Alternatives to MNSSHP for DS with autism

[donaldandpirates]

While the rest of our party will be going to MNSSHP on Oct. 31st, I felt it would be way too much of a sensory overload for DS (5) on the autism spectrum. He LOVES Halloween, however, so are there any alternative Halloween activities on property that I could take him to? We're staying at POP and will have park hoppers if that makes a difference.
Thanks!

 

[MrsKreamer]

IIRC DTD gives out candy to trick or treat-ers. In 2005, they had it the day before and on Halloween, starting around 5 or 6pm. We took our oldest(14 mos at the time) and he had a great time going from store front to store front. They even handed out bags like they do at MNSSHP. My info is from 2005 from when we lived there, so you may want to check to see if they still do this!

 

[NOLA_Tink]

We actually stayed at Pop this past Halloween and they had an entire night of excellent events planned for Pop Century guests including Halloween crafts, trick or treating, costuming, and a movie on a big screen outdoors. To my knowledge, most Disney hotels plan something like this for their guests on Halloween day. Pop Century occupants had to show their room key and were given wristbands (to make sure that non-guests weren't trying to crash the party).

I don't know if it will help, but I'll post a pic below of the schedule of events that we were given. (I seriously apologize for its fuzziness; I'm tiptoeing through the house & trying not to wake up my DH, lol.) Have a great trip!!!

 

[livndisney]

IIRC DTD gives out candy to trick or treat-ers. In 2005, they had it the day before and on Halloween, starting around 5 or 6pm. We took our oldest(14 mos at the time) and he had a great time going from store front to store front. They even handed out bags like they do at MNSSHP. My info is from 2005 from when we lived there, so you may want to check to see if they still do this!

Disney stopped offering trick or treat at Dtd last year or the year before.

 

[donaldandpirates]

That looks perfect, and knowing we can walk back to the room for a while if it gets to be too much would be wonderful! Thanks for posting this!!

 

[tikistitch]

When we went for the Halloween of 2010, Ft. Wilderness also offered a variety of things to do and see! There were hayrides, cast members hosted games and events, a pumpkin carving contest between cast members that we could vote on, and a costume parade, and a lot of the campsites and cabins did their own trick or treating and handed out candy! We ended up leaving with more candy from going to campsite to campsite than we probably would have if we had gone to the Halloween Party in the park. There was also an outside movie of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and then the Haunted Mansion film with Eddie Murphy shown at a campfire, and I believe it was Chip and Dale that were there to roast s'mores with everyone and play around. The movie started around 7 or 8 pm but we thought it might be too scary for the 4 year old we had with us, so we opted to skip that. The same 4 year old loved looking at fireworks but was afraid of the noise up close, so in the late evening we took the boat launch from Ft.Wilderness to the MK, and then headed over to the other boat launch from the MK to the Polynesian and then sat on the beach with some Dole Whips and watched the Hallowishes fireworks from there. The noise wasn't entirely gone but was far enough away that the little guy with us had a total blast!

 

[donaldandpirates]

Dole Whips AND Chip and Dale in one night?!?! Sounds like heaven for both me and DS! It's good to know there are lots of options to choose from.

 

[CarolineB]

golf cart parade at the Fort
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaMKNk8ZSv8

 

[morganax]

Cool....we are also going to be at the Pop this year on Halloween! Our DS is 8y/o with Aspergers.

We weren't going to do the MNSSHP due to the cost and not knowing how our son would react (this is going to be our first trip) but my mom-in-law forgot we mentioned it to her and purchased tickets anyway! Oh well, we aren't paying for em so we will see what happens....

We were planning on doing the Ft Wilderness happenings cause it looked fun and was free, except for the Haunted Carriage Ride. We called though to reserve one and were told they were not offering them this year.

Holy Moly....just saw that donaldandpirates, you are from Illinois? So I am!

 

[donaldandpirates]

That's so cool! Yes, morganax, we are, and we'd love to meet up with you!

 

[morganax]

^^^oh, i would LOVE that! we will have to stay in touch and figure something out!

 

[JACH1976]

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[ireland_nicole]

we took our kids (both with special needs, one w/ pdd-nos) a few years ago to MNSSHP and they did great- They loved the parade- we watched from Frontierland so not too crowded- and we watched the fireworks from the Liberty square bridge- maybe not the absolute best view, but room around them and with their ear protectors on they were the first fireworks DD ever managed to get through- I will always remember the look on her face...she actually liked them! We also spent lots of time at the dance parties- they're not crowded at all, and were a great opportunity to dance with characters and get energy out. Also we used the stroller, it helped a whole lot- in general, not just the party LOL.