Any negative experiences?

[loadsapixiedust]

Has anyone had any negative experiences due to their special needs when visiting Orlando?
Other than last year's awful time at Universal Studios :cry: which is well documented in the trip report, we have really had little to trouble us. I did find it strange at first that so many Americans want to talk to you about your childs disability, but now I actually find that far more refreshing than the usual silent staring which we get at home.
What are other people's experiences?

[evieg1983]

certainly found disney better at accomodating people with special needs than universal or seaworld but all of them were still 1000 times better than anywhere in the uk!!!!! my only complaint was a slight lack of warning of strobe lighting in some of the shows and the fact that our hire wheel chair at sea world had a mind of its own and my friend almost ended up in the lake!!!!!

[TinkTatoo]

Autism is an invisible disability and we have had a few stares and even the odd comment when we have been sitting in the wheelchair parade viewing area or have taken our stroller into a line (GAC lets us do this) I am used to it though as we often get stared at if DS has a meltdown or gets very upset over something silly. I don't let it bother me anymore.

I have seen the opposite though when a CM or a character has gone out of their way to a child with obvious disabilities and I find this very heartening and it always makes me smile :)

[BarryandCaron]

No not at all. The opposite in fact as the CMs and characters make quite a fuss of Joshy.

In fact the first year we were there Snow White had finished her greeting but stopped especially to see Joshy. Another child tried to push in and get her autograph but Snow White said: "I'm sorry but I am with this special family only now"

We find the wheelchair access excellent throughout Florida especially the restrooms. It's much easier managing a wheelchair there. Saying that, we haven't been to Universal yet ;)

We have had the stares but we get that anywhere so it doesn't bother us.

Caron

[cuteone]

What is wrong with your sweet Joshy if you do not mind me asking?

[cuteone]

Sorry also forgot to answer your question.

Last time we went to Disney and it was my 1st time was in sept 2004, the period when hurricaine jeanne came right through us and gave us an extra 2 days holiday :)

Anyway we did not or was not fully aware of the provisons for those with special needs, except those that had obvious issues such as physical disabilities.

I would here people in line though moan about people that did not appear to have anything wrong with them, and even one person shouted to this family that walked through the disabled line...."Get back and queue like the rest of us have too"....

So the only bad experience i think you will get in disney is not from the CM's but from the actual guests :(

I was fortunate though when i went for the forst time in that i went in sept when i did not have to queue much if at all.

This year though I have told my mum that I will get the GAC and I will use it if i find myself impatient, and getting angry with all around me.

My problem is the people nore than anything, and so im sooo pleased i now know about being able to wait away from the crowds etc.

[BarryandCaron]

What is wrong with your sweet Joshy if you do not mind me asking?

I don't mind at all. Joshy was born and developed 'normally' until he was 2yrs old. He then started with severe epilepsy, having sometimes 20 seizures a day. We were in 3 different hospitals with him and nobody knew why they had started or how to control them. After 6 weeks they said we could bring him home as there was nothing more they could do that we couldn't at home. We brought home a new born baby as he couldn't control his head or sit up.

After numerous tests including various biopsies the doctors found he had a Mitochondrial disorder, his cells are mutated and don't take enough energy from the food that he eats to his brain and muscles. There is no known cure at the moment but plenty of research going on.

Because of the epilepsy Josh's speech is limited, he has Ataxia (unsteady on his feet) moderate/severe learning difficulties and Autism.

During the last 12 years I've lost count of the number of medications Joshy has been on plus tried the ketogenic diet, various vitamin supplements.hemoglobin transfusions and 2 VNS fitted (like a pacemaker but connected to his brain).

Sorry this has been a long reply but if I had just said his diagnosis is: Mitochondrial Cytopathy Complex 1 Deficiency, Lennox Gastaut Syndrome, Ataxia, Moderate/Severe Learning Difficulties and ASD you probably wouldn't have been none the wiser :confused2

Caron xx

[Kim]

Thankfully no.

Our experiences have been the same as Caron's.

CM's always make a fuss of Adam and I also find the American people are so much more talkative towards him.....the Brits tend to talk over him, which is annoying because he can talk.


Kim

[cuteone]

Hey Caron,

Thankyou for the information, why what a tough boy you have there, he seems to do so well, but thats the magic of a kid for you, they are able to defeat things against all odds etc.

I know about ASD (being one myself, but of the aspergers sort). It sounds like it is complicated. Have you ever contacted the make a wish foundation?

[ali-s]

Thankfully DS' Aspergers is fairly mild compared to most, but we do have the disadvantage that it's invisible. We found disney no better or worse than most places over here. Waiting in line is fine - DS has more patience than me - it's just how he chooses to amuse himself while he's waiting that usually raises eyebrows - he prefers to sit or lie on the floor , which can be a bit awkward if it's crowded :D Same when we were dining, if we had to wait too long, or if DS had finished eating before us , you could usually find him lying across the bench seat or on the floor under the table - we got quite a few stares - mainly from Americans ( I think the English are more used to' badly behaved' kids :D ) He did have a mini meltdown in tusker House at AK- tired & overwhelmed & I was having trouble getting through to him, a cm approached us ( in Uk I would be expecting a 'reproachful' type comment ) but she gave me a pin to bribe him with :D

[BarryandCaron]

Hey Caron,

Thankyou for the information, why what a tough boy you have there, he seems to do so well, but thats the magic of a kid for you, they are able to defeat things against all odds etc.

I know about ASD (being one myself, but of the aspergers sort). It sounds like it is complicated. Have you ever contacted the make a wish foundation?

We were really lucky to have a wish granted from 'make a wish' for all of us to visit DLP for 3 days. DS1 didn't come with us as he was already going to Switzerland with his Scout Group.

Joshy has also had the brilliant opportunity to visit Lapland with 'Wish Upon a Star' Here (http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=42778&highlight=lapland) and Here (http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=42781&highlight=lapland) are the trip reports and some of the photos that Barry took when they were there.

Caron

[kirlie91]

We were really lucky to have a wish granted from 'make a wish' for all of us to visit DLP for 3 days. DS1 didn't come with us as he was already going to Switzerland with his Scout Group.

Joshy has also had the brilliant opportunity to visit Lapland with 'Wish Upon a Star' Here (http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=42778&highlight=lapland) and Here (http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=42781&highlight=lapland) are the trip reports and some of the photos that Barry took when they were there.

Caron


Have just finished reading your Lapland reports - they are wonderful.

[loadsapixiedust]

I forgot to mention on my original post that we did have quite a few unpleasant comments when using the Disney buses. :(
This was all new to us last summer as it was our first time staying onsite and we had only used the monorail or boats around the parks before.
For anyone who doesn't know, there is a safety requirement that anyone using a wheelchair or ECV must board the bus first via the rear door, some bus stops have a waiting area marked for disabled guests, some do not, but wheelchair users are expected to wait at the front of the line so the driver can see them when he pulls up.
This seemed to really anger some folks and we had more than a few nasty comments about skipping the line. This was not pleasant for our DS or us and was really only down to their ignorance of the system. A couple of times when the line was very long we waited for another bus, but if we waited at the back the driver gave us a telling off so it was a no win situation.
It would be more helpful if Disney could put up some signs at the bus stops explaining this system for everyone.

[signtalker]

We have only had one negative remark, whilst waiting for the share a dream come true parade. we waited in the roped off area(as allowed by our GAC), for our son's needs, but the CM on "Duty" saw my DH had hearing aids and in turn tried to move us over to where the "Interpreteurs" were, an assumption(wrongly on her part), that we were sitting where we shouldnt for my husbands deafness.
She wasnt the nicest of CM's(of which Ive never encounted before), so I loudly asked hr if she knew the difference between ASL(american Sign Language, and BSL,British sign Language), as both are totally different languages, and seeing as disney CM's sign in ASL DH would have been stuck. I also, asked her why she assumed we were sitting in the disabled area because of my DH, I did take her name and went to city hall, I think she started to backtrack once she realised how obnoxious she was being(others commented on her attitude).
jules

[forever florida]

Most of the CM's we have encoutered have been really great, but as people have said before it can be other guests who are the problem. Both my parents are wheelchair users, due to severe walking difficulties. One night last year we were at Seaworld and we had been directed to the disabled viewing area for the fireworks. This American guy carried on complaining all through the waiting time and made quite obvious loud remarks directed our way. He was really put out because we had a better view than him. He went on so much that in the end my DS asked him what his problem was, he finally shut up. He was by far the most rude and horrible person I have ever come across anywhere.

[keith&carol]

Our experiences with DD have been mostly positive. The C>M>'s at Disney are great and she gets loads of special attention which can be a bit embarrassing for us but lovely for her. The only real problem we have had is with the disabled wcs.
Most only have one cubicle big enough for a wheelchair and it is invariably occupied by someone with a pushchair or people getting changed - not funny when DD is busting and that is the only accessible one.
Universal is another story - we don't go there anymore - enough said!
Seaworld isn't too bad although the wheelchair viewing areas do not give a very good view except at Shamu Stadium.
One thing that did bug us in March when it was very busy, was the number of people in ECV's with a basket on the front who insisted on turning it sideways to get a better view and in doing so took up 2 wheelchair spaces. This really did make me mad because if they only need an ECV they can walk a few steps to a seat. DD is quadriplegic and doesn't have that choice.
Carol :mad2: