Here is a good one!

[D'AngelosdoDisney]

My DS 10 who is bi polar and major OCD issues ( Pirates online is his current thing ), was watching the Disney World show on utube.. the one from the travel channel. Anyway, he asked me if we would be getting any special passes like fast pass ect. I explained that we would be getting a GAC. He asked me what that was about and I told him that because he was disabled, we would have to go and talk to the CMs about his problems and they would give us a card to make our trip more enjoyable. First he stated to argue with me about if we needed one or not then he said he would be embaressed SP.. and that he didn't want to do this.. I told him he could stand to the side and close his ears so that he did not have to hear what I was saying about him... Go figure.. get a little help with them and they still want to fight a great big fight!!

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

My son was 10 the first time we used the GAC. He was not sure he wanted the people knowing anything about him, talking about him. But by the 2nd day he wanted to carry his card and show it to the CM's himself. Many of them greeted him by name, asked a small question about his trip and wished him a great time. He felt like he was independent and in control.

We have been back twice since- this last trip he was 13 and went off on his own (for one ride) for the first time ever! Nerve wracking for me- easy for him because he knew what to do with himself (and he had a phone to call me.)

Let your son know he can show it to them or you can. (be awaye though that at every ride that I held the card we were asked "which one of you is xxxxx?" They were polite (and friendly!)- but they want the card to be used by the person listed.

Have a great trip!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

You will still need fastpasses with the GAC. The GAC is not a front of line access card. I'm not sure what accommodations they would give for Bi Polar OCD. They do not give htem out for diagnoses, but rather specific needs. For instance, if you have mobility problems and cannot use stairs they would have you use the standard wheelchair entrance. If you cannot be in the sun you will wait in a shaded wait area, etc.

You do not explain to each and every CM the issues. You talk to Guest Relations and they will issue you a pass for the duration of your stay. You simply show that pass to the CMs at the ride and they will make the necessary accommodations. No questions asked. We know what to do when we see the stamps, each ride has a specific protocol for each stamp and it will vary from ride to ride.

 

[bookwormde]

From the limited info you have given if I were him I might fight it also, I guess the issue is what is the specific situations and concerns about the regular queue?

The more specific you are about why the queue might be difficult for him would reduce the “fight”. Once you have done this, let him know that there are lots of people for whom the standard lines do not work, whether form a physical disability, sun sensitivities, or any of a myriad of neurvariations or any other specual situation.

My DS9 Aspergers “fight: against using the GAC was that he did not want potentially “jump ahead” of anyone else in the line, so on the rare occasion that we use it, we just ask for the CM to wait at least the amount of time for the current queue before “calling us” from where we are waiting. Fast passes are the best and he has know problem using them since it is “fair”.

By the way if he is just interested in videos of pirates (even watching them over and over) that is not OCD unless it is a single ritualistic situation, but what is known as an atypically focused area of interest.

bookwormde

 

[D'AngelosdoDisney]

In response to many of your statements, we have used the GAC before. We were there two years ago and I am well aware that this is not a front of the line pass. When my son gets tired and hot, he melts down, becomes violent and basically loosing all control with everyone. He tends to fall on the floor, bang his head and or physically attack people. What we need is an area that he can just not be around others. Disney was very accomodating the last time we were there. We were put in Ques to wait rather then be in lines. In regards to Bookwormde commment, I am assuming that your are a psycologist or psychatrist since you know so much about OCD. Just a little FYI my son gets so worked up about what ever he is OCDing at the time that he cant sleep and worries all the time. This is not first ocd issue, its maybe his 20th. He gets stuck on things and cant let them go. Two weeks ago, we had to take away pirates on line because of something that happened. He was on his hands and knees begging us to give it back. I can only describe as if he was a drug addict withdrawing from heroin. I have never see such a seen in my life! I
I have been on these boards for years, on and off, and have helped people on here.. do a search for my name. and never have i felt a need to defend myself until today. I have so much more to say but I have to go to work. Have a good day all! Eileen

 

[bookwormde]

Eileen,

I do not have a degree, but am well read but have spent a lot of time working with and talking with families who have children with manifestations like your child. Just trying to add my perspective, did not intend to offend you. It has been my experience that almost all Psychiatrists and many Psychologists have not kept up with the current clinical “state of the art” with children with neurovariations and regularly make the mistake of diagnosing Bipolar as a primary diagnosis instead of a secondary maladaptive manifestation to another situation as it often is. Same is true for OCD and many of the other alphabet soup diagnosis that many of our children often end up with. It sounds like you are every confident that the clinicians are completely current as to the sate of the art so that is good, I have just seen many other families after educating themselves about other potential “root causes” and having broader evaluations done have been able to have their children make progress and have a major increase in “quality of life” for their children.

Sound like you have helped other families with your perspectives so thanks you for helping others.

bookwormde

 

[D'AngelosdoDisney]

Bookwormde,
My son was placed in a phyciatric hosptal at the age of 6. prior to that, we had seen numerous therapist and other specialized doctors to find a medical reason for his behaviors. He has has sleep deprived eegs, ekgs, blood test ect. He has been diagnosed several different times. Aspergers, ODD, personality disorders ect. I have read and researched all of the above and it appears that bi polar seems to fit his current behaviors. One thing that I know for certain is his OCD. He switches his obsessions in mid stream without any warning. Star Wars for two years! Ask me anything you want to know about star wars. Went to Star Wars weekend, jedi training academy, I hate the ride star tours and will not be riding it again on next trip. When my sons OCDS on something, he eats, sleeps and lives the topic. He had 3 Aniken outfits, 3 robes, about 5 lite sabers. He had all 5 movies memorized. He could not only tell you all the words but could act out every part of the movie. All he talks about from morning till nite is what ever the topic is. Imagine hearing Yo ho, yo ho..... morning, noon and nite. He becomes the characters and uses there voices. He is not my son right now, he is Reggiti. If you attempt to remove him from this world, he will cry, scream, get headaches, hurt himself and cause damage to my house. Two weeks ago, he slammed his head into the walls and now I have three big holes in his room. Dont tell me what OCD is, I live with it every day! My son takes two anti psycotics meds several times a day and still has major mood swings. I think that in the future, you should ask before making assumtions! Eileen

 

[bookwormde]

Eileen

I while I do not know your child what you describe is while at the upper end for obsessiveness for autism spectrum individuals and might well have elevated to clinical levels of OCD it is still quite a different situation than when it exists in neurotypicals and is really quite similar to the levels of focus that is seen in a majority of individuals with the hyper focus Autism characteristic. It is my experience by a greater focus and understanding of the Aspergers you might have some opportunities to make progress and lessen some of the impact of secondary diagnosis that are typical from heightened levels of anxiety that have continued over extended periods of time.

He is “safe” in the theatrical worlds that he creates (from the neurotypical social world), which he is not “equipped” to understand, so it is not surprising that his reaction to removing him from it is so extreme.

Just passing along that for children which I have had contact with (although your child is certainly on the most acute end) have made major progress from understanding and focusing on what in the cases, I have seen is the anxiety created by the autism manifestations and specifically the lack of innate social skills.

Thank you for sharing the details, I know that it is not always easy, and it does confirm my thoughts in the first post.

bookwormde

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I apologize if I misread your posts. It sounded like when you told him yo ugot a special pass you were syaing it worked like a fastpass. I guess that's the drawback of communicating on the internet.

Just explain to him that you will not have to tell every cm the issue, that is what the stamp is for and they won't know his diagnosis. Hopefully that can help ease his mind! I wish you all the best on your trip. have fun!

 

[KirstenB]

Eileen, I hope you all have a wonderful trip.

 

[D'AngelosdoDisney]

Bookwormde... Thank you for Diagnosing my son over the internet, what a shame all those years of specialists and all the money my insurance dished out and all I needed was you!

Thank you all for the kind wishes and same to all of you.. Eileen

 

[bookwormde]

You are welcome; I hope my perspective was helpful and thought provoking.

Have a great trip; WDW is a magical place for our children.

bookwormde

 

[SueM in MN]

I think this thread has gone off on a bad path, so I am closing it.

For the OP, if your son is having concerns about using the GAC, you might want to check into something like TourGuide Mike (a link to his website is on the Theme Parks Board or just do a google search).
Many people have found his information about which parks to go to and which to avoid very helpful. It helps you to avoid the places that are busiest - which will help avoid waits in line AND help you to be in a park with lots of people. Many people who used it have posted they never waited longer than 10 minutes for anything.
Your child might like the 'planning' aspect of something like Tour Guide Mike. Avoiding the busy places would also help you to minimize the use of the GAC, which sounds like it might be helpful to your son.