Solutions for physically delayed 19 mo old for waiting in lines?

[Selket]

I posted this on the Family board but it was suggested I post it here as well:

Originally posted by Selket
My 18 mo old son is physically developmentally delayed: not yet walking...or able to stand up yet (except for a very short time). Fortunately he will be able to do all of this eventually (he is getting treatment for this) but I've just been thinking that we're going to have to remove him from the stroller while lining up for rides. He is not small either (31 lbs) and is otherwise a typical toddler. I personally can't hold him for 30 minutes! DH and I can take turns but that might still get tiring-esp. in the August heat.

I could bring a blanket to sit him on but then I'd have to move it every 30 seconds and he'd probably try to scoot off of it. Any ideas? Carriers built for his size? He is scared of a backpack. I saw a "side carrier" mentioned here once (not a baby sling) - do you think that would work?

Let me add that I know many people have kids that big at one year old but he is a lot harder to handle as he gets closer to two yrs! He wants to explore more if he is out of the stroller...when he was younger he was at least easier to hold on to. He is relatively content in his stroller however.

I know I"m not able to hold him for a wait time that could be over 10 minutes or so and I can't sit him down on the pavement which would likely be dirty or hot or he'd get stepped on. It was suggested I might be able to get a GAC card that would allow us to use the stroller in line (?) if the line is long. Anyone with experience or suggestions? Should I bring a physician's statement? I realize our party would ride together (not trying to get to the front of the line - don't care about that). If I get a GAC card do I stand elsewhere while my son and DH go through the line or does the stroller come in line with us?

Many thanks

 

[SueM in MN]

Welcome. I saw your post on the Family Board and posted there, but I'll answer the questions quickly here too.

Anyone with experience or suggestions?

To request a GAC, you go to Guest Services in any of the parks with your son and explain your needs/difficulties. The GAC is a way to let CMs know what sorts of assistance people with invisible disabilities need. They stamp a specific statement on the card which fits your situation. In your case, it would be to use the stroller as a wheelchair (there is a stamp for that!).

Should I bring a physician's statement?

You don't need to, but some people feel more comfortable asking for a GAC if they have one. If you get one, keep it simple - the CMs don't have a medical backround, don't understand complex medical terms and don't need to know your DS's whole history. What you want is something very simple (basically that he is developmentally delayed, is not able to stand and will need the stroller in line with him).

I realize our party would ride together (not trying to get to the front of the line - don't care about that). If I get a GAC card do I stand elsewhere while my son and DH go through the line or does the stroller come in line with us?

It's written right on the "basic GAC" (the form that they stamp the specific message on) that the GAC is not meant to shorten the wait or avoid lines. It also says that GAC holders are advised to use fastpass whenever possible. You would all stay in line together and the stroller would just come in line with you. All the fastpass lines are accessible and most of the other lines are also accessible. For lines that have something (like steps or a turnstile) that wheelchairs/ strollers would not be able to go thru, there is a "wheelchair gate" before that to send you somewhere accessible. In most cases, the "wheelchair gate" is very close to the boarding area, so you don't really miss out on much of the line.

 

[Selket]

Thanks for the reply! I saw your reply on the Family board as well and I replied back there too. I think we'll get the card and use it if we have to but try to avoid the lines! That would make everyone happy! I've never been in August (I generally have been in off season where there are few lines). I hope mid-August starts to wind down so this will be less of an issue.

Thanks again!

 

[Nik's Mom]

Hi,
I followed the suggestions on this board and got a GAC for my autistic son. I used the GAC only once. My son caught a stomach bug when we arrived and spent the first day vomiting and with a fever. By the second day, he was better and ready to ride Buzz Lightyear. He was still weak, so I put him in his stroller, hoped on the monorail and headed to Buzz with GAC in hand. I was allowed to roll his stroller into the line with no problems. Once we got to the front, I was directed to a parking area for strollers/wheel chairs where the riders exit. Ds would have only had to take a couple of steps from stroller to the Buzz car, but I carried him. The cm's were very helpful. I did have one mother behind me in line who repeatedly kept saying "you can't bring strollers in line!" I told her a couple of times that I had permission, but finally said "He's disabled and has a special pass to bring the stroller in here." She finally backed off! I still don't know why it bothered her so much to have a stroller in line. Anyway, I just had to vent about that.
By day 3, DS was strong enough to walk while in line.

 

[Selket]

Thanks for the info - I'm glad the GAC worked for you and you only ran into one rude person. I'd rather avoid having to deal with people's questions so I'm hoping for short lines. I hope you had a wonderful vacation even though your son was ill at the start.

 

[SueM in MN]

I did have one mother behind me in line who repeatedly kept saying "you can't bring strollers in line!" I told her a couple of times that I had permission, but finally said "He's disabled and has a special pass to bring the stroller in here." She finally backed off! I still don't know why it bothered her so much to have a stroller in line. Anyway, I just had to vent about that.

Maybe she was upset that she couldn't bring her own stroller in line or she's just an extremerule follower (even if it doesn't concern her).
DD has had a wheelchair (the kind with big rear wheels that could not be confused with a stroller) since she was 2 and 1/2. On a trip to WDW when she was almost 3, we were going into The Land at Epcot when a woman basically blocked our way and said to the CM that if we could bring in our "stroller", the CM had to let her bring in her stroller too. The CM kept saying that strollers were not allowed, but wheelchairs were and the woman just kept repeating "If you let their stroller in, you have to let mine in". The lady's poor DH kept whispering real loudly "that is a wheelchair." I don't know how it finally ended because the CM got her out of the way so we could go in and we left them with her still arguing with the CM. We've never run into that again and we have seen people in line with strollers without being hasseled.

 

[Nik's Mom]

I think you are right. She probably just wished she could bring her stroller in too. Wish she wasn't so rude, but in the end, she left herself looking foolish.

 

[Selket]

I'm just following up to say that we did get a GAC while there and it worked out great for us. We didn't need to use it very often as we were able to do most things with little wait..that he was willing to do (not like we needed it for the standby line for TOT or something - LOL!). I had no problems with anyone questioning why I had a stroller in line. It was a fantastic help for those few times that holding him for a long wait would have been impossible. The CM's were very helpful as well. Thanks to everyone's help!

 

[Nik's Mom]

Glad to hear that you had a great trip! Yes, the GAC can be a life saver at times! Welcome back home!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the report and glad to hear everything worked out for you.