Input needed, please! Three week plan, version 1.0 (long)

[MBW]

I've been trying to come up with a plan for housing, relaxation, entertainment and research for a few weeks now, and think I've come up with one which will not break the bank and provide a pretty good mix.

Just a preface, as I've mentioned in previous posts, our family will be in month 5 of a year long trip around North America researching a travel book for families with special needs children. Our four kids, including two boys with autism, ages 5 and 7, will have spent most of this time in a 25 foot hybrid trailer; granted, I must add, having visited some of the most gorgeous places in America (the Great Smokies, Yellowstone, the Outer Banks, Michigan's UP, etc.)

Most parents of autistic kids recognise that WDW is special for our children. My eldest son, at age 3.5 in 2001, began to speak for the first time while at the Magic Kingdom. So we're more than happy to return for an extended tour.

My ideas are such. We have blocked out the three weeks after Thanksgiving weekend, which are supposedly the quietest of the year. And the Christmas decorations are an added plus.

First five days (Nov. 27 - Dec. 2) - Rent points for a 2 BR at Saratoga Springs. From there, we can visits Sea World/Discovery Cove, Universal Studios and the water parks.

Weekend of Dec. 2 - 4 - DVC points get very expensive on weekends, so this is our time to visit the regular hotels. Because of our family size, we're limited to deluxe hotels which sleep 5 + 1 under 3, or have to buy two rooms. Since this will be our first real weekend doing Disney stuff, I thought either GF or the Poly.

Next four days, Dec. 4 - 8 - rent DVC for BCV. I think the kids would love Stormalong Bay, and we could hit most of the parks, particularly Epcot and MGM from here, as well as just chill by the pool for a day.

Second weekend (3 days) Dec. 8 - 11 - I scored a rare BWI deluxe concierge which I'm reluctant to give up even in light of my recent conversion to renting DVC points. I figure I should research if concierge can really adapt to the physical and dietary needs of neurologically non-typical kids.

Week three (Dec. 11 - 16) is already book in a 2 BR at VWL. I had regular ressies, but was able to save $200+ per night renting from a kind DVC member.

Last weekend - Dec 16 - 18, three nights at the AKL, either in two savannah rooms or a one-bedroom suite, depending upon availability. This is DH's birthday, so I'd like it to be a bit special.

Then we head off in the camper for New Orleans for Christmas (hotel) and two months in Mexico, including watching baby whales frolicking along the Baja coast.

I would have liked to have fit in a stay at CSR, as I'm an archaeologist by profession, but can only see that working in the first week, and Saratoga Springs is closer to International Drive.

How does this sound? I'm avoiding the values, as I think they're too stimulating for kids with sensory disintegration disorders, and the square footage of deluxe resorts (and thicker walls ) make for a less stressful vacation. Also, most deluxes have restaurants which can cater to the special dietary needs of many autitistic kids (one of my sons has celiac disease.)

Any suggestions, criticism, declarations that we're nuts?

 

[TLinden16]

One thing you may want to consider is looking into one of the Universal Resorts for the beginning part of your stay rather than going with Saratoga Springs. One of the perks of staying onsite at Universal is Front of the Line access to many attractions, which would save you tons of time in the parks.

Just a thought

Sounds like you have a nice plan there, though.

Karen

 

[zippehsmom]

I would second looking into a Universal resort. Front of the Line is awesome!

Your plan looks pretty good to me. You guys are moving alot, but I guess since you are traveling across country you have packing up and moving down to a science.

Good luck and I think you guys will have a great time.

zippehsmom

 

[MBW]

They already get special access to most rides with long waits, at Universal, as well as Disney, Sea World, Busch Gardens, etc. Would you really want to wait in line next to an autistic child in the midst of a meltdown, even if it meant you got onto the ride 30 seconds later?

Since these kids encounter such difficult day-to-day challenges in their lives, most theme parks have generously decided to make things a little easier for them, at least for a short time. Sadly, some individuals without special needs kids think they can sneak through and get the special accomodation as well, which has led Disney and others to tighten their screening procedures. Amazing what some people will do, neh? Fortunately, those who still need it have been able to get the help they need, though I wonder if that will continue if people don't refrain from abusing the system.

I will look into the Universal hotels - just seemed easier to stay on property, even if we weren't yet visiting the regular parks (just Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon.) Thanks for the input.

 

[ROBIN4NY]

I give you so much credit.That is so exciting and exhausting at the same time.I don't have any pearls of wisdom but I do wish you much luck with the book.

 

[gigi1313]

i also echo the idea of staying at a universal hotel... for the change of pace among other things like FOTL perk... also, universal offers an "orlando" ticket that might be something you'd enjoy as i believe it includes the universal parks, sea world, and wet 'n wild (a non-disney water park)... might be worth looking into...

given that you "live" in a trailer, i'm guessing the campground at wdw doesn't do anything for ya, huh? will you be parking your trailer at the resorts or are you flying down? if parked i imagine that would make moving from resort to resort a piece of cake!

also, may in inquire into sensory disintegration disorders? my son is dx'd w/sensory integration disfunction... wondering if it is on the same spectrum? (he was originally dx'd high functioning autism, but that was later changed to a few other things including SID)

last but not least... POR would be able to accomodate your family in lieu of the poly/gf option... they offer a trundle bed in the AB section for the fifth person and the littlest would be in a crib...

enjoy your trip... sounds like a wonderful adventure!

 

[MBW]

i also echo the idea of staying at a universal hotel... for the change of pace among other things like FOTL perk... also, universal offers an "orlando" ticket that might be something you'd enjoy as i believe it includes the universal parks, sea world, and wet 'n wild (a non-disney water park)... might be worth looking into...

given that you "live" in a trailer, i'm guessing the campground at wdw doesn't do anything for ya, huh? will you be parking your trailer at the resorts or are you flying down? if parked i imagine that would make moving from resort to resort a piece of cake!

also, may in inquire into sensory disintegration disorders? my son is dx'd w/sensory integration disfunction... wondering if it is on the same spectrum? (he was originally dx'd high functioning autism, but that was later changed to a few other things including SID)

last but not least... POR would be able to accomodate your family in lieu of the poly/gf option... they offer a trundle bed in the AB section for the fifth person and the littlest would be in a crib...

enjoy your trip... sounds like a wonderful adventure!

We actually still live in a ten-room 1913 Four Square, but as soon as it's sold, we buy the 25' Jayco hybrid (DH wanted an Airstream, but we would have had to get a 30' long one to sleep us all - didn't want to be pulling that over the Rockies ). I do have a reservation for FW, just in case, but really want to stretch out for a few weeks.

Do the Universal hotels sleep 5-6? Kitchens are good as our son has dietary issues (celiac disease.) I'd be concerned about POR as we'd be pretty tight in that little room, even if it supposedly sleeps 5. I was thinking about GF and the Poly as they seem to have the largest rooms which sleep 5 +1, and they're on the monorail, for that first real Disney weekend.

Most kids with autism also have some form of Sensory Disintegration Disorder, although all kids with SID aren't autistic. Glad to hear your son was eventually diagnosed just with the sensory part.

Thanks for the advice and kind support.

 

[gigi1313]

Most kids with autism also have some form of Sensory Disintegration Disorder, although all kids with SID aren't autistic. Glad to hear your son was eventually diagnosed just with the sensory part.

Thanks for the advice and kind support.

is there a difference between sensory integration disfunction and Sensory Disintegration Disorder? i've never heard of SDD, whereas i am all too familiar w/SID...

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I know the HRH at Universal has deluxe rooms that sleep five because we stayed in one last year. Good luck and have fun!