First WDW family trip/ diet questions/ 4/5 yo with HFA/handicap room questions too

[JPFamilyMom]

Hello all, I haven't posted on this section of the DIS board before but I have lurked a little from time to time.

I'll be traveling to Walt Disney World next summer with my family which includes a child that will be two when we travel and my other son will be 5 when we travel and he was diagnosed with HFA last year.

It is to the point now where in his "routine" setting it is not really noticeable that he has HFA. But in high stress and loud places or just if there is something that triggers it (like flushing toilets) that his unique mannerisms come out.

I am investing in some noise reducing headphones for him for our trip and for some things here in our daily lives. I know that will help with allowing us to go see some shows or go on some rides that might otherwise be too loud for him, and we can see fireworks, which he loves to watch, but hates to hear.

My main concerns are with regard to diet, we have taken all foods with nitrates, most foods with any dye (particularly red dye) out of his diet and we have reduced the number of foods with preservatives that he intakes. He is also on some supplements- all of this has helped him in the past year and we have noticed several improvements in his behavior and eye contact. We are still waiting to get with a dietary specialist in our new area, we were on a waiting list for three months previously where we lived and just when it was our turn we moved

I have contacted Disney dining and have the form to fill out for restaurants that we will dine in. But there are still some questions that I have:
1. So first does anyone know if Disney sells any nitrate free sausage or hot dogs anywhere in the park?
2. Do you know where I can find nutritional information on foods in the parks that don't have pre-printed package labels on them (mostly looking for dyes, as a rule we tell him not to eat anything red, and he seems to understand that and does pretty good with it-with several reminders of course)?

Any other advice any of you have that have traveled to Disney with a child with HFA in particular or with similar dietary restraints would be greatly appreciated.

***added*** also does anyone have any pictures of the handicap accessible rooms at All Star Movies, my parents and Great Aunt Bea are traveling with us and my Aunt will have a wheel chair and needs a walk in shower, thanks
Thanks in advance for any help and advice

 

[SueM in MN]

I think you meant to post this on the disABILITIES Board, which is about WDW and not the disABILITIES COMMUNITY Board, which is more for general subjects.
I am going to move it for you because I think you will get more answers on the disABILITIES Board.

For the diet questions - I would suggest you write those questions in on your questionnaire before you send it in. If you look in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the disABILITIES Board, you will also find some places you can email for diet information in post #3 of that thread.

 

[bookwormde]

Welcome,

We just use your run of the mill hearing protectors (although they do not help with the concussive effects at fireworks). Sorry I do not know the details of the content of WDW foods, our issue is more of a very limited diet (DS10 AS), and we solved that by eating mostly in our villa. I am sure one of the other ASD parents will be along to be more helpful.

I hope you have a great time and there are lots of past threads for how to make WDW an enjoyable, survivable and magical place for our children. Please feel free to ask any questions

bookwormde

 

[clanmcculloch]

I just wanted to mention something that I'm not sure you thought of (maybe you did but I figure I'd rather mention something you do know than not mention it just in case you don't know). You mentioned that toilets flushing can be a trigger. The toilets around the parks are the self-flushing kinds. Bring something like maybe little post-it notes to cover the sensor while he's using the toilet. Something as simple as that can make a big difference for him. He'll already be overwhelmed by everything so the last thing you need is that meltdown caused by those toilets.

 

[JPFamilyMom]

I think you meant to post this on the disABILITIES Board, which is about WDW and not the disABILITIES COMMUNITY Board, which is more for general subjects.
I am going to move it for you because I think you will get more answers on the disABILITIES Board.

For the diet questions - I would suggest you write those questions in on your questionnaire before you send it in. If you look in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the disABILITIES Board, you will also find some places you can email for diet information in post #3 of that thread.

oops sorry I didn't realize there were two different disAbilities boards

Welcome,

We just use your run of the mill hearing protectors (although they do not help with the concussive effects at fireworks). Sorry I do not know the details of the content of WDW foods, our issue is more of a very limited diet (DS10 AS), and we solved that by eating mostly in our villa. I am sure one of the other ASD parents will be along to be more helpful.

I hope you have a great time and there are lots of past threads for how to make WDW an enjoyable, survivable and magical place for our children. Please feel free to ask any questions

bookwormde

thank you

I just wanted to mention something that I'm not sure you thought of (maybe you did but I figure I'd rather mention something you do know than not mention it just in case you don't know). You mentioned that toilets flushing can be a trigger. The toilets around the parks are the self-flushing kinds. Bring something like maybe little post-it notes to cover the sensor while he's using the toilet. Something as simple as that can make a big difference for him. He'll already be overwhelmed by everything so the last thing you need is that meltdown caused by those toilets.

I did not know that, thank you, I do try to check toilets out when we enter places though since it seems more and more places have automatic flushing toilets. He is only four, so I'm always in there with him helping with his pants and things and he covers his ears basically the whole time we are in public bathrooms. I think I'll just bring the headphones in with is, so thanks for this tip. I'll have to see how I'm going to carry the headphones to they are easily accessible throughout our day.