Pandora and Autism

KMcCP

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jun 9, 2012
Hi Everyone! I haven't posted in a while, but I'm looking for some feedback. As some of you may know/remember I am mom to a little girl with Autism and ID.

First and foremost this is NOT a solicitation post.I recently was recruited by a friend and have become a Disney Travel Specialist! I'm thrilled to be a resource to our clients with my own SN experience.

I'm looking for people to share their experiences so far with Pandora, if you yourself are on the spectrum or have perhaps traveled with someone who is. I personally will not be able to travel to Disney until next year, and I want to be able to pass on some first hand experience when I can. Bascially - how are things on a sensory level? Lots of new smells? Lots of loud noises? How are the two rides? Would you recommend them? Things you would avoid or not recommend?

These questions and any suggestions or tips are greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone!
 
I do not have ASD but do have SPD

the flight of passage

a lot of sensory things going on on this ride,

it is like sarin

the Banche breaths under you, it vibrates around your wast ( the hardest that comes up is tight ) you do get wet some ( misted with water )

I only did the river one one time.


in the land it self there is more animal sounds then anything

This is all I can think of tonight I know when I am not so tired I will think of more things
 
1) I'm going to set a reminder in my phone to reply again to this thread after I return from my trip in September. I'm an adult with formally diagnosed ADHD, but it's suspected that both my husband and I fall somewhere on the ASD spectrum, so you could get two perspectives.
2) From what I've seen in videos and blogs, the biggest problem is going to be the crowds. All those people talking, making noise, etc, especially in a queue environment. There's also the drum show (loud), and possibly a second area where guests can play on drums (also loud, and possibly somewhat discordant). The only background sound is animal noises, unlike most of the areas of the parks where there is some sort of musical soundtrack.
 
First and foremost I'm not on the spectrum but did get to visit Pandora during AP previews.

There is a lot of sensory stuff in Pandora. There are drums that people may be playing (guests and CMs) at the main entrance path. There are also a lot of animal noises. Some nice and some predatory type. In one area there are squirting water animals that will shoot water at you if you aren't still near them.

There is a lot of stuff in the land that would be 100% new and thus possibly a trigger to someone on the spectrum or with SPD. It would be hard to say before hand what would be an issue and what wouldn't because each person is so different. For some the floating mountains alone could be terrifying but others it could be very cool. For some the restraint system on Flight of Passage may be too confining but others no issue. Even not being on the spectrum mine was very very tight but my fiance's was comfortable. The boat ride is slow, in the dark, and with animals and creatures that people may have no connection with or ability to tell if they are friendly or not. It is mostly screen based.

Also just not with the canteen there is not much changing the menu. Yes there are dishes that have familiar flavors but they are not presented in normal ways i.e. the cheeseburger is in a pod and there is no way to buy just a regular cheeseburger in Pandora so the Canteen may not be a good place to eat if substitutions are needed.
 
There is a lot of sensory stuff in Pandora. There are drums that people may be playing (guests and CMs) at the main entrance path.

Also just not with the canteen there is not much changing the menu. Yes there are dishes that have familiar flavors but they are not presented in normal ways i.e. the cheeseburger is in a pod and there is no way to buy just a regular cheeseburger in Pandora so the Canteen may not be a good place to eat if substitutions are needed.

After watching and reading about the new land these are my two biggest worries, Think we'll go in with his ear defenders on for the drum noises - Oh does anyone know if they post the times of the Drum show as I know that will need to be avoided.

Also with the food as that is a big issue for my little one and any deviation from the norm will end in disaster - So I think we'll eat somewhere else in the park before heading over and make sure we take recognizable snacks with us.
As for the rides we wouldn't take my Son on FOP as he's too little for it. Will go on the boat ride, as he didn't mind the dark of POC and enjoyed FEA so I think he'll be okay on that. Although might need to deploy the ear defenders again if its too many different noises at once.
 
One way of acclimating your children to what will be experienced on the rides is to sit with them through the 100's of youtube videos. While this may ruin the surprise for some by seeing in through a small screen, it would be a great way of gauging your children's emotional reaction to the various props. This is something I do with my own, and in some cases it has led to 'There is no way I am going on that' but others it has led to 'can't wait to see 'X'' and takes away the element of surprise and unknown. Often my kids will be looking out for things as they know the routine of the ride so well even when they have never been on it! lol
 

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