Looking for planning tips

[melissat]

We are trying to plan our first trip to WDW in late January and are so overwhelmed. Our son (6) has Down Syndrome and sensory/low tone issues and we were wondering what hints others had about planning for the trip. Any suggestions on resorts, scheduling, dos or donts? We want to stay on site and were thinking the value resorts but are willing to upgrade if it means not burning up all his energies shuttling back and forth to the resort. We have so many questions I can't even think of them all!


Any info greatly appreciated, Thanks, Melissa

 

[pampam]

Hi there. My daughter has Downs Syndrome as well, and we go to DW all the time. She loves it. I'm not sure what you mean by sensory low tone issues. Could you perhaps explain? Is it loud noises, crowds, or perhaps too much stimulation?

 

[SueM in MN]

Here's a website that might help with some information and if you can tell us a little more about him, we can help you with more information. Are you meaning he has sensory issues and issues becasue of low tone?
What sorts of things interest him?
Does he like animals, Disney characters, cars, video games?
Has he ever been to any type of theme park? If so, what sorts of things did he like/dislike?
Do you have a wheelchair or pushchair for him?

To answer what I can without more information:
Late January is a good time to go. We have been there in early Feb and late Jan should be about the same. Not a lot of crowds. A bit too cold for our family to swim, but the pools are heated and some people do swim in January. (My youngest DD has cerebral palsy and her idea of ideal pool temperature is around the same as the hot tub).
One of the biggest hints I have is to get to the parks early if you can - especially MK. Without rushing or using fastpass, you can get into most of the Fantasyland attractions without more than a few minutes wait early in the day. Later in the day, the waits get longer.
A lot of people do a mid-day break and go back to their hotel. We have done that a few times, but found it really used a lot of energy and once we got back, everyone was too awake to rest. Instead of going back, we stop and rest for a while in the parks. If your DS needs to lie down or just get into a low stimulation area for a while, there is a First Aid station in each park where he could lie down on a cot and take a rest. Or, the Baby Care Centers in each park are also quiet with comfortable chairs. I haven't been in those for a while, but I believe they have a Disney movie playing in one room (not loudly though).
A lot of people choose their resort based on the park they plan to go to most. I have not stayed at the value resorts, so I can't give you any opinion of them. If your child has any food issues (like he only eats certain things), you might want to look into renting points from a DVC member. DVC studios have a refrigerator and microwave. One and 2 bedroom units have a full kitchen and washer dryer, along with a living room. If you go to the DVC Board or the DVC Rental Board, you can get more info about this option.

 

[pumpkinboy]

It looks like our beloved Moderator (or is that moderatrix from the Latin?) has given you lots of good advice, as have the other posters. Here is what I can add to the discussion:

First of all, when you first get to the first park, visit guest relations and see about getting a GAC (Guest Assistance Card) as that could very well help CMs better to cater to your son's needs. It might even allow you to enter some attaractions thru the FastPass lane, and if not, use FastPass wherever you can. We have a 6 yr old DS with CP, who has his own issues (but a terrific disposition), and our GAC has helped immeasurably

Secondly, I'll second SueM in MN's suggestions about renting DVC members' points. The units are more spacious and the studios can be more cost effective than many of the hotels. Also, all DVC units ("Home Away from Home resort" rooms) come with kitchen facilities, a godsend for breakfast and quiet times. If you would like to email me your dates, I have might some points to rent before 1/31 (I can also bank them into next year, but I could make them available to you - I have enough to cover 6 nights in a studio at a couple of the DVC resorts, including Old Key West). If you need more "points" than I have, you might go to the DVC Rent/Trade board and see about getting a reservation.

Anyways, good luck! I have a 63 yr old Aunt with Down's (63, isn't that great?), who we sent to OKW last year with her favorite health care worker; she loved it. And on those more difficult days, they just stayed around OKW and relaxed, which really seems to help.

 

[melissat]

Thanks for the advice. I am sorry I was not more clear in my explanations. The main thing we are worried about is his low tone which makes him tire very easily. He does tend to hyperstimulate in large groups of people but he has a very pleasant personality- not a problem for others but makes him burn out very fast. Thankfully no food issues- he will eat hamburgers and pizza and anything that looks lie a sandwhich so in that respect his father is harder to please (sorry, honey!) We have never really been on a big family trip so this will be an adventure in more ways than one.

I think we will definitely need the stroller, even in lines if they are long. We had planned on "hopping" in and out of the park for few hours rest but it is nice to know there are a few places in the park that we could just hole up for a while. From what I'm hearing here and from others is that going to and from the park is not the quick trip we were imagining.

Do we have to get a GAC at each park we visit or does it carry over? Also, I heard mixed reactions about renting a stroller versus bringing your own? Any thoughts on that?

We have never even thought of the point renting thing- will have to read up on that.

My husband and I so have the bug we can hardly wait. Our DS saw a commercial and said" look mom DisneyWorld, does that make you happy?" I can't wait to make it a real thing for him too!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks, pumpkinboy, I'm not sure exacly what I am moderator?, moderatrix?, but I try to be helpful anyway.

I think we will definitely need the stroller, even in lines if they are long.
Do we have to get a GAC at each park we visit or does it carry over?

You can request a GAC (Guest Assistance Card) that allows a stroller to be treated as a wheelchair. That means you would be able to bring the stroller into lines and buildings where strollers are not normally allowed. It would be treated exactly like a wheelchair is handled.
As pumpkinboy mentioned, you request a GAC at Guest Relations. You can do it in any park and the GAC will be valid in all the parks, usually for your entire lenght of stay. The GAC is issued to the person with a disability, plus up to 5 other members of their party. There may be times when the CM asks you to split into smaller groups (like 1 or 2 people stay with the person with a disability). This usually happens when there is limited area for guests with special needs, so there really isn't room for all of you to wait. At the time you are going, lines should not be very long, so you probably will have little trouble waiting in line.
You explain your situation/needs to the CM at Guest Services. They will issue a GAC that meets as many of your needs as possible. GACs are not meant to (and usually won't) eliminate or shorten the wait in line. They are meant to provide a more appropriate place/condition for waiting. Since each person's needs are different, not everyone gets the same GAC.

Also, I heard mixed reactions about renting a stroller versus bringing your own? Any thoughts on that?

Do you have a stroller that is comfortable for your child (and for you to push)?
If not, you might want to look into getting a special needs stroller. Insurance will often pay for them for children with low tone because of the medical issues with fatigue when walking long distances (even for things like shopping trips).
In case you have never seen one and wonder what they look like, here's a link to the special needs stroller pages at www.adaptivemall.com (if this link doesn't work, just go to adaptivemall.com and put "special needs stroller" in the search).
One plus with renting in the parks is that you don't have to transport the stroller to the park. A minus is that you might have a tired child who has to walk to the bus stop or car because he is too big to carry.

We had planned on "hopping" in and out of the park for few hours rest but it is nice to know there are a few places in the park that we could just hole up for a while. From what I'm hearing here and from others is that going to and from the park is not the quick trip we were imagining.

If you are at MK and are staying at one of the monorail hotels, you are probably talking about a 20-30 minute trip back to your resort. If you have to take a bus, the mid-day buses are not as frequent as they are early in the morning or at park closing. Your bus trip might only be 10-15 minutes, but you may have to wait for 20-30 minutes for the bus to come.
Another option to think about is going to a resort that is close to the park you are at. For Epcot, you can get a boat to Boardwalk, Beach Club, Swan or Dolphin at the International Gateway (between UK and France). The boat ride itself is a change from being in the parks and might be enough of a break. But, you can also get off at one of the resorts. They all have nice sitting spaces outside or lots of very comfortable couches in their lobbies where you can sit and veg out for a while.
At MK, you can do the same thing by taking the monorail to GF, Polynesian or the Contemporary. There are also small boats (not that small, but smaller than the Epcot boats) that go to the same resorts and to WL and FW.
And, you might just find that the monorail is your son't favorite ride. One person posted that their son liked it so much, he would have been happy riding it non-stop.
In the parks, there are some rides that take a long time and many people find restful. Here's some I thought of:

• the Railroad at MK
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority at MK in Tomorrowland (an elevated train)
• the Friendship boats that go across WS lake at Epcot
• the train that goes to the Conservation Station at AK

 

[pumpkinboy]

Oh and Suem in MN, don't forget about my DS's favorite, the boats that take you from Epcot Int'l Gateway to MGM via the Epcot resorts (BW, BC/YC, Swan/Dolphin).

MelissaT, as for locations, if you were initially thinking of the Value or Moderate on-site hotels, you will likely be better off at OKW, since it is just as accessible (well maybe more accessible) via bus as the Values or Mods. If you want ot be close to the parks, well the Monorail hotels will get you close to MK, and a monorail ride to Epcot, but they are pretty price. WL and VWL are also in the MK neighborhood, and connect there by boat (and my DS loves anything to do with a boat. The Epcot resorts will put you between Epcot and MGM (with BCV and BWV being DVC properties). AKL, which is my family's fav' is out on the savannah, and a bus ride from everythig else, but just wonderful (if pricey). Then there is also the new SSR (another DVC property), which is over by Downtown Disney, and a bus ride everywhere else (llos great and we just bought more points there).

At the end of January, DVC ressies are easier to come by, tho you wil not likely be able to get Boardwalk view or Standard view at BWV, plus BCV and VWL might be tight, but there is likely availability somewhere (most likely OKW or SSR). The studios will likely run you $80-$120 a night for weeknights, more than double that on the weekend (at $10 per point). This puts OKW (which is gorgeous!) in the $800 range for a full week, $600 if you drop a weekend night and down to $400 for five weeknights in January. All the other DVC resorts are more. Zap me a PM or an Email if you like and I can check on availability for your dates, if you decide DVC rental is something that might fit your needs and budget.

 

[HopperFan]

Have a son w/down syndrome who is 20 and been going to WDW since he was 1 on a regular basis. His favorite place to be !

First question - will you have a car? If so I would drive to all the parks except for the MK and bring your own stroller. Parking is free and so easy at EPCOT, MGM, AK, DTD etc. MK is harder because you have to take the ferry or monorail over the lake. We found having our car there gets us back to the hotel SO MUCH faster and for him, he was much happier. He could relax physically and mentally. This last trip we did all buses and he was highly stressed leaving the parks.

Get the GAC to use your stroller as much as possible. The more rested and comfortable he is - the more energy he will have to enjoy his day. If he is sound sensitive, take some earplugs or a cd player - you never know when you will need it. First Aid also has ear plugs that are the moldable kind. Last trip we went to first aid at EPCOT for some cool quiet time and they were super with him. But your time frame is great and it should really go smooth.

Hotels - I would go moderate if you can. We started staying on premise when DS was 8 and stayed at the POR. It was great. Very peaceful and enjoyable resort and have gone back many several times. Coronado is great and has great bus service if that is a must. The layout of CBR was very difficult for us and the food court was sensory wise too loud for him (and us). We drove to POR to eat. The values are okay, but it was loud, busy, lots of people, food courts crowded (lots of school groups go here) and we found we were not getting our "quiet time" that we needed.

We always have a wonderful time and he abosolutely loves it there - am sure your trip will be magical !