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AA Mom And Kids Mickey Ice Cream Bar; DinoLand U.S.A.; animal kingdom
  • On Sep 13, 2013
    Jaynee Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Hi Allison. Coming to POR (mansions) May 2-10. DS has autism. I've read the buses are full when they reach that last stop. Should we walk to stop #1 by the food court or switch to a preferred building to be picked up sooner?

    Hi Jaynee!

    I completely understand your situation. While my son isn't autistic, Cerebral Palsy causes him to be non-verbal and his emotional outbursts from being unable to communicate can be very stressful and totally unexpected. We do everything we can on trips to try to prevent them and ensure he has a great time. You're a great Mom for thinking ahead.

    You know your son better than anyone but I would probably try to switch to a preferred building to be pick up sooner.  That way you have a much better chance of him getting a seat on the bus and keeping him happy.  Having said that, if your son is full of energy and it helps him to walk a bit you may want to walk to Stop # 1.  That way he'll burn off a little energy and you get can still get a seat on the bus for him.

    If possible, try to avoid heading to the parks first thing in the morning so you miss the mad dash for the openings.  I've found that my son does better if we sleep in a little and we take a little more time getting ready.  He seems to fade faster if we try to rush out the door and do breakfast on the run.  While I like to try to pack in as much as I can on a Disney trip, I've found that I've enjoyed it more by slowing down and hopefully see less emotional outbursts.  When you see your son has had enough, head pack to your resort. You may not get to do everything on your trip, but you'll enjoy everything you do.

    Wishing you minnie magical memories :-) Allison V.
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Meet the Panelist: Allison, Georgia

I'm a Disney-fanatic! I made my first trip to Disney World the year it opened and have grown up crazy for all things Disney. As the Mom of a son with Cerebral Palsy, I love providing recommendations for families traveling with a special needs member. Learn More About Allison

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