Sorry to hear about your DD, but don't panic.
My youngest DD has epilepsy and has had at least one seizure during most of our WDW trips. Her seizures are noisy, long and no one will miss that something is going on. Even with that said, people are in their own little 'bubble' at WDW and may not even notice a seizure, even if they see it.
If you need help or to get to First Aid, the CMs will be able to help you. Many have cell phones or other ways to communicate with supervisors and First Aid. Each park has fast access to EMTs and can get them to anyplace in the park very quickly and unobtrusively. We once saw a child tip over a stroller and there was a CM Supervisor there within about 2 minutes. They had EMTs with a stretcher to take the child to First Aid within less than 5 minutes.
Each park has a First Aid station, staffed by nurses, where your child can lie down on a cot in a cool, quiet and dim place if she needs to rest after a seizure, or if she just becomes tired and needs to lie down for a while.
CMs can also get a wheelchair for you to get you to First Aid.
Since you already have a stroller, you should consider using it as a wheelchair in some lines/attractions. That would allow you to bring it into the attraction from the line entry all the way to boarding. Most lines are accessible and if you needed to leave in a hurry, the line would be wide enough for you to by other guests. If you are close to the boarding area and need to leave, the CM can show you the fastest way out.
Your stroller is different enough from 'regular' strollers to be recognizable as a special needs stroller, but you should still get a tag and Guest Assistance Card (GAC). Recently, there have been posts by people who are renting those strollers for a child they post is larger/older, but does not have any disability. They have posted they are renting the stroller so the child can keep up with the adults in the party. Previously, any special needs strollers were owned by the family (and no one without a child with special needs would buy one because they are so expensive). Because of rentals, CMs may not treat your stroller as a wheelchair without having a "Stroller as wheelchair" tag or GAC.
Post #6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread has information about GACs and strollers as wheelchairs. You can find the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature to get there.
SInce your child has other needs besides using the special needs stroller, you will want to explain the needs to the CM at Guest Relations. A GAC is not meant to shorten waits in line, but would be able to make sure your child's needs are met.
For seizures and seizure threshold, the 3 things our DD"s neurologist (plus I'm an RN) discussed with us as lowering the seizure threshold include:
- not getting medications on schedule
- not getting enough rest (i.e. getting sleep deprived)
- dehydration
One way to think of a mental picture of seizure threshold is to think of the threshold as a glass of water and reaching the seizure threshold as water getting out of the glass.
It would be difficult to spill any water out of a half full glass - a bump might slosh the water, but you may not lose a drop.
An almost full glass could lose water with a small bump and a totally full glass would overflow if even a little more water is added.
Keeping the seizure threshold low is like keeping the glass half full.
For medications, we set an alarm on a cell phone or iPod for med times. Without an alarm, it is very easy to get caught up in the 'fun' and all of a sudden realize it's 3pm and you missed a noon dose of medication.
We also have a small pill dispenser for one dose that I carry in my purse. It's really easy to see that the dose is either there or not. We also carry an extra dose (in case we stay longer than we planned at the park) and a few extra pills (just in case one falls on the ground).
If your DD has any emergency medications, those can be carried with you or stored at First Aid.
For rest, the most important thing is to keep somewhat of a sleep schedule. It doesn't have to be exactly the same as home, but you don't want to do a park closing at midnight and get up the next morning for park opening. Getting tired from walking or being out in the park is not a problem; it's more not getting the number of hours of sleep needed.
Dehydration can be a problem, especially if it's hot and you are sweaty. You need to replace the fluid lost. Avoid caffeine and a lot of sugar sweetened drinks.
There is more information in post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread - that has more info and links for specific conditions and concerns; just scroll down to the section about Epilepsy/seizures.
Good luck and here's some pixie dust for a great time.
