Where do you travel besides Disney?

[welovedis]

My family is thinking ahead to 2007 and we'd like to take a family trip in late June right after DS is out of school. This year we have already been to WDW once and we'll back 2 more times before the end of the year so we'd like to go someplace non-Disney. I'm curious where those with special needs themselves or with SN kids travel outside of WDW?

Some of my concerns are: my food allergies are pretty specific (eggs, bananas, nuts, oysters & mussels) so that might be something we can get around in most places in the US but wonder about foreign countries. DS has Aspergers and DH is deaf-has a cochlear implant but replies on speech reading and sometimes interpreters.

We were researching cruises and the Disney cruise comes to mind (of course) but we thought about cruising to Alaska and Disney doesn't go there (yet). We've also thought about staying at a resort on the Mexican Riveria but worry about the food issues there.

I'm just thinking that many people here seem pretty well-traveled so I'm curious about your experiences when traveling outside of Disney, especially when you've grown accustomed to the way that Disney treats guests with special needs.

 

[MBW]

In particular, kids with neurological challenges. We have two boys with autism, and we started out our research last June when we sold our home, bought an RV (travel trailer and tow vehicle) and headed out on the road for six months. We traveled from Maine to the UP of Michigan, back across to the Adirondacks, down the Appalachians to NC, then east to the Outer Banks. Our plans were to continue this winter through the Deep South and into Mexico, and then do the West next spring and summer, but that part got put on hold when my spouse was offered an exceptional job in Pittsburgh (sigh.) So I'm continuing work with some smaller trips (WDW next week, weekend trips over the summer) until I can convince him to ditch the corporate life and head back out onto the road to finish the project.

We found it was a lot easier than we ever expected to travel with our SN kids. We also have children with food allergies (DD9, peanuts, DS7 has celiac sprue), but were able to both eat out and cook in the RV. I have to say that for flexibility, as well as having a familiar environment (often an issue for AS kids) traveling in an RV was perfect (and they are easily rented throughout the US.)

I think the most important thing is to plan ahead and don't feel like you're putting people out by calling for information - many times if people know you're coming and your needs, they'll go out of their way (particularly if you're pleasant). But don't be afraid to let staff know if you need a particular accommodation - in only a few cases did we have to go up the command chain to get things worked out.

If you're planning on visiting federal lands (national parks, forests, historic sites, etc.) be sure to pick up a Golden Access Pass, which allows free entry and 1/2 price camping and tour fees. A number of amusement parks, the Great Adventure and Busch Garden/Seaworld groups in particular, allow for 1/2 price entry for disabled visitors. If your family likes children or science museums and/or zoos and aquariums, get a reciprocal membership (usually $50 - $100) at a participating museum or zoo, and you'll get free admission at hundreds of zoos, museums and aquariums around the country.

Anyway, I've babbled on enough. I guess I really miss being on the road. Have fun and let us know where you go.

 

[welovedis]

MBW-thanks for the update, I actually remember your posts over on Pop-Up Explorer when you were researching your camper purcase, small world! Glad to hear you had a great trip.

We were thinking of something besides our camping adventures, guess I should have mentioned that. We camp regularily in our large Pop-up camper and have the national passport as well as a NYS access pass so we have that covered.

Our family is thinking of either taking a cruise or going to a family-type resort for that trip. DH & I will celebrating our 15 yr wedding anniversary in early May and we won't take a trip then because we don't want to pull DS out of school yet again. So we thought a family trip right after school let out would be great and if we did something like a cruise it would allow us to a have a little bit of adult time while DS enjoyed the kids club. His AS is not so bad that he would be precluded from that type of thing for a few hours.

Good luck writing your book!

 

[spiceycat]

disney hands down has the best cruise for kids.

but the alaska cruise - disney use to use Princess - but lately they changed to Holland America Line. don't know why....

You must have money - have you though about an African Safaris?

I am such a coward - that I won't go out of the country and I don't have kids...

too many reports of Americans getting hurt aboard.

some people here at work when to Italy - the wife got sick - kidney inflection. the doctor could not understand her - she could not understand him....well she almost died - UAB had to send a plane to collect her and get her back to this country so she could receive the correct medical attention....

I am a big coward....

Now this probably won't happen to you - but I would not travel to another country without understanding enough of their language to survival in an emergency....

my big problem I have a language barrier - no matter what I have tried, French, Spanish - and no matter the method - tapes, viedos, classes with real teaches, calls over the internet - I can't do it.....

anyway my problems not yours...

but I would definitely learn enough Spanish before going to Mexico....

 

[Selket]

Did you know Disney does guided adventure travel? I know I didn't! Here is a URL to "Adventures by Disney": http://abd.disney.go.com/abd/en_US/index

There are trips to Costa Rica, Canadian Rockies, London/Paris, Hawaii, etc. I don't know what kind of accomodations they make for special needs. I think all destinations offer "family" vacations for kids with their parents ages 6 or 8 (depending on destination?) and up. They are pricey - I really just found the site after reading my Mousesavers newsletter and haven't poked around it much.

 

[welovedis]

Carol-thanks for that idea, I hadn't thought too much about it since I first read about it either, but I'll look into that too!

You must have money - have you though about an African Safaris?

spiceycat-Pat, I'm not sure why you'd think this, we really are not loaded but we do work hard to save & like to have something to save towards, lol!

I don't think an African Safari would fit the bill at this point, the farthest I think I would travel with DS being younger (9) is to central America/Mexico/Bahamas/Caribbean, that sort of thing. DH has said he'd like to someday do an Alaskan cruise but that may not be for a long while, we'll have to figure it out.

I honestly would have considered a Disney cruise, however, they are going to start cruising to the Mediterranean next summer with one of the ships so I have a feeling the ship that stays in the Caribbean will be sold out for each voyage & harder to book. I don't think we can afford a Med cruise so that is out as well!

Off to check out the Adventures by Disney site!

 

[DVCDawn]

Regarding food allergies and traveling to other countries...

There is a company called Select Wisely (www.selectwisely.com) that sells laminated food translation cards for travelers with allergies, sensitivities or dietary restrictions. Here's a quote from their website:

"SelectWisely offers customized food alert cards. When you click on "Order Cards" you will be able to select from a variety of foods and languages to create a translation card specific to your needs. Single food, multi-food and multi-language cards are offered – each made to your particular travel plans and food requirements."

You may want to check it out. As the parent of two food allergic children, this sounds like a great idea and I wish I thought of it first!

DVCDawn

 

[Selket]

I honestly would have considered a Disney cruise, however, they are going to start cruising to the Mediterranean next summer

I had no idea about that either - do you have a link with more info? I'd love to do that!

The Disney adventures are expensive - probably cheaper to go on a cruise - WAY cheaper. If I looked at it right I think it would cost us (a family of 4) something like $7000+ for a week's adventure.

 

[boosmom96]

We love to rent a house in Hawaii and just hang-out at the beach. My DD has cerebral palsy, pretty severely physically handicapped, and we love to just sit in the surf on low lounge chairs and paddle in the water. My DH is pushing to go to Japan, but I really don't think I'm up to it. (DD, 9, would absolutely love to go!)

 

[videogal1]

I had no idea about that either - do you have a link with more info? I'd love to do that!

Details are to be announced at the beginning of April. There is a huge thread about this on the main cruise board...It goes from rumor to fairly solid rumor/information...

 

[Nik's Mom]

We usually take little road trips (San Diego, Carlsbad and Mammoth Mountain in California). This summer we are driving through Utah. I have discovered that Condo rentals are a high priority while on vacation. This way, our autistic ds has the comforts of home, and we have a kitchen to cook familiar foods.

 

[Michigan]

We love to cruise on Princess and are going to the eastern Caribbean a week from Saturday. There is really no place on the ship my girls can't wheel to. Disney cruises are twice what any other cruise is and I always laugh when we are docked and they have to anchor and use the tender boats to bring the people in. The charge all that money but don't pay for dock rights

 

[welovedis]

Thanks for the replies! I had no idea about those translation cards, they sound really cool!

I've been carefully pricing out cruises for next spring, even though we want to go at the end of June, mostly because the June pricing is not out yet so we are just trying to get a feel for the costs. I originally thought that the Disney cruises were about double the cost, but they seem to be more like 25-30% more for the ones we are looking at. I am considering other cruise lines at this point because I've heard lots of positive things about other lines, and Disney too. There is so much info out there about cruises, it is unreal!

The Adventures by Disney site looks pretty cool, I've requested the brochure but the pricing is pretty high. DS came home from school yesterday talking about how he's learning about the ecological conditions on the Galapagos Islands and how he wishes he could see it in person. LOL! Off to see what that would cost, haha.

Michigan-I'd love to hear about your cruise after you get back. The Eastern ports are what we'd be interested in so I'd like to hear how things go. Have a great time!

 

[MN Dis Fans]

Our DS10 with Asperger's loves history. We are going to Colonial Williamsburg at Eastertime. We also traveled with him to London last summer. I found a book called Let's Visit London with Kids. I let him pick out places he wanted to see and we had a lovely time. He chose Sherlock Homes Museum, the Tower of London and British Museum to see the Rosetta Stone! I warned him about lack of his fave foods and I did bring some of his fave snacks, but he became a huge connoisseur of fish and chips. This is now one of the highlights of his EPCOT visits - getting to England for fish n chips.