Glasses, quiet spots, and ice packs, Oh My!

[Iloveeliot]

Hi. Thank you to everyone who responded to my earlier posts. I have a few additional questions.
1. Do I have to worry about my glasses coming off on any rides? Which ones? Would a glasses cord thing help because I've never used one. I don't want to take them off because my vision is horrible.

2. I'm still trying to get together as many options as possible for quiet places in each park to decompress (I have bipolar disorder and ADD). I'm looking for spots in the four main parks (I've found a few), and Downtown Disney (I haven't found any). I will definitely note the locations of first aid as a secure place I can close my eyes in the AC could prove helpful.

3. I'm going to bring the ice packs that you break and they get cold for tough times in the park. Certain sensory things (like cold) help me a lot. I want to bring my gel pack and terry cloth cover to use at night or during breaks at our hotel (POP). This helps me so much and I use it at home when I'm struggling or so stressed I can't sleep. I really want to use the one from home not a strange one. I want the comfort and familiarity. Is there a place they can keep it for me because I hate to spend so much money on a fridge?

Thank you all for your help!

 

[SashaFarce]

I can answer #1 - I wear my glasses for everything. I no longer remove them for any reason. I get a glasses strap and I also get my glasses tightened the day before I leave for a trip at the optometrist's office.

 

[clanmcculloch]

1. None of us have ever removed our glasses for anything including RnRC, Space, BTMRR and ToT. Our glasses are properly fitted so that when we lean forward they don't slip at all.

2. We really don't go anywhere to decompress; we just keep our days short and then decompress back at our resort. In order to be able to extend how long my daughter can cope with being in the parks I do include some quiet and calm attractions into our touring plans. At Epcot, Living With the Land and Ellen's Energy Adventure are wonderful quiet places to relax though be aware that EEA is very long and once you're on the ride you can't exit without shutting down the whole ride for everybody who is on it so before boarding be sure it's something you really want to do. At MK we like Tomorrowland Transit Authority and Carousel of Progress for quiet places to relax. At DH we really don't have a good place so I tend to book a lunch ADR with the intention of leaving right after we eat. Sci Fi Dine-In theatre is a wonderful place to decompress because the lighting is dim and it's remarkably quiet because people tend to keep their voices low like they're in a movie theatre. At AK we love taking it easy walking through Discovery Island. It's often like a ghost town in there so we can just take our time walking through, looking at all the carvings with nobody else around.

3. I would think that you could ask Bell Services to put your icepacks in their freezer during the day while you're at the parks so that they'll be good and cold for you in the evening. Bring them down to their window at the front of your resort and then pick them up later in the day. This will work better than the little fridges in the rooms anyway because BS actually have a freezer while the little fridges at the value resorts don't.

 

[krisnme]

DS does not like his glasses too tight so I use a sports strap that has just enough give in it so it does not feel like its pulling on his glasses, but will keep them from falling off.

At Epcot we like to cool off and calm down in the Seas, the aquarium is sooo soothing and it is nice and cool, usually not too crowded.

We also like to visit the garden behind the England pavilion, but sometimes it is used for very loud concerts. The china pavilion has a walk-thru exhibit that is usually nice and cool, and the Mexico ride is dark and soothing.

At MK the people mover and carosel of progress are nice.

I agree that you should bring your cooling pad to POP and ask the manager if they can cool it for you. is it small enough to put in the sink in a bag and cover with ice to cool? I wonder if you could ask for a medical fridge? don't know if your gel pac qualifies as a medical device.

The instant cold pacs sound like a great idea, you can alson pack a wet washrag in a baggie to wrap around the cold pack for extra cooling.

hope your trip goes well!

 

[SDSorority]

Hi. Thank you to everyone who responded to my earlier posts. I have a few additional questions.
1. Do I have to worry about my glasses coming off on any rides? Which ones? Would a glasses cord thing help because I've never used one. I don't want to take them off because my vision is horrible.

I have never lost my glasses- you'll be fine as long as they fit properly

2. I'm still trying to get together as many options as possible for quiet places in each park to decompress (I have bipolar disorder and ADD). I'm looking for spots in the four main parks (I've found a few), and Downtown Disney (I haven't found any). I will definitely note the locations of first aid as a secure place I can close my eyes in the AC could prove helpful.

Some places we like at MK are the Rose Garden to each side and behind the castle, by the Christmas Shop in Liberty Square (as long as there aren't people smoking in that area- we sometimes run into that), on the TTA, and the area to the right of the main Adventureland entrance (by the Jungle Cruise). At DHS, we like the area by the lake semi-close to Indiana Jones, the benches close to SciFi (though this is a smoking area as well), and the streets leading back to LMA (San Fran, NYC). At Epcot, each country has a seating area if you go into the country a bit. Norway has the stave church which is nice, Japan has the koi pond (awesome!), and I like the flower garden at Canada. In Future World, we like anywhere in the Seas with the fish tanks, Living with the Land (so chill), the area by the Test Track sample car, and the Odessy Building walkway. At AK, the Oasis is nice and partially shaded, and Camp Minnie Mickey has some benches that are sort of out of the way.

3. I'm going to bring the ice packs that you break and they get cold for tough times in the park. Certain sensory things (like cold) help me a lot. I want to bring my gel pack and terry cloth cover to use at night or during breaks at our hotel (POP). This helps me so much and I use it at home when I'm struggling or so stressed I can't sleep. I really want to use the one from home not a strange one. I want the comfort and familiarity. Is there a place they can keep it for me because I hate to spend so much money on a fridge?

You can request a fridge for medical need from Pop and they won't charge you. We're getting one free of charge because of our food allergies (no gluten, no soy, no nuts, no seeds, no vegetable oils (other than olive oil), no meat... what DO we eat?? ) and since the values are getting fridges ANYWAY, in the future it won't be an issue. If you don't feel right requesting a fridge, you can do what we're also doing- bringing a soft sided cooler and refilling ziplocks with ice to keep in it. That should keep your cold pack cold, though maybe not frozen.
Thank you all for your help!

My answers are bolded in your quote above.

 

[blue65829]

I have also worn my glasses on every ride including RnRC and ToT with no problems. One year I used a sport strap, but it wasn't really necessary, and I have since ridden everything without one.

 

[Owl's Friend]

My son has some sensory issues. In MK when you walk towards the entrance to splash mountain there is a gift shop on the left. If you go up the steps and to the right it's a shaded, quieter porch to chill at. Ds and I spent time there and it chilled him out. (You do have to sit on the ground though).