Help with Granddaughter's Disney Trip

[maggie101]

I am hoping I have found the right place to get help and advice concerning my Granddaughter's trip to Disneyland. My precious 18 month old granddaughter has been diagnosed with a terminal degenerative nuerological disorder. We are learning that we don't wait until it is cooler or we have more air miles we are just planning a short trip for the first of August to SD Seaworld and Disneyland. Temperatures are a problem for my GD so we thought CA might be cooler for her than FL. (I just watched CNN saying CA is in the middle of a heat wave - Figures!) My GD cannot see but she definately can hear. We think she can distinguish bright light and colors. She has very low muscle tone and has to be held or sit in her special chair.

Finally to my Questions - How can I find out about rides that she will be allowed to go on with her mother or father holding her? I really want to get this figured out before we get to the park. We have limited time, we will only be at Disneyland for 1 1/2 days on a Sunday and Monday which I am sure are very busy days. Is it possible to keep my GD somewhere in AC or shade while we stand in the line? Who do I contact to ask these very important questions?

This trip is SO important to my daughter any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't have time to write much right now (it's past midnight), but I'm glad to see you found us and I will point you towards the disABILITIES FAQs thread (it is near the top of the disABILITIES Board or you can find a link in my signature).

Post # 6 of that thread is all about Guest Assistance Cards (GAC) - they will want to request to use a stroller as a wheelchair, which means the stroller could come into all lines and buildings where strollers are not usually allowed. The information written in that post was about WDW, but the process of requesting one and the general information on how they work is the same at Disneyland. Because DL was built so long ago, many of the attractions have lines that were not able to be made wheelchair accessible, so in many cases, the accessible entrances are the exits.

Also in the disABILITIES FAQs thread, you will find a link to some information about Disneyland. That includes a link to the Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities.

 

[Bill_Lin]

I think you will find some helpful input on the link below for The Home Page for Wish Trippers, as many of these folks will have faced similar issues. I know some things about DL as well. Feel free to PM me.

 

[Bill_Lin]

I have not found anything on these boards yet, but I have posted the question on several threads that might produce an answer. I will keep trying.

Here are articles from other sites.
http://www.mickeynews.com/News/DisplayPressRelease.asp_Q_id_E_5158Wish
http://www.theorlandobloomfiles.com/board/showthread.php?t=13175

 

[SueM in MN]

Besides what I posted on the Passporter Board where I first met you, here are some threads from the DIS site's Disneyland Board that should be helfpful:
-Must do rides for Little Ones

-Disneyland with a 9 month old, which includes people talking about which rides a small child can be held on

-Disneyland with Toddlers

-Disneyland for a 3yr old and a 5yr old. (I know this won't help with your questions about your granddaughter riding on the lap, but it is a good overview of attractions a young child would enjoy).

-Keeping baby cool (WDW in June, but may have some helpful hints)

-Guest Assistance Cards at Disneyland

-Disneyland Rides with low waits

Hope you are able to find some helpful info in at least some of these.
I will look at the actual Disneyland site later today or tomorrow to see what further help I can give you.

 

[Bill_Lin]

Wow Sue,

You are about the most helpful person I have run across.

THANK YOU!!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Wow Sue,

You are about the most helpful person I have run across.

THANK YOU!!!!

No.
I'm just a little compulsive

I also read a lot on the DIS Boards, have a pretty good memory for what I've seen and can speed read.
All skills that come in handy here.

 

[SueM in MN]

Ok, here's more, as promised.

Fantasyland
This is a link to a page about Fantasyland, which is probably where there will be the most things for her.
Scroll down the page to find a little more information. Where it says "Inaccessible to strollers", that would not apply to your family. Because you will be using a stroller as wheelchair (with either a GAC or a sticker), your granddaughter's stroller would be allowed.

Small World is currently closed for renovations.
Matterhorn Bobsleds is a thrill ride, so that would be out.
Dumbo spins, but is basically a carousel above the ground.
Mad Tea Party rotates and spins. You are in control of the individual car spinning, but the teacups are on a rotating platforms. I'd suggest skipping this or watching for a while to see whether or not to go on.
Mr. Toad is jerky. You are traveling thru a path and it looks like you are headed right for a wall or whatever, when you suddenly go off in another direction and miss the door.

Other than those, the Fantasyland rides should be OK. If you want to check out any, you can probably find videos on www.youtube.com

 

[Bill_Lin]

That is a great tip about youtube, Sue (hurray for Sue's very helpful help).

I used youtube to assist me in obsessively overplanning our trip, as I had never been to WDW. It really helped me to get a feel for which rides Lysi would love, like or fear.

Bill

 

[maggie101]

Thank-you so much for all the information. I am checking out all the links right now. How incredibly kind you all are for taking the time to help my family. God Bless You!

 

[SueM in MN]

One thing I forgot to add is that because Disneyland is an older park, many of the attractions do not have accessible lines. The Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities (you can download a copy on this page) lists where people using wheelchairs need to enter each attraction.

Next part of the park = Toontown
Here's a link to a page about Toontown.

Disneyland Railroad has stations in various parts of the park. It says strollers must be folded to go onboard, but a 'stroller as a wheelchair' can be brought onto the wheelchair accessible car.
Goofy's Bounce House only allows people under 52 inches and over 3 yrs old inside. I'm not sure if they would make an exception for a parent to hold up a small child with disabilities.
Mickey's House is mostly things to see. If she has any sight, she might enjoy it because of all the bright colors. Apparently, there is a Mickey Meet and Greet in his house.
Minnie's House is similar to Mickey's and has a Minnie meet and greet. I don't know if the talking fountain still works.
Donald's Boat is not wheelchair accessible, so you would need to carry her thru if you want to go in. Some of the things like the spiral staircase and rope ladder would not be at all accessible.
Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin may be too jerky, although there are no warnings for people with neck or back problems. You have some control of the spinning.

 

[SueM in MN]

Adventureland

Enchanted Tiki Room is a musical show with mechanical birds (actually cute). You can bring a stroller as a wheelchair in.
Jungle Cruise - the DIS Board page says it is not wheelchair accessible, but the WDW official site says it is. The WDW version is wheelchair accessible, and the DL version is probably the same. This is a picture of my DD in her wheelchair in the accessible WDW cruise boat. You can sit fairly close to the wheelchair, but not right next to it.

Frontierland

Mark Twain Riverboat may be good because you can push a stroller as a wheelchair right on. It is an actual boat, so you do feel the motion of the water.
Tom Sawyer's Island has a ramp to go over. I am not sure what is on the island other than that it probably has bumpy paths.

 

[SueM in MN]

New Orleans Square

Haunted Mansion has a 'catchy' song that the ghosts sing. It really is not a scary ride, other than that some small children don't like it because it is dark.
Pirates of Caribbean has 2 sharp, steep waterfall drops in the dark. You might want to send some of your party on this one to see if you feel it is safe before sending your granddaughter on. It is also a pretty long ride, so if she doesn't like it, you are stuck for over 10 minutes.

Disneyland Railroad is wheelchair accessible at New Orleans Square, Tomorrowland or Mickey's Toontown. So, you could get on or off the train at any of these stops. The railroad is not accessible at Main Street.

Critter Country

Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh does have a wheelchair car, but her stroller would probably not fit in it. Special Needs strollers are typically too low for the wheelchair cars in rides like this.

Main Street USA has some interesting vehicles that she might like. There are horsedrawn trolley cars, a fire engine, a 2 story bus and old time cars. She could be held on those and they all have different sensations and sounds. The horsedrawn trolley has the clop-clop sound of the hoofbeats and it is on a rail, so it feels a little different.
They are one way, but part of your party could ride and someone else could push her stroller to the end of the street where the ride ends.

Tomorrowland
Autopia is OK for children 1 yr and over, but the little cars are very noisy, smelly and it is possible for your car to be jerked if the car behind you hits into yours.
Buzz Lightyear has a wheelchair accessible car, but a special needs stroller won't fit. I'm not sure if a small child can be held on this or not because of how close the front of the ride comes toward you when it closes, but I think it would work. There is a lot of sound and a lot of different colors.
Finding Nemo Submarine Ride is not wheelchair accessible (although there is a wheelchair overview area). I don't know much about this ride and don't know how easy it would be to carry an 18 month on.

 

[SueM in MN]

California Adventure is a second Disney park with different areas - "a bug's land", Golden State, Hollywood Backlot, Paradise Pier and Sunshine Plaza.

These areas have nothing for small children:
Golden State and Sunshine Plaza

Paradise Pier
Toy Story Mania is new and will be busy. I have read reports of the WDW version and this attraction may be too jerky for your granddaughter.
King Triton's Carousel - I don't know if this has any carriage style cars that would allow someone to hold your granddaughter while seated.

a bug's land
It's Tough to Be a Bug is a 3D movie that is the same as at WDW. Every time I have been on it at WDW there has been at least one child who got scared and cried. If hearing other kids crying would be upsetting to her, I would skip this.
The other rides in Bug's Land are much different than anything at WDW, so I can't comment too much on them.
From what I have read, Flik's Flyers(looks like a spinning ride similar to Dumbo) and Heimlich's Chew Chew Train should be OK.
Francis' Ladybug Boogie looks like it may be somewhat similar to the Teacups.
Princess Dot Puddle Park might be Ok, depending on how she feels about getting wet.

Hollywood Backlot
Turtle Talk with Crush is sort of a live movie. There is a large screen that looks like you are looking into a window into the sea. If she can see colors or light, she might like this. There will be a lot of laughter.
Monsters, Inc. is a slow moving ride. There is nothing like this at WDW, so I'm not familiar with it. Sounds good though.
Muppet Vision 3D is a 3D movie. It's pretty long, but is a good place to get out of the sun and heat. The same movie is at WDW and there is not really anything scary in it. It has some music that is cute.

 

[Bill_Lin]

WOW Sue, you are exceeding even your great standards for helpfulness. I am, once again, impressed.

Bill

 

[SueM in MN]

WOW Sue, you are exceeding even your great standards for helpfulness. I am, once again, impressed.

Bill

thank you
Once I got started, it was not that hard to do (a little more time than I thought, but not hard)

 

[mechurchlady]

I can add some things about rides you can hold a child on.
King Triton and Kig Arthur have wheelchair accessible seats and bench seats I think. I know they are wheelchair accessible.

Bug's Land has a train which you could take her on. It is based on Heimlich and pretty tame. The Francis bug ride is like the tea cups and has a wheelchair vehicle. The Flik's Flyers are two bench seats facing each other and gently go up and down. There is a play area over bye the Stinger ride. The Sun Wheel is a ferris wheel and one time you go rocking and rolling, wheel chairs are allowed on and there are cars that do not rock. There are parades, street performances, and character meet and greets. I do not think she would be allowed on the zeppelin shaped ride. Redwood area had a nice little park with shows and activities for kids. The Hyperion used to have Aladdin and always had great shows.

For Main Street you can put the stroller on the back of the trolley and the omnibus then ride one way. Kids love petting the horses who pull the trolley. If you prefer you can leave the stroller and ride one way then get off, get in line and wait then board for a return trip. If you can fold the stroller and if the CM is nice then they might let you take the stroller with you on the fire truck or horseless carriage ride.

The train station in Main Street requires climbing up stairs then getting through the turnstile or exits. You have to drag the chair or strollers up or down them steps. You also have to haul the chair or stroller onto the train.
The other stations allow guests to wheel right onto the train.

I ahve seen people on a video carrying kids onto the submarine. it is a tight spriral stair case not something easy like a flight of stairs. Autopia allows little kids but if she is fragile then have a second person in the car behind you to keep people from ramming you in the rump. Honey I Shrunk the Audience was a cute show but over time is deteriorating. Innoventions has something new in there. The rocket ride is ok and like Dumbo goes around in circles and up and down you set on the floor so Dumbo is much easier getting out of.

Goofy's Bounce House has a walk through area and you do not have to participate. Since she is under age 3 she would not be allowed inside nor the bobsleds.

She would be allowed on Dumbo, Peter Pan, Snow White, Pinocchio, the Canal Boats and Casey Jr. Train and the tea cups and Alice in Wonderland. Mark Twain and Pirates she would be allowed. Jungle Cruise and the treehouse has an area that is disabled asseccible. I would skip mansion but it is accessible.

That should be about it. The Island was not accessible. Just remember that she is a little kid, age wise, which means there are a lot of things she would not be interested in or get bored with. Play it by ear and observe the child in the park. Each child reacts differently and they can surprise you.

Good luck on your trip.

 

[maggie101]

What a wealth of information. I am going to find a map and some time and figure this whole trip out. You are so kind! You have given me EXACTLY what I need to plan our limited time!

 

[Bill_Lin]

Maggie,

These boards are helpful people central. It is so refreshing to come here and see the great attitudes.

Bill