Will declaring banned items work with a MD letter?

As we prepare for our trip to WDW next month, I'm stressing over what we can bring for our kids to eat on the plane for 5+ hours . We typically bring lemonade (the only thing my 7-year-old high functioning autistic daughter will drink), yogurt, and applesauce, plus we keep everything cold with those hard-sided Blue Ice packs.

It seems like all of those things are banned. My DH was reading and came across some rules like, you can declare these things at a special place and if you have a MD letter explaining about your children's disabilities, you might be cleared to bring those things on-board. The risk is that they will say no and we'd have to toss these things, which may be more traumatic to my anxiety-ridden daughter than not bringing them in the first place, but I'm just wondering how to feed and hydrate her during the long haul. I can try and find a powdered lemonade that might suffice, and mix that with airline water and ice...I'd have to bring some sort of mini-pitcher, I guess. United doesn't serve food and only sells those dry boxed things, most of which she won't eat except for the M&Ms and chips.

So the question is, should I try the MD letter, a call to the airline ahead of time, a call to the airport? Does anyone know anything that might help?
Can I bring a can of fruit, like sliced pears? What about fresh grapes? Maybe they sell yogurt after security, but how to keep it cool then...ask for a ziploc bag of ice?

Life was easier before autistic kids...just carry on and go wherever I want...whenever!

First step has to be to speak to the airport. If they are say you can't take any liquids through security there is no point in talking to the airline or your doctor. If the airport say 'Yes' subject to certain conditions ask them for written confirmation and follow it to the letter. Remember to check with airports for both outward and return journey.

Crystal Light makes single-serve drink flavorings that you mix directly into bottled water--no need for a pitcher. You should be able to get bottled water from the flight attendant on the plane. You can bring food from home (just not liquids) so dry snacks should pass security.

Unless your austic child is used to the effects of artificial sweetners - I would pass on crystal light (although incredibly) easy to use and carry.

My youngest who is not autistic and 7yo, bounces off the walls when he consumes any artificial sweentners, ugggh same reaction as sinus meds and albuterol. Your child may be fine with this but an airplane may not be the place to test it.

People think I'm nuts when I look at the label and say "I'm making sure it only has sugar in it"

A letter from a doctor? I would hope it was not that easy. Anyone could create one of those. Remember, you can take on board any items you pruchase once in the secure part of the terminal.

Country Time also makes lemonade to go that is premeasured and in easy to take along packets. It is not artificially sweetened. I believe I read that you can buy bottled water at the airport if it is past the security screening. Walmart carries it.

Thanks for the suggestions! I found some Countrytime packets today and Kool-Aid lemonade. I will have her taste test these this weekend and see if she can tolerate them.

I do know that she doesn't do well with artificial sweetners, so I also look for sugar... .

Will flight attendants really give us a bottle of water? As long as I can buy water after security, we will do okay. Maybe they will sell yogurt too, and give us some ice to keep it cold?! I imagine that I can take on fresh fruit like bananas and grapes, but not a can of fruit with liquid in it? Would cut up fruit in a tupperware pass or get tossed (pears, peaches, apricots)?

I always want to have water with me. Anyway, I take an empty water bottle through security and then fill it up at the water fountain. Beats paying $3 for a bottle for everyone in the family. Hope this helps. We have flown 3 times since the new restrictions.

Would you have any idea of how ....

Emily said:

Unless your austic child is used to the effects of artificial sweetners - I would pass on crystal light (although incredibly) easy to use and carry.

My youngest who is not autistic and 7yo, bounces off the walls when he consumes any artificial sweentners, ugggh same reaction as sinus meds and albuterol. Your child may be fine with this but an airplane may not be the place to test it.

People think I'm nuts when I look at the label and say "I'm making sure it only has sugar in it"

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Do you have any experience with Splenda (sucralose)? Susposed to be made from sugar, so Im wondering if that was avoid the effects you're describing?

If sucralose (common brand name Splenda) is acceptable, Wyler's makes powdered packets of lemonade using sucralose as the sweetener. I personally like the taste of it more than Crystal Light.

My daughter likes the Countrytime, so we are going to bring those powdered packets and empty water bottles. We'll fill the water up after security, mix the powder in, and ask for ice. I'll try and find yogurt after security, and bring fresh fruit and survive on dried foods.

Thanks for all of your help!

we have something in common...

Hi Denise! We have something in common besides our names! I have a high-functioning autistic son, he is 17. Autisim wasn't known to have so many spectrums back when he was a child, so he just started out "eccentric."

I haven't flown since the new restrictions and my up-coming trip doesn't involve my son. But I am a diabetic and will have to bring a gel-pack with my medicine to keep it cold. I have always carried food on the plane (well, not back in the 70's when they actually served food on the plane). I usually take things like sandwiches & goldfish crackers because they're so compact. My bloodsugar can drop dramatically causing me to be dizzy & fuzzy if I don't eat.

Another tugger posted a good link to the governments TSA site which explains about the gels & containers that are being restricted. If you look under the thread labled "MASCARA" you will find it.

I hope you have a wonderful family vacation!

deniselew said:

My daughter likes the Countrytime, so we are going to bring those powdered packets and empty water bottles. We'll fill the water up after security, mix the powder in, and ask for ice.

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A newspaper article that I read last week said that it was not permissible to bring empty water bottles through security.

somerville said:

A newspaper article that I read last week said that it was not permissible to bring empty water bottles through security.

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Really? Can you point me to the article? Or can someone else also confirm this? I guess we pay $3 for a bottle of water then. Not a big deal in the scheme of things.

It was in the Wall Street Journal. Here is a link to the same article in another paper that popped up in Google News: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06305/734406-37.stm

Neesie said:

I hope you have a wonderful family vacation!

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Hi Neesie ,

Thanks for the link to the other thread and for your good wishes! I could use that family vacation NOW, but it's only two weeks away, so it will be here before I know it . I think we'll survive, which is all I can ask for!