Autism and DAS

[TheRustyScupper]

I agree with the need to go somewhere else for the return time . . .

1) Totally disagree.
2) If they did, then everyone would be using them.
3) So, people FAR, FAR away from a ride would use up all the available FP's.
4) This was tried about 10-yrs ago as a trial, and a terrible failure.
5) That is why all machines are near the ride.

NOTE: This should not even be a option for DAS-ONLY use. This would give DAS an advantage not available to other guests.

 

[lovethattink]

Does your son know that the FP has an hour window? Does he know how long an hour is? You could show him - tell him when an hour starts, go do a bunch of stuff, and then tell him when the hour is up. Sometimes the concept of time is hard for kids.

OK - this post was for two PP above - the quoted part disappeared, sorry

Yes, he knows that some attractions have an hour window, but the shows do not. He has absolutely no concept of time, though he can tell time. He's 10, and will often say something happened 30 years ago and it was a few months ago. I'll ask him how that's possible and he might come back saying it was a few minutes ago. If he has his phone or tablet with him, and can see the time, he'll be adamant about arriving 30 minutes early for the start of the FP time so we don't miss it. The clock on the Muppet building he'll watch like a hawk. It's the same for all doctor appointments and OT, he'll watch the clock and make sure we arrive early. He's in a musical at our local community theater and we are always the first ones there to avoid a panic attack.

 

[Goddesstree]

How do they handle that at school? He can't be rushing off to lunch, etc, 30 minutes early, so there must be a way they help him deal with it? Can you use social stories to help him get over the anxiety?

 

[lovethattink]

How do they handle that at school? He can't be rushing off to lunch, etc, 30 minutes early, so there must be a way they help him deal with it? Can you use social stories to help him get over the anxiety?

He is homeschooled. I tell him I will get lunch ready as soon as he finishes his task. His OT and psychologist are working on the time anxiety with me. He's had much bigger things to tackle first. This is very minor. But this ocd trait does help him to never miss his mark in the theater and take blocking very serious.

As for social stories, they are great. We use them all the time. I had found a website years ago, that had Star Wars ones, his area of hyperfocus. That website is no longer available, but I'm so glad I printed them out. Do you know off hand of any about waiting? I guess I could put something together on my own too. My most frequent phrase to him is "patience my young padawan."

 

[SMD]

Yes, he knows that some attractions have an hour window, but the shows do not. He has absolutely no concept of time, though he can tell time. He's 10, and will often say something happened 30 years ago and it was a few months ago. I'll ask him how that's possible and he might come back saying it was a few minutes ago. If he has his phone or tablet with him, and can see the time, he'll be adamant about arriving 30 minutes early for the start of the FP time so we don't miss it. The clock on the Muppet building he'll watch like a hawk. It's the same for all doctor appointments and OT, he'll watch the clock and make sure we arrive early. He's in a musical at our local community theater and we are always the first ones there to avoid a panic attack.

Haha, I babysit for some neighbors. In December I reminded the 10 year old why he had not yet earned back the trust to wait alone with either his younger brother or sister while the other used a public restroom, and therefore both were coming in with me. He responded by rolling his eyes and saying, "That was 100 years ago!" It was at the end of August. Nuh uh, not getting another chance for a very, very long time.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I've had a lot of luck using a timer, whether it be a digital timer from my kitchen or on my cell if we are out and about, to help lesson DD's anxiety. She can see the time counting down and knows that as long as there is time left on the timer, we aren't late. It also helps speed her up during morning and bedtime routines because any time left on the timer after she gets everything done is time that she can spend on an activity of her choice.

 

[aaarcher86]

Yes, he knows that some attractions have an hour window, but the shows do not. He has absolutely no concept of time, though he can tell time. He's 10, and will often say something happened 30 years ago and it was a few months ago. I'll ask him how that's possible and he might come back saying it was a few minutes ago. If he has his phone or tablet with him, and can see the time, he'll be adamant about arriving 30 minutes early for the start of the FP time so we don't miss it. The clock on the Muppet building he'll watch like a hawk. It's the same for all doctor appointments and OT, he'll watch the clock and make sure we arrive early. He's in a musical at our local community theater and we are always the first ones there to avoid a panic attack.

Mine does the same thing, and she's 9! She doesn't have the anxiety about it thank goodness, but she has no sense of time. It's constantly -

'You do that all the time!'
'Really? When's the last time I did that?'
'When I was 5!'

 

[pixarmom]

I often take my son by myself. We've got it down to a science what works with him. We haven't had to use DAS at DHS or Epcot the last half dozen times at those parks. But have needed it at AK and MK.

He knows our FP+ schedule. He'll take his own card to get the return time when we are on our way to another attraction or have somewhere else to be.

My biggest obstacle right now with him is his anxiety that he'll miss the FP+ time. He wants to arrive early, too early. And he gets himself worked up over it. He's fine with DAS because he knows he can arrive a little late and it's not going to matter one bit.

Does your son know that the FP has an hour window? Does he know how long an hour is? You could show him - tell him when an hour starts, go do a bunch of stuff, and then tell him when the hour is up. Sometimes the concept of time is hard for kids.

OK - this post was for two PP above - the quoted part disappeared, sorry

Our 8-year-old has the same issue. Intellectually, he knows about the hour timeframe for FP, but emotionally, the anxiety is just too much. I've started getting FP+ for when the park opens because a 9am opening/10am FP+ causes an hour of stress for him - even if we're walking on to other rides. Not a good touring strategy, but a necessary strategy for him.

We've been doing social stories since he was tiny, but he tends to perseverate on the contents and is very rigid about the story. We tried to write flexibility concepts into the stories and that helps a little. We used make a card for him to follow to decrease anxiety, but it actually had the opposite impact - he was so focused on the card and getting to each place on time.

While we have a DAS card, we only use it once or maybe twice per day in addition to FP+. After 4-5 rides and lunch, he's ready for a swim break. The pool doesn't require return times and he's happy in the water!

 

[FaithsWish]

Faith is the same way....absolutely no concept of time. Everything is "yesterday" "tomorrow" "in 5 minutes" or "Tuesday".

During school she has a 1:1 aide with her all day and here at home we try to utilize digital timers to show when something will happen if it is within an hour. However in her mind if she hides the timer, then the time is up! Same with the calendar. Just a few days ago she tore "Feb" off the wall calendar and told me it was now time to go meet Captain America!

 

[lovethattink]

We went to DHS last week. I timed the FP an hour apart. When Indy was over it was FP+ window for the singalong before we could get out of the stadium. Going straight from the one to the other with no wait worked great. When we got out of the singalong, it was time for the Great Movie Ride. It worked out great, though on our way to the GMR he wanted to go home, so we skipped it and went home rather than push him to sit again.

Haha, I babysit for some neighbors. In December I reminded the 10 year old why he had not yet earned back the trust to wait alone with either his younger brother or sister while the other used a public restroom, and therefore both were coming in with me. He responded by rolling his eyes and saying, "That was 100 years ago!" It was at the end of August. Nuh uh, not getting another chance for a very, very long time.

The restroom waiting is another issue we have too. Won't get into that.

100 years, lol. I hear that too.

I've had a lot of luck using a timer, whether it be a digital timer from my kitchen or on my cell if we are out and about, to help lesson DD's anxiety. She can see the time counting down and knows that as long as there is time left on the timer, we aren't late. It also helps speed her up during morning and bedtime routines because any time left on the timer after she gets everything done is time that she can spend on an activity of her choice.

That's great that a timer works for you. We haven't had that work for us. However, if I time how long something takes him to do, he is willing another time to have me time him to see if he can do it in less time. But the anxiety of waiting for a sound to go off on a timer makes him focus on nothing else.

Mine does the same thing, and she's 9! She doesn't have the anxiety about it thank goodness, but she has no sense of time. It's constantly -

'You do that all the time!'
'Really? When's the last time I did that?'
'When I was 5!'

Sounds very familiar!

Our 8-year-old has the same issue. Intellectually, he knows about the hour timeframe for FP, but emotionally, the anxiety is just too much. I've started getting FP+ for when the park opens because a 9am opening/10am FP+ causes an hour of stress for him - even if we're walking on to other rides. Not a good touring strategy, but a necessary strategy for him.

We've been doing social stories since he was tiny, but he tends to perseverate on the contents and is very rigid about the story. We tried to write flexibility concepts into the stories and that helps a little. We used make a card for him to follow to decrease anxiety, but it actually had the opposite impact - he was so focused on the card and getting to each place on time.

While we have a DAS card, we only use it once or maybe twice per day in addition to FP+. After 4-5 rides and lunch, he's ready for a swim break. The pool doesn't require return times and he's happy in the water!

I can definitely relate.

The DAS and FP+ work ok for us for 3 to 4 hour days at a park. We've given up on full days. Being local and having AP make it easy to take it in small increments. I know people vacationing have limited time to squeeze it all in. When we are staying onsite, a pool break or room break is always welcomed by him.

Faith is the same way....absolutely no concept of time. Everything is "yesterday" "tomorrow" "in 5 minutes" or "Tuesday".

During school she has a 1:1 aide with her all day and here at home we try to utilize digital timers to show when something will happen if it is within an hour. However in her mind if she hides the timer, then the time is up! Same with the calendar. Just a few days ago she tore "Feb" off the wall calendar and told me it was now time to go meet Captain America!

I very much can relate, out of sight out of mind. Unless it's a missing toy, then it's focus on nothing but finding it.

We've tried countdown calendars and he's taken off more than one day throughout the day, because to him it feels like another day has passed.

When he was little everything revolved around the sun. It it was up, he was up, if it was down he wanted to sleep. Thankfully, that period of time is over.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

my family is most likely one of the ones whom people complained about with the previous GAC card. My son has apergers, ODD and ADD. He also has fixations. And at MK that is space mountain. and we would ride that ride back to back to back. With him literally dragging me through the line.

We did NOT go last year because my son even after explaining to him that things were different, he just didnt understand how the new system worked.. And i just didnt want to deal with the major meltdowns that would have transpired.

This is similar to my situation. My daughter is 11 and has Asperger's but also has severe anxiety and fixations and wants to ride some things over and over (BTMRR) and some things I will urge her to try but she always backs out last minute (sometimes causing quite a scene in the queue). We have not been back to WDW since August 2013. We went A LOT prior to that time. I am worried the new system might create more issues because she is so used to the old system.

 

[lovethattink]

This is similar to my situation. My daughter is 11 and has Asperger's but also has severe anxiety and fixations and wants to ride some things over and over (BTMRR) and some things I will urge her to try but she always backs out last minute (sometimes causing quite a scene in the queue). We have not been back to WDW since August 2013. We went A LOT prior to that time. I am worried the new system might create more issues because she is so used to the old system.

You'll need to prepare her for possibly only 2 rides on it. Since you can't fp + the same ride more than once, you can do that ride once with fp+ and as many times as you are willing to wait with DAS.

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

You'll need to prepare her for possibly only 2 rides on it. Since you can't fp + the same ride more than once, you can do that ride once with fp+ and as many times as you are willing to wait with DAS.

I guess I need to educate myself on all the changes. Last time we were there was old FP system. So, with new system you absolutely cannot FP+ the same ride 2x in one day?

 

[SirDuff]

I guess I need to educate myself on all the changes. Last time we were there was old FP system. So, with new system you absolutely cannot FP+ the same ride 2x in one day?

You might find these helpful.

FastPass+ Basic Information, Suggested Priorities, And Strategies--Part II
FastPass+ Expected 1:00a Booking Openings (Next: Feb 14-19, Feb 22)

Basically, you will only be able to pre-book one FP+ for the same ride. However, when you used your pre-booked FP+s (or their time has passed), you can add an extra FP (or two - but one at a time) and it can be for one of the rides you've already used a FP+ for (assuming, of course, there are still FP+ left at the time).

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

You might find these helpful.

FastPass+ Basic Information, Suggested Priorities, And Strategies--Part II
FastPass+ Expected 1:00a Booking Openings (Next: Feb 14-19, Feb 22)

Basically, you will only be able to pre-book one FP+ for the same ride. However, when you used your pre-booked FP+s (or their time has passed), you can add an extra FP (or two - but one at a time) and it can be for one of the rides you've already used a FP+ for (assuming, of course, there are still FP+ left at the time).

Thank you! I don't suppose this has been live long enough for there to be any source/way to know historically when FP+ runs out for rides? It seems when I check wait times they all seem much longer than I've typically seen in the past. However, it seems less FP users should mean lower standby. I just checked and BTM is 120 which seems very high even for pres day week.
I was thinking mothers day weekend, which should be low crowd but not if waits are high and no chance for FP.

 

[lovethattink]

Thank you! I don't suppose this has been live long enough for there to be any source/way to know historically when FP+ runs out for rides? It seems when I check wait times they all seem much longer than I've typically seen in the past. However, it seems less FP users should mean lower standby. I just checked and BTM is 120 which seems very high even for pres day week.
I was thinking mothers day weekend, which should be low crowd but not if waits are high and no chance for FP.

@mesaboy2 has a thread explaining fp+ and which ones are harder to get.

 

[SirDuff]

@mesaboy2 has a thread explaining fp+ and which ones are harder to get.

My links were to Mesaboy2's threads! He's got two now