We’ve shared some of the disability travel tips we’ve learned from traveling with our young niece who is on the spectrum and needs some extra help to feel comfortable at theme parks and hotels. We’ve also had some adult froggy friends with autism join us on visits and offer some pointers on navigating the parks. While some information remains the same (such as using the Disability Access Service at Disney World or Disneyland), adults have different needs from smaller kids. In this post, we're providing tips for traveling to theme parks with an adult with autism.
Traveling to the Theme Parks with an Adult with Autism
In some ways, traveling with an older teen or an adult with autism is very similar to traveling with a child with the same condition. Both can benefit from some pre-flight education if you are flying (see our frogtastic guide to flying with autism here). Both kids and adults can benefit from theme parks' disability services, including Disney World's DAS, Disneyland's DAS, Universal Orlando Resort's AAP and Universal Studios Hollywood's AAP.
Disneyland and Disney World recently changed the wording about who qualifies for DAS. We will discuss those details a little later.
There are some distinct concerns that parents with older teens or adults on the spectrum share. One of the primary issues is the way the child is perceived. If they are seen as a conventional, neurotypical adult, then behavior that is part of their disability could be cause for alarm or impatience. People who would be very understanding of a 3-year-old in full sensory meltdown may lack empathy for an 18-year-old in a similar situation, unless they are aware of their disability. They could even be perceived as drunk, impaired or a risk to others. The following tips will help ensure your child feels safe and comfortable on vacation, no matter how old they are.
Flying with an Adult with Autism
We’ve shared some toadally awesome tips for getting any child with ASD ready for a successful flight, but if you are traveling with an adult or older-looking teen, there are some additional safety considerations. Most kids are given cursory inspections at best when passing through TSA; any adult is subject to a more enhanced pat-down or a more thorough check. The techniques used to search passengers with disabilities have triggered outrage in the past, so be aware this could be a more challenging part of the flight process if you are with an adult with ASD.
Since a person with autism may feel particularly uncomfortable if their space is invaded or they are subject to a pat-down, you should include this in your practice runs. Watching videos, talking about screening “we take off our shoes, then step into the screening area and wave at the sky” makes this an expected experience. This alone can go a long way toward helping an adult with a sensory disability get through TSA.
Register for TSA pre-check in advance of your trip. That eliminates the need to stand in a long line or take off shoes or a light jacket. It simplifies the experience and makes it less triggering or stressful. At TSA PreCheck lanes, you do not need to remove shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids or belts during the screening process.
Get more information or contact TSA Cares if you have questions or concerns. TSA has a printable disability notification card that you can print out and bring along. This can also alert screeners of the need for extra assistance and time. Get your copy here. If you are traveling with a service dog, the dog will be permitted on the plane, but the passenger that the dog serves will likely be subject to an enhanced pat-down. Consider contacting TSA in advance of your trip (24 hours is best) and letting them know you may need accommodations.
You can’t avoid the pat-down, but you can make it easier on the person if you suspect it will be upsetting. If you have any concerns, having an advocate with you, provided by the airport, will make things easier on you, the person you are traveling with and even the people around you, so don’t hesitate to contact the TSA if you need assistance. Speed things up by helping your adult child pick out an outfit that is not bulky and that features slip-on shoes; jackets or sweaters can go through the X-ray machine separately. Letting the TSA agent know that your travel companion has autism can also help, though individual agents vary in their helpfulness and empathy.
Passengers with non-visible disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, can be screened without being separated from a traveling companion. If a companion provides assistance during screening, they will need to be re-screened.
Letting the agent know may not prevent them from doing an advanced screening, but it will let them know why your child is acting differently or seems more uncomfortable than most screened guests. Fortunately, airports that see heavy vacation and tourist traffic also tend to be very accommodating of disabilities. MCO in Florida has an outstanding level of assistance and service available to those needing extra assistance; many other airports do, as well.
Theme Parks: Considerations for Adults with Autism
Theme parks have services for people who have trouble waiting in a conventional queue. They can allow people with autism to use an alternate entrance and wait outside the line until it is their turn to enter the alternate entrance. This way the person can manage their environment while they wait.
Disney Parks
Before your trip, you will need to chat with Disney to see if you qualify for Disability Access Service (DAS). The DAS is one of the accommodation programs offered at Disneyland Resort theme parks for "those guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism or similar, are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period of time."
At Disney World, you need to set this up through online chat up to 30 days in advance. (Guests visiting from other countries can set it up in person at guest relations.) At Disneyland, you can do this by online chat or in person at kiosks outside the theme parks. The DAS is valid for up to 240 days or the length of your ticket. Once you are in the park, you can reserve your own return times in the app.
Not all guests with autism may qualify for DAS though. It's best to prepare for your chat by noting what makes standing in a conventional queue difficult or impossible. You can write your thoughts and concerns down to help you remember and stay focused while applying. You can have an advocate with you to help you communicate. Focus on what happens to you when your disability is triggered and your response to it. How does it affect you and others around you? Think about other scenarios that you use accommodations for in life, such as at the airport or when shopping or at work. What is the worst-case scenario for you? Focus on your reaction and why you need help managing it rather than your diagnosis to best explain your situation.
Here are some hopful links to learn more about the services at each U.S. Disney park and how to set them up:
- Disneyland DAS
- Disney World DAS
- Navigating Alternative Accessibility Options Beyond DAS at Disneyland Resort
Universal Parks
For Universal Parks (and Six Flags), your first step is to register for the free IBCCES Accessibility Card (IAC) online at AccessibilityCard.org or via the free IBCCES Accessibility Card mobile app. You can find the app in the Apple and Google Play stores. Guests must be at least 18 to request an IAC card for themselves, and guests under 18 will need to have a parent or legal guardian register for them. Register at least 48 hours prior to your visit.
After approval, you'll receive a call (or an email with a number to call and case number) to chat with a Universal representative about your needs. The person who has autism or the parent needs to be available on the call. They'll discuss accommodations for you. You'll receive a case number. Hold onto that number and bring it with you to the park. Then, once you arrive in the park, you can stop by guest relations to finish setting it up. They'll ask for the case number.
One of the accommodations is the Attraction Assistance Pass (AAP). You use it to receive the time to return to the attractions from a team member at the ride entrance. (Sometimes you head straight to the Express line.) Other theme parks have similar programs, but the actual process can vary.
Here are some hopful links to learn more about the Universal services and how to set them up:
Here is the link that gives and overview of managing disabilities at various theme parks (besides Disney and Universal):
Things to Be Aware of When Traveling to Theme Parks with an Adult with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism can present as an invisible disability. A few of the concerns that are unique to those traveling with an adult on the spectrum include the following:
Accidental Separation
The main differences a family with an adult with autism may encounter almost all have to do with perception and size. While any small child won’t be permitted to board a ride alone. However, an over-enthusiastic ride attendant could place an adult into a ride vehicle alone. Sticking together, particularly at the point of entry to the ride, can help prevent this from happening.
Accidental separations most often occur when a large group is moving from one place to another. It also hoppens as a large group files into a smaller queue such as from the Haunted Mansion stretch portrait room or the pre-show room at the Tower of Terror/ Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission Breakout! Be cautious when a ride does not stop for loading such as Haunted Mansion, Spaceship Earth, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, The Little Mermaid or Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (although that ride has a separate loading area you can ask about if you need more time). Being aware of this and taking your companion by the hand can prevent separation, as attendants may just see “adult” and direct them accordingly.
Keep an eye on your party members in large crowd situations, such as fireworks. This is especially true after the show ends when large amounts of people are on the move. It helps to have a phone on them if they can text and a plan of what to do if you do get separated. It's best to avoid it in the first place though. If they are nonverbal, you can place a sticker on them with your phone number like you would a small child. Maybe plan to stay still until the crowd disperses or watch from a less-crowded area if crowds are challenging for your party.
Dining: Can You Order from the Kids’ Menu?
Your family member may be an adult chronologically, but they may have a kid’s taste buds. While most restaurants will allow you to order from the kids menu, others can accommodate you with side dishes or alternatives. Let your server know any dietary preferences and request a kids menu if your adult child wants one — even if you end up having to purchase an adult-sized meal. If you require gluten-free options or other food accommodations for allergies, talk to the chef. They can prepare something for you.
You can view menus on park apps and online. Looking those over in advance can help prevent anxiety about what to eat. There are chicken tenders and fries? Whew! What a relief! I don't have to worry about being hungry.
Here are a few hopful posts on dining at Disney:
- Our Tasty Guide to Dining Gluten-Free at Disneyland Resort
- A Guide to Gluten-Free Dining at Disney World
- Tips for Dining at Disneyland with Food Allergies
- Tips for Dining at Walt Disney World With Food Allergies
- Top Kids' Foods at Disneyland Even Your Pickiest Eater Will Love
- How to Survive Walt Disney World with Picky Eaters
Dining at Universal:
- Yummiest Places to Eat at Universal Studios Hollywood
- The Best Food and Drink Items at Universal Orlando Resort
Restrooms: You Have Options for Privacy and Space
There are family restrooms and companion restrooms scattered throughout each park. Each regular restroom in the Orlando and SoCal theme parks is also ADA-compliant and outfitted with oversized stalls. Use one of these if you need to. Don’t send an adult with a cognitive disability into a bathroom alone. Theme park bathrooms can be huge and have multiple entrances and exits, making it easy to get lost.
You can find many single-use companion restrooms at Disneyland and other parks. They are all equipped with manual flushers. Those automatic flushers in regular stalls can be loud and go off unexpectedly. With a manual flusher, you can control when it goes off. Plus, you can even have someone with sensitive hearing leave the room before you flush it for them.
Sensory Breaks
Theme parks can cause sensory overload. Allow yourself to take frequent breaks. If you need to find a quiet place to decompress, there are a few options in each park.
First Aid centers at Disney and the Family Center at Universal offer quiet rooms where you can have your own space to decompress from sensory overload. First Aid centers at Disney offer beds if you need to lie down. You can control the lighting and have some time to yourself.
Here are some places to take a sensory break at Disney:
- Where to Take Sensory Breaks at Disneyland Resort
- Where to Find Sensory Break Locations at Disney World
- Where You Can Take Sensory Breaks at Universal Orlando
If you have concerns about noise sensitivity, bring noise-cancelling or sensory headphones. If you are concerned about overheating, bring fans and spray bottles. Rest in the shade or air conditioning, and try to stay out of the sun for the hottest hours of the day.
Pools and Swimming
ASD kids are drawn to water, and most do not grow out of it. If your child needs to wear a life jacket for safety, you do not have to bring your own. Each water park and hotel at the major Orlando parks is equipped with life jackets that fit even XXL adults. That way, you can enjoy the pool without worry.
Security and Safety
Just like the airport, adults are given more scrutiny at the theme park security bag checks than kids. Make it easy by carrying your adult child’s bag or backpack yourself. They can accompany another member of your party through the “no bags" line to streamline the process.
Another safety issue could be overheating. Some people who are not neurotypical can sense temperature differently. Our friend does not sweat, so he goes on water rides or brings a spray water bottle with a fan to stay cool. He uses his waiting periods between rides to stay out of the sun. We also look for signs he is overheating since he cannot communicate that to us. When he looks glassy-eyed and is very quiet, we know he needs to cool off.
Character Greetings
Full face characters, or those that wear masks, such as Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh and dozens of others fully engage with children but are sometimes more reserved with adults. These characters also have very limited visibility. If your older teen or adult is tall, the character will assume they are a typical adult — and act accordingly. If you know your child will enjoy a more childlike encounter with the characters, you can tell Tigger (or his companion) that your adult child has Autism. Most characters will then move and interact with more care.
The characters who can talk can usually engage better with the adults. Our adult friend who has autism charms all the princesses and heroes at Disney. They shower him with attention in return, much to his enjoyment.
If you know your adult with ASD wants to see the character, but not engage with them, you can also let the workers know. Most are extremely accommodating to guests with disabilities and will follow your lead. Increased awareness of Autism and other “invisible” disabilities has made it easier than ever to enjoy a hoppening family vacation together.
Ride and Show Prep
Many people who have autism like to know what is going to happen. Show them videos of rides and shows in advance and provide park maps. It helps them feel more comfortable and less anxious. We have most ride and show videos on our YouTube channel.
In addition to having a different way of accessing rides, you might have a different waiting area for a show. You might get to choose your seating with other guests with disabilities so it best meets your needs. Plan your seats carefully, especially if you think you might need to make a quick escape during a show. Just be sure to communicate your needs to an attendant in advance and they will guide you on what to do.
Take some time to prepare before you go. Being aware of the potential problems can help your entire family have a toadally awesome time in Orlando or SoCal.
Have tips or questions about traveling with an adult with autism. Share them in the comments below!
