Son with Aspergers Syndrome needs help

[wannabe]

We are a family of three and we will be at Boardwalk 3/5 to 3/13/06. This was our 17 year old DS x-mas present. We are from Maine and the price of oil has really created a financial burden this winter (thank goodness temps haven't been as low as usual).

Our DS has Aspergers Syndrome which is from the Autistic spectrum. If anyone is familiar with this than you know that changes in plans can really create confussion and discontent. He has been on meds since he was 6 and has been hospitalized several times which were as short as 3 months or as long as 9 mounths here in Maine with an additional 4 months in a neurorehab in N.H.

The problem we are facing is that now we can't afford park passes for the entire time. We have been trying to explain this to him and he has no concept of money and doesn't understand. He is already getting frustrated and we haven't even started packing yet. He is starting to have difficulties in school because he is perseverating on his park time.

Are there anyother things that would be appropiate for a 17 year old to do that aren't as expensive at Disney other than swimming or mini golf? We want him to really enjoy it because it may be awhile before we can do it again. We are currently looking into assisted living arrangement for after high school.

We would appreaciate any kind of imput. Thank you for listening, Kelly.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You might consider a day of riding the monorails and buses and visiting and sightseeing in the Hotels and Downtown Disney.

A few questions: Where are you staying? What is your transportation going to be? What kind and length of tickets are you going to be getting? If staying on property are you going to be doing the Dining Plan? Answers to these can help us make more suggestions.

 

[tmt martins]

Resort hopping walking around the different resorts can be just amazing.FW has some movie nights I think .The BW also has a lot going on you could spend some time there as well

GOOD LUCK

 

[tw1nsmom]

I would review your budget, research all free or inexpensive activities, and start preparing your son as soon as possible for any changes in plans. I know change is hard for our kids (DS5 has NVLD...not as severe as Aspergers, but we still have problems with changes in schedules), but the more we can prepare them the better the outcome. DS is most likely to flip out at last minute changes.

Would it be better for your DS if you allowed him to be included in the decision making process? Sometimes if I give DS choices, he is better able to handle change. Each child is different, so only you can decide what's right for your son.

 

[fakereadhed]

I have DD with NLD(very similar). She does not like the unexpected, so she loves trip planning as much as I do. After you brainstorm a list of things to do, maybe have him circle the ideas he likes best, research them online and look at the photos, and you can come up with a schedule for him to expect. I would forget the money concept since it is lost on him and have him focus on the fact that lots of people stay at WDW and miss out on its special details and you want him to be able to see them all. Have him obsess on that for a while-finding all of the insider secrets!

Some ideas for him to look at: Campfire at FW, Boardwalk area, Kopje at Animal Kingdom, FWL geyser, Monorail co-pilot.

Here are some lists of free things to do:
http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/free.html
http://www.mousesavers.com/freestuff.html
http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/inside.html

Have a great trip!

 

[LMC]

The other theme parks have been offering admission deals. You might want to check their websites. I think SW was buy one day get one free and Universal was offering a free childs ticket with an adult and the buy two days get three free.

 

[Ambassador]

If you are staying at the Boardwalk, there is much to do there. The ferry system runs between BW, YC, Swan and DS MGM. The rental water mice boats are fun. The bass fishing there is exceptional. The surrey bike ride is both pleasant and challenging. The BW pool is very good.

If you will have a car, you can visit Cape Canaveral; check to see if there may be a launch.

Maybe just he and one other from your group may go the the Parks on that particular day?

 

[wannabe]

Thank you for your suggestions. What is the geyser at FWL and the kopeje at Animal Kingdom? I know you don't need a pass to FWL but is the one at Animal Kingdom outside the entrance or does it require a pass?

 

[wannabe]

I'm not real sure how to reply to all your posts. I have tried some individually but I didn't want to leave any one out. I want to let you all know how much I have appreciated your input. Also want to thank the other parents with children with Autisium/Aspergers in understanding what tough decisions have to be made.

He is our one and only child and we like to enjoy every minute with him.

Thank you again!

 

[riu girl]

What is the geyser at FWL and the kopeje at Animal Kingdom?

Also wondering about what these two things are?

Suggestions for free Disney activites:
1. Chip/Dale/singalong/campfire/movie at FW
2. spend a couple of hours looking at the animals at AKL.
3. Watch Wishes and the electrical water pageant from the Poly

 

[fakereadhed]

Kopje: rock outcropping. Walk thru Animal Kingdom Lodge(great African art there!)and go through doors at back of lobby to view the animals. There are guides from Africa there to answer your questions.

Fire Rock Geyser:at Fort Wilderness Lodge. From the DVC site-
"Witness an incredible re-creation of the famous Old Faithful Geyser with regular eruptions throughout the day."

HTH!

 

[MosMom]

I'm not sure if you are locked in at the Boardwalk but if you stayed at even a Moderate, you might be able to put that money into days at the park.

 

[peepzlz]

I pathos him! I have Apsergers in the autistic spectrum! I also have no concept of money, and no concept of time aswell.

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

Is the Boardwalk hotel a MUST?
You could save enough to buy 8 day park hoppers with waterpark option and the Disney Dining plan by staying at a moderate instead of delux hotel. That would cover 2 meals a day also.

Do you have any discounts on your room? You could buy an annual pass for $$415 and it would save you $133 per night on your room. Call for resort reservation availabilyit before purchasing the pass.

You could buy a AAA membership for $50ish and save $40 a night. You have to call wdw to do this reservation.

over 8 nights that's $1064 saved with AP or $649 after the cost of the pass, that would buy 2 multi-day hopper passes for the others in your party.

The AAA would save $320, maybe the little more you need for a few extra days?

Multi-day tix are so discounted that after you buy a 5 day pass additional days are only $3 or $4 per person per day.

I know how you feel with him not being able to "think" because he is worrying about the parks. If he is also obsessing about the resort maybe he could help decide which is more important, the resort or the days at the park. Or maybe one of the codes will help. I wish I had advice to offer on what to do that's free but I never seem to get out of anythign free, I settle for discounted.

 

[wannabe]

Sorry I haven't responded sooner. We had been without power for 9 hours due to high winds and trees on power lines.

We are already committed to BW which had originally been in our budget. We will just keep re-figuring. Somehow, someway we will manage.

Thanks for all the info. Now I best think about packing!!

 

[MBW]

Not much advice to give (though much empathy, having lived through the teenage years with an Asperger's girl), but did want to say that we'll be overlapping at BWI for one night (we're there March 3 - 6) and are also Mainiacs (though currently in exile in Pennsylvania as of December.) We'll be the harried parents of four under 10, with at least one stimming and spinning, another perserverating on whatever catches his fancy at the moment .

Much luck and wicked good vibes,