DS wants WDW

[MinnieVanMom]

When asked what he wants for his B day, DS says he wants to go to WDW. I keep reminding him that it is not how it was with the GAC.

I can bring DS but I will by myself. He will have a total, on the ground screaming fit if he doesn't get on the ride. It is just that he can't deal with the emotions and I have tried to explain, but ahhh autism.

What other options are there? I can't run all over the parks by myself with him trying to get times and returning.

I am praying he just forgets WDW for now.

 

[Kay1]

When asked what he wants for his B day, DS says he wants to go to WDW. I keep reminding him that it is not how it was with the GAC.

I can bring DS but I will by myself. He will have a total, on the ground screaming fit if he doesn't get on the ride. It is just that he can't deal with the emotions and I have tried to explain, but ahhh autism.

What other options are there? I can't run all over the parks by myself with him trying to get times and returning.

I am praying he just forgets WDW for now.

I'm sorry. The DAS does not work well for mothers who are alone with some autistic kids who have no concept of time. Maybe you should just take him, get the DAS, then give it a shot. If he's on the ground screaming, ask for help from an attraction manager, then go back to GR and fill them in on what happened. Reporting back to GR is what Disney suggests.

I know it's not easy. Maybe someday they'll get centrally located kiosks like they have at DL.

Good luck to you both.

 

[Schmeck]

Will he stay in a wheelchair or stroller? That may provide him with some comfort and security while in the queues.

With DAS and FP+ you can schedule 4 attractions to start out with. If going up to the attraction to get the DAS time won't work for you, you can still have 3 FP+ lined up to help. Then you could even ask for a DAS time at one of the FP+ attractions to ride that one again.

 

[SueM in MN]

Not time for a long response, but here are a few suggestions.
- talk to him about the changes. Even, if he doesn't appear to understand or be listening. Simple social story - first we go to Guest Relations and talk to the CM. They will take your picture and give us a special card.
We decide what we want to ride. We take the special card to the ride and show it to the CM. The CM will write on the special card to tell us when to come back.
When it is time, we will come back and show the CM the card. Then we can ride.

- if you have a smartphone, get the My Disney Experience app. It will be helpful both for advance planning and when you are in the parks. Do some exploring with it to get familiar with how the wait times are displayed and how to navigate.
Before going to the parks, watch wait times for a few days to get familiar with the usual patterns in waits - there are times in each park where different attractions have minimal waits. If he is higher functioning or at all interested, involve him in it too. Even if he doesn't appear to be taking any of it in, assume he is paying more attention and understanding more than you think.

- use the same smartphone app in the park to help you find which attractions have shorter waits. I know many people who used a GAC with an alternate entry stamp before just got in the Fastpass/alternate line without looking at the standby wait time and did not realize the actual wait was short. They thought their wait was short because of using the GAC.

- use tour planning helps like www.easywdw.com
I posted a day from Josh, the owner of that site for WDW. His plan involved nothing special that is not available to every guest. Even if you don't follow a plan exactly, using one gives you tools for figuring out where to be with the least crowds and a 'framework' to help you plug in the times the DAS would be helpful.

 

[SueM in MN]

Here's a link to the thread I started about a touring plan for MK from easywdw.com

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3225425

 

[aaarcher86]

There is a YouTube social story about the DAS that you could have him watch.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

Thanks friends. I think we will take time to explore the possibility slowly and see if perhaps all the issues with magic bands and DAS are worked out a bit, if I can take him and have a successful trip.

I feel badly as he really wants to go but I think it would be difficult alone. We do have his Advance Mobility stroller and he loves it. Hopefully it can be something we can try to do again in the future.