Late Seating with a Quick Getaway

[k8Davies]

Hello all you beautiful people..

I'm staying positive this Monday, as it's a beautiful day in London and I want to project an air of Love around me and everyone I see or read this post today; You are all amazing!!

So now on my question, last time I went to WDW with my son with ASD we avoided all theater style rides like Muppets and all evening shows where you had to sit in a stadium like fantasmic.

We did do fireworks and the Star wars show, but that is because we could show up last minute and put his ear defenders on.

He did really love the fireworks and the Star Wars show and on the next trip as he'll be over a year older I wanted to see if he would enjoy one of the shows like Fantasmic or ROL.

Think I still need to avoid the Muppets as he won't have anything on his face so the 3d glasses are a no go and I think the fuzzy screen will upset him.

As he like fireworks and music I think the evening show are the best to try; although waiting in a seat is still a problem for him. So I'm happy to book FP but ideally I would need to turn up just before the show starts and be able to sit at the end of a row just in case he decides he doesn't like it and wants to leave.

So has anyone had any experience with this, is it a possibility? As I am worried if we turn early by the time the show starts he will already be at breaking point.

 

[gap2368]

some shows you can leave early for some you can not I would talk to a CM when you go in. you can all show up for a show early and then if there is more then 2 have to people leave walk around and come back right before

 

[mamabunny]

I know at ROL there were some seats in the FP section that were right at the top - so he could stand up and move around a bit without blocking anyone's view. Having said that, you would almost need to be there right when they opened seating to make sure you could get that seat (and explain to a CM why you need that seat... )

As HS, the Beauty and the Beast stage show (and Pixar Live) has back row seats that might work good too - but again, you might be best served by getting there early as possible to snag those back row seats. Pixar Live might be a great experience for him - it's a live orchestra, playing music from the Disney/Pixar movies, and there are costumed characters that come out.

(((hugs))) Know that everyone here is standing with you all, and that every one of you is in our hearts, and our prayers, tonight and in the days to come.

 

[Kaytie]

Even with FP+, you can't go at the last minute. Fast-paced seating is opened up to everyone close to showtime.

 

[cobright]

Hello all you beautiful people..

<checks behind me> Oh... hai

Think I still need to avoid the Muppets as he won't have anything on his face so the 3d glasses are a no go and I think the fuzzy screen will upset him.

If your sig line is accurate, you have about 7 months before the trip? This may or may not help, but if you find out the technology used for each 3D show it's possible to fit a pair of frames with the appropriate lenses and acclimate your kiddo to them over time leading up to the trip. I made a custom set of Dolby3D StarTours glasses for a friend's kid who would only wear a single style of eyeglass frame. It sounds like you describe your son averse to the tactile aspect of having the glasses on his face, in which case this wouldn't help. But if he's opposed to the design of the 3d glasses (they are clunky and big) of the idea of putting on something strange or something that's been on another human already, he may do better bringing his own

As he like fireworks and music I think the evening show are the best to try; although waiting in a seat is still a problem for him. So I'm happy to book FP but ideally I would need to turn up just before the show starts and be able to sit at the end of a row just in case he decides he doesn't like it and wants to leave. So has anyone had any experience with this, is it a possibility? As I am worried if we turn early by the time the show starts he will already be at breaking point.

A strategy I employ myself in just such occasions to deal with anxiety is to take my seat. Make small talk with my neighbor (very small because ... anxiety). Then 25 minutes before showtime I get up and excuse myself to this neighbor to use the bathroom or something leaving my stuff on the seat. Even at Beauty and the Beast Live, I can get up, walk up to top of seating, ask if it's permissible to use the bathroom and return before show starts, sometimes be told yes, sometimes no, kill 10 minutes and return to my seat. Yep, even when told that I can't leave the theater and return, I just say thank you and start back to seat, then tuck myself a bit out of the way and chill until it gets close to curtain. Then return to the seat and enjoy the show. This works anywhere there is fixed seating. You just need to be sure your row is fully filled before you leave, otherwise they may call out to have everyone shuffle in to fill every seat. If you leave a person behind this problem is solved as they can just shuffle your stuff in along with them.

 

[k8Davies]

Thank you all so much for you advice, as this time we're going as a group of 5 rather than 3 if we do want to see a show think we'll employ the get there early method get to end of a backish row (After talking to a CM) then one of us taking him out as and coming back in nearer the start time.

I'll try for the more outdoor shows as they might be easier to leave, but even if they are not I don't think they'll be insistent that we stay if they are faced with a mega meltdown. (Fingers crossed this doesn't happen and it all goes well)

We have been starting to go to Autistic Cinema which is great. It is getting him more used to sitting in theater type places, although they do let you get up and move about so not a brilliant test for sitting still for 20 minutes. I'm just hoping that the shows transfixes him so much he'll stay still out of sheer wonder.

Currently @cobright unfortunately it is anything on his face, but we have started playing a game when we put our sunglasses on his face to see if we can get him more accustom to it, not so bothered about it working for 3D shows like Muppets but think he would get a kick out of TSMM

 

[cobright]

...unfortunately it is anything on his face, but we have started playing a game when we put our sunglasses on his face to see if we can get him more accustom to it...

Good luck (I just noticed... it's almost impossible to tell someone good luck without sounding sarcastic. It used to be such an optimistic noble blessing.) It always amazes me the number of people I meet who honestly believe that psychological disorders, learning disorders, or developmental delays are just hokum; either completely made up, exaggerated, or in some other way not a ~real~ disability. I've felt compelled to argue on some occasions that a condition like autism, OCD, even anxiety disorders are in a way far worse than many physical disabilities, in that they rob one of their human flexibility. Being able to adapt to a changing environment on the fly and, failing that, even adapt the environment to us is much more of what makes us than how many eyes or feet we have.

Sorry... rambled philosophic for a bit there.

 

[gap2368]

Good luck (I just noticed... it's almost impossible to tell someone good luck without sounding sarcastic. It used to be such an optimistic noble blessing.) It always amazes me the number of people I meet who honestly believe that psychological disorders, learning disorders, or developmental delays are just hokum; either completely made up, exaggerated, or in some other way not a ~real~ disability. I've felt compelled to argue on some occasions that a condition like autism, OCD, even anxiety disorders are in a way far worse than many physical disabilities, in that they rob one of their human flexibility. Being able to adapt to a changing environment on the fly and, failing that, even adapt the environment to us is much more of what makes us than how many eyes or feet we have.

Sorry... rambled philosophic for a bit there.

I could not Agee more with this,

Thank you so much for saying this,

I wish people would under stand this better.

But people with these type of Disability have it harder not only are they facing there disability but they have to convince others they have a disability in the first place.

side not I have a friend with problems with pain ( jaw, and hip pain ) she was trying to tell me her pain is like my Disabilities ( I have a few neurological, psychological , learning, extra disability. I was like no people know what pain is people do not get my disabilities.

 

[lanejudy]

Let's stay on topic -- late seating with a quick getaway.

We will not begin the discussion of which disability is "worse" or "harder."

 

[cobright]

Let's stay on topic -- late seating with a quick getaway.

We will not begin the discussion of which disability is "worse" or "harder."

More on topic... This notion is part of why I am morally flexible at times. Here's one for people with anxiety disorders or parents of kids with self control issues... When you go to a restaurant, place your order and then tell the waiter, "I hope this isn't a problem, but I'm on call and might be called away on short notice, could I get the bill and a couple take away boxes brought to the table with the entrée please? That way I won't have to delay should a call come in during dinner." No one has ever had a problem with this ... ever. Then if you gotta split for whatever reason, no delay. Kiddo building up to meltdown? Leave. No fear of waving down your server and having that conversation asking for the bill while the child is in full fret. First inkling... gone.

 

[k8Davies]

We will not begin the discussion of which disability is "worse" or "harder."

Disability is hard which ever one you have, I just hate the explaining all the time, especially as my son disability might not be immediately apparent.

That is why I love Disney, as once we got His DAS pass everyone just got it.

The first time we got a photopass picture I said to the photographer oh he's autistic; I was then prepared to go into the big speech (which I now have down to an art-form) of his need, but before I could launch into it. They were like that's not a problem we can sort it and we'll make sure you get a nice family picture (Which we did).

It was the same all over, in restaurant, when only being the 3 of us, asked for a booth they sorted it straight away without fuss and bringing us the bill early to get a quick getaway. The CM all over taking time to talk to my son even though he's nonverbal and the characters taking their time and making him feel comfortable. I rave about how great Disney is to other parents of Autistic kids.

Honestly if more places could be like Disney it would be a lot easier of a world for my Son to live it.

Unfortunately it's not but he's got a fierce mamma bear in his corner so I know he's going to be okay lol

 

[Hoodie]

BTW the screen for Muppets (and also Philharmagic) are a bit blurry, but visible. My little one isn't on the spectrum but doesn't like things coming at him (he's terrified of butterflies). He enjoyed both - without glasses.

He was super brave last trip and wore the glasses for part of Philharmagic the second time we went to see it (at his request). He still prefers no glasses. He wore ear protectors at all shows. I don't think he needed them per se - it was more "my older brother does it so it's cool" but it also helped when he was nervous about something to know he had his earphones.

 

[mamabunny]

BTW the screen for Muppets (and also Philharmagic) are a bit blurry, but visible. My little one isn't on the spectrum but doesn't like things coming at him (he's terrified of butterflies). He enjoyed both - without glasses.

He was super brave last trip and wore the glasses for part of Philharmagic the second time we went to see it (at his request). He still prefers no glasses. He wore ear protectors at all shows. I don't think he needed them per se - it was more "my older brother does it so it's cool" but it also helped when he was nervous about something to know he had his earphones.

I'm not sure if these will work at WDW, but I know that they work in theaters - http://www.2d-glasses.com