DISNEY WORLD TIPS WITH YOUR CHILD WITH AUTISM

PART THREE – BACK HOME AGAIN

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In Part One of this series, I tackled Tips for Visiting Walt Disney World with An Autistic Child: Advanced Preparations. Part Two Dealt with The Actual Trip itself. But what about when we get back home? Can I continue some of the lessons learned? In Part Three – Back Home Again after our Disney vacation, I deal with how to integrate Disney World into your daily life with autism. This gives your child a connection to what they have experienced while on vacation.

After we return home from Disney World, we usually see tremendous growth. Some trips it was improved speech, but on the last trip, there was significant progress. Jack-Jack buttoned his own shirt and began to be more self-aware. The extended family noticed his eye contact and that his overall demeanor had changed. Some of the changes I attribute to spending lots of time in the Florida sun, but other changes are definitely the Disney factor.

So how do I keep the Disney factor going once I am home again?

TALK ABOUT THE MAGIC of YOUR DISNEY VACATION

Discussions Once Home:

Before we understood what Jack-Jack retained, it was difficult to carry on a discussion about what he saw or did, but he loved to look at pictures of the parks, pictures from our trips, and books about Walt Disney World. There are a wide variety of planning books with glossy pictures of the parks that your child may love to browse through. While you are browsing through books, talk about what you did while in the parks. “Remember when we rode the Buzz Lightyear ride, and then we had ice cream.” This helps your child with autism have to connect Disney World at home.

Continue Using Your Calendar After Your Disney Vacation:

Continuing the calendar. It may not be possible for your family, but we try to immediately plan when our next trip (anywhere) will be taking us. Jack-Jack loves to go places. That is not to say that he always behaves in those places, but he still loves to be somewhere else. When he asks to go somewhere, and we ask him where, his response generally is, “Somewhere else.” (Translated: Anywhere but home). Putting another trip, event, etc. on the calendar helps him tremendously, but putting a trip to Disney on the calendar really keeps him focused.

BRING THE MAGIC HOME FROM YOUR DISNEY VACATION

Souvenirs can be very helpful in helping your child make connections. We commemorated Jack-Jack’s first ride on Space Mountain with a smashed penny. One special penny on each trip helps him remember those events, and the photo of the Jack-Jack and the penny are helpful too. A special cup, mug, t-shirt, or stuffed animal will help your child. Jack-Jack recently said something that happened on a previous trip. When we were trying to figure out which trip he meant, he said, “February 2018.” There is a lot of information locked in his brain. The magic of our Disney vacations helps bring that to the forefront.

VIDEOS AND PHOTOS HELP OUR AUTISM KIDDOS

You-Tube and Videos:

Jack-Jack continues to watch YouTube videos of the rides and attractions that are his favorite. In fact, he has learned to read and spell because he wants to be able to look those up on his own. Some of his favorite shows at Walt Disney World are Beauty and the Beast and The Voyage of the Little Mermaid (both at Hollywood Studios). He sings songs and acts out both those productions.

Print Pictures of Rides:

Start with two pictures. Ask questions such as, “Which did we do first?” Add more photos, and have your child line them up in order of what you did. Example:

1) Photo in Front of the Castle of Your Family – Morning

2) Riding Jungle Cruise – Afternoon

3) Eating at Be Our Guest – Evening

Talk about times: (morning, afternoon, evening), (first, second, third), (First, Then, Last).

Use language that helps your child connect: If he loved meeting a character talk about that interaction, and then ask, “What did we do next?”

Use the Park Icons to Talk About Your Trip:

Using words like Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, or Epcot may not make a connection for the child with autism. Instead give points of reference such as Magic Kingdom with the Castle or Magic Kingdom – we took a boat to arrive there; Hollywood Studios has the Tower of Terror or Fantasmic. We took a bus to arrive; Epcot with the Big Silver Ball. We got there on the monorail; Animal Kingdom with the Big Tree.

RECREATE THE MAGIC EXPERIENCED ON YOUR DISNEY VACATION

Sometimes we make some of our favorite foods or drinks from the parks. Le Fou’s Brew is a great one that the kids love. Finding Mickey Ice Cream Bars back home is always a treat. I have made Pineapple Dole Whips, beignets, and The Grey Stuff. Additionally, I recreate the magic with themed dinners and parties.

Hosting Disney Vacation Themed Parties:

Hosting themed parties is a way to get keep the magic alive at home. We have had movie-themed parties, and we have had park themed parties. One Disney Vacation party was set up with Frontierland in my sunroom, Fantasyland in my Dining Room, and Adventureland and Tomorrowland in my Kitchen.

GAMES and MOVIES Help Your Child With Autism TALK ABOUT Walt Disney World

Games:

We have plenty of Disney games. Some of them we have picked up as souvenirs and others we have purchased as Christmas presents, birthday presents, and Easter basket goodies. Our collection includes the Disney Park Monopoly complete with a giant pop-up Cinderella Castle, Disney Edition of Eye Found It, Color Brain, Disney’s Apple to Apple, Disney’s HedBandz, and more! While playing these games, they can help spark memories, conversations, and words for our children with ASD.

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Movies:

When it comes to Disney movies, we have watched most of them. We started watching them in order and are continuing through. We have watched all of them up until 2005. There is so much in some of the older movies that mention names and places that have locations in the theme parks. It is awesome to find those gems. But watching the movies, seeing the iconic castle at the beginning of the movies, all help to bring the magic alive at home.

HOMESCHOOLING for AUTISM with Walt Disney World and Movies (or After School Enrichment):

I have written a Disney curriculum to help teach my son Jack-Jack. He has had trouble learning in traditional ways. Using Disney movies and components of Disney to teach him has proven to be helpful. You can find out more about Elements of Fun Learning.

Do you have a favorite way to keep the Disney magic alive for your kids after your Disney Vacation? I would love to hear your ideas!