Intro - Planning a WDW Trip!

[ecki]

Hi, my name is Ecki and I'm mom to Kayla my soon to be 4 year old dually diagnosed with Down syndrome and Autism. I also have a 6 year old daughter Laurie with PDD-NOS. We're planning a WDW vacation near the end of August. We'll be taking the AutoTrain down there. I'm actually more worried about the Train ride than the WDW stay! (anyone taken the AutoTrain with a child with a disability?)

I've just started reading some of the posts and I'm really encouraged. We try to stick to a GF/CF diet with Kayla, and I'm happy to see that it won't be too much of a problem. We did request a refrigerator and was wondering if there were any natural type food stores between the Amtrak station and WDW.

We're not going to be able to take Kayla's Maclaren Major special needs stroller, since there are 5 of us (my ILs, me & the kids) going and the ILs car isn't big enough for the stroller and the luggage! I don't know if it will be an issue at the resort (I think my ILs booked us at Pop Century). She'll be about 36 inches and 30 pounds and can't walk long distances (more than 200 feet) without doing the ol' Stop-Flop-Drop. I did mention this to the travel agent and she would try to request a room closer to everything, but no guarantees on that. Ugh. I really don't want to carry my kid all over the resort!

Well, that's all for now. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions between now and our trip!!

 

[s&k'smom]

They have lots of vegetarian/vegan options if it helps. www.allearsnet.com will have all the menu's. What has always worked for us is that we take a break during the day and let the kids swim and have "down time". Have fun!

 

[KPeveler]

can someone help you get the Maclaren to the train station? it should be treated as a wheelchair on the train, so it won't have to stay in the car. you may definitely want it when you get there (ok, you WILL definitely want it when you get there)... i am not quite sure what to tell you, but you will need a stroller if she can't walk very much! can you bring an umbrella stroller? you can rent one in the parks, but it is just a glorified wagon, with no support to help keep her upright... maybe someone on here has some ideas for you!

 

[ecki]

Unfortunately we have to drive from Upstate NY to DC area before even getting on the AutoTrain! Thanks for the heads up on the strollers to rent there. She definitely needs at least a 5 point harness. I thought about an umbrella stroller but the one I have she likes to bend all the way over so she can stare at the spinning wheels (that's why we got the MacLaren, LOL).

 

[KPeveler]

check out the FAQs at the top of the page... i am pretty sure there is a company that rents special needs strollers... another option would be to ship some of your necessary luggage down ahead of you so you have more room in the car!

 

[SueM in MN]

Welcome to disABILITIES.

The stroller won't be a problem at the resort. As long as you have a stroller at the resort with you, the distance to 'everything' won't be that much of a problem. Some people who have stayed at the Value Resorts (Pop Century is a value resort) have posted that the spots that are closer to everything are also more busy. So, there are trade-offs in everything.

I agree that having someone help you get the stroller to the train station might be the best alternative. That way, you would have it to use on the train (not having been on the autotrain, I'm not sure if that is even possible or if the aisles are too narrow). But, that would leave you with the same problem of trying to fit everything in once you get to Orlando.

There are places that rent special needs strollers (mostly Maclaren Major). If you check out the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board, you will find links to the websites that rent them there. They will deliver to your resort.
This is a picture of the WDW park single strollers. They are the same at each park; just different colors. The double stroller looks the same, but is twice as wide. From your description, it doesn't sound like they would work for you.

Besides allearsnet, the DIS site also has a menu list. This page opens to a list of restaurants; click on the one you are interested in and the menu will pop up. There are also links to some dining information in the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

 

[Schmeck]

Could you get/rent one of those luggage containers that you put on top of your car to hold the stroller, or just wrap and strap it to a luggage rack on top of the car (if it has a luggage rack, of course)? Or would it just be cheaper to rent a stroller from an offsite vendor?

You definitely will need a stroller of your own at WDW - the ones at the parks stay at the parks, you can't take them to the buses or the parking lots, or to the resorts.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Could you get/rent one of those luggage containers that you put on top of your car to hold the stroller, or just wrap and strap it to a luggage rack on top of the car (if it has a luggage rack, of course)? Or would it just be cheaper to rent a stroller from an offsite vendor?

Auto Train does not allow anything on the top of a vehicle.

And I hope you will be spending the night somewhere in the DC area. If you are not at the terminal by 3:00 they will not allow you in. I used to live about 20 miles from the Auto Train terminal and took it several times.

 

[Schmeck]

Could they strap it to the top while they were driving, but then put it inside the vehicle on the train?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Could they strap it to the top while they were driving, but then put it inside the vehicle on the train?

Yes. That would work. Wrap it in a tarp to protect it from weather and stuff and tie it to roof rails or some other way to the roof. When you get to the terminal in Lorton put it into the back seat, tarp and all. When you get the car back in Sanford strap it to the roof again.

Same thing on the way home.

 

[ecki]

Thanks for the advice! My ILs car is brand new moderately upscale vehicle, so I don't think they will want anything strapped to the top of their car. They weren't too happy when I threw up all over it because of the new car smell while they were taking me & Kayla to her EEG at a hospital 2 hours away. (Imagine that!) We'll probably rent a Maclaren when we get there. It looks like I'll need one at the resort, too, don't really want to carry Kayla all the way from the room to the food court!

We will be staying in the DC area the night before. Can't imagine driving 5 hours with 2 kids on the spectrum and then trying to jump on a train

Are there any natural food stores between the Amtrak station and the resort?

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

Are you getting a sleeper on the train? If you can afford it, I would highly recommend you get one for your children's sakes.

I took the train once back in 1991 or so and we had a double sleeper (where they open up the divider between two rooms to make it feel like one room), giving us four beds. I don't think I could ever have dealt with being in a curtained cubby or one of the seats.


As for the luggage, if your in-laws are so insensitive that they care about their stupid car (a minor possibility of getting a slight surface scratch where nobody will see it) more than your daughter, you have much bigger issues on your hands than needing a stroller at Disney World. Plus, they should forget about putting their "precious" car on the train, where it is more likely to get damaged than from something your daughter needs being tied to the roof. (I believe one of my family's car's hood [on a pricey car] got damaged on the train from another car leaking oil onto it, but there's also the chance of scratches or other damage from being in the car or having the train employees drive it or whatnot.)

 

[ecki]

We're definitely getting a sleeper on the train, the ones with the private bathroom and a chair, I believe. I have no idea what I'm going to do with Kayla overnight on the train. I'd be paranoid about her sleeping in the bed things and either me rolling on her (my DH complains about that, LOL) or her rolling off. I was thinking about bringing Kayla's car seat and strapping it on the chair, but that probably won't work. Maybe I should tell my ILs we'll need her stroller so she can sleep in it without me being paranoid.

I'm sure if I made a good enough case they'll figure out some way to get the stroller there. They are paying for both the Disney Vacation and the Auto Train (which costs more than the 5 days at Disney!) so I can't complain TOO much!

 

[mechurchlady]

It is a two level train and only the northeast had the single level cars due to low bridges. You are in a sleeper so you will have a sofa that the attendant will open up into a bed. Across from that is a seat like in coach and nto a regular chair. Upstairs is a pull down bed.

If you tried you might get a disabled room with room for her special stroller. The family sized and disabled rooms go fast. Also check with Amtrak about her stroller being checked baggage. You could probably add a carrier to the back of the car without damaging the car.

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conte...ons_Page&c=am2Copy&cid=1080080554058&ssid=142

Call ahead to discuss dietary needs as they do have GF food available with advanced notice. There is a snack spot that sells food and packaged items like candy and juice. Ice is available for coolers of medicine and they gave me ice when I was no my trip as it was hard to waddle all the way to the dining car for water. They will even bring your food to you if you are disabled
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conte...2Copy/Title_Image_Copy_Page&cid=1093554054842

I love Amtrak and would do it again but had one bad service and she was full of attitude but over all the food was great and staff was very helpful. Just let them know way before hand that you need something like the bed made,

If the kids are used to sleeping in a bed then give them the bottom bunk. I put my suit case next to the bed to keep from rolling out of bed but never came close to rolling out, lol. Don't worry it will all work out. There is not enough room for sleeping on the floor and the floors did not seem that clean like in a hotel. Not sure but someone will come up with a brilliant plan.

 

[ecki]

mechurchlady, thank you so much for the info on the AutoTrain! It was good to know that there won't be enough room for the stroller unless we get a disabled room. Right now it's looking like we'll leave the Maclaren stroller at home and rent one offsite so we can have it at the resort, too.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

We're definitely getting a sleeper on the train, the ones with the private bathroom and a chair, I believe. I have no idea what I'm going to do with Kayla overnight on the train. I'd be paranoid about her sleeping in the bed things and either me rolling on her (my DH complains about that, LOL) or her rolling off. I was thinking about bringing Kayla's car seat and strapping it on the chair, but that probably won't work. Maybe I should tell my ILs we'll need her stroller so she can sleep in it without me being paranoid.

That's good. Yes, they have private half-bathrooms (no shower, of course) that are the size of airplane bathrooms (the sink folds down from the wall in these, though).

We had a double room (divider opened up to make two rooms into one), so didn't have an extra chair - just the two built-in benches from the wall.

I don't think you'll need to worry about her rolling off the bottom bunk (I assume you'll put her on the bottom, anyway). She should be just fine.

Have a good time!