Disney with Tourette's

[KatieCharlotte]

Would having a pool at your hotel help to burn off some of that anxiety? My nephew used to talk about the need to release tension in calming some of his tics. An afternoon in the pool helped him - probably both burning off stress and just simply cooling down after all that anxiety (although one of his things was refusing to ever get his face wet).

DS also finds swimming relaxing and a good way to release tension. He used to refuse to get his face wet, but he has conquered that challenge and loves swimming underwater now. My daughter, an introvert who gets a little stressed by crowds, also likes to go underwater where she can't hear anyone. Our hotel will need to have a good pool.

 

[Baklava]

As far as I know from reading and watching videos, Buzz Lightyear and Toy Story Mania rides are exactly the same at WDW as at Disneyland. So, if he was OK at WDW, he should follow fine on those at Disneyland.
I personally did not like the spinning at Cat in the Hat - it was too unexpected and intense for my taste. You should be able to find videos to compare Cat in the Hat with the attractions SMD mentioned that are not at WDW. I'd view videos of Cat in the Hat too even though he knows what it felt like - seeing how the ones he hasn't been on looked on videos compared to how that looks might be helpful.

Buzz is very different- much more fun at DLR. TSM is about the same.

 

[Nevada Jen]

THe area over by TSMM is pretty quiet to sit (just go a bit past the ride). That would allow you to ride CA Screamin. The area behind Mosters Inc tends to be quiet. That would allow you to hit TOT. Monsters Inc a good ride also. The area between soarin and grizzley river run is also quiet. It is a lot harder at DL park right now to find a quiet spot. It can definitely be done in critter country (so you can ride splash) but that is one of the only non main street areas I can think of. Paradise Pier might be a good hotel choice for you if you can swing it. That would get you early entry to the parks which would make a huge difference in crowd levels. If you are staying offsite and the pool is important to you, research carefully. Many of the offsite hotels (most of which are Motels) have really cruddy pools from what I understand. Post on the Disneyland CA board for hotel advice.

 

[SueM in MN]

Buzz is very different- much more fun at DLR. TSM is about the same.

can you explain what is different?

I know that Buzz at WDW used the existing track from the ride it replaced, so would not expect exactly the same.
I've ridden Buzz at Disneyland Paris and it was almost the same as WDW, so I'm curious.

 

[Aladora]

can you explain what is different?

I know that Buzz at WDW used the existing track from the ride it replaced, so would not expect exactly the same.
I've ridden Buzz at Disneyland Paris and it was almost the same as WDW, so I'm curious.

The only real difference I know of is how and where the gun is attached. At WDW the gun is attached to the car and at DL it is on a tether...if I remember both correctly that is!

 

[cobright]

It's not always convenient to find literal solitude. To whatever extent my experience and that of your kid's might overlap, here's a few things that help me.

• Bring a portable entertainment device. I'm sure you've seen him zone out playing a video game or watching youtube vids. If I'm on the verge of a panic attack, killing zombies on my phone can be the perfect escape.
• Discuss the situation with Dr. Well in advance. Get advice on adjusting his pharmaceutical intervention just for time on vacation. Stimulation will be higher during trip, it makes sense to titrate a dose that accounts for that. Prolly not applicable, but for my issues I take way more benzos while at Disney than I do on a normal day.
• Practice experiencing the increased Stimulation in advance. It sounds goofy, but set up the ropes for a line in your home and practice waiting in it. Role play various interactions with CMS and strangers. Go over the top playing up problematic encounters and the real ones will seem silly when they happen. Picture a 42 try old man role playing wirh his wife and kids asking for a 2nd can of diet coke from the flight attendant. I would not do it if it didn't help.
• Consider one of the private tours if you can make it work. Not sure what's available at DLR but the train tour at WDW was pure magic for someone who prefers his distance from others.

Hope maybe some of this helps. Don't be afraid to overplan now so you can relax a bit more while on vacation.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

It's not always convenient to find literal solitude. To whatever extent my experience and that of your kid's might overlap, here's a few things that help me.

• Bring a portable entertainment device. I'm sure you've seen him zone out playing a video game or watching youtube vids. If I'm on the verge of a panic attack, killing zombies on my phone can be the perfect escape.
• Discuss the situation with Dr. Well in advance. Get advice on adjusting his pharmaceutical intervention just for time on vacation. Stimulation will be higher during trip, it makes sense to titrate a dose that accounts for that. Prolly not applicable, but for my issues I take way more benzos while at Disney than I do on a normal day.
• Practice experiencing the increased Stimulation in advance. It sounds goofy, but set up the ropes for a line in your home and practice waiting in it. Role play various interactions with CMS and strangers. Go over the top playing up problematic encounters and the real ones will seem silly when they happen. Picture a 42 try old man role playing wirh his wife and kids asking for a 2nd can of diet coke from the flight attendant. I would not do it if it didn't help.
• Consider one of the private tours if you can make it work. Not sure what's available at DLR but the train tour at WDW was pure magic for someone who prefers his distance from others.

Hope maybe some of this helps. Don't be afraid to overplan now so you can relax a bit more while on vacation.

I always overplan so I can relax more on vacation. Thanks for the ideas. I wish we could do a private tour, but we're trying to do this as cheaply as possible. Re the first idea -- playing on his phone would be a good escape. Is there info somewhere about free wifi spots, so he can save data?

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Is there info somewhere about free wifi spots, so he can save data?

I know the WDW parks have free wifi available. I'm not sure about DLR, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did as well. When WDW first started the free wifi at the resorts and parks, it was very spotty. I've been pleasantly surprised on my last few trips to find the wifi service at the parks to be vastly improved. I hope you will find good, free wifi service at DLR.

 

[SMD]

There is no free or paid WiFi in either park. There is limited WiFi availability in the DLR hotel lobbies, but you have to move around too find it, and when the lobbies are full of people taking a break and using WiFi you will get kicked off a lot and it barely does anything.

You may want to rent a MiFi with unlimited data if the rate is less than increasing your own data for the month.

 

[Baklava]

can you explain what is different?

I know that Buzz at WDW used the existing track from the ride it replaced, so would not expect exactly the same.
I've ridden Buzz at Disneyland Paris and it was almost the same as WDW, so I'm curious.

When we rode in WDW all the targets were the same. They didn't have different shapes for different values. The guns didn't come up for range of motion and the targets didn't light and flash when you hit them. I didn't see any of the ceiling targets that we like at DL. It felt like a stripped down version of a ride we love and was one of the few moments where "different" felt like "lesser." (The lack of a good drop on Pirates was another. But wow, Splash in Florida was sooooo good.) The videos below show a good example of the differences.

WDW:

DLR:

 

[SueM in MN]

When we rode in WDW all the targets were the same. They didn't have different shapes for different values. The guns didn't come up for range of motion and the targets didn't light and flash when you hit them. I didn't see any of the ceiling targets that we like at DL. It felt like a stripped down version of a ride we love and was one of the few moments where "different" felt like "lesser." (The lack of a good drop on Pirates was another. But wow, Splash in Florida was sooooo good.) The videos below show a good example of the differences.

WDW:

DLR:

Thanks.
I watched videos and it does seem like DL has a lot more targets in different places. Probably one of the reasons WDW has less positions is because the guns are attached to the ride car, there is no way to hit targets that are high or particularly low.
It did look like the track is similar though - similar speed, level and few spins (unless you choose to spin.

 

[seashoreCM]

Toy Story Mania at WDW has two tracks, or loops, on the first floor. Cars on each track stay on that track; the cars do not cross each others' paths or switch to the other track to get to the nearest open play station. (The third track is on the second floor.)

Each guest's ride consists of one trip through one track, chosen somewhat at random.

On Buzz Lightyear at WDW, the gun will aim at any target if you do it at the right time. Some of the time, some targets will be out of reach. For some targets you have to pass them first and turn the car facing backwards to hit those targets. Hitting a few targets will cause nearby objects to move or light up.

 

[Baklava]

Thanks.
I watched videos and it does seem like DL has a lot more targets in different places. Probably one of the reasons WDW has less positions is because the guns are attached to the ride car, there is no way to hit targets that are high or particularly low.
It did look like the track is similar though - similar speed, level and few spins (unless you choose to spin.

Yes, the track is similar, so I guess if you don't really want to play, it's fine. The limited guns, identical targets... it all just ruined the game portion for us. We probably won't ride it again in FL.

 

[FLmomof6]

I have 2 with Tourette/OCD (12 & 18). You will have no problem getting a DAS. TS kids tic more under stress (and excitement), people react, child feels even more stress/anxiety, tics increase and the cycle continues. My experience is that guest services cast members are well aware of these issues and are very accommodating.

 

[SueM in MN]

Toy Story Mania at WDW has two tracks, or loops, on the first floor. Cars on each track stay on that track; the cars do not cross each others' paths or switch to the other track to get to the nearest open play station. (The third track is on the second floor.)

Each guest's ride consists of one trip through one track, chosen somewhat at random.

ALL of the Toy Story Mania tracks are on ground level. There is not a second floor of that attraction.

The purpose of the stairway is to cross over the track. The stairway goes up into a hallway that crosses over the portion of the track that is used to pull off cars for wheelchair accessible boarding. After the track has been crossed, the stairway goes down to boarding.
The new path that was recently added does not need to cross the track and does not have any stairs.

After completing one game, the ride cars make a rapid turn to line up for the next game. I think that is what the poster was talking about, not changing tracks.

On Buzz Lightyear at WDW, the gun will aim at any target if you do it at the right time. Some of the time, some targets will be out of reach. For some targets you have to pass them first and turn the car facing backwards to hit those targets. Hitting a few targets will cause nearby objects to move or light up.

The guns at Disneyland are attached to the ride cars with a cord, so they can be removed from the holder and aimed in any direction.
The guns at Buzz Lightyear at WDW do have a limited range of motion because of being attached to the car.
Some targets can only be hit as you say, with correct timing or turning.
But, you can only aim so high or so low because the gun hits the car. The location of targets is based on that so none are on the ceiling like they are at Disneyland.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

I have 2 with Tourette/OCD (12 & 18). You will have no problem getting a DAS. TS kids tic more under stress (and excitement), people react, child feels even more stress/anxiety, tics increase and the cycle continues. My experience is that guest services cast members are well aware of these issues and are very accommodating.

Thank you for sharing your experience. I needed reassurance that they're aware of the issues and we won't need to go into great detail about his tics and how they affect him, because that's not how he'll want to start his first day at DL. It depends on his mood whether he would find it funny or embarrassing to tell a stranger that he has tics that include inappropriate words and gestures. Am I correct in understanding that we can't request the DAS at guest services outside the park the day before?

 

[KatieCharlotte]

Thanks.
I watched videos and it does seem like DL has a lot more targets in different places. Probably one of the reasons WDW has less positions is because the guns are attached to the ride car, there is no way to hit targets that are high or particularly low.
It did look like the track is similar though - similar speed, level and few spins (unless you choose to spin.

It sounds like DS is going to love Buzz at DL.

 

[lanejudy]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I needed reassurance that they're aware of the issues and we won't need to go into great detail about his tics and how they affect him, because that's not how he'll want to start his first day at DL. It depends on his mood whether he would find it funny or embarrassing to tell a stranger that he has tics that include inappropriate words and gestures. Am I correct in understanding that we can't request the DAS at guest services outside the park the day before?

At WDW it is sometimes possible to obtain a DAS from the outside the park Guest Relations, though they aren't always able to assist and might direct the guest to the in-park location. I don't know if it's the same at DL or not.

You should still be prepared to explain his needs as related to waiting in a standard queue environment -- not just the diagnosis (as DAS is not diagnosis based) and I would not expect all CMs to be completely familiar with needs related to any given diagnosis. Different people are impacted differently even with the same diagnosis. No need to go into great detail, just simple explanation should be fine. If it's a problem for your son to overhear the conversation, you can ask him to wait to the side while you talk to the CM and explain. Alternatively, you can write a bullet-point list and share that so you don't have to verbalize as much, though there could still be a question or two.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[SueM in MN]

The Disney website says Guest Relations inside the theme parks for both WDW and DL. So, even though people have sometimes reported being able to one at the outside the parks Guest Relations, I would go there knowing it might not be possible.

 

[FLmomof6]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I needed reassurance that they're aware of the issues and we won't need to go into great detail about his tics and how they affect him, because that's not how he'll want to start his first day at DL. It depends on his mood whether he would find it funny or embarrassing to tell a stranger that he has tics that include inappropriate words and gestures. Am I correct in understanding that we can't request the DAS at guest services outside the park the day before?

It's possible that they will want an explanation, but we haven't had to explain much. We just bought annual passes again this weekend. When we went to GS and Animal Kingdom to add DAS to magic bands, they already had us "in the system" and I didn't have to explain anything. She scanned all of our bands, updated my daughters picture, gave us our first fast pass and we were finished.