We just got back from a trip to Disneyland for Roo’s 5th Birthday, and while overall it was a good trip, it had its difficult moments.
Our first trip to Disneyland happened when Roo was a few weeks out from her 3rd Birthday. I picked that time because I wanted to make sure that she was old enough to enjoy Disney, but also not too old where we had to pay full price. I was worried that she would hate it, given her sound sensitivities; so FREE admission to children under 3 was a huge benefit for us. After that first visit she was absolutely hooked!
Around 3 ½ she requested to go back to Disneyland for her 5th Birthday and we were happy to oblige. This gave me plenty of time to plan, budget, and craft. What I wasn’t prepared for was that her quirks weren’t just quirks and it turns out our sweet, intelligent, quirky girl was actually on the Autism spectrum.
One of Roo’s symptoms is that she is a ball of energy and when you try to contain that energy through her having to utilize patience, she lashes out. I was naively confident that using a theme park planning app would cut down on waiting, thus removing the chance of a meltdown. And for the most part I was right, but when I was wrong Disneyland quickly changed from the Happiest Place on Earth to the screaming, hitting, yelling, using mean words place on Earth.
Here are some tips to help avoid meltdowns in the park not only for your kiddo on the spectrum, but these can be applied for any child.
- Have a PLAN and try to stick to it as much as possible. Use a park-planning app or guidebook to plan out the attractions your child chose mixed with attractions that adults want to ride as well. The park-planning app will help cut down your waiting time in line while mixing attractions with shows and parades.
- Visit during the offseason if possible. Disney Parks are open everyday of the year and while the chances of you having the park to yourself is slim you should avoid traveling during peak time (think Spring Break, Summer Break, Memorial/Labor Day weekend, Thanksgiving, and Christmas). 2 year ago we visited in early June prior to school being out for the summer and the crowds were averaging a 4 out of 10 versus this trip at the end of June, which averaged 7-8 out of 10. If you can’t avoid traveling during these time frames, try visiting the parks during the week. For some reason there are less people visiting the parks during the week even in the Summer time, so we like to have our trips overlap a weekend and run through a Wednesday to get a nice balance.
- Food, Food, Food! Eat breakfast before you enter the park. Once you enter those turnstiles your senses are assaulted with excitement and you will quickly forget about eating. Roo has a sensory processing disorder so it is difficult for her tap into her senses like hunger, thirst, bathroom needs until it is too late. Everyone gets HANGRY even if you are at Disney, so avoid that by ordering your groceries and eating a protein packed breakfast in your room. *If your hotel offers free breakfast, that is even better. Bring snacks into the park. We always pack a softside cooler, fill it with ice from the hotel and have an assortment of snacks for Roo and ourselves. This helps hold us over between meals and also replenish our bodies from the heat and adrenaline.
- BREAKS! Schedule yourself plenty of breaks. One of the challenges of being on the spectrum is that Roo has a hard time stopping activities, especially when they are fun. I am sure you can imagine how much fun this is when it is time to take a break from Disney. We try and make these breaks creative by attending a show, eating in the parks, or going back to the hotel. That last option is my preferred choice, not only does it give everyone a chance to take a overdue nap, but you can also explore the local area or swim in that refreshing hotel pool.
- Bring Noise Cancelling Headphones! If your SPD/ASD child has difficulties with loud noises or crowds be sure to bring their headphones. Disney is a loud place in general; people are talking/laughing/crying, but there is also music always playing, and fireworks in the evening. Try to balance out the noise with quiet and calm by eating at a quiet location, riding the train or monorail, or leave the park altogether.
- HAVE FUN! Remember to take it all in stride, breathe, and enjoy the moment. If things get difficult remember that your kiddo is doing the best they can and its our job to help them enjoy Disney Magic in their own way!
*I recently learned that Disney actually offers specific accommodations for children with disabilities including those on the Autism Spectrum, so I am looking forward to returning to see how that changes our experience.
