I know... Disneyland again.

[Awomansworth]

We are going next week... I rang the surgery who put me through to my GP's secretary and I requested a letter confirming ds's diagnosis of ASD and that he will have difficulty with queuing etc.

She said she would get another GP to do it as my GP on holiday. Picked it up today and it says the following...

I can confirm that ds has a history of Autistic spectrum disorder. He has been seen by the community paediatrician with the last review in October 2013.

This won't do, will it. You don't have a history of ASD, you have it!!Charged me £12 as well.

Anyone that has been recently care to share what their letter said.

Thanks in advance. I've tried to ring her but she's out this afternoon.

We went to Disneyland Paris in June, and got the access pass on our third day there. I had brought a copy of DD's dx report, which was dated November 2012.
I had also tried to get a letter from the GP practice confirming dx so that I would have something more up to date. I paid £10 for a "to whom it may concern" letter, and filled in a form confirming what I wanted the letter to say. DH went to pick up the letter three weeks later, the day before we were due to go on holiday. It hadn't been done; apparently we hadn't given them sufficient notice.
I thought that there was no way we would get a pass without the GP's letter, but the dx report was accepted without any issues. The pass was great and really made things easier for DD.
Hope you have a brilliant time

I also asked our GP for this letter and got a very vague "minikinky has ADHD/ASD" letter which I'm scared won't cut it, as it doesn't say anything about what the diagnosis means and that she'll struggle with things. I'm considering asking her mental health team to do another letter.

I've just had a look at the "Accessibility Guide" we were given when we got the pass for DD. The pass was called a Disabled Priority Card, and it gives the individual and their helper priority access to certain attractions in both parks via specially-adapted entrance. To obtain the card, a disability pass or medical certificate must be presented. It describes a medical certificate as; "Medical Certificate: guests must present an original medical certificate in French or English issued less than 3 months previously, signed and stamped by the doctor and certifying that they have a disability".
I didn't think we would get the pass for DD because we didn't have the letter from the GP. However, I thought I would ask about it anyway and brought the dx report. When I went in, the Disney employee just looked at the part of the report that specified the ASD diagnosis, and seemed content with that. He also asked me to point her out - not that he examined her or anything, I think he just wanted to make sure that she was roughly the right age etc. The whole process took about 5 minutes.
I didn't get the pass until the third day of our trip, because I felt a bit bad for asking for it, and plus I didn't think we would get it anyway without the GP letter. But I'm so glad we did get it - it was brilliant, and really made it a much better experience for DD. I know Disney isn't everyone's idea of a holiday , but I think they are very good at guests with disabilities feel welcome and included.

We went last week, I think your letter should be ok as long as its surgery headed notepaper with a current date and the ASD diagnosis. Go to the town hall on main street as soon as you arrive and show them your letter and you will get a pass, they are worth their weight in gold as the queues for the attractions were over an hour long last week.

Thanks all.

You see that's my worry rosie, the letter only states that ds has "a history of ASD", the actual word diagnosis is nowhere to be seen.

It's the terminology that has thrown me, I have never heard anyone use or write that to describe a disability.

I've just rung the surgery to request another letter stating what I need the letter to actually state... like I did the first time, I can collect later today, so panic over.

The receptionist (not doctor) told me that the term "history of ASD" was possibly used as ASD is such a huge spectrum and "they" can get better!!!!!

Now I put her straight in no uncertain terms, and she quickly put me through to the doctors secretary. But really... some people just shouldn't be doing the job they do.

We went last year and I'm sure I got an exit pass with my DLA award letter. I'm pretty sure I took that because I read about it on here and there were no problems getting the pass. Maybe someone else can confirm this. I too waited a couple of days before getting it and it made such a huge difference I would definitely recommend getting it as soon as you arrive.

They used to accept DLA letters but i dont think they do now, needs to be a medical certificate or doctors letter, hope you have a lovely time Awomansworth, it was 38 degrees in the shade last week hopefully its cooled down a bit for you.

We went in June this year and just had our blue badge, it took about 2mins to get the pass which was for my daughter and 5 companions. It was fantastic and everybody was so welcoming and helpful. We also got a VIP pass for breakfast when we checked in, we didn't ask for it they just did it! Then on the first evening there I was called to reception to collect a letter inviting us to a special surprise the next day. It was a private meeting with Donald Duck and Daisy Duck in a lovely playroom. Again, we didn't ask for it they just organised it for a surprise for us all! It sounds terribly corny but it was magical!

rosie thank you, I'm sure we will and I do hope it's cooler than 38 degrees!

T1red That all sounds just fab, I be your dd had a wonderful time.