Tips about Kids and Special Needs

When we traveled to Hawaii with my young sons, ages 4 and 7, I discovered a company that makes temporary "Lost and Found" tattoos with a space to write in your telephone number. Various bands, lanyards, cards or pins can get lost during a day in the parks, but a tattoo applied to your child's arm or hand is always there. And kids love them! There are also tattoos available for allergies, autism, Alzheimer's, etc. I always use these tattoos on my children when we visit Walt Disney World now. Even the teenagers will still wear them! - Becky

A wonderful way to keep toddlers entertained is to purchase inexpensive disposable cameras for them to use. My son was 2 when he made his first visit to WDW. He loves having his picture taken and usually cries for my camera. Rather than risk losing or damaging my camera, I found disposable cameras at our local dollar store. I bought a package of four for $8. Needless to say, we have some priceless pictures! - Charlotte

Disney character toys are so expensive. We have found a great way to save money on our trip and let the grandchildren enjoy the characters on the way to Disney. We buy the toys on eBay for a fraction of the price, sometimes for as little as 99 cents plus shipping. I know it gives us more spending money and our grandchildren are just as happy. - Susan Smeltzer

Epcot - Since we're passholders, the kids have been so many times it can get boring for them. They've done the masks and passports at Epcot over and over. What I do before each trip is make up a new passport. I include a picture on the page and certain facts about the country that they need to find. It's interactive with the Cast Members in that country and they enjoy teaching the kids! For instance, in China, learn how to count from 1 to 10 in Chinese. In Germany, have a Cast Member tell you about the wall that used to separate their country. In America, what does the Liberty Bell stand for? As I said, the Cast Members love the interaction with the kids. They are proud to talk about their countries. As a prior homeschooling mom, I am always trying to sneak in a learning experience when I can and Epcot is the perfect place to do so without the kids realizing it! - Julie Turbide

Epcot - Since we're passholders, the kids have been so many times it can get boring for them. They've done the masks and passports at Epcot over and over. What I do before each trip is make up a new passport. I include a picture on the page and certain facts about the country that they need to find. It's interactive with the Cast Members in that country and they enjoy teaching the kids! For instance, in China, learn how to count from 1 to 10 in Chinese. In Germany, have a Cast Member tell you about the wall that used to separate their country. In America, what does the Liberty Bell stand for? As I said, the Cast Members love the interaction with the kids. They are proud to talk about their countries. As a prior homeschooling mom, I am always trying to sneak in a learning experience when I can and Epcot is the perfect place to do so without the kids realizing it! - Julie Turbide

Epcot - I just returned from a day at Epcot and wanted to give you a tip about Test Track. When I (5'3", 315 lbs.) asked the Cast Member at the end of the queue if I would fit, he told me that there was a mock car I could sit in. He called another Cast Member who escorted me to a private area. The car wasn't an exact copy of the cars in use, but was close. I found that I did not fit enough to be comfortable. The Cast Member showed me the side exit and I went on about my day. It was handled with care and privacy and I was never made to feel embarrassed. - L.

Epcot - I just returned from a day at Epcot and wanted to give you a tip about Test Track. When I (5'3", 315 lbs.) asked the Cast Member at the end of the queue if I would fit, he told me that there was a mock car I could sit in. He called another Cast Member who escorted me to a private area. The car wasn't an exact copy of the cars in use, but was close. I found that I did not fit enough to be comfortable. The Cast Member showed me the side exit and I went on about my day. It was handled with care and privacy and I was never made to feel embarrassed. - L.

Wanting our kids to have the items they "needed" at WDW but wanting to build the magic before and during the trip, we decided to bring our own treat box and let the girls "shop" from that box before each day's activities began. I gave each girl a fanny pack or small backpack, water bottle and an autograph book/pen on the airplane. I packed a small shoebox with treats (gum, mints, fruit roll-ups, cookies, etc.) and another with Disney-related trinkets (keychains, playing cards, stickers, personal fan, etc.). Each morning the girls "shopped" for edible treats to place in their backpacks and a trinket -- this sometimes eliminated them even wanting to shop at a gift shop during the day! I saved countless dollars and had a great time selecting the items for the treat boxes. - Diana L. Maslowski

Our son has autism and is now 17. We have been to WDW five times over an 11-year span (most recently in November 2005). I highly recommend character meals -- especially for lunch, as it allows a little bit of winding down from overstimulation. We especially enjoyed the Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner as the characters quickly tuned into our son and gave him extra attention -- it is also an exceptionally quiet place. The Garden Grill in Epcot is also great, as you quickly leave the hustle behind and are totally alone in the booth. These are family-style meals and do not provide the variety of the buffets at places like the Crystal Palace. We also thought that Hollywood & Vine for the Fantasmic special entrance was worthwhile (this is a buffet). Another tip: while you may want to avoid the stares from others, you might consider wearing a Cure Autism Now or similar t-shirt. - Mike Roberts

I am not a "ride person," so when we are at the parks at night I'm usually waiting somewhere in the crowd when my husband and son come off the rides. I stock up on glow sticks at our local dollar store, and as long as I remember what color my son is wearing, can spot him easily, especially when he waves it in the air! Perhaps I should be wearing one as well? - Cindy Strong

AllEars.Net team member Glo from Miami offers these tips on traveling with a toddler who's potty-training:
We've been to Disney with our grandson who was in the midst of potty-training for at least two visits. (It was a LONG process!) First, mark the locations of the Baby Centers on your map. There is one in each park and they are absolutely great places to take the little ones to cool off for a bit, watch some Disney videos on TV, rock in a chair, play with other children AND (drum roll, please!) use child-sized potties! They are also the place to go if you need diapers, pull-ups, wipes or any other needs such as that.

Second, use Post-It Notes! Those self-flush potties scare the daylights out of the little ones. Take a small pad of Post-It Notes with you, and when you enter the bathroom stall, put one over the sensor on the wall. That way, your child can sit there as long as he wants to, get down, get his pants pulled up and be out the door before you pull the paper off the sensor, drop it in the trash and close the door. The potty will flush a few seconds later, but you'll be all the way to the sinks to wash hands by then.

Third, think proactively: How long will it be from the time you decide to leave the park until you're back at your resort? How long will you be waiting in line for an attraction? How long is that line to get Mickey's autograph? Plan accordingly. Don't even bother asking, "Do you have to go to the potty?" Just say, "It's time to go to the potty," and go! If your child really, really doesn't have to go, what have you lost but a few minutes? But, if you ask and he/she says "no" just because he/she doesn't want to interrupt the fun, then you're going to have a problem somewhere down the line.

For more information read our Infant and Toddler FAQ at: http://allears.net/pl/infant.htm

Epcot - I have a tip for keeping children occupied while waiting for the fireworks at Epcot. On our last trip to Disney, we wandered into the Toy Soldier at the United Kingdom before we went to get a place to sit for the fireworks. While we were in the store our 3 1/2-year-old son saw a Thomas the Tank Engine puzzle he wanted. We bought it for him and let him put it together while we waited for the fireworks to begin. It completely occupied his time and by the time he was finished, it was almost time for the fireworks. We are planning another trip in November 2005 and this time I am going to pack some of his puzzles into Ziplock bags to take with us. He will have something to do while we wait and we won't have the box to take up a lot of room in our bag. - Tiffany Lueck

Epcot - I have a tip for keeping children occupied while waiting for the fireworks at Epcot. On our last trip to Disney, we wandered into the Toy Soldier at the United Kingdom before we went to get a place to sit for the fireworks. While we were in the store our 3 1/2-year-old son saw a Thomas the Tank Engine puzzle he wanted. We bought it for him and let him put it together while we waited for the fireworks to begin. It completely occupied his time and by the time he was finished, it was almost time for the fireworks. We are planning another trip in November 2005 and this time I am going to pack some of his puzzles into Ziplock bags to take with us. He will have something to do while we wait and we won't have the box to take up a lot of room in our bag. - Tiffany Lueck

We will be traveling to Disney this September for 10 days with two little ones in diapers. Due to luggage size and weight restrictions I am planning on using a new diaper delivery service: www.diapers.com or 1-800-diapers will deliver diapers and formula at about the price you'd pay in the store. Also, don't forget detergent discs for the laundry room. They are the size of a walnut and prepackaged. Throw a couple of those in your bag, then you only have to pack for half the time. - Kristin

I just returned from WDW where I stayed at the Wilderness Lodge with my mom who has trouble walking. We were returning from the California Grill by taxi and she was in a lot of pain by the time we got to the lobby, so I sat her in a chair right inside the lobby doors. I asked at the front desk if there was a wheelchair I could borrow to take my mom back to the room. Moments later the Cast Member returned with a wheelchair -- all I had to do was sign in a few places on a form since I had a credit card down on my room. They took my name and room number and the wheelchair had a number on it that they recorded. They asked me my departure date and asked that I return the chair before I leave the resort on that day. I thought maybe your readers would like to know that at least this resort has a limited number of wheelchairs available for rental during your stay. I was leaving the next morning and was not charged anything. - Erin Reich

EDITOR'S NOTE: Please note, you can not check into the resort and expect a free wheelchair for your stay. The loaner chairs are for unexpected situations as described above. If you need a wheelchair, push or electric, during your stay, AllEars recommends

http://www.buenavistascooters.com/