Travel Tips for Aspies?

[Lilacq]

Hi everyone!
We are looking to travel with our two boys to WDW this
fall. This is our very first trip, so we are very
very excited (and very very nervous). Our oldest,
DS7, is in the process of being diagnosed with
Asperger's. We are on numerous waiting lists to see
anyone who can make a formal diagnosis. I am pretty
sure that he has it. Lately, he is not responding to
change too well. The other day, I was at his school
to take DS5 for his kindergarten screening, and
thought it would be fun to take home DS7 an hour
early, as we were there anyway, and what a cool mom am
I! WELL! Poor kid cried the whole way home.

So here we are with big (non-refundable) travel plans.
We were mulling over surprising the kids with the trip, and
not telling them until we get to Florida, but now I'm
beginning to think that may not be a good idea. How
can I prepare him for the whole airport scene, the
flight, the hotel, AND the parks? Is there something
he can read to help him understand what will be
happening? If anyone is familiar with social stories, what
kinds of things would be appropriate to write about? Any other
ways to help him anticipate our vacation?

Thank you!!!

 

[Tinkwantabe]

I too have a Aspies child and we took the trip in May.

I prepared my child so that he had time to process the information. We watched several shows on travel channed showing the different parks and I went to the TIKI website (we stayed at poly) so that he could see where we would be staying, what the rooms look like what the resort looks like. We had a great time and no meltdowns this way. We made sure to come back to the hotel mid day and nap so that we were not in the heat all day and gave him the break (he is 8 yrs old) I am not sure what hotel you are staying at but if you have the monorail this is made easy. The more you prepare a Aspie child (when change is an issue) the better your experience will be.. I wish you luck on your trip and just relax you will have a great time.

PS.... we would also reccommend that you go to the CS desk at your hotel and get a Flexpass??? - when the heat and crowds were getting to him we would utilize this option - however mostly we used the flexpass at the rides holding one ride and going into another - just as we got off it was time for the next - depending also on when your traveling and how busy the park is this is a great option - you can also get a pass at any park (customer service) Our only real problem was star wars weekend when the characters would leave just as we got up so the pass made things so much better.

Pss... use the internet with him to experience disney - talk to him about the flight - the airport - if he will panic take him to the airport and take him in as far as the xray screenings so that he can see what they do.. find sites on Florida - Disney - Airplane websites so he can see what they look like inside - try to get a window seat - My son was so excited to watch everything. Bring snacks on the plane that he packed and activities to do too...


Barb

 

[tacomaranch]

We ordered the trip planing DVD and watched it often for the week before. Our DS then knew more about what he would see and worked on talking about it the best he could.

We also got out a toy airplane and talked about us going flying. He loved the bus and we now have a song about bus, bus, bus, bus, my bus!

I wish you all the best and a magical trip. Chin up and a big hug.

 

[riu girl]

service) Our only real problem was star wars weekend when the characters would leave just as we got up so the pass made things so much better.
Barb

Barb, can you please further explain this type of "pass" and how you were able to get it at a resort? Is it the guest assistance card you are referring to? And how did it assist at character greetings?

Thank you

 

[mlwear]

Your instinct to not surprise him is a good one. The trip will be much better for him if he knows what to expect and is prepared.
At what level does your son function? The Birnbaum's WDW for kids by Kids book is pretty good or one source. Many kids on the spectrum are visual learners, if this applies to your son show the planning video, pics from websites, etc.
Social Stories can be very simple A quick search on Social Stories and Carol Gray can more efficiently explain than I can here.
If your son is able to understand, I would also prepare him for some of the less than comfortable aspects of the trip. People may be standing close to him in line, it may be hot (not sure if you are going early or late fall), different food than at home, etc. AND how you will help him cope with these situations.
A lot of preparation will pay off.
Have a great trip.

 

[Nascia]

We also ordered the planning DVD and watched it daily, sometimes more for a few months with our DS4 who had SID and possibly Aspergers/ Social Phobia (still being evualated). It showed him what to expect when we got there. We also used social stories and games to get him ready. To help him understand when we were leaving, we made a countdown chart using the Mickey paint samples from Home Depot. While there, we had a contest to see who could do this or that which worked really well because he loves competition.

Overall he a great trip and did things that we would have never dreamed of, and loved it. He rode BTMRR, Splash Mtn, TT and saw all the 3-D shows, as well as Fantasmic several times. We did have to take him out of Festival of the Lion King, though. He did not like that at all.

Good Luck

 

[Rosie]

Hello Lilacq!

• Earplugs - indispensable for my DS with Aspergers and ADD. For travelling and at the parks.
• Plan and discuss - DVD, Books, Internet whatever works for your DS.
• GAC - If you need it at the parks there is assistance available for our kids with less visible disabilities. Lots of info is on this board if you search.
• ADR's - if your DS had food issues as many people with Aspergers do plan ahead for food in the parks. Look at menus and talk about the food then make the park's version of a booking at a place that will suit.
• Prepare to change plans if you need to. If you can't do EPCOT in a day don't worry! I guarantee you will want to return.
• Ask lots of questions here - you will get some interesting and helpful answers.
• Enjoy planning!

 

[littlesuitcase]

We have a son who has been diagnosed with Aspergers and a daughter who also have sensory issues, although nothing diagnosed. We suspect Non Verbal Learning Disability for her.

We went to DW for the first time in 2004 - February. We had such a great time. We chose Feb because I knew it would not be as busy. I had the trip planned - more than most I am sure. But I had an itinerary for each day - he knew what was coming next as we reviewed the days leading up to the trip and the day before and during the day. The schedule worked for him because he could anticipate certain things. As for crouds - he didn't have any real issues except for the Lion King Show. We used our special pass (Guest Assistance) to use the disability exit as the wait and closeness of people who have been too much for him. We were at Pop Century - and when we were coming home at night I would have him sit on my knee instead of on the seat himself. He felt more secure with me right there and most often my husband and daughter were right with us. A few times we took a cab because the crowds were too much for him.

The other thing we did was to keep a wish list during each day and the last day was our shopping day. This meant he could look but not buy except the last day. He picked from his list and he got what he wanted. IT was less stressful than just standing and looking and trying to decide. Cheaper too.

We are planning our second visit but this time we are bringing his grandmother. We are going in feb again.

We use social stories quite a bit but I am not sure if I actively used them in preparation for the trip? I agree that Carol Gray is the best for these stories.

Oh - we also did a countdown - the visual made it easier for him to handle and we didn't tell him until about 5 weeks before. We had it a surprise at Christmas and plan to do the same again this year.

As for food - our son is getting better but still have a limited diet - ketchup on everything and anything we want hiim to try the ketchup will often work. We found the food was pretty standard so it depends on how limited your child is with food. We had snacks in our room as well.

I would love to know more about the flex pass - maybe it is the same as what we had but if they have modified things I would like to know what it is and how it works.

If you have any questions feel free to post and I will check back.

Helen

 

[Lilacq]

Hi everyone!
Thank you so much for all your tips. We are still learning what to expect from him. Yesterday was the last day of school, and he feels pretty unsettled by not having to go. He had a nasty temper tantrum last night and again this evening. I am still learning what to say to him to reassure him. Poor kid, he feels like everyone is lying to him or just being mean. He is very sweet though and is willing to hear my explanations of other people's behavior once he's done crying. He and his brother are going to be ring bearers this summer for my brother's wedding, and we have begun prepping him for that experience.
Uh oh, I hear some trouble upstairs... gotta go...

 

[littlesuitcase]

Hi Lilac - if you happen to check back in - I wanted to ask if you use visual charts for your son. Our son gets confused by changes and tends to do better when he knows what is happening next. He doesn't understand time unless it is mapped out for him. WHen he was really young I made the calendar on the computer using graphics to identify the activities etc.. If an activity was coming up and the concept was too difficult for him to understand I would break it down further into a day with morning afternoon and evening so he could see. If I say we are doing something after lunch he will ask if we can eat lunch now even if it is 6am - so I don't do that if I can avoid it - he gets upset and confused and it makes for a challenging day for him and the rest of us.

Good luck this summer - we are still a week away and I haven't planned our days as much as I did last summer. Hoping I get the time to print something and have our day structured enough to satisfy him.

HElen

 

[Lilacq]

Hi Helen!
(pretty name - that's also my grandmother's name and my middle!)
This weekend I started making schedules for the day on dry erase boards in the kitchen. There is one for today and another is for tomorrow. If an important event comes up I will add it to the bottom along with a countdown of days until it happens. He really appreciates it so far, and so does Aspie DH. For our trip to Florida, I am planning to sit with DS on the plane and have him help me make schedules for the days we are there. I have a notebook that has folders, so we will be bringing that. I'm going to print some pictures that we can glue-stick to each day so he can get an idea of what each day and each park will offer. Hmmm... can you bring kiddy scissors onto planes these days...?

It's funny that you say your son used to want to have lunch ASAP if it brought an activity closer! Mine used to do the same thing. Now that he's in school, he has a better grasp of what "lunch" means.

I have started prepping him for his ring bearer's duties at the wedding. I was just showing him pictures of the tuxedo he'll be wearing. He's been practicing holding the pillow (with a fake ring stitched in!). Once I know the order of the procession and anything else they want him and his brother to do, I'm going to write a social story for him that we can read and act out, if necessary. I'm hoping to have him understand that the wedding isn't all about him! (gulp)

 

[littlesuitcase]

Hi again - Helen is also my grandmothers name!

Good luck with the schedule - I think it really does make a difference.

I am not sure about scissors so why don't you print out the various things you might do and then you can put them on a sheet - glue or tape. This way you can control what the options are and he just helps you get it worked out.

One thing about the wedding - I would try to think of things that might happen and prepare him for those things - unexpected type things. Like if there is a long wait because of a delay of some kind. If the lights go out if a storm rolls in. If the noise of the clapping etc.. bother him. I have learned to think of what I don't notice and prepare for that stuff - it seems to be what my son notices first.

Helen

 

[Lilacq]

That's a good point! I've been trying to think of how else to prep him. He also is very tactile and loves touching or rubbing his cheek against soft items. He also loves to smell flowers. He also loves "taking inventory", or inspecting everything new! Marching him up the aisle might be difficult. I'm going to bring him early, maybe as they're still decorating, so he can look around all he wants so he'll get a little of that out of his system without any sideshows!