Worried Mum

[minimandymouse]

Its Getting Nearer And I Am Getting Worried About Ride Access For My Autistic Son
I Know That The Guest Assistance Card Is Not For Front Of Line
This Will Be The First Time At Disney With No Wheelchair Or Stroller (my Son Is 11 By The Way)
He Will Be An Absolute Nightmare To Wait In The Main Line And He Doesn't Understand The Fastpass System
We Are Going 27th March To 15th April 2009 Pop
Please Help An Axious Mother
Thanks

 

[visitingapril09]

The GAC is for families just like you so don't sweat it. Go and simply explain the reason your son requires a GAC (not his diagnosis) There shouldn't be a problem as I am certain that they get many, many families in the same situation as you.

Have a wonderful trip. On a side note, I grew up in Poole, Dorset!

Alison

 

[pilgrimr]

If you get to a line and you don't think that your son can take it, just speak with the cast member, show them your GAC, and ask for an alternative entrance where you can wait. They will direct you to a place where you can wait until it is time to ride. My son can wait for a little bit, but if the line is too long then we use the alternative entrance (not just for him but for other people in line too). We also try to go early in the day as the lines are most of the time shorter.

I hope you all have a good time.

 

[McCall]

Curious, you say he doesn't understand the fast pass system, as long as you understand it what does that matter? I would get and use them where possible. Other than that I agree with the other posters.

 

[dclfun]

Unfortunately you'll be there during one of the busiest times of the year. Fortunately the weather should be nice vs. being in the sweltering heat. I'd plan on getting to the parks early, and if onsite, taking advantage of EMH plus getting a GAC. Still, as you already mentioned, the GAC doesn't get anyone immediate access and in some cases there may not be an alternate place to wait. Since the GAC also doesn't act like a fastpass, having one person in your party get fastpasses should help and then try another attraction while waiting for a FP window. If your son will use a w/c, why not rent one just to give him some personal space and a way to sit while going through lines w/o having boundary issues with other guests- might help a bit.---Kathy

 

[Schmeck]

Before you go, talk to his teachers at school about how he manages waiting in school. They could give you some very helpful strategies.

Also, you could rent a special needs stroller to help him out - there are links to a few places in one of the stickies on this forum.

 

[Tissa]

I know it's easy to worry. With our kids every situation can become a disaster and I find myself with lots of anxiety. Really the rides with the GAC will be fine. It's the waiting at rope drop, for the bathroom, for food etc..

Just take it slow and easy and be prepared to drop everything and go back to the hotel for down time if needed. You will be going during a busy time so expect lots of crowds. Just work around them and you will be fine.

 

[mechurchlady]

As for FAstpass it takes one person with the whole party's tickets to do the fastpass getting even if it is a bus load of people. Dad can take the tickets and go off to get fastpasses for everyone. Also explain to your child so that he can understand. Try getting him interested in it by using logic or something interesting like making the machine work.

Practice line waiting with him and reward him for good behavior. Give him worry bead so when his mind is racing and what boy does not have a racing mind, lol, then he will get something to play with like worry beads, gameboy, or listen to an Ipod. Earmuffs also help to lessen noise from crowds. Have one person at the back of your party so that can get a comfort zone.

FAQs has some great autism thread links.

 

[minimandymouse]

The GAC is for families just like you so don't sweat it. Go and simply explain the reason your son requires a GAC (not his diagnosis) There shouldn't be a problem as I am certain that they get many, many families in the same situation as you.

Have a wonderful trip. On a side note, I grew up in Poole, Dorset!

Alison

THANKS SOOOO MUCH

 

[minimandymouse]

Curious, you say he doesn't understand the fast pass system, as long as you understand it what does that matter? I would get and use them where possible. Other than that I agree with the other posters.

UNFORTUNATELY HE WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT HE COULD NOT GO ON THE RIDE AT THE TIME HE WANTED TO
AND IF THE FASTPASSES RAN OUT HE WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT HE CAN'T GO ON THE RIDE AT ALL THAT DAY
AND THERE IS NOOOOO WAY HE COULD WAIT FOR HOURS IN THE QUEUE HE WOULD KICK OUT, SCREAM, CRY AND CAN BE QUITE AGRESSIVE AND RUDE TOWARDS OTHER PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE
HOPE THAT SATISFIES YOUR CURIOSITY (HOPE I SPELT THAT RIGHT)
MANY THANKS

 

[minimandymouse]

Thanks Everyone For Your Responses
Will Now Look At Faq (i Think Thats What You Call It)

 

[mechurchlady]

There are lots of options available.

First is for dad to run ahead and get fastpasses . Just say he is off to the bathroom or whatever. The kid does not need to know that you are planning to go on that ride.

Tourguide Mike and other planning sites such as this oee can help you know what is closed and tips on how to command the parks so as to get the most rides done fast.

GAC will get you some relief. Again talk to CMs and see what is possible.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/plan/calendar/extramagichours/
Early Magical Hours will let you into the park early when there are few people. This will get you into the park before the rope drop. You can be at Dumbo then hurry off to Snow White and at rope drop be one of the first in line. Tou do not even have to ride Dumbo but just be in that land where you really want to ride a ride.

You can get in early and head over to Rock N Roller coaster then be right next door go to the Tower of Terror. People are speed walking from the rope drop but you are there already. If you are willing to split up then while you and the kid are on Tower of Terror your husband can run and get fast passes with your tickets on another ride and the three of you ride together.

There are lots of things you can do to make the wait not so long. You are also going in the off season which will mean shorter lines. You need to calm down as really there are many ways around this situation and others have taken autistic and SID kids to parks with success. It can be done.

 

[McCall]

UNFORTUNATELY HE WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT HE COULD NOT GO ON THE RIDE AT THE TIME HE WANTED TO
AND IF THE FASTPASSES RAN OUT HE WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT HE CAN'T GO ON THE RIDE AT ALL THAT DAY
AND THERE IS NOOOOO WAY HE COULD WAIT FOR HOURS IN THE QUEUE HE WOULD KICK OUT, SCREAM, CRY AND CAN BE QUITE AGRESSIVE AND RUDE TOWARDS OTHER PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE
HOPE THAT SATISFIES YOUR CURIOSITY (HOPE I SPELT THAT RIGHT)
MANY THANKS

Is there a reason that you are screaming at me? The curiosity was not ill intentioned. I still see no reason why someone in your party would not get fast passes when and where they could and if they fit with your plan then you would use them. I would still get and use the GAC if that works for you.
If you are holding a fast pass and the time to use it comes along and you go to that ride you would be able to get on quickly. That is the reason I asked. There would be no reason for your son to be involved in getting the fast pass or in going to the ride getting the fast pass and then leaving the ride.
I am sorry if you took offence at the question.

 

[IntercomGroupPage]

Is there a reason that you are screaming at me? The curiosity was not ill intentioned. I still see no reason why someone in your party would not get fast passes when and where they could and if they fit with your plan then you would use them. I would still get and use the GAC if that works for you.
If you are holding a fast pass and the time to use it comes along and you go to that ride you would be able to get on quickly. That is the reason I asked. There would be no reason for your son to be involved in getting the fast pass or in going to the ride getting the fast pass and then leaving the ride.
I am sorry if you took offence at the question.

I don't think the OP is screaming at you. This board does have a feature that will change any" all capitals" posts to Look Like This When It Is Posted.

If you look at the first post (and some subsequent posts) you will see the feature works. For some reason it didn't work on that one post. I would assume the poster is writing in all caps (as MANY people on this board do) and it just didn't get fixed. As the OP has a low post count, they are probably not aware of the "netiquette" involved. No offense need be taken.

 

[Schmeck]

UNFORTUNATELY HE WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT HE COULD NOT GO ON THE RIDE AT THE TIME HE WANTED TO
AND IF THE FASTPASSES RAN OUT HE WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT HE CAN'T GO ON THE RIDE AT ALL THAT DAY
AND THERE IS NOOOOO WAY HE COULD WAIT FOR HOURS IN THE QUEUE HE WOULD KICK OUT, SCREAM, CRY AND CAN BE QUITE AGRESSIVE AND RUDE TOWARDS OTHER PEOPLE IN THE QUEUE
HOPE THAT SATISFIES YOUR CURIOSITY (HOPE I SPELT THAT RIGHT)
MANY THANKS

Have you asked at school how they are working on helping him wait/transition, etc? They may have some great hints for you, as there will be a lot of waiting at WDW, for shows to start, checking into a resort, waiting in line to get into the park, waiting to use a restroom, waiting in line to get food, etc. A GAC is not valid for those situations.

Just remember, even with a GAC, you will not get immediately on a ride. You may have to actually wait longer, as many attractions have to limit the number of disabled passengers for evacuation safety reasons, and if there were quite a few people with GACs already ahead of you the ride may have to cycle 3-4 times before you were allowed on. Also, not every attraction has an alternate place to wait.

I'd look into getting a special needs stroller, and use it as a safe place for your child to wait.

 

[mrsksomeday]

One of my friends has an autistic son she takes to WDW and has taken him many times. One of the things she does to get him to understand things is to do something visual for him. Perhaps in storybook form?

You can get pictures of the rides and write things about it, talk about how you might not be able to automatically get on it and it is ok to feel sad, but we can do something else. Tailor it to what he can understand.

 

[SueM in MN]

There are several threads about communication books - links to them are in the disABILITIES FAQs thread. Some are very complex and took a lot of work, but others can be very simple.

Most people find that using Fastpasses and going when the park is not busy is actually more helpful than a GAC. Because the GAC only helps with attractions, you still have to deal with waits for other things and just the general busy- ness of the park. Using Fastpasses gives you a more consistent experience than using a GAC does. Once you get into line, you will be in the attraction usually in 10 minutes or less.
As others mentioned, he does not have to be involved in getting the Fastpasses. Send someone else in your party with all of your park passes to the attraction. They will be able to get one Fastpass for each ticket. Then, just before your Fastpass time, you can prepare your son and let him know he will be riding soon. I don't think anyone posted a link to the Fastpass page on this site yet, so here it is.

Even during busy times like Spring break, there are parts of each park that are busy and other parts that are very quite. We have gone over Spring break many times and my husband has gone early to the park with other members of our party while I got our DD who is disabled ready. By 10:30am, they were able to ride everything in Fantasyland, Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Rail Road.
We have also seen at Epcot, Spaceship Earth will have very long waits in the morning, but if you wait until late afternoon, you can walk right in. IF you can walk in, you will get in fast, but if you need to use the accessible entrance, you will be waiting probably 1/2 hour. This is an example of the longer wait for using accessible entrances that was already mentioned. The same thing happens at AK - but 2pm, all the early riders are starting to go back to their resort. Many attractions there will have a very short wait in the last few hours before the park closes.
Services like Tour Guide Mike are also a good way yo avoid the crowds.

 

[McCall]

I don't think the OP is screaming at you. This board does have a feature that will change any" all capitals" posts to Look Like This When It Is Posted.

If you look at the first post (and some subsequent posts) you will see the feature works. For some reason it didn't work on that one post. I would assume the poster is writing in all caps (as MANY people on this board do) and it just didn't get fixed. As the OP has a low post count, they are probably not aware of the "netiquette" involved. No offense need be taken.

You may be right, I was just concerned because the OP's other posts were in normal type, and the response to my Curious question was all caps which as you say in nettiquette is yelling. I was afraid they took offense and my post and I was trying to let them know none was intended and what I was trying to get at.
Hopefully all is well on both sides.

 

[SueM in MN]

Maybe a reminder or some instruction are in order here.

I was just listening to a discussion about communication where the presenter said when you are having a conversation, the actual words are only about 10-20% of the message. The rest of the message is delivered by things like how loud your voice is, the tone of voice, how quickly you are talking, position of the body, eye contact, etc. All of those things are important to help the listener to interprete the words.

On the internet, all we have is our words. Things like smilies , CAPITAL LETTERS, bold, underline, italics can add to the meaning. They can also lead to misunderstanding or confusion if the person using them and the person they are 'aimed at' don't have the same meaning in mind.

USING ALL CAPS LIKE THIS is condered the same as shouting would be if you could hear the person.
so, please, everyone use their 'indoor voices' and avoid shouting.

 

[mechurchlady]

The parks can be very stressful for other guests so communication is very important in the park. Taht is my biggest tip to anyone in the parks. Excuse me, may I have, and thank you get you a long way in parks. Also evvective communication helps. I remember a Reader's Digest story where an sergeant told a private to go back to the base and the private then put the car in reverse. English was his third language so he thought the sergeant literally meant to go in reverse

Never say never with special needs kids or for that matter anyone. The solution to autism is aggressive parents who hound the schools, scour the world for solutions, and spend countless hours studying their kid. If the kid can do something at school then the parent has to find out why. If a kid has a history on not doing lines they he needs to be taught social skills and how to adapt to lines. Never say never about special needs kids. I have seen on this board and elsewhere them tiny littles steps like a shy kid ends up hugging characters, first words, a rarely seen smile, and first steps.

My mother has major damage from being told in school she could not learn, that she was stupid, that she was stubborn. In modern times and with strong parents who fought then may she would have been a different person who instead of a person who believes they cannot do anything.

This morning I go to Disneyland and I am staying positive because if not then my tiny tiny OCD, anxiety, and stress will escalate to full blown shut downs. I went to San Antonio knowing the pain and health risks related to food and it succeeded because of great planning including back up options for each day, knowing where Wal-Mart and internet was located and where to get food that I could eat. Planning is key to any trip.

Hugs for Sue who has taught me well. I hope.
Sue: Did too!
I only use caps to emphasize a word but prefer bold for that. I like them lower letters, easier on my mind, lol.