Universal Studios question - special needs

[lovethattink]

i'm so sorry to read about the seizures she had.
i know it would be a concern to know more about rides to avoid your daughter going into a seizure.
my cousin always had problems going on rides.
he had a few grand mal ones and it wiped him out for the day.

happy to hear you had fun at the darkside.

did you go to the woody woodpecker play area?
lots of water activities there.
i know lots of little ones do that ride and water section at the studios but my boys still would want to hang out there for a couple of hours when they were 10 and under.



why don't you go to guest services and request the GAC/guest assistance card for the stairs.
this card would be issued by the TM based on your needs for the family.
Since stairs can be an issue, you could use the elevator for the Trolley Ride, or any other ride that requires climbing up.

i've used the elevators before on past trips.

We did go to guest services. I see the person who issued it to us has it circled for Alt Stairs. He can go up stairs, it's the down that's a problem. So I guess we are covered without me realizing it! We were given an Attraction Assistance Pass, she explained to us to go to the attraction entrance and the attendant writes down the return time. This was a real godsend! We could wait in an airconditioned building and come back at the time marked.

Do you know if there are steps or anything requiring balance in the Curious George area? I just read the Rider's Guide it says nothing about needing balance and strength there, but it does for Fievel's Playland and it says there is climbing, ball crawl, etc. and disabled guest should be accompanied by a non-disabled companion.

 

[macraven]

check out these links for the studios.
it might help you make a decision if they are suitable for your son.

http://www.universalorlando.com/Rides/Universal-Studios-Florida/Curious-George.aspx

http://www.universalorlando.com/Rides/Universal-Studios-Florida/Fievels.aspx

http://www.universalorlando.com/Rides/Universal-Studios-Florida/Woodys-Nuthouse-Roller-Coaster.aspx

click on the photos and planning videos that are on the right hand side of each thread for more details.

i see there is climbing involved in some of the places in those links.
but, there is a lot of things that do not have climbing.

i'm glad you received the gac.
it does save a lot of time for the family when there is a special needs person in the group.

the alt stairs means you can use the elevators.
ask the TM to show you where they are.

you show them the gac and they will take you to it.

the trolley ride is to the far left side away from the stairs.
you enter the ride at the back of the second floor where the train is loaded.
the TM will advice the other TM who is loading the ride, to seat your group.

you might have already checked everything out already.
i'm just trying to help anyway i can to make it a more enjoyable visit to the darkside.

 

[lovethattink]

Thanks so much, macraven! That was so helpful. Looks like the Curious George area would be great fun for him. There are a few things he could do at Fievel's Playland. The coaster is out. He's had seizures after riding Barnstormer after it re-opened, so for now we won't risk coasters. Once the park isn't so busy we'll try out those areas and see how it goes!

What does TM stand for?

Every employee we encountered at Universal was so friendly and helpful! I was surprised by their excellence in customer service.

 

[macraven]

at the darkside: TM team member
at the motherland: CM cast member



i refer to disneyworld as the motherland.
simply because that is where it all started.........

universal is the darkside as it is the 'unknown'

 

[cindy17]

Thank you all so much for the links and advice! We went to Universal on Sunday. He was able to go on Minion Mayhem and sit on the stationary bench. We all loved it! The same with Shrek! Minion Mayhem twice and Shrek once on Sunday was the extent of the rides we did.

Today we went to IOA, but only I have a prefered annual pass, so they were blocked out. We went over to Universal and sat in the stationary seats for Minion Mayhem. The line for that attraction was larger today than Sunday. Riding it once (stationary seats) and eating at Bubba Gumps was the extent of our Universal day today.

Thanks so much for mentioning that they have stationary seats on Minion Mayhem! Both my autistic and I have motion sickness issues and I was worried about him going on this for our August trip, being that he liked Despicable Me. I'll have to be sure to request the stationary seats! Do you know if the Simpsons ride has them also? Just curious.

 

[macraven]

sorry, but the simpson ride does not have stationary seats.

 

[macraven]

sorry, but the simpson ride does not have stationary seats.

 

[lovethattink]

Thanks so much for mentioning that they have stationary seats on Minion Mayhem! Both my autistic and I have motion sickness issues and I was worried about him going on this for our August trip, being that he liked Despicable Me. I'll have to be sure to request the stationary seats! Do you know if the Simpsons ride has them also? Just curious.

In addition macraven's no for the Simpsons, just wanted to add, that from a sensory point on the stationary seats at Dispicable Me it's visual, auditory and tactile. For my son, the sound was ok for him. He didn't put his hands over his ears or ask for his ear phones. Visually, there is alot going on. It's none stop. My son kept taking off his 3d glasses, but I think that was more tactile than visual.