Anyone here taken an autistic child to WDW?

[autmom]

We are taking our first-ever trip to WDW next week, and I'm a bit worried how my 7 yr old son with autism will handle it. Anyone have any experience with this? Any tips to offer? Thanks so much!

 

[pumba]

 

[teri]

Hi, and welcome to the disABILITIES Board! There are several of us here with autistic spectrum kids, and we love going with them to the Disney Parks. The CMs will often go out of their way to make their visit special, to accomodate their shyness, take their time, engage them gently.

There is a section in our FAQ about taking sensitive kids to WDW - just click on the link in my signature. If you have an specific quesitons, we will be happy to answer!

 

[tammie]

hi........we have taken our son johnathan to disney twice and he has autism he is allso non verbel......we plan on our thread trip in sept at fw at the cabins.......we take direct flights and we have a special stroller we use that my insurance paid for me to have.........we use the stroller like a wheel chair and the special pass we get says that johnathan has autism and the stroller is to be treated like a wheel chair so we get into everything a wheelchair is allow in..........allso my son still whears diapers and we use the companans bathrooms to charge him........i belive i remender that some of the charging tables were big a enough for him to lay on.............we allso bring some of johnathan favorite toys on the trip like a slinkeys and his big pooh big........he allso takes on these trips.........we allso bring johnthan food that he eats becouse some of his food they do not sell in florida.........we go off season to make easely for johnathan to enjoy disney with out big cowds to deal with.......plus he can not stand the madger heat that florida can have durring the summer.......my son love allso playing with water and we do all the foutins that we can find in the park so he can play in the water........we bring extra clothes so we can change him in the bathroom..........allso johnathan like the bone yard that you dig up the bone.......it a great place for him to play and we get a chance to relax and it allso shaded so my husband can get out of the sun..........my son love to sit there for a hour or so and just love diging in the sand...........allso the charectors are wonderfull with johnathan and his favorit charector is winnie the pooh.......he get so happy to see him.................wdw is a great place for our special kids and allso special adults........my husband does not understand why i like keeping back to disney.........but i think is so wonderfull for our children and they treat them so well that why i want to keep going back................if you have another question just ask and maybe i can help......tammie

 

[momejay]

Hi! I'm a single mom of 2 with autism. We go to WDW several times a year. My son loves to spin & my daughter loves the coasters. We make one PS arrangement a day, usually a late lunch. I bring cereal from home to snack on & squirt bottles to refill. If we get over stimulated we take a mid-day swim, or alternate fast rides & quiet rides. You know your child best. Do whatever works for you!

 

[D L and K's Mom]

I have an 11 year old Ds who is developmentally disabled and has a lot of autistic tendencies. We always request the front row on the plane this gives him a little more room for his legs, Also if the stewardess ok's it we let him sit on the floor during the flight if it is smooth for a few minutes. We bring along a small tape recorder where ever we go that has on music that he likes. We have stayed at the Poly for a few of our trips so that we are right on the monorail. This is very helpful we all go to the parks togeather and mid day when it gets hot and crowded one fo us stays with DD and one of us takes DS on the monorail and heads back to the hotel. IT is very convenient to be let off right IN the hotel. We also take advantage of the pools during the day, they are quiet when everyone is in the parks. We have found a great "Floating bathing suit" for DS so he jsut screams with glee when he is allowed into the pool to swim around on his own (I am right next to him of course). We also alwasy request a first floor room so DS's foot bangin and rocking will not disturb anyone below us. We mail down some familiar toys, games, videos and diapers right tot he hotel so we dont have to take all that on the plane. WE rent a vcr while down there so we can have a familiar video before we go to sleep. We also request bed rails in the room. We have worked with a wonderful women named MS. Freedman at Disnay (Special Services) she has helped make the room requests etc. She is wonderful!!! We also take down our own "Stroller" and we do take advantage of the guest assistance pass option so we dont have to have DS wait in the heat (which he cant take) It is quite a bit of work getting ready to go , but once you are there Disney CM's are wonderful and very helpful. Don't hesitate to ask for help. If they can't help they try to find someone who can. Oh ya..DS loved the boat ride from the parks to the hotels but make sure they will let you take your stroller/wheelchair on we had trouble with the bost at the wilderness lodge once something about the water being high??? Hope this helps feel free to email me if you have any other specific questions that maybe I can help with...weve done it 4 times and are attempting the cruise in July!!!!Fro some more info check out the post here titiled autism...alot of people posted replies there too.

 

[SueM in MN]

For the boats, the water level sometimes makes it difficult or impossible for strollers, wheelchairs or ecvs to be wheeled right on the boat. When the water level is too low (like it is now with the drought in Florida) the boats are too low compared to the docks. It makes too big of a step to take wheelchairs, etc on. If the gap is too high, then the portable ramp they use can't bridge the gap.
You should be able to fold the stroller and lift it on and off; you just won't be able to wheel it on with your child in it.

 

[teri]

There is something that nobody has mentioned yet, that we have discussed before in other threads and I will take this opportunity to add it to this discussion...

You work hard for your child, you give most of your energy to them to help keep them safe and integrated and as happy as you can get them. But please don't forget, this is YOUR vacation, too. You need a break, some time to relax and refresh, time to explore and break out of your role as caretaker for a bit. You NEED a vacation. Your child NEEDS you to have a vacation. You should take advantage of any opportunity to get a break and take it easy on yourself, for yourself. That isn't selfish, that isn't neglectful, your child will survive if you get a brief respite.

The kids clubs will take special needs kids in most circumstances, and my experience has been mostly good with those. I know that the one at BWV was staffed by people who used to be special ed teachers on the night that we took our kids there. Also, the Fairy Godmothers child care service, and others as well, do care for special needs kids. Several of us on this board have used their service and found it to be excellent.

After a few hours, your autistic child may have had enough, but you may want to go on... they may very well be much happier in a kids club, or in the room with a nice, experienced sitter, than they would be to be out for a full day and evening of fun with you. And you pay a lot of money to go there for a FAMILY vacation, not just for your children but for you, too. There is plenty to do for adults at WDW, there are opportunities for respite there... consider taking advantage of them for a few hours.

I also did a respite trip on my own this February - actually with several others from the DIS who were doing the same thing. We pretended we were being wild and crazy, but we were, in fact, several women who really needed a break from our caretaking roles for a few days. My trip report is on the old Trip Report Board somewhere... It was a wonderful break. You should think about that! It is an opportunity.

 

[tammie]

hello......we did take a break and had johnathan watch for a babysitter from kendacare sorry miss spelled......so johnathan was watch for two night on our vacation......both lady that did were very nice and they brought toys and took johnathan outside........johnathan love to play in the sand on the beach and that what they did for a very long time.......we are going to use them again when we make another trip.........tammie

 

[s&k'smom]

Welcome to the Disabilities Board. I just found it a couple of weeks ago and have posted several questions and have gotten a response every time. I too have a son on the autism spectrum and have been using this web page to make some preliminary plans. I have found on taking S on trips is to just take our time. disney is so big you can't fit everything in. I'd rather take it in small doses and really enjoy what we see. We plan on going next Oct. 2002. I find alot of the things I do at home to keep him calm and from stimming is what I can do anywhere. Since he will have his own suitcase I plan to pack all his favorite things in his bag and put his clothes in mine and take advantage of the laundry services. One of the funnest things to do is to find a spot for him to play for a while (calmly) and watch the people go by! Disney is the best place to people watch. Post when you are going maybe you can meet up with others. I find it to be a very small world after all and hope to do the same when we go next year.

I'd love to hear more from folks who have used the babysitting services for special needs kids.

 

[teri]

sk's mom, click here for links to posts about Fairy Godmothers Child Care Service

I can't say enough good things about them. It really made it possible for my husband and I to have some stressless quality time in December, after yet another day of intensive child management. I didn't use the service last time I took the kids by myself, last summer, and that was a mistake -- I was trying to save money, but instead I just lost precious time and oportunities for myself... it was no vacation for me. So, live and learn...

 

[s&k'smom]

Hi Tammi and Terri and all on the board,

Thanks for the babysitting tips. I will definately check it out (fairygodmothers). I could'nt agree more on the need to take a break. If we find we are too nervous to leave kids with sitter we may just take turns having time on our on like taking a swim by yourself etc. I may send my husband on one of the inside tours you can take and then I'll choose something to do. about 3 1/2 years ago we used kindercare for an in-room sitting time so we could go to the hoop de doo (this was before my son's PDD diagnosis). And it was very expensive but well worth it. I even called down to the front desk to make sure they knew she was in the room (they did) and asked them how they would get in touch with me in case of emergency. I told them where we would be and they assured me that someone (probably from security) would find us if needed. That made me feel better. Plus the sitter that was sent had been to the hotel (WL) before and that is something you can request too, someone familiar with the grounds. It's funny when you have a child with special needs you need breaks so badly but you are so nervous to let go and let someone else look after them. But believe me we are learning!