Special Needs Sharing Question: What routines or programs do you have to keep yourself as strong and flexible as possible before the trip? About This Page:

[Sandra Bostwick]

Walt Disney World is full of week-end warriors. You can see plenty of people rubbing their feet, melting down, falling asleep sitting up, limping along at the end of a Disney Day.

People spend HOURS UPON HOURS planning and doing research for their trips, but what about some training? Some stretches, some walking to improve endurance, practice with transfers? Even those with ADHD or Sensory Integration Disorder can train to prepare.

This does not necessarily need to be a special needs question, because I think everyone can benefit.

Do you follow any routines, rituals, or programs on a daily basis to keep your body as fit as possible for the occasional physical exertion like a trip to WDW? If so, please tell us what you do, if you feel it helps, and how you motivate yourself.

[judyjo]

I do a 2-mile brisk walk on the treadmill everyday-it doesn't help with the endurance of many-more-than-that miles at WDW but I find I don't get as tired as I did 10 years ago in the parks. I generally eat low-fat meals (mostly vegetarian and fish) and continue that routine when I am at the parks (lots of salad and fish) which I believe helps too. I think your body feels better if you are following the same eating routine instead of indulging in lots of rich foods...although I do have a dessert almost every day at the parks-you need to get extra energy somehow.

[mechurchlady]

DLR is my exercise lol. For the SID the best thing is to work on the fears and to study so I am prepared. I never get to the FEED ME NOW point as I know that it may take me half an hour to get fed or as is the case of the River Belle Terrace not even get fed.

I do recommend practicing at home. I took my scooter around the yard and practiced at DLR in open areas to make sure I knew how to drive my scooter. If your knee don't bend then be prepared to walk away from certain rides. For transfers you can put an arm chair near a solid object then practice sitting down in a ride vehicle. If you cannot transfer to an arm chair then you will have to rethink rides. Do not be afraid to try.

I am not into any preparations. I know DLR like the back of my hand. I know which restaurants are allergen friendly, I have coping skills as is needed, I know to walk away from incidents or when I am overwhelmed, and I know to not do something when on the inside I know I will be sorry later. I so want to ride Indiana Jones and Dinosaur but KNOW that the odds are that I will emerge from those rides in pain for a week. Also I make sure my systems are not going to fail. Bathroom breaks, staying hydrated, sugars not too low, tummy not totally empty, not too much sun, and hide if I am stressing out or overwhelmed.

You sked about WDW but my DLR experiences apply to Knott's SeaWorld, and WDW.

[Eeyore Tattoo]

I walk my dog, Miss Haley every day about a mile.
I also keep busy doing things around the house & yard when I can..
I get lots of rest..

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by mechurchlady

You sked about WDW but my DLR experiences apply to Knott's SeaWorld, and WDW.

Good point. Not only are there plenty of other theme parks, there are plenty of other Disney resorts, like Disney Paris. Sometimes I get tunnel vision, as if WDW Florida was all that existed.

[mechurchlady]

Originally Posted by Sandra Bostwick

Good point. Not only are there plenty of other theme parks, there are plenty of other Disney resorts, like Disney Paris. Sometimes I get tunnel vision, as if WDW Florida was all that existed.

That is ok and you have learned another lesson about disabilities.

Just because your kid is not autistic does not mean you cannot learn some neat tricks for dealing with your kids. Just because you are not in a wheelchair does not mean that tips for people in wheelchairs will not help you in your everyday life. A person with cancer might find helpful tips to at a diabetes or celiac site.

Let me paint you a little picture:
A family decides to go hiking in the forest on a weekend. According to hiking and outdoors sites and media what should they do? Should they all pile in the car with their new hiking outfits or should they break in the clothes and especially the shoes? Should they just drive to the parking spot at the head of the trail or bring maps, food, water, and know where there are business along their drive? Should they just go hiking or would prep work like taking walks each day?

If I was going hiking I would be taking walks, getting maps and info, packing snacks, and would try to be as fit as possible for a hike. So you prepare for a hike in the woods but at amusement parks you arrive and do not warm up and have not done any pretrip exercise and stamina building.

Even for a waddler like me it is at times a lot of work like try hoisting your rump out of a bobsled or a boat. There is pulling myself out of the Jungle Cruise boats. there is cardiac stress from fear on rides. The body works so hard on trips.

Sandra since you forgot us in DLR maybe you should be Dole Whipped, lol.

[Christine43]

Sandy, Perry doesn't have a physical disability but I thought I'd mention that we do some training before Disney too regarding people he will encounter, how he can and can't react to different situations and what will the consequences be. With autism you really have to drive the message in so he will remember it and react appropriately. So, we do that with and w/o the therapist.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by Christine43

Sandy, Perry doesn't have a physical disability but I thought I'd mention that we do some training before Disney too regarding people he will encounter, how he can and can't react to different situations and what will the consequences be. With autism you really have to drive the message in so he will remember it and react appropriately. So, we do that with and w/o the therapist.

That is a great point! I think that would be a good sharing question.

[bitterchickey]

I have Lupus, and the fatigue is what will get to me. The only park I need an ecv in is WS (though I'm fine in FW...). It has taken me a few years to accept this, and finally I just do it at the beginning of the day. OH yea I get the "fluffy lady in a scooter" looks from people, but oh well. Before a trip I am walking the treadmill longer and more often just to build up endurance, and during the trip I have learned from experience that a "day off" is my best defense. Now that doesn't mean I'm laying in bed all day ordering room service (but boy does that sound good!) but usually hitting DTD(after sleeping late), which is more just easy touring to me.

[Danielle Harmon]

Extra walking and standing are our preparation techniques, along with reiterating to our kids what to do if they get separated from us in a crowd. Drilling their memory on our hotel, where our meeting spots are, who they may ask for help and our cell phone numbers. Thankfully, we have never needed them to follow through with the information in a pinch.

We also prepare for different climate and hydration needs.

No one has any particular special needs, but the enormity of WDW and all that is required of your body while touring begets necessary training for everyone.

I have enjoyed reading what you all do. Mechurchlady is right...a lot of these tactics can be used by anyone. I'm glad we all have a place to share without judgment.


Awesome thread Sandra!

[Kynna]

I swear by Danactive and other probiotics so I make sure I have at least one a day the weeks before a trip. Time my cortizone shots for 6 weeks before a trip. Time my weekly meds for peak effectiveness the first few days of vacation and take the kids for walks "to find the best Disney shoes". Reading this thread I'm thinking we should walk the track at school this time to get everyone into shape!

[mechurchlady]

Also I avoid eating anything that might be risky when I plan to go to DLR. I am going tomorrow so no ice cream, will pick up goat milk at the store for the soothing properties and vitamins, and no eating out at restaurants tonight. I am going to make sure I do not have a repeat of last Spring when I was coming off of a major bruise that did not heal and food allergies and wheat reactions. I ended up not being very popular. I am going to rest now for half an hour and take it easy. Sleep is important.

I would suggest for those persons on special diets to stick to the diet until into the trip. For me that cow milk and ice cream are not that bad but I get a rash on my back when I have cow dairy. Over time the rash goes away when I am off the cow dairy. Yeah, it does not hurt that much but that rash is a sign that my body is polluted thus I need to stop all cow dairy. For any trip you want your body clean and as healthy as possible.