Hi! I am new to this section of the boards and was hoping someone might have been in my situation before or have some advice.
My family (me, dh, dd10 and ds7) will be in WDW starting at the end of March. ds has mild cerebral palsy and sensory integration disorder, although he has progressed to a point where none of this is outwardly apparent. He does not do well with some loud noises, flashing lights, things that infringe on his personal space, certain types of motion, and things that just generally overwhelm the sensory system, his just can't process it as efficiently as others so he has a harder time dealing. He has been to WDW before and he generally knows what he wants to do and what he doesn't. When there is something that we think he will really enjoy we will sometimes push a bit because otherwise he will never try something new, and generally we are successful based on our knowledge of his limits (we are going to try to get him into Philharmagic even if he doesn't wear the 3D glasses until he gets comfortable because other than the 3D it sounds right up his alley, but from what I have read Stitch's Escape, with the darkness, confining seats and unexpected sensory stimulus sounds like it would be a disaster for him). But there are many things that he is big enough/old enough for that he will want nothing to do with and we aren't going to force him.
Now that dd is older the rest of us are hoping to start trying some of the bigger thrill rides, and ds is fine with that as long as he doesn't have to ride. I am not sure if we can use child swap because he would qualify to ride, he just doesn't want to. I read about the GAC cards here--is this something that might allow you to do child swap with an older child? Would there be other things that a GAC card might be good for for a child like him? Does he even qualify for a GAC card? I know his issues are so minor compared to those faced by many visitors.
Sorry so long but thanks in advance, any input is appreciated. Our last trip we spent a lot of time split up, dh with dd and me with ds, but I'd like to find options that allow us to be together even if we aren't all riding every attraction we stop at.
My family (me, dh, dd10 and ds7) will be in WDW starting at the end of March. ds has mild cerebral palsy and sensory integration disorder, although he has progressed to a point where none of this is outwardly apparent. He does not do well with some loud noises, flashing lights, things that infringe on his personal space, certain types of motion, and things that just generally overwhelm the sensory system, his just can't process it as efficiently as others so he has a harder time dealing. He has been to WDW before and he generally knows what he wants to do and what he doesn't. When there is something that we think he will really enjoy we will sometimes push a bit because otherwise he will never try something new, and generally we are successful based on our knowledge of his limits (we are going to try to get him into Philharmagic even if he doesn't wear the 3D glasses until he gets comfortable because other than the 3D it sounds right up his alley, but from what I have read Stitch's Escape, with the darkness, confining seats and unexpected sensory stimulus sounds like it would be a disaster for him). But there are many things that he is big enough/old enough for that he will want nothing to do with and we aren't going to force him.
Now that dd is older the rest of us are hoping to start trying some of the bigger thrill rides, and ds is fine with that as long as he doesn't have to ride. I am not sure if we can use child swap because he would qualify to ride, he just doesn't want to. I read about the GAC cards here--is this something that might allow you to do child swap with an older child? Would there be other things that a GAC card might be good for for a child like him? Does he even qualify for a GAC card? I know his issues are so minor compared to those faced by many visitors.
Sorry so long but thanks in advance, any input is appreciated. Our last trip we spent a lot of time split up, dh with dd and me with ds, but I'd like to find options that allow us to be together even if we aren't all riding every attraction we stop at.
I don't think you will have a problem using this very nice WDW service on this trip.
