The autism disney experience

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Registered: 03-26-2003
The autism disney experience
14
Sun, 08-13-2006 - 2:13am

Well, I am in a better place to post about the trip now. I was truly exhausted the first couple days back which didn't help my outlook at all, lol. But now things are in a bit better of a light.

There was good and bad and as is typical in these situations, how different our family is from others kind of slaps you right in the face. And it is alot of hard work doing something that is supposed to be fun.

On the good side, everyone else had the time of thier life. The kids loved it. John seems to have had a great time and mine was probably at least 50% good memories. The kids were troopers and I was proud of them for many things. Cait was positively awesome for the majority. Helpful. Not complaining and whining. Ok with changing plans and not going on what she wanted to go on. This has been a problem lately since we hit puberty.

Mike tried his level best. He was really good about waiting outside rides for the other kids when he didn't want to go on. there were loads of rides he didn't want anything to do with but the other kids wanted to, so he would walk in with us and he and I would wait with his timer until they were off. The crew members were reall helpful about telling me how long rides were and letting him wait where he could see.

The disability pass was awesome and most of the cast members were awesome about it. Only got a odd look and questioned once. Most were really helpful and when Mike was having a hard time they were really flexible and tried to help.

On the bad side it was an autistic nightmare for the first day and a half, then on and off for the rest of the trip. Thank GOD for the special pass (my other kids particularly liked it, lol. talk about spoiled!).

The first day we just hung at the hotel so Mike could get used to being on vacation. We went to the pool. The kid had no less than 5 timeouts in the first 1/2 hour. I made DH go up for the time timer and after a few time timer time outs he did much better. Funny how it goes better when he can see the time. That thing got alot of use this week.

Soon he became obsessed with the jets in the jacuzzi. I felt bad for the poor guy that was in there. He was really great about it. Mike kept going underwater to have the jet spray straight on his face. But he insisted on doing it on all the jets which meant invading this other guys personal space more than once and not giving a care that he was. He was way out there. The jets were a great sensory thing though and after a good 30 minutes on and off of doing this he was much better and we went to a fancy dinner (ROFL, what were we thinking!). It was the hotel restaurant where kids eat free but it was still fancy. Fortunately there was only one other lady in the place. His "noises" scared her away fairly quickly.

Disney started with him having line trouble even before we got INTO the darn park. "Why don't these stupid people move!" "why are they so slow" "this is the stupidest place on earth", etc. escalating. Went to the line for the disabiilty pass and more of the same. They had no qualms about giving us the pass, lol.

We then proceeded to Pirates and to the exit gate (aka disability gate) and a really nice cast member led us in the back way to a special waiting spot. Mike started melting HUGE. Crying buckets, freaking out. Yelling he wasn't getting on. So I told the lady he needed a minute. It was his first ride. They were very kind and let us wait. He didn't calm and DH ended up on the ride with the other kids after 15 minutes. Mike started obsessing on when they would be back. Found out the time from the cast member and broke out old friend timer again.

Most of the first day at disney went like this. Use the disability pass to get to a ride, have son freak out deciding last second he wasn't getting on, I held all the junk and watched Mike while DH and kids went on ride. In between I was dodging the occasional anxiety punch and verbal abuse until I would set the timer and life was ok for 5 minutes.

Finally 1/2 way through the day he decides that snow white sounds safe enough and gets on. LOVED IT! So we went on a bunch of similar rides until the ride junkies decided they wanted to do the big rides again. Then the rest of the trip was a mix of mellow rides for Mike and us waiting outside all the others for everyone else with an occasional bout of anxiety or OCD to spice things up.

That night he decides to try pirates and loves it immensly (knew he would) and we were able to get him to try a couple more rides. DH convinced him to go on big thunder mountain (way tame not quite roller coaster roller coaster) and Mike starts to panic just as he is getting on. DH bear hugs him and gets him on. mike was ok as long as dad was bear hugging him and panics if dad lets go, but that was the last even close to fast ride he went on.

The last morning we had a character breakfast. Mike was way anxious at first but it ended up tons of fun. The characters kind of snuck up on him and interacted with him before he knew what was going on and that helped. After we took a walk to downtown disney and took a wrong turn and the end of the trip went down from there.

Over all it was way stressful and over emotional and I was the target of all mikes anxiety. I had to be "On" the entire time to try and keep him as regulated as possible. I was the target of yelling and the occasional aggression. No fun being hit in public. I was the one sheparding the kids together trying to keep up with leader dad through the crowds. And I was PMSing.

I am glad to be home.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-13-2006
Sun, 08-13-2006 - 1:32pm

Renee,

My DH has been bugging me to plan a Disney trip for a few years now. Your story reminds me exactly why I have been so dead set against it. I'm so sorry your vacation was NOT a vacation (at least not for you). I'm sure the kids will have very fond memories, (even Mike, if he's anything like my DS) and it will all have been worth it in the end. I hope you get some "you" time soon.

Melissa

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Registered: 02-20-2001
Sun, 08-13-2006 - 7:06pm
((((Renee)))) I am sorry it was so stressful for you.

 


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Registered: 05-16-2006
Sun, 08-13-2006 - 7:57pm
Renee,
I know what you mean. WE did the beach this year. Hello sesory overload with the sand! We were beach front so all ds did was STIM.
We were thinking of Disney next year. We have done the disabilty pass at our local theme parks. We don't need it all the time ds is working on patience and when time is critical it's a charm.
Needless to say I need a vacation from vacation. I had plans for Vegas with a girlfriend who decided to accept a new job. I am majorly bummed and had to cancel my trip.
That was my "me" time.
Hang in there.
Nora
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Registered: 09-09-2005
Sun, 08-13-2006 - 8:00pm

Omg Renee,


Sounds just like last summer with Liam, except we had no idea about the disability pass.

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Registered: 10-09-2003
Sun, 08-13-2006 - 8:45pm

Thanks so much for posting this, Renée.

~ Chelsea
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Registered: 03-31-2003
Mon, 08-14-2006 - 2:03am

Hey, at least your Disneyland experience didn't end up with two people (including the driver) projectile vomiting in a rental car. That was the highlight of our experience last November. LOL!

DH and I went over Thanksgiving one year, prior to kids, and the place was empty. Last year, we thought we'd go over Thanksgiving again, just to avoid the crowds. WRONG! We were packed in like sardines, and the kids wouldn't do ANYTHING at all except complain. We spent a few hours at Toontown and then left. It sucked mega. Of course, at the time we didn't realize people were coming down with a stomach bug, so that probably didn't help.

We've decided that if we ever get the urge to do Disneyland again, we'll drive right on past and go to Legoland instead. Of course, you guys live close enough to Legoland to do that whenever you want, don't you?

Glad you survived. So when do you get *your* vacation?

Evelyn

BTW, what is the "magic dust" emoticon supposed to be for, anyway? It seemed appropriate for a post about Disneyland. :)

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 08-14-2006 - 2:16am

ROFL, if you drive by and go to legoland you HAVE to stop and visit! I live 15 minutes from there. In fact my SIL I talk about so often lives about a mile from legoland and always has passes. We haven't gone in years. Had passes for 2 years and got bored with it. Or actually, annoyed with the price. It is nearly as much as disneyland and not nearly as big. Ok, living in SoCal I have become a theme park snob, lol.

Of course you do know that Sea World and the World Famous San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park are nearby too so you have to make it a san diego vaca! We just went to the zoo tonight practically free. The kids earned free passes from thier summer reading program and part of that was $11 dollar tixs for anyone else in teh party. A grand total of $22 for the zoo! Wooohoooo!

Anyone want to visit? I have a guest room if you don't mind the sound of guinea pigs.

Renee

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 08-14-2006 - 2:24am

I took copies of parts of Mike's IEP with me but they never asked me for them at all. However, Mike had been in line all that time and wasn't particularly patient. I am not sure the ticket lady noticed or not though. Once I said he was autistic they were very accomodating. Asked me "so he has trouble waiting in lines" - yep. They stamped a pass with a no wait in line stamp. Made it for both days we were there. Was usable at disney and california adventure and was very easy.

Usually you just show it to the first cast member you see at an attraction. If you dont see one you go to the exit. They either had a special place to wait or they brought you through the exit.

Most of the first day Mike was noticably different. The second day he blended pretty well. Only got an odd look once from a cast member and it was at like 9:45pm at space mountain the second day and that ride was completely crowded.

They usually do ask if the person the pass is for is there. They have to ride too or with mike at least go through the process like they are going to ride. usually if we walked in they didn't give us a problem. However, if they did, all I would say is "Mike are you ready to go on the ride" to which he would start his "I am not going" mantra complete with obvious anxiety. I would say "Gee he is really nervous for this ride" Usually they offered for the others to ride then. In fact more than once they would ask me if I wanted to go with one of the kids again so I got on the ride while Mike waited. I just usually didn't want him waiting that long.

It really is a good thing and worth it.

Renee

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 08-14-2006 - 2:26am

Thanks for the reminder. We are gong to the beach tuesday.

It is usually a good sensory experience for mike as long as we stay for hours and find and uncrowded spot. He stays in the water right near the edge and gets hit by the waves and stims on the water for hours. He likes water, lol.

Renee

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 08-14-2006 - 2:27am

A time timer (timetime-dot-com I think). It is a visua timer where the red section disappears as the time goes away. His therapist recomended it and we got the travel version so I can use it out or at home. Best $25 ever spent. I use it when he has to wait, when he is in time out, when he has to transition and only has so much time left, etc.

Renee

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