aspergers and disney world

[Slakk]

My son is not Autistic but is ADD and what I found REALLY helpful is You Tube...yep You Tube. He watches all of the rides before going on and then is prepared for them... I actually highly recommend it for all kids that need a bit of *explaining*

 

[mousescrapper]

Can it be done? We have planned 3 vacations since our son came to live with us a year ago and havent actually made it on any of them due to his sisters health. Now he has been diagnosed with aspergers and I am reluctant to go even though our dd is in the clear. Should I cancel our trip planned in March or go ahead?

Thank you OP for starting this thread! My DS 8 (9 when we go) has AS and ADHD. This will be his 2nd time there but first since being diagnosed last summer. I have many aprehensions with this trip, but still a ton of excitement.

I have taken my aspie son to WDW about 15 times since he was a baby. WDW is a brilliant place for aspies. He loves all the preparation prior to the trip, reading the guide books, maps and making plans, ADR spreadsheets etc. Once we are there he enjoys everything. If he feels it is all a bit much he goes back to the room for a rest. The disney appartments are great for aspie kids because of all the extra space. He has his own room to calm down in and can eat whenever he wants, which is often at odd times of the night.
Pin trading is also good for social skills and chatting to the cast members and characters. We also found the disney clubs to be very good when he was younger.

I ditto the planning part! My DS loves reading, he has read cover to cover a Passporter Treasure Hunter book for the parks and can't wait to go and find Hidden MM's and other fun things. Keeping him and my other children this trip involved in the planning has been fun and really helps DS have a good sense of what we'll be doing. He even likes to read the menus from the restaurants we have our ADR's at.

I'm planning a trip for our family which includes my just turned 5 y.o. DS with Asperger's.

One tip which I'm really happy I followed was to join TourGuideMike. Right now I'm planning our trip w/o using a GAC. (Of course, I re-eval if we get there and things are not working). TGM (the sponsor of the Theme Parks Attractions and Strategies board) has a wealth of information on ways to tour the parks. But here's the hitch...it's so much information and the site takes some getting used to, that it makes sense to join way in advance of your trip. Also, the pricing of the site is "per trip" so it greatly benefits you to join as early as possible. (TGM also has some very good resources on the message boards).

There was one thing I wanted to mention regarding the "pin trading" suggestion someone made above. As you probably already know, Asperger's can present very differently. While I could see pin trading being a great way for entering into social interactions (and it might even become an "obsession" or "special interest" for some), I suspect some young children might not get the concept of "trade" and that he/she will not see the pin again after it's traded away. (And many kids w/ Asperger's are way more into "things" than we would like them to be). If you're going to try pin trading I would definately do several practice runs at home before you go. (You don't want to hit that meltdown on your first day out of no where).

Anyway, I'd like to avoid another costly obsession so I've decided to make autograph books this trip and not do pin trading.

Good luck. Amy

I ditto TGM! I'm doing that too, and have found it extremely helpful! I can agree on the "pin trading" my DS can get confused on the trading, selling, borrowing concept of things (except library books). Besides looking for the HM's and "treasure" he wants to get the penny presses. It will be a fun thing for him do and he loves "collections"

Another inexpensive thing to do along similar lines is to do a passport at World Showcase in Epcot. You can buy an Epcot passport in the shops at Epcot for around $10-12. The passport has stickers and pages for each WS country. You take the passport to a CM in each country and the CM will add an impression from a stamp for that country and write something in their native language. It pretty much works the same in each country (except for the language), so coming up with a social script would not be hard. The best part is that you don't have to give anything up to get something. Also, the CMs know the drill pretty well since so many kids do the passports.

People have also made their own passports with pictures printed from the internet for each WS country.

For the older Aspie, people have posted that finding hidden Mickeys was popular - there are books that hint where to look for them. There is also a small book written by Imagineers for each park (I am not sure if all 4 parks are done yet). The books have a lot of the 'layers of information' that a lot of Aspie kids like.

I know I said it above already in one comment, but thanks for post on how this has worked for you!

Ride videos would be great. He loves the planning videos, lol. Has watched it everyday lately sometimes more than once. My husband is insisting on surprising our kids so its making it very hard to plan and prepare him for the trip. Any other ideas that would prepare without telling the girls would be helpful.

That is a hard one! we suprised our kids (DS did not have this full diagnosis then in 05). I personally could not suprise him w/no forewarning at this stage. But I know how fun a suprise can be. We told our kids then (about to turn 6) at the airport. My DS was stressed in not knowing what was going on but settled into after awhile. You know your child the best and can plan the best way for him. If your aphensive about keeping it all a suprise you could tell him your going to WDW and then maybe have a special dinner, or thing to do a suprises to help your DH keep the suprise part....

If they've reacted well to surprise trips before, I'm sure you've got nothing to worry about. Has your son been on any surprise trips yet or not?

One thing I thought of, you could always prepare a 'what we're doing today / tomorrow' book for your son. It might not prepare him a long way in advance, but it'll set him up for the day, at least. You can have pictures of the park your going to, photos from some of the rides you might ride, maybe a park map for each page, with the areas / rides you're going to highlighted. Probably advisable not to get too detailed, so you don't have a meltdown if one particular ride in the book doesn't get done on that day. You can get pictures from travel agents' brochures or search for them online. You could also have a little calendar in the front page, so he can tick off each day as it happens.

HTH! If I think of anything more, I'll post it up!

I love the idea of the 'what we're doing today/tomorrow' book....it's kind of like a social story? yes? have you personally or know anyone who has done this?

I'm really trying to figure out what some ways can be to help my DS have a "plan" and have versions of expectations from each day.

so thanks for your post.


Thanks to everyone who has posted thus far....I truly appreciate all this info. It brightens my spirits that we can have not only a successful trip but a magical one for all my children including my special DS.

 

[SueM in MN]

Besides looking for the HM's and "treasure" he wants to get the penny presses. It will be a fun thing for him do and he loves "collections"

Those are very popular. When we were there with my niece (without any special needs), she loved the penny machines. There used to be a list of the machines someplace, but in general, we found one in pretty much every shop.
One caution - if he needs to collect everything - be aware that most of the machines have 2 possible designs. And be aware the sometimes the whole machine or just one design is out of service. Not real common in our experience, but it could happen.
Also, they had a penny album that you could buy in the parks. I think around $10, but very good for keeping the collection organized and (well) collected.

I love the idea of the 'what we're doing today/tomorrow' book....it's kind of like a social story? yes? have you personally or know anyone who has done this?

I'm really trying to figure out what some ways can be to help my DS have a "plan" and have versions of expectations from each day.

That would be like a social story.
I know people have written about making some sort of personal 'guidebook' for their kids with pictures of the park (look in the photo part of the DIS site).
I have not done this, but one of the ways I had thought of to have some flexibility to it would be to treat it more like a scrapbook (with a DIS name like mousescrapper, might you be a scrapbooker?). You could have some pages with permanent parts on them (the parts you know won't change) and have some extra pieces to add for the things that might.
What I was thinking of was to print pictures of the different attractions on sticker paper. Cut the printed sheet into the individual pictures and you have stickers and store them in a envelope or coupon sorter that you can bring with for the appropriate park you are visiting that day. As you are going on/know you will be going the attraction, your child can add the picture sticker to your schedule. If you need it to be changeable, you could cover your pages with contact paper or something that would make the stickers removeable.
If you need more flexibility than that, you could print the pictures on 3 x 5 or 4 x 6 cards and use a photo album to slide the cards in and out of as you need to change your schedule.
A plus of either of those would be that he would have a nice little start on a scrapbook of his own. After the ride or at the end of the day, you could use it to ask him about his day; write his comments on the appropriate page and he would have his own personal WDW guide for next time.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Neat idea Sue! I love the scrapbook take on a social story (thank you for supplying the name, I'd forgotten it!)!

 

[SueM in MN]

Neat idea Sue! I love the scrapbook take on a social story (thank you for supplying the name, I'd forgotten it!)!

I built off of what you had posted earlier. Sometimes one idea suggests another.

 

[s&k'smom]

We just got back from our latest trip in October with son who has been diagnosed with high functioning autism. And I have to admit every trip it gets better. Yeah there are some extra things we have to do like pack a lot of food for him, had ear plugs for the HDD, making sure he swam every day but in all honesty it was the best trip ever. We make sure he had his blankie and we talked alot about it but he is actually now looking forward to our next trip and well he decided we have to stay at BC next time. Go have fun and just roll with the punches.

 

[mousescrapper]

Those are very popular. When we were there with my niece (without any special needs), she loved the penny machines. There used to be a list of the machines someplace, but in general, we found one in pretty much every shop.
One caution - if he needs to collect everything - be aware that most of the machines have 2 possible designs. And be aware the sometimes the whole machine or just one design is out of service. Not real common in our experience, but it could happen.
Also, they had a penny album that you could buy in the parks. I think around $10, but very good for keeping the collection organized and (well) collected.

That would be like a social story.
I know people have written about making some sort of personal 'guidebook' for their kids with pictures of the park (look in the photo part of the DIS site).
I have not done this, but one of the ways I had thought of to have some flexibility to it would be to treat it more like a scrapbook (with a DIS name like mousescrapper, might you be a scrapbooker?). You could have some pages with permanent parts on them (the parts you know won't change) and have some extra pieces to add for the things that might.
What I was thinking of was to print pictures of the different attractions on sticker paper. Cut the printed sheet into the individual pictures and you have stickers and store them in a envelope or coupon sorter that you can bring with for the appropriate park you are visiting that day. As you are going on/know you will be going the attraction, your child can add the picture sticker to your schedule. If you need it to be changeable, you could cover your pages with contact paper or something that would make the stickers removeable.
If you need more flexibility than that, you could print the pictures on 3 x 5 or 4 x 6 cards and use a photo album to slide the cards in and out of as you need to change your schedule.
A plus of either of those would be that he would have a nice little start on a scrapbook of his own. After the ride or at the end of the day, you could use it to ask him about his day; write his comments on the appropriate page and he would have his own personal WDW guide for next time.

Sue

Thanks!!!!

Thank you for the insight on the penny press machines. I knew of the book, but thanks for the tip on $. I've added "penny presses" to my list of things to discuss with DS before and during the trip. We'll discuss limits of 1 penny per machine and what if a machine is broken, or we lose money in it etc. This will give me some base to work with.

And yes, I'm an avid scrapbooker! The ideas you gave would work great with him, and would be fun for me too. I'm going to tell DH about this idea. He's very clever too. I'll keep you posted on what we do.

 

[Coach81]

In answer to your question. YES! it can be done. Yes you have to do some extra research and preparation but it will be a wonderful trip for your family. Remember he is the child you have been dealing with for the past year he just now has a label attached to his behaviors. What I can tell you from personal experience is my DD who is high functioning autistic acts more "normal" when we are at the world. She is patient, has more spontaneous speech and very social epically with the characters. Now I know every kids is different and even more so if they are on the spectrum but please take your trip! You may wind up being surprised!

I have a 10 year old highly functional autistic son. I can totally agree with luvispooh. He is more sociable, likable, and if you want to use the word "normal" he does seem more "normal".

He has a tremendous time. His meals have to be pre-planned, and the day will go a lot better if he is pre-warned about what the plans are for the day. But one of the reasons we bought into DVC is because of how we are as a family at Disneyworld HAPPY!!!

I would say.. plan carefully, take preccautions.. but you need to go!

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

I didn't see this before I posted on your other thread. Sorry.

I just wanted tell you went to DLR in November and we loved it!!!! My DS5 did so awesome! I had forgotten what it felt like to feel so good. He did so awesome and I was so proud. He did beautifully. He exceeded my expectations by about a million miles. He rode all the rides, even the scary ones. Yes! You must go. It was the best vaction we have ever had!!!

 

[mommy2allgirls]

THis thread has been really inspirational. My dd is on the spectrum, thanks!