OT-special needs pass scoop at WDWorld

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

Just returned from Disney World, and thought I'd let you know how

the pass works for kids with special needs. I went to guest

relations with a docotrs note, all ready to explain about my PDD

son - I asked for a guest assistance card and a sticker to let my

stoller be used as a wheelchair and they gave me no problem

whatsoever. It was truly wonderful not to have to wait in line at

most attractions, or wait with the other people who use wheelchairs.

There is even special reserved seating at shows for your family.My

son didn't melt down in lines, didn't have to walk very far, and was

generally happy!

Of course he caught a virus there that I swear went straight to his

brain, got a 103 fever which he shared with us all, then his enzymes

got totally soaked the first day of the trip - which means don't

trust ziploc and also that we are in for 3 weeks of regression

before we get back to normal - sigh....

Disney is the best with working around problems!

Susi

[Guest guest]

You have great timing!! We are planning on taking our group to WDW next month!!

It is how we are celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary...with all three

kids...so romantic!!! I think it will be fun am am really looking forward to it

but also had questions. That is wonderful that your son didn't have to worry

about lines and such, I was dreading that part!!! Were there any other kids in

your group?? Did they have to wait in line as well or if there are others in

your group can they stay together?

What exactly did you need for documentation? We don't have a doctor but a

chiropractor. I think he has an MD with his name. I have documentation that is

old, but has his diagnosis on it. Do you think that will work?

That is awesome that they are willing to work with our kids. That is the only

way to really let them and us enjoy the time there.

Also, did anyone have issue with your getting to go ahead of others?? Is

there a badge or something to signify this ability?? I know a lot of others

can't or won't understand, how did you handle any situations if they came up?

Thanks so much!!!

gfcfmommy <gfcfmommy@...> wrote:

Hi all,

Just returned from Disney World, and thought I'd let you know how

the pass works for kids with special needs. I went to guest

relations with a docotrs note, all ready to explain about my PDD

son - I asked for a guest assistance card and a sticker to let my

stoller be used as a wheelchair and they gave me no problem

whatsoever. It was truly wonderful not to have to wait in line at

most attractions, or wait with the other people who use wheelchairs.

There is even special reserved seating at shows for your family.My

son didn't melt down in lines, didn't have to walk very far, and was

generally happy!

Of course he caught a virus there that I swear went straight to his

brain, got a 103 fever which he shared with us all, then his enzymes

got totally soaked the first day of the trip - which means don't

trust ziploc and also that we are in for 3 weeks of regression

before we get back to normal - sigh....

Disney is the best with working around problems!

Susi

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Congratulations!Yes, my daughter was with us, and of course, my

husband.We all could get in line together, and if my son thought it

was too scary - all we had to do was tell the ride operator when we

were boarding that he didn't want to go on - the rest of the party

could still board first with the special pass. There is also the

option of a child swap - where you can stay in the special loading

area, and then switch off with your husband so you both can ride if

one child does want to and one doesn't.

Because of privacy laws, cast members cannot look at your doctors

note, but we brought one anyways that said he had ASD. When you

enter the parks, go to guest relations and ask for your guest

assistance card for the length of your stay, and then ask for a

sticker and a stamp on the card that allows your stroller to be used

as a wheelchair. I cannot say enought about how that helped our

trip. Not too much walking for my little one, able to load him right

onto the ride in the stroller in some cases.

We got a few looks as we boarded - but overall most people were very

polite. Ironically, most of the strange looks were from other people

in wheelchairs or electronic vehicles! But we had a line saved up in

case of questions - " Believe me, I would rather my child was able to

wait in line with you too. But he can't " . Of course being the

protective lion mother that I am I wanted to use " my son has Autism,

what causes your rudeness? " but my husband said NO!Overall we just

looked confident, and no one questioned us. Of course if my son

threw a fit, no one did either.

One more suggestion, you can use your pass for parades, shows and

character greetings. In Epcot, there is a character meet and greet

with the big 5 characters - Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and Goofy.

We showed our pass and got through the line instantly. In the Magic

Kingdom, in ToonTown at the big store there there is a meet and

greet for 3 separate rooms of characters including princesses. We

used our card there and went around the two hour wait. We only

waited about 5 minutes. I'm not saying this to cheat - I just know

that my son wouldn't have waited that long to see them, and it

worked out so well. The characters came right over to the stroller,

and my NT daughter loved it too!

There are plenty of families that have other medical concerns in

line with you. You really never feel like you stand out too much.

Have a great time!!!!!!

Susi

>

> You have great timing!! We are planning on taking our group to

WDW next month!! It is how we are celebrating our 10th wedding

anniversary...with all three kids...so romantic!!! I think it will

be fun am am really looking forward to it but also had questions.

That is wonderful that your son didn't have to worry about lines

and such, I was dreading that part!!! Were there any other kids in

your group?? Did they have to wait in line as well or if there are

others in your group can they stay together?

>

> What exactly did you need for documentation? We don't have a

doctor but a chiropractor. I think he has an MD with his name. I

have documentation that is old, but has his diagnosis on it. Do you

think that will work?

>

> That is awesome that they are willing to work with our kids.

That is the only way to really let them and us enjoy the time there.

>

> Also, did anyone have issue with your getting to go ahead of

others?? Is there a badge or something to signify this ability?? I

know a lot of others can't or won't understand, how did you handle

any situations if they came up?

>

> Thanks so much!!!

>

>

> gfcfmommy <gfcfmommy@...> wrote:

> Hi all,

>

> Just returned from Disney World, and thought I'd let you know how

> the pass works for kids with special needs. I went to guest

> relations with a docotrs note, all ready to explain about my PDD

> son - I asked for a guest assistance card and a sticker to let my

> stoller be used as a wheelchair and they gave me no problem

> whatsoever. It was truly wonderful not to have to wait in line at

> most attractions, or wait with the other people who use

wheelchairs.

> There is even special reserved seating at shows for your family.My

> son didn't melt down in lines, didn't have to walk very far, and

was

> generally happy!

>

> Of course he caught a virus there that I swear went straight to

his

> brain, got a 103 fever which he shared with us all, then his

enzymes

> got totally soaked the first day of the trip - which means don't

> trust ziploc and also that we are in for 3 weeks of regression

> before we get back to normal - sigh....

>

> Disney is the best with working around problems!

> Susi

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 01/06/2006 04:43:11 GMT Daylight Time,

noahsmom7898@... writes:

Also, did anyone have issue with your getting to go ahead of

> others?? Is there a badge or something to signify this ability?? I

> know a lot of others can't or won't understand, how did you handle

> any situations if they came up?

>>>I found the T-shirt with the slogan that says - be patient with me I have

autism invaluable - it ios hard for other folks when at first glance our

kids look 'normal'

google I love a child with autism for the website - great value and great

quality

Mandi in UK

[Guest guest]

> > Also, did anyone have issue with your getting to go ahead of

> others?? Is there a badge or something to signify this ability?? I

> know a lot of others can't or won't understand, how did you handle

> any situations if they came up?

They have the same policy here for the various attractions and a few

years ago when I took my son to the front of a line, one mom near the

front said loudly and angrily, " That's not fair! " I said just as

loudly, " Yeah, I get out of paying for college and a wedding, too.

We're the luckiest people here. " Everyone needless to say was quite

silent after that.

I am proactive about it now so I don't have to be quite that mouthy.

If you're uncomfortable, you can always give a 1-sentence explanation

to the people you're going in front of, and apologize (I do, not that

I'm sorry because we do need to do that for my son to be able to

participate - so it is an accomodation issue - but just out of

politeness, to acknowledge that we're unexpectedly taking what they

thought was their place or turn.) I find that being polite and

proactive gets a lot of positive support for my son.

Amy

[Guest guest]

that t-shirt idea is great as i too have an asd ds who looks " normal " . i'll

try that next time we go to disneyland. tx

vicki

[Guest guest]

>>>This is where I get mine - very good quailty, much better than Cafe Press

_http://www.iloveachildwithautism.com/_

(http://www.iloveachildwithautism.com/)

Mandi in UK

In a message dated 02/06/2006 23:24:01 GMT Daylight Time,

noahsmom7898@... writes:

Have you seen these? They say " I am someone with autism, please be

patient with me. "

http://www.cafepress.com/shazbat/1429898

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Any suggestions for a family with a large 8-year-old (i.e., the size of many

10+-year olds so probably too big for most strollers) with ADHD and PDD but who

looks very " normal " (and since she's so large for her age others expect her to

act her shoe size instead, if you know what I mean) who doesn't do lines well at

all (to put it mildly)? We are hoping to go in the fall, when friends have

invited us to share their timeshare in Kissimmee, so are gathering all the

suggestions we can get.

Thanks.

vickila1@... wrote:

that t-shirt idea is great as i too have an asd ds who looks " normal " . i'll

try that next time we go to disneyland. tx

vicki

[Guest guest]

A t shirt that says he is ASD would be a great idea. My son sometimes is very

ASD looking and sometimes people ask if he really is. Likely he will be out of

sorts with so much new stuff around him. It is harder when they are acting up

yet they look just like everyone else's kid. Oh well. A t-shirt that says he

was poisoned by his shots just might draw some attraction!!!

Thanks so much!

vickila1@... wrote:

that t-shirt idea is great as i too have an asd ds who looks " normal " . i'll

try that next time we go to disneyland. tx

vicki

[Guest guest]

Have you seen these? They say " I am someone with autism, please be

patient with me. "

http://www.cafepress.com/shazbat/1429898

Amy

> that t-shirt idea is great as i too have an asd ds who

looks " normal " . i'll

> try that next time we go to disneyland. tx

>

> vicki

>

>

>