Another Aspergers question

[MIannie]

I am taking my grandson to WDW for the first time for his fifth birthday in April. Doctor just agreed with me that he has Aspergers Autisim. My question is where to stay. I usually stay at POR and thought it would be quiet for him. The All Star resorts and the Pop Century resort look so kid friendly but would they be too overwhelming? He doesn't transition well, and I have a fear he would want to stay at those resorts to play around the oversized icons, and I'd never get him to the parks! Any thoughts? He also doesn't have a concept of time so I can't prepare him for the trip, or he would think it was a "today" thing.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Welcome.

Just a few quick questions.....are you taking a car? Does your grandson wait well? How does he do on buses? Would a crowded bus make him feel overwhelmed? What is the budget? Is he the only child going or are there other children going as well? Is he a picky eater and/or have any food allergies? Does he do well in TS restaurants? These are very important issues when deciding on the best place to stay with an autistic child. I will tell you about my experience/situation and maybe some of it will apply to you.

My DD(5) is PDD-NOS and has a mild muscular myopathy so I can sympathize with the challenges you face. My DD also has no concept of time and has ALOT of trouble waiting in lines. She has many food allergies and is very picky about what she will allow in her mouth to eat b/c of sensory issues. She does not do well on crowded buses (found that out the hard way! Sorry to those of you who shared a few buses with us at WDW last May) Although she is sensory seeking, sometimes sensory overload can lead to crazy meltdowns and we have the need to "get away" swiftly to take her to a more familiar, safe, quiet place where she can unwind.

Last year, we chose the CR garden wing as it met many of our needs. The cost was not too bad(I got an AP and saved good money on the room and also got the DDE card and saved money on a few character meals. We are going again this year just within the one year time frame so I will save even more by using my AP and timing the vacations one year minus one week apart ), rooms are large and quiet w/soft, unbusy furnishings, nice uncrowded pool, lots of dining choices, monorail access to MK and Epcot, and with walking access to MK as well. It worked out great. When the kids were tired of the parks around 1 or 2ish everyday, it was a quick ride/walk back to the CR to relax in the room and pool. DH and I would order room service or grab food at the Food & Fun Center, and I would make sandwiches for the kids(got a grocery delivery from gardengrocer.com which worked out great and saved money on food that my kids won't eat anyway ). After dinner we would head back to the parks for fireworks or easy attraction riding since everyone else was waiting for the fireworks! Then it was a quick commute back to the CR to put the kids to bed. No waiting in line for long periods of time or walking a mile to our room.

This year we are trying the Poly as we have increased our budget and wanted to try a different resort. It also has great access to MK and Epcot thru monorail and boats. We have decided not to go to MGM as the kids were bored by it and we will just take a taxi to AK or anywhere that would otherwise be accessed by bus. My DD does not do well on buses and there is no need to put her or the other passengers in that kind of misery again I have heard taxi rates are quite reasonable and much cheaper than a week of car rental that I don't need so wish me luck on that one .

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more questions. I am sure some others will post here and give you some of their experiences at other resorts as well.

 

[Rolltideguy77]

I work Special Education at an Elementary School so I am with Aspergers kids all the time. I would suggest preparing him in advance for your day's activities. Make him a picture schedule. I like to make little books on the computer or by pasting together pictures of how the day will start including the fact you have to wait in lines and be patient. If he is sensitive to sound maybe take some earplugs or cotton to drown out noise a bit. If he is hyperactive then take a few hand toys/figits/puzzles. Those little plastic puzzles that you have to slide the boxes around to make a larger picture are great and so are rubiks cubes. It might be better to stay at a quiet resort vs. a high traffic one just. Let him know up front that he cannot do everything he wants and you have many places to go and things to see. Just a few tips, if I can help anymore let me know.

 

[PinballFamily]

Great reply/post, grace&carolines mom! Lots of helpful info there I would echo.

We were at the Yacht Club for many of the same reasons - could walk to parks (Epcot and Studios), quiet, relatively non-stimulating/busy, and the fabulous pool. The pool is interesting because it is sort of two pools in one (one with a gentle lazy river current and one without) - both are long and stretched out, so even if it is busy, it doesn't seem like it because everyone is so spread out. Also, the nearby beach and playground areas are great places for sensory input with the sand. (For hours and hours...)

Since the OP mentioned it ("...and I'd never get him to the parks..."), I would recommend having minimal expectations on "doing" rides, meals, parades, etc. and sort of going with the flow. You'll really need to take the lead from the child. If you don't think you/or he would be up to this, you may want to wait to take the trip for a year or so to let some of the educational therapies he'll be getting begin to take hold. (Believe me, I've been there!)

For example, we spent 2+ hours at the "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" playground one day because two of my young kids (one PDD-NOS and one ADD/Executive Function Deficits) totally loved it. Other family members took this time to visit other park features, while I just hung out at the playground and played with/supervised them. (Confession - it was sort of great for me to slow down and enjoy that time, too!) We did lots of other fun things at WDW too, but when you ask these two kids what they liked best - and there was a LOT (we were YOAMD winners; had tremendous character meets; front seats at parades; great meals, shows, rides, etc.) they both instantly say "The best was when we played at the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground!!! Can we go back, now?"

I would also recommend the new Passporter book on Disney World for people with disabilities. I learned a lot about the different resorts, rides, and shows that was helpful BEFORE going to Orlando.

Hope this helps -

 

[Napria]

I second the Beach or Yacht Club Resorts. They share "Stormalong Bay", the pool that the previous poster mentioned. It's actually three pools in one and my Aspie son loved it. The Beach and Yach Club Resorts also have a very relaxed, low sensory (for Disney) atmosphere. We've never tried All Star Resorts or Pop Century, but I know any of them would be too much stim for my son. Not just the decor, but the crowds, food courts, etc.

This probably won't help you for now, but for the original poster and anyone else with a child who is on the autistic spectrum, I've found that the best thing our family ever did was sell our Disney Vacation Club (hard as that was to do!) and purchase an RV. Now DS has a "space" that is his and familiar. We also can go "camping" much more frequently than we were going on vacation, although many people have taken issue with the term "camping" after seeing our RV! Although you can get much more luxurious than our RV, it's a 33 foot fifth wheel trailer with a master bedroom, full bathroom with our own shower, full kitchen with oven, cooktop, microwave, big refrigerator with freezer, and a bunk room with a real door (not all rv's with bunkrooms have doors, believe it or not.) Another big plus is being able to prepare and feed him his favorite foods throughout our vacations.

Now, whenever he's over loaded and over stimulated, he is able to calm himself pretty quickly when he gets back to his own bunk, where he has his K'nex in a built-in cabinet at the end of his bed, and a tv/dvd player also built in at the end of his bed. He just pops in Backyardagains or WonderPets and builds with his K'nex and he's right as rain in no time.

I know I'm going on and on about this, but I feel like I've found the key to a calm vacation that had eluded us for so long. It's awful to spend so much on a vacation and deal with tantrums, melt downs and running away so much that you come home more stressed than you left.

Hope this is helpful to someone out there!

 

[WildGrits]

My youngest daughter(9) have high-fuctioning Autism. It has been since 02 since we have been to WDW but before that we went every year, lived closer back then. Here are some things I found helpful.

She loves to swim so before the rest of the family got up, I would take her to one of the quiet pools.

Any of the 4-d movies where out of the question. Honey I shrunk the Audience or the Muppets one in MGM.

One a piece of paper, in a line, put some forms of clipart to represent the activities you will do that day. When you complete them, have some stickers so that he can cover the activity once it has been completed. It's good to include simple tasks like getting dressed, shower, and breakfast. Then if you have an idea of your daily plan you can maybe add highlights of the day to put on his list.

Last time we went, we stayed at the Port Orleans Riverside. Personally I did not care for the place but it was very subduded. Sometimes that nice to help folks with sensory issues.

If you are worried about crowds. Maybe you could go in September. Thats when we go because I can't take the crowds.

 

[PinballFamily]

MIAnnie -
What I also meant to add to my post was that I'm very impressed with your attitude and energy on behalf of your grandson!

The time surrounding a child's autism diagnosis can be scary, overwhelming, sad, and confusing for all of the family members. The fact that you are still standing — and putting your thoughts into action by planning the safest and most wonderful WDW birthday trip you can for him is terrific!

Congratulations to you and welcome to the DIS!

 

[MIannie]

Thank you for all the above good input. It will just be me and Andrew this trip. My husband was just laid off from work, so we know he can't go whether he is back to work, or not. Luckily I have been putting aside money for my Disney fix, but I will have to stick to a moderate this time. POR is usually quiet. I have earplugs for him because he does react badly to noise, even happy noise. Like, do not sing Happy Birthday around him. To give some background on my little buddy- he was born at 27 weeks and weighed 2# 2oz. He has been an unusual child. I am a pediatric RN, so I have been pushing for more evaluations. I've known that he was an Aspergers for two and a half years. Two years ago I finally got him into spec.ed. preschool. He is use to riding the bus home with K-12 students. He is very smart but easily frustrated. Getting him to eat is like pulling teeth. I will be carrying some of his favorites like his "jelly butter" sandwiches. If we get to the MK and he sees the train and we do nothing but ride the train all day, great because he'll still see everything just from a distance. I do need to divise some sort of ID for him because he isn't good at listening. His teacher said WDW is more important than school at his age.I am really looking forward to this adventure
with my buddy, and I will be using most of your suggestions. Thank you again PS I have been lurking on the disboards for about five years, but just registered so I could post my question. Hope I'm sending this correctly.

 

[ducklite]

I have heard taxi rates are quite reasonable and much cheaper than a week of car rental that I don't need so wish me luck on that one .

Actually that's not really the case. From the Polynesian to the AK, expect the cab fare to be close to $20 plus tip--each way. So almost $50. To get from the airport to the resort will be $50+ by cab plus tip--each way. So now you're looking at $150 to get to and from the airport, plus one ride to and from the AK. You should easily be able to find a car rental for that.

Anne

 

[MazdaUK]

My DNephew (now 13) also has Aspergers, and thanks to good help from the school is OK about a lot of things which at 5 he would not have been. My DSis did have to prepare him for the size of characters, and that the costume ones would be unable to answer him. Because she has 3 younger kids they stayed off-site (cost for 2 rooms ) but we stayed at the Coronado Springs, which was very quiet. Its one you might not think of, but as there are lots of convention it tends to fill up with suits who spend all day in their conferences, and we found the pool virtually empty (plus there are 3 quiet pools) even though we were there in the run-up to Easter. The theming is also more about Mexico than Disney (although both my boys loved sitting watching cartoons in reception any time we had to go there). I wouldn't recommend Pepper Market as we found it quite agitating, but as there is a fridge you can keep snacks in your room, and they also had a good range of box lunches and snack items. The Maya Grill buffet breakfast is also good if he wants to pick at different things.

I hope you have a lovely trip.

 

[Rolltideguy77]

You spoke of his "jellybutter" sandwiches and that made me think of something.For the past year I have been putting the kids I work with on a gluten free diet. No gluten whatsoever. Gluten is found in wheat and it is what gives a lot of foods a "doughy" texture, many dieticians refer to it as the "toxic dough". Placing the kids on a gluten free diet has worked incredible wonders on their concentration levels/behavior. Try researching it on the internet a little and try it for yourself. You can get gluten free products at most health food stores. It is found in many things, peanut butter, granola bars, cereals, play-doh (yes, play-doh), chicken finger breading, loaf breads, etc. Has anyone else out there tried this and had a positive result with it?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

MIannie - First of all from the closet

Here is a recent post by Brightsy concerning a 5yo with audio stimulations problems (among other things) and a solution which worked. You might look into it.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

Actually that's not really the case. From the Polynesian to the AK, expect the cab fare to be close to $20 plus tip--each way. So almost $50. To get from the airport to the resort will be $50+ by cab plus tip--each way. So now you're looking at $150 to get to and from the airport, plus one ride to and from the AK. You should easily be able to find a car rental for that.

Anne

Thanks for the info on the actual taxi cost. It is still worth it for us. She is ok on ME buses b/c of the TV screen and the high seats, thank goodness!! So...paying for a taxi just to AK and back is OK. We aren't going to MGM, DTD, or the water parks. $40ish if we go once or $80ish if we go twice will be cheaper than a rental for 9 days.

 

[MIannie]

I have stayed at Coronado Springs , and enjoyed the quiet, the pool, and playground. I did not enjoy the food court. Its so awkward. After I see how he does this trip I will be able to gauge how well he would do at the Pepper Market.

 

[robin09]

I am taking my grandson to WDW for the first time for his fifth birthday in April. Doctor just agreed with me that he has Aspergers Autisim. My question is where to stay. I usually stay at POR and thought it would be quiet for him. The All Star resorts and the Pop Century resort look so kid friendly but would they be too overwhelming? He doesn't transition well, and I have a fear he would want to stay at those resorts to play around the oversized icons, and I'd never get him to the parks! Any thoughts? He also doesn't have a concept of time so I can't prepare him for the trip, or he would think it was a "today" thing.

Hi there!

MY DD is 8 and we've been going to Disney since she was an infant. She has Aspergers, Ocd and adhd along with sensitivities to color dye. In the passed 2 years we have stayed on Disney property. The first time we did... we stayed at All Star Movies.. and absolutely adored it. Last year we stayed at Pop Century and found it to be too big and too noisy (same time of year as the previous year.)

As for the concept of time... what works with us is her making a paper chain for the amount of days left and pulling one off each night. That's how she deals well with the concept of time and waiting.

The pool is great to start the day off and to end it and letting him unwind.

HTH... have fun!

 

[catnik]

Rolltideguy77:
Our son (age 3) is PDD-NOS/HFA and has been on the GFCF diet for 2 months. In that short amount of time his language acquistion and attention span have improved immensely. Prior to the diet the only foods he would eat were gluten based (pasta, cereal, bread, etc). Now he is eating a varied diet.....truly amazing. We also make our own gluten free playdough and avoid clay/stickers/etc unless I am sure they are gluten free. I have read lots of pros and cons regarding the diet but for us it has really made a difference.

 

[Rolltideguy77]

I am glad you have also had positive results with the diet! I wish I could get more people to try it. I cant say it would work for every child but it works wonders for mine. Its truly an amazing difference. I have tried to make the gluten free playing dough but every time I try it it seems to come out kinda mushy and not as "dry" as I think it should be, but I will keep trying it out tweaking things here and there. In the meantime silly putty works although its kinda hard to mold. I am going to check into this new stuff I saw at Target the other day called "sand clay" or "sand art" something to that effect. Its like sand but molds like play doh and doesnt dry out I believe. I want to make the kids a mini sand box full of it.

 

[catnik]

Rollrideguy77:

I am sure you have a zillion play dough recipes, but this one really works for us!

1/2 cup rice flour
1/2 cup corn flour (can use glutinous rice flour if corn sensitive)
1/2 cup fine kosher salt
2 teaspoons cream or tartar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon sunflower oil
*can add oil (mint, orange, etc) to mixture as desired

Place ingredients in saucepan, mix well and bring to boil, stirring continuously. Reduce heat, continue to stir mixture and cook ~ 3 minutes or until mixture forms a ball. This mixture will last 7-10 days, refrigerate when not in use.

 

[wvdislover]

We stayed at POP last June and didn't have any problems with noise. We requested a room in the 50's section, overlooking the lake. It was nice and quiet back there, and only a 5 minute walk to the food court. If you ride buses in the middle of the day, you're not going to encounter the same lines that you would in the mornings or at night close to park closing, hopefully. Also, there are ID tags you can get that can be attached to his shoes, so if he should get separated from you, a CM could track you down. If that won't work, maybe you can stick a laminated card in his pocket or on a lanyard around his neck, if he would tolerate it. Good luck! Have a great time

 

[OneLittleSpark]

You could put his name and your contact details on a card attached to a pin lanyard if you're worried about him wandering off, but don't want him feeling 'labeled'.