Please help with planning trip with Down's Brother

[Lluianae]

This is our first trip to WDW and my husband and I want to make some really cool memories for my Down Syndrome brother. He is 26 years old but is a big kid like all of us ! What would be some tips for getting him involved in the Sword and the Stone ceremony? Also I had heard that audience members can be picked to be a part of the Indiana Jones show, is this true? And if so anyone have any tips on that? My brother is a HUGE fan of Indiana Jones and constantly wears the fedora hat.

Anyone have any other ideas that I might be missing. Thanks for replies !
We will be there from July 12 to 19 at the Pop Century. Look for us, we will be wearing Alien Green mickey heads and and my brother will be wearing an Indiana Jones hat.
I have also posted this in Disney Tips and Disney Theme Park forums.

 

[HopperFan]

Once when we were at the Indiana Jones show we stayed behind after and the Indiana stunt man came over to us after to speak with my typical son about how he shouldn't do what they do ..........and once when we were going to Hunchback show we requested to meet Quasi after the show because he was my son with DownSyndrome favorite character. It was a very special meeting. I would get to the show early and explain to them his situation, that this show is so important to him, could he possibly meet the stunt actors for a moment after the show (autographs and photos). With us they set it up prior to the show, and to our surprise Quasi came and hugged our son at the end of the actual show. Maybe they will be able to include him, but if not wouldn't it be even better to meet and speak with the actors after the show.

Enjoy, it is our DS son's (age 22) magical second home

PS My typical son collects Indiana Jones pins, apparently there is a series from the movies plus others. Maybe he would get a kick out of pin trading with the CMs. Great interaction and fun !

 

[Snow Brite]

I thought of the pin trading too! I bet it would be a lot of fun for him and I love how it gives you a "opening" to talk to the cast members and other visitors to the park that might want to be friendly but have that freaky not knowing what to say thing that happens sometimes.

I went with a camp full of school age kids with down's syndrome when I was 19 and it was one of the most fun trips ever. They BELIEVED in Disney magic. Wholeheartedly and without doubt. I wish you that kind of trip!

Have fun!

 

[KathyRN137]

Hello!

If you have not read it already, PassPorter has a new guidebook, PassPorter WDW for your Special Needs , by D.Wills and D.Martin Koma. I highly recommend it. http://www.passporter.com

Have a great time with your brother; he's lucky to have you!

Kathy

 

[Lluianae]

Wow great responces, thanks so much ! As soon as I am done here I will be reading the Passporter site. My brother also believes in the Disney magic and its rubbed off on me ! I know it will be fun for all of us, just to be there will be breathless Thanks again for your ideas

 

[Talking Hands]

Wow great responces, thanks so much ! As soon as I am done here I will be reading the Passporter site. My brother also believes in the Disney magic and its rubbed off on me ! I know it will be fun for all of us, just to be there will be breathless Thanks again for your ideas

I noticed that Merlin is very observant of special needs guests. At one show he did his usual show and then added the special needs person at the end (a Downs syndrome young man). Made me tear up as this young man eyes just sparkled with joy when he was picked by Merlin.

 

[Ambassador]

Special needs aside, we have seen so many families unhappy, because one member is not up to speed with the rest.
Regarding the IJSS, one of our delegation could not stand the loudness. We were directed to a spot on the right side of the stage (not in the theater, you had to walk there) with a ramp for wheelchairs. It places you closer than any seat in the theater; many of the actors walk by you, and surprisingly it is not loud there. We were practically alone and right next to the stage!

We have had to learn the hard way that certain attractions, like Philharmagic and Bug's Life, were not appropriate for one of our littlest delegation. And yet the same child rode Test Track and Mission Space like a future test driver or astronaut. It is hard to know, so be prepared to do something else.

 

[Ambassador]

I just had to add, that I have yet to ride any of the headliners, after nine consequitive years of attendance, but have not felt like I have missed anything. The delight of the little delegation has been more than enough.

 

[SueM in MN]

Email me if you would like a free copy of the Passporter book. I was one of the peer reviewers and got a number of copies free for doing the reviewing.

Here are some observations I have about the participants in the Indiana Jones Show that might help you decide if your brother would enjoy being in the show:
- the participants are selected from the audience before the "action" begins. They are directed up to the stage and then "interviewed" a little bit (name, where they came from). The stage is huge and the audience is several thousand people (which can be intimidating to many people).

- after the introductions, they are taken off stage to change into "costumes", so he would miss seeing the first big stunt that features Indiana Jones. Having seen the show at least 10-15 times, my guess is that the performers don't see much of the show.

- the costumes are head coverings (sort of turbans) and short sleeve coats the look sort of like short bathrobes.

- they are given directions to follow - things like "Scream as loud as you can", "look afraid", "look terrified". While this is going on, there is a lot of activity behind and to the side, as the set is being changed from the first scene to the next scene.

- During the pretend "filming" there would be a lot of action happening quite close to him and loud noises, trucks, explosions, etc.

- SPOILERS AHEAD





At one point, the participants are put into positions and told to stay in the position without moving for a long time. Many of the positions are a bit silly or hard to hold.
They also talk about how some extras (the participants) may do extra things like some minor stunts and then they ask for one of the extras to come over so one of the stunt people can demonstrate how to take punch, He gets hit (repeatedly) and falls down. After the demonstration, they reveal that the guy who got punched is actually a stunt performer.
After that, the performers are sent off stage to change out of their costumes.

Instead of trying to be a participant, I would probably ask the CMs who direct guests into the show whether it might be possible for your brother to sit in one of the front areas and if he might be able to meet Indiana Jones after the show. if he does want to be a participant, I'd probably watch the show first as an observer. That way, he can see what is expected and decide whether he would like to try to participate. I don't know how they choose the participants, but you might want to talk to the "greeter" CM about how to arrange it.

 

[Shir Kahn]

Wow, great post SueM! (I'm the DBIL of our Indiana Jones fan!)

 

[SueM in MN]

You're welcome. I live with a multiply disabled person and am acquainted with/ have worked with people with mutliple disabilites.
One thing I forgot to mention was that during the "punching", the participant's coordinator is pretending to get very upset and the participant pretends to be hurt. That might be a problem for your Indiana Jones fan.

Hope you all have a great time.
Are there other things you could use some more information on?

 

[Lluianae]

Wow that show sounds really cool, but a little intense for my brother. He isn't a big fan of fireworks and loud noises so I think we will just be apart of the audience. I know that he would love to meet "Indiana".

Thank you again so very much! No matter what happens, we will have a blast !