Vacationing at Walt Disney World with Your Child with Autism

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Tips for Enjoying Walt Disney World With Your Child With Autism My son's speech

therapist encouraged me to take him to Disney World when he was three years old.

" They have a special assistance card and they welcome children with autism, " she

said. " And it will help his language development. " Well, that's all the

convincing I needed! On our first day, I was watching teary-eyed as my son

hugged Pooh and Tigger with the most engaged, connected smile I had seen in

months. Now Walt Disney World is our favorite vacation destination.

If you've dreamed about taking your child with autism to Disney World, but

thought you or your child couldn't handle the challenges it can involve, I have

one word of advice, " Go! " The look on your child's face will be worth the effort

and money you put into this trip. When you take advantage of the special

accommodations Disney offers to children with autism, you and your child will

have a memorable time. Here are some tips for a magical vacation with Mickey

Mouse.

Planning Your Trip Two excellent resources are the annual guide book, Birnbaum's

Walt Disney World, and the website, All Ears Net.com. The web site includes tips

for enjoying Disney with children with autism, special diets, ride reviews, and

more. You can make your own Disney picture cards from the site's photos to help

your child get ready.

When to Go Avoiding peak season crowds and the summer months is advisable. Take

a few days off from school (hey, this is therapy) to avoid the weekend and

holiday crowds, especially if you can get a good airfare (e.g., $200

round-trip). Certain off-peak months, such as November, offer the best weather

and lowest hotel rates. A great time can be had even for a brief vacation of

three days.

Airport Strategies No child with autism can be an angel while traveling on an

airplane, but preparing your child in advance with a visual schedule and

choosing a non-stop, morning flight will make the trip easier for him to handle.

Pack your carry-on bag with water, chewy and crunchy snacks, and sensory toys.

If possible, arrange in advance to have your child seated next to a window, with

no occupied seats in front of him. At the security gates, go to the handicapped

entrance, which will cut your wait in line. Since the alternate security check

tends to be more thorough, you can ask the checker to touch your child as little

as possible. At the gate, ask to seat your child before the other passengers

board the plane. If desired, you can keep your child in a stroller or wheelchair

right up until you board. As you board, warn the attendants that your child may

vocalize or squirm. I find that an upbeat and loving attitude (rather than

appearing anxious or embarrassed) earns more tolerance for my son's unusual

behaviors--I've never been hassled about my son's behaviors on the plane.

If you're not renting a car, consider reserving a limo ($100 round-trip) to take

your family to your hotel. Another alternative is to take to the Disney bus,

which is typically provided in the resort admission. However, the limo stops at

the grocery store, and you can save a small fortune by buying snacks and

breakfast foods.

Disney Resort Hotels I prefer to stay in the Walt Disney Resort Hotels, rather

than off-site. But among these resorts, more expensive is not always better--we

liked All Stars Movies ($80/night) much more than the Contemporary ($250/night)

for its superior pools, better food court, and overall more fun atmosphere. My

son also enjoyed the Boardwalk resort. I thought the Port Orleans/French Quarter

resort was also terrific, although it's hard to beat the kid appeal of All Stars

Movies. Because my son is especially sensitive to noise, I request a quiet room

rather than a room by the pool (at All Stars, pool music can be heard in some of

the rooms) and use a white noise machine. A free mini refrigerator is available

for medication, if needed. Tip generously each day and housekeeping may leave

" surprises " in your room.

The Guest Assistance Card This free card helps a child with autism, who may

become overwhelmed by long waits or crowds, enjoy Disney attractions. To request

one, go with your child to Guest Services located inside the entrance of the

park. Bring a doctor's note indicating that your child has autism. This card may

allow you use the Fast Pass Return line or alternate entrance for attractions

and use your child's stroller as a wheel chair, so you can wheel it right up to

the rides. Typically, you'll wait only a few minutes to board rides using the

card. It will also give you designated seating at shows. If you show your card

to the costumed character's handlers, Mickey or Pluto will understand that your

child may needs special handling from his Disney pals. The card fits nicely into

a Samsonite boarding pass holder ($10, Target), which is handy because you'll be

showing it a lot.

Enjoying The Theme Parks Given all the walking you'll be doing, it's fortunate

that Disney World is one place where no one will look at you funny for having an

older child in a stroller. We often park our stroller, walk around for a while,

and come back to it when my son gets tired. If your old Graco won't do, you can

rent a special needs stroller to be delivered to your hotel (mobility equipment

rentals.com). The park rental strollers are hard and low to the ground, like our

Zoo rental strollers, but in a pinch, they're better than nothing.

Children with autism may prefer the more sedate rides, or even the monorail. My

son likes most Magic Kingdom attractions, but his favorite rides are the

Tomorrowland Transit Authority, It's A Small World, and he really enjoys

visiting Minnie's Country House in Toon Land. I like Epcot's World Showcase in

the afternoons and for dinner before dark falls. At Epcot, my son is enchanted

by the garden railway trains in Germany, and he also likes the slow-moving boat

rides in Mexico and Norway. Don't miss " The Land " boat ride and Innoventions. If

you tote a swim suit, your child can frolic in Epcot's fountain play area.

Whenever possible, we leave the parks no later than dinner time. The nightly

parades and fireworks, while thrilling, are painfully loud. When you're really

tired, taking a taxi back to the hotel instead of the bus is worth the $10-$15

fare. If your child is still raring to go after dark, the hotel pools and

playgrounds are an option. We like to wind-down by strolling around the

All-Stars grounds--my child's favorite destination is Herbie, the Love Bug.

Keeping Safe Does your child tend to wander? This helps me: I keep photos of my

child in my backpack, put an ID tag on him, and dress him in solid, brightly

colored shirts so he's easy to spot (looks good in photographs, too!). If your

child strays, immediately tell a Disney employee. They have special training and

will find him quickly.

With these tips in mind, your family is on its way to an unforgettable Walt

Disney World vacation.

Autism Causes, Symptoms and Treatments: http://autismnva.cjb.net/