Autism Spectrum Disorder: Anxious About Cruising with Mickey?
Shared by Danielle Doornhaag
Anxious About Cruising with Mickey?
Disney Cruise and Autism Spectrum Disorder Can be Done…You Just have to Keep Moving Forward
Traveling with a person that has special needs of any sort can be a daunting task. Preparation, planning, and the trip itself can overwhelm even those that are calm, cool, and collected. When you add your child that happens to be on the Autism spectrum, has anxiety (social or otherwise), or any other similar condition, things can get a bit dicey.
Here are a few (or maybe more than a few) tips that may help make the planning, execution, and enjoyment of your Disney Cruise Line vacation seem a bit more achievable.
1. Prepare for the Chance of a Lifetime!
–YouTube is an invaluable resource, if used correctly and with care. Make sure you screen videos prior to your young ones watching, but by all means, take a peek and see what’s out there.
–Search for video tours on your specific ship (Magic, Wonder, Dream, or Fantasy) as each ship has its own layout, features, clubs, restaurants, and more. And while the Magic and Wonder are similar, as are the Dream and Fantasy, there are always differences to be taken into consideration when pre-planning.
2. It’s a Whole New World
–Videos on the boarding process of both embarkation and debarkation, along with the process of how this happens at ports, is a great procedure to preview so your loved ones are ready, willing, and capable of handling what’s about to be thrown at them. Unfortunately, the ship will leave without you. Whether it’s at the initial boarding port, or at a port on your itinerary, you want to make sure all your family members are well aware of the routine in which this process takes place.
**A specific note on ports of call: you have to take your Key to the World (KTTW) card with you upon disembarking the ship. This not only serves as your identification in reboarding, but CMs will also scan it coming and going, which helps them in making sure everyone is back and accounted for before leaving port.**
–While you can moreso control the embarkation process for yourself and your family (more on that later), debarkation may be beyond your control. Upon our first DCL sailing in October 2016, Hurricane Matthew hit the East Coast of Florida, and we were “stuck” at sea for an additional day, along with arriving at Port Canaveral a few hours later than expected on Sunday morning. This caused a massive amount of guests to congregate in the atrium after breakfast, with luggage and families in tow, while waiting to disembark. I cannot imagine the chaos this more than likely caused for guests with anxiety of any sort. Let me note that the chaos that this created was not the fault of DCL in any way at all. Hurricane season… another aspect to plan and be prepared for should you choose to cruise at that time of year.
3. You Can Fly! You Can Fly!
–As for the actual flight time, simply being prepared with noise cancelling headphones, snacks, and a favorite comfort object are always good ideas. And again, if you are able to locate any videos of your particular airports, boarding and deplaning procedures, and especially the safety speech that you’ll hear from your flight attendants, it’s always a great thing to watch those ahead of time.
”TSA Cares is a helpline that provides travelers with disabilities, medical conditions and other special circumstances additional assistance during the security screening process.” Additional information can be found at their website here. A friend of mine, which I met on our first Disney Cruise, took advantage of this service when flying with her family to catch the Fantasy this past February. Upon giving me details about this service, she remarked, “TSA Cares was phenomenal!”
4. Come and Join the Jamboree– on Facebook
–Got Facebook? Locating and joining your cruise Facebook page is an invaluable tip. Period. End of story! Regardless of your reasoning as to why you want to join your cruise Facebook group, the information and knowledge alone is totally worth it. The next biggest perk, for me, is my daughter being able to connect with other kids her age before sailing. Most cruise group administrators will add a Kids’ Pen Pal group of sorts to the page, which allows kiddos to connect with one another via email, social media, or snail mail. Seeing a somewhat familiar face upon boarding the ship can and will go a long way in helping your child feel comfortable and welcome. My daughter still texts and connects via FaceTime with a handful of girls she met on our first cruise… two of which their families are joining us on our next cruise! DCL friends sometimes make the best ones.
5. Some Official Words from Disney Cruise Line
–DCL has Information for Guests with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, which outlines official policy from DCL themselves. It is most definitely worth the time to read up on this gem.
6. You’re in the single digits! Online Check In Time!
— Port Arrival Time (PAT): Want fewer crowds so your child doesn’t get overwhelmed? Pick a later PAT time. It’s a hectic, loud, very crowded terminal with a lot going on, and hitting the cruise terminal a bit later could help tremendously. Time slots usually begin around 11 AM, which you will be able to choose when you complete online check in. Crew members begin calling groups for boarding around 12 noon. More information regarding the embarkation process can be found on the DCL website.
–On our very first cruise, our PAT time was 11:30 AM, and it was chaos. Organized chaos, but still overwhelming and a lot to take in. In addition, if you have scheduled the DCL shuttle as ground transportation, you won’t choose a PAT time, as the shuttle schedules their own pick up time with you. No worries! You will get to the cruise terminal and board the ship well before it sails.
–When you check in online, make sure to list any diagnoses on your account, but also make sure to confirm once you’ve arrived at the terminal and can talk to a crew member in person.
7. Kids’ Clubs: The Ultimate Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
–There are several kids’ clubs onboard the ships, and they are phenomenal!
To begin with, “it’s a small world” nursery is available for children 6 months to 3 years of age. There are extra charges associated with the nursery, along with time limits, and you can find that information here.
Next, DCL offers the Oceaneer’s Club and Oceaneer’s Lab to children ages 3-12, Edge for tweens ages 11-14, and Vibe for those cruisers ages 14-17. While there is so much to offer, and it does vary a bit from ship to ship, you may want to look into what each of these clubs’ features via the DCL website.
–In terms of making sure your child’s needs are met while having a spectacular vacation, there are a few things you can do. First, talk talk talk to the crew members at the clubs. Fill them in on any triggers your child may have, how to spot, avoid, and/or handle meltdowns, and when to call parents/guardians. A friend once told me, “These CMs are great! They must go through additional training because our son never had a meltdown while onboard any of our cruises.” He told me about one CM in particular that his son seemed to gravitate toward, that he made a connection with, and that made his vacation amazing.
–Another friend also spoke of the variance of the clubs from ship to ship. While her son did very well at the Edge on the Wonder, he didn’t seem to engage in the Edge onboard the Fantasy. She said the main difference was that the CMs on the Wonder didn’t make him participate, just sort of left him to do his own thing, while the CMs on the Fantasy attempted to encourage participation with other cruisers, and he did not like being pushed out of his comfort zone. So, in the end, make sure you are well aware of the rules and expectations at each club that your child may be visiting.
8. And the Dinner Here is Never Second Best
–One of my favorite aspects of DCL is the food, especially dinner. They wait on you, they cut your chicken/steak/other food for you, they will even de-shell a lobster tail for you! And while this is one of my most coveted experiences, it may not bode well with those suffering from any type of anxiety. So please, make your preferences known to your servers, and I can promise you that they will do their best to abide by your wishes.
–On our first cruise, our servers performed magic for us, One of them drew amazing portraits of both our daughter and her friend (which we still have to this day!), and they interacted with us all on such a remarkable level, that we dreaded leaving dinner every night. So please, inform your serving team of anything your child does and/or doesn’t like, prefer, or feel comfortable with, and dinner will be a breeze!
On the topic of food, if your child prefers only certain snacks, you are welcome to bring them onboard with you as long as they are factory sealed upon boarding the ship. That is a strict DCL policy that they adhere to faithfully.
9. Room Attendant? You mean someone will clean my room for me?
–Just like you’ve informed your serving team of any preferences, you also need to show your Stateroom Attendant the same courtesy. If anyone in your party is picky, particular, or just simply thrives on routine, please make that known to your room attendant. They embody Disney just like all other CMs onboard do… they want to make your vacation magical.
10. Muster Drill!
–It’s loud, you sometimes have to wait around (if folks don’t show up when and where they are supposed to), it can be confusing, and it’s mandatory. Take the time to talk to Guest Services as soon as you board the ship in order to inquire about a few different options:
- It is possible to show up to the muster drill last minute, so as to minimize any anxiety that this event may cause. If this is granted to you, chances are you will wait close by, away from the chaos and crowds, and join in once everyone else is has been accounted for and shown up.
- It could be possible, though very unlikely, that they will allow you to skip muster drill altogether. As stated in the link I mentioned in #5, “If a member of your party has a disability that precludes their ability to fully participate in the assembly drill, we recommend that all members of the party arrive to the assembly station approximately 10 minutes prior to the scheduled drill time. Once accounted for by the assembly leader, one adult member of your stateroom party can remain for the duration of the drill. Please note that the ship’s alarm is sounded to commence the drill.”
- Your muster drill station is labeled on your KTTW card, along with on the back of your stateroom door. Take the time to scope out where your station is before the actual drill in order to make this process as least stressful as possible. It is imperative that all members of each stateroom show up to the muster drill. They will take attendance, they will come find you if you haven’t shown up, and you will hold up your entire station if you fail to show up on time– or show up at all.
11. Quiet Spots? Just like whozits and whatzits, there are plenty!
–While heading back to your stateroom is much easier on a cruise than taking a break at your resort hotel while on a park vacation, there are still places to find onboard that are more quiet than others. Establishing a “go-to” safe location for your family member is a good idea in the event that you get separated, someone takes off, or you just need a place to chill for a few minutes. Remember, your stateroom is not available until about 1:30 PM on embarkation day, and if your child gets overwhelmed, needs to calm down, or you all simply need a quieter place to gather, your stateroom is not an option right away. A friend had her son take off on them shortly after boarding the Fantasy recently, and since they had sailed on this particular ship in the past, they already had those “go-to” places established. Upon visiting a few of these safe places, they found him with no problem whatsoever. Turned out that things were just a bit too much for him, and he decided to head to one of his quiet places.
12. Your Personal Navigator: An invaluable (Mouska)tool!
–Think old style TV Guide… there is a chart of all shows, events, crafts, meals, buffets, character meet and greets, weather forecast, time zone, etc., included in this newsletter that will make an appearance in your stateroom in the evenings that pertains to the next day. You will get your very first one when you check in at the cruise terminal– before you even board the ship! For those that love to plan ahead of time or thrive on routine, the Personal Navigator is your best friend! You can also download the electronic version in the form of the DCL Navigator app, but if you’re anything like me, I sometimes need a hard copy so I can visualize my plans on paper. So, with this in mind, bring along a few things:
- Highlighter (a different color for each person in your cabin)
- Whiteboard (preferably magnetic)
- Dry Erase Marker
- Dry Erase Eraser
–Feel free to ask for an extra navigator or two from your stateroom host, and I’m sure they’ll be happy to accomodate you. This way, each person in your party can highlight the things that interest them when planning for the next day. Once that task is done, put together your plan on your whiteboard. A visual reference can go a long way in helping those anxious travelers feel more at ease if they know what’s coming next. Make sure to include meals, downtime (even naps!), and the events that you’ve all decided are definite “do not miss” experiences. I know when it comes to my classroom, the daily agenda I list on my whiteboard is a necessity for those anxious students in class. They come in, read what’s on tap for the day, and they can rest assured, knowing their time is planned out.
–And for those of you that think it’s difficult to stick to a plan when cruising, let me be the first to tell you… sticking to a plan on a cruise is MUCH easier than when on a park vacation.
–Included in your family’s schedule may be a movie or a live show. Should this be the case, and you think a quick exit may be in order at some point in time, ask the CMs if enough seats can be reserved for all of you either at the end of a row or toward the back. A place that would facilitate a quick exit that does not draw attention to you and/or your family. And if the case arises that you decide to skip the live show (there is one every night after main seating and before late seating dinner), the option of watching the show on the TV in your stateroom is always an option.
13. All you big-hearted DCL guests
–You see a parent/guardian trying to calm their child, you see the child needing assistance, you see the parent/guardian getting frustrated… leave them be. Please. Simply giving them their own space in the event of a meltdown is the best way in which you can help. A life-long friend of mine, Lisa, has a son with Autism, Social Anxiety, and Tourette’s Syndrome. His tics manifest in physical movements. Sizeable physical movements in which he cannot control. While he would never intend to injure anyone, that is a possibility, should you decide to attempt to interfere and help. When I asked Lisa what advice she has for bystanders when these tics are at their worst, she said to do what the penguins of Madagascar do, “Just smile and wave, boys. Smile and wave.”
–Everyone is different, everyone reacts to things differently, everyone has different triggers, and their anxiety manifests in a variety of ways. One coping mechanism may work for one person, but it may make things worse for another. Are your intentions genuine? Of course they are! But you need to realize that your best of intentions may not end well, and then you have another issue on your hands, plus you may have exacerbated the situation for another family. I am a teacher, I encounter these situations on an almost daily basis, and while I know I am perfectly capable of handling things when they arise with my students, I would never dream of interfering with a perfect stranger and their situation.
–The ONLY time I would ever offer assistance is:
- Once things have calmed down.
- If the adult specifically asks for your help.
- If debilitating physical harm takes place (to the child and/or caregiver), then I would go find medical assistance immediately.
In the end, it’s as simple as this: communicate with DCL, the cast members, and crew members.
Bottom (Disney Cruise) Line:
–Those of us that have children with any type of special needs are advocates and supporters of them– it’s what we, as parents, are charged to do. When this is your daily routine, you sometimes take for granted that others know what to do, when to do it, and what NOT to do. In the end, it’s as simple as this: communicate with DCL, the cast members, and crew members. As we all know, Disney is all about families, and being out on the wide, open ocean on a Disney Cruise isn’t any different. They will do whatever they can in order to assure you and your family have a safe, enjoyable (should I say phenomenal?) vacation… you just have to ask and inform. If only reality was as accommodating and understanding as DCL, right?
