Christmas Season, the Very Best Season is Almost Here!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Of course, they don’t get everything done in one night. Over a few short weeks, the parks become more and more filled with Christmas cheer and they also become quite a bit fuller with visitors.

Check out Disney’s upcoming holiday after hours events here!

With the holiday season being one of the peak times to visit theme parks and the many local community festivities, it can present some challenges for those of us with special needs little ones. It’s also easy to overlook their needs some as we plot ahead expecting everyone to become infused with hot cocoa & peppermint candies running through their veins as the path to joy. That doesn’t necessarily work out.

As a father to a young autistic son, it has taken much trial and error to figure out what to do and what not to do when I decide to take to holiday season adventures. One of my personal key indicators a lot of time are just my own feelings when entering into the fray. If I feel uneasy, my son likely feels about 10x more so. Instead of trying to push through creating possible catastrophe for both of us, I’ve just come to realize there’s always tomorrow. I say that in jest, but it does ring true for many circumstances.

As adults, we begin to forget some of our core memories—the great and the not so great. Our children’s core memories are still very fresh. Something I remind myself of at times is “do I want my son’s memory of _____ to be attached to misery or joy?” It really seems like a simple equation here but when you’re planning on a vacation, in the middle of one, or just going shopping for presents, trying to look through the eyes AND hear from the ears of your child is huge. It does seem cliché, however, as adults we just tend to think our kids will be ok in just about any situation when indeed, they are not—and when or if they are special needs children, the chance that their comfort level is dropped down several notches below our own is rather high.

So, ask yourself this before you plan on dragging your sensory sensitive sweet one to a packed mall or before you add those special after hours Jollywood event tickets at Disney’s Hollywood Studios:  if you’re anxious in large crowds, they likely are, too. If you’re tense and feeling ready to pop waiting in long lines, they likely are, too.

Another technique I try to employ when visiting theme parks is working in reverse of what the usual crowds flock to. This helps to avoid the pressure to rope drop every day of your visit. You can look at the Disney parks app for a good indicator of what rides are most popular first thing in the morning—yes, avoid those if possible. You should also utilize programs such as Disability Access Service to work around being steamrolled by eager beavers and from standing in super long lines. Universal’s theme parks uses the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) system which is an entire topic on its own. We will definitely dive into those systems and how they work soon.

Overall, I believe as parents we must recognize our unique super kid’s feelings and reactions, and try not ignore them or force them to try and get through tough situations at the parks. We love the environment of it all and certainly want them to, as well. We surely don’t want to attach Sadness’s gloom onto those core memories this holiday season!

Comment below or message us ideas and thoughts about how you help to ensure your super kid is able to enjoy the holidays!