Autism and Disney Dining

[Disneylvr]

We decided to try the Disney Dining Plan this trip for the first time. Madelyn has moderate to severe autism and is non-verbal. For the most part she is a sensory seeker and tends to do better in restaurants with lots of movement and noise. For example, at home Cracker Barrel is perfect. We are having trouble fining restaurants with available ADR's and a children's menu or buffet that Madelyn will eat. She is pretty much restricted to grilled cheese, hot dogs, pizza, chicken tenders, ham, applesauce, pancakes, waffles, and cereal.

So far we have ADR's at:
The Crystal Palace for breakfast (a first for Madelyn)
Kona Cafe for dinner (this worked well during our 2006 trip)
Ohana's for dinner (a first for Madelyn)

We tried to get in to Chef Mickey's for lunch OR dinner but no ADR's were available unless we wanted to eat at 9pm.

Restaurants we are considering are: 50's Prime Time Cafe, Garden Grill, Coral Reef. We need just 2 more but I was wondering if the more experienced ASD parents had some good suggestions. Thanks!

 

[Selket]

My child doesn't have the same sensory issue but has a food allergy and type 1 diabetes. Especially when he was younger and would only eat hot dogs when dining out we found we could request a hot dog at ANY restaurant - even ones that don't normally serve them. We made the request in advance. When I made the ADR they would give me the phone # for the restaurant and I would talk to the chef about a week ahead of time. It sounds like your child's food requests are simple enough that any place could pull some of those items if you need them, from another restaurant. We've also had places make him grilled cheese when it wasn't on the menu.

Biergarten is a restaurant with a lot of movement and noise. They have a band that plays (at dinner for sure - not sure about lunch). The children can come down to the dance floor to dance.

 

[SueM in MN]

Biergarten is a restaurant with a lot of movement and noise. They have a band that plays (at dinner for sure - not sure about lunch). The children can come down to the dance floor to dance.

for lunch too.
We've been there at lunch time only and saw the band.

Sci Fi has a lot of movement and noise. It's themed around a drive in movie theater and there are sci fi movie previews playing all the time.

 

[s&k'smom]

50's PTC might be a good choice too, it's usually very crowded and their shouting and joking around by the wait staff.

WCC might be a good choice too over at WL.

My son too is an extremely picky eater and we never, ever had a problem getting him something specific at a restaurant.

 

[leanan]

I think she would enjoy the experience of the Coral Reef. DD10 who has Aspergers adores being able to watch the fish during dinner. Any place with Fish tanks always gets extra points for us.

 

[DannysMom]

Restaurants we are considering are: 50's Prime Time Cafe, Garden Grill, Coral Reef. We need just 2 more but I was wondering if the more experienced ASD parents had some good suggestions. Thanks!

What about Restaraunt Marrakesh (Epcot/Morocco)? It's pretty loud & busy, they have music & a bellydancer, chicken fingers on the kids menu & good food for mom & dad (as long as you're a carnivore.) We had some of the most awesome lamb here. More limited if you are vegetarian.

 

[KirstenB]

It sounds like she likes breakfast foods. How about the character breakfast at the Grand Floridian? Our Zoe is a seeker, and she loves the Pooh Bear/Alice in Wonderland characters there.

 

[s&k'smom]

OK guys now you've given me a ton of new ideas!!

 

[robin09]

We decided to try the Disney Dining Plan this trip for the first time. Madelyn has moderate to severe autism and is non-verbal. For the most part she is a sensory seeker and tends to do better in restaurants with lots of movement and noise. For example, at home Cracker Barrel is perfect. We are having trouble fining restaurants with available ADR's and a children's menu or buffet that Madelyn will eat. She is pretty much restricted to grilled cheese, hot dogs, pizza, chicken tenders, ham, applesauce, pancakes, waffles, and cereal.

So far we have ADR's at:
The Crystal Palace for breakfast (a first for Madelyn)
Kona Cafe for dinner (this worked well during our 2006 trip)
Ohana's for dinner (a first for Madelyn)

We tried to get in to Chef Mickey's for lunch OR dinner but no ADR's were available unless we wanted to eat at 9pm.

Restaurants we are considering are: 50's Prime Time Cafe, Garden Grill, Coral Reef. We need just 2 more but I was wondering if the more experienced ASD parents had some good suggestions. Thanks!

Picky eater here and aspergers, ocd, adhd... and sensitivities to food coloring... Loves movement and noise.. most of the time... Morning breakfast.. Ohana's with Lilo and Stitch... the kids get movement there while marching and using maraccas... Whispering Canyon for dinner for the shenanigans and again movement.. galloping on stick horses... these are just some of the reasons I can't get away from Disney.. they make the vacation pleasant memories , something we look forward to and plan together! The chef's at all the restaurants have come to our table and there were quite a few who made special dishes for DD.

 

[robin09]

We decided to try the Disney Dining Plan this trip for the first time. Madelyn has moderate to severe autism and is non-verbal. For the most part she is a sensory seeker and tends to do better in restaurants with lots of movement and noise. For example, at home Cracker Barrel is perfect. We are having trouble fining restaurants with available ADR's and a children's menu or buffet that Madelyn will eat. She is pretty much restricted to grilled cheese, hot dogs, pizza, chicken tenders, ham, applesauce, pancakes, waffles, and cereal.

So far we have ADR's at:
The Crystal Palace for breakfast (a first for Madelyn)
Kona Cafe for dinner (this worked well during our 2006 trip)
Ohana's for dinner (a first for Madelyn)

We tried to get in to Chef Mickey's for lunch OR dinner but no ADR's were available unless we wanted to eat at 9pm.

Restaurants we are considering are: 50's Prime Time Cafe, Garden Grill, Coral Reef. We need just 2 more but I was wondering if the more experienced ASD parents had some good suggestions. Thanks!

Sorry, I forgot about one more breakfast one that Jenn loved... hollywood and vine at Studios... It's with the Einsteins and also had a noisy parade and breakfast food! 50's Prime time is also one of our favorites.. but alot of it depends upon your server. In Coral Reef we had a long long long wait (over an hour even with our ADR's), and sat far away from the tank, so it's not one we would recommend for your child. Never been to Garden Grill. Have a great time!

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Hiya!

My DD8 (with PDD but is sensory-seeking) does great at Kona, Crystal Palace and 'Ohana's. Keep checking on Chef Mickey as you get closer to your date. That's another one of DD's favorites.

Another one to consider is 1900 Park Fare and(lots of activity going on there). We haven't dined at Prime Time or Garden Grill but we have dined at the Coral Reef. My daughter loves the Coral Reef--especially after spending time at Turtle Talk with Crush.

Hope that helps!

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

Sorry, I forgot about one more breakfast one that Jenn loved... hollywood and vine at Studios... It's with the Einsteins and also had a noisy parade and breakfast food!

Just wanted to add my agreement to this one. My DD8 (Avery) LOVED this breakfast as she's also a natural performer. The characters really had a lot of fun interacting with her and all of the kids.

 

[LuvsTinker]

I agree with character dining that has activity - Crystal Palace is fun with the march around the room (I believe it's quarter till the hour)

Whispering Caynon was fun too with the horse race.

My son liked LTT - only dinner time has the characters - no marching around but still fun.

And he really enjoyed Hollywood and Vine with the Einstein Characters - they dance often. A lot of movement and jumping around!

Side note: We did not have a good experience with Garden Grill when my son was younger (about 3-4yrs.) cuz the restaurant was on the quiet side and when we rotated to the side of the Land Ride with the thunder sounds, my son freaked and jumped under the table till we rotated away. I don't know if your daughter is frightened by thunder sounds - just something to keep in mind.

Have a great time

 

[LisaBi]

Another posted mentioned SciFi - I was also going to recommend it. It is DS's favorite. Also, one time he really wanted chicken nuggets. They don't have them on the menu. But the server went to the CS place next door and got them for us.

 

[mamacate]

My ADHD, NVLD, sensory-seeking son also did just fine at Biergarten and WCC at WL. The only issue to think about with WCC is that the horse show business means that all the kids go up to the front of the room and follow a set of directions given to them by a CM. We weren't sure how my son would do with that, and I did go up a few times to whisper in his ear when he started to look lost. If she can a) participate, or b) would enjoy watching, it's quite fun, but it's definitely a moment when kids are asked to "perform" in an unfamiliar situation, and I know that can be stressful for some kids (including mine).

The only potential downside for Biergarten, which I can otherwise heartily recommend, is that you are seated with strangers. My son rolled with it for the most part, but it could have gone the other way, plus there's the other guests' responses and potential lack of understanding if you get unlucky with who is seated with you. On the up-side, kids can even go up front and dance during the music show, so it almost has a little sensory diet moment built-in.

I bet she'll love CP. We had a great time there and except for trying to get to and from the buffet, found it to be a nice balance of activity and bustle, without being intrusive. We had our own space, but there was plenty to watch and experience. Plus the food was good!

Cate

 

[Disneylvr]

Thank you everyone!!! Madelyn is not afraid of thunderstorms so that aspect of GG should be fine. I really wish we didn't have to make the ADR's so far in advance but it is the only way to get into the restaurants. Sci Fi would be okay but the seating bothers me. We would be seated with another family in front of us or behind us and Madelyn would either keep turning around or touching them from behind. The Biergarten would present a similar problem as Madelyn doesn't understand personal space. For now we have added the Garden Grill and 50's Prime Time to our ADR's but between now and then we may change our minds.

 

[P&L@WDW]

The biergarten could, possibly, still work. Just let the greeters know when you're checking in, and they can likely seat you at the end of the table near the railing (so that Madelyn can sit closest to the stage with someone between her and anybody else you're seated at), and even possibly on one of the 'end' tables, so there's space between you and the table behind you.

 

[SueM in MN]

Sci Fi has tables that are like cars with seats that you are familiar with, but they also have some that are more like picnic tables. I don't have any pictures of them, but we have sat at those.

 

[sneezy1956]

Michelle since I'm going now that won't be a problem...she can sit with me and turn around and talk with you and Jim

 

[mechurchlady]

My source for the following picture is http://www.brownfamilyvacations.com/html/WDWrestrnts2005.htm

http://www.brownfamilyvacations.com/images/wdw2005/P1010155.JPG
Some cars have three bench seats and some have 2 benches as shown above. I never found video of the dinner tables that are not cars but you can when making reservations ask for a car with two seats then your kid can have fun driving and bouncing without worries about other people. Another option if they do not have a 2-seater would be to explain the situation and that you need a car to yourself. I believe staff would accommodate you with a table, 2-seater car or your own 3-seater car.

I loved that place when I ate there.