Seating near exits?

[ecki]

Kayla's never been to a "show", so I don't know how she'll react to them. The one time I tried to take her to one was a magic show at Shawnee Mountain in the Poconos and she started screaming at the top of her lungs as soon as the lights went out.

Is it possible to request a seat near an exit in case we need to make a quick and discrete getaway? I wouldn't want to subject the rest of the audience to her or lose her in a dark theater if she wiggles away from me. Is this something that needs to be requested on a GAC or can I just ask the CM when I get to the show? If I'm using the stroller as a wheelchair option, is there wheelchair seating near the exits?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Just mention this to the CM at the entrance. Normally it should not be difficult to get a seat on the end near an exit as in most of the shows people want to sit close to the center.

 

[KPeveler]

dont let your first show be Carousel of Progress... if you leave while the show is going on, they restart the whole scene - you literally stop the show! so this is not one you can "slip quietly" out of

 

[ecki]

dont let your first show be Carousel of Progress... if you leave while the show is going on, they restart the whole scene - you literally stop the show! so this is not one you can "slip quietly" out of

Thanks for letting me know! I think I'll skip that one with her!

 

[specialkidsmom]

Hey we just got back. We did not run into any problems with any of our request to sit near the exit with our DS. The show at the Laugh Factory(?) (or what ever show is with Monsters Inc at MK.), the seating for handicap is up front and close. When we went in everyone in my party ended up sitting in the reserved seating while I took DS to the back of the room but still ended up making a mad dash out as soon as the show started. Also I dont recommend that you take her to the Hoop Dee Doo Review. It is very loud and busy and scared my poor DS to death. All he kept telling us was that he wanted to go bye-bye.

Beth

 

[SueM in MN]

In almost every theater, you will enter the theater with the ends of the rows of seats right in front of you.
When you exit, you almost always will be going down the row all the way and out on the opposite side of the theater.
As was already mentioned, most people want to sit in the middle (to get the best view). So, in most cases, you will be able to go past those people all the way to the end of the row and sit at the end right in front of the exit door.
If that seems difficult, there is usually a space at the very front of the theater. You can cross the theater at that point and take a seat on the end of a row.

Exit doors are well marked and the signs remain on during the show. There are also usually easy to find CMs on the exit side to help people who need ot leave early.

Besides Caroussel of Progress, you can't leave Ellen's Energy Adventure (which is a ride, but may be considered a show because your ride car is a theater car that moves between different theaters.)

 

[ecki]

Well, Kayla didn't even make it through her own preschool program (she was supposed to sit in her chair for 15 minutes) even with her 1:1 aide next to her. She kept getting up to hit the kid in front of her over the head with her sunglasses.

I'm trying to decide if it would be better to keep her in her stroller with her pacifier than try to have her sit in a seat during the shows.

If I don't keep her in the stroller for the show, I'm guessing we have to leave it somewhere. Is the stroller parking generally near the exits for the shows? It's hard to carry her for long when she's wiggly and screaming.

 

[KPeveler]

Well, Kayla didn't even make it through her own preschool program (she was supposed to sit in her chair for 15 minutes) even with her 1:1 aide next to her. She kept getting up to hit the kid in front of her over the head with her sunglasses.

I'm trying to decide if it would be better to keep her in her stroller with her pacifier than try to have her sit in a seat during the shows.

If I don't keep her in the stroller for the show, I'm guessing we have to leave it somewhere. Is the stroller parking generally near the exits for the shows? It's hard to carry her for long when she's wiggly and screaming.

keep her in the stroller! there is sometimes quite a hike to stroller parking, and CMs pretty much will ALWAYS move them to make them fit better... so you may have to do some searching to find the stroller... i would always bring it in, and you can pick her up if needed.

also, you may want to look into how long rides are. for example, she will need to sit for 7-10 minutes on small world, and if she "escapes" she will be in water! perhaps all the colors and sounds will keep her occupied, but you should perhaps start with "shorter" shows and see how she does

 

[SueM in MN]

also, you may want to look into how long rides are. for example, she will need to sit for 7-10 minutes on small world, and if she "escapes" she will be in water! perhaps all the colors and sounds will keep her occupied, but you should perhaps start with "shorter" shows and see how she does

Good point - this is a link to a page telling the length of different attractions.
If you lose the link, there is a link to it in post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

 

[ecki]

keep her in the stroller! there is sometimes quite a hike to stroller parking, and CMs pretty much will ALWAYS move them to make them fit better... so you may have to do some searching to find the stroller... i would always bring it in, and you can pick her up if needed.

also, you may want to look into how long rides are. for example, she will need to sit for 7-10 minutes on small world, and if she "escapes" she will be in water! perhaps all the colors and sounds will keep her occupied, but you should perhaps start with "shorter" shows and see how she does

THANK YOU! I didn't think of that! We're going to Hershey Park & Chocolate World in a couple weeks, so I'll see how she does on some of those rides, like the "factory" tour and train rides so I can judge her tolerance. I think as long as we are moving she'll be OK, but sitting still is another story!

 

[SueM in MN]

Besides the ride length, you may also want to look at the ride cars to decide whether she would sit on that kind of seat for that period of time. Even though the ride car is moving, she would be sitting and some of the seats may be more 'agreeable' to her than others. Also, most of the seats are slippery plastic and the more quiet rides have no restraint, so if she's squirming, she will possibly squirm off of the seat.

Here's a link to Allearsnet.com's webpage of attraction seating showing the type of seat and restraint.

 

[KPeveler]

for some of the longer rides, if you think your DD can't make it through, if you have other adults with you, you should be able to do a child swap with your other child/family members... for example, HM is a long ride and it is VERY dangerous if a child "escapes" in some parts there is a 30 foot drop if you get out of the car (admittedly a VERY difficult prospect, but a full-grown man in DL did it once and died). your DD may love it, or the stretching room may be enough for her, and then you can child swap for the main portion of the ride.

you will not be allowed to take the stroller into the stetching room, btw...

 

[beauncoltsmum]

I had a similar problem with my son last yr. He hates loud noises. He really wanted to see the car stunt show (escapes me what the name of it is but its the one in hollywood studios). I didnt realise until it started that the sounds of the cars would be amplified through speakers!!!

My son (who has ASD) completely freaked out and I had to cover his ears and hold him tight while he screamed and screamed.

If I had thought it through I should have asked for a seat near the exit just in case as by the time we got out he was a complete state

I am thinking that next time we go we could request it to be on on of those cards (again name escapes me brain just isnt working today) that we need to be seated where we can leave a show asap.

 

[SueM in MN]

If I had thought it through I should have asked for a seat near the exit just in case as by the time show asap.

For next time, thecard is called a Guest Assistance Card and you will find lots of information in the disABILITIes FAQs thread in post #6

 

[gummie22]

Our DS 8 has sensory issues and and ADHD, and we used a GAC to help with seating at all of the "loud" shows: Nemo, Indiana Jones, Festival of the Lion King, etc. We sat near exits or in the special seating areas. All the CMs were very helpful!

We also made sure to give our son his earplugs on a headband as soon as we sat down - like a security blanket, and showed him the exit door in case he felt the need to leave.

We also watched videos on YouTube of all the shows so he knew what to expect, and then gave him the choice of what he wanted to see when we got to the parks. Having a sense of control was very important to him, and he actually chose to do many things I never thought he would try.

The only show he had trouble with was the Lion King, because the closest seats to the exit are in the first 3 rows. He got very anxious and hyper and wanted to leave before the show even started, but I reminded him of how much he loved the videos of the show (that he watched at least 20 times), and he was willing to stay.

Next month, we are going back to WDW, and he says he is ready for Fantasmic and the fireworks. I'm hopeful -- but I still have to take my cues from him.

Lorri

 

[beauncoltsmum]

For next time, thecard is called a Guest Assistance Card and you will find lots of information in the disABILITIes FAQs thread in post #6

Thanks for that!

 

[ireland_nicole]

I agree with pp's; definitely use the stroller as w/c (some of the lines are unbelieveably long and difficult while carrying a kiddo). We also sat by the exit at all the shows we attended. Note: consider no doing 3d shows, esp. It's tough to be a bug and Honey I shrunk the ausience (we tried the first-don't know what I was thinking- and it took hours to settle them down.) Also, consider previewing any rides you want to do so that you can get a good idea if they're gonna be good for Kayla or not.
Nicole