Disney

[proverbs3]

We have an opportunity to go to Disney at the end of the month (as long as Faith is able to go). Does anyone have any hints or suggestions on what to do. We'll be coming home with IV's and were told she can't get in the water, so no water park. I called Disney and they told me we can go to Guest Services when we get there and get a "badge" that will help us get to the front of the line. I'm sure that will help not having to spend a lot of time there and throwing chest pt's in there as well. But anything else that may help us give her a nice vacation. She's not happy that she's spent most of her summer in the hospital.

Your help is most appreciative!

Carol

 

[Asexyblond23]

Well I have been in the same situation before. If she can walk at all, that will be good for her, as you know. Are you talking about the one in FL or CA?

 

[Cheryl]

Question: Which climate is better for CF kids?  Moist Florida
or not as humid California?<br>
<br>
Cheryl

 

[Asexyblond23]

Well here is what they doctors told me, I actually have lived in both. Flordia is better for you. The first 3 days you may feel a little bit different if you are not used to the warm weather all the time but over all its better for your CF. My parents did a ton of reasearch on where wer should move to when I was younger. we tried CA, and with my dad I lived with him in Co, and FL. If I had to choose one I would choose FL, its eaiser on your Cf and health.

 

[NoExcuses]

it's disgusting out here in California right now. the heat is just horrible for CFers.....

Dehydration and exhaustion provide a great combo for PA to grow.

I would strongly encourage you to postpone your trip until October or so. The heat is just killer.

 

[2005CFmom]

Since you already called Disney you may know this already....

You can bring your treatment things into the park and leave them in the First Aid station. When it's time for a treatment, they will provide a room for you. They will also refrigerate any meds you want them to.

I'm familiar with Disney in CA, so if that is where you are going I might have a few more ideas for you.

 

[coltsfan715]

Disney is great if you need assistance. They will provide wheelchairs for you also if you are at the park and she finds she is having a hard time with walking throughout the day.

There are several rides and attractions at each park that are good to ride and not very stressful on the body (i.e. no crazy coasters - not sure if she would be able to ride them or not).

Magic Kingdom: <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
Stitch's Great Escape - cute no real movement.
Pirates of the Carribean some movement, water ride - but she will not get wet except for maybe a few drops (they just changed this ride to include Captain Jack Sparrow, Barbosa and Davy Jones from the Pirates movies)
Haunted Mansion- slow but fun
Buzz Lightyear Space Rangers - fun interactive ride
Philharmagic - 3D and awesome
There are several other rides as well - like Dumbo, Aladdin, Snow White, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh and Small World (which has also been redone in the past year)
Nice Fireworks at night called Wishes, parade during the day plus Cinderellabration (show in front of the Castle)
** If she can do Roller Coasters - Space Mountain - Splash mountain you run the risk of getting wet and Big Thunder Mountain tends to throw little/tiny people around (I was covered in bruises when I rode this ride)

Animal Kingdom:<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
Safari: a little rough but no water
There are also a bunch of wildlife paths and a bird show if she is into animals
Festival of the lion King - neat show
It's Tough to Be a Bug - 3D show
They have a parade as well but no fireworks
Animal Kingdom normally closes the earliest of all the parks
** If she can do Roller Coaster - they just opened Expedition Everest - this may be rough though depending on the age it takes you backwards fowards and all over - it makes me very dizzy and throws my equilibrium off

Epcot:<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">
Soaring: is relatively new and is great - may be an issue if she has a problem with heights (but it is still worth trying if she can handle it)
Turtle Talk with Crush - in the Living Seas <-- one of my favs
Figment ride
Test Track - a little rough and quick in parts but shouldn't be too bad
Honey I Shrunk the Kids - 3D show
Illuminations <--- THE MOST AMAZING fireworks show on Disney Property you definitely need to try and see this one night of your stay. It is normally right before the park closes.

MGM:<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire - interactive game show
Star Tours - one of those moving cars things you stay put but the thing you are in moves you around
Indiana Jones Stunt Show
Lights Motors Action - Car stunt show it is new in the last year and is AWESOME! Check to see the times this is showing through the day though there are usually only 3 shows all day.
Art of Animation Studios - they teach you how to draw a Disney Character - another fav it is neat
They also have a parade.
** If she can do roller coaster/thrill rides Rockin Roller Coaster is great and Tower of Terror

Also if you are staying on Disney Property they have certain parks open an hour late or early to Disney guests ONLY. They call it their extended hours you can ask about it and they should be able to tell you what parks are open late or early and on what days.

I would try to get up early and go or head out later in the day and go because being out in the middle of the day with the heat will be brutal. It may also cause problems with her dressing staying on because she will probably sweat alot more so keep that in mind.

We are big Disney goers (if you couldn't tell I like Disney) if you need any info feel free to email me or private message me. I would love to help.

There is plenty of stuff to do even if she can't go to the water parks.

There is also Downtown Disney which is a shopping marketplace and they have 2 mini golf places which are fun. There is a theater too - but it is a bit expensive for what you get.

Hope you are going to WDW in Orlando if not all that info is not useful at all.

Have a great day and sorry for the super long post.
Have a GREAT Vacation.

Lindsey
xiao07@hotmail.com

 

[coltsfan715]

Meant to Add: You may want to smuggle in drinks and snacks. The food can be ridiculously priced at times and she will probably need to drink alot to stay hydrated.
Also if you are wanting to eat at a Disney restaurant - and there is a specific one you know of call now and see if you can book a day. Some of them are tough to get into. If it is a restaurant in a park you may want to head there early in the day and see if you can get a reservation time or "preferred seating" as Disney calls it.

 

[Augustmom0003]

Lindsey,

Thank you!!!!!!!!! We are getting ready to go too and your post is so helpful!!!!!


Another Colts Fan,

 

[coltsfan715]

No problem. When are you heading down there? We will be down there next week Aug 8 and 10th. We will be driving to Tampa on the 9th for a concert. We head down there every few weeks usually.

Lindsey

 

[Scarlett81]

The other thing I was thinking was if she is starting to get over tired, walking around Epcot in the cultural 'world' area is really nice. There are no lines to deal with, there's an amazing fireworks show there every night as Lindsey said. Its a really nice and calming thing to do especially in the evening when it gets cooler.
You can bring her to all the different countries, she can learn alot there too. And they make it really fun for kids.
We've been to a few of the restaurants there. The best in my opinion is the Moroccan restaurant in Morocco (duh) and the Mexican restaurant in Mexico (double duh). <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">
The Mexican restaurant is GORGEOUS! And there is an indoor river that the kids can take little boat rides on while they wait for their food.
The Moroccan restaurant is really nice too, and they have 'american' type food if your kids are picky eaters. They also have belly dancing every night and of course all the little girls love that!

Have a blast! I went to Disney when I was very little for Dream Come True, I was on IVs and I don't remember much. However, my mother remembers that the whole staff was incredibly accomodating with our special circumstances. Take advantage of whatever services they offer.

I love Disney and we go every few years now with the family. Just keep her hydrated and she'll be fine. She'll forget all about her illness for a few days and remember the trip for years to come.

 

[sue35]

I am also a huge Disney fan. My mom and I go every year and have been there at least 12 times. I would strongle reccommend getting the UNOFFICIAL guide to disney. It is thick but talks about each ride and rates them, and a ton of other stuff. Like what to do if you are handicapped, if one child wants to go on a ride with both parents, etc. Have fun!

Oh yeah, this is only for Disney World too never been to the California one.

 

[sue35]

Oh and also, if you decide not go early on and early entry day (if you are staying on disney property which i also highly reccommend. They have varying degrees of prices and the transportation is really worth it. There is nothing worse than having to wait a long time to get back to the hotel or sit in a hot car when you have CF, in my opinion) then DON'T go to that park that day. The park that has early entry days is always the most crowded.

Also, for animal kingdom, go on the safari early in the morning or just before they close. In the middle of the day the animals tend to be sleeping and not as active

Wow, I am too excited about this<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[thelizardqueen]

The only advice I can offer is get a wheel chair. When I went to Disney World, my parents got me a wheel chair. It saved me having to walk around all over the place at the Parks and getting tired and hot. Plus it also helped to get to the front of the line even quicker too.

 

[Emily65Roses]

Wheelchairs are actually a big help. I went last summer with my fiance and his family, and they told me before we even left that I had no choice, and they were renting a chair and I was GOING to use it. While walking is absolutely good exercise, Disney <i>can</i> be too much. It was nice to have, I could walk when I felt up to it, and I could sit when I needed to, or when the heat was just too much. On top of that, not walking everywhere made it a lot easier to enjoy the day. Mike was right, if I had been walking all day every day for the whole week, I would've been miserable by the time we left.

I also used my handicapped parking sticker. I don't use it that often, because I can walk the length of a lot, but if the choices are one big lot a mile away, or one big lot right at the door, the handicapped sticker is nice to have.

 

[Augustmom0003]

Lindsey,
We are going mid-October for my 30th birthday (did I just say that out loud??) <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif" border="0">) We also went last year when the kids were 1 1/2 and 4 1/2 and had a wonderful time (I also highly recommend staying at one of the Disney resorts!!! We've done both (off and on site hotels) and staying there was by FAR the easiest, especially when you have meds, cpts, naps, etc.!) I think now that they are 3 and 6 it will be even better. Luckily, Ethan will be in a stroller and won't have to get a wheel chair. We bought one of the water bottles with the fan attached and he loved it and sprayed himself frequently! Watch, he'll hate it this year!

Also, some of the "Magical Gatherings" are a MUST! We did one (the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue) and it was definitely one of the funnest (is that a word?) things we did!

 

[coltsfan715]

That's great. I am sure Ethan will love everything this year. We are going down for a week at the end of August with Kurt's Aunt/Uncle and his 2 cousins (they are 6 and 7). They love it more and more each year - the stroller is definitely a benefit when you have a bunch of stuff to tote around.

As for the wheelchair - I don't normally use one. I just take breaks every now and then where I sit down and "people watch" - it kind of makes everyone else relax and enjoy the day instead of rush rush rush all the time. I have needed a wheelchair on 3 occasions and each time they were very easy to get. I always joke with Kurt when we go and see old couples where the man is pushing is wife in a wheelchair. I just tell him .. that WILL be us you know that right. He laughs and nods.

Lindsey

 

[Scarlett81]

Well, I don't know how little your little one is, but maybe a larger sized stroller would be enough for her?

I totally get the point about the wheel chair, but I just remember being that age and hating having to use wheelchairs if I was in the hospital or wherever. Obviously as adults we know they are great aids and sometimes neccesary. But just thinking from a kids point of view, unless you're really sick, they just make you feel like you're sticking out more and they remind you that youre different from everyone else.

Again-just playing devil's advocate! And I don't know how sick she is right now either, maybe a wheelchair is neccesary.

 

[JazzysMom]

This is my input from my experience in FLorida from July 2003. We were there 10 days. Drove down/back which was the first mistake. We had fun, but the heat took its toll on me. Between dehydration (tho I thought I was drinking enough) & the exhaustion of the heat I ended up in the hospital after getting home. I saw my appetite go kaput right before my eyes which really bothered me since "buffets" were a common thing down there. We did rent the wheelchair at the parks. Not just for me. Everyone got turn if they were beat. We didnt get any "odd" looks. There were times that I rode with Jazmine on my lap. I was against going down in July, but the trip was free & felt "obligated" in ways to take advantage of it. I am sure that part of my problem was that we were with another family unlike if we were on our own it would have been much easier to adjust the schedule. Yes I know I could have been stern & said no, but I didnt want to ruin the fun. Just be extra careful!!!!!!!!! Enjoy!