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Disney World and Down Syndrome - A Winning Combination - Walt Disney World with Special Needs
by Phyllis Tate

For our family, Down Syndrome and Walt Disney World are a winning combination.

The days spent at the Walt Disney World Resort have been magical for Andrew, the youngest of our four children, who has Down Syndrome. The preparations for upcoming trips and the reminiscing upon returning home have also brought much joy and opportunity for learning. From his first trip as a 6-year-old small enough for a stroller to our last trip with a 15-year-old who decided a wheelchair might not be such a bad idea after all, we've had some interesting experiences. Our first trip with Andrew in 2003 didn't hold any major "special needs" challenges. Although Andrew was 6, it wasn't much different than having a typical preschool-age child. He was happy to be in the stroller, napped when he needed to, was thrilled by the characters, and was small enough to be carried as we waited in line for attractions. After the trip, he loved watching the videos and looking through the pictures. So a year and-a-half later we decided to go back for his 8th birthday.

This time around, he had expectations of where we were going. He was excited to be returning to Walt Disney World! But would he understand that the first two days were for traveling? We knew we needed to prepare him. We created a book entitled "Andrew’s Trip to Disney World." We had a page for each day showing what we would be doing. The first day was "Drive to Aunt Teresa’s house," with a drawing of a minivan and a house. The second day was "Drive to the hotel," again with a drawing of a minivan and a hotel. Then we made a separate page for each day in the park, using photos from old brochures. We were always working on calendar skills, so we put the day and date on each page, especially focusing on his birthday.

While still a wonderful experience, this second trip had a few challenges. We had moved three months before, and during the move Andrew had developed an aversion to sitting in restaurant chairs. So at every meal on that trip, Andrew sat in my lap. We have photos at Cinderella's Royal Table and Liberty Tree Tavern that remind me how tiring that was! But I wasn't going to let that prevent us from having fun and I knew there was no reason to fight it, so we just carried on. Thankfully he outgrew that phase! This time around, Andrew was also a little wary of characters and not always happy about having his picture taken. We have many photos of him with his eyes closed, which was his way of not cooperating. He still pulls that one on us sometimes but we've learned to warn the photographers and tell them not to be concerned. In 2008, we visited the Orlando area with extended family, this time spending only one day at the Magic Kingdom. It was late March and rather crowded. By this time, we had learned about the Guest Assistance Card, which was a huge blessing. Andrew was now 11 years old and much too big to be carried. While generally a well behaved and happy child, he could sometimes become very stubborn and difficult to handle. My biggest fear was that he would get tired of standing in line and just sit down. If he did that, it might take a really long time to convince him to get up. The Guest Assistance Card allowed us to use an alternate entrance on the rides that had that option.

In December 2010 we spent our longest time at Walt Disney World. We had five days in the parks in very cold weather. On day three of that trip Andrew was really tired. Having very low muscle tone causes him to tire more easily than typical children and having pronated arches causes his feet to hurt. We were visiting Animal Kingdom and he wanted to sit down at every possible chance. We tried our best to convince him to ride in a wheelchair, but he insisted that he wanted a stroller. We had him try to sit in one to see that he simply wouldn't fit anymore, but he still refused a wheelchair. We ended up leaving Animal Kingdom and later going to the Magic Kingdom where his energy returned and we were able to enjoy the rest of the day.

In August of 2011 Disney released a Free Dining special that I couldn't resist, so we booked another five-day trip for the week after Thanksgiving. Andrew was very excited and looking forward to the trip. To help him understand just how long it was until the trip, I bought a 100 chart from the school supply store and started a countdown. Every morning at breakfast we stamped a Mickey face on the chart, starting with 100 and counting down to one. I also kept an abacus in the kitchen and moved a bead over each day. If I ever forgot, Andrew was quick to remind me!

On this trip, by day three or four, Andrew was again very tired and said that his feet hurt. This time he was willing to get in a wheelchair. He was able to enjoy the rest of the day and by the time we left the park he stood up and commented that his feet no longer hurt.

Walt Disney World is one of Andrew';s favorite topics of conversation. We have photo albums from each trip and any time a visitor comes over, Andrew wants to show them the photos. He tells them about the characters and the rides, describing Big Thunder Mountain Railroad as the ride that goes up and down and side to side. The magic of Disney is a language everyone can understand!

Some of my happiest memories are of Andrew riding The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Watching a video of that from one of our earlier trips brings a smile to my face. I doubt anyone has had more fun on that ride than Andrew. For someone who has carried around a toy Tigger for many years, what could be better! As many families of special needs children have found, Walt Disney World is a place where our kids can be "normal." Sure, we have our challenges, but with the incredible hospitality of the Disney Cast Members, our kids shine.

Added to PassPorter's Article Collection on 10-25-2012 04:10 PM

What do you think? Please add your own comments, experiences, or news related to this article in this thread! Reader feedback is welcomed and encouraged.

[JenfromPhilly]

As a mom with a special needs child I loved your article and the enjoyment you have with your child. My little guy (just 8) with Fragile X Syndrome (Down syndrome’s lesser known cousin) has been there at age 5 and age 7. It is truly a magical place where with a little help our kids can be kids.

[Barbara]

I really enjoyed your article even though I do not have a family member with Down Syndrome. I think that this kind of information is great for those of us without first hand experience. Even though we LOVE WDW, the days can be very hectic and we can all lose patience both with our family and with those around us. We all need to remember that when we come across a child who may be refusing to move from his spot in the queue (or other signs of frustration), that there may be circumstances of which we are not aware. We should remember how fortunate we are to be in WDW and try to be a little more patient and understaning of our fellow guests. You may end up making someone's day a little more magical.

[pokey]

Great article. Our 4 year old is also a child with Down Syndrome. Although he too is very well behaved, we had the same concerns as you about how he would handle the parks. We were VERY pleased with Disney Guest relations and the disability card they gave us. For all those who are planning a trip with your disabled child, please don't hesitate to take advantage of this great accommodation. It will allow you easier and faster access to all the rides at the parks for your disabled child and everyone in your family. We even used our own stroller as a wheeled chair ( Disney will give you a red sticker to place on your stroller to indicate it can be used as a wheeled chair.) Our family had the BEST time and guest relations made our trip even better and worry free too!. Disney is a real special place for our special kids and adults. Even in the dead of summer, the Disney Cast Members made sure we were well taken care of. Can't wait till our next trip!!

[eeyore1971]

What a great article, thank you. We have just been to DLP with our son who has a learning disability, speech and motor delay. We took him for his 18th birthday and somehow managed to keep it a secret until we had to get on the train to DLP.

We return to Disney as often as we can as it is somewhere that we all feel comfortable and happy. We didn't use the Guest Assistance Card until our son was 14 as we didn't know about it and had only been at Disney during the quiet times of year but we went to WDW at Christmas thought it would be useful to have as he can get very loud and repetitive with his questions and comments if he has to wait too long in a queue (30 minutes is usually the limit). The cast members at the Disney parks have always been fantastic when they realise that our son has a learning disability.

[Peg McComb-Elowski]

I was so happy to read about your good experiences with a special needs child at DW. It is wonderful that your son can really appreciate the Magic of Disney through the years, and relive the experiences through the photos.

My adult grandson has recently been confined to a wheelchair, ha has always loved DW. I am hoping to take him soon and am worried about how he will feel confined to a chair while visiting.

Again I loved hearing about your family's happy experiences.

[stillgoofy]

I enjoyed your article on WDW and Down syndrome. My 22 year old daughter (who also has Down syndrome) and I have been going to Disney World since for over 10 years now. WDW is "home" for her. It is the one place she feels so delighted, comfortable and accepted. Although she hasn't had the need for the Guest Assistance Card, Disney has always treated her so well and completely included her (even when she participates in "younger age" activities). I remember Storytime with Belle when all of the little kids (3-5 year olds) were getting picked for the parts and then they came and picked my grown up daughter. The look on her face was priceless. Because Disney is where everyone can be a child at heart. We continue to go, now twice a year, and vacation just wouldn't be the same without Disney. Although she always looks forward to the next trip, I am now unable to tell her when that is because she is unable to focus on anything else due to her excitement (of course I get that way too). So now all trips for her are a surprise and each time she is surprised her reaction is priceless.

[terrisorge]

It's wonderful to hear about your experiences at Disney World. I grew up visiting Disney each year (and working there as a young adult), and I want my children to grow up with some of their own happy memories of vacations with Disney. We have a child with Down Syndrome, so it's helpful to know that other families with children who have special needs have had good experiences during their visit. Thanks for taking the time to write this up!