Questions about travelling with child with disability

[PoohHappens]

Hello, I am coming to your board looking for some info and suggestions. We have been invited by our friends to go with them in April and stay in a villa with them (they are DVC members). They have a son who will be 4 at that time who has spina biffida. He uses a wheelchair that has a pushing arm on the back for his parents. I have to say he is the most joyful child I have ever met. Due to some other problems he also has other delays as well. I am here searching some info for what to expect when travelling with them and what we can do to assist and make the vacation easier for them. I have read the sticky and a couple of threads, but some of it just seems overwhelming to search through. I would love any info you would be willing to share. We have been to Disney several times so we do not have any expectations for the trip and do not have an agenda, we are willing to go with the flow and whatever plans work for them. I did see a party was considered 6 and unfortunately we are 7, 4 adults, a their DD6, their above mentioned DS 4 and our DS5. I was concerned that this may cause additional problems. We are so thrilled they invited us, I just thought it would be easier for them and us if we were slightly knowledgable before going. Thank you in advance for any info you are willing to share.

 

[SueM in MN]

Hello, I am coming to your board looking for some info and suggestions. We have been invited by our friends to go with them in April and stay in a villa with them (they are DVC members). They have a son who will be 4 at that time who has spina biffida. He uses a wheelchair that has a pushing arm on the back for his parents. I have to say he is the most joyful child I have ever met. Due to some other problems he also has other delays as well. I am here searching some info for what to expect when travelling with them and what we can do to assist and make the vacation easier for them. I have read the sticky and a couple of threads, but some of it just seems overwhelming to search through. I would love any info you would be willing to share. We have been to Disney several times so we do not have any expectations for the trip and do not have an agenda, we are willing to go with the flow and whatever plans work for them. I did see a party was considered 6 and unfortunately we are 7, 4 adults, a their DD6, their above mentioned DS 4 and our DS5. I was concerned that this may cause additional problems. We are so thrilled they invited us, I just thought it would be easier for them and us if we were slightly knowledgable before going. Thank you in advance for any info you are willing to share.

First of all, welcome to disABILITIES.
Since you have small children, chances are that the CMs will look at you all as one party. With 7, you are only one over anyway. They are not going to make one 4 yr old be by themself. So, don't worry about that. If you were a party of 7 adults or a party of 12, that would be different.

Most of the lines are wheelchair accessible, so unless he has some other needs that make waiting in line a problem, you will all be able to wait in line together anyway. All the Fastpass lines are wheelchair accessible, so you can make use of Fastpass.

Most 4 year olds are still light enough for the parents to lift out of the wheelchair and into ride cars for those rides where the wheelchair can't go right on the ride car. So, even if the ride is not accessible, he would still be able to go on it.
Many of the attractions like Buzz Lightyear, Aladdin and Winnie the Pooh that have a wheelchair accessible car only hold the wheelchair and one other person, so the rest of his family won't be riding in the same car with him anyway.

I guess my best advice would be to treat him as much as possible like any other 4 year old. Ask the family what would be helpful. It's possible that just having another family along is all the help they need. There might be other things, but what would depend on them.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

First of all, welcome to disABILITIES.
Since you have small children, chances are that the CMs will look at you all as one party. With 7, you are only one over anyway. They are not going to make one 4 yr old be by themself. So, don't worry about that. If you were a party of 7 adults or a party of 12, that would be different.

Most of the lines are wheelchair accessible, so unless he has some other needs that make waiting in line a problem, you will all be able to wait in line together anyway. All the Fastpass lines are wheelchair accessible, so you can make use of Fastpass.

Most 4 year olds are still light enough for the parents to lift out of the wheelchair and into ride cars for those rides where the wheelchair can't go right on the ride car. So, even if the ride is not accessible, he would still be able to go on it.
Many of the attractions like Buzz Lightyear, Aladdin and Winnie the Pooh that have a wheelchair accessible car only hold the wheelchair and one other person, so the rest of his family won't be riding in the same car with him anyway.

I guess my best advice would be to treat him as much as possible like any other 4 year old. Ask the family what would be helpful. It's possible that just having another family along is all the help they need. There might be other things, but what would depend on them.

Good advice! We had a party of 7 and sometimes 9 when we went with my 5 year old nephew who was in a wheelchair. The CM's were always so attentive at directing us to the most convenient place for him to board the rides without us even having to ask. The bus drivers also always let a group with a person in a wheelchair board first and they were very helpful in assisting. I was impressed.

 

[PoohHappens]

Thank you so much for your responses. I was worried having us with, making a larger group would hinder their ability to get around. I am glad to hear that things are handled so well by Disney. They are frequent WDW guest so I am sure they know what to do, we just wanted to be prepared. We do things here with them and it just is never an issue. Hey Sue Hello in MN. I am married to a MNguy and spent 11 years there. My DH has had to really adjust to the move to IN as he has never lived anywhere else. He kept saying "Where are the Lakes?" and "What do you mean they cancelled school?"
Thanks again for the info, the board is great and has so many resources, glad it is here.

 

[SueM in MN]

Hey Sue Hello in MN. I am married to a MNguy and spent 11 years there. My DH has had to really adjust to the move to IN as he has never lived anywhere else. He kept saying "Where are the Lakes?" and "What do you mean they cancelled school?"
Thanks again for the info, the board is great and has so many resources, glad it is here.

I'm actually a Wisconsin girl transplanted to Minnesota 15 yrs ago.

The people who come here are the boards and the help here is due to all the great ideas people post.

 

[Michigan]

I have 2 daughters (8 & 16) with spina bifida. The only thing I can think to make things easier is to tell them that for his cathing the baby changing stations are great because they have a family bathroom and they also have changing tables if they need one.