Autistic DD and Princesses

[busykate]

20 yr old DD who thinks she is a princess and I are going to WDW in sept. to celebrate her high school graduation and I wanted her to get a chance to be with other princesses. Her aide at school who's been to CRT for breakfast advised me that Dani would probably get overwhelmed by the crowds of little kids and suggested 1900 Park fare for dinner instead. Anyone have any feedback for me? Any other suggestions for princess encounters?

 

[welovedis]

Hi-
And welcome to the DIS boards!

We've been to CRT and I can say that while we enjoyed it, we probably wouldn't go again-gets pretty loud and many small children there, when we went lots were running around and screaming (happily), just started DS stimming and getting really wound up.

1900 Park Fair was really better for us because the mood seemed a bit more subdued, the children were not as "wild" for lack of a better term. We have been there for both the breakfast and the dinner and preferred the dinner seating for our family's needs (food allergies). The character interaction was great at both and we would go again if DS expressed an interest in this.

A mom from our AS group also has an adult DD with autism and told me that they recently came back and did the Family Magic Tour at MK one morning. She said she was a bit reluctant to try it and wondered if her DD would like it and was really happy to see that she seemed to enjoy it more than some of the kids. It is a treasure hunt through the MK culminating in meeting 1-2 characters and getting to experience an attraction with them. While I don't know if this would be a good experience for your family, I wanted to mention it here as it seems to be something that is not well-known. Here's a link to more info on this:
http://allearsnet.com/btp/tours.htm#fmt Just scroll down the page and then there are link to reviews of the tour.

Gl with your planning & congrats to you DD on her graduation!

 

[Nik's Mom]

Hi and welcome! My ds is autistic, but he is only 6. We tried Cinderella's Royal table and it can get very hectic. We've also tried the 1900 Park Fare Dinner (before it was a princess meal) and really enjoyed it. Try to stay away from the Princess meet and greet in Toontown. It was so crowded in the character meet and greet lines, and the kids were pretty wild. It's a miracle ds handled it!
Have a great trip!

 

[dclfun]

There's also the fairly new princess breakfast at Akershus in Norway, and I think they might now have all the meals there as being with the princesses but I'm not positive on that. At any rate, congratulations to your daughter on her graduation! Are you staying on property? If so they can usually send a signed card to the room ( could choose a princess photo card) and I'd think if you explained the whole situation to a cm there and/or at the parks they could do something to make it magical for your daughter to meet a princess or princesses in a less crowded area. Kathy

 

[busykate]

Thanks everybody for all the info, I really just want this trip to be a success for her. dclfun, how do you arrange for a card? She would definetly think that was cool. We're staying at all star movies and it's our first trip there in five years so we're both pretty excited.

 

[dclfun]

When you check in at the front desk, let the CM know your daughter is celebrating her high school graduation and that she IS a princess and would like a card from either one of the princesses ( tell them her favorite) or a group of them. They'll then have it signed and will deliver it to your room there. It wouldn't hurt to let them know of her special needs and how important this trip is to her. Most CM's love being able to do something special and really "make" the trip for one of their guests. The cards have an actual photo insert and are very nice. My son still has one that he got from Goofy for his birthday years ago and friends on a recent trip had a card delivered of Mickey/Minnie for their honeymoon. Kathy

 

[SueM in MN]

I know Norway has a breakfast and lunch, but I'm not sure about supper.
We have not been there for any of the princess meals, but we have been there several times for "regular" meals.
We've also been to CRT, which I agree with the other posters is a very noisy place.

 

[Aidensmom]

I know Norway has a breakfast and lunch, but I'm not sure about supper.
We have not been there for any of the princess meals, but we have been there several times for "regular" meals.
We've also been to CRT, which I agree with the other posters is a very noisy place.

They have breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We were there Monday for lunch, and it did not seem too hectic, everyone remained sitting at the tables - it is a table service meal rather than a buffet.

 

[eeyore45]

Hi, welcome to the Dis!!

I've not been to 1900 Park Fare, you can check the menus at www.allearsnet.com then click on dining, they have a list of menus, and character meals as well, very helpful (they include prices too!)

We did the Norway Princess Breakfast, everyone did stay in their seats, we were seated in an 'alcove' with only 4 other tables, so that helped cut down noise, confusion, and we didnt see the Princesses, until they entered the alcove!

i've read some negatives about 1900, that its a buffet (and can be confusing on where the stations are to get the foods), its expensive, but other than that??? I'm going to try it!!

 

[dj2]

i've read some negatives about 1900, that its a buffet (and can be confusing on where the stations are to get the foods), its expensive, but other than that??? I'm going to try it!!

in 6/03, my DD then 7 burned her hand on the heat lamps at the kids buffet line at 1900 PF. there was a "caution HOT" sign but it was placed too high up for a child to see. we should have been monitoring her more closely. even still, when i took her back to WDW in 1/04, she specifically asked to go to that restaurant. we also went to CRT that trip (it was our "princess tour"), and i didn't notice any difference in crowd/noise levels between the two places. she did not want to go to PSB - she did not like the food there. 1900 was better for her as it was a buffet with more food from which to choose. at CRT she wouldn't have liked most of the food either, but we special ordered mac n cheese for her breakfast. (i was talking to che chef to arrange my special needs food and asked him if i could order something for her, too. - WDW is SO WONDERFUL)
-dj

 

[tbelfonti]

20 yr old DD who thinks she is a princess

Thinks she's a princess? In my book she IS a princess

 

[Princess Mommy]

Toughy... I have been to CRT and 1900 Park Faire...
CRT is very crowded, loud, chaotic, and you are stuck in your seat, where as 1900 you can get up and move around- it is a buffet, seats are more spread out, not as noisy. We have been to the Princess Storybook as well- but honestly the food was best at 1900 Park Faire. If your DD loves Cindy, then she wont have to wait to meet her favorites b/c the only ones there are Cindy, her Prince, Fairy God Mother and her 2 mice Mary & Perla.
When you make your advanced dining reservation for whichever you choose, I would tell them of your DD needs & also remind them when you check in at the podium. They might be able to sit you in a area that might not be as stimulating.

And I agree...

Thinks she's a princess? In my book she IS a princess

Have a MAGICAL vacation!

 

[busykate]

thanks everybody!! Yes Dani really is a princess. Last night was her graduation and it was beautiful. Now comes the planning for WDW!!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I *love* 1900 Park Fair! My advice is to go there. If you would still like to eat inside the castle 9an experience in and of itself) try a dinner there. Without characters it's much quieter and more relaxing.
Congrats to your DD and enjoy your planning and your trip.

 

[goldilocks_63]

By the International Gateway in Epcot, by the gift shop and bathrooms, I've often met several characters, and it's been very quiet.

I know there is a number, that you can ask a cast member to call, to find out where a particular character will be later that day....

Perhaps they could tell you the chars and schedule for this quiet spot, and you princess could have almost exclusive one on one time.

I think we've seen Bellle there....

Hope this helps, Goldi

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

If she loves Cindy- I'd vote for 1900 Park Fare. We prefer that over CRT anyway for reasons already stated on this thread.

But by the same token- if she'd enjoy seeing MORE than just one princess- then I'd vote for Akershus dinner. We did that on our last trip and it also is quieter/etc. there. The difference is you are served at the table vs. buffet at 1900 Park Fare and you see more princesses. In fact we were quite surprise that even Cinderella was there even though we were told she wouldn't be! Surprised indeed! (that's my daughter's favorite)

 

[bags6490]

We went to Akerhaus (Norway) for the princess lunch a couple of weeks ago. It was relaxing (as relaxing as disney can be) and a nice break in the middle of the day. Jasmine, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Mulan and Belle were all there. No Cinderella though. All 3 of my girls loved it! They got lots of kisses from the princesses, especially my 2 year old with Down Syndrome.