MBW
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2001
I first joined this board in 2001 after our eldest son was diagnosed with autism. We planned a trip for our daughter's birthday (mid-Sept.) and were concerned how Sam, 3, and his younger brother, Jonah, who was also displaying autistic tendencies at 21 months, would handle the parks. The information I received here was so incredibly helpful, and made for a successful trip, despite the fact that we we arrived at Disney on Sept. 12th, 2001. (We drove rather than flew).
I've always been disappointed that there haven't been more websites which offer information on vacationing with neurologically exceptional children - I guess we're expected to just send our kids off to special needs summer camp, rather than vacation together. Well, my husband and I have decided to remedy that.
Starting in late April - early May, we are selling our lovely home in Portland, Maine, and beginning a six month journey around the US with our four children, ages 2.5 - 8, two of whom have autism. Of course our trip will take us to Disney World (maybe even Disneyland), but we'd like to see many other places as well. Our goal is to write a book and travel guide based on our experiences, specifically for families with with ASD and other neurological and developmental disorders. We've begun a blog (triptowonderful.blogspot.com) and will be adding forums similiar to the DisBoards (since we love them so), but on travel around the world for ASD/MR/DS kids.
Anyway, I remember some familiar names and lots of new ones, but hope you all don't mind if I pick your brains from time to time, particularly on making Disney World a wonderful experience for our kids, despite the changes in the GAC.
(Btw, our plan is to vacation at Disney once again in September. I can't imagine the crowds being as small as the ones in Sept., 2001, but I expect they'll still be managable for our kids.)
I've always been disappointed that there haven't been more websites which offer information on vacationing with neurologically exceptional children - I guess we're expected to just send our kids off to special needs summer camp, rather than vacation together. Well, my husband and I have decided to remedy that.
Starting in late April - early May, we are selling our lovely home in Portland, Maine, and beginning a six month journey around the US with our four children, ages 2.5 - 8, two of whom have autism. Of course our trip will take us to Disney World (maybe even Disneyland), but we'd like to see many other places as well. Our goal is to write a book and travel guide based on our experiences, specifically for families with with ASD and other neurological and developmental disorders. We've begun a blog (triptowonderful.blogspot.com) and will be adding forums similiar to the DisBoards (since we love them so), but on travel around the world for ASD/MR/DS kids.
Anyway, I remember some familiar names and lots of new ones, but hope you all don't mind if I pick your brains from time to time, particularly on making Disney World a wonderful experience for our kids, despite the changes in the GAC.
(Btw, our plan is to vacation at Disney once again in September. I can't imagine the crowds being as small as the ones in Sept., 2001, but I expect they'll still be managable for our kids.)
There is definitely a need for this, and hopefully your experiences will give other families with ASD kids the confidence to get out and about. I hope you have a wonderful time researching it, and best of luck. I look forward to reading all about it.
