planning WDW trip with disabled child

[Tracyee]

Thank heavens I found this site. It has already helped to ease my mind about planning a trip to Orlando. Our trip will be the middle of September and be for a family of four (my husband, me, typical 3-1/2 year old daughter and 5-1/2 year old developmentally delayed son). My son has global developemntal delays and requires a wheelchair and total care. Son is easy going and loves things that make loud noises, spin, blink, etc. Daughter is more of a "scareddy, shy child" but loves everything Disney - especially princesses.

I need tons of help. Hubby would like to stay on property (we can get Shades of Green prices at the Contemporary) but I am leaning towards off site at a suite (Holiday Inn Family Suites maybe) for the extra room, fridge, microwave, playground, free breakfast, etc... What do you all think? We have a lot of gear (wheelchair, gait trainer, case of formula, diapers, feeding pump...).

I was thinking about 5 or 6 days in Orlando with only 3 or 4 days in the parks (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Sea World and possibly Disney/MGM.)

Any pointers related to where to stay, how long for a 1st trip to Disney and is mid-September an okay time to go?

Thanks in advance everybody.

 

[BCV23]

I seem to only be able to post short answers so.... I would go with CR. The rooms are very large and the convenience makes a huge difference. You should be able to get a dorm type refrig without charge for medical reasons. Have a fantastic trip!

 

[SueM in MN]

Try calling WDW Resort Special Reservations:
(407) 939-7807
(407) 939-7670 [TTY]
for special equipment needs and questions about the size of the room at the Contemporary. And then you can call the other hotel for the sme things to compare. You can probably arrange a dorm size frig at Contemporary for no cost because of medical needs (although some people have posted that they were told they woul have to pay. You might also want to look into one of the Home Away From Home Resorts on the DVC rental boards. OKW is the largest, so it's very nice to stay with a wheelchair. BWV and BCV are right nextt to Epcot. VWL is in WL, near MK.
If you stay off-site, consider transportation. If you have a car, you will have to pay $7 (I think that is the current price) per day for parking. if on site, it'd free or you can use WDW transportation. If you are off-site and using a shuttle bus, check on how often they come and whether they can transport a wheelchair. Some of the shuttles can't.
If I were you, I'd probably consider leaving the gait trainer home, since it's rather large. He would not be able to use it in your room. We found when DD was little and she took her walker along that it was too busy in most of the other places for her to use it. Since we were at the parks so mcuh, she was too tired to use it when we got back to our room anyway.
We have been to WDW in mid September. It's nice from the standpoint of crowds and temperature. Expect rain in the afternoon though. One year, DH and I got stranded down in Orlando for an extra day because of severe thundershowers. A local woman that we met at the airport (she was waiting for her DD to arrive from a trip from Europe) said it's best to schedule yoour airplane trip earlier in the day. The storms usually roll in later in the day so you are more likely to be delayed if your flight is early evening or late afternoon.

 

[SueOKW]

Shades of Green prices at the contemporary with monorail service.. way to go! seriously consider the need for the gait trainer like Sue says... the total convenience and time saved re: transportation will be well well WELL worth it.

Just last spring we decided to do 2 days at Universal - and we couldn't afford the Universal hotels... so we stayed off site and had to load the chair, drive the car, park the car, unload the chair, do the park, load the chair, drive the car, unload the chair.. ARGH! you get my point?? In fact, it was so bad we never even did our second universal day!

good luck with your decision - let us know!
Sue

ps - OKW RULES!

 

[s&k'smom]

Hi Tracyee just wanted to welcome you to the boards. I second everything everyone has posted. The CR rooms are wonderful and are very roomy. Plus with the monorail there getting around is easier. My only piece of advise is to make lots of PS for meals. Even if you don't use them. We did and were so glad. Though it was pretty quiet when we went at the end of Oct. Also get your GAC card. There is lots of information on it on this board and lots of past posts regarding it. Oh one more thing, when we made our reservation we mentioned what are son's issues are and the CM's were very accomodating. They always say we can't "guarantee" a room request but in all the years we have been going they have never once not given us exactly what we needed. I hope you all have the most wonderful trip. Keep posting any questions.

 

[Wade Shrader]

Welcome to the board! I think everybody's given you good advice on the rooms. We have triplets, so we always have to stay in a room for 5, and haven't been able to afford the deluxes. I think if you get a great rate at the Contemporary, then that would be the best bet. You'll be able to get to MK and Epcot without having to load up the wheelchair and other equipment.

When you're comparing prices, also look at the moderate resorts. You can get a dorm fridge for those, too. The rooms will be somewhat smaller, but we've always stayed at POR, and we've had a wheelchair, walker, crutches, and another stroller. For us, it was worth it being a little tight to stay on site. And, be on the look out for code rates. We've always stayed at POR for about $100 per night.

First, there's no magic like staying at Disney. Second, like Sue said, you do get to park for free. That's important because we drive to MGM and AK, and mostly to Epcot. That way, we're loading our gear in our van, and get to park pretty close. And then for MK, we use the buses.

Have a great trip!

 

[Scrapping Shawn]

I am new to this board also, and find it awesome for advice and to help others. I have a seven year old CP son, who sounds like a little like your son, he needs assistance for all his needs. He is wheelchair bound also. We have been to DW twice. Once when he was 3 and then 5 and now planning to celebrate his 8th in Jan.

I would definetly stay at the CR. You are getting an awesome rarte. I read for a little bit more you can stay in the tower, which will give you even easier access to MK and Epcot. I would love to stay in the tower if I could find a great deal, but right now is beyond my budget. It is so worth staying on the property. Everyone is very helpful and they go out of their way to help families with disabled children. I would let them know at your reseveration that your son is in a wheelchair. If you stay at CR just think about all the times you will not have to load the chair in and out. Hope this helps in your decision.