This week, guest blogger, Claire, continues her series on Disney with disabilities.
Disney offers THIS printable guide to help with what to expect for your special child. In it is a VALUABLE chart of everything you can expect on rides and attractions. From loud noises and smells to very specific things that might make your child uncomfortable. To me this is a must read and must print!
Sight and Sound sensitivity.
Disney has taken the guess work out of the rides for you with an extensive list of each and every ride and what to expect on each. You can find this information HERE. Another helpful tip is searching for the rides on You Tube and watching them with your child from the comfort of home so that they know what to expect and you can make a decision on if this is the right ride for them.
My oldest daughter has a severe sound sensitivity and I highly recommend getting a pair of Baby Bands Ear Protection Muffs. This makes loud rides and movies tolerable for her, and helps with the loud noise of the nightly fireworks display. If your child can not handle the sights or sounds of fireworks then plan on going to the parks when they open and leaving before the loud bangs begin.
Never be afraid to ask a Cast Member for help:
Take it from my dear friend Erin Vest, even if both you and your child are disabled, you can still have a magical time at Disney:
“Once, it was just the kids and I going on Star Tours, I didn’t have a fast pass and I was in my scooter. I told the kids we may have to wait and both seemed to be in good moods and excited enough to handle a line. Big mistake. By 10 minutes in line Jack was jumping and flapping and I was in the sun….a big no-no for those with Lupus. I Flagged down a cast member, planning on asking if we could just have help getting ‘out’ of line…going backwards in a line with two kids and scooter is no easy task. Instead he lead us through and up to the front … seeing as I was struggling. Gave a wink, and told us to have a magical day.”
Spend Some Time on You Tube:
You Tube can be a valuable resource for your child. Not only can you find tours of the resort hotels and of the parks, you can also find videos of rides, fireworks shows and even character meet and greets. Let your child watch and explore and get familiar with the parks. This way they know what to expect, what they are going to see, and you can also gauge their reaction ahead of time. Make a list ahead of time of what rides and attractions your child seems to be excited about and which ones your child seems a tad bit overwhelmed with. Once you get to the parks, you will be ready with the knowledge of what your child can and cannot handle attraction wise at any specific time during your trip.
If you need more proof that your special child can have a magical time at Disney, just take a look at Nora’s smile in this video!
Finally I want to share with you some of the BEST websites and blogs that I have found that give you a wealth of information about planning your Disney Trip with your special Needs child.
Allergy Free Mouse
Special Mouse
Gluten Free/Dairy Free Disney World
Autism at the Park
Share any Disney tips in the comments below, and stay tuned! Next week we dive into my Top Tips for Saving Money at Disney!
The folks at Disney are so accommodating – it is just amazing the lengths they’ll go to make sure EVERYONE is having a great time.
Scott recently posted…Buy a SUBWAY. Help Clean the Mississippi
This really is a fantastic post! I’ve never been to Disney with a special needs child – but I’m glad they are so accommodating about it! Does not surprise me 🙂
Kristen from The Road to Domestication recently posted…Entertainment Rooms and Why We Love Them So Much
I really like that Disney is going the extra mile to make sure all that visit their parks enjoy themselves. More places should do this!
Michele recently posted…E-Book GA (3)-The Death Card (A Liz Lucas Cozy Mystery Series – Book 3)-Dianne Harman-Ends 8/10
These are some great tips for enjoying a magical time with your child at Disney. I imagine it shouldn’t be that hard since it is such a magical place anyway.
Toughcookiemommy recently posted…Create Timeless Charm Bracelets With Soufeel Jewelry! @Soufeel #Ad
Glad to hear that Disney helps families be proactive when planning their magical trips with their special children. Your advice about using YouTube to research the ride experiences was a great tip that I never have thought about doing.
Anytime we have ever gone to Disney we have seen them treat all guests with complete respect and they are so helpful!
Sabrina recently posted…Traffic & Income Report: April 2015
This is such great information! Disney is such a magical place, and these tips can help even more people enjoy it to the fullest!
Sarah @ Must Have Mom recently posted…Cinnamon Graham Mini Fruit Pizzas Recipe
This is such a great post! My son is on the autism spectrum and thankfully did great at Disneyland, but we know plenty of families that could really use this information and some extra assistance.
Marcie W. recently posted…Shamrock Farms Launches Roxie’s Ultimate Back To School Sweepstakes
This is a great post! your so awesome for coming up with these tips and being creative enough to enjoy the time with your child
sacha recently posted…If Time could speak
This is such a great post! Thank you so much for these great tips.
Those are really great tips. I love that Disney really works hard to make it magical for everyone and never makes it seem like its a big deal. (Of course as a mom – we know it’s a big deal and are super appreciative!!). Thank you for sharing!
Emily recently posted…Comment on 21 Day Fix Meal Plan + Grocery List #FreePrintable by Marcie W.
Thanks for these awesome tips! These are really amazing for our trip next year!
Amy Desrosiers recently posted…Enjoy the Beauty and Flavors of Summer Thanks to Nexium
This was highly informative, and a great reminder to all moms that a Disney vacation can be enjoyed by all children. I enjoyed watching the videos and was moved by what you shared. <3
We went to Disney with Make a Wish and it was a very magical trip. We only had the special handicap pass at one of the parks (didn’t realize we would get even more magical treatment if we told them we were MAW) and it was still pretty special.
Life as a Convert recently posted…Reward Yourself With A Cool McDonald’s Treat – Printable Reward Chart