Stupid Guest Tricks

We are driving. We'll be driving up from near Avon Park. We'll definitely stick our hang tag up when we go through. If we had a few days to stretch it out, I wouldn't be as worried because we'd have more time to be strategic about it, you know? But yeah, I'm starting to feel much better about it. I want to be the only one having to deal with the stress. Not her or my other daughter. I failed to mention I also have an awesome 10 year old is sometimes has to get the short end of the stick because of her sister's needs. So I want her to have just as much magic as my little one.

Milesia wrote:Thank you! I did remember that from our wish trip. There was a wish lounge in one of the first aid areas that we could rest in last year and we took full advantage of that, and did meds and re-fills etc. So there are other places like that not specific to wish kids then? That's wonderful. We did a lot of store plundering too, lol. Just to give her the chance to cool off and we recharged her cooling vest often as well. I'll give them a call too, just to hear what they have to say for a little more reassurance. Thanks to you all for your replies. I have to admit, I was feeling a little concerned after reading some of the posts on the other board I spoke about. They tend to come off a little accusatory right off the bat and like it's some big huge hush hush thing. I can understand on one level not putting out details of things to give those who would abuse or fake or however you manage that ideas, but still...I had posted on the board last year and they new that she had been granted a wish trip. So I hoped they would have been a little more forth coming with something helpful. Instead I got a lot of canned, generic "Most people with wheelchairs do not need a GAC, but if you think you have other needs that a GAC might help you can see guest services." Oh well, you guys have helped a ton and I'm feeling more confident that my kiddo would need the extra assistance beyond just wheelchair accessibility.

People do abuse the GAC but I don't believe it is as bad as some people make out as while it may appear a person is perfectly healthy there are many, many hidden disabilities. They see someone who appears healthy using one and make assumptions. There is a limit to how specific we can get about the GAC but AFAIK nothing in this thread approaches that mark.

The thing to do is explain your daughter's needs to GR, not her exact disabilities. We're theme park employees, not doctors and two different people with the same disability may have different specific needs. If you were using the chair solely for mobility assistance a GAC may not be needed but your daughter's needs sound like they extend far beyond solely the chair.

Also, don't argue with the CMs at the attractions about the directions they give you, even if it differs from earlier in the day. Every attraction is different and specific protocols for particular GAC cards may vary throughout the day depending on how busy it is, staffing levels, the weather (a queue that's shaded in the morning may not be in the afternoon for instance). The CMs are trained on how to properly handle the GAC cards and know their attraction's specific policies. That will go a long way to not being accused by anyone (guests or cast, to your face or not) of "abusing" the GAC.

Also, take your time. You may not be able to do everything you want to do but you should be able to have loads of fun anyway.

Thank you again! Gosh, I'd never dream of arguing with anyone. I did see some of that on our trip last year. That to me, if I were a CM and judgy though it may be, would send up a red flag that maybe something wasn't kosher so to speak with their GAC. You know? I definitely don't think we'll be able to do it all. Her stamina, even in a chair is just not there. I'm going to talk to both girls and have them list what they really really want to make sure they see/ride again and go from there. We'll call everything else a bonus. :D:

Milesia wrote:I definitely don't think we'll be able to do it all. Her stamina, even in a chair is just not there. I'm going to talk to both girls and have them list what they really really want to make sure they see/ride again and go from there. We'll call everything else a bonus. :D:

That's the spirit! If possible you might want to consider splitting up for a while as well. For instance, Dad goes with the 10 year old and does what she wants to do and Mom stays with the other daughter and does what she wants to do (or just hang out somewhere cool to relax). This will allow the 10 year old to do some of the things her sister isn't able or willing to do but she wants to do.

Be sure to get there early, before opening if possible, as it will take a while to get from the parking lot to the park, get through the turnstiles, and to go by GR (once through the turnstiles go through the left tunnel and City Hall is the second building on the left. IIRC there is a ramp on the left side of the building to get inside). I took a quick look at Google Maps and it appears the entire disabled parking section is van accessible (at least there's a bit more space between vehicles than in the normal lots).

I'm glad to be of assistance and I hope you guys have a blast! Be sure to come back and post a trip report and if I was mistaken anywhere be sure to tell me so I'll know for the future (I promise I won't bite your head off for telling me I'm wrong, I may nibble it a bit but won't bite it off completely :-) ).

Just curious- Would it be easier for everyone to just have her on Bolus Feedings during the time you're in the Park? You could still do them/store supplies in the First Aid area. I realize that maybe she can't tolerate large amounts of feeding at a time and this is why she needs the pump, but thinking less to haul around/worry about without the extra equipment.... :)

DisneyMom wrote:Just curious- Would it be easier for everyone to just have her on Bolus Feedings during the time you're in the Park? You could still do them/store supplies in the First Aid area. I realize that maybe she can't tolerate large amounts of feeding at a time and this is why she needs the pump, but thinking less to haul around/worry about without the extra equipment.... :)

That would be nice, but unfortunately no. She's J fed. Her stomach doesn't work at all, and her small bowel isn't so great either, but it works well enough for us to feed her continuously. She can't tolerate higher than about 65 cc's per hour of pedialyte, and only about 50 on formula. We mostly nix the calories for days when she'll be in the heat all day and just opt for pedialyte, checking her sugars often because she tends to get a little low on just pedialyte. Then we decide what to add from there if needed. Wow, I bet that's a little more education on the innerworkings of a kid's gut than anyone every dreamed might be on a board about Disney Resorts. :p:

ETA: She can eat popsicles by mouth. They just drain out and make her much cooler. She's really excited about the huge popsicles there!

Milesia wrote:That would be nice, but unfortunately no. She's J fed. Her stomach doesn't work at all, and her small bowel isn't so great either, but it works well enough for us to feed her continuously. She can't tolerate higher than about 65 cc's per hour of pedialyte, and only about 50 on formula. We mostly nix the calories for days when she'll be in the heat all day and just opt for pedialyte, checking her sugars often because she tends to get a little low on just pedialyte. Then we decide what to add from there if needed. Wow, I bet that's a little more education on the innerworkings of a kid's gut than anyone every dreamed might be on a board about Disney Resorts. :p:

ETA: She can eat popsicles by mouth. They just drain out and make her much cooler. She's really excited about the huge popsicles there!

I see. Never had a patient quite in her situation,but figured there might be limits when tubing infusing the feeding was not in actual stomach.
This crowd is actually pretty savvy on the medical stuff,some due to their own experiences...It is good that you are sharing so those working with her/similar issues will be more aware :)

Milesia wrote:I definitely don't think we'll be able to do it all. Her stamina, even in a chair is just not there. I'm going to talk to both girls and have them list what they really really want to make sure they see/ride again and go from there. We'll call everything else a bonus. :D:

Excellent plan.

Realistically, even people without line issues have a hard time doing everything in a that time span, especially if your "everything" includes live performances or seeing characters as well as the rides. Oh, and speaking of live performances, have you seen this site?

http://wdwent.com/

We're big fans of Captain Jack's Pirate Tutorial, the Trolley Show, and the glass workers on Main Street (the big furnace might be too hot for y'all, but there are also guys working with little blow torches or doing etchings). Those are the ones we'll go out of our way for, but we've also enjoyed watching various characters and performers at random as well. A lot of people rush from ride to ride so fast I think they miss some of the best stuff Disney offers. :p:

If one of the "must-dos" ends up involving a line, would it be possible to bring a smooth, afghan-sized sheet that you could drape over the side of the wheelchair with the tubes? If it's early in the day and you could drape it with some air space underneath and lift the top part off for air regularly, might not kick up the heat factor too much, and it would make the tubes less "snagable" to the other people in the crowd.

Although if you do the "must dos" first, hopefully with the GAC you won't need to wait in the actual line. Your best bet would probably be to hit the park well before opening -- pick a day without Extra Magic Hours so you can see the opening show, and by the time the show is over the mob at the gates will have thinned a bit. :)

shilohmm wrote:Excellent plan.

Realistically, even people without line issues have a hard time doing everything in a that time span, especially if your "everything" includes live performances or seeing characters as well as the rides. Oh, and speaking of live performances, have you seen this site?

http://wdwent.com/

We're big fans of Captain Jack's Pirate Tutorial, the Trolley Show, and the glass workers on Main Street (the big furnace might be too hot for y'all, but there are also guys working with little blow torches or doing etchings). Those are the ones we'll go out of our way for, but we've also enjoyed watching various characters and performers at random as well. A lot of people rush from ride to ride so fast I think they miss some of the best stuff Disney offers. :p:

If one of the "must-dos" ends up involving a line, would it be possible to bring a smooth, afghan-sized sheet that you could drape over the side of the wheelchair with the tubes? If it's early in the day and you could drape it with some air space underneath and lift the top part off for air regularly, might not kick up the heat factor too much, and it would make the tubes less "snagable" to the other people in the crowd.

Although if you do the "must dos" first, hopefully with the GAC you won't need to wait in the actual line. Your best bet would probably be to hit the park well before opening -- pick a day without Extra Magic Hours so you can see the opening show, and by the time the show is over the mob at the gates will have thinned a bit. :)

I didn't even know there was an opening show! See, we are total and complete Disney virgins really. We plan to get there early and there is no magic hours for June 26th, so that's good then. A crowd predictor website, which was fairly accurate for us last year, said that the crowds should be lowest at MK on that day of all the parks. Hope that holds true :) . I'm actually in the process of figuring out if a camel bak backpack for kids would work for her feeding rather than her regular backpack. If I can feed the lines up over her shoulder that would eliminate extra slack hanging. The only concern I have is temperature factor. I'm not sure if it would keep her too hot if she wore it all the time, and having it over her shoulder will then make it more difficult to pull off and on easily. But we'll see. I have time to experiment. I may get the backpack anyway, because of her fear over her tubes hanging. She may have a better time day to day if we feed them up and over her shoulder. It doesn't work well in her regular backpack, but since the camel back is designed that way. Anyway, I'm rambling. I'm just getting excited already.

We actually did do a lot of rides and few shows, so I'm hoping this time they will pick their favorite rides and we'll do a few more shows that we missed. Emily would LOVE the pirate tutorial. She's has Pirates of the Caribbean sheets on her bed :) .

Also, don't argue with the CMs at the attractions about the directions they give you, even if it differs from earlier in the day.

You can argue but don't expect the CM to argue back with you. One of the just causes for termination is arguing with guests. ;)
Read section 12G on page 15/91 of this PDF file.
http://www.actorsequity.org/docs/rulebo ... _08-12.pdf