Going on a trip to Disney World with a child with special needs might have some additional challenges but it can still be rewarding. Disney does have things in place to help with the lines and there are other strategies to help have a wonderful experience. Here are 10 things we have learned from our experience.
- Get the pass.
The Disability Services Pass (known as DAS) pass can be a big help if you have children who could have an issue waiting in lines. With the pass, you can wait in line virtually, instead of physically and you can go on other rides or shows while you wait to ride and use the lighting lane queue when it’s time to ride. Depending on the ride, you might still have to wait in line for a while, but it can be a lifesaver to help avoid meltdowns.
Depending on your circumstances, you might be able to select 2 rides per day up to 30 days before your first park day and can add additional an ride once you tap into the park. For most newer rides like Tron, Ratatouille, or Avatar Flight of Passage, you can’t pre-book before your trip but many times you can get a DAS time for even the hottest rides the day of. It is not the same as lighting Lanes and both can be used to maximize your time. Also, the person with the DAS pass needs to tap in first so the cast member will know you are eligible for DAS.
2. Take a break.
Even for the most die-hard park fans, spending all day in the parks can be a lot, so it’s easy to see how it could be overwhelming for kids with special needs. One of the better ways to break up your day is to get to the parks around or before opening, head back to your resort after lunch, and go back to the parks at dinner.
Back at the resort, if you go for a swim, it might be good to avoid the feature pool and instead use a quiet pool if your resort has one since many times, they are empty. You also might want to think about one of the Skyliner resorts if you end up taking a break each day since it’s quick and easy to get to and from the parks mid-day.
3. Skip Fireworks
The nighttime shows can be one of the more unforgettable parts of your trip but there are reasons why you would want to avoid them. The shows draw large crowds and then much of that crowd heads to the exit at the conclusion so if you are at the end of the wave, you could have a long wait for a bus. If you have a kid getting close to the breaking point, relaxing at the resort, and preparing for the new day is better. We have had some long rides back to our resort and if you can avoid those, it’s worth it.
4. No expectations
With any Disney World trip, especially your first, it can be hard to know how it will go, and that is even more so with a child with special needs. There is so much out of your control, the best thing you can do is just go with the flow. It might mean spending more time at the pool or back in your room, but you will just need to have a plan that you can adjust.
There are many ways to have a great vacation and you don’t have to rope drop and spend all day at the park to have a great trip to try to just go on the trip trying to have a memorable trip. Also, realize there are going to be meltdowns, and not everything is going to be perfect, so you just try to go with the flow.
5. Find a quiet space.
If you are at the parks and your child is overstimulated, Disney World does have break areas in all the parks where they can calm down, so just ask a cast member for help. There are also many places at the parks where it’s quiet and where your child can run around and burn off some energy. Also, many resorts have play areas, which is a good option if you need to get them outside for a while.
6. Food/favorite snacks
One of the last things you want is a hangry kid and all the nearby stands and restaurants have long waits. Fortunately, Disney allows you to bring in food, so it’s a good idea to make sure you have a few favorites in your backpack in case of emergencies. Another tip is to make sure to use a Mobile order for your quick service meal well before your mealtime, so you don’t have to wait long in line when you have a hungry kid.
7. Rent a stroller.
If you have toddlers, you are probably already planning on bringing a stroller, but you might want to consider it even for your grade school kids as well. You are going to be doing a lot of walking and standing and it can certainly cause some meltdowns so if you can avoid them, it’s worth the hassle. Your options might be limited on what type of stroller you can get based on weight limits so you will want to set it up before your trip.
8. Bring helpers.
If you can with your situation, having grandparents can help make the trip, especially if you have more than one kid on your vacation is very helpful. If your special needs child needs to take a break, it’s wonderful to have extra help with the other kids, since it’s their trip too. You will probably need a break as well so having some help is certainly something to think about
9. One-on-one trips
While having the whole family on a Disney vacation might seem like the only way to go, going on a trip with just one child might be a good option. When you have just one child, you can focus on them and don’t have to divide your attention and you can avoid all the sibling squabbling. If you are going with your spouse, it’s also a good chance to give them a break in the room while you do something with your child.
It might seem super expensive to do some separate trips but there are ways of making it work. Instead of doing a week-long trip at a Moderate, maybe do two separate 3 or 4-day trips at a value or a non-Disney trip with your other children.
10. Have fun.
Sure, your trip might be different than everyone else but that doesn’t mean you won’t have a great time. There will be some additional challenges when you go but they are worth the costs. It’s easy to stay home and avoid interactions but in the long run, getting out and trying to experience things is for the benefit of all. Just go in with your eyes open but make sure to focus on the good that will come from your new experience and try to find ways to make it fun.