WDW and Disneyland with Diabetes

[EmilyJ517]

My son was very recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and, as DVC members, are wondering how our future Disney trips will go for him. We are still learning A LOT every day and are in survival and coping mode right now - but people assure me that it will all become routine soon.

We are planning a trip to disneyland/aulani next July (I am assuming he will be pumping by then)...and then of course many many DVC trips to WDW.

Any tips, tricks, or helpful products that help you get through the day at the parks or the water parks?

We are also hitting the beach in the Outer Banks this September, but since he wont be on a pump by then, and will be renting an oceanfront house, I think our routine will be similar to home. But I will take any advice I can get!

 

[buffettgirl]

Hi Emily, just do a quick search of this forum using the word "diabetes" and you'll come up with a ton of posts. I've been trying to compile some threads into one for a handy reference but haven't had much time lately.

But do know that in a few months, you will feel 100% different about diabetes than you do today. Your trip to OBX in Sept will probably feel very normal. And your future trips will go pretty much exactly as they always have.

Carb counting while eating out (at Disney, or any other place) is generally one of the most frustrating things. Disney doesn't provide carb counts, so you need tools like Calorie King or one of the many apps for your phone (I like Calorie Counter by Fat Secret).

I don't want to spend too much time suggesting specific products since if you're like most of us you're going to end up with a closet full of dead diabetes supplies that seemed like a good idea at the time. When the time comes for your trips, you'll know more specifically what you need. You'll have to trust me on this. (would y ou like to see my closet...lol)

The best thing I can suggest is to just take it all in right now and don't worry about the trips. Like I said, you'll feel so different in a few weeks, and really different in Sept, and you'll have kind of forgotten what it was like without diabetes by next year. And life will be ok, and your son will be ok. Really and truly, I promise you that.

 

[EmilyJ517]

Thanks so much! I will do some searches and see what I can find! LOVE your screen name - perhaps we will meet someday in the Great Woods parking lot...yes, it will ALWAYS be Great Woods!

 

[buffettgirl]

Thanks so much! I will do some searches and see what I can find! LOVE your screen name - perhaps we will meet someday in the Great Woods parking lot...yes, it will ALWAYS be Great Woods!

ahh. I'm going to send you a private note. Check your PMs. I have some local connections I'd love to share with you.

 

[dsneygirl]

My son was very recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and, as DVC members, are wondering how our future Disney trips will go for him. We are still learning A LOT every day and are in survival and coping mode right now - but people assure me that it will all become routine soon.

We are planning a trip to disneyland/aulani next July (I am assuming he will be pumping by then)...and then of course many many DVC trips to WDW.

Any tips, tricks, or helpful products that help you get through the day at the parks or the water parks?

We are also hitting the beach in the Outer Banks this September, but since he wont be on a pump by then, and will be renting an oceanfront house, I think our routine will be similar to home. But I will take any advice I can get!

I feel for you. My YDS was dx in Feb and we postponed our April trip as it was just too soon. We are also DVC with over 20 visits under our belt with our kids and this feels like a whole new world.

Do a good search and search here, there are a couple great blogs. There's also a FB group for "Special Needs" at WDW with lots of T1 parents.

We just started the pump only 4 months after dx and I am so much happier and so is he.

Feel free to PM anytime. These first few months have been brutal.

 

[Jules54]

Get this to keep insulin pins cold without having to worry with ice

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002262BM/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[disneyfaninaz]

So sorry to hear about your DS's diagnosis. As you go, it will get easier to manage.

We have done DL, WDW and a Disney Cruise since my DD was diagnosed 3 1/2 years ago. We have done both MDI and for the last 3 years pumping.

WDW does not provide carb counts, so you will have to do a lot of guessing and using carb counting books or apps.

You will need to check BGs more often as extra activity and adrenaline will effect BGs.

Bring twice as many supplies as you think you will need. Bring juice boxes, glucose tabs, and snacks into the park with you for emergencies.

The Frio packs are great for taking extra insulin into the parks. It doesn't keep the insulin cold, but it will keep it at room temperature. Just make sure the pack can breath as it works through evaporation.

Otherwise, relax and enjoy.

 

[mommamonster]

I understand what you are going through, my 3 year old DS was diagnosed last month with type 1, and we have our next DLR trip planned for October. I am definitely nervous about carb counting (since contacting Disney they don't offer carb counts, nor were they much help with my other meal related questions, ugh) because we keep coming across things that we cannot find an equivalent in the calorie king book. My son's BG tends to run on the lower side, so I plan on bringing a back pack full of snacks because I hear the extra walking/activity of the parks can cause kids to have a drop in blood sugar. One of the threads I found from searching, mentioned bringing double the test strips and supplies (which for us would be the snacks/glucose pills mainly) that you normally would take on the go - which makes sense to me, since we will probably test a lot more often and if it's like what many have experienced, I imagine we will have a lot of snack breaks.

I'm probably going to look up all the possible kid meals from the restaurants we will be going to based on menus and photos as well as what we remember from our lats trip, and try to estimate the carb counts before going, and then verify if portion sizes match what I calculated for and adjust as needed when we get there. I'm going to keep this info in a small notebook for all future trips.

I'm most nervous because we are going to Mickey's Halloween Party and the kids will most likely want to eat the candy as they trick-or-treat and I'm going to have to look all those different candies up...but at least they might work for bringing lows in blood sugar up throughout the rest of the trip!

Sending you good vibes for your first trip, and hope that you find answers you need from folks here, this is such a helpful board! I will be happy to report back with any tips once we take our trip in October, I'm hoping to be an old pro with diabetes care & travelling by then!

 

[EmilyJ517]

Thanks all! I have decided I'm not going to freak out just yet about it, since he will probably be pumping by April and then I will have to learn it all over again anyway! LOL - he is entering his "honeymoon" period where his doses are really low and his BG is running lower also, but I know that will change over the next several months. What a guessing game!

I will definitely check out the Frio wallets - that sounds awesome, probably good for our beach vacation this fall too!

Thanks again for all the info

 

[dsneygirl]

Thanks all! I have decided I'm not going to freak out just yet about it, since he will probably be pumping by April and then I will have to learn it all over again anyway! LOL - he is entering his "honeymoon" period where his doses are really low and his BG is running lower also, but I know that will change over the next several months. What a guessing game!

I will definitely check out the Frio wallets - that sounds awesome, probably good for our beach vacation this fall too!

Thanks again for all the info

Hang in there. We are just 6 months past dx and the first 2-3 months were the longest of my life. It's still not normal for us but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. My DS had a really short honeymoon (only a month or so ) No trips for us since dx but we have done some beach days and I test, test and test again. I also always have snacks, juice and water with me. I keep an "emergency" kit in the car.

For WDW in Sept I plan to bring calorie King, measuring cups and some times a scale. I'm sure we'll look ridiculous but you do what you have to do.

As an aside we went to Aulani last June and it was the best vacation of our lives!!!

 

[Robbi]

oops

 

[aliceclones]

I don't want to spend too much time suggesting specific products since if you're like most of us you're going to end up with a closet full of dead diabetes supplies that seemed like a good idea at the time. When the time comes for your trips, you'll know more specifically what you need. You'll have to trust me on this. (would y ou like to see my closet...lol)

We don't have a closet, rather 2 large cupboards! Not sure why I hang onto all the old stuff we dont use, but there it sits!

 

[KathyRN137]

Hello! I wrote this article about a girl with Type 1 Diabetes at WDW... perhaps it may help you a bit!

Faces in the Queue: Meet Kayla!

You are going to have a wonderful, magical time!


Kathy

 

[carolinainmymind]

You are in our thoughts. And huge kudos to you for all you've learned and the research you are doing.

We're 3 years + since dx for my now 6 year old. We're also DVC and going on our 4th trip since dx. Disney makes diabetes ( and celiac) doable on vacation. Feel free to reach out with any questions.

For OBx ... Sometimes the beach is easier without the pump, especially the pod. Sand and sticky don't mix . But we've found it absolutely possible.

 

[Krs1300]

Hi there! So sorry to hear about your little one. I'm T1D and I just figured I'd throw in a few things I had to learn the hard way.

When swimming/floating (ESPECIALLY in the ocean), it is hard to tell when your BG drops because your senses are all "floaty". There have been plenty of times where I've gotten out of a pool or the ocean and been low and never even noticed. With him not having the convenience of being able to turn his pump off (I'm an OmniPodder so I swim with my "pancreas") or unplug... you may want to watch him during those times.

It is amazing how much walking you do without realizing it at theme parks. Test often and definitely pack some juice or glucose tabs because if he is anything like me, his BG will decide to tank as his is in the most inconvenient spot of a super long line.

I hope you guys enjoy your vacations and just know that all of this will ONE DAY become second nature.