I have 3 sons with special needs, ages 5, 7, 11. It is very much a dance at home to keep all 3 going during the day. Do I pre-register all 3? Because we have 3 and one sometimes needs a break, either my husband or I will sit out with one while the others go on the ride. This isn't a problem at Universal Florida or Legoland California (in Legoland, guest services just has 1 chosen child on the pass for the day, because they only issue 1 pass for the group, however, they let anyone in the party ride and don't insist that the child on the pass be present).
I have been to Universal Studios Florida with my children 4 years ago (youngest was a baby), and while I registered them and had a stroller as a wheelchair to help my 2 older ones in case they needed a place to sit and pull the canopy down while in line, we had the Unlimited Express Passes from staying on property for a mid-November trip, and we only waited 2-3 minutes for each ride. It was the perfect amount of sensory for my kids. Walk, wait 2-3 minutes, ride, and have a break and walk again. We also took afternoon naps and breaks for snacks and meals and got them to bed at their regular bedtimes.
This year we have season passes to Legoland, CA and have been 3 times so far. With our youngest now in the mix, their pass has worked well, and we have only been during less busy times. I accidentally went through the regular line without a stroller as wheelchair for our last ride of the day the first time we went. Only 20 minutes, but it was enough for my youngest to have a total meltdown and scare another child in line. That park usually has us enter through ride exits, so my children don't usually have to interact with others too much.
I know Lightning Lanes aren't usually that long, but my kids haven't had to regularly wait for 10 minutes in a line with a bunch of other people before. Honestly, I haven't taken them to Disney because I am worried about how they will do there. However, my in-laws want to bring my brother-in-law's family and our family to
Disneyland together. So sweet of them, but I am nervous about how it will go.
Anyone have experience with sensory processing issues and people/stranger issues with multiple children in the parks and managing their needs while helping everyone in the family have fun? (We are a family of 6). Also, I am not sure what to do about us using
DAS. There will be 14 of us total, so while just our family of 6 would be fine, I would *like* to be able to do rides with my husband's family. I don't know if that would be possible.
Words of wisdom and experience appreciated!
Ideally, I would assume that the 3 of them could be together with us in a group, but all of us just have 1 return time. If 1 can't ride, then the rest of the group can go, and I can cancel for the child and adult sitting out and then move to the next ride. Does the new DAS Genie allow this?