Autism & visiting WDW alone

[TremainesLucifer]

Hi,

I'm new here, and couldn't find the answer I was looking for. I tried to email WDW but I only receive mails that I have to call them.
I have Autism so call them on the phone is pretty hard for me, specially when it's in English not the language I speak everyday.
So hope anyone here can help me.

So I have Autism and in a few weeks I will be visiting Walt Disney World. Not for the first time, but it will be the first time alone without friends.
I live near Disneyland Paris and there I have a disability card. With this card it's forbidden for me to do attractions alone, or go to character meet&greets alone. So which means that it's actually forbidden to be in the park alone.

What about Walt Disney World? Can you do attractions on your own, go to meet ups with characters, ect. I have a note from my psychiatrist that I can't wait for a long time, but that I'm able to travel alone (have some friends flying with me to Orlando, but they will do other stuff in the area).

Hope you can help me!

 

[lanejudy]

I believe disability services at the U.S. parks are much different than what you may be used to at DLP due to different laws here. Click here for a link to the WDW - Disability Access Service Card thread pinned near the top of this forum. You only need to read the first post, not the whole long thread.

To quickly answer your questions:
1) Assuming you are over age 7, you are welcome to tour the WDW parks alone. You may ride alone, greet characters alone, etc.
2) WDW will not look at the note from your doctor. You should be prepared to discuss the reasons why you cannot wait in a standard queue environment, not your diagnosis, when you request the DAS.

Feel free to ask any other questions that may come up.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[aaarcher86]

I believe Disneyland Paris utilizes a system similar to the old GAC.

It's important to know that the disability card at WDW will not allow immediate access to a shorter line. I'd really familiarize yourself with the process ahead of time to avoid stress in the park.

 

[TremainesLucifer]

Ok, thank you so much !

 

[gap2368]

as other have said you do not need a dr note you just go to guest relation and tell them what happens when you wait ( I think if you ask for a DAS card they will say what kinds of assistants do you need) just tell them

the way the DAS card ( now links to your magic band) works is lets say at 11:00 you would like to ride the speedway and there is a 30 minute wait you will come back in 20 minutes ( wait time minus 10 minutes ) then you will come back at 11:20 and go in the fast pass line while you wait you can do another ride with a short wait, eat, shop, extra and you do not need to come back at exactly the time but you can not get another return time until you used the one you have and you have to use it that day ( you can not hold it till the next day)

 

[3Gsandme]

I'm sure you'll be fine touring alone. I can't think of any restrictions I've ever seen for adults.

We you go to Guest Service to discuss the DAS, you need to discuss WHY you need to wait outside of the line. Not what you have (autism) but why it causes you to need an alternate place to wait. As the mom of a kiddo with Autism, I'm proud of you for stepping out of what must be your comfort zone to go on this trip. Good for you! I hope you're proud of yourself.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

Disneyland Paris actually forbids you from doing things alone?! Wow! If you don't show them the card, or even get the card to begin with, how would they know you have been deemed unable to tour the park alone?

 

[Baklava]

I'm pretty sure that card would be illegal in the US.

Your English is very good, but if there are things in the big thread that are unclear, everyone here is pretty nice and people would help explain in a way that might better cross a language barrier.

I've got a spectrum kiddo. The idea that she might someday be able to do things like solo trips to foreign countries and Disney World is a pretty big deal. Thanks for sharing. <3

 

[Sparkly]

I hope someday I can do a solo trip to Disney. I really think I could. I know the process inside and out from getting to the airport, checking in etc.

Good luck to you!

 

[jec6613]

I'm pretty sure that card would be illegal in the US.

It is.

I've got a spectrum kiddo. The idea that she might someday be able to do things like solo trips to foreign countries and Disney World is a pretty big deal. Thanks for sharing. <3

As a spectrum adult, I've gone on my own to the UK, Dubai, and even half a day at WDW before my family arrived, and travel on my own constantly. It's actually much nicer than going with someone else, because they tend to muck things up and make them less predictable; on my own, I can travel at my own pace (and I've made a 15 minute connection with terminal change in DFW!). It does take practice, but once you get the knack for it, it's very nice. I actually find connecting in Heathrow on my own more tolerable on my own than a simple domestic connection with my fiancé.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

.......

To quickly answer your questions:
1) Assuming you are over age 7, you are welcome to tour the WDW parks alone. You may ride alone, greet characters alone, etc.
........

This is incorrect. You must be 14 years old or older to enter the parks solo.

 

[lanejudy]

This is incorrect. You must be 14 years old or older to enter the parks solo.

True -- 14 to enter the parks alone. But only 7 to tour and do attractions alone. I should have included both ages to be a complete answer, thank you.

 

[TremainesLucifer]

Thank you so much for your answers I feels a bit better and less scary to plan the rest of the trip knowing that I can do things alone.

I'm going to eat at Cinderella's Royal table alone for lunch, and of course meeting Lady Tremaine at Park Fare 1900. As a big Cinderella fan this is a must, so can't wait to actually be there. Just counting the days for more than a year now, so it's going to be time to leave !
Other things that i must do as a Cinderella fan while I'm there?

I'm also going to do the Halloween party at October 31, that's going to be so hard for me but also that's something I really want to do. I did the Halloween Party in Paris once, and that was a thing i only did once and never again.

Here in Paris it's just not fun to be alone as an adult with Autism. Just cancelled a trip to Disneyland Paris for this weekend because I don't want to be there in a bizzy park where I can't do nothing alone than shopping
So I'm saving the money for a better thing ... maybe a Disney Cruise in 2016

 

[TremainesLucifer]

I hope someday I can do a solo trip to Disney. I really think I could. I know the process inside and out from getting to the airport, checking in etc.

Good luck to you!

Thanks ! Hope you can you on a solo trip too

I only took some planes inside Europe alone, but never had the whole process of security and border security so that's something stressfull for me. I'm travelling with friends to Orlando (MCO), but I'm have to take a plan earlier home. My plane home leaves at Orlando Sanford Airport, where I've never been before (it's a plane to Brussels, where I have to take some trains to get home). Well I guess it's going to be oke, still have some months to plan that part of the trip.

 

[DG24]

I am on the spectrum disorder and travel the parks alone all the time. Maybe we should meet up some time. I would love to go to DLP, not afraid of flying but I am afraid of weird foods so never left America, except for a small trip for a day in Canada but I brought my own food to eat, from the cruise ships. I could go with you and not ask for a disability card and we could use your and travel all over DLP.

If you get nervous and tongue tided when you ask people things, you may want to write down what to say when they ask why you need the card, or have someone else write it down. My first time trying alone for the new card, left me very frustrated and having to go back several times and being turned way because I could not tell them what they wanted from me, but in my head I was. So I finally after a few hours gave in and called mom, she told me what to say and had me write it down, then I was able to answer there questions and I got the card. Our disability is social you would think they would understand how hard it is for us to explain our needs in a social setting with others in the room. I think it may be because they don't really expect us to be alone. Just like others on the board said, good for you. I think there is more and more of us out there all the time, because we are getting into groups for social help much younger and as adults we are able to handle some things better. I am with you, I rather travel alone or with family because friends just muck it up for me.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thank you so much for your answers I feels a bit better and less scary to plan the rest of the trip knowing that I can do things alone.

I'm going to eat at Cinderella's Royal table alone for lunch, and of course meeting Lady Tremaine at Park Fare 1900. As a big Cinderella fan this is a must, so can't wait to actually be there. Just counting the days for more than a year now, so it's going to be time to leave !
Other things that i must do as a Cinderella fan while I'm there?

I'm also going to do the Halloween party at October 31, that's going to be so hard for me but also that's something I really want to do. I did the Halloween Party in Paris once, and that was a thing i only did once and never again.

Here in Paris it's just not fun to be alone as an adult with Autism. Just cancelled a trip to Disneyland Paris for this weekend because I don't want to be there in a bizzy park where I can't do nothing alone than shopping
So I'm saving the money for a better thing ... maybe a Disney Cruise in 2016

Cinderella's coach that is used in parades is usually one of the 'character stops' at the Halloween party. Expect a long line if you want your picture taken.

Also, not sure if it will still be there in fall or not, but Cinderella's coach from the recent movie was on display in the Streets of America area at the Studio. It was toward the end near the entrance to the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids play area.

 

[TremainesLucifer]

I am on the spectrum disorder and travel the parks alone all the time. Maybe we should meet up some time. I would love to go to DLP, not afraid of flying but I am afraid of weird foods so never left America, except for a small trip for a day in Canada but I brought my own food to eat, from the cruise ships. I could go with you and not ask for a disability card and we could use your and travel all over DLP.

If you get nervous and tongue tided when you ask people things, you may want to write down what to say when they ask why you need the card, or have someone else write it down. My first time trying alone for the new card, left me very frustrated and having to go back several times and being turned way because I could not tell them what they wanted from me, but in my head I was. So I finally after a few hours gave in and called mom, she told me what to say and had me write it down, then I was able to answer there questions and I got the card. Our disability is social you would think they would understand how hard it is for us to explain our needs in a social setting with others in the room. I think it may be because they don't really expect us to be alone. Just like others on the board said, good for you. I think there is more and more of us out there all the time, because we are getting into groups for social help much younger and as adults we are able to handle some things better. I am with you, I rather travel alone or with family because friends just muck it up for me.

The foods aren't that weird here in Paris ;-) Most of the restaurants serve american style food. I would be great to have a meet up. I already met serveral people in Paris or met them first on Facebook and then in the parks. It's always fun meeting other Disney fans

Cinderella's coach that is used in parades is usually one of the 'character stops' at the Halloween party. Expect a long line if you want your picture taken.

Also, not sure if it will still be there in fall or not, but Cinderella's coach from the recent movie was on display in the Streets of America area at the Studio. It was toward the end near the entrance to the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids play area.

What's the Cinderella's Coach ?

 

[lanejudy]

What's the Cinderella's Coach ?

From the story of Cinderella -- the carriage the fairy godmother created out of a pumpkin in which Cinderella rides to the ball.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[MaggieMollyMom]

Not much to add in terms of advice...but I do wish you all the best for your upcoming trip!!!