MAW daughter with Rett Syndrome going to WDW!

[billwendy]

Woo Hoo!!! Let the pixie dusting begin!!!!! It will make you glow!!!!

LOVE that picture of Khelsey - what a sweet face!!!!

Thanks SO MUCH for posting the pictures!!!!!

Will you ask the girls for me what rides they are most excited about going on? And what animal at Sea World do you think Khelsey will like the most?

 

[luvmygrlz3]

That's actually something we've been talking about here & there...Karis wants to check out the Buzz Lightyear ride and Kaylie definitely wants to check out the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

As far as Khelsey goes...I would guess either Dolphins or Polar bears or even Walrus'. Animals are a favorite for her of all types so you could never go wrong with those.

 

[billwendy]

That's actually something we've been talking about here & there...Karis wants to check out the Buzz Lightyear ride and Kaylie definitely wants to check out the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

As far as Khelsey goes...I would guess either Dolphins or Polar bears or even Walrus'. Animals are a favorite for her of all types so you could never go wrong with those.

Those will all be fun!! Do the animals catch Khelsey's attention if they are far away, or just close up?

Karis - I have a secret tip for you!!! When you go on Buzz, the first big robot you see - shoot his left robot hand for bonus points!!!

Kaylie - BTMRR IS SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!! It makes me laugh alot!! Are you going to try splash mountain?

You guys will be able to use your special MAW button to get on most rides pretty quickly which is so nice! It will be so cool to see what Khelsey likes at Disney! There are some rides that she can stay right in her wheelchair!

 

[luvmygrlz3]

Those will all be fun!! Do the animals catch Khelsey's attention if they are far away, or just close up?

Karis - I have a secret tip for you!!! When you go on Buzz, the first big robot you see - shoot his left robot hand for bonus points!!!

Kaylie - BTMRR IS SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!! It makes me laugh alot!! Are you going to try splash mountain?

You guys will be able to use your special MAW button to get on most rides pretty quickly which is so nice! It will be so cool to see what Khelsey likes at Disney! There are some rides that she can stay right in her wheelchair!

Khelsey does with animals that are in closer view. They will catch her attention better. If she has to search for them then she won't be as interested.

Karis is going to LOVE that tip about the Buzz ride!

Kaylie will definitely want to try splash mountain. (Speaking of splash-- are the water parks included in the GKTW package? Kaylie saw the Disney videos on Netflix - talking about things to do in Disney- and she saw the water park...she wanted to know if we were going there too).

 

[mommy2mrb]

I love seeing Khelsey big smile....you are welcome for the autograph books....have lots of fun filling them up!!!

Megan's all time fav ride is Big Thunder Mtn! she would go on it again and again and again!

Buzz is great fun too, everything is great fun in Disney!!!

thanks for sharing the photos! the girls are adorable!!!!!

 

[billwendy]

At Sea World, I think you should try to sit closer (in the splash zone) for a show and see if the animals catch her attention. I would also just outright ask -with your big bold MAW button, I'd go up to a host in the theater, tell them that your daughter is on a MAW trip and where would be the best place for her to watch the show since she needs to be close up to really see the animals - they should guide you to the right spot ????? Make sure you tell them how much she loves the animals too! At AK, make sure you go over to that exploration station for a closer look at animals as well. I also think there is a petting zoo somewhere around that you may be able to get free passes to - if you want I can ask the person who I think went there.

The water parks were not included in the GKTW tickets -we got 3 day park hoppers. But, at GKTW, the pool is AMAZING!!! Doesnt have slides, but lots of fun water park stuff!!! Here is a picture to show the girls...

My DH and nephew on Buzz!!!! If you want, you can roll Khelsey right onto this ride - there is a special car that a wheelchair rolls right into!!

Any more questions girls???????? I love talking about Disney!!!

 

[mommy2mrb]

Love the photos of the waterpark at GTKW....you are going to have so much fun!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Sorry I haven't been on much...My classes started back at school again and then I added another class this week. I'M CRAZY I know... hahaha...but I will not regret it in the long run.

We really haven't made much progress in planning for our trip. I am probably going to just wing it except for the Sunday we will be there...hoping to be able to reserve dinner at Akershus that day. I am also trying to see if our Wish Coordinator can switch our flight arrangement. They have us on a flight with only a 30 minute layover and I am afraid I will not be able to get Khelsey changed and taken care of in that short of a time frame as well as having to get our whole family to the gate in time too! So I am waiting to hear from her regarding that as well. I am hoping for a nonstop flight. (CROSS YOUR FINGERS FOR US!!)

Anyhoo, thanks for keeping up with us and I'm hoping to take some more pics of our family this weekend. I am never home with my girls anymore...I'm in school Mon & Tues nights, work Wed, Thurs & Fri nights and work on Sunday lunches as well. So we have Saturday's only for the day and my Husband works THAT day! LOL...Oh well...I am counting down every day for our wonderful time away from all of this work/school. I know it will be here before we know it!

30 minutes would not give you enough time to preboard, and if your first flight is even a few minutes late or the gates are not close together, you will have a lot less than 30 minutes. If you need wheelchair assistance, 30 minutes for sure won’t be enough.
When we have had a tight connection, we have called the airline and told them we had a member of our party in a wheelchair. They have switched the flight without problem.

My DH and nephew on Buzz!!!! If you want, you can roll Khelsey right onto this ride - there is a special car that a wheelchair rolls right into!!

Any more questions girls???????? I love talking about Disney!!!

Quite a few attractions have wheelchair accessible ride cars. Here’s a picture of the Buzz Lightyear accessible ride car. The back of the car folds down into a ramp with space for one seated person and one wheelchair in the car.

Even though the name does not sound very tame (Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin), the spinning is actually low a low speed turn. You can spin your ride car, but don’t have to.

You can find my photos by going to the DIS site photopost page and doing a search for SueM in MN.
You need to log in with your DIS name and password in order to search. I have photos of most of the wheelchair accessible ride cars posted there - if any are missing, I have pictures, but just have not had time to post.

Posts 18, 19, 20 and 21 on page 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread has lists of all attractions. The ones bolded are fully wheelchair accessible. The ones in Blue bold have a special wheelchair car.

 

[SueM in MN]

More iPod/iPad apps she might like. These require a bit more hand eye coordination than the other ones I suggested:

• Pictello - don’t remember if I mentioned this one before, but it allows you to make talking picture books. Those can be used for memory books or schedules.
• friendlets - you can use this to make friendship bracelets. Choose a bracelet and trays of beads appear. You need to click on a bead then it up to the bracelet to put it on. Bracelets can be saved in a jewelry box or emailed.
• Let’s Bead Friends - This is kind of similar to friendliest, but the beads are bigger and there is no need to do any dragging. You choose a bead shape, then you can choose the color and pattern for the bead (you do have to scroll to get more colors/patterns if you want one that is not on the screen). To add your bead to the bracelet, there is a plus sign, with a minus sign to remove beads. They are small on an iPod, but would be bigger and easier to hit on the iPad.
• Memoryze - this is a memory game where you turn over cards to try to match pictures on the hidden side of the card. You can have as few as 8 cards and the neat thing is that you can use your own pictures. So, if it would be motivating to see pictures of family, friends or Disney characters to match, you can do that.
• Tasty Ice Cream - You choose a type of ice cream cone, then can choose the kind of ice cream and toppings. Make sure the wi-fi is turned off, it has ads and it is possible to buy things - at least in the free version I have.
• CookieDoodle - You can make cookies by dragging ingredients into a bowl (or you can skip that step and use ‘pre-made’ dough). The swipe on the screen to roll out the dough, choose a cookie cutter and make a cookie. After it’s baked, you can decorate it.
• More Toast! - similar to Cookie Doodle, but you make toast and then choose things to put on it. It has lots of fun and silly choices, like gummy beard and thing you would put on toast like honey and butter. THere is another app by the same developer to make Pizza.
• My nails - polish fingernails by dragging nail polish bottle up to the fingernail. It also has rings you can place on the hand by draggin

g.

 

[luvmygrlz3]

30 minutes would not give you enough time to preboard, and if your first flight is even a few minutes late or the gates are not close together, you will have a lot less than 30 minutes. If you need wheelchair assistance, 30 minutes for sure won’t be enough.
When we have had a tight connection, we have called the airline and told them we had a member of our party in a wheelchair. They have switched the flight without problem.

I asked my Coordinator the other day if we could change our flight and she said the airport we are going to is small and we should have time. I agree that if our flight is a few minutes late it's going to cause issues but she said to just leave it be. I don't know what to do. I really don't think it's going to work with only having 30 minutes for layover...I'm just worried on what to do.


Quite a few attractions have wheelchair accessible ride cars. Here’s a picture of the Buzz Lightyear accessible ride car. The back of the car folds down into a ramp with space for one seated person and one wheelchair in the car.

Even though the name does not sound very tame (Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin), the spinning is actually low a low speed turn. You can spin your ride car, but don’t have to.

You can find my photos by going to the DIS site photopost page and doing a search for SueM in MN.
You need to log in with your DIS name and password in order to search. I have photos of most of the wheelchair accessible ride cars posted there - if any are missing, I have pictures, but just have not had time to post.

Posts 18, 19, 20 and 21 on page 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread has lists of all attractions. The ones bolded are fully wheelchair accessible. The ones in Blue bold have a special wheelchair car.

I love all of this information!! thank you for sharing and I'm off to check out your pics of the wheelchair accessible rides cars.

 

[SueM in MN]

For the flight - 30 minutes may be enough time if it’s a small airport. We’ve gone thru bigger ones - like Atlanta, where we know it won’t be enough.

Make sure the gate agent knows you have a short connection and mention it also to the flight attendants. They can have the next flight held for you if it is going to be too short. Unless you are much more efficient than I am, you won’t have time to take your daughter to the bathroom with only a 30 minute connection. Unless it’s a really small airport, chances are good that by the time you get off the plane, they will already have started boarding or preboarding your next flight.

I guess I would call back the Coordinator and make sure she knows what you need to do between the flights and about how long it will take to do it.
She may be figuring that you are just getting out of the one plane and going right on the next one. There may be enough time for that, but if it’s going to take you 10 minutes to get your child’s gate checked wheelchair back and then 15 minutes to go to the bathroom, you will just barely make your plane.

 

[luvmygrlz3]

For the flight - 30 minutes may be enough time if it’s a small airport. We’ve gone thru bigger ones - like Atlanta, where we know it won’t be enough.

Make sure the gate agent knows you have a short connection and mention it also to the flight attendants. They can have the next flight held for you if it is going to be too short. Unless you are much more efficient than I am, you won’t have time to take your daughter to the bathroom with only a 30 minute connection. Unless it’s a really small airport, chances are good that by the time you get off the plane, they will already have started boarding or preboarding your next flight.

I guess I would call back the Coordinator and make sure she knows what you need to do between the flights and about how long it will take to do it.
She may be figuring that you are just getting out of the one plane and going right on the next one. There may be enough time for that, but if it’s going to take you 10 minutes to get your child’s gate checked wheelchair back and then 15 minutes to go to the bathroom, you will just barely make your plane.

I have talked w/ our coordinator and this is what she said (even after knowing I have to change Khelsey and that she made need a moment to walk around too... :

"Shelby,
We will need to leave it the way it is. If non-stop is available the day we book we always grab it - but none were available . In this situation the actual flights times are only 1.5 hours each. Charlotte is a small airport - I really don't think it will be to much of an issue.

Angelette "

I'm still worried that we won't have enough time...especially if we are running behind "flight time". I will trust her though...nothing much I can do now. I looked at Charlotte/Douglas International (in NC) and we are flying US Airways...they have 4 different concourses they fly out of....

 

[billwendy]

I think you'll be okay - just make sure your needs are known every time you check in, when you talk to the stewardess etc. Also, tell them you have no idea where you are going when you change planes and that you need assistance due to the fact that your daughter is in a wheelchair. Dont stress over it girlie, it will all work out!!

 

[VBAndrea]

I have talked w/ our coordinator and this is what she said (even after knowing I have to change Khelsey and that she made need a moment to walk around too... :

"Shelby,
We will need to leave it the way it is. If non-stop is available the day we book we always grab it - but none were available . In this situation the actual flights times are only 1.5 hours each. Charlotte is a small airport - I really don't think it will be to much of an issue.

Angelette "

I'm still worried that we won't have enough time...especially if we are running behind "flight time". I will trust her though...nothing much I can do now. I looked at Charlotte/Douglas International (in NC) and we are flying US Airways...they have 4 different concourses they fly out of....

Personally, I don't think 30 minutes is enough. If your first flight is the least bit late leaving it will delay you getting in and that's how I've always missed close flights. US Air also occupies a large area of the Charlotte airport so you may have to change terminals once you are there. However, once in Philly on US air they specifically paged me while on my flight and had someone waiting for me right off the plane who took me down to the taxiing area and drove me right to the next plane. I walked on to a plane packed full of people, but made that flight.

On the bright side though, you are leaving in the morning so if you do miss your connecting flight there will be other flights later in the day that they can get you on. And I agree with Wendy, at every counter you go to when checking in make you needs known. If they have someone in Charlotte that can meet you at the gate and take you to the bathroom to change Khelsey and then to the next flight that would very well work. Also inform the fight attendant on the plane so she can call ahead and get things taken care of for you.

I had a flight once that got cancelled in Charlotte due to mechanical problems (they actually took my plane and sent it to Orlando -- Orlando's plane was the one with issues but more people were going there!) and they gave me phone cards and plenty of food vouchers to use at the airport until they could get me on another flight.

Whatever happens, they will get you there. I wish your coordinator would be a little more empathetic to your situation though and see if they could find an alternative flight!

Please check your PMs -- I am Pming you some ideas!

 

[luvmygrlz3]

I think you'll be okay - just make sure your needs are known every time you check in, when you talk to the stewardess etc. Also, tell them you have no idea where you are going when you change planes and that you need assistance due to the fact that your daughter is in a wheelchair. Dont stress over it girlie, it will all work out!!

I will definitely let it be know of our needs once we check in. I am crossing my fingers and toes to make sure we make it to the connecting flight in ample time. I do remember when flying before, that the estimated flight durations are longer than they "usually" end up being. So since this flight is supposed to be about an 1 1/2 hours, then maybe it will be a bit less...like 1 hour 15 minutes...THAT would even help tremendously. Plus getting the flight attendents to call ahead as well. I have faith and I know it will all be ok in the long run. I just hate not having control... hahahaa...Thanks Wendy for all of your help.

Personally, I don't think 30 minutes is enough. If your first flight is the least bit late leaving it will delay you getting in and that's how I've always missed close flights. US Air also occupies a large area of the Charlotte airport so you may have to change terminals once you are there. However, once in Philly on US air they specifically paged me while on my flight and had someone waiting for me right off the plane who took me down to the taxiing area and drove me right to the next plane. I walked on to a plane packed full of people, but made that flight.

On the bright side though, you are leaving in the morning so if you do miss your connecting flight there will be other flights later in the day that they can get you on. And I agree with Wendy, at every counter you go to when checking in make you needs known. If they have someone in Charlotte that can meet you at the gate and take you to the bathroom to change Khelsey and then to the next flight that would very well work. Also inform the fight attendant on the plane so she can call ahead and get things taken care of for you.

I had a flight once that got cancelled in Charlotte due to mechanical problems (they actually took my plane and sent it to Orlando -- Orlando's plane was the one with issues but more people were going there!) and they gave me phone cards and plenty of food vouchers to use at the airport until they could get me on another flight.

Whatever happens, they will get you there. I wish your coordinator would be a little more empathetic to your situation though and see if they could find an alternative flight!

Please check your PMs -- I am Pming you some ideas!

Thank you soooo very much for all of your input...keep the thoughts and Ideas coming...my ears are wide open!!! You all are wonderful!

 

[tinytreasures]

Have faith it will work out and make sure everyone knows you are going to need help to get to your connecting flight

 

[luvmygrlz3]

Have faith it will work out and make sure everyone knows you are going to need help to get to your connecting flight

Thank you!! I will keep head up...it always has a way to work out.

 

[Mom2mitokids]

I'm sure everything will work out. It is a close call, but I'm sure you can do it.

 

[smileycrissy]

Hi! Joining the celebration a lil late but better late than never.

Your family is beautiful! Congrats on the wish and the Big Give. It's a double dose of magic!

My SIL loves US Airways. She lives in Daytona Beach and has to fly to NJ for work sometimes. She's always stuck with connecting flights, I find them a hassle, so I don't understand why she loves to fly with them. I would be very concerned about the 30 mins in between as well. But like Sue mentioned, just make sure you let everyone know your situation. And yes, your coordinator does seem a bit empathetic compared to the ones we've heard about on other Wish tripper reports. I'm hoping its just that she was having an off day.

 

[luvmygrlz3]

Hi! Joining the celebration a lil late but better late than never.

Your family is beautiful! Congrats on the wish and the Big Give. It's a double dose of magic!

My SIL loves US Airways. She lives in Daytona Beach and has to fly to NJ for work sometimes. She's always stuck with connecting flights, I find them a hassle, so I don't understand why she loves to fly with them. I would be very concerned about the 30 mins in between as well. But like Sue mentioned, just make sure you let everyone know your situation. And yes, your coordinator does seem a bit empathetic compared to the ones we've heard about on other Wish tripper reports. I'm hoping its just that she was having an off day.

Thank you so much for joining in!! Definitely better late than never...we love the company!

I'm hoping and praying everything goes as smooth as possible...my finger, toes, legs, etc are crossed. I want to call our coordinator but I'm afraid of stepping on her toes, ya know? Anyhoo, hoping our flight arrives in Charlotte early so we can have a few extra minutes to get to our connecting flight!

Again, thanks for visiting!!