Tools and Tips for Visiting Disney with CF

mamaScarlett

Active member
I always get the guest card, near the entrance to the park. I was surprised to read Lisa, that you didn't need a doctors note, bc I have always needed a doctors note.
<br />We've been going every year 6 years in a row and every time I've gotten the card. I was reluctant to get it when my doc asked me to, but I've been glad every year since. Going as a mom with Cf, this keeps me out of the heat and lets my lo go on as many rides in as short a time as possible so we can be sure to go back to the hotel (or restaurant) and get plenty of sitting rest time all day.
<br />Disney is wonderful with this, and very accommodating. However, there was one year (ironically, the year we went and I was in the middle of IVs and quite sick) and I went to guest services to get the card, and I got the 'you don't look sick to me, lady' line from a young cast member who didn't want to give me the card. The only reason I mention it is that though rarely, problems do come up...so getting the letter might not hurt. Just in case. My center will email it to me if I'm going away.
<br />She also falsely told me that I could only get it for 2 people, me and a helper for me, which isn't true. As someone said, its for up to 6 people. If you have a party larger than that, you can get a ticket at each ride for a parent swap-where you and some of the kids go on the ride while one parent waits, and then the next parent gets to go on the ride with the rest of the party and goes right through the line.
<br />If you have 2 little ones with Cf, I would get 2 separate letters, and have each parent go separately to request a card. That way you can all go together on all your rides, and you have 2 cards, thats are good for several people each. No one should give you a problem.
<br />And keep in mind that the card doesn't guarantee no lines or no waiting. It puts you in the fast pass line. So you'll probably wait a little bit, but nothing compared to the regular line.
<br />Disney is great to work with, special needs or not. We love it!
 
S

scheesman

Guest
We went for Lilys 3rd BDay. We didnt find out till about 1pm about the card. We didnt need and doc note. It helps out a bunch.
 
S

scheesman

Guest
We went for Lilys 3rd BDay. We didnt find out till about 1pm about the card. We didnt need and doc note. It helps out a bunch.
 
S

scheesman

Guest
We went for Lilys 3rd BDay. We didnt find out till about 1pm about the card. We didnt need and doc note. It helps out a bunch.
 

janddburke

New member
you shouldn't 'need' a doctor's note since they are not allowed (legally) to ask you to prove your disability, but a doctor's note could not hurt. We were asked what her 'limitations' were. Maybe just to check we were not trying to buffalo them.

This also works at Universal, although not quite as well. we didn't simply to to the front of every line but given a time to return in most cases.

still very very worthwhile. Makes going to Disney a totally different experience.
 

janddburke

New member
you shouldn't 'need' a doctor's note since they are not allowed (legally) to ask you to prove your disability, but a doctor's note could not hurt. We were asked what her 'limitations' were. Maybe just to check we were not trying to buffalo them.

This also works at Universal, although not quite as well. we didn't simply to to the front of every line but given a time to return in most cases.

still very very worthwhile. Makes going to Disney a totally different experience.
 

janddburke

New member
you shouldn't 'need' a doctor's note since they are not allowed (legally) to ask you to prove your disability, but a doctor's note could not hurt. We were asked what her 'limitations' were. Maybe just to check we were not trying to buffalo them.
<br />
<br />This also works at Universal, although not quite as well. we didn't simply to to the front of every line but given a time to return in most cases.
<br />
<br />still very very worthwhile. Makes going to Disney a totally different experience.
 

MamatoAlexa

New member
We are huge Disney fans. Our first trip was May 2009. After that trip we became Disney Vacation Club members and have made 3 more trips. Out next trip will be in Novemeber. Oh the wait!
I got the GAC on our last trip. It was so much easier not standing in the loooong lines and trying to keep my girls from touching the germy ropes, chains and such. ICK. If there were rides without very long lines we just did not show the card. Perfect!
 

MamatoAlexa

New member
We are huge Disney fans. Our first trip was May 2009. After that trip we became Disney Vacation Club members and have made 3 more trips. Out next trip will be in Novemeber. Oh the wait!
I got the GAC on our last trip. It was so much easier not standing in the loooong lines and trying to keep my girls from touching the germy ropes, chains and such. ICK. If there were rides without very long lines we just did not show the card. Perfect!
 

MamatoAlexa

New member
We are huge Disney fans. Our first trip was May 2009. After that trip we became Disney Vacation Club members and have made 3 more trips. Out next trip will be in Novemeber. Oh the wait!
<br />I got the GAC on our last trip. It was so much easier not standing in the loooong lines and trying to keep my girls from touching the germy ropes, chains and such. ICK. If there were rides without very long lines we just did not show the card. Perfect!
 

izemmom

New member
We visitied in December '09. It was fabulous. We did the guest assistance pass, which reallly helped. A few other suggestions:

We shipped a box full of feeding tube supplies, extra nebulizer masks, applesauce (still needed it for enzymes at that point), and breakfast foods to our room before we left home. Disney had it waiting for us at check in. Actually, it was in our room before we were!

We planned our days around getting a "late" start to accomodate Emily's morning treatment. We ate breakfast in the room (from the stuff we shipped plus milk and OJ and a few extras purchased there) then moseyed out around 9:00 or 10. No rush to get to the park "first" since we just accepted that we wouldn't. We didn't use any of our meal plan meals for breakfast, which allowed us more character meals.

We requested a NEW showerhead in our room, as we were concerned about exposure to bacteria that commonly bulids up in them. Disney was very happy to supply one, and a very kind gentleman came with in an hour of our arrival to put it in.

We also requested brand new sheets for just Emily's bed, as she is sensitive to the smell of most detergents. They had no problem meeting this request.

It was a must for us to have a room with a refrigerator, and we wanted a little more room to spread out during vest and neb sessions. Two hours of treatments a day can be hard on everyone when you are in a very small space. So, we got a family suite at a value resort (we stayed at the Music themed one) for just a bit more than a regular room at a "nicer" resort. It was wonderful. It was more than enough room for the 4 of us (since the girls were small - not sure it will work when they are teens...)and very comfortable. The "kitchen" area was a great place to organize meds and set up a cleaning station for nebulizers.

We are hoping to get back there before both girls are 'tweens. We'll see.
 

izemmom

New member
We visitied in December '09. It was fabulous. We did the guest assistance pass, which reallly helped. A few other suggestions:

We shipped a box full of feeding tube supplies, extra nebulizer masks, applesauce (still needed it for enzymes at that point), and breakfast foods to our room before we left home. Disney had it waiting for us at check in. Actually, it was in our room before we were!

We planned our days around getting a "late" start to accomodate Emily's morning treatment. We ate breakfast in the room (from the stuff we shipped plus milk and OJ and a few extras purchased there) then moseyed out around 9:00 or 10. No rush to get to the park "first" since we just accepted that we wouldn't. We didn't use any of our meal plan meals for breakfast, which allowed us more character meals.

We requested a NEW showerhead in our room, as we were concerned about exposure to bacteria that commonly bulids up in them. Disney was very happy to supply one, and a very kind gentleman came with in an hour of our arrival to put it in.

We also requested brand new sheets for just Emily's bed, as she is sensitive to the smell of most detergents. They had no problem meeting this request.

It was a must for us to have a room with a refrigerator, and we wanted a little more room to spread out during vest and neb sessions. Two hours of treatments a day can be hard on everyone when you are in a very small space. So, we got a family suite at a value resort (we stayed at the Music themed one) for just a bit more than a regular room at a "nicer" resort. It was wonderful. It was more than enough room for the 4 of us (since the girls were small - not sure it will work when they are teens...)and very comfortable. The "kitchen" area was a great place to organize meds and set up a cleaning station for nebulizers.

We are hoping to get back there before both girls are 'tweens. We'll see.
 

izemmom

New member
We visitied in December '09. It was fabulous. We did the guest assistance pass, which reallly helped. A few other suggestions:
<br />
<br />We shipped a box full of feeding tube supplies, extra nebulizer masks, applesauce (still needed it for enzymes at that point), and breakfast foods to our room before we left home. Disney had it waiting for us at check in. Actually, it was in our room before we were!
<br />
<br />We planned our days around getting a "late" start to accomodate Emily's morning treatment. We ate breakfast in the room (from the stuff we shipped plus milk and OJ and a few extras purchased there) then moseyed out around 9:00 or 10. No rush to get to the park "first" since we just accepted that we wouldn't. We didn't use any of our meal plan meals for breakfast, which allowed us more character meals.
<br />
<br />We requested a NEW showerhead in our room, as we were concerned about exposure to bacteria that commonly bulids up in them. Disney was very happy to supply one, and a very kind gentleman came with in an hour of our arrival to put it in.
<br />
<br />We also requested brand new sheets for just Emily's bed, as she is sensitive to the smell of most detergents. They had no problem meeting this request.
<br />
<br />It was a must for us to have a room with a refrigerator, and we wanted a little more room to spread out during vest and neb sessions. Two hours of treatments a day can be hard on everyone when you are in a very small space. So, we got a family suite at a value resort (we stayed at the Music themed one) for just a bit more than a regular room at a "nicer" resort. It was wonderful. It was more than enough room for the 4 of us (since the girls were small - not sure it will work when they are teens...)and very comfortable. The "kitchen" area was a great place to organize meds and set up a cleaning station for nebulizers.
<br />
<br />We are hoping to get back there before both girls are 'tweens. We'll see.
 

petnurse

New member
We just got back from Disney this Sunday. We used a GAP and you absolutely do not need a drs note. We walked up to the counter and I said my son has cf and we would like a gap to avoid him standing in long lines with potentially contagious people. No questions asked, they whipped out a card for all 6 of our members and it was valid for our entire stay. They also gave us a sticker for our stroller that made it equal to a wheelchair...so we rarely had to park the stroller. We still waited in some lines. The pass is essentially a fast pass without having a specified time. Disney's website actually says a lot of people show up with drs notes but that they do not ask for them. Either way it is very nice to have :)
 

petnurse

New member
We just got back from Disney this Sunday. We used a GAP and you absolutely do not need a drs note. We walked up to the counter and I said my son has cf and we would like a gap to avoid him standing in long lines with potentially contagious people. No questions asked, they whipped out a card for all 6 of our members and it was valid for our entire stay. They also gave us a sticker for our stroller that made it equal to a wheelchair...so we rarely had to park the stroller. We still waited in some lines. The pass is essentially a fast pass without having a specified time. Disney's website actually says a lot of people show up with drs notes but that they do not ask for them. Either way it is very nice to have :)
 

petnurse

New member
We just got back from Disney this Sunday. We used a GAP and you absolutely do not need a drs note. We walked up to the counter and I said my son has cf and we would like a gap to avoid him standing in long lines with potentially contagious people. No questions asked, they whipped out a card for all 6 of our members and it was valid for our entire stay. They also gave us a sticker for our stroller that made it equal to a wheelchair...so we rarely had to park the stroller. We still waited in some lines. The pass is essentially a fast pass without having a specified time. Disney's website actually says a lot of people show up with drs notes but that they do not ask for them. Either way it is very nice to have :)
 

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
I ordered dispoable nebs and will pack them, but will have extras in my carryon with his meds -- that way we'll have room in our suitcase to bring back more souveniers. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Our room does have a fridge and last time I bought milk in the hotel store and then mixed up CIB, brought along granola bars and fruit snacks for breakfast.

Getting excited. Hoping the weather will cooperate. The only "bummer" was that after we made reservations thru our airline and got a pretty good deal, I received an email with a PIN code from disney that would've saved us a few hundred dollars on our stay. So if any of you are planning a trip -- register on their site for a DVD and you SHOULD start getting emails from them. I believe in the fall they off free dining programs. So keep an eye out for postcards and emails from disney.
 

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
I ordered dispoable nebs and will pack them, but will have extras in my carryon with his meds -- that way we'll have room in our suitcase to bring back more souveniers. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Our room does have a fridge and last time I bought milk in the hotel store and then mixed up CIB, brought along granola bars and fruit snacks for breakfast.

Getting excited. Hoping the weather will cooperate. The only "bummer" was that after we made reservations thru our airline and got a pretty good deal, I received an email with a PIN code from disney that would've saved us a few hundred dollars on our stay. So if any of you are planning a trip -- register on their site for a DVD and you SHOULD start getting emails from them. I believe in the fall they off free dining programs. So keep an eye out for postcards and emails from disney.
 

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
I ordered dispoable nebs and will pack them, but will have extras in my carryon with his meds -- that way we'll have room in our suitcase to bring back more souveniers. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />Our room does have a fridge and last time I bought milk in the hotel store and then mixed up CIB, brought along granola bars and fruit snacks for breakfast.
<br />
<br />Getting excited. Hoping the weather will cooperate. The only "bummer" was that after we made reservations thru our airline and got a pretty good deal, I received an email with a PIN code from disney that would've saved us a few hundred dollars on our stay. So if any of you are planning a trip -- register on their site for a DVD and you SHOULD start getting emails from them. I believe in the fall they off free dining programs. So keep an eye out for postcards and emails from disney.
 

babyluke

New member
Liza--did you call them because sometimes they will honor the discounts even if you have already booked your trip. We did that once and they did give us the discount. But it was a few years ago--right after 9/11 so no one was traveling and they may have been more desperate than they are now!
We went in May of 09. We got the guest assistance card for Luke and it was a blessing because it was unseasonably hot that week--in the upper 90's every day! So I say get it and if you don't need it, don't use it. And they did let us use it for our party of 9 because it was my husband and I and our kids and no other adults in our party and we couldn't really split up so they will make exceptions if you have a specific need. We did not declare his stroller as a wheelchair and I really wish that we had. If your child is pretty young I would suggest doing that. There were several times that Luke was asleep and it would have been better to leave him in the stroller through the show or whatever we were doing and if we had gotten that sticker for his stroller we could have.
We are headed back this June. Can't wait!
 
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