Janet2K! Thank you for the pictures. I just showed the water slide video to 1 of our sons and he was thrilled. We knew there was a water slide, but WOW!!!
You are correct, one of our sons has cerebral palsy as a result of these fellows being born > 3months early (their 8th birthday is tomorrow!). He is very bright and verbally typically developing, but his mobility is quite challenged and he has other medical issues. He uses a walker, and a wheelchair for long distances (Like WDW!) We are hoping to use the walker around the GF. This is the first time we have travelled as a family without the car (we live in Toronto), so it makes it harder to pack up the medical supplies (he has a feeding tube for extra nutrition), w/c, etc etc. I am so used to being able to prepare for everything!
The CMs at WDW have been wonderful in helping us plan. The GF IPO (CAlvin in particular) has been very helpful. The most surprising thing to me is when I ask a question to which I'm used to hearing "oh I don't think we can do that" because of DS's disability, the WDW response is "that's fine." He's being welcomed in the Mouseketeer CLub for an evening (DH and I are going to V&A's while our twins enjoy an evening of kid fun). Usually, if I don't provide 1:1 support, there is all kinds of hedging around.
The only place at all like WDW that we've been to is ultra-accommodating to kids in W/C's because they are rare. Our kids aren't used to waiting in line, I'm afraid, spoiled as this is! I supect with more w/c's at WDW we'll have to teach them anout the joys of waiting patiently...
My other hope is that CMs realize that our able-bodied son is every bit as special as his disabled twin. DS with CP does "stand out" and is often treated specially as a result. I know people have good intentions, but they don't realize how uch this hurts our able-bodied sons feelings. He deserves special treatment too - he has been so accomodating about the extra assistnace given his brother, always moving slower, my time away with DS in hospital, at therapy etc. I want him to have a vacation that is every bit as special. We plan to split up sometimes for 1:1 time.
Well that was quite a long message when what I really wanted to say was...thank for the video clip!
You are correct, one of our sons has cerebral palsy as a result of these fellows being born > 3months early (their 8th birthday is tomorrow!). He is very bright and verbally typically developing, but his mobility is quite challenged and he has other medical issues. He uses a walker, and a wheelchair for long distances (Like WDW!) We are hoping to use the walker around the GF. This is the first time we have travelled as a family without the car (we live in Toronto), so it makes it harder to pack up the medical supplies (he has a feeding tube for extra nutrition), w/c, etc etc. I am so used to being able to prepare for everything!
The CMs at WDW have been wonderful in helping us plan. The GF IPO (CAlvin in particular) has been very helpful. The most surprising thing to me is when I ask a question to which I'm used to hearing "oh I don't think we can do that" because of DS's disability, the WDW response is "that's fine." He's being welcomed in the Mouseketeer CLub for an evening (DH and I are going to V&A's while our twins enjoy an evening of kid fun). Usually, if I don't provide 1:1 support, there is all kinds of hedging around.
The only place at all like WDW that we've been to is ultra-accommodating to kids in W/C's because they are rare. Our kids aren't used to waiting in line, I'm afraid, spoiled as this is! I supect with more w/c's at WDW we'll have to teach them anout the joys of waiting patiently...
My other hope is that CMs realize that our able-bodied son is every bit as special as his disabled twin. DS with CP does "stand out" and is often treated specially as a result. I know people have good intentions, but they don't realize how uch this hurts our able-bodied sons feelings. He deserves special treatment too - he has been so accomodating about the extra assistnace given his brother, always moving slower, my time away with DS in hospital, at therapy etc. I want him to have a vacation that is every bit as special. We plan to split up sometimes for 1:1 time.
Well that was quite a long message when what I really wanted to say was...thank for the video clip!