Family Travel and Autism

The family favorite trip to Walt Disney World often seems out of reach to many families.  Reasons such as money and planning should not exclude you from this wonderful family experience.  As always, the key to a fun vacation is advance planning.  With a well-planned trip, you can relax there and enjoy your own magical moments.

The Most Important Tip  

Many of the following tips apply to any large amusement park.  The most important tip is to visit guest services first.   Amusement parks provide passes for a guest with special needs.  The family making the request needs to be specific in their request.  Think ahead to what your child needs and express them to guest services.  Guest services should issue a pass that will allow for certain accommodations for your child.  This does not mean you can cut a line – but perhaps use the Fast Pass line.  When we visited WDW we requested that we keep our four-year old son in the stroller and they permitted us to use the alternate entrance – right up until we entered the ride.  Take a letter from your physician.  Unfortunately with autism the disability is not visible so some cast members may not be amenable -- especially if the park is very crowded. 

Read, Research and Remember

A year prior to the trip, before you make your reservations, purchase a few good books about the park.  The traditional Fodor’s guide is an excellent visual book that gives you an excellent overview of the parks.  I prefer the Unofficial Guide that is comprehensive in coverage.  Read the book prior to visiting – not necessarily cover to cover – but the parts that you need to be familiar with are hotel reviews, ticketing, etc.

Keep the books to read again three months before your trip.  Pay particular attention to the rides and their descriptions.  Many of the books describe the rides and fear factors such as noise, spinning, waiting, etc.

Use the book to create a top ten list of the rides your children want to ride.  I let my children each develop a top ten (or five if you have many children) and an ultimate top ten list.  This method helps keep the family focused when touring the park.  It also prevents disappointment because they have ridden the rides they want.

What Could Trip You Up

Take a quiet moment and list your problem areas.  Yes, this is difficult with children but squeeze out the time.  It is worth it!  My son has problems with sound.  We took earplugs.  They were small and fit in our pockets.

I have problems with spinning.  For those rides, I separated and rode a ride that my children wouldn’t be interested in.  Or I stayed and watched my children turn green.  That was fun as well.

Take your list of problems areas and compare them to your top ten list.  Then you can prepare.  You know exactly what you need to be ready for each ride.

The WDW website has a great feature that allows you to order maps in advance (give yourself three months).  You can also preview videos of several rides.  This is great feature to sit down and watch with your child.  My son's fears were greatly diminished by watching the videos.  Visit www.disney.com

Slow Down

In the midst of the seeming mass chaos of WDW, remember why you are there.  To spend with your family.  Take time to slow down.  Sit on a bench and lean against each other.  Find a quiet shady spot and lick ice cream cones.  The Unofficial guide lists quiet places for each of the four parks.  I can attest for each of them.  These breaks saved my sanity and that of my family.  Slowing down, taking breaks, resting is essential in the midst of sensory overload, heat and exhaustion.

Pack Your Own Food and Read the Restaurant Reviews

WDW checks all bags.  But they don’t tell you that can’t take in water bottles, granola bars, carrots, etc.  I back small snacks every day to every park.  These saved us for the times when we had to stand in line and the kids are hungry.  (Aren’t they always hungry?)  And we just couldn’t afford all the meals and snacks.  We refilled the water bottles and purchased energy drinks in the afternoon for when we really dragged.  This allowed us to wait through the lunch crowd and eat in the mid afternoon when it was much quieter.  Plus we paid the lunch price and put off dinner until after the park.

Several of the restaurants in WDW will make meals for special diets.  For those children and families on the diet, select the restaurants ahead of time – make your reservation and then request your dietary needs.  They will accommodate if possible.  Again, several of the review books will help you select the right restaurants for your family.

You Won’t Do It All

Even with the pass, you won't do it all.  Unless you can visit in the slowest times of the year, you won't do it all.  Unless you can dedicate three weeks, you won't do it all.  So don't worry about it.  Follow Pumba's advice, hakuna matata!