Looking for ideas to make trip better -- 5yr old DS with autism

[chipper10]

We went to Disney this past May and are going back again in May. Does anyone have tips to make the trip more enjoyable for everyone? The trip will include myself my husband and our two sons ( will be 6 and just turned 2).
Our older DS has autism. Our last trip was spent mainly at the Peoplemover at the MK, Spaceship Earth at EPCOT, and playing drums at Animal Kingdom. I want DS and everyone to be able to enjoy more this next trip. I feel like we didn't really get a chance to see much. We spent most of our time at the Magic Kingdom. DS would ride the Peoplemover over and over again. Occasionally, he would ride Buzz, but only if there were not people all around him.
I have started writing social stories to explain seeing more of the world, but I am not sure what else to do to help him. I want him to know that not everything is going to be about what he wants to do. Eventually, our younger DS is going to also have an opinion about what to do in Disney World.
I just want the trip to be fun for everyone.
Is there anything else or any suggestions to help DS more? I know he would love some of the other rides and shows if only he would try them.

 

[dja14]

When my kids were that age we only went for one day to the MK but this is what I did beforehand

I had a kids travel to Disney world book that had pictures and maps, very kid friendly print. We looked at everything available. They all got to pick two favorite looking things.

I made a list of what we would be doing, in what order we would be doing it. I showed the kids the list. They knew going in we would not change from the list.

That being said, I did take into account what they wanted to do and what I knew they wold like. I used a crowd planner to plan for shortest wait times. I even looked up ahead of time where we could easily get lunch and snacks.

Everything went okay until we went to get off Buzz. My middle child had to be pulled from the ride (screaming of course) by my husband. When he put him down he ran (screaming still) and tried to climb back into another car. The CM told my husband kids do it all the time but I am not sure. We were really embarrassed. We laugh about it now.

So plan ahead but know it may not work

What I wish we had done that trip but we have done on other trips, was take a break mid day or leave early for the day.

 

[EvangelineG]

What really helped us was having a definitive plan for the parks. We used, and continue to use, Ridemax, and Touring Plans also now has a custom touring plan feature. We needed something fully customizable because we can't spend nearly as much time in the parks as one of the pre-written plans assume, and we ride our sons' favourites repeatedly (I can't tell you how many times I've been on Jungle Cruise!!) and need something that fits our own unique style.

Over several months before our first Disney trip (DL when our twin DS's were 7yo), we watched ride videos on youtube of any ride I thought they might like, and read the descriptions together in the Unofficial Guide. Then we made plans together on Ridemax. We made A, B and C plans, one for arriving late, one for leaving early etc. This helped them to understand that there might be switching from one plan to another. We also looked at park maps. When we got to the parks they were so thoroughly versed in what the plan was that they were very invested in accomplishing it and completely willing to try a wide variety of rides, and to get off the ride and move on to the next thing even if they really loved it (this was a common problem for us).

Social stories work great too, and we also did role playing about standing in line, and other scenarios we might encounter.

While we were there we used noise blocking ear protectors for in the park, which helped enormously. But the plan was the biggest factor in our success. It kept my sons busy and invested and moving along, and we got to see a heck of a lot for the short time we were actually in the parks.

 

[LisaBi]

I'm so happy to hear that I'm not the only who spends a whole trip on just a handful of attractions. We typically end up 2 days at MK, maybe one Epcot, and the rest DHS. Can you imagine 4 or 5 days in one trip at DHS? See BATB, dee Disney Rocks, go on GMR. Repeat. Maybe throw in a Star Tours ride here and there between shows. At MK, ride Space Mountain, ride Buzz, repeat. Maybe throw in one to two FL attractions while waiting for the other two return times.

 

[Mom2six]

Definitely show him youtube videos of all the rides you think might be exciting for your family. Seeing the rides may make him interested in riding them. Also, do you use a stroller? My 4 year old son uses a stroller as a safety place when he wants to withdraw or ignore the people around him. If you have a stroller, and get a wheelchair tag for it, he can wait in line in the stroller (in the wheelchair access line, which sometimes is a longer wait, but totally worth it if it allows him to go on the ride!). If he's in the stroller with the canopy closed, it won't matter as much if there are people around. Get a guest assistance card that indicates he has trouble with lots of people around him. Sometimes they have an alternate waiting area.

Also, sometimes you and your husband can take turns riding the people mover again while the other two go meet a character or do a ride your younger son wants to go on.

There are several gentle, non-threatening rides, like It's a Small World that he might like. Have a great trip!

 

[chipper10]

Thanks, everyone!
As of right now, the plan is not to have a stroller for DS. We will have one for our younger son though. We used a double this past May from Magic Strollers. I think the size difference between the boys made it difficult. Older DS was 50lbs and younger DS was 17lbs. This would make the stroller hard to move. It MIT be easier for our next trip though since Landon is now around 43lbs and Linus is around 22lbs. Landon is really tall for his age though, which makes it hard for him to fit in the stroller. We figured he could use Linus's stroller if he needs it and we can carry Linus.

 

[DoctorWhoGirl]

We were at WDW last week with our boys - 4 & 6. Our 6yr old has Aspergers. I showed him a lot of videos on youtube before we left and we talked about things that might upset him if they were unexpected, such as large crowds and loud noises. We ended up renting a double stroller at the parks so both had a place to rest their legs, and that was great money spent for our family. It helped give him a bit more personal space as well. I know each kids with an ASD is different, but for our family it was a great experience. Because my son cannot handle having crowds of people around him for extended periods, the GAC was a godsend. We got to the parks early when crowds were lightest, and when things got too crazy and busy we rested at our hotel room for an hour or two before heading back to the parks in the evening.

Have a great vacation

 

[SA mom]

Use YouTube to create your own touring plan and make sure it is printed out. That makes it official. If necessary, create a picture schedule.

Kids with Autism are usually really good with schedules and plans.

Maybe work in a second ride into the plan as a reward for being a good sport riding on other rides. "If you ride these 3 rides with us, we will go back to..."