Concern: My son's Autism and Disney characters

[mdcpr]

This is our first trip to WDW. My daughter is 8 and my son is 11. He has Autism and while he can handle noises well, he can't stand to be touched by strangers (which is actually a very good thing for a special needs child).

When it comes to character dining and greeting--which we will have to do for my daughter--does the characters immediately hug children or tap them on their shoulders as a friendly gesture? My concern is that this can startle and highly upset my 11 year old. And if they do, I just want to be prepared. Thank you in advance for the advice.

 

[jgj123]

At the character dining, you see the characters long before they reach your table, so you can prepare for their arrival. They also don't generally interact on a one-to-one basis until the person is standing.

But you can always alert the host that seats you and waiter of your concerns - they will always be able to tell you how the characters flow through the room - and seat your son at the table where he can see the characters before they reach the table.

I really can't recall any time that the characters initiated any contact upon arriving at the table.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Now that I think of it, I don't believe we've ever had any character touch the kids without the kids moving to hug them or something first, but I'm sure they'd appreciate the heads-up.

The characters who rotate through the restaurants or at M&Gs (especially those in more restrictive costumes that inhibit their vision, e.g., Winnie the Pooh, Goofy, etc.) typically have a "minder" with them - a CM who is there to escort them around and/or organize photo ops. I'd suggest approaching the "minder," or failing that, the character themselves, just before they reach your table (or just as you get to the head of the M&G line). Just let them know that, "[Johnny] is really delighted to meet [Piglet,] but please let [Piglet] know that he would prefer not to be touched." In my experience, they will bend over backwards to accommodate any guest with a special need.

 

[larryz]

I can recall a character breakfast in California where I was frequently touched by the character as part of their breakfast antics. I agree with @Weather_Lady -- you might want to let the handler know that your son is sensitive to touching and for the character to wait for him to approach.

 

[JIMINYCR]

My sister had a child that wasnt autistic but did have a fear of characters. When she was seated in a character dining restaurant she told the host that they wanted to see the characters but avoid any contact. She also found out their route to the table and sat her daughter on the far side away from the characters approach to help block off any chance of close interaction.

 

[Jonathan Dalecki]

As someone who is on the spectrum, I would love an Autism/Asperger's character dining experience. All the appearing fur and face characters would have been specially trained and coached on how to handle guests of all ages with these needs. I say all ages because, as a 19 year old, my mother and I went to the character meal at Hollywood and Vine and I got pounced on by Chip & Dale. I know they meant well and were just looking for some silly fun, but it freaked me out and pretty much ruined me for the day. I'm okay with physical contact when I know it's coming and have time to prepare myself adequately, but when it's sudden and unexpected, it's...devastating, really.

 

[mdcpr]

As someone who is on the spectrum, I would love an Autism/Asperger's character dining experience. All the appearing fur and face characters would have been specially trained and coached on how to handle guests of all ages with these needs. I say all ages because, as a 19 year old, my mother and I went to the character meal at Hollywood and Vine and I got pounced on by Chip & Dale. I know they meant well and were just looking for some silly fun, but it freaked me out and pretty much ruined me for the day. I'm okay with physical contact when I know it's coming and have time to prepare myself adequately, but when it's sudden and unexpected, it's...devastating, really.

Thank you for sharing. It could indeed be devastating.

 

[SirWillow]

All of the characters receive training on how to deal with special needs and people with different personalities and cultures. They are very good at reading what is going to make a guest comfortable or uncomfortable, and aren't going to be grabbing/ hugging/ etc to start out a meeting with someone.

As others have said, it's a good idea to talk to the character attendant at the restaurant (they'll have the blue shirt and khaki shorts or pants on) and let them know, and to seat your child where they can see the character coming. But it's also likely not necessary. Typically the character will approach the table, make sure people can see them, and wave first. Then they'll base the rest of their actions on how the people at the table respond. Outside of maybe touching a shoulder if they are posing for a picture behind someone- when they are aware they are doing it- they likely won't touch a person who is sitting at all unless it's obvious that it's desired. And even then they're more likely to put their hands on the chair or nothing at all than the guest.

I was always amazed at the incredible encounters the characters would have with guests, especially those with special needs, and how they would recognize, work with them, and sometimes bring them out of their shells. I saw a handful of times where non-verbal autism kids actually spoke their first words to characters because of how great a job they did connecting with them.

 

[thomas998]

Now that I think of it, I don't believe we've ever had any character touch the kids without the kids moving to hug them or something first, but I'm sure they'd appreciate the heads-up.

The characters who rotate through the restaurants or at M&Gs (especially those in more restrictive costumes that inhibit their vision, e.g., Winnie the Pooh, Goofy, etc.) typically have a "minder" with them - a CM who is there to escort them around and/or organize photo ops. I'd suggest approaching the "minder," or failing that, the character themselves, just before they reach your table (or just as you get to the head of the M&G line). Just let them know that, "[Johnny] is really delighted to meet [Piglet,] but please let [Piglet] know that he would prefer not to be touched." In my experience, they will bend over backwards to accommodate any guest with a special need.

We have had them touch one of our kids to get their attention and surprise them when one daughter was oblivious to them... I recall that happening at Crystal Palace and at 1200 Park Fare. So don't assume it can't or won't happen.... I think in general at most of the character dinners kids are just constantly looking and notice the character way before they ever show up.

 

[mdcpr]

We have had them touch one of our kids to get their attention and surprise them when one daughter was oblivious to them... I recall that happening at Crystal Palace and at 1200 Park Fare. So don't assume it can't or won't happen.... I think in general at most of the character dinners kids are just constantly looking and notice the character way before they ever show up.

This perspective helps because I will be able to prepare him. Thank you.

 

[thomas998]

This is our first trip to WDW. My daughter is 8 and my son is 11. He has Autism and while he can handle noises well, he can't stand to be touched by strangers (which is actually a very good thing for a special needs child).

When it comes to character dining and greeting--which we will have to do for my daughter--does the characters immediately hug children or tap them on their shoulders as a friendly gesture? My concern is that this can startle and highly upset my 11 year old. And if they do, I just want to be prepared. Thank you in advance for the advice.

Which character dining do you have booked, some of the dining seems to have more interaction between the characters and the guests than others do... Some of them are almost assembly line character walking by a table for a quick photo and autograph before moving on as fast as possible while others the character will actually try to interact with the kids.

One other thing to consider is whether you want to take him to a character dining place at all, if either you or your husband don't care about being at the character dining then there is no reason for both of you to go to it. I know we have split our family on trips when one of out kids just had no interest in the character dining because when you consider the cost of it, why spend money if one of your kids isn't really going to enjoy it.

 

[mdcpr]

Which character dining do you have booked, some of the dining seems to have more interaction between the characters and the guests than others do... Some of them are almost assembly line character walking by a table for a quick photo and autograph before moving on as fast as possible while others the character will actually try to interact with the kids.

One other thing to consider is whether you want to take him to a character dining place at all, if either you or your husband don't care about being at the character dining then there is no reason for both of you to go to it. I know we have split our family on trips when one of out kids just had no interest in the character dining because when you consider the cost of it, why spend money if one of your kids isn't really going to enjoy it.

 

[mdcpr]

Which character dining do you have booked, some of the dining seems to have more interaction between the characters and the guests than others do... Some of them are almost assembly line character walking by a table for a quick photo and autograph before moving on as fast as possible while others the character will actually try to interact with the kids.

One other thing to consider is whether you want to take him to a character dining place at all, if either you or your husband don't care about being at the character dining then there is no reason for both of you to go to it. I know we have split our family on trips when one of out kids just had no interest in the character dining because when you consider the cost of it, why spend money if one of your kids isn't really going to enjoy it.

Cinderella's Royal Table for dinner, and since we are staying at the Wilderness Lodge, we might do Artist Point with SnowWhite. Separating the family did not occur to me since we never do that. I did not even consider this before.

 

[thomas998]

All of the characters receive training on how to deal with special needs and people with different personalities and cultures. They are very good at reading what is going to make a guest comfortable or uncomfortable, and aren't going to be grabbing/ hugging/ etc to start out a meeting with someone.

As others have said, it's a good idea to talk to the character attendant at the restaurant (they'll have the blue shirt and khaki shorts or pants on) and let them know, and to seat your child where they can see the character coming. But it's also likely not necessary. Typically the character will approach the table, make sure people can see them, and wave first. Then they'll base the rest of their actions on how the people at the table respond. Outside of maybe touching a shoulder if they are posing for a picture behind someone- when they are aware they are doing it- they likely won't touch a person who is sitting at all unless it's obvious that it's desired. And even then they're more likely to put their hands on the chair or nothing at all than the guest.

I was always amazed at the incredible encounters the characters would have with guests, especially those with special needs, and how they would recognize, work with them, and sometimes bring them out of their shells. I saw a handful of times where non-verbal autism kids actually spoke their first words to characters because of how great a job they did connecting with them.

While I could see how the character could read guests when they approached them, I find it hard to believe that some of the ones in the full furry suits can do that as I've seen too many instances of the pooh charcters at Chrystal Palace pretty knocking kids off balance because they don't seem to have the best vision in some of the costumes... either that or Tiger and Piglet really just don't like kids.

 

[thomas998]

Cinderella's Royal Table for dinner, and since we are staying at the Wilderness Lodge, we might do Artist Point with SnowWhite. Separating the family did not occur to me since we never do that. I did not even consider this before.

Be prepared at Cinderella's castle for the interactions to start right off the bat, when you first get there before you are even seated your kids will get herded in for a quick photo with Cinderella. So be preparing him for that because unlike when you are seated and will generally be able to have him see them characters well before they ever get to your table, the meeting with Cinderella will be bam right up front first thing. If you thin he is going to have more issues with the characters wearing full heads and suits then you might not want something like Artist point as its going to have some of the dwarves wearing their full heads... also you will likely have already met Snow White at Cinderella's castle (can't guarantee it because they can change character at anytime but we saw her the last time we did the castle and I understand she is still showing up there).

 

[mdcpr]

Be prepared at Cinderella's castle for the interactions to start right off the bat, when you first get there before you are even seated your kids will get herded in for a quick photo with Cinderella. So be preparing him for that because unlike when you are seated and will generally be able to have him see them characters well before they ever get to your table, the meeting with Cinderella will be bam right up front first thing. If you thin he is going to have more issues with the characters wearing full heads and suits then you might not want something like Artist point as its going to have some of the dwarves wearing their full heads... also you will likely have already met Snow White at Cinderella's castle (can't guarantee it because they can change character at anytime but we saw her the last time we did the castle and I understand she is still showing up there).

You are right. Now that I think about it the Princesses might not be so shocking to him because he understand they are dressed up as a character---the full heads on the other hand... I'll develop a social story that can explain this. tks.

 

[SirWillow]

While I could see how the character could read guests when they approached them, I find it hard to believe that some of the ones in the full furry suits can do that as I've seen too many instances of the pooh charcters at Chrystal Palace pretty knocking kids off balance because they don't seem to have the best vision in some of the costumes... either that or Tiger and Piglet really just don't like kids.

This is more because of kids sneaking up on them from the sides or behind instead of being seated at the table. You're right in that they don't have the best vision, but that's one of the reasons they pause just before they come up to the table, so they can get a look at who is there and where they are.

But kids running up on them from a direction they aren't looking isn't something they can do a whole lot about, especially in a place without a lot of maneuvering room. This is where parents could and should be more helpful, but often aren't.

In any case, that's not what the OP is worried about. She's worried about the characters approaching and touching her child while they're still seating, not her child going to the character to get a hug.