Two kiddos with special needs - should we do anything extra?

[stairstepmom]

Sorry, I'm sure the info is out there somewhere but after looking through a few pages I'm more confused than ever LOL!

We have 6 kiddos. Our oldest, will be 8 during our trip, has Bipolar/ADHD. Our fourth child, age 4, has Down syndrome. Both have unpredictable sensory processing issues - do not do well in long lines or in close quarters with a ton of people for very long, etc. and both can have major emotional meltdowns/screaming tantrums if they're forced into those situations for too long. Our little guy with DS walks fine but does have low tone and tires easily and will definitely need his stroller most of the time.

We hadn't been planning on doing anything special in terms of designating their disabilities with Disney, but many people have told us we should so I'm just not sure what's available and/or if it's something that would be useful for our family.

Am I understanding correctly that the two of them (and JUST the two of them - which makes sense) could get some sort of pass to use a separate entrance for rides away from the main lines?

Since we have 4 other children with us, chances of just that one child riding with just one adult are slim and they are unlikely to want to split up (especially our 8 year old - he'd be super upset to be split from his siblings while waiting for a ride), so it doesn't seem like those special passes for them would ever get used since we would all need to stay together, and we would just deal with the sensory stuff the best we could or avoid rides when needed.

If anyone could confirm my understanding, or explain how the whole thing actually works, I'd be very appreciative! And if it is something others think might be a good idea, how exactly do we set that up? Is there a special form Disney needs to send us to have filled out by our kids' doctors? Or something we have to do there?

Thanks!

 

[SueM in MN]

WDW doesn't have a pass for people with disabilities. What those people were talking about is a Guest Assistance Card - which is a card that helps to tell CMs at attractions a bit about a particular guest's special needs.
Most of what they told you is not quite right.

You can find all the information you are looking for in post 6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, which is near the top of this board or you can follow the link in my signature.

The biggest help for the little guy with DS would be for him to be abl to use the stroller in lines where wheelchairs are not usually allowed. You can find information about that in post 6 of the FAQs thread.

The other big hint I would give would be to use a touring plan - many people like touringplans.com or easywdwd.com
You don't have to follow the plan rigidly, you want to use it as a guide to help you to be in the least busy part of the least busy park at the least busy time.

 

[of2dbeach]

Ear plugs have helped my kids who have Autism/ sensory issues. but follow what Sue said too

 

[LisaBi]

Just want to second what Sue said. Using the stroller as a wheelchair for little guy with DS is a must. If the older one isn't too big for a stroller, that might be good for him too - as a way to give him some private space/protection from the crowds.

My son with DS is now 18, and we have been going to WDW since he was 6. We used the stroller as a wheelchair the first few times, then moved to a wheelchair when he got too big for the stroller.

I may have posted this before - but I learned the HARD way not to make him walk in the parks. Once, walking into Epcot when he was 11 or 12, he quit before we ever got to the gate. That's it - too much walking. He was done for the day. Since then I rent off-site.

Then just a few years ago, we happened to visit two local amusement parks within 3 days. I made him walk the first one (its a small park with very short distances between rides). He seemed to do fairly well, so I had the same plan for the second one. Well, about 30 minutes after getting to the park he started complaining that his feet hurt. Then I looked - his whole foot was one big blister. He feet are very funny shaped and apparently not made for walking much. So now we have both stamina issues and physical inability to walk distance. I've learned - no more long walks!

 

[sheboz]

I agree with all the above. Maybe show your children some of the rides on YouTube. We used touringplans and modified it to our needs.

I recommend you get the Unofficial guide to WDW 2012. This book describes every aspect of the ride including noise levels. We also stuck to our regular eating times.

I created our touringplan and choose appropriate restaurants to dine. Menus for all restaurants can be found allears.net.
Although this is more work for you, it will pay off. We watched our child's cues and were able to avoid any major meltdowns.
Ear plugs are great and mini etch-a-scketch helped keep everyone busy in line.
Best of luck and have a great time.

 

[Midnightred]

I have 2 boys 8 and 9 yo who are autistic, the youngest has more severe problems. These two loved Disneyland, but did not have much stamina. We would spend a couple of hours at the parks, then go back to the hotel for most of the day. We went back around 5 or 6 pm to Disneyland, stayed another 1 or 2 hours, then back to the room. They were not able to tolerate the crowds and walking for hours on end. We had such a great time though! I remember going on Pirates of the Carribean, and our little one who is 8, and is non-verbal, just looked at my husband and I, and squeezed our hands, as if to say "I am loving this so much, thank you"! We used the GAC pass only on the Nemo sub. Riding on BTMR was a big mistake, too fast and scary for my boys! Hope you have as much fun as we did!

Midnightred

 

[retired and happy]

Last visit we got a GAC for our tweo children who are full time in wheelchairs. In the 4 weeks we were there, a couple of CM's saw that we had the GAC and asked to examine it. We were then permitted to go in the special entrance. Most of the time they saw the chairs and had no problem with letting us in the special entrances. Of course we avoided attractions where they would have had to transfer out of their chairs.

 

[Lisa71]

Get the GAC and be specific. Our son has CP and can also walk, but tires very easily. I also recommend the Passporter's Open Mouse for WDW..it REALLY helped us understand the sensory part of rides, and what to expect.