Disney Holidays and Cruises for Autism

Planning a Vacation at Disneyland, Disneyworld or Disney Cruises

Nov 8, 2009 Sarah Tennant

Children with autism and Asperger's syndrome can enjoy a Disney cruise or theme park holiday thanks to Disney's awareness of special needs kids.

Families who have taken their autistic children to the Disney theme parks or cruises tend to report a high level of satisfaction. Disney as a corporation is intensely aware of special needs guests, ranging from the hearing or mobility impaired to children with sensory processing disorder. By booking ahead, informing cast members of the situation and researching the attractions, parents can do their best to ensure a smooth holiday.

Disney Cruises

On a Disney autism cruise all children wear identification bracelets and parents are given pagers in case of missing or runaway children. The staff are trained in relating to autistic and special needs children. Parents can drop the children off at “kids' clubs” onboard, although they may be paged for changing diapers and/or behavioral issues.

Disney's Autism Awareness Cruise of September 2009 included a donation made by the cruise line to various autism organisations. The cruise lasted four days and included one day's stop at Castaway Cay, a private island owned by Disney, with activities such as snorkelling.

Disneyworld and Disneyland Vacations with an Autistic Child

By bringing a doctor's note certifying that the child has special needs, parents of an autistic child can ensure fast-tracking through ride queues at the Disney parks. The note should be handed in at Guest Services upon arriving at the park; a Guest Assistance Card or disability pass will then be given to the parents to be shown to cast members as required.

Many of the Disneyland and Disneyworld rides are dark and confined, with bright lights, water, fast or jerky movements and other attributes that may be stressful for autistic children. One way to prepare children for rides is to watch them on YouTube. Search for the name of the specific ride, such as “Haunted Mansion” or “Space Mountain”, and you will find a selection of videos taken by Disney guests with camera phones. The videos obviously do not give the full sensory effect of the rides, but can be used to show children the light and noise levels they can expect. Once at Disneyland, children may enjoy recognising aspects of the ride from the videos.

Allergen-Free and GFCF Meals During Disney Vacations

The Disney theme parks are famous for their conscientious presentation of allergen-free meals for special needs guests. The Disney cruise likewise offers allergen-free foods. Families with food allergies should plan ahead, booking tables in restaurants within the Disney parks (which also cuts down on waiting time) and notifying the chefs of any allergies. Reports from Disney guests indicate that the response from Disney's staff is generally excellent; in some cases, the chefs ring the family to discuss menu options before the family has even boarded the plane for Disneyland! The chefs typically come to talk to the family upon arrival at the restaurant, pointing out safe food options and discussing any custom-made dishes.

Families with food allergies are also exempted from the rule against bringing food into Disney parks.

Tips for Taking an Autistic Child on a Disney Vacation

Disneyland's nightly Main Street Parade usually contains fireworks and other sensory-heavy lights and noises. It may be worth while to leave the park before the Parade begins.
As many of the attractions are loud, consider bringing along earplugs.
Use the Walt Disney World and Disneyland official sites to prepare a child for the trip, including examining the maps, plotting schedules and talking about the various characters he or she will be likely to meet.
Some children may decide at the last moment that they do not want to go on a ride. The Disney “childswap” service allows one parent to remain with the child while the other rides; then the second parent takes the next turn instead of having to queue again. Knowing about this service can make parents more comfortable with queueing for a ride their child is unsure about.
Staying at the Disney theme park resorts allows parents to easily give their child a few hours' break from the park as required. To fill in this time and help the child process the events of the day, consider making a fill-in-as-you-go scrapbook. The child can help record the rides he/she went on, stick photos and postcards on the pages and write or draw about his/her experiences.

While navigating Disney theme parks with an autistic child has its unique challenges, parents often find their children bloom in the Disney environment. Some children speak or display enthusiasm for the first time upon seeing their favourite characters; others are happy to recognise locations and sets from their favourite films. For real-life information and tips about visiting the Disney parks with special needs children, visit the disABILITIES forum.

The copyright of the article Disney Holidays and Cruises for Autism in Accessible Recreation is owned by Sarah Tennant. Permission to republish Disney Holidays and Cruises for Autism in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Sleeping Beauty's Castle at Disneyland