janatmovies
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2012
- Messages
- 236
Hi all. I just booked a trip to Disneyland, on a whim, for next week, because prices were suprisingly cheap for the week of the holiday, 
and because I am dying to see Cars Land! I would really love some advice from this board...here is the situation..
On this trip it is me, my husband, and our toddler.
He is almost 2 and has just been placed on the autism spectrum after it being highly suspected since 9 months of age.
I am really nervous about the crowds for the week of the holiday. I am sort of beating myself up for trying to take this trip with him. The flight is 2 different connecting flights, about 3 hours each flight, total trip time 8 hours, in the air about 6. I already have things lined up to keep him busy on the plane. But I feel guilty because I know it may be hard on him to sit still for that long and not get bored regardless of the activities I have lined up. I know he will probably sleep on at least one 3 hour flight, but here is what I have lined up for the other one.
He loves things that look like balls. He doeIs not enjoy eating at ALL, but LOVES grapes, lollipops, and peanut M&Ms because they look like balls. He loves doodling on his etch a sketch, and will onUly sit for theme songs openings of toddler shows (have these on a portable DVD player). Last resort if he has a meltdown are his toy cars, but I need to limit his play with them because he will concentrate on the wheels spinning. I am also nervous about the headphones of his DVD player because he will focus on spinning the wire part, for a whole hour if he could. His therapists tell me NOT to let him do this.
Again, I feel guilty for putting my son in this situation - but I face all these struggles at home with him everyday
My family tells me I need this because both him and I stay home together every single day in our apartment, and we both need to get out. I will add we went to Disney World in April and he LOVED the rides and shows.
Waiting on line - another story.
He wears orthotics on his feet (trouble walking, deformed feet), so we have to carry him all through the lines (no strollers allowed). He does not like to be carried for more than 2 minutes. He will then stand for a bit but then will cry and cry, and start biting himself, pulling our hair, or both.
I read about a guest assistance card AFTER our trip, it may have made it possible for us to bring the stroller on line. That would make a world of difference, but again, the lines would be like the flights, having to be armed and ready to have him entertained or be prepared for a meltdown.
I am planning to attempt to obtain one on our trip to DL. I have a letter from his doctor about autism, and they will see the orthotics on his feet. I really hope they let us have his stroller in the line.
My question is now, how we child swap for rides. Especially Cars Land. Can we do the single rider line and ride seperately but child swap? How would we Child Swap with him in a stroller? Because the entrance and exit are on opposite sides, right?
In WDW my son loved its a small world, Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, Snow White's Scary Adventures..all the colors and music (he is VERY music oriented) lit my son up. I am sooo happy he will have the chance to do it all again
But then I feel guilty for having my own agenda about the adult rides like California Screamin, Cars Land, Tower of Terror, etc. and wanting to child swap with my husband. My husband is great, he will stay with my son and allow me to ride these rides alone, but then he will not experience them, and will be alone with him for hours while I am on line...he is not that good with taking care of him alone...I am his main caretaker...
Anyone with a similar experience or with knowledge on this please respond. I would like to add that we are skipping DL and DCA on 4th of July because I know the crowds will be nuts, that will add more stress to all of this...so we are going to relax with him in the hotel, let him swim and maybe sight see a bit..skipping on 4th of July has been advised to me by many
TIA for your response
and because I am dying to see Cars Land! I would really love some advice from this board...here is the situation..On this trip it is me, my husband, and our toddler.
He is almost 2 and has just been placed on the autism spectrum after it being highly suspected since 9 months of age.
I am really nervous about the crowds for the week of the holiday. I am sort of beating myself up for trying to take this trip with him. The flight is 2 different connecting flights, about 3 hours each flight, total trip time 8 hours, in the air about 6. I already have things lined up to keep him busy on the plane. But I feel guilty because I know it may be hard on him to sit still for that long and not get bored regardless of the activities I have lined up. I know he will probably sleep on at least one 3 hour flight, but here is what I have lined up for the other one.
He loves things that look like balls. He doeIs not enjoy eating at ALL, but LOVES grapes, lollipops, and peanut M&Ms because they look like balls. He loves doodling on his etch a sketch, and will onUly sit for theme songs openings of toddler shows (have these on a portable DVD player). Last resort if he has a meltdown are his toy cars, but I need to limit his play with them because he will concentrate on the wheels spinning. I am also nervous about the headphones of his DVD player because he will focus on spinning the wire part, for a whole hour if he could. His therapists tell me NOT to let him do this.
Again, I feel guilty for putting my son in this situation - but I face all these struggles at home with him everyday
My family tells me I need this because both him and I stay home together every single day in our apartment, and we both need to get out. I will add we went to Disney World in April and he LOVED the rides and shows.Waiting on line - another story.
He wears orthotics on his feet (trouble walking, deformed feet), so we have to carry him all through the lines (no strollers allowed). He does not like to be carried for more than 2 minutes. He will then stand for a bit but then will cry and cry, and start biting himself, pulling our hair, or both.
I read about a guest assistance card AFTER our trip, it may have made it possible for us to bring the stroller on line. That would make a world of difference, but again, the lines would be like the flights, having to be armed and ready to have him entertained or be prepared for a meltdown.
I am planning to attempt to obtain one on our trip to DL. I have a letter from his doctor about autism, and they will see the orthotics on his feet. I really hope they let us have his stroller in the line.
My question is now, how we child swap for rides. Especially Cars Land. Can we do the single rider line and ride seperately but child swap? How would we Child Swap with him in a stroller? Because the entrance and exit are on opposite sides, right?
In WDW my son loved its a small world, Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, Snow White's Scary Adventures..all the colors and music (he is VERY music oriented) lit my son up. I am sooo happy he will have the chance to do it all again
But then I feel guilty for having my own agenda about the adult rides like California Screamin, Cars Land, Tower of Terror, etc. and wanting to child swap with my husband. My husband is great, he will stay with my son and allow me to ride these rides alone, but then he will not experience them, and will be alone with him for hours while I am on line...he is not that good with taking care of him alone...I am his main caretaker...Anyone with a similar experience or with knowledge on this please respond. I would like to add that we are skipping DL and DCA on 4th of July because I know the crowds will be nuts, that will add more stress to all of this...so we are going to relax with him in the hotel, let him swim and maybe sight see a bit..skipping on 4th of July has been advised to me by many
TIA for your response
Unfortunately no direct flights as far as I know...when I searched all of them had stops...my stops are 1 hour, there were some for 3 hours!!! 
I was like, we can not travel that long all day!
