Suggestions for taking ASD DS to meet Tink?

[canadathinktink]

I would like to take my ASD DS(8) and my two DD's (14 & 15) to seek Tink and the fairies at TT. We used the GAC when we went to DL a few years ago. Will this help me in anyway? Is it possible to have DH and DS join us in the line as we get closer? This is my one big concern about the trip and it's what my DD14 wants to do the most. I think my DS would enjoy it as well but I don't want to put him through a long wait or a chaotic scenario. If you have any suggestions or have gone here with an autistic child please let me know. Thanks!

 

[mechurchlady]

Talk to a CM there and see what they say.
They might let you come back at a certain time or have one person take your son aside while the rest of you wait in line.

Worst case would be that they say no then you have a daddy and son going off to do big boy stuff like the coaster, Small World, Fantasyland Theater, or just hang out in Fantasyland having fun. TT has lots of fun thing for boys like visiting the character houses and the two rides.

 

[bookwormde]

There was a previous thread on this subject, it appears that there is no formal accommodation at this time but as with most situations at WDW if the explain the situation to a CM, most will “create” something that will work for your family. There is always the odd exception where the there is no effective accommodation or you get a CM who is having a bad day or is “new” but in this case others have received alternate “routing” to Tink.

bookwormde

 

[pilesoflaundry]

I think it depends on your child. My son started getting really upset and out of sorts waiting in line to see mickey last year. Thankfully it was shortly before our turn and I was able to chill him out. We didn't have the GAC cards or ask if there was anything they could do so I'm not help there. I wonder if I should ask this year because I would like to avoid this again but still take the girls to see people.

Good luck .

 

[SueM in MN]

I wonder if I should ask this year because I would like to avoid this again but still take the girls to see people.

Good luck .

If you have not looked at it yet, I would suggest you check out the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board. Post #6 of that thread is information about GACs.
GACs are not used for character greeting, specifically the meet and greets that take place outside and have a character standing in an area with a CM handler. Some people have reported they were able to use a GAC for character greetings that are attractions (i.e. in a building and listed as an attraction on the park map). Others have been told they could not do that. My guess is that it may vary depending on the layout of the character greeting area and how many people are waiting.

 

[canadathinktink]

I am hoping 3 of us can wait while DH and DS go on a few rides or play then we can call them when we are getting closer. I do not want to stand out or make the other guests waiting in line angry. I will talk to CM when we get there. We are okay if the wait is less than 15 minutes. I would really like my son to be a part of the experience and get his photo with the girls. He really enjoyed the Tinkerbell movie along with my older girls. I have also thought about bringing a Gameboy or something which might help him if he has to wait too long. It is hard to say how he will do in the crowd especially if it's hot out.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I am hoping 3 of us can wait while DH and DS go on a few rides or play then we can call them when we are getting closer. I do not want to stand out or make the other guests waiting in line angry. I will talk to CM when we get there.

I'm afraid that doing this without talking to the CM is line cutting. It is one thing for a person to have a family member remove a child who has been on a line temporarily, usually to go to the restroom and then return. This is acceptable behavior. To not have the person on the line, especially if the line is more than 15 minuts and then arriving at the last minute can (a) get you asked to go to the end of the line, or (b) get a person escorted out of the park.

If you think there will be a problem in waiting talk to a CM who is involved with the line for the best way to handle it.

 

[Schmeck]

From what I've read here on the Dis, the wait for Tink and friends is more like an hour long, not anything close to 15 minutes. I'm thinking that queue must be pretty miserable for anyone - special needs or not! - as it looks like just a long hallway painted to resemble the special effect that you are being shrunk to meet Tink. Not much in the way of entertainment along the way, which Disney should know better!

 

[canadathinktink]

I will definitely talk to the CM first. I don't want to get in trouble or cause a scene for sure. If our options don't look good for waiting I'll send DH and DS to do something else and DS will just have to miss fairies. I am sure he will be okay with that too. (but I'll be sad) However, not too sad, we're at Disney World after all!

 

[Joy Lammers]

I brought snacks and little items that would keep my dd who has autism busy. I even carried a small bottle of bubble and when she would start getting upset we would get them out. Most the kids around enjoyed it also but you do get the few glares and rude comments but you are probably use to that already.

 

[Schmeck]

I brought snacks and little items that would keep my dd who has autism busy. I even carried a small bottle of bubble and when she would start getting upset we would get them out. Most the kids around enjoyed it also but you do get the few glares and rude comments but you are probably use to that already.

Please do not blow bubbles in queues. Some people (my daughter included) are allergic to some bubble solutions. I wouldn't make a rude comment, but I would have asked you to stop, and then contacted a CM if you did not comply.

Also, bubbles can stain fine clothing, sting when they pop in your eyes, and make a nasty, dangerous mess if spilled. A child can chase after a stray bubble and get under the queue ropes much faster than a parent can follow. So please save the bubbles for appropriate places.

 

[Joy Lammers]

sorry that you took offense to this. I was meaning that I used this at time in lines outdoor and would not do this inside, I was mostly just trying to make the point that bring along something that might entertain the child while they are waiting. I have also used a game boy with a movie and ear phones.

 

[hematite153]

sorry that you took offense to this. I was meaning that I used this at time in lines outdoor and would not do this inside, I was mostly just trying to make the point that bring along something that might entertain the child while they are waiting. I have also used a game boy with a movie and ear phones.

As a fellow person allergic to most bubble solutions, I heard her point a bit differently. I wouldn't give you "glares and rude comments" for attempting to keep your DD entertained in a line or for finding ways to accommodate her disability. However, I might well give you seriously worried looks if you were encouraging your DD to blow things into the air that could harm me if blown my way. (This is true in outdoor lines as well as indoor ones.) (Yes, I'd just mention this calmly and quietly if you happened to be next to me in the line, but, my experience is that the person with the allergy is usually not close enough to resolve such a situation so easily.)

 

[Joy Lammers]

thank you for bringing this to my attention, I will make sure to think of others in the future.

 

[livndisney]

I see CM's blowing bubbles all over WDW. To those with bubble allergies have you addressed this with WDW?

 

[hematite153]

I see CM's blowing bubbles all over WDW. To those with bubble allergies have you addressed this with WDW?

Yes. Although I admit to little success and will speak with a CM (just like a guest) if they happen to be right beside me.

However, it's also true that most of the time I run into CMs blowing bubbles they are blowing them in an open space where I can easily walk away. Whereas, when I'm standing in a line, I don't have an easy recourse to resolve the problem.

 

[Schmeck]

My DD is now 15, and we haven't really had too much exposure to bubbles lately, although her school trip to WDW last June included the Little Mermaid show. We have found those bubbles to be OK, or else she has outgrown the allergy, or she didn't get any bubble solution on her. In the past, she's just pulled her arms into her shirt during the bubbly parts, and I've run block for her (as in, I've physically blocked her from the bubbles, then I get to go clean up afterwards) and she's been fine.

I've never noticed bubble blowing CMs at WDW - we tend to get hit by the ones selling the balloon filled balls at EPCOT though.

 

[LauraVV]

We're not at home now because we're out of town seeing doctors so I haven't read this thread carefully. Sorry if this has already been addressed. When we went to Disney last year we saw Tink only once. That was at Pirate and Princess party. She's not a very common site. Also, they only want non-flash photos with them. It's dark. Tink did cooperate and stay still for photos but she appears to spend a lot of time fighting with Peter Pan. My DD has a w/c and a service dog. There was a lot of waiting. CMs will tell you where the characters will be but...you have to hit it at just the right time to see those characters. The lines tend to be pretty long. We were very fortunate to actually see Prince Charming. We got there at just the right time to see the guys. They are quite rare, we've found. But, even with a GAC and obvious disabilities, it's not that easy. I'm in an ECV and DD is in chair and has service dog.

 

[dzorn]

Our plan is to hit it right at opening.

Denise in MI

 

[jamesmommy]

I see CM's blowing bubbles all over WDW. To those with bubble allergies have you addressed this with WDW?

They are easy enough to walk around, when you're not trapped in a line. If they get on your camera lens they will mess up your pictures as well...........ask me how I know I thought my camera was broken, until DH figured it out, lol.