Special Needs Child

[Susan in Maine]

We are booked on the Wonder in January and I have a question regarding special needs children and the kids programs.

According to Disney guidelines, children must be fully toilet trained to participate in their programs. However, my 4YO daughter was born with a birth defect such that she does not have normal bowel control. This means it is impossible for her to be fully toilet trained.

My TA contacted Disney customer service, who told him that we needed to fill out a medical form and return it to them. Once they received this form, there wouldn't be a problem with her participation in their program as she had a bona fide disability.

Does anyone have any experience with this kind of situation? I would apppreciate any feedback you all may have! I'm going to be VERY unhappy if we get on the ship and then find out she's excluded from the kid's programs because of this disability!

Celebration 5/97
Vision of the Seas 5/99
Majesty of the Seas 11/01
Royal Princess 4/02
Disney Wonder 1/03

 

[minnieandmickey]

I would hope that they wouldn't exclude her for something she has no control over. They do give parents beepers so I don't see why they can't beep you if a problem occurs.

 

[peg2001]

I do not think you will have any problems. Disney is used to kids with special needs. I would keep a copy of the medical form that you turn in for peace of mind. If anyone questions her not being fully toilet trained, you can show them the medical form.

Good luck. What are your Jan cruise dates? We'll be on the Wonder 1/19-1/23

Peggy

 

[dgroet]

I can't remember what the ratios are, but there is no 1 on 1 supervision, and the rules read that they must be potty trained. Not sure what I would expect in your situation.

 

[outahere]

It might ease your mind to call DCL directly and ask to speak with a supervisor. I have found that sometimes the average rep on the phone may not have all the info you're looking for. I've dealt with DCL supervisors on two occasions and they were very friendly and helpful, to the point of calling me back a few days later to make certain everything was all set.

 

[Michelle]

Susan, at the top of this board there is a post dealing with the Children's Programming. What you have been told by DCL is true, definitely get the medical form completed in advance and then follow up by phone with the special services coordinator. They don't guarantee modified programming will be available on your cruise, but of all the special needs kids I have heard who have sailed the counselors went out of their way to be sure the kids were accommodated. The only thing they cannot accommodate with any consistency is a child who needs one-on-one care.

I don't think you'll have any problems at all as long as you go through the process that DCL requires.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[wovenwonder]

Not to drudge up any anger on this subject --- but children may not go into the pools unless they are fully potty trained -- no swim diapers allowed. This is to protect the health of all swimmers.

 

[canadianmom]

I have a special needs son and we cruised in 2000 when he was 7. We put pull-ups on him so that the counselors did not have to worry about him in that regard. He is unable to walk unassisted so it would require one on one help. My son had his little sister (5) with him also to help the counselors out if they needed to.
The beeper system is also fabulous. If the counselors needed me for anything (which they never did), they could contact my husband and I.
I also wrote Disney prior to our holiday expressing my concerns about my son and the children's program. Their brochure indicates that the program is for ALL Disney kids and I reminded them of this. I just made sure I made my accomodations to meet them half way (pull-ups). They were very kind. They not only wrote back with a really impressive letter, but sent a stuffed Cimba, a Disney Cruise Journal, and a signed photo of Capt. Mickey stating on it he was looking forward to seeing us. Each of my 2 kids received these items. We were very impressed.
(They also upgraded our room from an outside Cat. 9 to a Cat. 5 with a balcony next to the elevators in centre ship).
What more could I ask for? We cruising again in March.

The counselors are great, and will try to do what they can.


Happy Cruising!

 

[jellymoon]

Originally posted by wovenwonder
Not to drudge up any anger on this subject --- but children may not go into the pools unless they are fully potty trained -- no swim diapers allowed. This is to protect the health of all swimmers.

And, again, not to stir up controversy but. . . We were on the Magic last week and this was not being enforced in any way in the Mickey pool. We saw tons of kids-- including one who looked like she couldn't be more than about 4 months old-- under the age of 2 in the pool. There was a small, b&w sign stating the USHPS policy, but had I not known to look for it I don't think that I would have seen it. There were crew members in the pool area and not once did I see a parent asked to remove their infant from the pool. I don't know how things were over on the Goofy pool as we didn't make it out that way, but I was carefully observing the infants in the pool issue.

The words "fully potty trained" are really difficult to define, especially when you are speaking of a child with a disability. When you sign into the kids club you are asked to sign a statement verifying that your child is "100% potty trained" I asked the counselor about this, as my 7 yo ds with developmental disabilities does still have accidents. This has greatly improved since his spinal cord surgery, but it happens and it is hard to guess when-- but with all the motion on the ship, etc. I knew his sensory system would be a bit wacky. Anyway, I shared this with them and they were totally okay with it--- and as it turned out DS didn't have any difficulties at all. I pm'ed you on this issue but I always worry about other families with kids with disabilities when potty training issues come up. I just wanted to be a voice in the wilderness to those others of you who know this battle (the independent toileting one!) and to say the obstacles to participation on the cruise aren't as impossible as they seem. Especiallyif you fill out your medical form ahead of time, the crew will be extremely accomodating!!!

Have a great cruise!

 

[canadianmom]

Getting the medical form ahead of time.

Do I ask my TA to get it for me? We already filled out one form to verify we needed a handicapped room. OR ...do I contact Disney myself to get the medical form before we leave. Also, do I send in the form before our cruise so they are aware we are coming?

We did not fill a form in prior to our last cruise.

Lori