TACTICS FOR AUTISM TRAVEL TO DISNEY WORLD

PART 2 – TIPS TO USE DURING YOUR TRIP

Being prepared is the best piece of advice I can give to a parent dealing with autism. In Part One of this series, I discussed some of the things our family does before we leave for a trip to Walt Disney World. Once we get there we continue some of the same tactics that we used at home, but we employ some additional methods of dealing with autism travel to Disney World. This helps our son and keeps meltdowns and frustration at a minimum.

Disability Access Service Card – THE ULTIMATE AUTISM TRAVEL TO DISNEY ADVICE

Up to a few years ago, we had not utilized the Disability Access Service Card. This was mainly due to the fact that we have been going to Walt Disney World since Jack-Jack was a baby. He understood waiting in line because we had always done it with him. Granted it was not always easy, but since he was the youngest, we had plenty of other hands to help keep him amused.

After an incident in the park, we decided it was in everyone’s best interest to begin to utilize the Disability Access Service Card. Since Jack-Jack “looks normal” people expect his behavior to be normal. However, sometimes he does not enter or disembark from rides in a timely manner. Cast members need to know he is not just being unruly, and the Disability Access Service Card helps prevent a Cast Member from unknowingly having unrealistic expectations.

Know the Layout of the Parks

Disney offers interactive maps on their site, but many books can give you a full layout of the parks. It is important to know where things are – Guest Services, bathrooms, food, drink, and the Baby Care Centers. If Jack-Jack becomes separated from us, he will be taken to the Baby Care Center to await our arrival. Furthermore, knowing the layout of the park helps us navigate without looking at maps constantly. We need our eyes and hands-free to keep our attention on Jack-Jack.

Just knowing where you are will help your child. If your party is frustrated because you have reservations for lunch, but can’t find the right restaurant, you risk the chance of becoming irritated. Your child will sense that irritation and everything will just escalate from there. Keeping yourself calm, helps keep the entire family calm.

Admittedly, this is one that even veteran park goers have trouble with. No matter how much you try to have a relaxing vacation, stress seems to creep up on you when you least expect it.

Clothing to Help with Autism Travel to Disney World

I tend to dress my family in coordinating outfits. Yes, I am that mom! This helps me to remember what everyone has on in case we are separated. If I have my denim shorts and a red shirt on, I know that Jack-Jack has on his denim shorts and his grey shirt with the red Mickey Mouse. I also can spot my family easier because we stand out!

This doesn’t mean that you all have to have matching t-shirts. It could be as simple as a color that everyone has somewhere on their body.

Jack-Jack and Dash in coordinating outfits My photograph before we leave the room for the day

Take a Photograph Before You Leave the Room for the Day

 I also take a photo of my children with my iPhone before we head to the park for the day. If Jack-Jack becomes separated from us, which to this point has not occurred, I can pull out my phone and say, “This is what he looks like, and this is what he is wearing.” This is probably a good habit to adopt with or without a disabled child! 

Do Not Be Afraid to Utilize Strollers and Harnesses

Jack-Jack was the child riding in the strollers at age 8. I do not care what other people thought. They may think our child was too old to sit in a stroller, but they do not live with him or are responsible for him. This was for his benefit, and we did what was best for our family. Even if Jack-Jack didn’t sit in it for most of the day, it was somewhere he could go when he needed to get away from the noise and the sun. When he wasn’t in the stroller, Jack-Jack was wearing his monkey harness.

When using a harness, you may get people who make comments or stare. I didn’t care what other people thought. You are doing what is best for your child and keeping your child safe is your utmost concern.

When we first got the monkey and put it on, Jack-Jack immediately unclipped it and walked away. We solved that problem by putting it on backward and having the monkey in the front. We told Jack-Jack the monkey was his friend and wanted to see him. The Monkey was an integral part of our lives. Eventually, Jack-Jack gave up the monkey, but he was a lifesaver for years! Additionally, the monkey became a source of security for Jack-Jack when he needed it most because we know that traveling with autism and Disney is stressful.

Keeping a Calendar While on Your Trip

When traveling to WDW the calendar, with the poorly drawn park icons, comes with us. This helps Jack-Jack keep a visual of how much longer we are staying, and he now knows to speak up before our last day if there is anything he wants to do. Almost every night Jack-Jack looks at the calendar and says things like, “Tomorrow we are going to Magic Kingdom, and then Epcot, and. . .” This helps tremendously in preventing that last day meltdown.

I have written in the past about a meltdown that Jack-Jack had as we were boarding the bus to go back to the Ticket and Transportation Center. Jack-Jack had very limited speech, and it took us a while to figure out that he wanted to go to Animal Kingdom. It was a short trip, and we hadn’t planned to visit all four parks. Jack-Jack didn’t understand that, and when he realized we weren’t visiting Animal Kingdom, there was a full-blown meltdown – ON A BUS full of people – Tired – At the End of the Day.

Be Prepared with Snacks and Water

Yes, you currently can bring snacks and water into the parks. Not only is this a great way to save money, but it has literally saved our family from meltdowns. Since Jack-Jack doesn’t ask for much including food and water, I have to be the one to remember to keep him hydrated, especially in the Florida heat. Additionally, bringing snacks along helps to keep his blood sugar stabilized. Sometimes it is hard to find something quick to munch on with his finicky palate. I make sure to pack fruit snacks, crackers, carrots, celery, water, and Capri Sun.

When Jack-Jack was younger, waiting in line to board a ride always involved food – Teddy Grahams, popcorn, and plenty to drink. We knew if the line was 20 minutes or longer, it was essential to have something to snack on. This helped to keep Jack-Jack entertained with a longer wait. Even with the Disability Access Card, you may find yourself waiting in a line longer than anticipated. And I cannot be the only mother that has looked at the time and realized it has been way too long since we ate anything. Be prepared for those moments with snacks.

Waiting at the Parks

We have always played games while waiting. With all of my other children, the game “I See Something” (pick a color or shape and everyone takes turns guessing the mystery item) was a favorite. This was a game that Jack-Jack would never play, but there were other things that we could do to help him pass the time. There is plenty in the parks to encourage learning – colors, noises, sounds, and music. Many of the newer queues have interactive components which help keep everyone amused. Jack-Jack loves Winnie-the-Pooh and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train queues. Most of the fun interaction queues are bypassed if we use a FastPass+.

Watching A Parade

While we have ridden most of the rides with Jack-Jack, we have seen very few parades. He is capable of waiting in line, but he isn’t always capable of sitting in the same spot for a long period of time. On our last trip, I took Jack-Jack for a walk, while my husband and older son waited at our spot for the parade to start. Because we weren’t there to wait with him, it was hard to “hold our spot” for us. We selected a spot right next to a trash can which ensured that at least on one side of us there were no people. This helped to insulate Jack-Jack from some of the crowd.

If you have never seen a Disney parade, be warned. Exactly 2 minutes before the parade starts, 20 people will try to stand on the exact spot you are standing on. They will also try to push and crowd you out of your space. This is not a sport for the faint at heart.

Parade Watching Isn’t for the Faint of Heart

You have to learn to stand your ground. In addition, there will be a person that is 6 ft., 5 inches tall, that right before the parade starts will stand right in front of you and then place their child on their shoulders. If you say something, they will respond, “I didn’t see you there.” Disney Cast Members will tell this person that they have to be behind the taped line, to which they will pretend to not speak English. (This has happened to us numerous times).

There are some places along the parade route that are much better to watch from. Corners and bends are not the best places. Also, select an area where a seasoned Cast Member is in charge. Younger Cast Members tend not to enforce the rules of parade watching. 

Be Prepared to Change the Agenda or Leave an Attraction

Even when we have done all the advanced planning, and Jack-Jack has watched YouTube videos, there are times when he doesn’t cooperate. In many attractions, the sounds are louder or the visuals are more extreme than what we see on our computer. There are rides and attractions we know to avoid, but sometimes Jack-Jack decides a ride that he has always ridden is now a “NO,” such as the Barnstormer. He rode it once and decided he didn’t like “crashing through a barn.”

On his 10th birthday, he rode the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Ride which is a roller coaster ride. For him, the scariest part on that ride is the witch at the end. There are other rides and attractions that he refuses to go on. Once he rode Splash Mountain, but for a very long time after that at the very mention of it, he screamed NO. On one trip, we utilized the Rider Switch Service. We all waited in line, and when we got close to the boarding area, the Cast Member gave my husband a pass to return. I rode first, and then my husband was able to ride without waiting in line again. Speak to the Cast Member at the beginning of the queue for each ride because they each have a different way of dealing with the Rider Swap service. 

The only ride that Jack-Jack has never ridden is Tower of Terror. He has now successfully gone on Space Mountain, Expedition Everest, and Dinosaur.

FORGET Your Expectations for What Your Child “Should Be” Doing 

Have you heard phrases like, “A 10-year-old shouldn’t be afraid!”, or “a fourteen-year-old shouldn’t hide his face?” Remove the shoulds from your vocabulary. One of Jack-Jack’s favorites rides, Mickey’s Philharmagic, is a 4-D movie show. He used to take his glasses off all the time, but he still wanted to see it. There is one scene in the show where he drops to the ground and hides. If we try to stop him, I know he will not want to see the movie anymore. We allow him the freedom to cover his eyes, take off the 3D glasses and hide. We also allow him to say he doesn’t want to go on a certain ride even though he has gone on them before.

DO NOT TRY TO INTIMIDATE YOUR CHILD INTO RIDING ANY RIDE. This is one of the biggest mistakes parents make. The parks are full of parents saying to their children, “Quit being a baby,” or “I don’t know what is wrong with you, you liked this ride before.” NOWHERE in the HISTORY of THE WORLD did a child calm down and quit being a baby because a parent said that phrase. 

Visit the Quieter Areas of the Parks

In Magic Kingdom, we can head over to Tom Sawyer Island. It is cooler, and most of the time relaxing. Jack-Jack can play and explore the hidden caves. It is a nice place to go to unwind. The Magic Kingdom has other little corners that we can head to for a quiet time. In Tomorrowland, the area around Carousel of Progress is peaceful. Stay tuned: I will be doing a post in the future about quiet areas in each park.

Allow for Down Time at Disney with Your Child with Autism (or Any Child)

Jack-Jack is very physical and quite capable of staying in the parks all day. We rarely go back to the resort during the day, however, I do schedule a sit-down meal each day. Jack-Jack loves to sit and eat, and he is usually the last to finish his meal. This is his unwinding time. I tend to plan our meals during less crowded eating times – either before the lunch crowd or before the dinner crowd, and sometimes we do dinner late.

When figuring out our daily schedule, we tend to schedule in resort days. Remember you are traveling with your child with autism, and you are going to Walt Disney World. These are two stressful situations. If we are staying for 7 days, we might get a 4-day pass. Our schedule might look like this: Day 1 (Arrival Day) – Traveling is difficult for even adults so we plan a Resort Day; Day 2 – Magic Kingdom Day; Day 3 – Epcot Day; On Day 4 we schedule in a Resort Day; Day 5 – Animal Kingdom Day 6 – Hollywood Studios Day; and our final day is Downtown Disney Day. On our Resort Days, we might play miniature golf, swim, and visit another resort for dinner. We are still at Jack-Jack’s “Happiest Place On Earth,” but we relax a little bit. Additionally, there are trips that we don’t go to every park. 

Bring Support Materials to Help Your Autism Travel to Disney World Be Magical

Before Jack-Jack was packing his backpack himself, we would make sure to bring his favorite toys, blanket, books, or an item that helped to calm him. Sometimes we even brought some of these items into the parks. Now he is content to just leave the bag in the room.

Since Walt Disney World is Jack-Jack’s happy place, and he really is a much calmer person when we are there we usually don’t need extra calming items. Rarely does he ask to play with my iPhone when we are at the parks, but every once in a while he still asks for it if he becomes overwhelmed. If your child needs something to help with sensory issues, you want it to be available when it is needed whether it is headphones, a special toy or blanket, or an iPad.

Communication is Key to Disney Travel with Autism

When Jack-Jack was non-verbal, I would talk to him, but since he was my fifth child, many times I would forget to communicate with him about what was going on. Even if he didn’t understand everything I was saying, I know that he stayed calmer with us talking to him about where we were going and what to expect.

When traveling it is harder to maintain a normal schedule, and it also seems we forget to talk about what rides we are going on next, when we are eating, and any specific plans we have. When we waltz past one of Jack-Jack’s favorite rides because we have a FastPass+ for it later in the day, he can become anxious. Communication is the key to keeping meltdowns to a minimum.

On our trip last month, a couple of days before it was time to head home, I asked, “Is there anything you still want to do, ride, treat to get, souvenir?” Jack-Jack mentioned that he wanted to go to Downtown Disney to play in the splash pad. So even though the temps were in the high 60’s, we worked it into the trip. He went home a happy little boy!

Ask for Help or Advice

Disney knows how to do almost everything better than we could imagine. With a child (or adult) that has special dietary needs, they go above and beyond expectations to meet those needs. Jack-Jack is over the age of 9, but Disney still allows him to order off the children’s menu, and will even modify items for him. If there are other accommodations that are needed, just ask. Disney wants to make your vacation magical!

I had referenced an incident one of our trips. When Jack-Jack was disembarking from a ride, my husband tried to help him. Jack-Jack is OCD, and if things don’t go the way his mind thinks they should, he needs to “redo it.” So Jack-Jack jumped back on the ride. A Cast Member yelled at him to get off the ride. Jack-Jack complied, but I was upset. I had never in all my travels heard a Cast Member raise their voice about anything!

On the next ride, I asked another Cast Member if it was ever okay to “yell” at a little boy. She apologized and asked for the Cast Members name. When we were disembarking from that ride, she was there waiting for us. She asked if we would like to ride again (cutting out a 60-minute wait), and then gave us a Fast Pass to use on any ride that day! She said she had talked to her supervisor and the Cast Member would be dealt with. I could have left the park angry, but one Cast Member cared enough to listen and went above and beyond to say that the Disney way is to make our trip special.

Remember the Famous Rule: IF YOU DO IT ONCE, IT IS NOW FOREVER

If you do something once and your child likes it, be prepared to do it on every trip. This is important to remember because if you fail to do the task on the next trip, it can (or most likely, WILL) cause a meltdown. This tip is especially important to remember when taking photos. Autism travel to Disney can be stressful, but with the right planning and understanding, you can have a wonderful time.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT TIP TO NAVIGATING AUTISM TRAVEL TO DISNEY WORLD

Have fun, relax, and look for the magic! For Tips for When You Get Back Home Again, See When You Are Home Again.

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