Welcome, Linda!
I too am a parent of children on the Autism Spectrum. I do find that Disneyland Resort provides just the right level of accommodation and Disney magic to help make visits comfortable and memorable for
guests with disabilities, including
guests with cognitive disabilities. Our children with autism happen to be high-functioning. So our strategies will be unique. In fact, because each child is unique and comes with unique challenges and needs, the Disneyland Resort strives to address individual needs rather than have one blanket program to try to serve everyone.
To seek out any special accommodations for your grandson, you are invited to consult with a Cast Member at one of the main
Guest Relations locations. In Disneyland Park, start your visit off at City Hall on Main Street, U.S.A. In Disney California Adventure Park, head over to Chamber of Commerce on Buena Vista Street. For our children, we have found that simply planning ahead and employing creative coping strategies has helped to work with their specific sensory and social needs. For example, having favorite snacks or activities on hand has helped to keep our children calm and content while waiting in attraction lines. Guests with more severe needs that prevent waiting in a conventional queue may require enrollment in the
Disability Access Service. That is the service that one of my friends uses with her son when they visit Disney Parks. Either way, you will find that the friendly Guest Relations Cast Members are happy to help plan for an enjoyable visit to the Disneyland Resort.
For our children, we like to find a quiet place to decompress when the stress of being in a crowded area gets to be too much. One of our favorite activities is watching
Mickey and the Magical Map in the Fantasyland Theater, where we can easily find an empty bench to spread out and rest. Or we may visit the
Animation Academy to learn to draw one of our favorite Disney characters. The Animation Courtyard in the Disney Animation Building, where we wait for Animation Academy to begin, is spacious, quiet, and has the lights dimmed for a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere. Speaking of relaxing, I highly recommend taking a break at your hotel during the afternoon. It’s tempting to want to just go, go, go all day long. But we can wear ourselves out, even at the Happiest Place on Earth. A break during the hottest and most popular time of the day is a great way to beat the heat, avoid large crowds, and get energized for even more fun in the evening.
We are glad to help you with any other questions or concerns you may have about your Disneyland Resort Vacation, Please stop by should anything else come to mind.
Have a magical time, Linda!
Tony