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A visit to any of the Disney World theme parks in Orlando will give your autistic family a chance to go on plenty of rides. Add in the parades, shows, and meet and greets, and you can have quite a few full days at these theme parks. However, your autistic child might not be up to all the thrills that some of the Disney rides bring. So, to keep your autistic child from getting overstimulated, you will want to make sure they have dedicated time to go on the autism-friendly Disney rides. Today, I am going to share the best autism-friendly rides at Disney, as well as which parks they are located in. Then once we get together to chat, I can share other rides that your autistic child, and the rest of your family, will love during your Disney vacation. This post seeks to share with you The Best Autism-Friendly Disney Rides!
The Best Autism-Friendly Disney Rides
The best autism-friendly rides at Disney are ones that have low sensory stimulation. The rides are also quite predictable when it comes to movement and noise. However, every autistic child has their own specific needs and preferences. Therefore, it is important to plan accordingly and choose the rides at Disney you know your autistic child can handle. Most of the time, the following rides are excellent options for autistic children. But there are exceptions.
Autism-Friendly Rides at Magic Kingdom
It’s a Small World
It’s a Small World made its debut at Disney’s Magic Kingdom in 1971. This Disney ride is for all ages. Your family will get into a boat to take a ride around the world. Your magical, and musical, journey will last for ten minutes.
Throughout that time, you will see dancing dolls singing the same song in different languages. By the end, your entire family will be singing along to “It’s a Small World”. And everyone will agree it is one ride you will need to go on again before you leave for the day.
Pirates of the Caribbean
This is another boat ride at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. However, on this ride, your boat will drop down a short waterfall. At the bottom of the waterfall, you will be in a dark and mysterious cavern.
Anyone can go on this slow ride to see the pirates. My favorite part of this ride is singing “Yo Ho, You Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)”.
There will be cannons firing and a town will be on fire during this ride. Keep that in mind and have your autistic child wear noise-canceling headphones if needed.
Autism-Friendly Rides at Hollywood Studios
Toy Story Mania!
Video game lovers will enjoy being part of the action on this Disney ride. Before you board the tram, you will walk through Andy’s toy chest. This is where you will all grab your 3D glasses. Your autistic child can skip the 3D glasses if they wish, so they don’t get as overstimulated. However, they won’t see all the special effects during the ride.
This is a faster ride than the first two I shared. However, throughout the ride, your autistic family can score points by shooting at the targets. It’s a great way to add a little competition to your family vacation!
Autism-Friendly Rides at Epcot
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Your family won’t get wet as you dive deep into the water on a Clamobile on The Seas with Nemo & Friends at Epcot. This slow-moving ride will have you visiting underwater mines, hanging out with a toothy anglerfish, and trying to avoid Bruce the Shark. All while you are riding the East Australian Current and trying to find Nemo!
After this ride, you can wander around the aquarium located in The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion. There is a 5.7 million gallon saltwater aquarium there filled with all sorts of marine life. You may spot a few different clownfish and one of them just may be Nemo.
Autism-Friendly Rides at Animal Kingdom
Kilimanjaro Safaris
The open-air safari vehicles used for this ride are perfect for spotting wildlife out on the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. Your family will get to see quite a bit of the one hundred and ten acres of the reserve, as you spot the more than thirty animal species living there.
Your guide will point out the animals as they come into view. They will also share facts about the wildlife you are seeing.
This ride can get bumpy as you drive along rugged terrain. It will be best to prepare your autistic child for these bumps and jolts before you get on the ride. This will ensure they know what to expect when they happen.
These are the best autism-friendly Disney rides. However, they are not the only ones your autistic family can go on during your Disney vacation. Your autistic child may be perfectly fine going on many of the other rides. It is simply dependent on your autistic child’s needs and preferences. Contact me today to see how I can make your dream Disney vacation a reality for your autistic family. I will make sure you have all the resources and tools you need, so everyone in your family enjoys this time away from home.
