1st trip to WDW, ASD son afraid of transportation, help!

[halssister]

I am beginning to plan our family's first trip to WDW, hopefully to be taken at the end of October. I've been reading off and on about it for a few years now, and we have our tickets thanks to putting my son's therapy sessions on our Disney Visa and paying it off each month I even bought the Passporter's Open Mouse today and started reading it, but there's a couple things I haven't seen addressed and I'm getting worried.

My son (8 years old) has autism and, since last year, has developed a fear of riding in or on anything other than a car. We've never been able to get him on a school bus until recently (and now only when it's not moving and he's the only one on it, still won't sit in a seat though, just stands in the aisle!) He went on a few "tame" roller coasters with me a couple years ago and I don't know if they scared him or what, but now any sort of tram, train, bus, whatever, he refuses to get on. Does this mean we won't be able to go to the Magic Kingdom after all? Someone told me that you could drive there, but I read something else that said you had to park and then take a ferry or monorail to it. I don't think he'll get on a ferry or monorail! We plan on just taking in shows, seeing sights, doing some swimming and maybe coaxing him onto a few "non-roller-coaster-looking" rides.

Also, we were original thinking All-Star Resort (cheap, we're on a tight budget here) but Coronado Springs looks really nice. All my son REALLY wants to do is hang out at a pool or water park all day, and since we weren't planning on paying extra for the water parks, the pool at Coronado Springs looks awesome. However, on the map I don't see parking, and everything I'm reading talks about being driven to your building on a golf cart or bus. Is that the only way to get there?

Nowhere can I find "recommendations for kids who are terrified of public transportation" Can anyone offer me any help here?
Thank you all for any insight!

 

[SueM in MN]

tnow any sort of tram, train, bus, whatever, he refuses to get on. Does this mean we won't be able to go to the Magic Kingdom after all? Someone told me that you could drive there, but I read something else that said you had to park and then take a ferry or monorail to it. I don't think he'll get on a ferry or monorail! We plan on just taking in shows, seeing sights, doing some swimming and maybe coaxing him onto a few "non-roller-coaster-looking" rides.

It is correct that you do have to take either the ferry boat or monorail from the parking lot at MK to actually get to MK.
This thread might be helpful to you since the OP was asking about the same thing - how to get to MK without using public transportation. There are some suggestions in that thread that might work for you.
You might also want to check on youtube if there are any videos that show the monorail. One thing positive about the monorail that may help is that your son could stand up on it.

Also, we were original thinking All-Star Resort (cheap, we're on a tight budget here) but Coronado Springs looks really nice. All my son REALLY wants to do is hang out at a pool or water park all day, and since we weren't planning on paying extra for the water parks, the pool at Coronado Springs looks awesome. However, on the map I don't see parking, and everything I'm reading talks about being driven to your building on a golf cart or bus. Is that the only way to get there?

For people who don't have cars, there are buses and you can be brought to your room by CMs driving golf courses.
It is possible to walk from your room to the pool and from your room to the food court. It may be a distance, but you could do it.
There is parking close to the rooms, but you may not notice it on the map if you don't know what to look for (and, if I recall, the map in the Open Mouse book doesn't show the parking).
This map does show parking for each building. It's the tan area with gray lines and kind of stylized cars and vans in different colors:

The picture doesn't seem to be showing up, so here is a link:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/cspringsmap.htm

If you think you would want to mostly go to Epcot and the Studio, you may also want to look at one of the Epcot area resorts - Boardwalk, Beach Club, Yaght Club and the Swan and Dolphin. The first 3 are WDW resorts, but Boardwalk and Beach Club also have DVC villas and you might be able to save costs by renting DVC points from a member. Swan and Dolphin are on WDW property, but are not Disney owned and some people have been able to get good discounts to them.

 

[halssister]

Thank you Sue! It is very helpful to know that you stand up on the monorail; that may make him feel less anxious. Any idea how long the actual trip takes?
I guess we have 9 months to work with him on it That is why I am starting my preliminary planning now. And of course I know a lot can change for kiddos in that amount of time too!

People here seem very friendly as well as knowledgeable. I plan on doing a lot of poking around here in the foreseeable future!

 

[ElizabethG]

That is a tough one. My son developed a fear of fire alarms. They are everywhere! He could spot them on the 30ft ceiling at Target. Darn that fire safety!

The monorail ride from the TTC to MK is about 10-15 minutes. You should avoid park opening and closing time. There is a lot of people waiting and you will have to watch a couple of them go by. For my son, anticipation makes the experience worse.

If you have more than one adult, and it is really a problem, you could have another adult drop you and your son off at the Contemporary Resort. They have a walk-way to the MK. You could then meet up at the gate.

 

[tinkerbelluk]

There is the option to walk to the Magic Kingdom, as there is a walkway that goes around the seven seas lagoon, however unless he really will not get on the monorail or ferryboat i would not advise it especially as the TTC is 1 1/2 miles away from the Magic Kingdom.

 

[cranbiz]

There is the option to walk to the Magic Kingdom, as there is a walkway that goes around the seven seas lagoon, however unless he really will not get on the monorail or ferryboat i would not advise it especially as the TTC is 1 1/2 miles away from the Magic Kingdom.

Ah, no.

There is a walkway from the TTC to the Grand Floridian, but it does not continue on to the Magic Kingdom. There is a walkway from the Contemporary to the Magic Kingdom but it does not connect to the TTC.

While you CAN physically walk from the TTC to the Magic Kingdom, there is NO paved walkway from the TTC to the water bridge and therefore it is unsafe to walk. You would have to walk on a narrow busy street.

 

[curemyreed]

Nearly everyone riding the ferry boat from TTC to MK is standing, so DS could stand for that. Look for pictures/YouTube of the ferry. To me it feels very open, like you are standing outdoors, not at all like confined inside a boat.

I agree with the option of walking to MK from the Contemporary resort. Plenty of people who stay there opt to do that rather than take the monorail. You don't have to split up your group by having an adult drop most of you off, if that is inconvenient. Taxis are available at every resort. Your whole family could taxi to/from Contemporary from Value or Mod resort.

Feeling your dilemma, BTW. Our DD (8) also has an ASD diagnosis. She had become so terrified of automatic-flush toilets prior to our last WDW vacation I was at a loss for what to do. Can't hold it for 10 days!!! I posted here and received so many thoughtful suggestions and advice. I know you will, too. Just as I know your family will have a MAGICAL vacation!

 

[bookwormde]

You did not say if you were driving to WDW or flying, but in either case having a car is a good idea. I always have a care available “just in case”. As for MK if you have multiple adults you can drive to MK and drop off along the BLT area or I do not think there is anything preventing you from dropping off at the bus loop for MK.

With the magic of WDW for our kids do not underestimate the potential that to get to the parks the busses may be “tolerable”. For my DS As the focus on getting to the parks overshadowed any concerns about a new form of transportation.

bookwormde

 

[SueM in MN]

You did not say if you were driving to WDW or flying, but in either case having a car is a good idea. I always have a care available “just in case”. As for MK if you have multiple adults you can drive to MK and drop off along the BLT area or I do not think there is anything preventing you from dropping off at the bus loop for MK.

With the magic of WDW for our kids do not underestimate the potential that to get to the parks the busses may be “tolerable”. For my DS As the focus on getting to the parks overshadowed any concerns about a new form of transportation.

bookwormde

don't try to drop off at the MK bus loop. I can't remember if there are gates, but there are signs that say buses only. It is a VERY busy area with traffic flow in many directions as the buses get into position to enter and leave their assigned spots. It would not be safe.

 

[livndisney]

don't try to drop off at the MK bus loop. I can't remember if there are gates, but there are signs that say buses only. It is a VERY busy area with traffic flow in many directions as the buses get into position to enter and leave their assigned spots. It would not be safe.

There are gates. I would not even try to park/drop off in that loop.
The closest you can safely get to MK is to drop off at the Cont. and walk over to MK. You will need to cross a street (with a crosswalk) and there is a sidewalk all the way to the bag check area.

 

[thej]

We've taken DS 8 with Asperger's twice to WDW and he has enjoyed all of the transportation, but then he loves things that move. A quick drive to the Contemporary will allow you to drop off and walk across the path to the MK. If you schedule a breakfast there, at say Chef Mickey's or the Wave you can even park there for the day without trouble

As far as the Coronado Springs, we just stayed there over New Years, and had a good experience. it seems quieter than the other properities to us. We made it clear when we reserved that we had a son with an ASD and they were very accomodating in terms of giving us a room that met our needs (Quiet, but close to bus and Pepper Market). Pepper market was also good about modifying meals when we asked. At some of the QS eateries this was a bit of a problem. Not sure if this is an issue for you. Pool was GREAT there, but it was too cold for us to use it. I'm sure your DS would love it.

 

[halssister]

Thank you all for some more great info and advice!
It will be just my husband, son and I. We are driving, it's a long trip from Indiana but DH gets motion sickness really bad so flying is an absolute last resort for him. Splitting up to drop off may not be an option because that is a huge one for my son, whenever we travel he gets really distressed if the party splits up. He is constantly checking and counting to make sure everyone is still with us, maybe he's worried about one of us getting lost

We're definitely going to work on things with him and I am so glad we are starting this prep early enough! I do think things will work out in the end....worst case scenario, DH and I will just tell him that WE are going to get on the monorail and he'll realize he has no choice in the matter; he may scream and tantrum the whole trip (sorry for any other travelers riding that morning!), but knowing him, he'll calm down in less than half an hour and be ready to roll from there!

 

[SueM in MN]

We've taken DS 8 with Asperger's twice to WDW and he has enjoyed all of the transportation, but then he loves things that move. A quick drive to the Contemporary will allow you to drop off and walk across the path to the MK. If you schedule a breakfast there, at say Chef Mickey's or the Wave you can even park there for the day without trouble

just be aware that many people have posted in the past that they were given a 3 hour parking pass when they checked in for their scheduled breakfast, so parking there all day may not be a possibility.