Any suggestions on Disney with a child on the autism spectrum?

[ducky921]

Hi. I am new here, but not new to WDW. However, this will be the first trip since our 4 yo son has been diagnosed with PDD-NOS, which is on the autism spectrum. He has many sensory issues, and he can have major meltdowns from being in too closed in a space with tons of people. I know for a fact, he will most likely not want to see any charecters, but he will love some rides, as he craves spinning (tea cups!) and anything that will put him in motion. He is also on a gluten/casein free diet. I am really trying to figure out HOW to deal with this tehre. I am planning on packing some things...but just don't know how accomadating we will find Disney when my son's disabilities are not apparent to the naked eye. unless you notice the lack of eye contact, the way he repeats things over and over, or the laughter when it is not appropriate,etc. Some people just htink he is "rambutious or bad". Any suggestiosn are appreciated. Thanks. We will be going in March.

 

[tinkerbell27]

Hi Ducky921 !!


My son has also been diagnosed with PDD,and he too has sensory issues. He gets scared when we go somewhere he's never been,and he doesn't like parking lots AT ALL!! But this was not a problem for him at Disney!! He did great! I too thought that he would be afraid of the charachters , but we did a char. lunch anyway, and he loved it ! I cried when I saw the smile on his face!
He's a serious little kid most of the time,so to see him soooo happy was wonderful. The only problem we had was when we were at AK waiting in line for Kali River Rapids, they put an armband on him so he could ride in a special seat for smaller kids that has a bar to hold on to. MAJOR MELTDOWN!!! We found a place to sit down and regroup ,took the armband off and he was fine!! Think positive-- we were only planning one day at disney and ended up getting park hoppers!!!

 

[s&k'smom]

Hi, I just got back from WDW with my two kids and DH and DS is diagnosed with PDD. I highly recommend getting a Guest Assistance Card which we got on Main St. in the Magic Kingdom. It was good for all four parks. Also I mailed down a package for my son with his favorite goodies because he never eats anything in restaurants. We really just took it one day at a time. Somethings he loved like the monorail and others he hated like fireworks. We spent each afternoon by the pool which we all loved. When necessary I told a CM his issues and they were extremely accommodating. Like when I booked our hotel I asked for a first floor and their was no problem. There are lots of past posts on this thread about taking our PDD kids to WDW. You'll find lots of info. I think with any kid a first trip to WDW is an education. We made lots of priority seatins for restaurants too, even if we didn't use all it was nice to have them. Keep posting if you have any questions. Oh one more idea see if you can get one of Disney's promotional video's. Plus the hotel we stayed at was on the travel channel. It was amazing what he remembered from the video's.

 

[tmfranlk]

The gluten/casein free diet may not be that difficult to deal with, at least for sit down meals. Make your priority seatings and ask for the restaurant's direct number. Call the restaurant and tell them that you have a special dietary needs. I know or know of several people who have had wonderful experiences with this. The chefs made sure they understood the allergy or restriction and prepared a special dish, just for them. Give the restaurants a call and see what you can work out.

 

[SueM in MN]

Welcome to disABILITIES. You already got some good info. I've got a phone number and a link for you.
Here's the phone number for the WDW Executive Chef's Office: (407) 824-5967
They deal with all the menus at WDW (from full service to food carts) and will be able to help with your questions about special dietary needs.
And here's a link to a helpful website. The person who runs the website has a son with autism and she has lots of helpful stuff.

 

[pgjam]

I would also vote for the Guest Assistance Card. You can get one in City Hall at MK. They ask you what accomodations your child needs notes them on a card & away your go. Our DS Mike has FX Syndrome which has alot of characteristics of autism & waiting in line is very difficult. We just show the card to a cast member & the whole family is immediately waved thru. Some people look at us because like your child Mike doesn't look disabled & doesn't wear a sign that says I have a disability but who cares. Have a good time.
pgjam.

 

[SueM in MN]

We just show the card to a cast member & the whole family is immediately waved thru.

I just wanted to mention that the Guest Assistance Card (GAC) is not meant to (and usually won't) give you immediate access to rides/attractions without a wait. It is meant to give a more appropraite waiting place or accessiblity that isn't available without the GAC. That might mean a quieter place to wait or a wait away from others. Rarely, it might mean immediate access.
We've been told by CMs that there are some instructions that should be given with each GAC:
1) Use fastpass if you are able to. Using fastpass can shorten your wait in line to 10 to 15 minutes and may mean that you don't need to use the GAC for that ride/attraction.
2) Use the GAC sparingly. If the line is short and/or the person who has the GAC is able to wait in line without a problem at the time, please don't use the GAC.

This doesn't mean not to use the GAC if you need it, but we've been to WDW over the past 15 years and have seen a lot of changes back and forth on access. For a while GACs were given out very rarely. Guest Services was even denying that they existed at all. This was kind of a backlash against guests complaining about the special treatment that people with GACs or mobility devices were getting. WDW could easily go back to rarely giving them out if there is an appearence that people are using them excessively. We have been to WDW when GACs were not given out and it made our visits very much more difficult. Even when we don't need to use it, just knowing it is there when we DO need it helps everyone.

Anyway, down from soapbox. You can request a GAC at any of the parks. You don't need one for each park, it's good at all. It will usually be issued for the length of your stay for the person with special needs and up to 5 members of their party.

 

[ducky921]

I hadn't even thought of getting the GAC...but I will do that just because the TIME we wait isn't a big deal at all, but for Chandler to be in an enclosed line with tons of people almost certainly means a breakdown. This is supposed to be fun for him too! I also am going to visit the site that was posted(THANKS!) and I will certainly let you all know about our trip and how we did things!

 

[Poohnatic]

Hi! Mom to an Aspie age 6 and an NT, age 3. We do WDW twice a year and the most recent trip was the first one after the DX of Aspergers.

suggestions:

Pace yourself. I think the best thing (besides the GAC) was that we followed my son's cues for this trip. Instead of trying to fit in as much as we could, when we started to see the overload, we packed it in. We also had a couple of mornings where we just spent casual time at the resort pool (or whale, in the case at AS Movies). We got so much more pleasure out of this trip. BTW, I did a trip report for mouseplanet...PM me if you'd like to read it, and I'll give you the exact URL (don't know if I should post it here).

As much as my kids love the Disney transportation (we ride the monorail back to our starting point several times each trip), we've found that our car is much better for getting away quicker and calming the meltdowns.

Rent the stroller. I don't care if my son is 13, the stroller really calms him down, partly because the sides and back block out a lot of stimuli. It's also great because fatigue triggers those meltdowns! If it weren't for the conservation station at AK, we never would have come upon this wonderful lifesaver.

Sit down meals are great for dietary restrictions. You can call ahead when making the priority seatings. My son has a problem with food dyes, and I've called ahead with no problems. It just requires a little more planning of your day, but the rewards are definitely worth it. Plus, your son will look forward to where the meal is, since he knows. Mine are begging for 'Ohana already!

We bought a refrigerated cooler at WalMart prior to our last trip, just under 85 bucks. My kids are yogurt fiends, and to have the yogurt, fruit, cheese and lovely beverages for mom and dad after the kids went to bed made it worthwhile. If lugging a cooler is not feasible, rent one at your resort for the 10 bucks a night. You can keep your son's diet while on vacation.

Any other questions, feel free to ask.

Suzanne

 

[SueM in MN]

Rent the stroller. I don't care if my son is 13, the stroller really calms him down, partly because the sides and back block out a lot of stimuli.

In case you are thinking, "how do I fit a 13 yr old in a stroller?"
It has been posted that the strollers for rent at the parks come in several different sizes. The biggest size will fit about an average 12 year old (from what I have read).
You can also rent special needs strollers (sort of like giant umbrella strollers meant for larger children and small adults). These two sites had them listed on the website:
Care Medical:
http://www.caremedicalequipment.com/

Colonial Medical
http://www.colonialmed.com/about_cms.html

This site is a kid's equipment rental site that a DIS poster reported renting a special needs stroller from:
http://www.all-about-kids.com/main.htm

You could also rent a wheelchair, but those are adult size and may not be that comfortable unless you have a large child. You can get a GAC that is stamped to allow you to use a stroller as a wheelchair (taking it in lines where wheelchairs are allowed, but strollers are usually not).

 

[MEM]

Just Back from Visiting WDW with an Autistic 8 Year Old

We just returned from 10 days at WDW -- I have an 8 year DS with PDD and a 6 year old DD without. Definitely get the GAC from Guest Relations at the first park you visit -- we had saved our old GAC from a previous trip and the CM said it made issuing the new one much easier. Even though the CMs are not supposed to ask for "proof" of a disability, some do, so bring a letter from your son's neurologist justifying the need for special services. I never felt guilty about it because DS life is difficult 365 days a year and he deserves a break.

MK will be the most crowded park you will visit on any given day, so I suggest being there for Early Hour of Magic or at rope drop on regular days. We used the GAC very sparingly -- only if the wait time was posted as 20 min or more. Buzz was always crowded. No one made any comments to us because they assumed we had a fast pass. We left MK at noon for pool time and a nap.

Your son's development on this trip may surprise you -- my son progresses from 3-6 months on each trip. The atmosphere is so positive and stimulating for them.

 

[adisneyfan2]

We too have a DS on the spectrum (5yo). Ditto getting/using (sparingly, but as needed) the GAC. As MEM says, you allegedly don't need proof, but we always bring a letter from DS's doctor which helps a lot, because thankfully DS looks more "normal" all the time.

We too have been lucky enough to see major (apparently permanent) progress with each trip. I can't say DS leaps 3-6 months a trip, but there is always something he "gets over" each time. A great example is that DS would never eat or drink anything cold (so no ice in drinks, no ice cream or popsicles.) I know it doesn't sound like much, but at WDW DS spotted the Mickey bars, and has been tolerating ice, ice cream, etc. ever since.

Lots of our friends think we're nuts, but we've got lots of stories like these, so we keep going back.

 

[ducky921]

You all have given me some GREAT ideas. I hadn't even thought of the GAC, even though we had previously utilized one when my other son broke his femur and was in a big spicca cast! lol... I could barely carry him. I WILL take Chandler's dx papers along with us, and hopefully that way there will be no questions at all. Standing in que lines would be horrid for Chan. Waiting is not the trouble at all..just being in that small congested place. You know the drill. I am so hoping we see some improvement with him while there. I have heard from a lot of people that they do see improvements. All in all, I just want him to have fun and find enjoyment! It seems all he gets to do is therapies, school, and then structured stuff here. Thank you all!

 

[adisneyfan2]

Our DS also has difficulty with waiting, but also has a lot of trouble with dealing with a lot of people "in his space" in line. Sometimes even with a FP it can be an issue (like at Little Mermaid or 3-D Muppet Show @ MGM where the crowd moves in stages waiting to go in to the actual show.) We just let a CM know, and often were able to wait somewhere else (e.g., by the exit). Usually FP is enough to avoid meltdowns, but it's a good idea to have some alternatives when even FP isn't enough.

Also, if you have an old GAC that worked before, bring it along. Last time we got a different GAC. (It allowed us to use a stroller as a WC, which we don't need to do.) Of course, we didn't read it closely, and didn't figure out right away why it didn't work!Finally on the third day (after DS flipped out and jumped out of the boat in Pirates of the Caribbean) we went to Town Hall @ MK & got the "right" card. Believe me, after a couple days we REALLY appreciated the GAC more than ever!

Good luck!

 

[momejay]

I'm a mom of 3, 2 dx with autism. We leave Wednesday. It can be done. We like to take an afternoon break & go swimming. It helps my ds to regroup. He loves loud noises & crowds, but he gets too hyper. My dd covers her ears alot, earplugs help her. She likes to read a story in the afternoon before going back to the park.
My kids are both on GFCF diet. We have been to Disney World 3 times this year & have had no problems finding something to eat. We bring a box of cereal with us for breakfast. I buy a big bag of carrots to snack on & some of their other favorite snacks. For your "sit down meals," (we only do one a day usually between meals) make your PS arrangements & tell them about the diet. Renting a refrigerator helps too. Publix has soy products & wheat free section. MAKE SURE TO READ LABELS! (as you already know)

 

[Piper]

A few years ago, I went to WDW with my nephew (14 at the time)who has Aspergers. His mom said that he wouldn't ride the rides or want to "do anything." I used the social scripting technique with him. I told him about everything we were going to do and what to expect. He rode everything and loved it.

Just knowing what to expect helped him a lot. (For example: a few days ago we went to Starbucks and he said he wanted "steamed milk with chocolate syrup" the server said they didn't have it, but did he want hot chocolate? He was very upset and started to cry even though we explained (an he is 17 now so he knew this) that hot chocolate is hot milk with chocolate in it. He just had trouble with the change. Wouldn't get the hot chocolate, but did drink steamed milk with orange syrup! He may have invented a new drink-----dreamsicle au lait!

 

[MEM]

That's interesting...your nephew's request at Starbuck's sounded perfectly legit to me -- my father is a stroke victim and he often has to describe things when he can't bring the word he seeks to his tongue. My son has PDD-autism and if he described hot chocolate as steamed milk with chocolate syrup, I would hope a sensitive person would say "sure!" and given him the closest approximation.

 

[Piper]

"My son has PDD-autism and if he described hot chocolate as steamed milk with chocolate syrup, I would hope a sensitive person would say "sure!" and given him the closest approximation."

That's what most people would have done--you should have seen the look on her face when he teared up. Unfortunately, it is hard to tell by "just looking" when someone is autistic. Just points out the need to be as kind as possible to everyone--you never know what the other person is dealing with!

 

[adisneyfan2]

Upon arrival we made our usual stop at Guest Relations with "the letter" and our last GAC to obtain a new GAC for our stay. This time they barely looked at the letter, but asked if we had APs. (We do.) We were told that the "latest policy" is that GACs can be issued for up to three months for AP holders. I know I have read of people getting them for the year, but apparently the current policy limits it to three months. Still it will help if you go often!

Also, we used FPs all over the place, and found we needed the GAC mostly to be allowed to use alternate entrances for rides like the Haunted Mansion @ MK and Little Mermaid @ MGM. (It is more to avoid the tight closed-in crowds than the wait for us.) We all had a great time -- only one (major) melt-down the entire week! (A new record!)

 

[margo12]

We went in Nov., and we have 5 children. Three are teenagers and NT. 1 is 9 and diagnosed with Asperger's. The youngest is 5 and has some issues that may place him on the autistic spectrum, eventually.

We rented strollers for both of them. We tried a double stroller the first day, when we went to Universal. After that we got separate strollers. They are total opposite personalities and it was not good to expect them to ride together.

They loved the maps of the parks. It was so funny to see them both sitting there in their strollers, poring over those maps. I had made a picture-schedule type thing for the 9yo (had a picture and description of each attraction, so he could read them and decide what he wanted to ride, but he only looked at that briefly a couple of times. We also brought along his Gameboy, a CD player, and some headphones, but he wouldn't have anything to do with those so we didn't bring them to the parks anymore after 1 day.

We got the GAC at Universal IOA, and used it only a couple of times--dh had issues with using it and was still getting used to the idea! But the lines were not too bad anyway. My older dd and I took the 5yo over to regular Universal Studios park for a while (we had 3 unexpired 3-day park hoppers that had 1 day left on them--we'd lost the rest), and used the pass to ride Men in Black and Back to the Future. On Men in Black, they sent us into the Fast Pass line. On Back to the Future, they sent us clear up to an exit and we walked down the hallway and into the area right before you get on the cars. That was a little unexpected, and kind of made spectacles of us.

At Disney, we got the GAC at Animal Kingdom because that was the first park we went to. But as someone else said mostly we only used it when the wait was over 20 minutes. Once when we tried to use it for Buzz Lightyear, the CM in the fastpass line said we needed to go into the regular line because the line was not that long (25 minutes). Then we came back out and the 9yo wanted to go again. So we tried the GAC again and a different CM let us right in the FastPass line--and the line was not any longer. Buzz Lightyear was the favorite ride of both the boys.

The only other place that had issues with the GAC was Rock and Roller Coaster. We tried to use it there, just to save time so we could get back together faster (9yo will not ride anything remotely like a roller coaster), and we were told that this ride was built after that law was made so we would have to wait in the regular line. This made absolutely no sense to me but oh well.

When we went to Epcot ds discovered that Innoventions had Kingdom Hearts--so we spent a lot of time there. I brought magazines to read and wandered around the rest of the building while he played. I think we went about 4 times, spending an average of 90 minutes each time. (We stayed at Beach Club so Epcot was a pretty easy walk in the evening.)

DS got in some trouble at Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground. I can't really follow him around too well there (can't stand those catacombs where you have to bend over to walk through), so I was resting near the entrance. When I went to look for him a CM was talking to him. Evidently a mom and dad had reported that he had spoken very rudely to him, and when the CM had asked him about it he had told her to shut up. Once I explained that he was autistic she was much more understanding. But we didn't go back there again.

Oh, and he just LOVED the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire--Play It! because he'd seen the show on TV.

We got in the habit of feeding the boys every time we came out of an attraction. We would eat breakfast at the hotel (had a villa which had a full kitchen), and we also ate several dinners at the hotel, and we brought all kinds of snacks into the parks with us instead of buying lunch. The security personnel checking the bags didn't have any problem with me bringing all the food (other than maybe wanting some of the food--LOL). We also bought a case of water at Costco and had plenty of water for every day, so much cheaper than the $2.50 a bottle at the parks!

Well that is our semi-success story. By the end of the vacation, both boys were getting pretty overloaded and we could tell--their tolerance levels were way down. And the 9yo was complaining that we hadn't let him spend enough time on Kingdom Hearts--we almost decided that next time, we would just leave him home with a babysitter and buy him a Playstation and a game--it would be cheaper. <BG>