Note to self: Get over it.

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I posted a question here about the wisdom of taking my autistic son to Disneyland a few years ago.

I now have the answer to my question. It has lots of unexpected noises, flashing lights, and announcements. The kid could only enjoy the experience if he swallowed a ton of pills.

Still, I promised myself a decade before he was born that I would take him there. I suppose it is time to let go of that idea.

Does anyone else dislike Disneyland?

I recall a vendor at Disneyland selling water. He announced in a loud voice, "You may not be tired, thirsty, and cranky now. But, you will be by the end of the day. Get your water now."

I like Disneyland. Only thing I don't like about it are the long lines and the cost to get in. I hear they have fast passes now but you can only use them for like every hour and a half if I recall correctly. My brother went there for show choir and he and his class used the fast passes. I would just read a book or play my game if I had to do that again. It's like they don't want poor people there because of their high cost of tickets to get in. I have also been to the Adventure Park that is next door. It was brand new then and hadn't been open for eve a year yet when we went. The lines there were not bad and we used a fast pass on a couple of rides. Then I started to have anxiety in the evening because the affect of the pill wore off and my whole family had to suck it up and suffer than let me be in control so I would be all calm.

I've never been to Disneyland, but I have been to Disneyworld. I absolutely love it, particularly the Epcot part with all of the different countries.

I was there back in the 70's when my daughter was a kid. It would have been fun but the crowds were horrible.

Disneyland sucks really bad. Go to Orlando and Disneyworld during off season times. Much much better. especially if you have sensory issues.

I love Disneyland but I have never been to Disneyworld so I can't compare. I would try to go at a time when it would be least crowded though. Is that you and your son in your Avatar picture? He is a little cutie pie.

I liked it except for the very long lines

I went when I was 7, almost 8. It is billed as the happiest place on earth and I had been so excited about going overseas to the US and getting to visit Disneyland.

It was terrifying and I hated it. I still think of it not as the happiest place on earth but as one of the scariest places on earth for a little (then undiagnosed) autistic kid. It was really traumatic.

I did like seeing the big characters and going on a couple of rides (I loved the spinning teacups and wanted to stay on those all day but wasn't allowed). However most of the day was a sensory nightmare and the crowds were frightening. The lines for the gift shop, food and toilets were just as bad as the rides themselves if not worse. My parents were really worried about losing me so I was clipped to them with restraints which my Dad had custom made. I didn't understand why and thought that Disneyland must be a terribly dangerous place.

If you think you might be able to make the experience enjoyable for you both then take whatever precautions you need to: Go in the off season, find out when the quietest day to go is, use whatever helps him with sensory issues and change (it's a really strange environment), prepare him for what it will be like with pictures and video clips etc, just plan it really carefully and think about any issues that might come up and try to find ways to cope with them.

Disneyland is not going anywhere any time soon. If your son isn't likely to cope with it now he might cope when he's older if he develops some coping mechanisms which he doesn't currently have or use as well as he might when he is older. You don't have to give up on the idea of sharing your Disney dream with him but just remember the important thing isn't an amusement park attraction, it is sharing love, family time and joy with your son and you can absolutely do that in autistic friendly ways. Let him find happiness in whatever he enjoys most and share his source of happiness if he isn't able to share your dream right now (or perhaps ever).

This. The fast passes helped with the crowds; bring headphones of noise is at all an issue, but I went when I was seven or eight and had a great time. Your son might get more enjoyment out of a trip that has to do with his special interest though, and it will probably be cheaper. For example, dinosaur museusm are currently at the top of my list of favourite places to visit because of their link to my current interest, and they have the advantage of being quieter, cheaper, less crowded, and generally less full of screaming children, with the added bonus of no long lines.

I've never been to Disneyland, but I've been to plenty of other amusement parks, and I very much enjoyed them. I never had any problem with "unexpected noises, flashing lights, and announcements" at all.
The only thing I didn't like was the long lines, because it's boring to wait.

I like going to Disney World as an AP, especially Epcot and Magic Kingdom. I haven't been to Disneyland since 2005.
I hate the prices and sometimes large crowds though.

I voted that it's an evil corporate empire.

Really, it's only a fun place if you can make it fun.

I remember being traumatized at Disneyworld when I was young. Mostly because giant animal costumes were scary...even though I think I was excited to go there.

I didn't have the noise/lights issue, though.

I do know that a lot of "attractions" for me lose their shine very quickly. It's a novelty to go there, but I'm over it quickly.

Can earplugs and sunglasses help?

I haven't really been to any theme parks that I can th.....no wait, I've been to sesame street theme park geez when I was 8 other then the water slides I went on it was pretty much over stimulating and I've been to hooters when I was 13 or 14 I think I got more out of going to hooters then going to sesame street but then again I think I was at the forefront of puberty when I was introduced to the concept of a "breastaurant" so I owe my grandfather a big thanks for that...

My Aspie husband was dragged to Disney, during the middle 1970's. He HATED it.

From what I gathered from sibs, Jay was in constant melt down mode, and basically trashed the trip for the whole family. Why the family went back another 5 fives is beyond me.

They still blame him today, for making those family trips a nightmare. That is not fair, as he wasn't diagnosed until his 50's. People can be pretty bitter. Though he has told me he did like the plane flights.

Jay had multiple issues. The heat, crowds, sensory, the family being furious that *he couldn't just deal, and make it pleasant for the rest of them*, food, and the general hatred of his schedule trashed.

My husband would probably go now as an adult because he has more coping skills, but would much rather spend time a museum or some place less rowdy. Maybe your son will be able to enjoy it later on. You never know.

I hate Walt Disney as a business/artist and would rather take a shot gun blast to the head than step a foot in Mouse World.

That being said....

For all the families with special needs kids (Maybe ASD excluded), Disney is a wonderful place. They bend over backwards to make the magic happen, and to give families with fragile medical issues kids really good memories. I have known families with kids on vents and all sorts of high end medical equipment enjoy the place. I donate to Make A Wish because of all the good things I have heard about these trips.

Hate the Mouse.
Appreciate what Give the Kids the World and Disney does for kids with medical issues.

I've never been to either Disneyland nor Disney World.

Mickey Mouse is okay sometimes.

I like the Warner Brothers characters much better.

You are most most kind.