Sensory Disorder (Autistic Spectrum) suggestions on viewing Illuminations...

[prcoamo]

This is our first time to WDW. What have others done when deciding on whether to view Wishes, Illuminations, and Fantasmic w/ a child who has sensory disorder? Any suggestions on viewing spots?

I've read about sitting back row for Fantasmic and we could always view Wishes from Poly beach (since we'll be staying there)

But what about Illuminations? I've read posts where it tends to get real crowded for Illuminations (We'll be there from 9/29 - 10/5 (free dining and F&W festival). I'm concerned w/ crowd level intensity and dd's sensory issue (though not extreme can be quite overwhelmed especially w/ large crowd around her). I've read about doing ADR at Rose Crown Pub (but even there gets crowded on patio). Any suggestions?
I know that ultimately only I, as her mother, would know what would be best, but seeing as this is our first time I don't want her to miss out (she does love the sight of fireworks display but the other issues disturb what would otherwise be a wonderful experience)
I'll ultimately end up playing it be ear once we are at WDW, but I wanted to get some input from others

Thank you so much

 

[welovedis]

The problem that we've had with our DS (dx w/aspergers syndrome) and Illuminations is that the smoke from the fireworks can be pretty thick & heavy. Depending on which way the wind is blowing, we've ended up having to give up our table at R&C because he got too upset due to breathing in the smoke.

Now we just see which way the wind is blowing and choose the opposite side of the water to view. Also, you can usually find a quiet(er) location if you need to walk to away or stand back from the crowds. While it does get crowded and probably will be busy due to free dining & the F&W festival, I can't imagine it being so busy that you couldn't walk back aways or find a not-so-busy area until they are over.

We also like to go on EMH nights, that way if DS is over-stimmed I can duck into a country (like Mexico) and wait it out in there while he checks out the drums or we look at the carvings in the entryway.

HTH!

 

[tw1nsmom]

I haven't done this, but maybe you could rent a double stroller for her (children as old as 10 or 11 have been reported to use them). Your DD could sit in it with family on either side. If you got a spot early enough you could put the stroller right up against the fence and the family could create a buffer around her. Earplugs might also help lesson the overload. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree with the other posters about the strollers and the smoke (very important about the wind direction and smoke).
There are pictures of the strollers on allearsnet.com A lot of kids with sensory issues like the WDW park strollers. They are made of a firm plastic, so there are not problems with cloth texture or anything. The high sides and large canopy also cut down on stimulation.

For Illuminations, there are certain places that are considerably more crowded than anywhere else. The areas that are most crowded are around the entrances to World Showcase - the area near Future World and the area near the International Gateway. If you get away from those areas, it's possible to get good spots even a few minutes before the show starts without having a crowd.
One place we have watched from in the past is the sort of bridge next to Mexico that goes back toward Test Track. First Aid, the Baby Center and restrooms are in that area. You can see fairly well from there because it is a little higher than the area right by the water. If the fireworks or the noise get to be too much, you can duck into the restroom for a few minutes.

 

[seven dwarfs]

My son also does not do so well around lots of people. And I know Disney has lots of people. I tried to talk to him as much as I can allowing him to hide his face if needed. I also bring little trinkets to occupy his little hands. If you could walk around (someone holding your spot) until the show starts, this would give her more time to calm down. I will say my son does much better then I ever thought he would. It never hurts to try and if it is to much you could leave the area. Good luck. Disney has been very special to us and I can say my son would not be who he is without it.

 

[minkydog]

We took Christian to see Illuminations--once Never again. He screamed until i thought he would pass out. Everything scared him--the loud booms, the fire, the music, the crowd. He is autistic with a lot of sensory issues and after that experience we decided never again. I miss Illuminations

 

[SueM in MN]

We took Christian to see Illuminations--once

I like your smilies. They gave us a pretty good picture of how he did.

Maybe you will see Illuminations again some day.
Could you do some desensitizing with low volume fireworks sounds and then work the colume up after he gets used to that? (Although I don't know how you would simulate the visuals to go with them).

 

[Schmeck]

Besides the loud music, and the fireworks, there's also the heat from the fire-barge, when it is in use. That used to freak my kids out, as they thought that they were going to catch on fire from it...

 

[mamaminnie]

I agree with the other posters about the strollers and the smoke (very important about the wind direction and smoke).
There are pictures of the strollers on allearsnet.com A lot of kids with sensory issues like the WDW park strollers. They are made of a firm plastic, so there are not problems with cloth texture or anything. The high sides and large canopy also cut down on stimulation.

For Illuminations, there are certain places that are considerably more crowded than anywhere else. The areas that are most crowded are around the entrances to World Showcase - the area near Future World and the area near the International Gateway. If you get away from those areas, it's possible to get good spots even a few minutes before the show starts without having a crowd.
One place we have watched from in the past is the sort of bridge next to Mexico that goes back toward Test Track. First Aid, the Baby Center and restrooms are in that area. You can see fairly well from there because it is a little higher than the area right by the water. If the fireworks or the noise get to be too much, you can duck into the restroom for a few minutes.

I agree with this idea, the benches by those restrooms and the baby care center provide a decent view and they are never crowded. They also put you much closer to the exit so when the show ends you can really beat the crowds out of the park.

 

[Frankiesmom]

Our DS almost is also Autistic and has a lot of sensory issues-esp. fireworks.
Our past 2 trips have been at the POLY-LVC so he could watch them from the balcony. We leave Sat. for the BWV's and I thought we would try to catch them from the boardwalk;I don't know if this will afford us enough distance. We will try it I will let everyone know how it went. The boardwalk is a short 5 minuts walk from epcot,so I'm thinking not so close? Thanks for this thread-great ideas all around! Angel

 

[minkydog]

I like your smilies. They gave us a pretty good picture of how he did.

Maybe you will see Illuminations again some day.
Could you do some desensitizing with low volume fireworks sounds and then work the colume up after he gets used to that? (Although I don't know how you would simulate the visuals to go with them).

At this point we just go separately--one of us stays with Christian at the resort and the other one takes the kids to see Illuminations. Christian has low vision & hearing as well as autism, so I think he has trouble interpreting what's going on around him. He had a similar reaction during the preview of one of the Jurassic Park movies--suddenly there were dinos in the theater and this boy completely freaked out! We had to call someone to come get him from the theater(we were there to see Dr Doolittle2!)

I think we'll stick to watching the castle fireworks from a distance

 

[spiceycat]

if you only want to see the higher fireworks - then try Pop century - it is further away than BW - but you will only see the high ones....

most of the Epcot show is lower.

I like the area between Norway and Mexico - there are plants (that he could go hide in if the people got too much) plus at Norway there is ship that he could play on and still see most of the show.

but lots of others like this area too -

I would bring something to kept out the nosie - ear plugs, or noise dampers - unless of course he is in the play area and having a good time.

if you go from BW - realized that france, great britian - are generally where the wind will blow - it is worth it to walk over to the other side....

 

[prcoamo]

Great ideas/suggestions. I've sat down w/ dd and explained to her about the fireworks displays and that we would give them a try and if at any moment she felt overstimulated, uncomfortable etc then we would leave and that that would be ok. She responded that she wanted to try. What a great kid
I feel for her and other children who have these issues - - they so want to be part of and experience but circumstances beyond their control sometimes prevent them from enjoying it.
I like the idea of being near the baby center/bridge near the exit so that way she can be a part of the the event but if it gets to be much we can duck out
I'll be sure to have earplugs and/or headphone w/ us as well

 

[TDS373X]

Ear plugs!!! Can not recommend them enough for ASD/sensory kiddos like my dd almost 7. We had a similar reaction to Illuminations as minkydog and I too said Never again for any more fireworks or 3D movies (muppets etc..) but once we found earplugs our life is VERY different we do Wishes, Fantasmic all the 3d movies and I think next trip we may be ready to try Illuminations again. We've watched it from CBR the past 2 Junes because if you have a room in certain Jamaica or Martinique locations you can see Illuminations and hear the music from there. It's taken time but with each trip we are doing more things that freaked us out before and every trip there seems to be a break thru. WDW is a wonderful place for these kids (and all kids). You just need to remember to take things at her pace and remember to have fun whatever you are doing even if it's sitting on a bench eating a Mickey head ice cream ...have a great time!!

 

[shoegirl1020]

All of the above suggestions are wonderful; however keep in mind how much sensory your child has experienced earlier in the day. When we are in Disney Joe did better with the nighttime activities if he had a quiet less stressful day.

Even if you are far away and not right up against the water you can see teh fireworks.

Good luck