Walt Disney World
with Special Needs Children

While travel is one of my greatest joys in life, becoming a mother and traveling with two children with special needs has changed the way that I plan, prepare, and pack, to ensure my children are safe, happy, and healthy throughout our travels. Our favorite place to travel is Walt Disney World, and I have come to find that planning ahead and being realistic in my expectations always makes for a great trip to our most cherished place on earth! 

Here are my top ten life-saving tips for traveling to Walt Disney World with your special needs child: 

1. Plan for changing temperature and weather conditions.  Rain is unpredictable. Sometimes a restaurant is too cold for my children.  In my backpack, I carry ponchos, two sweatshirts, a change of shoes and socks for the kids as well as a jumbo Ziploc bag to carry wet items should the rain soak us. 
2. Ensure the kids eat breakfast before we depart, and I bring at least one of their favorite snacks. My son is a very picky eater, and textures are an issue so applesauce pouches and graham crackers are staples in my bag.  
3. Plan to take breaks. We are early risers. We are there at opening of whatever park we visit for the morning. We have lunch at 12pm, head back to the room to nap and then shower for part two of our day (4pm usually). We then have an early dinner, head to another park in the pm, and snack before returning back to the room around 9pm.  
4. We plan for a pool afternoon/evening on every other evening of our trip. We take advantage of the activities at our resort as well!  These are great low key relaxing things to do that will not further exhaust us too much!  
5. Have your children seen by their pediatrician, psychologist, psychiatrist, etc. a week prior to your travel dates. I make sure my children are their healthiest, that they have all medications refilled, etc. and we let everyone know we are traveling, that way should we need their support, they are aware of our vacation plans already.  
6. Upon arriving at Walt Disney World on the first day, I visit guest relations to inquire about scheduled fireworks, etc. that could require us to avoid certain areas that could be triggers for a sensory meltdown. I also ask that a fridge be placed in our room prior to our travels because it’s imperative for medications, drinks, and cold packs I keep to cool us down as we walk through the parks on hot days.  
7. Allergies, food sensitivities, aversions? Disney is THE best at addressing all of these! Let your server know before you order, and they will accommodate your child’s meal and beverage needs! You can even inform Disney when you book your meals prior to travel. We have often had the chef come out and speak with us prior to ordering our meals as well.  
8. Be prepared for magic milestones! Have your camera ready to capture some first times! My children hit several milestone moments where they tried new foods, first jumped into a pool, even overcame fears of speed and learned to appreciate thrill rides (unlike their scaredy cat mom who cannot handle speed or heights to this day). I have many of these precious moments saved on photo and video, and they mean the world to me! 
9. Remember the why. If your child melts down, has a less than perfect day, or doesn’t react to things in a way you may have anticipated, remember why you’re on this vacation. It’s all about them and creating memories together. Sometimes taking a step back and taking a deep breath to reset our mindset is needed (for me, a Dole Whip helps too!).  
10. “Fun bags!” On our first trip to Walt Disney World with our son, we coined the term “fun bag.” A “fun bag” consists of a backpack for each child filled with fun, simple, and exciting things they can play, read, eat, and watch while we are traveling to Florida. Snacks, a book, a small new toy, sunglasses, a park map, something to write with, perhaps a travel scavenger hunt sheet, a security blanket or transition toy , and an iPad are just some of the simple things we pack to make for smooth travels.  

These are just some of the ways I try to ensure that my children have the best possible experience while on vacation. I hope some of them work for you and your children too! 

Contact your favorite Pineapple Escapes’ agent today, or email us at info@pineappleescapes.com for a quote to Walt Disney World. Our agents help make your vacation seamless with our expertise, customized itineraries, and extra pixie dust!

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