Our first time traveling with our special needs son.

[Mouse's Shadow]

I'm back and in business. Now I can post pictures. (I just have to figure out how to do it.)

I will post the next installment later today.

Hi SueMn - I have a picture of loading DS on the bus. His Wheelchair length is too long to allow someone to ride on the lift with him, so DH would step up on the bus before the lift went up. I'll try to figure out the picture posting tonight.

 

[Mouse's Shadow]

I tried to leave a lot of flexibility in our itinerary. Our first scheduled activity was our lunch ADR at Epcot. I wanted to make sure that DS had plenty of time to recuperate from the excitement of the first day.

DMIL and I had planned on being at the MK for the opening ceremony. Since it was October 1, I was curious to see if they had any special additions to kick off the Million Dreams campaign. If there was anything, we missed it.

We returned to the room, from our whirlwind tour of MK, around 10:30. DS had awoken around 8:00. DH was the first to try out the roll-in shower with DS. It worked well. The rails were on the left side of the shower, which allowed DS to hang on while being scrubbed. However the toilet rails were on the right side, so they were not of use to us. I would rather have the shower rails usable than the toilet rails. I did not make any specific request concerning the rails when we booked the room, so I don't know if they are able to honor that type of request.

We expected our friends at the hotel around 9:30 am, but when 11:00 rolled around they still had not arrived. We left a message for them, then headed off to the bus stop. As we waited I noticed two people coming out of the lobby that looked familiar, even from a distance. It was them, FR and FS. I have a big mouth, so I have no doubt that they heard me squealing with glee. They had not made it to their room, nontheless, they decided to stow their carry-on in a locker at Epcot and join us for the fun. (Thank goodness they travel light)

We encountered a new type of bus. With the touch of a button, the whole right side of the bus lowered toward the curb and a ramp pulled out of the bus. We later encountered another bus that also lowered toward the curb, but the ramp folded out. These buses alleviated the presence of the awkward large step for my DH.

When we arrived at Epcot, we got a fastpasses for Soarin, then made our way to Morroco. We had a 1:00 ADR for Resaurant Merrakesh. We had plenty of time to look around the exhibits, before our time to be seated. I was very disappointed to discover that the restaurant was almost empty.

We arrived just before the belly dancer's show began, so we got to see it twice while we were there. My DS loved it. The performer danced her way to him during both performances. She danced for him, gave him a hug and took a moment for a photo. It made DS feel very special. DFIL gave him a hard time during the rest of the week, telling him it wasn't fair, because he didn't get any attention from the pretty girl. It made my son laugh with excitement every time my DFIL mentioned it.

The food was great. In fact it was one of our favorite meals. Everyone loved their food. We had a couple of picky eaters, but they were very satisfied. My DFIL had no problem finding something that suited his needs. He is diabetic, however, he is able to control his diabetes through his diet and with exercise. Even if you have picky eater, try this restaurant it is worth it.

After lunch we still had some time before we could use our fastpasses, so we went to the Imagination pavillion, picked up a time slip for HISTA and found our way to ride Figment. This ride has a wheelchair accessible car. This ride was a walk-on, but we had to wait for several trains to go through until the accessible car arrived. We didn't mind the CMs were very chatty and kept us entertained while we waited. DS's chair was a tight fit, but made it on just fine. I wish we had taken time to do one of the photo ops. after the ride, but we didn't. Maybe next time.

We went to HISTA. I transfered him into a seat, because I wanted him to have the full effects of the show. Honestly, I don't remember if it was necessary; some 3-D shows it is and others it is not. DS loved it. He has very little vission in one eye, so I wondered if he would get the full effect, but he laughed through the whole show.

We then went to use our fastpasses. I understand now why the elevator to get to the lower level can be a pain. I am glad we were there in the off -season. I would hate to see the line during a busy time. I can understand why some people are frustrated with the single elevator for everyone with mobility issues. However, I must say that Soarin was the easiest ride at WDW to manuver a standing pivot transfer. The floor is concrete, so there is no trouble with DS's feet sticking during the pivot. And there is plenty of room to manuver the wheelchair. This was everyone's favorite ride.

By the time we got out of the Land it was going on 5:30. DS was ready for a break and so were FS and FR, who had been up since 2:30 am. so we headed back to the hotel. It was after 6:00 when we arrived. I hadn't planned on staying at Epcot so long. I figured we would head to MK and ride a few rides and watch the parade and fireworks. It was EMH that night so I had planned that DH, FS, FR and I would stay late while the other 3 called it a night. But DFIL had had enough for the day. They decided to keep DS and stay at the hotel while the rest of us spent our evening at MK.

It was a great day, and I am so glad that DMIL and DFIL were with us. It gave DH and I some time for ourselves. It made it a vacation for everyone.

Tune in next time for our up close and personal dolphin experience.

 

[Scutapipig]

I'm really enjoying this report! Thank you for sharing!

 

[wide awake]

Great trip report !!!

As to the from birth or later question...DS is autistic...was precocious for the first 18-20 months...he still expects to be that person, and is very hard on himself. I am glad we had the experience of normal development...glad I was smart enough to enjoy everyone of those magical days. Sometimes I read threads on the other boards, and I really wonder what these people are thinking...complaints about this and that when they have healthy children...hello, that is as good as it gets.

 

[Purple Princess]

I am enjoying reading your adventure. My daughter has a Make A Wish trip in 2 1/2 weeks and she is in a wheelchair due to Cerebral Palsy. I am worried about what she can and cannot do so this is a big help. She isn't tall as your Son but she is heavy. She is 5'1" and 155 lbs. so it's dead weight. She is mentally 4 ish so she doesn't like to help us out much plus she has a lot of pain with her back due to Scoliosis. Can anyone tell me about the family restrooms at each park, where they located etc? My hubby will have to help me with this. I can't lift more than 5 lbs due to surgery complications so it'll be all on him. I read somewhere that there is a room that will allow you to get the wheelchair person out of their chair to relax on a sofa etc. Does anyone know where this is? It would help DD a great deal.
Any info anyone has that may help me please write. This is our first vacation ever, DD is 21 but with all her medical needs we couldn't go anywhere, so we are anxious to make this a dream trip to remember.

Thanks guys!

 

[Purple Princess]

wideawake, I agree completely with what you said. To have a healthy child is God's biggest blessing. People don't realize how blessed they are. I'd sure trade places with them and all their so called problems with their "normal" kids. That would be a piece of cake!

 

[PixiePoppins]

I feel like I'm reading a good book and can't wait for the next chapter...thanks for sharing with such great detail and humor! It's especially good reading now as I can't seem to sleep at 2 am...

My experience on the birth vs later disability...we are in the latter category. DD was hit by a terrible stroke at 4 that nearly killed her and left a lot of problems. Before that she was quite the precocious little girl, at 18 months she had well over 100 words and big ones at that. She was so funny and had just discovered a love of dance. She's now 7 and the last 3 years have been overwhelming as she continues to recover. Physically she managed to avoid any problems, but she has many cognitive and ADHD issues. It has been and continues to be a long road, but we are blessed and grateful that she is still with us and making progress. I miss the old kid terribly, it's as if that person had died, but lately I have been seeing a little more of her and that brings a lot of joy. I struggle at times thinking this isn't who she was supposed to be, but then a little voice inside of me says that she is probably exactly who she was meant to be. I wouldn't give those 4 years of "normalcy" back for the world and I sure would trade all the struggles in a heartbeat, but we're making it because there is no other option...with more patience than I ever dreamed would be needed, a lot of love and support, laughter whenever possible, and of course a trip to Disney in 7 weeks!!! DD is a MAW kid as she still has a risk for another stroke...we pray that never happens and will probably be heading for more treatment in the new year...long story.

Sorry for the long reply...just my 2 am ramblings...

Looking forward to the next chapter of this trip!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Purple Princess. First of all, to disABILTIES!

Here is a link to the WDW list of Companion Restroom locations.

Each of the Parks, including the water parks, has a first aid station staffed with at least two RNs at all times the Park is open. If there is need to take a break they would be able to assist you.

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. The fifth item down is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. Item three within the FAQ has a lot of further links.

Please feel free to ask more questions, especially specific ones. However, it would be better to start a new thread rather than latching onto a different topic. That can be done from the Index page; there is a button just above the list of topics.

 

[MarieS]

I read somewhere that there is a room that will allow you to get the wheelchair person out of their chair to relax on a sofa etc. Does anyone know where this is? It would help DD a great deal.


The First Aid station in each park has cubicles with cots and curtains for privacy. They also have a restroom there. My boys would not have been able to enjoy themselves as much without rest breaks to get out of their chairs. Have a good trip!

 

[Mouse's Shadow]

I want to thank all of you who are reading along, and thank you for your kind words.

Purple Princess, You and your family will have many moments of enjoyment. After making our first trip with DS to The World, it's hard to imagine going to any other destination that could accommodate his medical and physical needs as well as Disney. It will be the measure of all furture trips. (I'm already thinking about the next trip, although, it probably won't take place for three years. We have to save you know. Plus it gives me plenty of time to worry about it.)

Pixie Poppins, You seem to have a very positive attitude. That's how we all survive and thrive. Normal is a relative term. I will get to tell my son that I love him, every day of my life, and I will get to feel his kind touch. What more could a mother ask for. ( I know; I ended a sentence with a preposition. So sue me. )

Ok, on with the story!

My 5:30 wake up call was my trumpet to begin the day I had anxiously awaited for for a year. It was our day with the dolphins. DS has short term memory problems. And not wanting him to forget the big day we were planning, I would entice him with thoughts of interacting with the dolphins several times a week. (Yes, I did this for a year. I'm sure that deep down he's probably happy to have short term memory problems.)

I had read about the Dolphins in Depth Program in the "Official" Disney guide. Then went on-line to "Deb's Unofficial Guide" to see what comments they offered. (Very complementary) I called Disney to inquire if the program was accessible. We would have to be able to transfer DS and put a wet suit on him. As in the theme parks, CMs can not assist in transfers.They assured me that the program welcomed wheelchair users. I was sold. When we were preparing to book our trip, I told FS about the program, she was sold as well. They only take 8 people a day.

We met at Guest Relation outside the park at 9:30 am. And our adventure began by meeting the 3 CMs that would be hosting the program for the day. They alerted us that all Dolphin interaction is voluntary, and that the dolphins were often distracted by the activity of the construction workers. (Construction was taking place for the new ride that opens soon at the Living Seas) They could not gaurantee that the dolphins would cooperate, and offered a refund to anyone who didn't want to risk the chance. No one took them up on their offer.

The program is wonderful. The whole experience is very interesting. I was afraid that the informational parts wouldn't hold DS's attention, but the information is dipensed while touring behind the scenes of the living seas. DS had a great time seeing the dolphins in smaller holding tanks, and watching trainers work from the top of the aquarium. DH was amazed to learn that a dolphin can toss a 300 lb wieght 18 ft into the air with its nose. It was learning made fun.

The last 45 minutes of the 3hr program is spent in the water with the dolphins. They gave us wet suites to put on. DH said it was surprisingly easy to get DS suit on. He put DS legs in, then stood him up. It pulled on easily. (However, DH said it was a little harder challenge to get it off. None-the-less he had it off of him before I could get mine off and go to the their locker room.) They had a special chair for DS. Since it is a saltwater enviornment you don't want to take your personnal chair in the water. They put diving weights on him to prevent him from floating up, then took him out onto the shallow platform on the third level of the aquarium.

All eight of us were on the platform. While there, the dolphins would swim up to us and allow us to pet them. The trainer would have us give hand motions to make the dolphins do tricks. The hand motion that I did made the dolphin make a farting sound from his blow-hole. DS couldn't stop laughing.
And we got our pictures taken with a dolphin. It was a great adventure. DS loves to look at the picture of him, DH and the dolphin.

A great footnote to this experience. Disney donates all the money paid by the participants to their conservation programs. What great Disney Magic

Next up: A full day at Epcot

 

[Mouse's Shadow]

After Dolphins in Depth, we headed to Sunshine Season Food Fair to meet up with the rest of the clan. Everyone wanted to ride Soarin again, so we grabbed fastpasses, then made our way to see Crush. There is accessible seating on both sides of the theatre. The interaction between the audience and Crush takes this simple show to new heights. The children's reactions to Crush were priceless. Next we were off to Universe of Energy. I love this show. I love the dinosaurs. Wheelchairs drive right onto the boats. Afterwards it was time to use our Soarin fastpasses. By this time it was after 4:00 and we had an ADR for the Biergarten restaurant. I wanted to try taking Jared on TT. We picked up fastpasses, and planned to use them after dinner. Only FS and I wanted to ride Mission Space, and we wanted to ride before dinner. The rest of the party decided they would begin making their way toward Germany, and FS and I would catch up. I was surprised to find that the wait time for MS was only 10 minutes. FS works for NASSA so, the ride had a theme that she really enjoyed.

The food at the Biergarten was really good, but we had poor seating. There is only one level that wheelchairs can access. We were seated at the very last table on the left side. I understand that with DS wheelchair having to sit sideways, because it won't fit under the table probably made it the most convienent spot for us to sit. However, we couldn't see the stage. Since DS doesn't eat, it would have been so much better if he could have seen the show. We could see the CM that comes out to the end of the stage, but that was it. In the future I would ask to be seated elsewhere.

By the time we left the German pavilion, it was about 7:00. DMIL and DFIL were ready to sit down for the evening. We headed to the accessible seating for Illuminations that is closest to Mexico. DMIL and DFIL found a seat on a bench. While the rest of us manuvered toward TT.

I had no idea, if the ride would be accessible to DS, I told DH we'll just have to go see, what the transfer looked like. This ride is much like POTC. You have to be able to manuver up over a ledge and down into a car. It is an impossible transfer for DS. But DH surprised me when he picked DS up and lifted him into the car. FR jumped in on the right side of DS. Because of the quick turns,it was necessary to have someone on either side of DS to support his head. DH held one side of his head and FR held the other. We were off. DS loved it, but it scared DH. DH was afraid the jerking might hurt DS. At the end of the ride the CM asked if we would like to ride again. DH gave a quick no. It would be DS only thrill ride during our stay. I'm glad he was able to ride, but DH couldn't take any more fun like that.

Then we rejoined DMIL and DFIL to watch Illuminations. This is where I got yelled at. I sat by DS, while everyone esle with us stood near the back. During the show I got up on my knees to point out some of the effects that were happening and give some narration to the show. DS has poor peripheral vission, so I was just trying to point things out to him. My being on my knees blocked someone's vision behind me. They yelled at me. I'm very sorry for blocking the view. If the person I blocked is on the DIS, please accept my appology.

After Illuminations, we called it a night. It had been a great day. But thank goodness vacation wasn't over yet, so there would be more great days.

The allusive companion restrooms at AK; next time on the "Supper 7 Go Wild"

 

[SueOKW]

What a fun trip report - - full of great info and excitement. I'd say you did great so far!

Speaking of head control - i think you can see how tightly our best friend Uncle Andy is holding onto my son Kevin's head in the pic below!

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

what an awesome report thanks

 

[SueOKW]

I'm very very sorry you got yelled at... there's really no need for people to do something like that. It can really be a downer.

Hope you didn't let it stick with you!

 

[allie_to_you]

WOW, great story. I have truly enjoyed reading about your trip experiences. It's always interesting to see how others with disabilities cope with their surroundings and do things that they might have never thought they could do or that others don't think they can do.

My DH is in a wheelchair. He was born with Spina Bifida, so except for a short time as a young child where he walked with braces and a walker, he has been in a wheelchair his whole life.

We both came to Disney for our honeymoon and while I had been to Disney many times, it was his first time and he was hooked. He was so impressed by everything, especially the accessibility for those with disabilities. I will say that I wish there were more rides that were more accessible for those who can't transfer from their wheelchairs. There are still quite a few rides where if you can't transfer, and you don't have someone in your party that can help you, you can't do the attraction (MS, SE, ToT, RnRc, SM, BTMR, TT, EE, PoC, HM, etc). Even still, my husband and always have a blast and it's always a great romantic vacation for the 2 of us. We return to our favorite place in 67 days!

 

[Purple Princess]

Cheshire,
I am sorry that I apparently posted out of topic. I didn't realize I was out of line. I was hoping Mouse Shadow could tell me where the restrooms were being she had recently returned from WDW.

Mouse Shadow, please forgive me for intruding. I certainly didn't mean to upset anyone. I have enjoyed reading about your trip and hope ours will be just as wonderful.

 

[Mouse's Shadow]

Purple Princess,
There is no offense taken. Thanks for reading. As for the restrooms, Passporter's maps have the location of companion restrooms marked on them. I tried to memorize them before I left. The only park that I didn't quite get to was Animal Kingdom. Of course that is where we became most frustrated. I do have a guide, if you could use it I could send it to you. If I remember right, I think you have a trip coming up soon. I'm done with it, so if you could use the maps your welcome to it.

SueOKW,
I'm pretty good at taking things in stride. I did feel bad, but we enjoyed the show.

Allie To You,
Disney is great; there is no doubt. But I too am disappointed that when renovating, accessibility isn't addressed more. For instance, why the one elevator issue at the Land wasn't addressed in it's major renovation last year, or why accessible cars weren't added to the PotC during it's renovation. I'm sure Disney has its reasons, but being on the outside looking in, you wish the issues would be more at the forefront of their thinking.

Got to go for now, be back soon.

 

[Mouse's Shadow]

I just read through my last trip post. Sorry for the spelling. Not sure what happened. I'll try to do better this time.

We are now to day 4.

We had had a great night to rest and regenerate for our AK encounter. Taking the advice of the guides and some DISers, we planned on arriving early to go on a morning safari. We left the hotel about 8 am. We were at AK within 20 minutes of arriving at the bus stop.

I just want to take a moment and say that our Disney transportation experience was excellent. On a couple of occasions there were a couple of wheelchair or ECV users ahead of us. The drivers quickly radioed that another bus was needed, and within minutes one would come to pick us up. On one occasion, as we waited at a park for pick-up, a bus driver for another hotel only had a few passengers on his bus and offered to take us to our hotel. He said it was on his way. I know that we were there in the off-season, but I still think it is worth noting. The drivers were wonderful and offered a good measure of magic to our vacation.

I love the tansition between the outside world to the lush vegitation and wonderful greenscape that exist throughout AK. Once inside, we watched the opening ceremony. It was the first time we had seen it. then DMIL and DFIL took DS and headed for KS, while the rest of us sprinted off to EE. I love that ride. Then picking up a fastpass for later, we headed to Africa to join the others. When we arrived at KS, the posted wait time was 10 minutes. However, there were several special needs riders ahead of us, our wait time was about 35 min. It was the longest wait time we had for any ride during our stay, but it was worth it. The animals were indeed active. I got great pictures. DS really liked it.

Afterwards, it was time for breakfast. We stopped at Tusker House for a quick bite. But even by this time it was evident that our party was showing a little wear. We trecked on to PFET, which seemed to be quite crowded. On our way to see FoW we ran into Baloo. (I don't know if I spelled that right, but I figure you know who I mean. ) After getting his picture taken with him, DS thumb wrestled him. It was fun to watch, DS was loving it.

It was the first time I had seen FoW. It is a cool show, but it was hard for DS to take in all of the tricks. We sat in the front row, on the far right side of the stage. The show's host stands on the left side. It was pretty far away for DS to see. His poor visual acuity, made it almost impossible for him to see the birds flying from the front to back etc. He just can't track and focus that fast. The rest of us enjoyed it.

By this time it was getting close to noon. We headed back toward EE to use our fastpasses. By the time we got there only FS and myself were up to it. I would have loved to go on the MJT, but time and energy just wouldn't allow it.

I really wanted everyone to see the FotLK. I didn't get to see it when I was there last year with my DD's showchoir. I had heard great things about it from others, and I didn't want to miss it this time.

This is when our weariness really began to show. As we made our way across the park, DS had to use the restroom. I had tried to memorize the location of the companion restrooms, from the Passporter Guide's maps, but AK didn't quite stay with me. We found several restrooms, but no compainion restrooms. We asked several CMs, but they really didn't comprehend what we were asking for. I knew there were restrooms at the end of the trail at Camp Minnie, so we headed in that direction with the hope of finding an allusive companion restroom. Those of you who know your parks, know that we didn't find one there. By this time we were pooped. DH discovered that the accessible stall in the men's restroom was big enough to maneuver DS inside and still be able to shut the door. I have to say that the very few companion restrooms offered at AK surprises me. After all it is the newest park. They seem to be so conveniently dispersed through the other parks, but not AK.

In our quest for a restroom, we missed the 1:00 showing of FotLK by 5 minutes. We were all hungry, so we began looking for somewhere to get real food; not just snack food. We all wanted different things, so by the time we got our food and stuffed it down, it was time for the 2:00 show. We had to walk really fast and we just made it by the skin of our teeth.

We were seated in the front row, right inside the entrance. The show was begining as we sat down. It is a great show and I'm so glad we stayed to see it. Timon came up to DS and took a few moments to interact with him and pose for a picture. What magic. Afterwards we were ready for a rest, after all we had a big night ahead of us.

Next up: a special night of food and fun.

 

[Karalynn]

Your trip report is so great!! Thank you for posting it for us!!!

 

[Mouse's Shadow]

I'm back. It's been a busy couple of weeks. DS started a new job with U-CO Industries here in town. He is packaging parts to be fed to the assembly line at Honda. He's doing great. They say he is a hard worker and that he is very fast. (Just what a mother wants to hear. ) On Thursday he put together over 135 packages in 2 1/2 hours. Not bad for a one armed bandit. I'm so proud. Enough of the sappy mother stuff,now back to the story.

After spending the first part of the day at AK we headed back to the room. It was already after 3:00 pm, so we skipped having fun at the hotel and gladly took naps. Well, I did laundry. I wish there was some way to get out of it, but the thought of wearing dirty underwear is too gross.

We still had a big night ahead of us. We met back at the bus stop around 6:30 wearing our Hawaiian regalia. Guess where we were going? To the luau.

I had read the reviews, but my DMIL had her heart set on going, and I figured DS might like to see the hulla girls. We knew when we booked our trip that this was one show we wanted to see, so I booked our seats a year in advance. Yes, for a year my DS heard of his upcoming luau experience. (Sometimes short term memory loss can be a gift. ) It was burned into long term memory months before we left for vacation.

The method for getting the tickets didn't make sense to me. I had ordered the tickets and paid for them, but when I went to the conceirge to pick them up, they wouldn't give them to me. One member from all three rooms had to be present in order to get the tickets. This was a pain. It took me about 45 minutes to track everyone down. We were scattered throughout the hotel property. When representatives from all three rooms were assembled, we got our tickets. Does anyone know why this happens? It was one reservation and all the tickets were paid with one credit card.

Anywho, we took the bus to MK then caught the Monorail to the Poly. We had plenty of time, so we made a restroom stop. There was actually a compainion restroom in the loby across from 'Ohana. We followed the trail out to the luau. We had our picture taken, then moved into the holding area and waited to be seated. This wasn't fun. It is a small area that is very crowded. We had to stand there for about 15 minutes before we were seated. Our seats were in the front - middle of the stage. It worked out perfectly for DS. He had a great seat to watch the show.

We found the food to be enjoyable. There was plenty of variety, so everyone had their favorites. The show was fun. It kept DS's attention. He did the happy dance throughout the show. If he had been seated further back, he would have had a hard time trying to keep up with what was going on. So if you're traveling with someone who has visual impairments, or who is easily distracted by constant commotion going on around them, book early to get close seats.

It was a fun evening. I'm glad we went. We went to the 8 pm show and it was around midnight before we got back to our rooms. I would suggest going to the early show if you have small children.

Got to go. Next: a very short day and trying to salvage vacation after a huge disappointment.