disney world help?

[Guest guest]

Ok, so I know it sounds crazy, but I am taking my son to disney world

next week...He has had fun with this before, but he has sort of

regressed since then (especially with the tantrums). I have been

trying to really pump him up about meeting buzz lightyear (that is

his " thing " ...buzz, clocks, and letters/numbers) I'm just feeling a

little apprehensive about lines and what should I do if he melts down

in the middle of a crowd...I feel like every person around is acting

as thought I'm the worst mother in the world. I'm really excited to

take him b/c I think it will be fun for him, but the little dark

monster is still lingering...(at least he's only 3 so he's not as

heavy if I need to pick him up, but he did almost break my nose once

while headbanging) Thanks in advance!

[Guest guest]

Ok, FIRST: Get the Book " Passporters' Walt Disney World for your Special Needs "

It is an amazing book for ANY need (size, diet, add, AS, visual impairment,

hearing impairment, mobility...WHATERVER!) Plan on packing it too...I can't say

enough about it!

Second:Take a note from your doc to the guest relations booth when you first

get to the park. They will issue you a " special Guest pass " that allowed us to

avoid almost every line we encountered, and in places where tehy've got the

corral (like for Stiche's great escape " or " honey I shrunk the audience, " we

were able to stand over the yellow line (giving my aspie son much needed

breathing room) The Letter we used thanked Disney for their accesibilty policy

to cover the " invisible disabilities " such as Autism. I'm not sure exactly what

the " cast members " need to see, but we also explained that because of his

sensory issues, standing in crowds and waiting in lines was excrutiating for

him, and that we'd need seating near exits in case he had a melt-down & had to

leave a " show " early.

I also think that having that pass is what made Merlin pick him to pull the

sword from the stone at Magic Kingdom & the artist to select him at the MGM

studio tour.

At most of the rides, we went through the speed pass entrances. A couple of

rides (Haunted Mansion) " took us behind the scenes " to avoid certain areas of

the entrance.

managed to enjoy all day-everyday we were there with only 1 melt down

He (and the rest of us) felt like royalty, and only once did I notice any

glares at us jumping the line.

Have an amazing time!

BTW I attached one of our pics from the Imagination Station at Epcot for your

morning chuckles!

Hugs & Peace,

Sheri Briley

http://my2.tupperware.com/johnbriley

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

Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+

countries) for 2¢/min or less.

[Guest guest]

Get a letter from the doctor stating he is Autistic and go to guest services and

explain that lines cause meltdowns. They will give you a special needs pass that

will take you to a special entrance and the front of the line. I have to confess

I hate lines too and get cranky. We went last August and it was a godsend. Good

luck!

[Guest guest]

I had no idea Disney would help with hidden disabilities! If only I had

known when we went last time . I thought they only helped those with

mobility issues. Poor Q had such a hard time with meltdowns and the

lines were just excruciating for him. We still had a blast but it was

also amazingly stressful for all involved. We are planning to go again

in the next few years and I will definitely take advantage of that.

Well thanks, that info is definitely good for all of us who love DW.

Take care,

Tabitha

Re: ( ) disney world help?

Ok, FIRST: Get the Book " Passporters' Walt Disney World for your Special

Needs " It is an amazing book for ANY need (size, diet, add, AS, visual

impairment, hearing impairment, mobility...WHATERVER!) Plan on packing

it too...I can't say enough about it!

Second:Take a note from your doc to the guest relations booth when you

first get to the park. They will issue you a " special Guest pass " that

allowed us to avoid almost every line we encountered, and in places

where tehy've got the corral (like for Stiche's great escape " or " honey

I shrunk the audience, " we were able to stand over the yellow line

(giving my aspie son much needed breathing room) The Letter we used

thanked Disney for their accesibilty policy to cover the " invisible

disabilities " such as Autism. I'm not sure exactly what the " cast

members " need to see, but we also explained that because of his sensory

issues, standing in crowds and waiting in lines was excrutiating for

him, and that we'd need seating near exits in case he had a melt-down &

had to leave a " show " early.

I also think that having that pass is what made Merlin pick him to

pull the sword from the stone at Magic Kingdom & the artist to select

him at the MGM studio tour.

At most of the rides, we went through the speed pass entrances. A

couple of rides (Haunted Mansion) " took us behind the scenes " to avoid

certain areas of the entrance.

managed to enjoy all day-everyday we were there with only 1

melt down

He (and the rest of us) felt like royalty, and only once did I notice

any glares at us jumping the line.

Have an amazing time!

BTW I attached one of our pics from the Imagination Station at Epcot

for your morning chuckles!

Hugs & Peace,

Sheri Briley

http://my2.tupperware.com/johnbriley

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

Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+

countries) for 2¢/min or less.

[Guest guest]

When you go inside, go directly to City Hall (do not pass go, do not

collect $200..LOL) -- ask for a guest assistance pass. They can't ask

what the disability is, but they usually ask what type of assistance

your son needs. When I got ours the first time (it's renewable the times

after, if you show them the original, I believe...I didn't have to go

through the whole thing last time I just showed them the pass) I had to

explain why -- I just said my son has autism, has serious sensory issues

that will flip him out and he can run off, and have horrific meltdowns

that include screaming, kicking, hurting, etc. It didn't take much, and

we were on our way. (And I didn't even have to show the diagnosis paper

I had with me, just in case.)

The pass allows you and the rest of your party (6 or less people) to go

in the Fastpass line without a Fastpass, and if the line doesn't have

one, you can go to the exit. If there is no line though, they direct you

to the regular line. It's a *major* help and 99.9% of the employees were

really nice -- we got a couple between our last visits that seemed to

have a bit of the 'you look healthy enough to me' attitude and made us

wait longer than was clearly necessary, but we couldn't do a Disney trip

without it. We're now annual passholders going again to Disney next

week. We try regular lines if they are short or he is eating something

that takes his focus, but Disney anymore is mobbed so those are rare.

Enjoy!!

jackfaithsmom0304 wrote:

> Ok, so I know it sounds crazy, but I am taking my son to disney world

> next week...He has had fun with this before, but he has sort of

> regressed since then (especially with the tantrums). I have been

> trying to really pump him up about meeting buzz lightyear (that is

> his " thing " ...buzz, clocks, and letters/numbers) I'm just feeling a

> little apprehensive about lines and what should I do if he melts down

> in the middle of a crowd...I feel like every person around is acting

> as thought I'm the worst mother in the world. I'm really excited to

> take him b/c I think it will be fun for him, but the little dark

> monster is still lingering...(at least he's only 3 so he's not as

> heavy if I need to pick him up, but he did almost break my nose once

> while headbanging) Thanks in advance!

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

We went to Disney about 2 years ago. Definitely ask for the disability

pass, but remember it won't be good on lines to meet and get autographs from

characters. It will get you onto rides that have a Fast pass option. It

worked

out really well for my son because his favorite rides seemed to be ones that

had that option. My son did wait in some longer lines to get autographs and

did fairly well overall. I had one couple in front of me with " typical "

children and they made a comment about my son's fidgetiness in line. I said

" he

has autism and he is doing very well waiting in this long line, so please

mind your own business " . He met Buzz, Woody, and was thrilled. Overall

the trip was a success. We are going to D.C. next week. Should be

interesting to see how he does on this trip. Pam

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/28/2006 5:27:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

donnabzy@... writes:

The only exception to waiting for characters that I've encountered is

the Mickey/Minnie homes (separate). When we last went to see Minnie,

they took him in the back door and he waited for Minnie on the couch

instead of in line; she came to him right away, away from the crowd and

noise, and they spent about 4-5 minutes together, it was SO special for

him. They then did the same with Mickey. It made a huge difference,

because he's not a huggy kind of kid (with anyone but me and dad and

sibs) and we got special photos, though you can see him sort of leaning

away and doing the 'man, Mickey/Minnie is huge' kind of thing

That was so nice for him to have that experience. Disney can be a magical

place. Unfortunately my family is just not a " disney " family, LOL. No one

went on any of the rides except me. My older son and I did Tower of Terror and

after that my son wouldn't go on anything. We did all enjoy the movies and

shows though, like Mickey's Philharmagic, Little Mermaid and the Hall of

Presidents. Pam

[Guest guest]

Oh my gosh, someone actually said that??? Wow. Your response shows

tremendous restraint!

People amaze me, truly.

The only exception to waiting for characters that I've encountered is

the Mickey/Minnie homes (separate). When we last went to see Minnie,

they took him in the back door and he waited for Minnie on the couch

instead of in line; she came to him right away, away from the crowd and

noise, and they spent about 4-5 minutes together, it was SO special for

him. They then did the same with Mickey. It made a huge difference,

because he's not a huggy kind of kid (with anyone but me and dad and

sibs) and we got special photos, though you can see him sort of leaning

away and doing the 'man, Mickey/Minnie is huge' kind of thing!

ppanda65@... wrote:

> We went to Disney about 2 years ago. Definitely ask for the disability

> pass, but remember it won't be good on lines to meet and get autographs from

> characters. It will get you onto rides that have a Fast pass option. It

worked

> out really well for my son because his favorite rides seemed to be ones that

> had that option. My son did wait in some longer lines to get autographs and

> did fairly well overall. I had one couple in front of me with " typical "

> children and they made a comment about my son's fidgetiness in line. I said

" he

> has autism and he is doing very well waiting in this long line, so please

> mind your own business " . He met Buzz, Woody, and was thrilled.

Overall

> the trip was a success. We are going to D.C. next week. Should be

> interesting to see how he does on this trip. Pam

>