Son with ADHD/Special permission to not wait in lines

[mcguirls]

I have heard "rumors" that if you bring a doctor's note that your child has ADHD, you may get a "disabilities pass" that allows you not to have stand in line.

I am pulling my son out of school for a week to go to Disney solely because I know everyone in the park (our family and the other families in line) would be absolutely miserable watching him bounce in circles. Although I don't like the idea of pulling him out of school, taking him any other time of the year in crowds would be a waste of money/awful trip.

I have not been able to find anyone who has actually received a "first of line" pass, though, so I think this may just be an urban legend.

Anyone?

Thanks,
Deirdre

 

[Safari Steve]

WDW does not offer any passes that allow front-of-line access or bypassing of lines. The Guest Assistance Card is designed to help guests with special access needs (hearing impaired, limited vision, sun sensitivity) get the assistance they require. Often, guests using a GAC have to wait longer than other guests. If you are visiting in the off season, you may not experience many lines longer than 10 minutes. Also, use Disney's FastPass system where available (it's free).
Visit Guest Relations for more information on the GAC. They may issue one for you, but it will not allow you to bypass attraction queues.

 

[SueM in MN]

Welcome to disABILITIES.
Here is a website that has a lot of good info about how to manage WDW with special needs kids. It also has a link to a good explanation about Guest Assistance Cards (which are basically a way to let CMs know what assistance is needed for people with invisible disabilities). It says right on the GAC card that it is not meant to bypass lines or shorten the wait in line. People with invisible disabilities may be allowed to use the entrance for guests with wheelchairs in certain circumstances. As Steve mentioned, the GAC sometimes actually makes the wait longer because you are waiting in an area with other people with various disabilities and the ride/attraction can only accomidate a certain number at a time.
Also, most rides (and pretty much all fastpass lines) have been changed to Mainstream Access for people with wheelchairs. In Mainstream Access, the lines are wheelchair accessible, so there is no special wheelchair entrance.

We have used a GAC on many trips for our DD who has multiple disabilities. Even during Spring break, we only needed it a few times a day. If you can get to the park early and use fastpasses, you can really limit your waits in time. Here's a link to the DIS page about FastPass.
During off-season, the lines for even the most popular lines are often 10 minutes or less. even in busy seasons, you can get a lot done if you are at the parks early. In mid-July, my DH and I went on a childless trip to WDW. Even though it was busy, we were able to go on Winnie the Pooh, Snow White, Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, Pirates and the Steamboat by 10:30 one morning without getting any fastpasses or gong out of our way to backtrack.

If you do go to Guest Services to inquire about a GAC, you need to have your child with you. You don't need (and they won't want to see) a Doctor's letter.

 

[Poohnatic]

Like Steve said, it's not always a timesaver. I have a son with autism and ADHD and we have used the Guest Assistance Pass for our past 4 trips. The main advantage to us is that it gets my son out of the crowds. It doesn't always save time. The main concern to us is keeping my son calmed down and preventing meltdowns. By putting him at an alternate entrance, we can wait much longer.

Suzanne

 

[brooke1]

i understand that children with ADHD wait in another area but what is the area like, what is there to keep them busy??

thanks Brooke

 

[Safari Steve]

There is often not a seperate waiting area. Most attraction queues, however, include pre-shows, decorations, music, and displays to tell part of the story during the wait.
Use FastPass where it is offered, bring a coloring/activity book, a gameboy, or something to keep your own child occupied, and pace yourself.

 

[ducklite]

My son is ADHD, Bi-Polar (with schizophrenic episodes) , and has a moderate LD caused by a visual motor disorder. We've been taking him to WDW since he was about five, and he's always done very well there. When he was younger and VERY hyper, we always had something to amuse him in line. Gameboy was a lifesaver! We also had a small pocket sized book of jokes that we would read together, and always a small notepad and mechanical pencils.

Once when I could sense he was becoming overly agitated, I used the family restroom in one of the first aid stations to take him in and let him settle down a bit. Having just the two of us in a quiet "sterile" environment for about five minutes was enough for him to regain control and we had a good day after that We've also left the parks and taken him back to the resort to run off steam in the pool when we felt he was getting over stimulated.

I was very worried on our first few trips about overload with the ADHD, and was pleasantly suprised that generally it wasn't a problem. We also took him out of school to go in uncrowded times, although we don't do that anymore now that he is a senior in high school.

One thing to mention is make sure to keep his meds on schedule if he's taking them. It can be very easy to get caught up in the fun and forget a does until it's "too late".

Have fun!

Anne

 

[Nik's Mom]

My son has mild autism. We only used the GAC once, but it was a God-send! It allowed us to let him use his stroller while waiting for the Buzz Lightyear ride. My DS was just recovering from a stomach flu and was still very weak. On our first day there, he just wanted to ride Buzz, and the GAC made that possible. Without the ability to use that stroller in line, he would have never been able to handle the line.

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by Nik's Mom
My son has mild autism. We only used the GAC once, but it was a God-send! It allowed us to let him use his stroller while waiting for the Buzz Lightyear ride.

A very good point.
A number of people with children who have autsim or ADD have mentioned that being able to bring the stroller in line with them was very helpful (and there is a GAC that has "use stroller as wheelchair" on it). In Nik's Mom's case, they were using it for weakness, but it can also be used to limit stimulation and contact with others. The stroller provides sort of a "safe haven" for a child who can't take the lines without it.
People have also posted that they found the design of the Disney strollers (large solid sides) to be helpful in providing that.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Yes, the strollers do cut down on stimulation. The stroller is a must have for my DS while we are walking in the parks! It does help so much!

 

[mbb]

our two sons have ASD (they are twins) and SINGLE strollers, gameboys, a new $3-4toy from one of the gift shops, and definitely going in the off season helped. Lines were never longer than 20 minutes (fot Tomorrowland speedway - which they tantrumed through the whole line...I can still feel the stares and frowns - but the boys did not want to leave! We put our thick skins on - a twenty minute tantrum? Cakewalk in our house!!LOL!!) and most, esp Buzz were walk on - thank goodness! I wish we had known about the GAC...lineups in a stoller would have helped immensely.

We always hit the parks EARLY in the am, and by the time crowds were getting heavy 11:00am or so, we would be ready for a pool break...we had a wonderful, magical vacation...goin' back!!