Orlando 2012 with Autistic 15 and family HELP

owenandharrysmum

Hi All
I need help and advice please.
My youngest son is autistic with challenging behaviours (he will be 15 when we go away) and we want to go to Orlando as a family for 1 last holiday before my children are too old to go away with us.
We have chosen Orlando as my son loves Disneyland Paris and we see great improvements in his language and social skills every time we visit.
Due to his disability we have specific requirements - we need a house with its own pool, 4 bedrooms (we are having to take a carer with us) in a quiet area but not too far from the parks and a car able to fit us all in. We are looking to go for 2 weeks in the summer holidays.

Can anyone recommend a holiday company who specialise in holidays for people with disabilities or would it be cheaper for us to book everything seperately or just go to a normal travel agent?

Any help will be greatly appreciated as this seems a massive task but I really want to do this.

Many thanks in anticipation

johnnyroper

owenandharrysmum wrote: »

Hi All
I need help and advice please.
My youngest son is autistic with challenging behaviours (he will be 15 when we go away) and we want to go to Orlando as a family for 1 last holiday before my children are too old to go away with us.
We have chosen Orlando as my son loves Disneyland Paris and we see great improvements in his language and social skills every time we visit.
Due to his disability we have specific requirements - we need a house with its own pool, 4 bedrooms (we are having to take a carer with us) in a quiet area but not too far from the parks and a car able to fit us all in. We are looking to go for 2 weeks in the summer holidays.

Can anyone recommend a holiday company who specialise in holidays for people with disabilities or would it be cheaper for us to book everything seperately or just go to a normal travel agent?

Any help will be greatly appreciated as this seems a massive task but I really want to do this.

Many thanks in anticipation

personally i say book all seperate as it will be cheaper and you will have more options.

have a look on the orlando sticky at top of overseas holiday page for more info also have a look at www.thedibb.co.uk

poet123

I agree, book separately, that way you can pick your villa and not just take what you are allocated. You could look into Fly/Drive as a component part, but choose your villa carefully.

If you choose one close to the parks you can come home mid day, if you are miles away the faff will be too much. Communities close to Sherberth Rd (a Disney shortcut) are Sunset Lakes, Formosa Gardens, Emerald Island, Oak Island Cove/Harbour, Windsor Palms.

The Dibb is a mine of info. There are loads of things you can book which the average TA would not know about. Character Dining bookable from home on a set time period form your departure (90 days I think, but check that) Sharing a cruise boat to watch the "Wishes" fireworks (those living in the US often advertise for additional people to share the cost as the boats hold 10/12). Once you get on there you will be hooked for hours, so much info.

Another tip, sign up for Mousesavers Newsletter there are lots of discount tickets/coupons available ONLY to subscribers and it is free.

We have rented a few villas in the above areas and they are close to Disney and to the Formosa shopping complex with restaurants, and a supermarket.

Also try http://www.orlandovillas.com/ for owner rented villas they are a mine if info too.

Hope this helps.

platterfish

When you visit the parks make sure you let Guest Services know you are visiting with an Autistic Child, you get a guest assistance pass to allow you to either skip the line, or wait in a separate area for the duration of the current queue, so its not overly crowded. Most times you just go straight to the front, no waiting, It will really help you make the most of the the time there.

cabbage

I think the Dibb has a forum thread about Autistic Children and Disneyworld Orlando which might be helpful.

poe.tuesday

you will need to take proof of disability and if you go to animal kingdom first you can get the GAP card there easier than you cna in the other parks, it also covers you for all of the disney parks - just take a little one of the sealed sandwich bags to keep it in as it does get damaged if you don't

the other parks also cater for disabilities, again, you will need proof of disability, a letter from the doctor etc usually suffices

I don't think that you will need a specialist company to get your holiday from, all travel agents should be able to accommodate your needs - we went with travelplanners and they were excellent

peainapod

Have you already booked ? I would STRONGLY suggest that you don't go in the summer holidays. If your son is autistic with challenging behavior how would he cope with hours of queuing ? That's what it will be like in the summer holidays. I really would recommend September, weather is lovely and there's hardly anyone there ! I went a long time ago don't get me wrong, but according to the dibb (check that out too its absolutely brilliant) not much has changed with regards to busyness and queues. Even with the disability card, this means you can skip PART of the queue not all of it, this can mean still waiting a long time in hot weather. Have a magical time

CupcakeLisa

cabbage wrote: »

I think the Dibb has a forum thread about Autistic Children and Disneyworld Orlando which might be helpful.

i was just going to suggest the dibb.......there are several familys who have autistic children and will be able to provide lots of useful information. its a very friendly forum - you wont get sarcastic or horrible comments only useful info

dzug1

There's one aspect that it would be as well to investigate with expert advice: does his 'challenging behaviour' pose a threat to his own property, safety or welfare or to that of others? If so it's possible he may require a visa to visit the US.

PolishBigSpender

dzug1 wrote: »

There's one aspect that it would be as well to investigate with expert advice: does his 'challenging behaviour' pose a threat to his own property, safety or welfare or to that of others? If so it's possible he may require a visa to visit the US.

No such restriction applies for the Visa Waiver Program, as Autism isn't something that bars him from entry.

owenandharrysmum

Unfortunately my husband is a teaching assistant so we can only go in the school holidays and my eldest son will be sitting his GCSE's next year, all this makes us have to go in the summer 2012.
Any help and advice is greatly appreciated