Disneyland/world autistic child

[Newsenmum]

Is this even possible? Is this a thing? I’ve never been. My son is 5 and obsessed with so many Disney shows and characters. But he doesn’t like crowds and I don’t know if he’d like many rides (is there a good range - at any of the parks?) might not be for us but curious about other experiences!

Literally the craziest idea I could imagine, and an absolute nightmare for you above all.

Please reconsider.

Haha it’s ok, that’s what I thought. Oh well! Maybe there is something else Disney related we can do?

How ridiculous!!

Disneyland Paris is a very accessible place! They do a good priority pass scheme where queuing would be minimal.

You could try Disneyland Paris during term time/mid week - do some research into when it's likely to be quietest. Make sure you're not going on french school holidays. Stay very nearby so you can pop back to the hotel when he's feeling disregulated, get fast passes for the rides and plan your day carefully, he might be ok.

I've heard the American parks are so over full these days you can barely move.

I would look at a few days at disneyland paris. Much less travelling and smaller than the USA parks. If he has difficulty queueing, apply for an access pass to have less queueing. Stay in a hotel there, so there is less travel back and forth. You can rent a stroller there, so you don't need to worry if walking is too much.

Appreciate that he will get overwhelmed and you don't have to do everything. There are plenty of rides that aren't fast. If you stay at Disney, there is an extra hour in the morning before everyone else gets in and it gets quieter again after dinner. My autistic kids seemed to spend a lot of time aside to go back to the hotel pool, or getting stroppy, but talked about it for months after and keep asking to go back.

I have two daughters with autism and they loved Disney as children.

They are adults now but both still love Disney.

Anyway, we went to Paris several times and to Florida once. Perfectly doable. My elder daughter wore ear defenders. My younger daughter was terrified of the characters in costume, so we just avoided them, which was easy enough to do.

We stayed in on site hotels so we could get into the parks early and nip back for a rest if necessary.

My 2 loved the rides but there is plenty of other stuff to do.

I'm sure there are online resources for planning a trip. Usually theme parks offer special queuing options for people with additional needs.

Have you tried a UK theme park yet? Might give you a feel for whether your son would enjoy it. We had merlin annual passes for years - Chessington was our favourite. It has a zoo so it is easy to chill if it's all getting too much.

Dosmeyland Paris have an Access system/ access pass which is much easier to get as it uses documentation eg nimbus access card, blue badge, Dr's letter - look it up if you go and ensure you have what they require to issue. With the pass it's a doddle and you'll be OK.

US disneyland (California) and Disney world (florida) have changed their das pass this year. It is supposed to only be for people with learning disability and autism however reports are that even those who fit the criteria are finding it hit and miss. They are very strict and it is done via video interview not documentation.

Join a few Facebook groups for the different parks and read others experiences. Disneyworld is amazing but I think you'll have a ball regardless. It is magical for our kids.

A Disney cruise?

Disneyland Paris would be a good place to start, it's not as big, good range of rides, but there will always be crowds.

I'd say wait until he's older for Disneyworld. We used DAS and it was brilliant, though they've changed the rules recently so you'd need to double check what they're like now.

Dd loved it.

we stayed onsite.

we had a cheap stroller delivered to our hotel. That way she didn’t have to walk as much even around the hotel.

we did not do the accessibility thing. She wasn’t diagnosed yet and even if she was, I don’t think she would qualify.

we booked lots of character meals. Dd has Arfid and doesn’t eat much, but she always found something. At character meals she got to see characters without standing in line and in air conditioning. Much better.