Sensory Friendly Vacations for Autistic Children

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Planning a getaway can prove to be a stressful and overwhelming experience for anyone. When you also have to worry about the needs and preferences of a child with autism to prioritize and take into consideration, things can get a little more difficult. However, there are plenty of wonderful vacations out there that children with autism can genuinely enjoy and look back on fondly. Here are just a few ideas for sensory friendly vacations for autistic children to get the ball rolling in the right direction!

The Great Barrier Reef as a Sensory Friendly Vacation for Autistic Children

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s most popular natural attractions. This isn’t all too surprising – it’s the world’s largest natural reef and is actually visible from space! It is home to three thousand reef systems and nine different islands.

If you head there, you can expect to see a wide variety of sea life, including corals. You can also encounter some of the one thousand five hundred species of marine fish, six species of turtles, and thirty species of whales and dolphins. Your little ones will be amazed! Combine that with warm waters in an average climate of 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit, and they will be comfortable and content!

Now, particular parts of the reef can get busy, so you might want to consider heading to a more remote area such as Lady Musgrave Island. If your little ones don’t want to snorkel, don’t worry. They can still explore the reef by bottom glass boat, staying comfortably dry!

Disney Parks as Sensory Friendly Vacations with Autistic Children

Now, Disney may sound like a difficult place for children with autism. Let’s take a look at the sheer number of visitors that each park gets every year:

Walt Disney World Resort, Magic Kingdom (Florida)  – 20.4 million

Disneyland Resort (California) – 18.2 million

Disneyland and Disney Sea Tokyo – 16.6 million

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort – 7 million

Disneyland Paris – 13.4 million

Shanghai Disney Resort – 11 million

While that may seem like a lot of people, that’s not to say that Disney is off limits to children who can become easily overwhelmed in crowds and queues. For instance, there are plenty of resources available to you and your child with autism. Make sure to check out the Disability Access Service. In addition to the DAS, our family has encountered wonderful cast members who are caring and kind with our son. 

There are so many resources available to help you plan your Disney trip. Our family travels to Walt Disney World Resort quite frequently. Watching YouTube Videos, reading about the rides and sensory issues you may encounter on each one, and careful planning can make a Disney vacation quite magical.

Certified Autism Destinations as a Sensory Friendly Vacation with Autistic Children

Due to increasing demand, some resorts, cruise lines, and parks/attractions have undergone extensive training to become official autism certified destinations. What is the difference between sensory friendly and autism certified? These vacation spots have made accommodations for children with autism in mind. Watch for my follow-up post on Certified Autism Destinations. 

Additional Vacations That Can Be Autism Friendly

Family farms are just one example, where kids can spend some time in quiet, rural areas. Quality time and getting some hands-on experience with tame farm animals can be a calming and rewarding experience. Additionally, these trips can really bring smiles to faces all round!

A beach vacation is another example of an autism-friendly trip. Your child can explore the beach, play in the sand, and get accustomed to the waves and sea life. There are many resort options ranging from hotels, motels, condos, timeshares and private house rentals. 

These, of course, are just a few different ideas that you might want to consider if you want to plan and book a getaway for you and your little ones. While the process of getting away may be stressful, and a trip through the airport or by car may seem overwhelming, once you reach your destination and everyone’s enjoying themselves, the effort will all be more than worth it!