Luckily Disney strives to create a magical experience for everyone. The Disability Access Service card is a fantastic accommodation for many special needs families. But a Disney vacation requires so much more than a modified wait time for rides.
Do Your Homework. I cannot stress this enough. You don’t just show up to Disney with an autistic kid without a game plan. For our first Disney vacation in 2011, The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2014
Other Walt Disney World resources include: Disney Parks Moms Panel (official Disney site) and http://disneyparks.disney.go.com. Search around the site or order a Disney Vacation planning DVD and for every Disney destination there is always a number you can call to talk to someone about planning your Disney vacation. They are always nice and more than happy to help. Another site I found quite helpful, is The Disney Files.
Our Autism Family Tip: A great time to go on rides is right before, during and immediately after Parade Times and/or Firework shows. While using the DAS we found that most kids and families are gathering to watch the festivities – and the wait time for other attractions eases up.
Create Customized Maps. Not only will this help you while at the Parks but it makes a nice keepsake. Go to Disneyworld.disney.go.com to highlight your favorite family attractions. You can select attractions based on: preschoolers, big kids, teens and all ages. Once you create your map, you may print it or order one to be sent to your home. Either way, study it. The Walt Disney Parks are huge, crowded and overwhelming. In case your child has a meltdown or in case of an emergency, you will want to be completely aware of your surroundings.
5/2015 UPDATE: As of year end 2014, Disney no longer offers the option to create a customized map. However, if you download the My Disney Experience app – you can select attractions as your favorites and use filters to plan your day.
MUST KNOW: the 2 Important Places in Every Park. If you have a child with autism, the 2 most important locations in Disney are: Guest Relations and the Baby Care Center. You will need to visit the Guest Relations office to obtain a Disability Access Service card. And in case you are separated from you child, notify a Disney employee immediately before heading to the Baby Care Center – that’s where all lost children are taken. Note: The Baby Care Centers is also “a convenient place to feed, change and nurse little ones” for more information click here.
Download the App. The Disney World app was great! I loved that I could make/view my reservations, make FastPass+ selections, search character locations/times, check wait times for rides, view maps of each park and so much more. It’s everything you need to know about Walt Disney World at your fingers. The customized map is perfect for preplanning and if you don’t have a smart phone (or when your phone loses its charge) and the App is ideal when you need information quickly without fumbling with a map.
Make Reservations in ADVANCE. The second you book your flight or buy your tickets to Walt Disney World – make reservations for restaurants and/or other special attractions like the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or The Pirate League. I think you can make reservations up to 180 days in advance (yes, it’s that serious). When you make reservations, consider the time and really plan out your day. We made reservations (3 days before our vacation) for The Pirate League and the only time available was 3pm. We had been in the park since early that morning, by the time we ran across the park for our Pirates League appointment, Norrin was having a complete meltdown and I had to cancel. They were nice enough to cancel without charging me a fee.
NOTE: Ask about cancelation policies! You may be charged a fee if you cancel same day.
Stay at a Disney Resort. If you can. I know a Disney vacation can be expensive. (Trust me because I do not roll like that.) But Disney offers hotels at all price points. We’ve been to Disney World twice. The first time we stayed at a non-Disney hotel and this trip we stayed at The Art of Animation Resort. And after experiencing both – I have to say, I prefer the Disney Resort experience. There are so many benefits to staying on property!
Get the Magic Band. Our Magic Bands made navigating the parks and the hotel so easy. Your Magic Band is your hotel key (if you stay at a Disney Resort), your credit card (you have to link it up), your Memory Maker and your park admission. If you plan in advance, you can personalize your Magic Band with your favorite color and name – and once you get to WDW you can buy charms to dress up your band. Norrin had a hard time keeping his Magic Band on, so I wore his on my alternate wrist.
Order the Memory Maker in advance and if you are doing a park hopper and/or visiting for more than one day. I love taking pictures and capturing the moment especially at Disney. We have so few family pictures together, that at Disney I hunt down every photographer to take our picture. You can save $50 when you order the Memory Maker in advance. If you choose not to order it at all, it can get pricey when you pay per picture. With our 2-day park hopper we took close to 200 photos. Another bonus with the Memory Maker is that you have access to all of your photos online, make edits, add stickers or borders and download them.
Family Picture Taking Tip. Pictures are tough for us. Norrin doesn’t always want to smile. I spend so much time focusing on Norrin’s smile, that I’m captured in motion or not smiling. The photographers at Disney are super nice – they will take more than one picture to get a nice shot. But then I started asking photographers to take additional pictures with our backs turned to them (see below). You don’t see our faces but it’s still a family photo that captures the magical moment – especially when looking at the iconic landmarks of Walt Disney World.
Be Prepared. Disney tests the best of any of us. Even your high-functioning ASD could have the ultimate meltdown. So be prepared. I took Norrin’s headphones for the plane ride but didn’t think of taking it to the Parks because we don’t usually go out with them. Of course, our first night at the Magic Kingdom, he asked for them. I didn’t have them. (Fail!) So take a bag filled with the essentials that may soothe/comfort your child.
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| Top: Us at Hollywood Studios | Middle: Norrin’s reaction to seeing Woody & Buzz Lightyear | Bottom: Us at Epcot and The Magic Kingdom {photos taken using Memory Maker & added stickers/borders} |
Read about the 7 things we loved – http://bit.ly/1BRxqnm
Pin for later! http://bit.ly/1ojIj7b
Read more about our #FamiliaTravels to Walt Disney World:
- Our Experience with the Disability Access Service Card at Walt Disney World
- All About the Little Mermaid {Wordless Wed}
- Packing for Vacation and Other Travel Tips
- 10 things to See & Do While at Disney
- 10 Benefits of Staying at a Walt Disney World Resort
Disclaimer: We received 2-day park hopper passes. No other compensation was received. All opinions are our own.
I had a few hits come to my shop via your website so I thought I'd stop by. Thanks for linking my 'Autistic Ninja' tee. 😉
THANK YOU for creating it & thanks for stopping by! I will be ordering some for my son 🙂
One tip that I have is to use the specially reserved seating for parades. My son does a lot of stimming ( pacing and arm flapping) so being packed in like sardines on the sides of the street doesn’t work for him. He needs to be able to move and this works for him.
Thank you so much for the idea of the photos with your backs to the camera, what a great idea! Our 8 year old Autistic son got so tired of photos 2 years ago and it became meltdown city every time we wanted to take another one, we are planning another trip back to Disneyworld in May 2015 and this will be a great compromise for us!
Sorry I meant to say May 2016!
I been to Disney with him Autistic child and did not know about this life saver thanks !