ASD and DME?

[disneydreamin247]

I decided to ask opinions on this side of the board since I will get experienced opinions. DS4 and I will be traveling solo. We have a 7:30 am flight. DS has never been on a plane. I'm considering using a town car service from the airport to the resort since I don't know what state of mind DS will be in after the flight. I will be alone and have no help with containing any meltdown that might occur. What would you do if you were me?

 

[mechurchlady]

www.seatguru.com is an excellent site to see where you will be sitting. Some seats are smaller, some are noisier, and some are colder. I would avoid the noisiest sections of the plane. Show him videos of the plane so he knows what to expect. Sometimes kids will tell you that a ride is too girly, scary, dark or will be fun. The others can tell you more.

Also is your kid a seeker or avoider? Does he hate loud noise or does he love aural stimulus for example? it would help others to help you make better plans and suggest stuff.

 

[bookwormde]

I just finished a trip, which included our DS9 aspergers first flight (working on a report). I did a lot of preparation, which was good; he had lots of things to do. I did a lot of unnecessary worrying also; you might have thought he had flown all his life.

One of the best things was DME, because we did not have to manage him and his DS5 while trying to recover the bags at MCO. Worse comes to worse you can always hire a cab (let DME know what is going on so your bags will still get there). There is a movie on the bus so that helps. Also yours is still young enough to “tuck under your arm” if needed for a quick escape.

The only problem we had on the way back was allocating the window seat so each could see the “ants”.

Just follow the suggestions on this board for flying with spectrum children and if his anxiety level is not completely out of control DME is the easy part.

bookwormde

 

[disneydreamin247]

Thanks for the input. I'm extra concerned that we'll be alone. Hopefully we'll get by with minimal meltdowns but you just never know! I've started preparing for the plane. I've bought new coloring books and crayons, and new story books to read together- all Disney of course!

 

[mechurchlady]

Almost 50 years in Disney parks and I have learned that people tend to be helpful. I have seen strangers help a single mom load a stroller onto a train. Strangers see a kid crying and give it a pin or sticker. What would you do in the shopping mall or grocery store? A trip to WDW is not much different from a trip to the mall just longer.

If strangers stare or complain then ignore them and concentrate on your kid. You can make a business card saying your son has autism and hand those out, some parents prefer doing that instead of repeated explaining things. You can get a GAC if he has special needs like not able to do lines. If you think he might meltdown in a show then tell the CM you would like a seat near the exit. With the GAC usually you would be seated first along with other disabled people thus you would be able to get a seat near the exit.

Disney parks are full of nice people and magic does happen. Don't worry because the people on this board have posted many tips and there are many great threads linked in the FAQs thread which will show you that you can do the trip with few problems if you plan the trip right.

Big hugs

 

[disneydreamin247]

Again, thanks so much. We went last year, but it was a different scenario as we had our whole family with us to lend a hand. As helpful as they were, it wasn't my idea of a perfect trip. Unfortunately when you go with that many people, you can't do things as you would like to. That's why I decided to go on our own this year and I am determined to make it the most magical trip either of us have been on yet. Of course, he only has one WDW trip under his belt so far .

 

[SueM in MN]

The disABILITIES FAQs thread (near the top of this board) has one section about air travel. Some of the links in the air travel section are about the Orlando airport, from the Orlando airport. There are pictures of the airport that might help you.
Here are some pictures I took of the DME 'experience'.
Buses are routed depending on which resorts guests are going to. One trip, you may have guests from 3 resorts on the same bus. Your stop may be first, middle or last. I don't know if this would work, but when you check in, you could ask if they would be able to stop at your resort first.
This is the area where guests wait for the bus. Guests are assigned to different waiting rows depending on which resort you are going to.

Because some people need a special bus with a wheelchair lift, there is a waiting area at the front of this waiting area where people with wheelchairs/ECVs wait to board. It has some benches and you are not waiting with other guests. That's where I was sitting to take the last picture. If you think it would be helpful, you could explain your son has problems waiting in lines with others and ask if you could wait in the wheelchair waiting area instead.

The bus is very high off the ground because it has space for guests to store their carryon bags in compartments underneath. Since it's so high, there is a steep set of stairs to get on and off.

This is the inside of the bus and the seats. I was sitting in the back of the bus, looking toward the front.

There are TV screens hanging from the ceiling of the bus. There is some storage for belongings above the seats.

The movie stars Mickey and many of his friends!

 

[busykate]

Dd (23 yrs old with autism) and I have gone to WDW by ourselves 3 times. Although you might have to wait at the DME counter, IMO it's the way to travel with a child with asd. In other places, when I've had to retrieve luggage and keep her together, it's been a disaster. At MCO we just get off the plane and walk to the counter and get on the bus. pretty painless actually.

 

[disneydreamin247]

Looks like we will be doing DME! I showed DS the pictures to see how he would react and he asked if we were going today . That sure made up my mind and saved me $70 at the same time. The pictures really helped. Thanks so much for it. I would be lost with out the DIS and the DISabilities board! I know a lot of my worrying is for no reason but DS has been through a lot this yr and I want this to be extra special for him. Then again, who doesn't want that for their kids, right?

Thanks everyone. You have put my worried mind at ease.