Character Greeting Areas in Adventureland

For some children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, meeting characters is a magical experience (especially a favorite character from the movies).  For others, it's a stressful experience.  The list of characters below is by no means complete, but represents the characters we have personally seen and met in the Adventureland area of the Magic Kingdom.

Not all characters are available at all times - everything listed here is subject to change, but we'll keep it as up to date as possible.  Consult the daily park schedule for information, or ask a cast member to help you find specific characters.

Aladdin:  Behind the Magic Carpets of Aladdin attraction, near the shops

Captain Hook:  Near the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, usually near el Pirata Y el Perico (Pirate and Parrot) restaurant

Captain Jack Sparrow:   You can see Captain Jack in his "Pirate Tutorial" show near the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, but as far as I know "Witty Jack" does not stop for autographs or posed pictures

Genie: Behind the Magic Carpets of Aladdin attraction, near the shops.

Jasmine:  Behind the Magic Carpets of Aladdin attraction, near the shops

Peter Pan:   Near the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, on the side leading towards Frontierland

Rafiki:   Near the bridge from Adventureland back towards the Park Hub

Smee:  Near the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, usually near el Pirata Y el Perico (Pirate and Parrot) restaurant

Jungle Cruise

Location:  Adventureland

Ride Type:  Boat Ride

Passengers:  About 25-30 per boat

Fastpass?  Yes

Minimum Height:  None

Summary:  This wacky boat ride takes you through scenes from several major rivers worldwide, including the Amazon, Nile, Congo, and Mekong.  Originally intended as an educational ride, it evolved into a comedic ride in the 1960s, with bad jokes and puns served up by straight-faced captains.  The ride contains several types of audio-animatronic animals and people, but few scary scenes.  And wherelse can you see the 24th wonder of the world - the backside of water?

Comments:  This is an actual boat ride, and boarding it can get a bit tricky as it drifts away from the dock.  But cast members are there to ensure you safely get on and off the boat ride.  It's fun to sit near the captain - they sometimes select children to help them steer (when the boat is on the track of course).  Most children won't understand they jokes - they focus on the scenes and audio-animatronics.  But the ride is much more fun for adults if you groan aloud at the captains script - so feel free to play!

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Video from YouTube:

Disclaimer: This video is the sole intellectual property of the YouTube contributor, and not WDWAutism.com. We thank the contributor for their posting.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Location:  Adventureland

Ride Type:  Boat ride

Passengers:  3-5 per row, 5 rows per boat

Fastpass?  No

Minimum Height:  None

Summary:  It's the ride that inspired the movies which in turn updated the ride with new characters.  Pirates of the Caribbean is the story of a group of pirates who sack the town of Port Royal.  You board your boat, then head out onto the bounding main.  Davy Jones issues a warning that "dead men do tell tales", right before you take a dark plunge down a short flume.  You exit the flume in a pirate's treasure cave, complete with the skeletons of pirates who died fighting each other over the treasure.  The next scene takes you into the battle between the pirate ship and the fort, where cannon fire is exchanged on both sides.  As you enter the town, they have Carlos (they mayor perhaps?) in a well, and are questioning him about the whereabouts of Captain Jack Sparrow. See if you can spot the amazingly lifelike audio-animatronic Jack as he hides from the pirates.  You'll see a "bride auction", a group of pirates singing the traditional song ("we're really bad eggs"), the prison scene complete with dog holding the keys, and finally the treasure room.  Will Captain Jack be able to find the treasure?  Enjoy finding out as you take this leisurely 10 minute ride.

Comments:  This ride can be very intense for children with sensory issues.  The cannon fire alone is enough to overwhelm some children, and there is constant visual stimulation.  At the end of the ride you exit on a moving sidewalk set at an angle, which may be difficult for children with transition issues.  Our son (with moderate autism) loves this ride, but it may scare other children.  We recommend you send an adult who is familiar with your child on the ride first to see if it's appropriate for your situation.  Alternately, you can preview the ride through the YouTube video link below.

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Images; 

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Video from YouTube:

Disclaimer: This video is the sole intellectual property of the YouTube contributor, and not WDWAutism.com. We thank the contributor for their posting.

Swiss Family Treehouse

Location:  Adventureland

Ride Type:  Walk-through attraction

Passengers:  300 maximum

Fastpass?  No

Minimum Height:  None

Summary:  Climb up and walk through a fantastic treehouse - almost one story above ground level - with no elevator!  Based on the classic Disney movie "The Swiss Family Robinson", the treehouse shows guests how the shipwrecked family might have lived.  It is essentially a walk-through of the famous treehouse, but not very interactive.

Comments:  The climb is a good way to burn off energy, but may exhaust parents.  There are not a lot of interactive elements, so your child may not engage with the ride, especially if he is unfamiliar with the story.

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The Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management

Location:  Adventureland

Ride Type:  Audio-Animatronic Show

Passengers:  250 guests per show

Fastpass?  No

Minimum Height:  None

Summary:  The Tiki Room birds have been singing since 1963, but Zazu (from "The Lion King") and Iago (from "Aladdin") have taken over management of the show to freshen it up a bit.  When Iago starts making wholesale changes in the show's format, he offends the Tiki Gods, who zap Iago and bring the Tiki room back in line.  This is a favorite ride for many adults (who enjoy the break from the hot weather and the chance to sit down for a bit), and the music is upbeat and enjoyable.

Comments:  This show can get very dark, with loud thunder and sound effects.  This can overwhelm some children.  Try to find a seat near the exit, or better yet, ask a cast member for assistance in finding a seat near the exit.  This ride is better suited for older children with high functioning autism, as it can easily overwhelm a child with sensory issues.

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Video from YouTube:

Disclaimer: This video is the sole intellectual property of the YouTube contributor, and not WDWAutism.com. We thank the contributor for their posting.

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin

Location:  Adventureland

Ride Type:  Flying Carpet Ride

Passengers:  2-3 per row, 2 rows per carpet

Fastpass?  No

Minimum Height:  None

Summary:  Take a ride in a genuine flying carpet.  Soar above the crowds of Agrabah plaza, and try to avoid the camel as it spits water at you.  Similar to the Dumbo ride in Fantasyland, the carpets come with levers to raise and lower them, but also with scarab shaped switches to tilt them gently back and forth.  Enjoy the birds-eye view of Adventureland as you soar into a "whole new world".

Comments:  The camel "spits" water as you fly by, so be on the lookout for that.  Some children may not enjoy when the carpets tilt.  As the ride ends, it resets by raising all of the carpets to the top of the ride.  The carpets also gently sway/tilt during this reset, so be sure your child is prepared for it (you have no control over it).  One nice boarding feature is the "assigned" carpet number - there is no need to scramble for a vehicle.

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To see additional images, click here

Video from YouTube:

Disclaimer: This video is the sole intellectual property of the YouTube contributor, and not WDWAutism.com. We thank the contributor for their posting.