Water Parks

[pilgrimr]

My son has autism and is limited verbally. We are quite familiar w/ the parks as we always go. However, we have never been to the water parks. My kids were small and so the resort pool has always been enough for them. But as they get older it is not enough. Our next family trip is well over a year, but wanted to know about the water parks. How does Disney Water Parks help those with special needs? What should I be aware of and do you all have any special advise to help us? Thank you very much.

 

[AJKMOM]

When I took my autistic son to waterparks, I went up the slide with him and went down first. I told the lifeguard about his autism, and he was happy to have DS wait with him and go down the slide after me. That way I was at the bottom waiting for him.

Once, at a local indoor park, DS went first and it took me 30 minutes to find him. That would be a nightmare at a place like TL.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

We do not issue GACs at the water parks and do not recognize the GAC. This is because there really are no alternate entrances for any of the slides and no way to wait out of the Sun. And with the exception of the elevator at Crush 'N Gusher in TL and the Ski Lift at BB all the slides require stairs.

 

[ratlenhum]

If 2 adults are going, we oreo cookie my son. 1 adult goes and waits at the bottom to get the kid. the other stays up top and send the kid down, then follows.

Go early, at opening and go on the bigger attractions first. The lines will not be so bad. When the lines get bad, have a snack/lunch, play in the wave pool, ride the lazy river and do some of the not so "big attraction" rides. Also getting there early you can claim a place in the shade to go take breaks.

The water park idea used to really intimidate me with taking my son at first but it really is easy if you get a system. My son loved it so much at Disney that this year we bought season passes to our local water park. Take a deep breath and go for it.

If your child has sensory issues I highly recommend aqua sneakers. Not the cheap $5 pool shoes that you get at Walmart, they have no support and there can be a lot of walking even at the water parks. We either get the water sneakers at Children's Place or aqua shoes from Land's End. They are a little pricey (probably cheap now, you could buy a size up and put them away) but so worth it.

 

[pilgrimr]

Thank you all so much for the information. I knew that there was not alternative entrance or GAC as it really wouldn't apply to the water park. But I take it if I needed help w/ anything the CM would be helpful. Thank you all for the tips. It does seem overwhelming, especially since my son doesn't really speak. Thanks for your help again. I really appreciate it.