. He uses his wheelchair in the parks and walker at the hotel (when he can).

As we approached the monorail, a CM asked where we were headed and explained as he retrieved the ramp that he'd call ahead so the ramp was ready when we got there. I guess I looked very grateful, so which he replied:

"Ma'am, when we see a special family like yours, we know that you all face extra challenges each and every day. We consider it our job to do our very best to do whatever we can to make each day you are here with us a little bit easier so we can share part of that load with you and you can just relax and enjoy being a family together."

Between this sweet sentiment and the actions of so many CMs, it's no wonder we keep going back...the boys are now 13!

I know our son's challenges are fairly obvious given the wheelchair, leg braces etc. I am so glad that despite the relative invisibility of other children's challenges, you're "feeling the magic" too.

 

[Canajan]

This describes our family's experience 100%. Our daughter uses a wheelchair. Not only are the CMs consistently helpful, but we have been touched by so much kindness and consideration from other guests.

In some odd ways, Disney does make us even more conscious of our child's disability, because throughout each day, she is asked whether she can transfer or if she will stay in her wheelchair, whether she can walk a short distance, etc. In regular life, we just don't end up discussing our child's challenges so many times a day with strangers.

At the same time, the accessibility at Disney is so wonderful for my daughter that her disability just doesn't pose the barriers that it so often does in day-to-day life. That's why we also feel that a Disney holiday is incredibly freeing for our child.

 

[sharadoc]

Yes we absolutely feel that way too. Before we tried Disney, we couldn't do any sort of long vacation with our DS. Then we took him to Disney which we were sure he'd love based on his love of Mickey, and his enjoyment of watching all our old planning videos. But when we experienced the CMs and how they knew how to deal with him - we were amazed. For this first time, we could go on vacation and feel like a regular family and not a family living with autism.

The GAC and the kindness of the CMs constantly reminds us of how lucky we are that we took that chance and went back. We used to go twice a year before he was born and the thought of never returning was so depressing that I never gave myself a chance to even dream about it. Then I read all about taking kids to Disney with autism on here and allears and suddenly it was a possibility. Then we took a chance and booked and had the most magical time ever! We now go every 6 or 7 months and just got back 3 weeks ago and he's already looking forward to the next one.

 

[twinmum]

...and as I read these various posts, I hope that there are indeed CMs who read these boards...I hope they can know how much we appreciate all they do to make our family vacations magical!