please help this brit...

[scojos]

hello. my name is tracy and we are playing our 2nd trip to wdw this august. Things have changed since the last trip, my eldest at 8 has been diagnosed with add, though it is mild and we are controlling it well without drugs (controlled diet, lots of soccer, down time etc.) and my other son Josh has been diagnosed as ASD, hes 6). I have read alot of your posts, and would like to say that you are all fab, giving each other support on a daily basis is great, a big friendship group, I wish everyone in our situation had the support you give each other.
Because we weren t so aware of things last time we went, (not aware at all really ) I would like to ask your advice. As a teacher I have asd training, but have been offerered little support here in UK, but then again, Josh is just Josh, and probably doesn t need another label... He is a severe brittle asthmatic and has speech and language development problems too.. so he has enough to deal with.
Sorry, i digress what sort of info should i provide the gac people with...I dont know what to expect, so eg Josh doesnt like physical closeness so would have a problem in queues, if dh queues with other children, can josh and i wait elsewhere and do a "babyswap" type move where we can go straight on when they come off? what other info should i give, he can some times be violent when he goes into melt down, normally due to fustration or tiredness do they have quiet places where we can time out if neccassary?

i really dont know what i should ask, as the holiday gets closer, im having thoses "was this such a good idea?" days...
we are spending soo much money for this holiday i really want everyone to enjoy it, especially the kids, we are planning the first week military style so they know where and when and then 2nd week is more relaxed so they can go back and do their favs again, we are planning rest breaks everyday and trying not to over stimulate too mmuch (easily said huh )
we have planned lots of adrs so to avoid the rush to get to charachters and have planned trips on railroads and boats to slow down the pace as you have suggested here... I just think theres something huge I am over looking..!
thanks for any advice you can give, you are all fab
tracy

 

[ducklite]

Because we weren t so aware of things last time we went, (not aware at all really ) I would like to ask your advice. As a teacher I have asd training, but have been offerered little support here in UK, but then again, Josh is just Josh, and probably doesn t need another label... He is a severe brittle asthmatic and has speech and language development problems too.. so he has enough to deal with.

What are the asthma triggers? That would actually be my first concern. A meltdown won't really harm him, an acute asthmatic episode could. I get a GAC due to my asthma, because heat and direct sun are triggers for me. Not all rides have a seperate queue these days, and when a line is long or there's no shade, we just come back later. With a two week holiday you've got plenty of time to take it easy and pass on a crowded attraction.

Sorry, i digress what sort of info should i provide the gac people with...I dont know what to expect, so eg Josh doesnt like physical closeness so would have a problem in queues, if dh queues with other children, can josh and i wait elsewhere and do a "babyswap" type move where we can go straight on when they come off?

You should be able to get a GAC that will allow you to use a stroller as a wheelchair in line. By doing that it will give him more "space". Some rides and attractions have a sperate, less crowded queue for guests with disabilities.

what other info should i give, he can some times be violent when he goes into melt down, normally due to fustration or tiredness do they have quiet places where we can time out if neccassary?

First aid will be able to accomodate you with a cool, quiet place if you need to recompose. One thing I will warn you is park security is not going to tolerate him being violent towards others, and you will be asked to leave if that happens.

i really dont know what i should ask, as the holiday gets closer, im having thoses "was this such a good idea?" days...
we are spending soo much money for this holiday i really want everyone to enjoy it, especially the kids, we are planning the first week military style so they know where and when and then 2nd week is more relaxed so they can go back and do their favs again, we are planning rest breaks everyday and trying not to over stimulate too mmuch (easily said huh )

I'm not sure that commando is going to be the way to go for you. I strongly urge you to plan a long break each day so you can return to your resort and let the kids swim or even watch tv. It makes a HUGE difference. My son was severely ADHD when he was younger (he's 20 now and still ADD but has grown out of the "H") and we tried commando a couple times, it just didn't work. It was much better for all of us when we were more relaxed.

One thing I can suggest is to have a full service leisurely lunch every day. It makes a HUGE difference when you are forced to sit down and relax for a bit. We often leave the parks for lunch at a resort restaurant.

My best advice is to keep to a realistic schedule and don't be afraid to call it a day if you get tired or frazzled. Get a full eight hours of sleep or more every night. Keep a realistic meal schedule. If you start the day with early entry, don't end it with fireworks--instead sleep in on fireworks days and the next day. Don't expect it to be "perfect", or you'll be disappointed. I don't think I've ever had a "perfect" vacation where nothing went wrong.

Anne

 

[CHRIS_PRESTON]

Hi Tracy,

We visited Disney last May, my son Joe (8) has an ASD. We took a copy of his DLA letter but they didn't even ask to look at it when we went to get our GAC. Make sure you take your children with you when you go to get your GAC and the CMs will ask what assistance you need and fill out the GAC accordingly. The GAC should cover both your children. We didn't really use ours much - but I know it allows for altenative waiting areas (although wait times can be just the same).

I agree with you on the planning front - we planned it like a military operation, taking a lot of time to read the info on this site. We planned for each day including ADRs and breaks. All the planning was well worth it - we had a fantastic time - going back Easter 2007.

 

[scojos]

thanks for the advice ducklite. Joshs asthma is mainly nocturnal, triggered, we believe by pollen, and chlorine(drs in uk will not check him out for this, he is on 3 medications daily and has been "ok" for about 6 months now, however, we can t predict his attacks, and has a silent wheeze, which means its very difficult for a non specialist to treat him, last time we were in USA in 2004, he had an attack in miami, the drs did not believe us but because we were willing to pay, they nebbed him anyway... that dr by believing us saved us a lot of time, hassle and money, he said he had never seen anything like it before (but he was only young ). Thanks for the advice as I would never have seen his asthma as a problem and will certainly ask they take this into account on gac. its just a part of him i guess we are used to after 6 years...
I dont think he would ever be violent to another child, however he can be a little over enthusiastic sometimes, and as he has a very high pain threshold doesnt understand that what doesn t hurt him, might hurt others...
he will however lash out at us when he goes into meltdown, hence the advice wanted about time out. We have booked to adrs for lunch at crystal palace at mk and sci fi diner at mgm, more because we wanted the experience rather than the idea of down time at lunch, which is probably very appropriate, can you "pop" to the resorts from all parks, or do you need to move car etc? We are staying 3 miles away on 192, so idea was to go home every afternoon, except when we go to AK, when we should have finished about 3...
Do the water parks have high levels of chlorine, ie can you smell it really badly when you go into the park? I cant remember last time, sa i said, these are things you dont notice until you need to, also, should i warn when i do adrs of his disabilities ie ask for tables near the exit, will they be able to allow for this?
thanks
tracy
xx

 

[ducklite]

thanks for the advice ducklite. Joshs asthma is mainly nocturnal, triggered, we believe by pollen, and chlorine

The pollen counts in Central Florida have been OUT OF CONTROL for the past two months. Due to our lack of rain, nothing has been gteting washed away. Last month I had an acute asthmatic episode that lasted for five days with daily neb treatments, my peak flow was down to 80 at one point, and they wanted to hospitalize me because of airborne (pollen) allergens triggering the asthma.

I dont think he would ever be violent to another child, however he can be a little over enthusiastic sometimes, and as he has a very high pain threshold doesnt understand that what doesn t hurt him, might hurt others...
he will however lash out at us when he goes into meltdown, hence the advice wanted about time out.

First Aid would be one choice, in Epcot there are some tucked away placed in the World Showcase, in the MK Tom Sawyers Island is a great place to run off steam, and in AK the walking trail is seldom crowded, and is very shaded, so nice and cool. Also most kids will be less stimulated when around animals, especially if they can touch them, so the Exploration Station with it's petting zoo might b a good place to head if he's beginning to get agitated.

We have booked to adrs for lunch at crystal palace at mk and sci fi diner at mgm, more because we wanted the experience rather than the idea of down time at lunch, which is probably very appropriate, can you "pop" to the resorts from all parks, or do you need to move car etc? We are staying 3 miles away on 192, so idea was to go home every afternoon, except when we go to AK, when we should have finished about 3...

It's very easy to get on the monorail and go to the GF for lunch at the GF cafe, or the Polynesian for the Kona Cafe, no ADR's needed.

Do the water parks have high levels of chlorine, ie can you smell it really badly when you go into the park? I cant remember last time, sa i said, these are things you dont notice until you need to, also, should i warn when i do adrs of his disabilities ie ask for tables near the exit, will they be able to allow for this?
thanks
tracy
xx

The water parks seem to vary a bit as far as chlorine. I don't ever remember it being "bad" and my eyes and nose are ultra sensitive to it.

Asking for exit tables is always OK to do--but it could make your wait for a table much longer. I'd play that one by ear.

If it's not too much info, what meds does he take for asthma? I take Singulair, Advair, and Allegra-D on a daily basis, use an Albuterol inhaler as needed, and use a neb with a steroid (starts with "M") and/or Albuterol, depending on how I'm feeling. Albuterol can give me a debilitating headache, so I try to never use that in my neb.

Anne

 

[SueM in MN]

Asking for exit tables is always OK to do--but it could make your wait for a table much longer. I'd play that one by ear.

What you could do is ask when you check in for your ADR and ask if it would take longer. It may be more trouble than help if you end up having to wait longer.
Or, maybe better than asking for an area by the exit, ask for a table that is a little more secluded. Crystal Palace is a buffet, so there is a certain amount of traffic going to and from tables at all times.
Another thing that helps is to try to get near the end of the seating for lunch. More people like the earlier seatings, so those are more busy. Plus, if you eat later, as tables empty, they are not filling all of them.

Some other things I thought of besides the good advice you already got:

Strollers: A lot of kids with ASD like the strollers that are for rent in the parks. The ones at MK, AK and Epcot are a firm plastic (they look hard, but it's not really a hard plastic, just firm). Many kids with ASD like the feel of that plastic. And because the strollers have solid sides, it cuts down on stimulation and really gives a nice little "safe haven". The double strollers work well for one larger child.

Monorail: Besides being a good way to get from MK to the resorts around it, the monorail is a good place to just cool down and wind down. A lot of people have mentioned that the monorail is one of their kids favorite rides.

Boats: There are also boats that go from MK to the MK area resorts. If you go to Epcot, there is also a boat that goes from Epcot to the Epcot area resorts and to the Studio.

Early hours: The earlier you can get to the parks, the less crowded it will be. If you are there at opening, it's possible to do a lot of attractions without waiting more than a few minutes in line. You won't be able to take advantage of EMH (Extended Magic Hours) since you are staying off-site, but even without that, going early helps.

Overload: MK park can be very overwhelming, even for people without special needs. It is crowded, noisy and there seems to be a lot more activity there than the other parks. Many of the attractions are very intense - a lot of color and movement and a lot of music. Many of the attractions are also quite short - which can be a good thing, but also a bad thing. For some, it seems like you have just gotten settled and it's time to get off. I would recommend taking a break, like was already mentioned, and probably not do 2 MK days in a row.

You know your child and I'm sure you will do fine when it comes to discussing his needs with the CM at Guesst Services. Just think of the things that are triggers for meltdowns. Those are what you need to avoid. And what things help to keep hm calm - those are things you need.

There is a Passporter Book for travelers to WDW with Special Needs that has good information regarding trael with autism. Don't be scared off by the size of the book (it's rather large because they were trying to cover all sorts of special needs). I was one of the peer reviewers - I'd suggest skimming it rather than trying to read all parts of it.

Also, check the Theme Parks Board, Unofficial Guidebook or Tour Guide Mike (there is a link to his service on the top of the Theme Parks Board) for ways to shorten you wait in line by knowing which things to hit when.

 

[scojos]

thanks to you for your fab advice, it really means alot to me ...
im not as fancy as you and can tdo the quote thing, but here goes..
we have paid out for the tourguidemike package, his information is brillaint and has been very useful in the planning stages, not much use for gac though
ducky, josh is also on singulair (which has made a HUGE difference to his quality of life, he is on predisilone sp? oral steroids as required and ventolin and seretide inhalers daily.
Joshs sats have been down low before, lowest being 77 which was really frightening as they ambulanced him in and 02 and nebbed... v scary, gives me goosebumps even now, he was 3 and thought he was going to die (it is infact after this severe attack that they started him on the singulair)
i must admit that i was very concerned to hear that you have very high pollen levels at the mo, 1stly cant be very nice for you but want they decrease by august when we arrive due to thunderstorms? This is one of the main reasons we came in august the clearing of the air is fab for joshs asthma and temper, he just loves a good thunder storm (me too
If I phone NOW and explain that i need exit or quiet tables, will they not be able to "plan" for it? surely if i give them enough notice anything is possible.. should probably mention other sons dietary limitations too...
OH god, when did life get so complicated!!!!
sorry about the delay in replying, josh had a really nasty tackle at soccer training last night and we spent 3 hours in ER getting him scanned, luckily just a sprained neck/shoulder muscle but it could have been alot worse
tracy

ps sue can you sent me the exact details for the book so i can order it from library, author etc, britsh library need all info!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

we have paid out for the tourguidemike package, his information is brillaint and has been very useful in the planning stages, not much use for gac though

I have not used his service, but from posts made by some of his happy customers, they feel he is able to save them from waiting more than 15-20 minutes for anything. Being able to do that would help you to not need to use a GAC very often.

If I phone NOW and explain that i need exit or quiet tables, will they not be able to "plan" for it? surely if i give them enough notice anything is possible.. should probably mention other sons dietary limitations too...

They don't actually assign the tables until you check in to the restaurant for you ADR. Since people take different amounts of time to decide what to order to eat, to eat their food, etc., they don't really assign tables until right before you are seated.
For dietary limitations, you can talk to someone ahead of time. I don't have the phone numbers right now, but perhaps someone can help. Also, the numbers are listed in the book (which I will give a link to how to get it later).

ps sue can you sent me the exact details for the book so i can order it from library, author etc, britsh library need all info!!!

here you go. This should give you a link to the book from the Amazon.com UK site.
If the link doesn't work, here is the title, etc:
Passporter's Walt Disney World for Your Special Needs
authors: Deb Wills, Debra Martin Koma
Paperback 404 pages (August 15, 2005)
Publisher: Passporter Travel Press
Language: English
ISBN: 1587710188

 

[KathyRN137]

Something you may not have thought about.....some attractions use odors or smoke (i.e. Stitch's Great Escape, Mickey's Philharmagic, It's Tough to be a Bug!). Be careful if you think these might precipitate an asthma attack!

I believe "Passporter's WDW for Your Special Needs" details all attractions with regard to these.

 

[ducklite]

Something you may not have thought about.....some attractions use odors or smoke (i.e. Stitch's Great Escape, Mickey's Philharmagic, It's Tough to be a Bug!). Be careful if you think these might precipitate an asthma attack!

I believe "Passporter's WDW for Your Special Needs" details all attractions with regard to these.

Just an FYI, I haven't had a problem with any of the odors they use and my asthma, although everyone has differnt triggers.

Anne