Disney Cruise w/ kids w/ special needs About This Page:

[jams67]

I have 2 kids with special medical needs, DS1 is also autistic. Has anyone ever done the cruise? How did it go? did you plan any differently than a regular vacation? would you do it again? were you able to use any of the kids clubs?

Even if you don't a loved one with special needs is there anything that stands out from your vacation that might help me? I really would appreciate any information.

Thanks for your help,
Julie

[ 05-07-2003, 04:06 PM: Message edited by: jams67 ]

[stonewall]

I've never been on the cruise, but I am sure that xomeone will help out with this thread. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[DebbieV76]

Julie!
You took the question right out of my fingers!
I have often longed to go on a Disney cruise, but just couldn't picture it with our situation. The boys just love the live shows and parades at the parks...what fun things are there to do for them on the cruise?

Another big drawing card for most parents is being able to drop their kids off at themed childcare, staffed by loving CMs, while they are able to enjoy the ship's ammenities child-free. My kids require one-on-one assistance, not only for their participation and enjoyment, but for their safety as well. I doubt that Disney has the staff to accommodate those needs. Bringing our own care assistant on a cruise is really cost-prohibitive for us. Hey, a cruise just for mom and dad is pretty much unreachable. [img]graemlins/pout.gif[/img] **she says in her best "poor me" voice...**

Can't wait to hear the experience of anyone who has done a cruise with special kids.

[jams67]

Just trying to get this post noticed. [img]graemlins/blush.gif[/img] Thanks for everyone's patience!

Julie

[Belle*]

I posted a link to this thread in the Special Needs forum hoping somebody there might be able to help you. Hopefully, this will get a response or at least direct you to a resource! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[jams67]

Belle. we move it here from the other forum because we didn't get any responses. We were hoping that someone may see here instead. Even if they weren't travelling w/ someone w/ special needs maybe something stands out that would be good or bad that would help us. Certainly doesn't hurt to try. Oh well. We'll see what happens. Thank you for being so thoughtful though. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Julie

[Belle*]

I found this link that seemed to have some good information: http://disney.cruises.northernwoodtr...uidelines.html

I just a search on Google of Disney Cruise Line + Special Needs Children and came up with some good info. Give that a try! Hope this helps. [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

[jams67]

Thanks Belle. I haven't looked at it yet but I will soon. Thanks so much for your help! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Julie

[Tiiiigergirl]

I will do my best to be helpful. DS is high functioning autistic. He has done very well in the clubs and prefers the cruise to the parks. We have cruised 3 times and have our 4th booked for next January. We repeat and repeat the instructions to him. And have only occasionally had to be paged for meltdowns. Our son does well in the occasional daycare setting. I would let that be your guide. If your child melts at the slightest group interaction then the kids clubs would not be for you as the cruise is NOT set up for one to one care. They will repeat this to you as often as you mention the rules to your child. They have the pagers and will not hesitate to page you if they have a problem. As I said our son is very high functioning. Depending on the doctor he is HFA or an Aspie. He also has Tourette Syndrome and severe ADHD. He spends most of the cruise in the clubs by choice. We have to drag him out for dinner and excursions. He loves it. Our whole family does. Hope this helps.

[debm]

Hi. I saw your "desperate pleas" for someone to respond to the posts..... [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

We have a 7 year old with Down Syndrome who absolutely loves Disney!!!! The shows and the parades are his favorite. We have just finished our 2nd cruise and we love them too! Our other kids are 9, 4, and an infant. The main reason we like the cruise so much is it is much more relaxing for us then standing in lines at the park--and worrying about losing Aaron. On the ship it is much easier for us. At first I was worried that he would fall overboard but my fears were eased as soon as I saw all the plexiglass.

We are able to put him in the kid's club though so that is so beneficial to us. It is the one time we can relax and know that he is safe. There is NO way he could escape from the room and the staff is so wonderful. He did have to be potty trained though and does not require one-on-one although he will demand it at times. They have never once made us feel as though they wouldn't accomodate him. He doesn't even talk but they are accepting of this and will work with him. He doesn't go in there for too long but usually at dinner time he likes to go play after he has eaten while we are enjoying our meal. That's why we prefer the late seating because we can do the show with him, change for dinner, and then after he is finished with his meal(we always ask the servers to bring his with our appetizer) then we take him to play before our main course even comes.

I hope this helps some. The staff is wonderful and they will try their best to accomodate. Of course if there is a problem they will let you know. Once Aaron hit another child but they were very understanding. They explained to me that they talked to the other kids involved etc. etc. But when I arrived to pick him up it was all documented in the computer. I have to admit I was scared they were going to tell me he couldn't come back...

Anyhow a cruise is wonderful I think for any family. It is so different depending on what you do. For us and our 4 kids we mostly do things as a family right now. Very different then other familes that use the kids' club all day to do only adult activities. But that is the plus on a cruise--you have your choice of what you want to do.

Enjoy!! Debi