Opinions desired, what special activites for 9 yo DS with AS?

[welovedis]

My DS has Asperger's Syndrome and though he is very intelligent, he is naive in many ways. During our last trip, in 1/04, he enjoyed the Pirate Cruise as a special event just for him to enjoy. I'm thinking ahead to our 1/06 trip (when he'll be 9) and wondering what I can plan ahead for him. I'm thinking of the Family Magic Tour in the MK, the Albatross Cruise from the Yacht Club, or possibily the Grand Adventures in Cooking.

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with these (besides the cruise since we've basically done it at a different venue) or have any other ideas of what we could do? He is not really "into" the characters, he'll pose with them, but doesn't rush up to them or anything and doesn't really care about character dining at all.

It will be our last trip for a few years and I'd like to do some things to make this trip extra special--make some terrific memories.

BTW-our family is me, DH (who is hearing impaired) and DS (with AS).

TIA for your help!

 

[arubalisa]

Hi Karen,

I'm sorry I cannot answer you question, however you sound like the perfect person to give advice to me.

We are fostering to adopt a 9 year old girl who was just diagnosed with AS in December. DH and I have both been to DW multiple times, and are taking our DD for her first visit July 1- July 6. Bad timing crowd wise, but due to summer camp and DH'S vacation time, timing left few options.

We are staying at the WL and considering this is a first trip for DD, we expect to spend most of our time in the MK.

Any advice regarding a visit to DW, which you are able to offer to a fellow parent of an AS child is greatly appreciated.

 

[welovedis]

Hi Lisa-
July can be a good time to go, even though the crowds are a bit heavier. I would say the best thing you can do is to know your child and what their "triggers" are. For my DS it can be the crowding in lines, but he does ok without having a GAC. If he had a bigger issue with standing in line in a large crowd I wouldn't hestitate to get one.

For us, the trip is so much in the planning too. Since he has been there 4 times already he knows what to expect and that certainly helps. He is always repeating the info he knows when he talks about the trips, like what to do if we are separated, etc...

I'm not sure what your DD likes/doesn't like or what bothers her in social situations. I would be prepared for the larger crowds/hot weather and decide how to spend you days but be flexible. When we went in July in 2004 we thought we'd be up early and out to the parks first thing in the morning. However, we ended up enjoying our resort (CSR) so much that we slept in, swam in the pool all morning, enjoyed a leisurely lunch & sometimes a nap, then hit the parks in the latter part of the day and stayed up they closed.

Hope you can find a plan that works for you!

 

[Princess Mommy]

Karen~Although I niether of my children have autism or aspergers, but I have been working as a behavior specialist for children with autism for 7 years, working with these special children for a total of 12 years.
I would DEFINATELY suggest the Family Magic Tour! If he did fine during the Pirate cruise, then Grand Adventures in Cooking would be a great option as well. Does he like Wishes? You could try to schedule dessert in the CA Grill where you have a great view & they lower the lights & pipe in the music for you there~ and helps avoid the Wishes crowds
Lisa~ it is going to be such a great trip for you guys! WL is great, and so close to MK when you might need a break from the crowds and the pool is wonderful! Have a great trip! You could probably set up a tour of the WL too~ I bet she'd love the hidden Mickeys and little tidbits of info they can tell you!

 

[SueM in MN]

If he's like my nephew, he might enjoy getting a book that shows some of the hidden Mickeys and then trying to hunt them down.