Question about child with autism/adhd/anxiety

[Kokobebe]

Hello,
This is my first post here, but I have been lurking around the boards since our last trip to Disneyland in April. We have 3 children, ages 6, 10, and 15, and have been to Disneyland 5 times now with them. We always stay at the Disneyland Hotel and usually buy 3 day parkhopper passes.

We now have plans to go again in August, which is exciting but also sort of overwhelming. The reason it is overwhelming is that our middle child has many sensory issues. She is high functioning autistic and has ADHD and suffers from anxiety and Tourette Syndrome. Parents with kids on the spectrum know that these issues go hand in hand (co-morbids), so that is nothing new. As her mom I am use to helping her cope with stressful situations (we go back to the hotel mid day to sleep so that she doesn't end up with a migraine, and we often skip rides with lines that are too long or rides that are too intense for her). But I don't have to tell all of you--it is quite a job trying to help her "cope" at such a busy place like Disneyland.

Even with all of the coping issues, Disneyland is her most favorite place in the world--and when we are planning a trip there it is all she can think about. She loves everything to do with Disney, and going there is her both her dream come true--but also her nightmare as sometimes the lines and crowds are just too much for her.

Anyway, we made the mistake of going on spring break last year, and I had never before seen such crowds and lines. We of course made use of fast passes, but that only helps so much. Even trying to see the parade and fireworks was a NIGHTMARE.

Hopefully August will be a better time to go. We never go on weekend days--always weekdays. I have never even considered getting her a "special pass" for her disabilities--but I admit I looked at people getting on rides in wheel chairs with their special entrace and wishing we could have something similar for her. The only way we are able to function at Disney right now is to only go on 3-4 rides a day with her, because waiting in the lines is torture for her. I take her and our yonger child and just ride a few select rides--because to do anymore is way too much waiting. It is a frustrating experience, but I figured there was no solution to it. I had never heard of people getting special entrance for a child with Autism? I am not really sure what she would think about it--she may be embarrassed by it.

Do you have any suggestions for us? Thanks for taking the time to read.
Doris from Gilroy

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILTIES!

There is no "special pass" but there is the Guest Assistance CArd (GAC). If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. The top item is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information, including about GACs.

A lot of the information in the FAQ concerns Disney World, but DisneyLand uses the same rules and concepts. And you may not realize this, but at DL sometimes it actually takes longer to wait for an attraction using an alternate entrance than in the main line.

However, the best thing to do would be go to Guest Relations (in City Hall) with her and explain what her needs are, you will find they will be willing to help.

 

[rapisano]

Hello,
This is my first post here, but I have been lurking around the boards since our last trip to Disneyland in April. We have 3 children, ages 6, 10, and 15, and have been to Disneyland 5 times now with them. We always stay at the Disneyland Hotel and usually buy 3 day parkhopper passes.

We now have plans to go again in August, which is exciting but also sort of overwhelming. The reason it is overwhelming is that our middle child has many sensory issues. She is high functioning autistic and has ADHD and suffers from anxiety and Tourette Syndrome. Parents with kids on the spectrum know that these issues go hand in hand (co-morbids), so that is nothing new. As her mom I am use to helping her cope with stressful situations (we go back to the hotel mid day to sleep so that she doesn't end up with a migraine, and we often skip rides with lines that are too long or rides that are too intense for her). But I don't have to tell all of you--it is quite a job trying to help her "cope" at such a busy place like Disneyland.

Even with all of the coping issues, Disneyland is her most favorite place in the world--and when we are planning a trip there it is all she can think about. She loves everything to do with Disney, and going there is her both her dream come true--but also her nightmare as sometimes the lines and crowds are just too much for her.

Anyway, we made the mistake of going on spring break last year, and I had never before seen such crowds and lines. We of course made use of fast passes, but that only helps so much. Even trying to see the parade and fireworks was a NIGHTMARE.

Hopefully August will be a better time to go. We never go on weekend days--always weekdays. I have never even considered getting her a "special pass" for her disabilities--but I admit I looked at people getting on rides in wheel chairs with their special entrace and wishing we could have something similar for her. The only way we are able to function at Disney right now is to only go on 3-4 rides a day with her, because waiting in the lines is torture for her. I take her and our yonger child and just ride a few select rides--because to do anymore is way too much waiting. It is a frustrating experience, but I figured there was no solution to it. I had never heard of people getting special entrance for a child with Autism? I am not really sure what she would think about it--she may be embarrassed by it.

Do you have any suggestions for us? Thanks for taking the time to read.
Doris from Gilroy

Yes use the GAP for your child. My sister is at disney right now and she has used the GAP for all the parks and never had to wait in line and it has make all the difference in the world for her..

 

[kaytieeldr]

There's no more GAP (Guest Assistance Pass) because, as Sue explains from time to time, Guests interpreted that to mean they get to bypass all the lines and go right to the front without waiting. Now, just as at Disney World, it's a GAC (Guest Assistance Card), with stamps/notations showing exactly what assistance the Guest needs. Yes, there's a huge difference.

 

[KathyRN137]

Kokobebe,

First off,

I've never been to DL, but have made several trips to WDW with my autistic DS(9). We get the GAC and use it if lines are particularly long, but some artful itinerary planning also helps if your goal is to minimize exposure to crowds and noise.

It's too much info to fit in here, but if you would like to PM me with specific questions, please feel free!

And definitely check out the disABILITIES FAQ sticky above! Lots of great info.

Kathy

 

[Bugsmom73]

We are just at the beginning of the whole process but we went last December to WDW, and got a card for DS, who was just 3. We used it when we needed too, mainly fantasyland.

 

[kapoof]

hi..check with your doctor. when we had a doctor visit (a neurologist) for my son who is on the autistic spectum. the doctor offered us a pass. i don't know if it the gac pass everyone is talking about or something different. we didn't end up using one, because my son is older (10) and can wait a bit more without a melt down. but we also go in january and take plenty of breaks, and also we get to the parks early and head for our favorite rides. i love test track in epcot because there is so much to look at while you wait my son waited in line for 45 minutes and he never complained! he was too busy looking at everything. good luck and have a great trip!

 

[SueM in MN]

hi..check with your doctor. when we had a doctor visit (a neurologist) for my son who is on the autistic spectum. the doctor offered us a pass. i don't know if it the gac pass everyone is talking about or something different.

What your doctor was talking about was the GAC (Guest Assistance Card), but he obviously did not understand about it. Quite a few people have posted in the past that they were told the same thing by their doctors. I have even seen someone who brought a doctor's order to Guest Relations where the doctor wrote to give her one.

The doctor can't give it to anyone or order Disney to give it to anyone; you request it from Guest Relations at one of the parks. After you tell the CMs (Cast Members) in Guest Relations what sorts of problems/needs the person with a disability has, they will decide what kind of assistance they can offer. You do not need a doctor's order or note; you do need to be able to explain the needs of the person. Since everyone's needs are different, even people with the very same diagnosis/condition may have very different needs.

The GAC is a card that is used to give the CMs (Cast Members) information about what sort of assistance the person with disabilities needs. It's not a pass, which would mean immediate access.

Disney doesn't have any specific information about the Guest Assistance Card, but if you check out the disABILITIES FAQs thread (one of the threads at the top of this board), you will find a section about GACs. It's not official information, but is accurate as much as we can make it - the facts in it havve been verified by a number of WDW Guest Relations CMs who post on the DIS Boards.

 

[kapoof]

i see, thank you for the info

 

[pcparamedics01]

Hello,
This is my first post here, but I have been lurking around the boards since our last trip to Disneyland in April. We have 3 children, ages 6, 10, and 15, and have been to Disneyland 5 times now with them. We always stay at the Disneyland Hotel and usually buy 3 day parkhopper passes.

We now have plans to go again in August, which is exciting but also sort of overwhelming. The reason it is overwhelming is that our middle child has many sensory issues. She is high functioning autistic and has ADHD and suffers from anxiety and Tourette Syndrome. Parents with kids on the spectrum know that these issues go hand in hand (co-morbids), so that is nothing new. As her mom I am use to helping her cope with stressful situations (we go back to the hotel mid day to sleep so that she doesn't end up with a migraine, and we often skip rides with lines that are too long or rides that are too intense for her). But I don't have to tell all of you--it is quite a job trying to help her "cope" at such a busy place like Disneyland.

Even with all of the coping issues, Disneyland is her most favorite place in the world--and when we are planning a trip there it is all she can think about. She loves everything to do with Disney, and going there is her both her dream come true--but also her nightmare as sometimes the lines and crowds are just too much for her.

Anyway, we made the mistake of going on spring break last year, and I had never before seen such crowds and lines. We of course made use of fast passes, but that only helps so much. Even trying to see the parade and fireworks was a NIGHTMARE.

Hopefully August will be a better time to go. We never go on weekend days--always weekdays. I have never even considered getting her a "special pass" for her disabilities--but I admit I looked at people getting on rides in wheel chairs with their special entrace and wishing we could have something similar for her. The only way we are able to function at Disney right now is to only go on 3-4 rides a day with her, because waiting in the lines is torture for her. I take her and our yonger child and just ride a few select rides--because to do anymore is way too much waiting. It is a frustrating experience, but I figured there was no solution to it. I had never heard of people getting special entrance for a child with Autism? I am not really sure what she would think about it--she may be embarrassed by it.

Do you have any suggestions for us? Thanks for taking the time to read.
Doris from Gilroy

I just came back from Disney. I have an ASD son 9. It would of been disasterous without the Guest assistance pass. He did not do well in MGM however he did great at MK. I would not try to do it without the pass. It made our lives so much easier and a more comfortable experience . She will most likely like to go in a special line. It would definately not work out for us if he had to wait in line. Good Luck! Also I would also like to suggest bringing earplugs for the fireworks.

 

[Kokobebe]

Thank you all for the advice--I am going to do it! I wish we could arrange it through the Disneyland Hotel, but going to Guest Relations in City Hall will be fine as well.

You all are so helpful and kind

 

[brettgirl]

We took our Autistic Spectrum, Anxiety State DS 6yrs old last year. After reading this board it was suggested that I bring a small flashlight for my DS. I did not need the pass, we practiced line waiting at Hershey. He had no concept of it until I told him that when the "lady with the blue jeans on goes" then it will be our turn.

He did very good at Disney. Our DS loved the rides. We also got the labels for his sneakers with our name and hotel, cell phone numbers on it (our peace of mind because he is not an escapee).

One note of contention on the part of people who do not live in our shoes. My son did not like the pool, we kept a life jacket on him at all times and only went to the quiet pool, he instead organized everyones shoes; clopped around in mine; and opened and closed the laundry room door. He was so happy. You would not believe the glares my precious handsome son got! If only people would understand, if I see any of you at the end of May beg of June I will smile and say HI!

 

[Lyndylou]

although we have been to WDW many times we only found out about the GAC last year via an exceptionally astute CM who had noticed us joining and leaving several lines due to 8 year old's stress and anxiety. It was indeed a godsend to us and the remainder of our trip was fantastic. Our DS loves the rides with an absolute passion -the faster the better- but the waiting was too much. He has autism, tourettes and severe anxiety disorder. We are taking him along with 2 foster children age 3 and 9 and DD 14 to DLPR on 1st August for 5 nights and we have been wondering if the same facility would be available there.. I know I will be anxious about reQuesting A GAc but I know we only use it when absolutely necessary. We try to obtain fast passes and if possible most of the family join the main line and right at our turn our DS and DH or I join in. Unfirtunately that often causes remarks and unpleasant comments about line jumping which kind of spoils the fun of the ride for me.

 

[MomOf2DisneyKids]

just recently back from WDW, and I only got 'the look' twice when using the GAC for my ds. I would have been happy not to get that look at all, and we only used the card when necessary, but for the most part, everyone was great.