Summer is a fine balance of sleeping in, resting, and spending time slowing down at home and also using the days off from school to travel, go to fun places, stay up late, and have tons of fun!
However, it is easy for children to get overwhelmed and dysregulated with summer outings, and possibly more so if you have a child with a low frustration tolerance, sensory challenges, an emotionally sensitive child, or one with special needs. Summer crowds can often be loud, family friendly places tend to be busy, and the weather is often warmer than other seasons of the year. So what is a parent supposed to do? I’m not going to lie, honestly, I get overwhelmed and dysregulated after a long day in the heat, loud noise, and massive crowds.
So I came up with a list of 7 sensory-friendly places to take your children to this summer!
Disneyland Park
If you know me, you know I love a magical Disney day, and I have proudly been an official Disney content creator since 2018! And I love that Disney Parks offers many accommodations for neurodivergent children with special needs. They have a plethora of accommodations, so please visit their website for more information and how to reach them with questions.
“Disney is committed to delivering a wide range of innovative support services aimed at helping our Guests with disabilities visiting our theme parks. Explore ways and resources for Guests with neurodivergent disabilities to use throughout the theme parks and in the Resort hotel areas. Some tools found on this page may benefit a variety of individuals and are not limited to Guests with neurodivergent disabilities.” – Disneyland
According to their website, “should a Guest who is neurodivergent become overstimulated or need some down time, several quieter locations are available throughout the Resort where they can “take a break” include”:
Disneyland Park:
- Main Street, U.S.A. – First Aid; Side Street by Market House/Starbucks
- Frontierland – Next to the Frontierland Shootin’ Exposition and the path to Fantasy Faire
- Frontierland – Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer Island (Note: you must take a raft ride to/from the island and some waiting may be required)
- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – Just beyond the market heading toward Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Adventureland – Seating area of The Tropical Hideaway
- Critter Country –First floor of Hungry Bear Restaurant
- Fantasyland – Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough Alternate Experience; the dock behind Edelweiss Snacks near the Matterhorn Bobsleds, upper level of Small World Mall
- Mickey’s Toontown – Small park next to the exit of Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster and the popcorn cart
Disney California Adventure:
- Buena Vista Street – First Aid next to the Chamber of Commerce
- Hollywood Land – Backlot area near the Monsters Inc., Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!
- Cars Land – Side Street near Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters
- San Fransokyo Square – Near the Baby Care Center and Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop
- Paradise Gardens Park – World of Color viewing area (during the day when no shows are being performed)
- Pixar Pier – Seating area at Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta; Paradise Garden Grill
- Grizzly Peak –Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
I was personally invited by Disneyland/Disney Parks to the Grand Opening of the reimagined Toon Town at Disneyland Park in March 2023 and I wrote an entire blog about how sensory-focused it is now. You can read the entire blog here!
Disneyland also offers a Disability Access Service pass for guests with a developmental disability. For more information, please visit their website!
LEGOLAND California
I have been an official LEGOLAND California blogger since 2018 and have always loved how inclusive the theme park is for children with special needs. In fact, every US LEGOLAND Resort is a Certified Autism Center. They have sensory level signs posted around the entire park and a sensory guide online that you can review before you go. The guides are ranked from 1-10, 1 being the lowest amount of sensory stimulation and 10 being the highest level. They also offer an “Assisted Access Pass” that accommodates individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities and their families.
According to their website, “LEGOLAND California Resort has partnered with The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) to become a Certified Autism Center across the Theme Parks, Water Park and two on-site hotels. IBCCES has worked with the Resort to conduct a staff-wide autism sensitivity and awareness training. In addition, they have conducted an in-depth review of the Resort to help develop detailed Sensory Guides. These guides are comprehensive planning tools that provide insight on how each attraction may affect each of the five senses.”
LEGOLAND California (located in Carlsbad in San Diego County) also has a “sensory room”, located in Fun Town, within the DUPLO® Family Care Center, that is designed to provide a calm and quite space for guests with additional sensory needs to go at any time during their visit.
LEGOLAND California also offers a “sensory sensitivity hour” at LEGO Ferrari Build & Race from 1pm-2pm daily.
Please visit their website for more information!
AMC Theatres
AMC Theatres, located all over the United States, offers sensory-friendly family films on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month. They also offer Sensory-friendly adult/mature audience films on Wednesday evenings of every month. During these sensory-friendly movie showings, they turn the lights up and the sound down. Children (and adults) are able to freely get up, dance, walk, shout, or sing without judgement. They are a proud partner with The Autism Society, which enables them to offer this unique movie going experience.
There are currently:
- 100 locations that will continue to play all 4 showings each month, and are listed as Tier 1, at the bottom of the website.
- 75 locations will play the 2 Saturday showings each month, and are listed as Tier 2, at the bottom of the website.
In Southern California, there are locations in San Diego, Poway, Riverside, Temecula, Tustin, Ontario, La Jolla, Irvine, and Chula Vista that offer sensory-friendly films. Check the website for listings near you!
Regal Theatres
In California, there are locations in Temecula, San Marcos, Fresno, Bakersfield, El Dorado Hills, Rancho Mirage, Riverside, Santa Clarita, Sacramento, and Stockton.
Please check their website for show listings and locations in your area.
San Diego Fleet Science Center
The Fleet Science Center in San Diego offers “Accessibility Mornings“, which is a sensory-friendly experience for parents, caregivers, and children with special needs. According to their website, accessibility mornings are held on the third Saturday of every month. They open one hour before the museum opens to the public, from 9am-10am, and screen a documentary with house lights on and the soundtrack volume low. Accessibility Mornings are sponsored in part by National Foundation for Autism Research. After that hour, you are also invited to stay as long as you’d like for the rest of the day.
Admission is free for one visitor and an accompanying guest. Regular admission rates apply for additional visitors.
Noise-canceling headsets are available for use during your visit to the Fleet Science Center. Please inquire at the ticket counter or at the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater. For more information regarding accessibility at the Fleet Science Center, please visit our Accessibility page.
“The Fleet Science Center strives to be an inclusive place where people of all needs and abilities are welcome and respectfully accommodated every day. Science is for everyone.”
Here is the film schedule for the remainder of the year. Please check the website for updates and changes:
August 17 | Flight of the Butterflies
September 21 | Dream Big: Engineering Our World
October 19 | Cities of the Future
November 16 | Great Bear Rainforest
December 21 | Antarctica
Please visit their website for more information!
San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
The San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum offers sensory-friendly mornings every Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. According to their website, this early morning experience is “geared towards families with children on the spectrum or with sensory sensitivities. This event is a welcoming, comfortable environment for your child and family to enjoy the Museum in a quiet and accepting setting.”
The museum also offers a variety of sensory accommodations including:
Noise Cancelling Headphones
- Noise Cancelling Headphones are available for check out from the Front Desk.
Designated Quiet Space
- During Sensory Friendly Mornings the Museum offers a designated Quiet Space located in the Book Nook.
Social Story
- Click here to view the Museum’s Social Story Book!
- Regular admission fees apply. We offer free admission for your family’s paid staff, personal assistant or one-on-one aide.
- The Museum also offers a Discounted Membership for families with children who have special needs.
Please visit their website for more information!
Pretend City
Being a mom and play therapist, I love Pretend City. It is located in Orange County, California and I have taken my own children there on multiple occasions. This magnificent pretend play center is designed for families and children and it’s so much fun!
And Pretend City offers Neurodivergent Family Night – a stigma-free, fun and insightful event that happens twice a month in the early evening. This special evening takes place on the second Tuesday and the fourth Thursday of the month (*subject to change due to holidays).
As part of Pretend City’s special needs programming, Neurodivergent Family Night is a free community resource. Learn more about Pretend City’s special needs program.
Registration is required. Max of 250 guests; only families with a reservation and confirmation number will be admitted. Please register online. If you have questions, please call 949.428.3900 ext. 209.
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