YES—even YOUR family can enjoy the attractions that Florida has to offer!For many people, a visit to Florida is not complete without visiting the myriad of thrilling attractions. But for a family with a child (or children) with autism, a vacation that has not been well planned can turn into a nightmare.
Author and mom Kathy Labosh has done the work (and play!) for you and compiled her research, advice, and tips into this handy little reference guide. Is "Revenge of the Mummy" in Universal Studios too scary for a low-functioning child? Is the "Typhoon Lagoon" okay for kids with sensory sensitivities? If an inevitable meltdown occurs, where can you go to cool down? Kathy shares all this and more!
She covers topics such as:
- Transportation and parking
- Tickets and tours
- Resort security
- Potential hazards
- Lost children
- Sensory issues
- Rides to avoid
- Attractions you won't want to miss
Attractions include:
- Islands of Adventure
- Universal Studios
- Magic kingdom
- Disney-MGM Studios
- Animal Kingdom
- EPCOT
- Sea World
- Busch Gardens
You can do it! A great family experience awaits!
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 98
Kathy Labosh graduated from Penn State and worked as an economist. She is now a stay-at-home mom to Sam and Nicky, both of whom are children with autism. It became her mission to help others in similar situations. Kathy formed a Special Education Religion Class and is the author of a specialized curriculum for children with autism. She also received an Honorable Mention for Children’s Fiction from Writer’s Digest.
"Its reader-friendly format and practical advice is invaluable. This booklet will help countless families plan the ultimate vacation."
Ayda Sanver Halker, Director of Information, Referral, and Customer Service
Autism Society of America
From the Raffoul Family: George, Christina, Sam, & Nick
Thank you so much for your help! Your book was our “bible” at Disney. Your advice was incredibly helpful and made a world of difference in the wonderful memories we have of our first family vacation together. I had been very unsure about our visit to Disney’s parks, as we have not always had great success at our local parks.
We decided to try Disney’s Magic Kingdom and two water parks. After the great experience we had, we found ourselves already planning next year’s trip even before we left Florida. I will definitely use your book when visiting the other parks next year! I told my husband that I liked the idea of how you had “measured” your children’s progress with each visit, and I find myself wondering how my children will react next year. You were right: Disney has a special kind of magic, and it really touched our family.
I knew your book was going to be a success when I heard myself repeatedly telling my husband, “Katie said to try this. . .” and he would repeatedly respond, “And she was right,” when it worked. It was almost like you were on vacation with us!
Knowing that the advice in the book came from a parent who understands the complexities involved in dealing with autism made us feel comfortable and prepared for any uncertain situations that might arise at the park. Just one example of this occurred when our son was tired, and beginning to get frustrated. My husband thought we might have to miss the parade, but I knew just what to do. We took him to Tom Sawyer’s Island with a bucket of popcorn, and he sat in a rocking chair for an hour, just cooling off, while we enjoyed the parade immensely. I was silently thanking you the entire time. Without your advice, I never would have thought to try this strategy, and we would definitely have missed the parade!
So many aspects of the advice in the book were helpful to us. For example, our children did enjoy Blizzard Beach much more than Typhoon Lagoon, and there was definitely more to do at the Beach. I found myself saying things like, “Katie says, ‘Take the child to a ride after doing what he wants for fifteen to twenty minutes. Then go back to doing what he wants.’ With the Disabilities Pass, you don’t have to rush, and you’ll get the same things accomplished anyway, at a slower pace.’” This greatly reduced our anxiety, and as a result, the kids’ anxiety was also low.
Before our trip, I thought we would go to Disney and maybe go on one ride—we went on FIFTEEN! The comfort of knowing what would be relaxing and enjoyable for our children (and what might frighten them) virtually made the decisions for us as to which rides or events to try.
As parents of children with autism, having the knowledge that let us plan for unexpected situations was an invaluable tool. The advice in your book truly looked at things from the point of view of a child with autism. This let us help our children get the most out of their experience, and enjoy it to the fullest. For that, and for helping us pile up memories for a lifetime that we will hold dear to our hearts, we thank you.
My boys are brothers, and they both have autism, but they are very different. For example, Sam loves the characters in costume, while Nick is afraid of them, but your advice worked for both of them.
Thank you for caring enough to share you experiences with us. I told my husband that I could not imagine the amount of work it took to pull all of that incredible knowledge together—but we are both very grateful that you did.
Foreword by the Raffoul Family
Preface
Introduction
Section One
Islands of Adventure
Universal Studios
Universal Resorts
Section Two
Magic Kingdom
Disney Hollywood Studios
Animal Kingdom
EPCOT
Other Disney Areas
Disney Resorts
Section Three
Sea World
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Afterword
Appendix
