ASD on DCL

[scrappychar]

We are booking an Alaskan cruise for this summer, yay! We have done WDW and DL with our now 11 year old son with ASD. Wondering if their are any tips for cruising? He has Asperger syndrome.

Char

 

[lanejudy]

Our experience was terrific with the DCL kids clubs. DD7 loved it, though usually only for an hour or so at a time (she's not technically ASD but has developmental/social delays). However, each kid is different and it may depend on your child's ability to function well in the group setting. They will not provide him with 1:1 support. At 11 yrs old, he'll have the choice of Oceaneer Club/Lab (3-12) or the Edge tween group (11-14). They will likely require that he make a choice and stick with it, rather than using both spaces throughout the cruise. The Club/Lab is geared a little younger but provides staff supervision at all times. Kids at the Edge are allowed the freedom to come and go as they wish, and there are often out-and-about activities which take them out of the actual Edge club space, so they aren't always entirely supervised - the Edge itself will have staff members present. If he can be trusted with that level of responsibility and is more interested in the tween activities, he can choose Edge. If you'd prefer he not have the freedom to wander, you can check him in for secured programming at the Club/Lab.

Open House times are offered daily at each of the kids' clubs. Parents must accompany kids to the Open House at the Club/Lab, but this is a time when kids of the "wrong" age group may attend and/or those who need/want Mom or Dad with them. If checked in for secured programming, the kids are moved to the opposite Club/Lab during Open House.

There are lots of other family activities open to all ages onboard throughout the ship if he doesn't take to the kids clubs well.

Enjoy your cruise!