GAC and uncontrolled seizures

[PammyPoppins]

Hi! We leave for Disney in about a week for two weeks. We have gone the last few years and having gotten our daughter a GAC pass each year. Last year was her Make-a-wish trip and the GAC was provided in the packet. We saw her neurologist today and he told me that he has heard lately that some are having a harder time getting a GAC at Disney. He writes us a letter each year Our daughter has uncontrolled seizures. I wish I had a GAC pass from one of the other years to show them but I threw them all away not knowing it would come in handy to bring with me. The doctor wrote that she has uncontrolled seizures and she can have them daily and at times they can be very incapacitating and that she needs oxygen as they progress.
Do you think I will have any troble getting a GAC as I have in the past?
Thanks,
PammyPoppins

 

[SueM in MN]

We were at WDW in April and did not have trouble getting a GAC.

If you have not read thru the GAC information in the disABILITIES FAQs thread, I'd suggest you read thru that.
You don't need a doctor's letter to get a GAC, but some people feel more confident asking for a GAC if they have a letter.

I know some doctors tell their patients/families that they can write a 'note that will give them a pass to avoid lines'. That is not correct and has not ever been correct. So, if someone is expecting that, they will find it not available.

You should not have a problem with getting a GAC to meet your child's needs. Just be ready to explain what her needs are. The specific type of GAC that you had for the MAW trip is only available for kids on Wish trips, so you will not get the same access as on a WISH trip, but your needs should be met.

Even though you don't need it for the GAC, I'd suggest you still bring a letter along because it sounds like it would be helpful in case your child needs any medical treatment.

 

[forr2grls]

You shouldn't have any porblems.We went in Dec. with our dd who has uncontrolled seizures as well.She also uses oxygen during them.Just tell the CM what accomodations you need.The first time we went to WDW our DD ended up having 2 seizures while there.On our last trip she didnt have any,tg!I'm sure yo uknow this already but push the fluids while there!!!!!And take plenty of breaks,make sure she takes her meds at the same time as she does at home,and keep a similar sleep/wake cycle as home.Sorry for the extra advice.Hope you have a magical..seizure free time.

Paula

 

[PammyPoppins]

Hi Paula,
Thanks for the post. Paula does your daughter have the Vagal nerve stimulator implant (VNS) like my daughter does? I had the magnet to the implant in my pocket and it de-sensitized all of our room keys last time, it was not a problem they reactivated them at the resort. Does your daughter use a wheelchair? Ours doesn't usually but she should because the walking gets too much but she won't give into one until she is really exhausted and I absolutely insist.
We have been going every year and have been lucky with seizures in the parks until the last two times. She had quite a few the last 2 times and one as we were standing in line to see Woody and Jessie and Buzz in the Magic Kingdom in Jim's Diamond Horseshoe Salon where they had the characters in a temp. location. She had a pretty bad seizure there and eveyone was so NICE!! The manager came out and spoke to us. She told us about the GAC and I told her I had on but because it was air conditioned I thought she would of been ok but I was wrong. The manager sat with us on a bench for awhile and was so nice. We have been fairly lucky but once the seizures start we are in for a cluster of them. I have to say the other families in line reaction to the seizure, and it was a pretty bad one was very good, everyone was very helpful. The whole place stopped and even the characters. When my daughter came to and said I lost my place in line, the family who was first in line to see the characters said, let her go now and I have to say all the familes because we were all inside the room together were like go ahead Honey. People really did care and that was nice.
Thanks,
PammyPopins

 

[WildGrits]

I have a purely ignorant curiosity question. And feel free to tell me it's none of my bee-wax.


What do you do if your daughter has a seizure while riding an attraction? Do you have any kind of warning?

I have very little experience with seizures, other than knowing the difference between a few of them.

 

[SueM in MN]

I have a purely ignorant curiosity question. And feel free to tell me it's none of my bee-wax.


What do you do if your daughter has a seizure while riding an attraction? Do you have any kind of warning?

I have very little experience with seizures, other than knowing the difference between a few of them.

I'll answer for our DD's situation.

We have been lucky that she has not had any seizures while actually in attractions. If she did, what happened would depend on the attraction. For rides, we would have to wait until the ride was finished and then get off and attend to her. For shows, we would go out the exit - they are well marked and are usually all the way at the end of the row from where you enter.

Rides do have cameras in them at various places, so CMs might be able to see if there was a problem with a rider. I have heard of "medical situations" where they have stopped a ride because a guest was having a medical problem and needed to be evacuated.

 

[forr2grls]

I have a purely ignorant curiosity question. And feel free to tell me it's none of my bee-wax.


What do you do if your daughter has a seizure while riding an attraction? Do you have any kind of warning?

I have very little experience with seizures, other than knowing the difference between a few of them.

I could tell you it's none of your business,BUT What I have learned while dealing with my dds' seizures is that you can never pass on an opportunity to educate people!!!So with that said,for us it has not happened on a ride.Like Sue said it would be different for each attraction.And also would be different depending on the seizure type.I'm not sure how I would handle dd having a seizure on a ride,but adrenaline takes over and you do what you have to..kinda like automatic-pilot.Hope that helps a bit.


Paula

 

[forr2grls]

Hi Pammy.Ashlie does not have the VNS.I can see how the magnet could be a pain.Is there any way you can attatch it to a necklace or maybe even keep it with (and I'm not sure if your dd has this but,)the Diastat?
We rented a Maclaren major stroller in Dec.It was very light-weeight,pretty easy to wheel.Less bulkier than a wc.It was greatusing it,kept Ashlie from over exherting/overheating.
I agree with you on how great the cms are when it comes to emergencies.I remember one cm,Diana,who was kneeling next to Ashlie on a concrete floor in a skirt!She was there for a good 15 minutes,just talking to her(was post ictal at time)...I could go on but i don't want to post a book!!

Paula

 

[PammyPoppins]

Thanks, Paula for te nice reply. Yes, Oh Yes we have Diastat!! I jut have gotten more aware of where I put the magnet now so it doesn;t happen again.
Thanks,
PammyPoppins