Re: Disney World special needs pass

[Guest guest]

I was thinking more along the lines of special

treatment for the parent...80)

Nic would make waiting in long lines so miserable

for us, that we'd end up having a horrible time.

Di

--- <cindysue@...> wrote:

---------------------------------

Oh, we go back and forth on this one every few

years, huh? I wouldn't

call the passes as special treatment (unless a

person with DS has lots of

stamina, no behavioral problems out of the

ordinary or other medical

condition). I see it as more of an accomadation.

's teacher told me yesterday that he has

28 accomadations on his

draft IEP - most are to prevent behaviors.

's DS doctor also

recommends a special needs stroller to help with

transitioning - our

insurance will not pay for it. So when the day

comes that we take him to

Disney, I will ask for the pass as an

accomadation so he could enjoy the day

(and us, too - less stress).

> Yes, some of our kids need more patience, etc.

Should they get special

> treatment or " inclusion " like all the rest of

the fussy kids? Many of

> our kids are better than the " average " that

Disney gets.

>

>

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[Guest guest]

OK, fess up- I have used the pass at disney and other amusement parks for

stamina issues. amanda would just end up sitting down or pooping out- wouldnt

enjoy herself or get to do anything.

I have not requested the handicap parking permit although there are times I

wish I had it, because she is mobil- slow, but mobil and doesnt run away or

anything. So I feel that I am not taking up spots for more needy people than

amanda, but the accomadation at the amusement parks is a joy for they entire

family, or we would end up doing nothing. and we still have to take frequent

breaks- more than families without kids with spec needs.

[Guest guest]

OK, fess up- I have used the pass at disney and other amusement parks for

stamina issues. amanda would just end up sitting down or pooping out- wouldnt

enjoy herself or get to do anything.

I have not requested the handicap parking permit although there are times I

wish I had it, because she is mobil- slow, but mobil and doesnt run away or

anything. So I feel that I am not taking up spots for more needy people than

amanda, but the accomadation at the amusement parks is a joy for they entire

family, or we would end up doing nothing. and we still have to take frequent

breaks- more than families without kids with spec needs.

[Guest guest]

I wonder what Disneyland will do this summer when the National Down Syndrome

Congress has it conference in Anaheim? Will they give the special needs passes

to all the families that have children with Down syndrome? I wouldn't be very

happy if I was waiting in line and a bunch of families all went in front of

us.

mom to 13 and Noah 4 both with Down syndrome

CO

[Guest guest]

I wonder what Disneyland will do this summer when the National Down Syndrome

Congress has it conference in Anaheim? Will they give the special needs passes

to all the families that have children with Down syndrome? I wouldn't be very

happy if I was waiting in line and a bunch of families all went in front of

us.

mom to 13 and Noah 4 both with Down syndrome

CO

[Guest guest]

I was simply asking a question, I was wondering if there was a limit to the

number of passes they give out. I was not asking for justification from anyone

nor did I say anyone was taking advantage of anything.

mom to 13 and Noah 4 both with Down syndrome

CO

[Guest guest]

I was simply asking a question, I was wondering if there was a limit to the

number of passes they give out. I was not asking for justification from anyone

nor did I say anyone was taking advantage of anything.

mom to 13 and Noah 4 both with Down syndrome

CO

[Guest guest]

I have to wonder why you need a " special needs " pass for a child with DS

unless there are some further handicapping conditions.

In our case I took advantage of the pass due to limited time - thus

maximising Trent's Disney experience. Along with the fact that he gets very

impatient and will not stand in line with me - he queue jumps just keeps

sneaking along the line, if we allowed him to he would just keep pushing

past everyone until he got to the front.

Jan, mother of Trent 20yo w/Ds - from the Land DownUnder

[Guest guest]

I have to wonder why you need a " special needs " pass for a child with DS

unless there are some further handicapping conditions.

In our case I took advantage of the pass due to limited time - thus

maximising Trent's Disney experience. Along with the fact that he gets very

impatient and will not stand in line with me - he queue jumps just keeps

sneaking along the line, if we allowed him to he would just keep pushing

past everyone until he got to the front.

Jan, mother of Trent 20yo w/Ds - from the Land DownUnder

[Guest guest]

I have to wonder why you need a " special needs " pass for a child with DS

unless there are some further handicapping conditions

Just going on with Rick's thoughts above - we were extremely surprised in

England, on arrival back from a one-day trip to Lapland - plane full of

parents and young children who had all been up extremely early to get the

flight, flight 7.00 a.m. at the airport at 5.00 a.m. the excitement of the

day and landed back at Gatwick around 10.00 p.m. Get the picture a plane

full of tired adults along with dead to the world children.

All queued up at Immi - passport check - could not believe it when a group

of about 5 young adults with DS (average age 18) and their mothers all were

given special attention and fast tracked through.

There are times when the 'special needs' tag can be useful and taken

advantage of - but in this particular case we really thought that the

parents with a couple of under 5's sound asleep were really more in need of

special attention.

Keep smiling

Jan, mother of Trent 20yo w/DS, from the Land DownUnder

[Guest guest]

I have to wonder why you need a " special needs " pass for a child with DS

unless there are some further handicapping conditions

Just going on with Rick's thoughts above - we were extremely surprised in

England, on arrival back from a one-day trip to Lapland - plane full of

parents and young children who had all been up extremely early to get the

flight, flight 7.00 a.m. at the airport at 5.00 a.m. the excitement of the

day and landed back at Gatwick around 10.00 p.m. Get the picture a plane

full of tired adults along with dead to the world children.

All queued up at Immi - passport check - could not believe it when a group

of about 5 young adults with DS (average age 18) and their mothers all were

given special attention and fast tracked through.

There are times when the 'special needs' tag can be useful and taken

advantage of - but in this particular case we really thought that the

parents with a couple of under 5's sound asleep were really more in need of

special attention.

Keep smiling

Jan, mother of Trent 20yo w/DS, from the Land DownUnder

[Guest guest]

YOu know what really bothers me? That those of us who would welcome the

accomadation need to explain why. We should not have to defend our

feelings/position on this or the handicapped placard to another parent of a

child with special needs. I share because I want others to know it's ok if

they need any special accomadation for their own child.

One of my pet peeves - there, I feel better!

Re: re: Disney World special needs pass

>

> I agree with the fact this is an accommodation. Sammy like many of our

kids

> has a stamina issue.

>

> Disney's long lines are not as torturous as many other lines in amusement

> parks. They do a pretty good job of keeping things moving and active.

They have

> visual games and activities to interest you while waiting on some, and

> conveyers for others. BUT, in Sammy's case, the long walks from place to

place and

> then the waits can cause a problem. Sammy gets muscle cramps after long

> activities around his knees. Our doctor recommended Gatorade for that

problem.

> Apparently its more than just stamina, its chemistry. And its not

something you

> want to spend time explaining to anyone. So goddess bless Disney for the

> accommodation.

>

> We came home feeling like Sammy had the most special birthday in the

world,

> and I love that feeling.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

YOu know what really bothers me? That those of us who would welcome the

accomadation need to explain why. We should not have to defend our

feelings/position on this or the handicapped placard to another parent of a

child with special needs. I share because I want others to know it's ok if

they need any special accomadation for their own child.

One of my pet peeves - there, I feel better!

Re: re: Disney World special needs pass

>

> I agree with the fact this is an accommodation. Sammy like many of our

kids

> has a stamina issue.

>

> Disney's long lines are not as torturous as many other lines in amusement

> parks. They do a pretty good job of keeping things moving and active.

They have

> visual games and activities to interest you while waiting on some, and

> conveyers for others. BUT, in Sammy's case, the long walks from place to

place and

> then the waits can cause a problem. Sammy gets muscle cramps after long

> activities around his knees. Our doctor recommended Gatorade for that

problem.

> Apparently its more than just stamina, its chemistry. And its not

something you

> want to spend time explaining to anyone. So goddess bless Disney for the

> accommodation.

>

> We came home feeling like Sammy had the most special birthday in the

world,

> and I love that feeling.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Probably the same thing they did 12 years ago when they had a conference

there. Disney is a pretty big park - and personally, I woulnd't worry about

what other families thought if I got in a short line (with other families

who had children with DS) - they are clueless.

Re: re: Disney World special needs pass

>

> I wonder what Disneyland will do this summer when the National Down

Syndrome

> Congress has it conference in Anaheim? Will they give the special needs

passes

> to all the families that have children with Down syndrome? I wouldn't be

very

> happy if I was waiting in line and a bunch of families all went in front

of

> us.

>

>

>

> mom to 13 and Noah 4 both with Down syndrome

> CO

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Probably the same thing they did 12 years ago when they had a conference

there. Disney is a pretty big park - and personally, I woulnd't worry about

what other families thought if I got in a short line (with other families

who had children with DS) - they are clueless.

Re: re: Disney World special needs pass

>

> I wonder what Disneyland will do this summer when the National Down

Syndrome

> Congress has it conference in Anaheim? Will they give the special needs

passes

> to all the families that have children with Down syndrome? I wouldn't be

very

> happy if I was waiting in line and a bunch of families all went in front

of

> us.

>

>

>

> mom to 13 and Noah 4 both with Down syndrome

> CO

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Our children are handicapped. Bottom line. I don't think a single one of us

are getting passes to " take advantage " of the Down Syndrome factor. Come on!

I agree with . This is a ridiculous thread. We do what we do for our

kids. Let's move on and drop this unecessary justification.

Jackie, Mom to 17ds, 14, and Bradley 11

-------------- Original message --------------

>

> I wonder what Disneyland will do this summer when the National Down Syndrome

> Congress has it conference in Anaheim? Will they give the special needs passes

> to all the families that have children with Down syndrome? I wouldn't be very

> happy if I was waiting in line and a bunch of families all went in front of

> us.

>

>

>

> mom to 13 and Noah 4 both with Down syndrome

> CO

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Our children are handicapped. Bottom line. I don't think a single one of us

are getting passes to " take advantage " of the Down Syndrome factor. Come on!

I agree with . This is a ridiculous thread. We do what we do for our

kids. Let's move on and drop this unecessary justification.

Jackie, Mom to 17ds, 14, and Bradley 11

-------------- Original message --------------

>

> I wonder what Disneyland will do this summer when the National Down Syndrome

> Congress has it conference in Anaheim? Will they give the special needs passes

> to all the families that have children with Down syndrome? I wouldn't be very

> happy if I was waiting in line and a bunch of families all went in front of

> us.

>

>

>

> mom to 13 and Noah 4 both with Down syndrome

> CO

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/11/2005 9:16:14 PM Eastern Standard Time,

jharmon199@... writes:

>

> I was simply asking a question, I was wondering if there was a limit to the

> number of passes they give out. I was not asking for justification from

> anyone

> nor did I say anyone was taking advantage of anything.

>

>

> mom to 13 and Noah 4 both with Down syndrome

> CO

>

>

-- this would be a good question to pass through to the NDSC - what kinds of

accomodations has Disneyland promised to make? During the spring Disneyland

funs " Happy Hearts " days when the park is filled with nothing BUT special needs

customers. I wonder what they are planning to do for a significant group of

special needs customers during the height of the tourist season?

- Becky

mom to (16) (13 DS) (11)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/11/2005 9:16:14 PM Eastern Standard Time,

jharmon199@... writes:

>

> I was simply asking a question, I was wondering if there was a limit to the

> number of passes they give out. I was not asking for justification from

> anyone

> nor did I say anyone was taking advantage of anything.

>

>

> mom to 13 and Noah 4 both with Down syndrome

> CO

>

>

-- this would be a good question to pass through to the NDSC - what kinds of

accomodations has Disneyland promised to make? During the spring Disneyland

funs " Happy Hearts " days when the park is filled with nothing BUT special needs

customers. I wonder what they are planning to do for a significant group of

special needs customers during the height of the tourist season?

- Becky

mom to (16) (13 DS) (11)

[Guest guest]

Me too! Our family copes from day to day with issues that none of my friends

have to cope with with their children. I'm sure that they all think (and,

ultimately I'm glad that they think...) that having a child with DS is no

big deal, and that my is really NOT THAT DIFFERENT to their kids.

But, the REALITY is that she IS different, and she does contribute to higher

levels of stress in our family than we would have to face otherwise. Every

now and then, it's nice to be treated differently and to have our lives made

easier in some way.

Disneyland is the land of fantasy, and I believe that it's not just fantasy

for the children.. Why should our families have to defend the special

attention given to us in this land of fantasy?

Hmmm, can you guess that I've been stressed by " issues " lately?

Regards in Sydney, Australia

(wife of Tony, mother of (13yrs), (12years),

(9years) - which I guess means that I've been a member of this group (albeit

quiet over the past 5 years or so!) for over 9years!)

PS: Tim, when is that conference that you're coming to in Australia? We do

have the spare room downstairs available! Oh, and - keep on counting

those points :-)

_____

From: [mailto:cindysue@...]

Sent: Saturday, 12 March 2005 10:24 AM

; ABraveNuWorld@...

Subject: Re: re: Disney World special needs pass

YOu know what really bothers me? That those of us who would welcome the

accomadation need to explain why. We should not have to defend our

feelings/position on this or the handicapped placard to another parent of a

child with special needs. I share because I want others to know it's ok if

they need any special accomadation for their own child.

One of my pet peeves - there, I feel better!

Re: re: Disney World special needs pass

>

> I agree with the fact this is an accommodation. Sammy like many of our

kids

> has a stamina issue.

>

> Disney's long lines are not as torturous as many other lines in amusement

> parks. They do a pretty good job of keeping things moving and active.

They have

> visual games and activities to interest you while waiting on some, and

> conveyers for others. BUT, in Sammy's case, the long walks from place to

place and

> then the waits can cause a problem. Sammy gets muscle cramps after long

> activities around his knees. Our doctor recommended Gatorade for that

problem.

> Apparently its more than just stamina, its chemistry. And its not

something you

> want to spend time explaining to anyone. So goddess bless Disney for the

> accommodation.

[Guest guest]

Me too! Our family copes from day to day with issues that none of my friends

have to cope with with their children. I'm sure that they all think (and,

ultimately I'm glad that they think...) that having a child with DS is no

big deal, and that my is really NOT THAT DIFFERENT to their kids.

But, the REALITY is that she IS different, and she does contribute to higher

levels of stress in our family than we would have to face otherwise. Every

now and then, it's nice to be treated differently and to have our lives made

easier in some way.

Disneyland is the land of fantasy, and I believe that it's not just fantasy

for the children.. Why should our families have to defend the special

attention given to us in this land of fantasy?

Hmmm, can you guess that I've been stressed by " issues " lately?

Regards in Sydney, Australia

(wife of Tony, mother of (13yrs), (12years),

(9years) - which I guess means that I've been a member of this group (albeit

quiet over the past 5 years or so!) for over 9years!)

PS: Tim, when is that conference that you're coming to in Australia? We do

have the spare room downstairs available! Oh, and - keep on counting

those points :-)

_____

From: [mailto:cindysue@...]

Sent: Saturday, 12 March 2005 10:24 AM

; ABraveNuWorld@...

Subject: Re: re: Disney World special needs pass

YOu know what really bothers me? That those of us who would welcome the

accomadation need to explain why. We should not have to defend our

feelings/position on this or the handicapped placard to another parent of a

child with special needs. I share because I want others to know it's ok if

they need any special accomadation for their own child.

One of my pet peeves - there, I feel better!

Re: re: Disney World special needs pass

>

> I agree with the fact this is an accommodation. Sammy like many of our

kids

> has a stamina issue.

>

> Disney's long lines are not as torturous as many other lines in amusement

> parks. They do a pretty good job of keeping things moving and active.

They have

> visual games and activities to interest you while waiting on some, and

> conveyers for others. BUT, in Sammy's case, the long walks from place to

place and

> then the waits can cause a problem. Sammy gets muscle cramps after long

> activities around his knees. Our doctor recommended Gatorade for that

problem.

> Apparently its more than just stamina, its chemistry. And its not

something you

> want to spend time explaining to anyone. So goddess bless Disney for the

> accommodation.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/12/2005 10:57:00 AM Eastern Standard Time,

drf218@... writes:

>

> I agree, we plan to go to Disney in 2 years(and wouldn't go unless we can

> get the special pass) and I also have the parking placard. Do I get funny

> looks when I pull into a HC parking spot? You betcha, people look at you like

you

> have to be in a wheelchair to park there. I hope no one ever challenges me

> on it-it could get ugly.

>

> Di

>

We had a placard when was very young, and yes I used to get

challenged.... even when hoisting her around while 9 months pregnant with her

brother

- Becky

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/12/2005 10:57:00 AM Eastern Standard Time,

drf218@... writes:

>

> I agree, we plan to go to Disney in 2 years(and wouldn't go unless we can

> get the special pass) and I also have the parking placard. Do I get funny

> looks when I pull into a HC parking spot? You betcha, people look at you like

you

> have to be in a wheelchair to park there. I hope no one ever challenges me

> on it-it could get ugly.

>

> Di

>

We had a placard when was very young, and yes I used to get

challenged.... even when hoisting her around while 9 months pregnant with her

brother

- Becky

[Guest guest]

Di,

Sesame also has accomadations for special needs people. We got them a few

times for amanda and it was great for her. I was thinking about this also-

there isnt that much she loves to do at amusement parks- nothing too high or too

scary, so she often chooses like 2 things she likes and goes on those over and

over.

We got them at splish splash in Long Island also. I'm pretty happy just

hanging in the water at water parks, anyway!

[Guest guest]

Sesame is great. We took amanda there since she was two. You dont have to

survive the whole day- there are so many breaks- to eat to rest to just watch

others. The parade is nice and we almost always got a spot up front with

amanda.

It is my favorite amusement park, but my kids have grown out of it. You can

also bring your own food and coolers- which is great- take breaks to eat and

relax. They have lockers to keep the food. In may, it may be too cold to do

the water stuff, so that might be a good intro to do the other things that are

not water related.

It is a long day. We have stayed over since its a little far for us and then

would just go back to the hotel to sleep and rest instead of travelling back

home.