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Taking autistic 3 year old on holiday with 11 hour flight?

🌸NiKKi🌸

My son is 3 and has been diagnosed with autism, he is non verbal, he doesn’t communicate at all, we went on holiday last year when he was only 2, he didn’t mind the flight and slept most of it, he runs off if not in a pram, the hotel we stayed in was all inclusive and had a kids splash pool which he really liked so he happily hung out there most of the time, but one of us had to be with him in that pool incase he ran off, my partner has suggested we go to America for 2 weeks and stay in a villa and visit the theme parks, my 3 year old would be in a pram for the theme parks, but I’m worried about the long flight and if he doesn’t like it I won’t be able to calm him down, he’s getting worse as time ones on and the diagnosis is very new to us, it was a bit of a shock I guess as Iv not come across autism before and I guess if I had then maybe I could have spotted it and prepared myself, but anyways has anyone took a young child on a long flight and holiday, I’m worried! 

Parents

  • I do UK to Florida/Disney a lot!

    To be honest, I think 3 is too young for that type of holiday - it's too intense and overstimulating at that age.   I think 5 is the ideal age for a first time.

    That being said, I've done every combination and permutation for staying there - villas, off-site hotels, on-site hotels and Disney hotels so I know all about the pros and cons.

    The flight - which airport are you using?

    What we do........

    Speak to disability services at the airport - let them know you're travelling dates - GET A SUNFLOWER LANYARD!!!!!!

    Speak  to the airline - they want to have a safe, incident free flight for everyone.

    DO NOT wind up your child about the holiday / flight / Disney etc.

    We go to  the airport the night before - twilight check-in - dump all the big bags (we don't take any luggage -we travel light - just a little rucksack each - no toiletries - just buy it out there for a couple of dollars) - you just need and a little overnight bag for the £30 Premier Inn for the night.   (it's 20 yds from the Terminal at Gatwick)

    Around 8am-sh, we go to the terminal and report to disability services and they will often personally walk you through the vip line so you're then free to go for breakfast - we book a lounge - much quieter and calmer and we can sit in a big comfy leather chair while watching the planes outside.

    If you book the disability trolley, they come and get you from the lounge and then drive you to the gate when it's near boarding time.

    Make yourself known to the staff on the gate and tell them all about your little vip pilot (worth getting him a hat) who is going to be in charge of the plane for the flight  Smiley

    You will be pre-boarded - tell your little pilot  it's because he's so important that they let your family choose where you want to sit.(even though you have boarding cards) you tell him that your seats are the best ones.

    There will be an attendant looking after every door on the aircraft - introduce your young pilot to the nearest one - mention he's autistic and you've already spoken to the airline - they should have a record of any passengers needing extra help - they will do everything possible to help you have a safe flight - mention what he likes to do - drawing, puzzles, video games, tv etc.

    Get him to count all the people getting on the plane as everyone else boards.

    As the plane starts up, get him to count the engines starting and listen to all the funny noises - flaps etc.

    When you're near the runway, tell him how all the planes like to race to see who is the fastest so to get ready for a bit of speed and a big jump!  

    As the wheels go up, listen for the clonks and motor noises as the flaps retract.

    Make sure he has lots of things with him for entertainment - it's long and boring but in short chunks between drinks, food etc. and there's usually kids tv and games in the console in front - it it's too far away, the cabin crew will normally offer a hand-held video player for you.    If you can make a nest for him with cushions and blankets, it might encourage him to sleep for a good chunk of it..

    It will probably be a 2-aisle plane - take your son for regular walks or 'inspections' around the plane to stop his legs going to sleep.     If your son is interactive, chat loudly to him about his first flight - helpful parents will often chat as you go by - it's all good.

    Make sure you bring extra food with you from the terminal - sandwiches etc. in case the plane food is a bit rubbish - you MUST leave any leftovers on the plane or you'll get hassle 'importing' food into the US.

    When you land, the sunflower lanyard is useful at ORL - they know all about it - point it out to officials and they will direct you through the disabled immigration queue - it's much quicker.      Their security staff can seem a bit 'officious'.

    I assume you're getting a car - make sure you know where the pickup is - get your car and then you're better going from the North exit onto the 528 toll road towards the I4  - I'd assume you'll be near Disney?

    Depending on the villa, all have an enclosed rear lanai / mosquito net - most have an alarm on the patio door to tell you if anyone is going outside.      Lots have a fence around the pool for safety - lots do not - ask the rental company.

    We prefer to stay in Disney hotels - the kiddy pool area has a sturdy fence to stop runaways!  Smiley

    Publix are great supermarkets - very fresh and tasty food - almost like a big deli mixed with a corner shop.      Walgreens is the equivalent to Boots - good for cheap toiletries and there's lots of places where you can get t-shirts 3 for $10 - it's almost not worth doing any washing! Smiley   If you're buying cheap t-shirts, you could just not bother with luggage - *** we do this - a few dollars wasted on 'disposable' clothes compared to the thousands for the holiday makes it quite sensible.

    Added - Disney is a mess right now.     They were preparing for their 50th anniversary but covid hit - lots of projects have been cut or mothballed or are half built - EPCOT is a rabbit warren of construction walls.

    We *were* thinking of March 2021 but I wouldn't consider it until 2022 now.

    *** - We only take the bare minimum with us - hand luggage only - it means no big bags - which means while 400 people are waiting at the carousel for their luggage to be unloaded, you're gone and first in the queue for the hire car - our record is less than 1 hour from the plane touching the runway to sitting in our Disney hotel.  It's always warm in Florida so you just need t-shirts and jogging bottoms - you're already wearing your coat and trainers - just take a couple of tops & bottoms and buy cheapo stuff when you're out there - and dump it all when you come home.   It's so much easier without luggage - we can get through Gatwick in 20 mins.

  • in reply to Plastic

    How did your flight go, I wonder? I have to fly from Florida to Chicago with an autistic 3-year-old nephew. I have all the papers ready. I'm just afraid of the flight itself since his parents aren't going with us.

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