Disney Vacation with a Child with Special Needs: Our Guide from Sharedabilities.com
I recently took my child with special needs to Disney. It was a fantastic vacation for us, and we wanted to share what we learned. Please share with us your Disney experience, any advice you have or post questions!
#1 Consider staying on Disney property. They are trained on how to interact with people with special needs and/or on special diets. If you are on the monorail line, great. If like us, you didn't want to pay that premium, our bus drivers always respected that I had special concerns about our son and sometimes needed the 'wheelchair' spot. That truly set the tone for the rest of those on the bus, in my opinion, and we were met with only kindness on the bus during our trips (including one ride when my son insisted on sitting on the floor).
Additionally, if you stay on Disney property each day a park has special hours for those staying on property – a park may open early or stay open late. You will have to show your room key if you use these special hours.
#2 If you have a child or adult that has significant difficulties waiting in line, there is a special pass you can get at Guest Relations called the Guest Assistance Card. The card states that it is not intended to provide immediate access to rides. We found it basically allowed us to 'fast pass' on to most rides without needing an actual fast pass. Bring your child/adult with special needs with you to Guest Relations when applying for the card, which you should do when you first arrive at the park. They should not require a letter from a doctor, but you will need to explain your concerns. Our experience was very kind, simple and fast. The pass is good for up to 6 family members (the person with special needs plus five guests) and one pass is good for the duration of your trip at Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom (you do not need to get a new pass at each park – the first one you get will work at each of these parks.)
Note: We did not try to use this pass at the character experiences (where you can meet "Mickey" or "Belle" and get their signature or a photo with them) and the pass does not mention the water parks.
#3 If your child/adult is sensitive to loud noises, crowds, etc. we suggest going in January (not New Year's or MLK weekend) when the park can be quite empty. Also, contact Disney about what their suggestions are and there are many websites out there with advice. Generally speaking, don't force Disney on anyone. Even the most outgoing 'typical' child can be overwhelmed by Disney, so be prepared to have a flexible schedule.
#4 Disney also makes accommodations for those with visual and/or hearing impairments. But you need to ask and tell them exactly what your needs or concerns are – they may have a device to help make your experience more enjoyable.
#5 If your child needs a wheelchair or finds standing for periods of time uncomfortable (including for behavior reasons), but you choose to use a stroller instead of a wheelchair, we strongly suggest you get a "stroller=wheelchair" pass while getting the Guest Assistance Card. With this pass, instead of parking a stroller far away from a ride (as is sometimes required) and walking a long way through a path to get to the boarding area for a ride, you can roll right up to the 'wheelchair entrance'. We found most rides have a special entrance or boarding area for people using wheelchairs (or strollers as wheelchairs). If you prefer using a wheelchair, they can be rented inside the park.
There is a LOT of walking at Disney and even kids who have not used a stroller in a while might appreciate having one. For us, it was best to rent one there versus lugging one through the airport. And, my son had outgrown our strollers at home. We rented one from Kingdom Strollers, which has strollers that fit people up to 100 lbs. For us, this was much more preferable than renting at the park. The strollers you can rent at the park are small, plastic, don't recline, etc. Same for wheelchairs at the park (not plastic, but don't recline and also no sunshade). And, you have to leave them at the park gates (good luck walking to your bus after a tiring day if you need a stroller)! Our stroller rented from Kingdom was delivered for free to our hotel and picked up by them after we checked out.
Additionally, if you rent a stroller or wheelchair at the park, you are also at the mercy of their availability, versus reserving one ahead of time through a company like Kingdom – the Disney parks don't accept reservations.
#6 An important message from us: for those who wonder – the 'Guest Assistance Card' and the 'stroller=wheelchair pass' are not given out without there being a true need. The folks at Guest Relations are tuned in and trained.
End result? I am grateful that our need for accommodations were so easily accepted and met. Disney truly made our experience MAGICAL by gifting us with what my son needed to make it a successful visit. For that, we'll always be grateful.
He has been asking to go back every day since we got home. That's proof of a job well done by Disney!