"Why does it smell like crayons?" This was the first remark that my little girl made as we entered the building at the building at the Crayola Experience.
After waiting in waiting in line with my three young children for what they described as forever, we journeyed upstairs in the elevator. The floor of the elevator was neon green, the walls bright shinny silver, and the lights were very bright. As the doors opened the excitement spilled into the elevator.
We were greeted with bright colors everywhere, the smell of new crayons and food, music and the sounds of kids laughing, and the palpable excitement of the room.
As we entered the first exhibit, their moods changed and the sensory overload began.
Eye contact diminished and the ability to stay in one exhibit for very long disappeared. Their eyes were scanning the room and they completely shut down. The tears arrived.
Even though my daughter loves coloring, painting, and anything art, she lacked enjoyment in the moment.
Crisis avoided -
Knowing that a meltdown was soon to follow, I quickly guided them to the Create & Play station. There, a row of tablets was available to focus their attention briefly and help to drown out the surrounding room.
After taking time to calm down and eat a sour snack, the crowds of daycare and summer camp groups began to dwindle. We were ready to try again.
"Mommy can I please play?" Those sweet little words let me know, that they were ready to try again.
Overall, the day was a success. Below I will share the top 5 attractions, as recommended by my kids. I will also share some tips and tricks to navigating with sensory needs.
Top 5 attractions, according to my 7 and 9 year old neurodivergent kiddos:
Crayon Factory
The first attraction on the second floor was the crayon factory. This area offers for kids to pick and personalize crayons using their Crayola tokens. The kids loved personalizing the name and logo for their crayons, and being able to apply the label with themselves.
photo: Wrap it up station.
2. Be a Star!
In this area, people can take pictures of themselves that become coloring book pages. The kids loved becoming a character in their own coloring page. It was a quick and fun process.
3. Indoor Playground
On a hot summer day, an indoor playground is a wonderful option in Florida. The kids spent the most time making friends and playing on this indoor playground.
4. Rainbow Rain
This interactive flow of colors on the screen was an fun and engaging experience. The kids laughed and danced through flowing colors, that separated and moved as they walked under them.
Due to its' isolated location in the back of the Crayola experience lab, it was also a great way to decompress from the chaos in the room.
5. Create & Play
In a small area next to the two-story indoor playground there was a section of tablets available for kids to play arcade games, take care of pets, and play with different coloring games.
These tablets and games came in handy, when the chaos of the room became too much for them.
Overall, the Crayola Experience has fun interactive attractions. However, for those with sensory difficulties, food sensitivities, or difficulty waiting in lines, it may be an unenjoyable experience.
Here are some tips and tricks that I would recommend to those planning a trip.
Review the Map and make a plan for quiet areas.
The majority of the attractions are on the second floor. There is only one restroom area on the second floor, and only one nursing room available. While there is a family restroom that can be utilized, there are not any quieter or calming areas in the facility.
As shown above, the layout if very open. As shared by my son and daughter after the visit, this open plan was hard for them to interpret. They were not able to focus on many activities, because there was so much going on right next to them.
The rainbow rain exhibit was the only exhibit that had a sense of seclusion, having a wall separating it from melt & mold. This helped in blocking out the noise and commotion of the attractions.
2. Bring headphones
The volume of music, kids, and activities echoed throughout the building. The facility did not offer any headphones or ability to reduce the volume of certain attractions.
3. Sour Candy
I know that the thought of adding sugar to any overstimulating situation may sound like a bad decision, however it actually helps. Providing sour candy works as a distraction technique that brings their attention to the powerful flavor in their mouth, and away from the fear and anxiety from the situation (health.com).
This trick has helped us on many occasions, when my kids start to be overwhelmed.
Would I recommend this for others?
While the attractions offered were fun and age appropriate, they were not as enjoyable for the kids due to the intensity of the colors, sounds, and smells around them.
Overall, I would not recommend taking a kiddo that tends to become easily overstimulated and overwhelmed on a regular day.
Due to the constant crowds, sounds, and intense colors, it was a lot to process. The website and facility had very little to offer to prepare for this, and did not allow outside food.
However, there is an option for little ones with sensory needs on select sensory days:
Sensory Sunday:
According to their calendar, they offer specific Sundays where they modify the attractions by:
Dimming the lights
Turning off the music
Providing a quiet room
Offering paper towels in the restrooms, to avoid the loud hand dryers
Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for updates on resources and support. We are also available on Instagram and Facebook.
Crayola Experience. (n.d.). Sensory Sunday. https://www.crayolaexperience.com/orlando/about-us/calendar
Health. (n.d.). Does Eating Sour Candy Really Relieve Anxiety? https://www.health.com/sour-candy-for-anxiety-7480402#:~:text=Just%20like%20the%20age%2Dold,assertive%20flavor%20in%20the%20mouth.
Comments