Enjoy Disneyland Despite Diabetes
by Bibi on Tuesday, January 11th, 2011 | 13 Comments
Our family loves to travel and discover new places and adventures. After my son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in December 2005 at the age of 8 our traveling and adventures had to change quite a bit.
In September 2008 we decided to visit Disneyland for very first time since his diagnoses.
I was little hesitant and stressed out about the long lines, hot weather and not the best food choices inside the Disneyland.
It took little bit more planning and research, but we decided to go for it.
Disneyland 2008
My son is a brittle type 1 diabetic which means his blood glucose level can go very low or skyrocket without any particular reason. There is no pattern to his diabetes so he requires close monitoring and extra attention. I needed to make sure that he’s safe, all his diabetic needs are met and he can be a kid and have lots of fun.
We flew out of the Spokane International Airport. Since we live about 3 hours away we decided to stay overnight at the Ramada Airport Inn. They offer Park’n'Fly (free parking for up to 14 days) which is a great deal since they are located directly across from the airport terminal. This decision made it so much easier to control his blood glucose levels. No middle of the night traveling and stress.
After a short flight we landed at the John Wayne Airport in Orange County. We stayed at the Best Western Park Place Inn located directly across the entrance to Disneyland and California Adventure park. The Best Western was by far the best deal around: friendly staff, very reasonable priced nice rooms with microwave and mini fridge, gift shop, car rental, complimentary deluxe breakfast next door at Captain’ Kids, 5 minute walk to Disneyland.
The fridge in the room was very important to us to keep all his insulin and special snacks and juices cold and fresh.
We bought our tickets online at www.Disneyland.com to save money. I did a research and I found out that if you travel with a child with type 1 diabetes (or other disability) you can stop by Guest Services right after you enter Disneyland for little help to make them have as much fun as possible.
Our son received Guest Assistance Card which allowed him and up to 5 members of his party use wheelchair entrances at various rides and attractions. Since it was a hot day we had to stop many times to check his blood glucose and give him drinks and snacks, but thanks to his pass he didn’t miss out on anything.
Most of the attendants made him feel very special and he didn’t have to wait too long. The longest we waited was 15 minutes on the most popular rides.
Dinner @ Tony Roma's across from Disneyland
We purchased our snacks and bottled water at the corner store by the hotel. The drinks and food inside Disneyland are very overpriced and most of the meals and snacks don’t show their nutritional value which we needed to give our son the correct amount of insulin.
Since our hotel was only 5 minutes away we ate lunch and dinner outside Disneyland. Just a short walk from the Best Western Park Inn was IHOP restaurant, McDonald’s, Denny’s and Tony Roma’s Steakhouse. Everywhere we go we bring with us The Calorie King Calorie Fat & Carbohydrate Counter booklet which lists nutritional values for meals in many US chain restaurants. This little booklet is a MUST if you travel with type 1 diabetic child.
Late Night @ California Adventure
At the end we all enjoyed our trip to Disneyland, made new memories and kept our diabetic child happy and safe.
We returned back to DISNEYLAND in September 2010 with our now teenage diabetic. Once again he received the special pass and enjoyed every minute of Disneyland.
Disneyland 2010
THANK YOU DISNEYLAND FOR MAKING OUR VISIT SPECIAL!!! Children with disabilities struggle every single day to live normal life and you help them with magic of Disney to feel “extra special” and “kind of a big deal” around the park.
More DISNEYLAND related Articles:
30 Things You Didn’t Know About Disneyland
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Wonderful!! Sounds like you all had a fantastic time despite the type 1. My daughter is type 1. She is almost 25 and has had it since she was 10. She is also a brittle type 1. But, it’s been difficult to get the Doc’s in this area to realize that. She will spike or drop for no reason. She’s much better about taking care of it now than she used to be. She wanted to be a typical kid. She is married, has 1 child and is a massage therapist. Despite the difficulties that she has had with people treating her like a hypochondriac, she has done well for herself!
I love you post and it looks as if you are dealing well with his type 1. My best to all of you. It’s hard but you do what you have to do!!
Julz@ julzjewlz.com and http://spookyjulz.blogspot.com
Thank you for stopping by. I love to hear from parents of diabetic kids. I am so glad to hear your daughter done so well for herself. I just hope my son will do the same. Right now he is in a rebellious stage and it is very hard to keep positive. As you said you do what you have to do!
Wow! That is a wonderful post. I love Disney World and I love that they made it so much fun for you and your family.
Thanks for stopping by and helping make it a wonderful SITS feature day…following you back
I always take a small soft sided cooler into the theme parts with snacks. Even if it is stated that you cannot take food in, they will allow it if you state that it is for medical reasons. I always state that we have food allergies and have no problems taking food in.
We always bring our own snacks to make sure we know what he’s eating and to make sure he has it right away. We didn’t have any problems in Disneyland or any other Southern California parks. We also carry a travel letter from his doctor in case someone questions us. So far I didn’t encounter any problems.
Thank you for this post. My 10 year old is also a type 1 diabetic and we are looking to go to Disneyland for the first time since her diagnoses. I was googling for advice on it when your post came up.
Lizz, I am so glad my post can help you in your diabetic daughter enjoyed Disneyland to the fullest. I hope you have lots of fun and if you have any more questions don’t hesitate to contact me through e-mail.
Hi I’m a mother of a 10year old son. Who just got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, he was in the icu for about a week because when he was rushed to the hospital his blood sugar levels were 700. It was a close one. He is having a really hard time understanding and excepting the fact that he has to change his life style for his health and get depressed and scared of what others say about him and his diabetes. I am trying my hardest to be here for him Nd re assure him that he will be just fine, but I would like any advice and tips on how to go about this with him. Also I wanted to take him to Disneyland this summer and would like advice on how to do that and see if anyone knows how I can get discounted tickets, we are a family of 5 I am a 29year old mother and have 4kids. If anyone can help me with advice or discounts or anything please let me know… Thank you!
Hi Dayna, my heart really goes out to you and your son. I still remember the day my son was diagnosed and the first year was very, very hard. I will personally email you because there is so much I want to tell you and share with you and see if me and my son can help your son in any way.
My family just returned from Disneyland and California Adventure with my 10 y/o T1D daughter. Much to my dismay, Disney was NOT as friendly to the special needs of diabetics as they have been in the past. Perhaps it’s because of the abuse of the Guest Assistance Card by others. But when you have a child that suffers from sudden highs or low blood glucose levels, standing in a line for 95 minutes is sometimes not an option. Disney’s solution? They made the aisles wider so that if we had to leave the queue, we could. After spending 75 minutes or more, do you really think a 10 year old girl would leave a ride line because of a pesky little blood glucose issue? Let me tell you, not without a fight! Disney left a bad taste in my family’s mouth this trip. We plan on not visiting there again!
I am so sorry to hear about your bad experience. I would feel same as you if we weren’t lucky enough to get front of the line pass. I guess it depends how compassionate the person at guest services is. We were lucky and I think Disney need to make some changes and have written rules about who gets what and not leave it up to the guest services clerks.
As parents of D children we get lots of grief from people who don’t understand what it is like to have D child especially one that has unpredictable highs and lows. Like my son and your daughter. To those people I would say to try live our life for only one week….
My daughter, just turned 12 was diagnosed with type1 just under 2 years ago. We went to DL March 2011 for Spring Break and took advantage of the disability pass. All we had to do was explain why it was important for her to have it; unpredictable highs/lows, frequent restroom breaks with highs (having to leave the line), a place to wait out of the sun/heat. We had only been 2 other times before her diagnoses and we could definitely tell a difference in her endurance this time and were so glad this was available, she fatigued quicker and would not have been able to enjoy herself as much as if we didn’t have it. I felt a little awkward at first using it, as having no outward appearing disabilities in our group and you get the occasional not-so-nice look as your passing the long lines. But once you remind yourself you’ll never see any of these people again, that they don’t live with what your child lives with everyday and that your child would not have had as good of a time, it was all good!
We are fortunate enough to plan another visit for this summer and have every intention of getting another pass, especially since it will be prime time for higher temps. 
my daughter was diaganosed with type1 on halloween of last year she turned 12 6 days earlier we are planing a trip in november of this year and thank you for letting us know about the diability pass i try not to use anything like that at all, but in a place like disneyland you must for your kido (s) glad to know its there and we are counting down, im nervous to travel, as this is the first since diagnosed but i know all the fun and memories we will make thanks again i feel more at ease.