New to disboards (special needs kids and Disney)

[Amazynglydisney]

Hi! New to Disboards and very excited! My last trip to Disney World was with my boyfriend and our two children! 2 year old girl and 5 year old autistic boy. It was their first time at disney. My boyfriend's gone hundreds of times as a kid, but I've only been three times! We stayed at the animal kingdom lodge for two nights with a savanna view room because our boy loves giraffes and girl loves zebras. We went to MK twice and animal kingdom once. We are planning another trip back in Feb 2016! Less than 3 months away! We are planning a little over trip. I am looking for new ideas. Especially with having a special needs child. We feel like he did amazing at Disney on their first trip but as parents we were unprepared and had no idea about the disability pass. (which I've heard is nothing compared to what it used to be) So what are the best boards to seek info on special needs and disney?

 

[SueM in MN]

Hi! New to Disboards and very excited! My last trip to Disney World was with my boyfriend and our two children! 2 year old girl and 5 year old autistic boy. It was their first time at disney. My boyfriend's gone hundreds of times as a kid, but I've only been three times! We stayed at the animal kingdom lodge for two nights with a savanna view room because our boy loves giraffes and girl loves zebras. We went to MK twice and animal kingdom once. We are planning another trip back in Feb 2016! Less than 3 months away! We are planning a little over trip. I am looking for new ideas. Especially with having a special needs child. We feel like he did amazing at Disney on their first trip but as parents we were unprepared and had no idea about the disability pass. (which I've heard is nothing compared to what it used to be) So what are the best boards to seek info on special needs and disney?

Right here..
Look around and check out the threads that are stuck near the top of this board.

There is one that is just about WDW and the DAS program (Disability Access Service). The first post in that thread is kept up to date. The rest of the thread is discussion from just before and just after DAS began - don't bother racing those pages. They will just confuse you and a lot changed since then. At some point, I will get around to making a new thread so people don't have to worry about the other posts, but for right now, that is the best DAS information.

There is also a disABILITIES FAQs thread (look near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature). The first post in that thread is an index that tells which post has which information. Post 3 is kind of a 'catch all' thread with a lot of specific information.

Ask questions as you think of them.

 

[Amazynglydisney]

Awesome thank you so much! Is there anything else I should know about the site? Any basics that are good to know?

 

[dekraut]

There is so much great help here on the boards. I went a lot as a child, but hadn't been to Disney for about 18 years until we went summer 2014. Prior to the trip I started lurking on the boards reading as much as I could in the many different areas. This is where I learned about FP+, the DAS changes, and all about different tips and tricks for our visit. Great info.

Depending on when your last trip occurred, there have some some changes to the DAS passes - they moved from those special cards to being electronically tied to your magic bands now, so that may be new....

Anyway - just surf away with a cup of coffee and a quiet corner and ask for what you need! We will be there in Jan 2016 (four days away from making FP+ reservations) so I am researching as well! Happy hunting.

 

[gap2368]

hi and welcome to the disboards

the DAS can help you need to go to GR and talk to the cast member there about your son they will ask you something like what dese he need to help him you need to think of what he need to make it through disney I know some people with autism that do not need a DAS and they go quiet a bit so it will depend on what your son needs

 

[Amazynglydisney]

Okay awesome I believe we will greatly benefit from the DAS because even if we are still waiting the same amount of time at least we can be in an environment more comfortable for our son because he is non verbal and does not understand the concept of waiting in line. Thank for your reply

 

[Amazynglydisney]

Also can anyone tell me how to change my profile pic?

 

[gap2368]

Also can anyone tell me how to change my profile pic?

first you have to have at lest 10 post

 

[StirlingSilver83]

My son has ASD as well. We have been to Disney 4 times with him, hes 9 now. The first 2 times we had no idea about the GAC/DAS and we literally only got to do like 3 or 4 rides per day. It was a little disappointing but we still made the most of it being in Disney. Anyways the last 2 times when we got the DAS for him it was like a completely different experience, it worked so well with our son and we got to do so much more with him. Also I don't know if your son is still in a stroller or not or not, my older son had trouble walking around the parks for the full length of time when he was 5. Anyways another little tidbit that I wish I knew back then bc my son was a bolter as well was they have a "stroller as a wheelchair" sticker that allows you to take your stroller pretty much everywhere. I have a 2yr old son now as well as my older son and my 2 yr old we found out on our recent trip to Disney was a bolter. After him running off and almost falling down stairs (hes super quick for his age) luckily big brother caught him, we went to guest services and they gave us that sticker and let me tell you that was amazing not having to worry about him running off while we were in lines, specially for the shows at Hollywood Studios. It was definitely a lot easier. Anyways check out the disability section on these boards there are a lot of useful info over there!

 

[ErinTwinmom]

I have twins with autism who are also 5, get das and consider stroller as wheelchair. Beyond that I would consider some time at epcot, my kids really liked epcot.

 

[bopper]

My advice to all parents of children is that you may know that there are 5000 awesome things to do at Disney, but your young child does not.
So if you keep your child's needs and likes in mind, they will have a great time even i fthey only see a few things.
Based on your child, you don't have to tell them "we are going to see the fireworks!" early in the day...because you don't know if they will be too tired/too overloaded later. Now some kids need to have a schedule and to know what is happening but others don't.
So basically, don't overschedule and over promise.