Hey Badshoe & Nowimscrappin, We had a great time at Disney!

[Judy&Alli]

Hi Bennett,
Just wanted to let you know that we appreciated all your great tips for Disney and had a great time. :D

I was a little apprehensive about getting the fast pass because I didn't want my little Disney Princess to think that all her life she can get preferential treatment because she has diabetes. HOWEVER, we got it and were able to ride rides that we wouldn't have been able to ride if we didn't have it. Space Mountain and Splash Mountain were hour and a half waits. If we didn't have the pass we would have had to skip the best rides because we couldn't disconnect her for that long.


Nancy thanks for the carb counts I used them and they helped alot! I had them in my purse and as soon as Alli saw the Mickey ice cream she knew I had the carb counts for them and ended up having ice cream twice.:D

Thanks to both of you we had a great time!!!!!!!
Judy:D

[badshoe]

Glad you had a great time.

[MReinhardt]

Oh Judy, sounds like you gals had a wonderful time. Hope you took pictures you gotta share them.

[jcanolson]

We're headed down in September. Last time we checked with Guest Services, but we were told they did not offer Guest Assistance or Fast Passes for children with diabetes. Obviously long lines and waits make bg go wacky.
Any ideas?
Carol
Mom to Alexa age 13
and Natalie age 5 dx. 10/2005 pumping with Animas since 1/2006

[MrsBadshoe]

That's crazy we have gotten one the last 3 visits. Make sure you go to MK and ask as that is the easiest place to get one...MGM doesn't give them very often for their park because they don't have the line issues. We lost ours and had to get a replacement; I had to convience them that we might need it for RnR or ToT.

It is a RED Guest Assistance Card "So guests can use an alternate attraction entrance where available." (that is what is stamped on our last card)

I just tell them we have problems with long lines at times when her BS is fluctuating due to the heat and exercise and we need to have the ability to use the alternative entrances when available because they are usually inside and much shorter. And those times that we need to leave the line due to problems with BS it makes it easier to join the alternative entrance when we are done treating their BS issues.

We're headed down in September. Last time we checked with Guest Services, but we were told they did not offer Guest Assistance or Fast Passes for children with diabetes. Obviously long lines and waits make bg go wacky.
Any ideas?
Carol
Mom to Alexa age 13
and Natalie age 5 dx. 10/2005 pumping with Animas since 1/2006

[badshoe]

We're headed down in September. Last time we checked with Guest Services, but we were told they did not offer Guest Assistance or Fast Passes for children with diabetes. Obviously long lines and waits make bg go wacky.
Any ideas?
Carol
Mom to Alexa age 13
and Natalie age 5 dx. 10/2005 pumping with Animas since 1/2006

Don't call it a fast pass. Ask for a Guest Assistance Pass with alternative entrance because the combination of walking, un-know carb counts, heat lead to the child can go hypoglycemic in line. If one guest services desk doesn't give you one try a different park.

[jcanolson]

That's what we asked for at MK, and they told us "We don't do that for diabetic kids". I had heard rumors about the Guest Assistance pass being available for kids with Type 1, but I had never been able to verify so I didn't press the issue. Thankfully it was Sept., so the lines weren't really bad. Wish I'd tried the forum a couple years ago!
Thanks for the info!
Carol
Mom of
Alexa age 12 and
Natalie age 5 dx. 10/2005,
pumping with Animas since 1/2006

[selketine]

Make sure you go to MK and ask as that is the easiest place to get one.

I second that - I find guest services in the Magic Kingdom to be better informed. They will not give out a card based on a medical condition but based on need (since those with the same medical diagnosis could have very different needs). So be expected to request one based on needs.

I find a good touring plan is very helpful - I really like Tour Guide Mike (http://www.tourguidemike.com). The cost to join his site is about the same as for a guide book to WDW - if you follow his touring plan advice it really helps to minimize the crowds. Of course with the D kids even the best laid plans go whacko more often than not which can make the guest assistance card useful.

[Judy&Alli]

Don't call it a fast pass. Ask for a Guest Assistance Pass with alternative entrance because the combination of walking, un-know carb counts, heat lead to the child can go hypoglycemic in line. If one guest services desk doesn't give you one try a different park.

Soory yes I got the name wrong. We went into guest relations inside the town hall and they gave us one with no questions, nothing but smiles and wishing us a magical day. Which is indeed what we had!!!!!:D:D:D

[mom to a sports nut]

Are you all talking about WDW??? Anyone got one at Disneyland?? We are going there next week.:D

[Judy&Alli]

Are you all talking about WDW??? Anyone got one at Disneyland?? We are going there next week.:D

We were at WDW so I'm not sure about Disney Land, Sorry. Hope you have a great time!!!!!!!!

[Nancy in VA]

Well, I'm glad my carb counts helped. We actually had pretty good numbers that week, so I was pretty confident in the numbers!!

Glad you had a great time. Its all I can do to keep from planning another trip right away - I SOOO want to go but should really wait for next year

[zimbie45]

disneyland no longer does them!!!:(

[Bsbllmom]

We have annual passes at Disneyland and get one all the time. They still do them.

[mom to a sports nut]

Where would you ask at disneyland??

[iluvmhp]

We had to "fight" for one at WDW two weeks ago. They said they do not give them to diabetics. I showed them the letter from our endo, they said they do not look at dr. letters. The person finally said she was type 1 and it was her birthday so she would do it, but it was not Disney's policy to do so.

So, on our way out we went to another agent. She said the same thing, my husband told him his concerns for our daughter and the agent gave him a three month pass.

So, I guess it depends on who you talk to and what kind of mood they are in!

Good luck!

Susan

[jcanolson]

Well, that's annoying!

[Bsbllmom]

At Disneyland you go to City Hall which is on the right side of the street when you walk in.

When you ask for a pass they will not give one for the disease itself. If that were the case anyone could go in and say I have diabetes, autism or anything else and get a pass. What they want to know is what your concerns are. It doesn't matter who you talk to. With Christian I just told them with the excercise, heat, uncertainty of the carbs that he could drop quickly and we would have to get out of line to treat him. So they gave us one to enter back through the Fast Pass line.

We try not to go when it is really crowded so when we go the lines are usually short. I do use the pass when we get out of line if he has to go to the restroom or when we get out to treat a low, which has only been a couple of times. I let him snack uncovered when we are there all day, but most of the times we just go for a few hours.

Good luck and have fun.

[twodoor2]

Judy,
I'm so glad you had a nice vacation. We need to go to WDW soon!!

[Mom2rh]

We have been to Disneyland a couple of times and Disney world once with our older D kid. We have never needed a pass. I think it would be very useful for younger kids (I can totally see the need there!) but for us we did find without it.

[Judy&Alli]

Judy,
I'm so glad you had a nice vacation. We need to go to WDW soon!!

Thanks Marsha!!!! We went last year as well and didn't know about the pass. This year it was really nice. We didn't use it for all the rides just the ones with the long wait. It was awesome! The girls were little angels even with the heat at 88 degrees. I was a very proud mom!
Judy:)

[Bsbllmom]

We have been to Disneyland a couple of times and Disney world once with our older D kid. We have never needed a pass. I think it would be very useful for younger kids (I can totally see the need there!) but for us we did find without it.

That's awesome!!:D

[Laura]

We are doing the Disney land and sea thing in May. Does anyone have any suggestions/input for the cruise part? Thanks!