Parent going on pirate cruise as accommodation?

[mamacate]

My 7-year-old son has AS and is a big pirate fan. Every time we go to WDW, I think how much he'd love to do the pirate excursion, but he has a 1:1 at school and really needs someone who knows him to go with him to make sure things don't go off the rails. I know it's normally a kids-only outing, but has anyone asked to have an adult accompany their kid on that activity as an accommodation? We're staying at POR this trip, and they have a cruise, so I think it may come up this year.

TIA,

Cate

 

[GoofyFairie]

I have no personal experience, but my rule is to always ask. The worst you are going to hear is no, but if you don't ask then you'll never know. Go for it!

 

[bookwormde]

Does WDW have a policy for this, I do not know but I would guess that they do not.

Are they required to allow reasonable accommodations for a person with a disability to participate, Yes

The best thing to do is ask, and let us know the response.

Bookwormde

 

[LuvsTinker]

A friend of mine called to ask if an adult could accompany her son who is on the spectrum and was told no - only kids.

My son is also on the spectrum and I wondered the same, but after her calling I didn't even ask.

If you find out different, please let us know.

 

[mamacate]

Okay, I'll see what happens when I make this call. Should I just call the dining line and try to book it and ask? Is there a special disabilities line I should call? Thoughts?

We're in the midst of a year-long due process battle with the school, which has been really ugly (restraint & seclusion, academically a lost year) so my advocacy batteries are loooooooooow. I'm not going to go beyond one or two calls for this one. It's not like there isn't anything else to keep us busy!

 

[fausz4]

on our last trip our ds who was 7 (and undiagnosed AS) went on the pirate cruise. He did really well - no issues as far as I know. I didnt ask about an adult going...I believe there were 2 CMs on the boat. Maybe you can ask if they can have a CM be dedicated to him only...instead of you going along.

Good Luck - our son still talks about it and his brother is going this trip.

 

[flynnmnstr]

He was in a inclusive preschool and had a one on one aide at the time. HE did awesome on the cruise. The CMs were great with him and one of them stuck near him for most of the cruise. I stayed nearby in case he had a rough time and needed to be brought back. I explained everything when booking and they gave me the number to call the Yacht club directly which I did and day or two before his cruise.

I say try it; stick close and just ask that he be brought back if he's struggling.

 

[berries]

This is not something that I had thought to try this trip but it was suggested as I made the dining reservations. I mentioned that dd had special needs so I didn't think she would be able to do any of these type activities. I was told that Castmembers are trained to care for all children. So any of the parent-free activities would be fine for my dd. I can't say exactly how it would have gone as I was too nervous to leave her at one of them! If I did plan to in the future, I would ask for 1:1 care for her as she does tend to wander off. Two castmembers with how many children 12? on a boat does not seem to be ideal for my child. But I am overprotective of her and this is WDW! A huge place with lots of places to get lost in.

I did see how great WDW castmembers are when I let dd participate in the pre-parade activities. When the parade started coming around the corner, the castmember tried to find dd's family and held her hand all the way over to me. Well she took dd to a few families before she got to me.

 

[debbiecarr98]

My 7-year-old son has AS and is a big pirate fan. Every time we go to WDW, I think how much he'd love to do the pirate excursion, but he has a 1:1 at school and really needs someone who knows him to go with him to make sure things don't go off the rails. I know it's normally a kids-only outing, but has anyone asked to have an adult accompany their kid on that activity as an accommodation? We're staying at POR this trip, and they have a cruise, so I think it may come up this year.

TIA,

Cate

three years ago. it took a couple of phone calls, but they let me do it when i explained the situation. one of the women on the cruise was a retired teacher and was really nice and thought that my son was easier than many children, however, because of his implulsivitiy i felt better being there. it is really cute, they do a great job. it was well worth it especially if it is an interest of your son's.
have fun!

 

[Schmeck]

Did you have to pay extra for being included on the cruise?

 

[dclfun]

I don't mean to offend anyone by this comment, but as a parent, I wonder if people would be upset to see another parent on one of these activities, even if they are there only to supervise their own child. I'm not thinking that the other parents would *want* to attend, but for me I'd be concerned about the behavior of the parent, how they'd interact in general, etc. and thus taking away from the experience for my child. You know...someone who might yammer away the whole time vs. just observing and interacting with their child, or yelling at their child etc. I'm just thinking outloud...maybe this is why they prefer to have the CM's handle the children- then there isn't any liability or concern about what another adult might say or do.---Kathy

 

[berries]

I do tend to oversee things and ask if I can attend with my child. I never get in the way, I "shadow" dd. If she needs me, I am there, If she takes off, I bring her back to the group. If she gets upset and loud, I take her off to the side until she is calmer. That way no one is upset with her and it isn't taking anything (or time) away from the other children. That is what I normally do at other activities. Someone had mentioned that I seem to spend too much time with dd but here lately, I notice I am not the only parent attending activities with my child. Today a half dozen parents stayed with their children too at an activity. I can't imagine not wanting to do that and missing out on watching.

 

[kat_balou]

I don't mean to offend anyone by this comment, but as a parent, I wonder if people would be upset to see another parent on one of these activities, even if they are there only to supervise their own child. I'm not thinking that the other parents would *want* to attend, but for me I'd be concerned about the behavior of the parent, how they'd interact in general, etc. and thus taking away from the experience for my child. You know...someone who might yammer away the whole time vs. just observing and interacting with their child, or yelling at their child etc. I'm just thinking outloud...maybe this is why they prefer to have the CM's handle the children- then there isn't any liability or concern about what another adult might say or do.---Kathy

People get upset all the time when CMs accommodate guests with disabilities...just read a thread on ECVs, or the bus transportation or GACs...

I would think there would be more of a liability concern if a parent expressed they needed to be there with their autistic child and they said no and something happened.

 

[livndisney]

I don't mean to offend anyone by this comment, but as a parent, I wonder if people would be upset to see another parent on one of these activities, even if they are there only to supervise their own child. I'm not thinking that the other parents would *want* to attend, but for me I'd be concerned about the behavior of the parent, how they'd interact in general, etc. and thus taking away from the experience for my child. You know...someone who might yammer away the whole time vs. just observing and interacting with their child, or yelling at their child etc. I'm just thinking outloud...maybe this is why they prefer to have the CM's handle the children- then there isn't any liability or concern about what another adult might say or do.---Kathy

Kathy brings up a good point. I also wonder about the party size limits. The boats only handle XX amount of people or weight.

 

[mechurchlady]

Once they set something in motion then it snowballs downhill. They let the mother of an autistic child then comes the ADD parent then finally the spoiled brat and its parent. They have to be careful about what they allow or people will want to be included. Sad but true.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Kathy brings up a good point. I also wonder about the party size limits. The boats only handle XX amount of people or weight.

I don't think the boat capacity would be a problem. I have seen them coasting off the Poly in the evening. I think that they put together a "CREW" of pirates an set sail. (one night there were Two boats of kids sailing around!)

Despite what some people say, I think if it came down to a situation that the child couldn't go without the parent, I am sure they could somehow accomadate that kid and make a little Pirate magic for him/her!

 

[aubriee]

I don't mean to offend anyone by this comment, but as a parent, I wonder if people would be upset to see another parent on one of these activities, even if they are there only to supervise their own child. ---Kathy

Once they set something in motion then it snowballs downhill. They let the mother of an autistic child then comes the ADD parent then finally the spoiled brat and its parent. They have to be careful about what they allow or people will want to be included. Sad but true.

I can't imagine not wanting to do that and missing out on watching.

All of these are valid points. There are lots of parents who would like to just go and observe their child having fun on these type of outings. If someone saw another parent that was allowed to go, you just know there would be other parents that also wanted to go, to just observe their so called 'normal' child. It would then become a matter of Disney drawing the line on which parents could attend and which could not. You'd then have some upset parents. For example, I have a four y/o grandson, who would love to do this, but no way no how would I allow him to do it without me. He has no disabilities, but is just immature. Since, I can't go with him, then he'll just have to wait until he is more mature.

 

[della]

Maybe Disney should consider making an alternate parent/child Pirate cruise.


While I have no problem with the parent of a special needs child tagging along with their kid, as a parent I have concern whenever there is a strange adult around my child. While I do not know the Disney staff, I trust Disney to screen these castmembers. A parent of another child (whether that child is disabled or not) is not screen and could be a risk to my child if I am not there also. Just a thought.

 

[Beccabunny]

Della, I understand what you are saying, and as a parent I worry about these things as well, but any time our children are in Disney they are surrounded by tens of thousands of strange adults. And screening castmembers is no guarantee. But if you trust your kids with the CM's, then you just have to trust that they will be supervised and are not in any danger from a parent who has to accompany a disabled child.

We've thought about doing the pirate cruise but won't have enough time on our next trip. I would, however, insist on accompanying my daughter if she were to go. For my disabled child, that's reasonable accomodation. She is making progress and may not always need such accomodations, but there is no guarantee of that. Unlike a non-disabled child, we can't just wait around and assume she may someday be mature enough to go without a parent.

I never worry about what other parents think when my daughter needs accomodations. That's their issue, not mine. And if the experience was spoiled by a "yammering" parent (which I have yet to see), if that's the worst thing they have to deal with in life, oh well.... At the end of the day, their kid doesn't have autism, mine does. They're coming out ahead, they should be thankful.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I know this may seem basic, but how about calling them and explaining that the child has special needs, and that you NEED to be with them to help him deal with his problem, but you wanted him to experience the adventure.

And that you would not be participating in the party in any way. (heck, tell them you will even provide your own pirate costume!!!)

Emphasise that its NOT a child that simply gets a little seperation anxiety. (heck all of our kids and grandkids had that the first time them went to a party without mom!) but is a real world need!