Opinions needed...anyone have one?

[mrsbert]

My DS5 (six when we go) is slightly autistic. I know that's not a proper term but they've been back and forth about either having Sensory Integration and/or Austim. Anyway, that's beside the point. My family has been once before when DS had just turned 4. We rented a stroller the entire trip, which worked out great. I want to rent again but don't want to push the 6 y.o. around when he can walk. What I mean is, he will sit in the stroller because it's easier....he will milk it for all it's worth.
Should I get one for the duration or maybe mid-week when he's beginning to get tuckered out?

What have you all done in the past?

 

[Ali]

It's funny you ask that because I am trying to figure out the same question for my DS who turns 6 tomorrow. We are going to POP in 2 weeks and I was deciding whether I could leave the stroller here and see if we really needed one or if I could get him to walk.

I always say he is "on the spectrum" or "mildly autistic" because his diagnosis is Sensory Defensive disorder and PDD-NOS.

I keep coming back to the same issue - I have to carry a cooler with his accepted foods wherever we go and we'll need extra clothes in case he gets wet since he can't stand that feeling so if I don't have a stroller to put it in I will have a lot to carry on my body since my DH isn't coming with us this trip. So I will probably bring it just for my convenience. Maybe some day we will be a no bag family but for now we are a 2 bag and stroller check through the security lines.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[whgrn]

I would bring the stroller. On our last trip, my kids were 5 and 6. The stroller was a godsend, as there's no way they could have walked all through the parks for 5 days! Yes, there were times that it was just a package carrier--they needed to get up and run around some. But it's much easier to track your child when he's strapped into a stroller than when he's running all over the place!

Like you said, you've got at least 2 bags to carry--stick them in the stroller, and even if DS wants to walk, it's still worth it to have the stroller!

JMHO

 

[OKWMom]

Just a thought - he will be getting a lot of sensory input while in the stroller. Will this help keep him calm and managable and therefore make your trip less stressful? Also, it will provide him with a buffer from the crowds which may also work in your favor.

My daughter can't walk the park, but in your situation, I would probably still rent the stroller.

 

[Janet Hill]

My opinion is one that is not generally accepted, but I'll share it. My son now 9 has been diagnosed with Aspergers, Autism and PPD-NOS - depends on which psychologist you talk to. He's high functioning.

I make our vacations all about learning life skills. He's much more motivated to be compliant where the rewards are everywhere and immediate. I made him walk from the age of 5 and yes he must cope with the lines and the crowds. We've been teaching him to cope with his life's challenges, because these challenges will be lifelong for him (and I won't be). It's ok for these situations to bother him, but he must know what he needs to do to cope with it. Sometimes that means at his prompting we will go take a break.

I know I operate at the extreme.

 

[flynnmnstr]

It will be about 6 weeks before DS 5's birthday. We are definitely bringing/renting a stroller (we'll actually be bringing two because we have a ds2 also). WE are hoping to purchase a used Maclaren Major (special needs) stroller, because our son is already almost 55lbs and 46 inches tall and the Maclaren Quest isn't going to cut it soon. Our son is PDD-NOS/Aspberger/SID; definitely on the spectrum but not really sure where he "belongs".

Alex needs his stroller for the sensory aspect, plus WDW is a lot of walking even typical children get tired and many kids in the spectrum have low tone issues, including our son. He's always been a stroller junkie but we know that he will want to do a lot more walking this time so we just plan on putting on of our gazzillion bags in his seat when he's walking. We need a food bag also between picker eater and severe DAIRY allergy; I am a human refrigerator. You'd be amazed at what meals I was cooking in the microwaves at the baby centers.

 

[SueM in MN]

Just a thought - he will be getting a lot of sensory input while in the stroller. Will this help keep him calm and managable and therefore make your trip less stressful? Also, it will provide him with a buffer from the crowds which may also work in your favor.

I just wanted to mention that a lot of people with children on the autism spectrum have mentioned that the WDW park rental strollers are very popular with their kids.
They are made of a firm plastic (not really hard, but firm) and a lot of kids like the firm pressure feeling of sitting on them. They also have a large canopy and the sides come down fairly far, so they do a good job of cutting down on stimulation.
Here's a picture from allearsnet. com and a link to their stroller info page. The picture for the Studio shows jogging strollers, but they have changed to the same strollers as the other parks.

 

[mrsbert]

Thanks everyone for your input. I think we'll play it by ear. It's true that the stroller can help him "get away" if he's feeling a bit overwelmed. I have a DS 8 as well and I want them both to walk as much as possible. We'll still leave mid-day and take naps too. If nothing else, there's nothing better than having something to carry all the goodies I plan on having

 

[ms_mckenna]

I have to agree that the Disney strollers looked really nice when we were there in Nov. I definately would have used them instead of our own when DS was smaller. They looked they would be really good for blocking out outside influences if need be.

 

[leanan]

With the sensory defensive disorder I would say take the stroller or rent one just because it is a safe haven that your sensory sensative child can retreat to. On another post someone had the great idea of draping the blanket across the front so they can feel secluded from the world when things go topsy turvey.

 

[stenickar]

I took my ds when he was 7 and then again when he was 9. Both times we used a w/c. It is a great shield from people getting too close to him. Also he walks sooooo slow we would never make it to the turnstiles before noontime, if we waited for him to walk. Having the w/c made both of our vacations enjoyable.
The whole purpose of vacation is to enjoyyourselves. Trying to make him walk through the park would not please anyone. He is non-verbal but can be very vocal and gets extremely excited and laughs loudly. I had to take him out of one show because he was too excited. I never could have gotten him to leave if I had to make him walk.
Having the w/c or stroller means that you can whisk your child away at the first sign of escalation or meltdown.

 

[SueM in MN]

On another post someone had the great idea of draping the blanket across the front so they can feel secluded from the world when things go topsy turvey.

I've seen quite a few strollers with blankets or thin beach towels draped across the top.
This picture of the double strollers from allearsnet shows the amount of 'screening' available on the WDW strollers. A lot of people with older or larger children get a double stroller for the extra room.

 

[1stluvispooh]

We went to WDW in Oct. with my 6 year old high functioning Autistic DD. (She also has gotten every diagnosis in the book depending on who you talk to ) Anyway we always started our day off with her walking and then come 3:30 or 4:00 I would rent a stroller. While the kids and dad where having a snack I would get it. For her it was she was getting tired and slowing down yet her 8 year old brother was still running. I learned to go for the extra money and get a double stroller because she is very tall and at one point at the end of the week her brother squeezed into it with her. For us this worked best. We didn't have to wait in line first thing in the morning for a stroller and we didn't have to push it around all day. In fact most of the time her brother wanted to do it which helped us from getting separated. Hope this helps. Have fun!

 

[MIannie]

I am taking my grandson for his first trip to WDW in April. He is autistic (no definition yet), and he will turn 5 while there. He hasn't ridden in a stoller since he was 18 m.o. but I am taking a umbroller stroller with us. I will probably use it in the parks in the evenings when we are staying for Wishes, Illuminations, and Fantasmic. There is no way I can carry him if he falls asleep, and its just him and me. A rental stroller would only get me to the front gate. My own stroller will wait in line for the bus, and get from the bus to our room. Something to think about.

 

[mrsbert]

I definitely agree that getting my soon-to-be DS6 from the parks to the hotel is a job in itself. Having a stroller beyond the parks would be great but he's 75 lbs and 4'4. (We grow 'em big in Louisiana ) . We'll be taking breaks mid-day for rest and sanity so I'm hoping this will help with his stamina.

 

[SueM in MN]

Having a stroller beyond the parks would be great but he's 75 lbs and 4'4. (We grow 'em big in Louisiana ) . We'll be taking breaks mid-day for rest and sanity so I'm hoping this will help with his stamina.

Another thing to be aware of -
they do rent special needs strollers (basically large scale umbrella strollers) at several off-site places in the Orlando area. There are links to some places in the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of the board.

 

[utmemmom]

We need a food bag also between picker eater and severe DAIRY allergy; I am a human refrigerator. You'd be amazed at what meals I was cooking in the microwaves at the baby centers.

Hello, I just read your post from 03-15-2007, 01:20 PM, where you mentioned that you were able to use a microwave in the baby centers at the theme parks? Do you know if this is still available? My 3 y.o. son has anaphylaxis to dairy (and hives to contact) and I tried to contact Disney re:use of microwaves in the park and got no answer. I know we can't ask for them at the restaurants but didn't even know they were accesible anywhere. Thanks. We are planning to visit in May 08.

 

[ecki]

I definitely agree that getting my soon-to-be DS6 from the parks to the hotel is a job in itself. Having a stroller beyond the parks would be great but he's 75 lbs and 4'4. (We grow 'em big in Louisiana ) . We'll be taking breaks mid-day for rest and sanity so I'm hoping this will help with his stamina.

You can rent a Maclaren Major stroller off site. It's like a really big umbrella stroller. They can handle up to 140 pounds. One company quoted me around $60 for the week which is way cheaper than renting a double stroller at the parks! We use one regularly and it's very easy to push and maneuver. Folds up easily, too, although I find it a bit awkward to carry around (like on a bus) when it's folded, especially if I'm trying to manage my two kids!

 

[scojos]

ds was 6 last trip, he will be 8 this, we had double buggy for him and dd 5.
not so much a mobility thing but also a personnal space thing, also avoided too tired and v miserable child
tracy

 

[mechurchlady]

Take the stroller with you each day. Get a GAC also. Use the stroller to go from area to area then park the stroller and walk to some rides. This will give the kid some excercise, let them burn up some energy and explore things. For example take the stroller to Fantasyland, park it and then ride Dumbo, Casey Jr. and Snow White for example.

You can have one parent walk with the kid while the other pushes if the kid is a bit energetic or wants to walk. Also save yourself energy by using the stroller to carry all the stuff you need for a kid like water bottles, snacks, and spare clothing. There are lockers available for storing stuff but it requires returning to the front of a park usually. Take it from a lazy disabled waddlebutt use the stroller for carrying things, as a haven ofr the kid when things get to much, and for saving his energy so at the end of the day he will still still have energy to enjoy the parks.