[QUOTE=karjab30]
We actually enjoyed Universal more but we stayed on the park and our room keys were express passes.
Karrie
[/QUOTE]
I'd love to stay anywhere on property to avoid the drive but we can't because Nate doesn't like being in a room with a closed door, by that I mean total melt down. So we have to have more than a hotel room, we have to have a suite or larger. We have tried some mini-trips in the past, leading up to the big vacation, (we live 4 hrs SW of Orlando), but we've always brought my parents to help w/ the kids. Now we're going alone, just the 6 of us. There is a great place right behind Old Town near Disney called Tropical Palms Resort. For /night we get our own private cottage, (rates are actually cheaper in the off season). The cottage has 2 bedrooms, a living and dining area and a full kitchen and a cool sleeping loft for the kids. Each cottage has a deck, picnic table and grill. They have a poolside cafe and a 24 hr pool. They're not luxury, just very family friendly. This will be great for us, allow plenty of down time, the ability to cook familiar foods in the room, (btw, a PB&J @ Universal costs ), and plenty of space to relax. It's also way back from the main road so it's quiet and secluded. Staying on property would be a lot more convenient but the only Disney resort that we could find that comes close is Fort Wilderness which has "cabins" and costs min. 0/night. One day, maybe, but not this day lol.
Tia,
By no means was I suggesting that you stay on the park. I'm sorry if you got that impression. What I meant was that they give these express passes to people that do stay on the park so by them saying that the long lines are part of the experience is just BS. If they really thought that the lines were part of the experience then they wouldn't give these passes to people that spend all that money staying in their hotels. I was basically calling BS on them for what they said to you. Have a great trip!!!
Karrie
hi tia ,
i hope u have a lovely time and even though i cant give any holiday advice im glad u said about it as we are planning on taking the boys to eurodisney and i was worried about how they would do. for some reason it didnt occur to me that u could ring ahead etc . i can be such a dope sometimes lol
have a lovely time and say hi to mickey for me
This is bothersome about Universal. I'm glad that you posted this. I have taken my kids to both parks in the past but Adam was a baby at the time. We actually enjoyed Universal more but we stayed on the park and our room keys were express passes. "Part of the experience" theory has just been proven wrong there because they wouldn't give express passes to the people that are staying on the park in their hotels if this were the case. This really makes me MAD!! From now on I will be going to Disney. Karrie Searching the net I found this......... http://allearsnet.com/pl/dis_aut2.htm by Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa A trip to Walt Disney World can be a positive, rewarding experience for children with autism and similar special needs. And while any Disney vacation requires a certain amount of planning, a little extra effort to accommodate your special child will pay large dividends when you get to the parks. A Note from Your Doctor To Whom It May Concern: <Child's name> is a delightful child who as been diagnosed with <child's condition>. This diagnosis impedes his ability to wait for extended periods of time and he struggles with sensory issues (e.g., touch) that may impact his ability to wait in lines. Please offer what accommodations you can for this young man and his family. Sincerely, <Doctor's name> Disney's Guest Assistance Card We have heard from several families with doctor's notes who were told by Disney Castmembers that no "special assistance" card existed. To test awareness of the Card, we sent research teams to ask for the Card at Guest Relations in each of the parks. In three out of four cases, the Disney Castmember knew exactly what we were looking for and explained clearly how the Card worked. At one park, however, we encountered a Castmember who knew nothing about the Card or how to get one. Aware of the high standards Disney normally has in this area, we figured it was time to give someone a call. To their credit, Disney's Park Operations group was genuinely shocked to hear our findings. Their explanation, which we can understand, is that Guest Relations is occasionally staffed by recently hired Castmembers who may not yet be familiar with every benefit Disney offers. If you should encounter a Castmember-in-training, Disney advises the following: Firmly but politely ask for the Castmember's manager, and explain the situation to the manager. Managers at Guest Relations are seasoned Disney veterans who are virtually certain to know about the Guest Assistance Card. In the unlikely event that the manager does not know of the Card, ask to speak to an "Area Manager." An Area Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operation of a significant section of the park, and we're assured that they will know about the Card. The Card does not allow you to bypass the normal waits at each attraction. It is designed to provide "more convenient entrance" into most attractions. In some cases, this entrance may be through the attraction's FASTPASS return line or the attraction's exit. The Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities will list the special entrance to use for each attraction, as well as any special effects (e.g., loud noises or flashing lights) in the attraction. UPDATE 1/28/04 -- There have been a lot of questions lately about whether there's been a change in the WDW Special Assistance Card policy -- many folks are concerned that the new Disneyland policy has now also become WDW's policy, and that autistic children in particular will be excluded from this special pass. Jennifer Watson and Dave Marx of Passporter WDW researched this question and here's what they've found: "We visited Studios and Epcot Guest Services, and they were unaware of any recent changes. They did receive *new* Special Assistance Cards recently, with a reduced number of supported "needs" printed upon them - but autism is still one of the six needs they do support. It's true that they're no longer issuing SACs for typical wheelchair disabilities - FastPasses are recommended in those cases. SACs are issued for those needs that are not immediately visible to the naked eye of the ride operators (bring doctor's note, as "We were quite clear when we asked. We said, 'A friend of ours has an autistic child and is planning a trip. She heard there was a recent policy change regarding the Special Assistance Cards. Is there anything we can tell her?' They didn't want to list the six specific needs they currently support, but they were emphatic that autism is supported, and that the SACs are still very much with us." More Tips · Be sure to schedule breaks throughout the day. A mid-day nap or quick dip in the pool may be just the thing to relax any weary, over-stimulated members of your group. We are grateful to the many families with autistic children who have shared their Disney experiences with us. Special thanks goes to the Cartwright family of Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin Reprinted with permission of Bob Sehlinger, 2003. Other Information A Special Place for Special Guests: Reader Comments and Experiences ------------------------------------------------------------ - http://www.dimensionsspeech.com/autism-registry.htm CARD #1 Click here to register for this card FREE http://www.dimensionsspeech.com/joinnar.htm CARD #2 NARY is committed to helping autistic individuals and their families live more enriching lives. Families are now able to visit places that they were unable to visit before. Utilizing these cards not only helps the family deal with the situation at hand, but also helps to educate the general public about autism. Increased awareness will help improve the lives of autistic people all over the globe. Car Travel Fun for kids http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/books/cartravelbook/ Wordsearch.shtml Find Fun Stuff for Kids FAMILY FUN TRAVEL http://familyfun.go.com/family-travel/
Tips for Autistic Children at Walt Disney World
One of the first things to do is obtain a letter from your child's primary physician that explains your child's specific condition and any special needs the condition implies. For example, some children with autism are unable to wait in lines for more than a few minutes, or in queues surrounded by a large number of people. Your doctor's letter should be explicit enough to fully convey your child's condition to the Disney Castmember reading the letter. We've found that the following template (on your doctor's letterhead) works well:
Bring your doctor's note to the Guest Relations window at any Disney theme park and ask for the Guest Assistance Card. The Guest Assistance Card is a special pass designed to allow you to wait in a separate, un-crowded holding area apart from the regular queues at most attractions. One Card is good for all four parks, so you do not need to obtain separate Cards at each park. You should also pick up a copy of each park's Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities (also available online at http://www.DisneyWorld.com. Type "guests disabilities FAQ" in the search tool and browse through the results.).
usual).
Several families have sent us their hotel, restaurant and transportation tips, too. For example, a quiet hotel room can often help children unwind after a day in one of the parks. A list of the best room numbers in each Disney resort can be found in the Unofficial Guide to WDW. Other tips sent in by readers include the following:
· A set of earplugs brought from home may help children with attractions that have loud music or sound effects.
· If you will be using a shuttle or bus service from the Orlando airport to your hotel, consider the use of a towncar service instead. Shuttle and bus services usually drop guests off at multiple hotels, and it is not uncommon for the trip to take two hours. In contrast, most towncar services will drive you directly from the airport to your hotel.
· If you're interested in a meal with the Disney characters, the reviews starting on page X will help you choose a suitable meal and location. For example, Cinderella's Gala Feast at the Grand Floridian is a boisterous, loud affair that may be overwhelming to any child.
· Whenever possible, obtain Priority Seating for meals and consider asking for a table near an exit or window.
· If traveling between Disney resorts, consider using a taxi instead of Disney transportation to save time.
· Sensory-defensive children may enjoy the 'deep pressure' sensation of the sandy beaches or whirlpools found at some Disney resorts. The wave pool at Typhoon Lagoon also gets high marks from readers.
· Pin trading with Disney Castmembers offers a safe, scripted opportunity for children to work on their social and communication skills.
Traveling to WDW with an Autistic Child
The National Autism Registry(NARY) was founded in 1999. The purpose of this organization is to help families cope with some of the difficult issues that occur when raising an individual with autism as well as improve the quality of life for the autistic person themselves. We offer two different cards that can be used when encountering certain problematic situations.
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Vacation Travel Tips http://www.activitiesforkids.com/travel/travel_hints.htm
Advice about Car Trips http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/going/longcartrips.html
Print coloring pages on FamilyFun
• Games-on-the-Go Pack
• Travel Activity Bag
• Car-Ride Treats
• Classic Road-Trip Games
• Car Trip Essentials
More fun stuff for the car
I hope some of this is helpful and you have a wonderful vacation! Let us know how it goes and if you have any tips when you get back!
Tia,
The hotels on the property are not worth the 0 a night anyway..LOL Sounds to me you got a MUCH BETTER deal going on there. If they do not let you have an express pass for free and you already have tickets and have to go anyway.....each ride has the option of getting an express pass individually. I can't remember how much it costs though but maybe for certain lines and rides it will be worth it?? When we were there the lines wern't even close to as long as Disney. I'm so excited for you and your family....have a great trip!!!
Karrie
Karrie,
An express pass for Universal is /person/day and is good for all rides. We've discussed it and this is how we will work Universal. Part of what they told me, (not sure if I included it in the OP), was that IF there are problems and we go to guest relations the guest services member would have to speak to my child in determining what accomodations were needed for him. I have a problem with this. Some 18 yr old kid is going to interview my child and decide what? If he has an asd?? I don't think so. This will make Nate very uncomfortable and could totally throw off at least a good portion of my day. He doesn't like being forced to talk to people and he doesn't like strangers asking him questions AT ALL. It will cost us an additional /day for our family but is well worth it to avoid the mess. Thanks for your encouragement. Yes, we're going to have a great time I am sure. The resort we're staying at is great for families and if you're ever down this way I highly recommend it. BTW, they're also extremely friendly. As I said, we've stayed there before on mini-trips and they've been great w/ Nate.