Blog Posts Tagged Special Needs

2022 Update – Tips for Navigating the Disability Assistance Service at Walt Disney World

2/22/2022 • Blog, Walt Disney World • For families like mine, the Disability Assistance Service has allowed us to navigate and enjoy the many attractions and characters throughout Walt Disney World. My oldest son was diagnosed at birth with Fragile X Syndrome, the leading cause of inherited intellectual disability and the leading known single-gene cause of autism. Although he enjoys all that Walt Disney World has to offer, it can quickly overwhelm him. My family is incredibly appreciative of this service. I have compiled a list of what are the most frequent questions (and answers too) while assisting guests in planning for their vacations. What is the Disability Assistance Service (DAS)? A service for Guests with a disability to schedule a return time that is comparable to the current standby wait for the given attraction. Guests whose disability is based on the necessity of using a wheelchair/scooter are not eligible for a DAS. Guests with additional needs […]

Top 5 tips for Preparing for a Disney Cruise – From the View of a Special Needs Parent!

8/20/2021 • Cruises, Tips • WE DID IT!!!  We accomplished a long-term “goal” of successfully traveling as a family on the Disney Cruise Line.  There have been many factors over the 20 + years since my husband and I went on our first Disney cruise that has stood in the way of successfully accomplishing this goal.  Fear was the biggest hurdle. As I have previously shared, my oldest son is living with Fragile X Syndrome. Would he tolerate the motion of the boat? Would he be able to tell us if he was feeling unwell or would he only display undesirable behaviors?  Would he want to participate in the various activities? Would he want to get off at the various port of call? The following tips are what we did to prepare by hoping to lessen any potential behaviors that might come along with his constant desire to know, "what's next." 5. Research your ship […]

How to Tackle Sensory Overload at Disney!

7/16/2021 • Disneyland, Walt Disney World • It wasn’t until my oldest son, who is living with Fragile X, was almost 3 that I began to have a greater understanding of his sensory integration challenges.  Fragile X is the leading cause of inherited intellectual impairment and the leading known genetic cause of Autism. I was attending an education workshop, and I participated in an exercise that helped me understand what someone with Fragile X/Sensory integration challenges experiences. I began to view the world with a different perspective.  On our next trip to Walt Disney World, It was as if I was experiencing it for the first time.  Guests are immersed in their experience even before entering the gates.  Our senses are constantly bombarded.  As my son grew older, it was clear that the sensory input, at times, was too much.  If we wanted to continue to enjoy traveling to Disney destinations, we needed to come up with […]

A Special Needs Family’s Perspective on the Phased Re-Opening of Walt Disney World Resorts & Parks

10/2/2020 • Blog, Walt Disney World • Walt Disney World parks closed March 15 and began a phased re-opening on July 11, 2020. After careful consideration, we decided to visit. We have been Annual Passholders for the better part of 2 decades and moved to Florida a little over three years ago. Visits to Walt Disney World has been a constant part of our lives. We reviewed ‘Know Before You Go’ leading up to our visit to make an informed decision. With the current reduced park capacity and the extensive safety measures that Disney has implemented, we made the decision to give it a try. We visited 3 of the 4 Walt Disney World Parks and Disney Springs during our stay. While our decision to visit may not be right for everyone, we made the decision that was right for my family. My oldest son has Fragile X Syndrome, the leading inherited genetic cause of intellectual impairment. […]

Realistic EXpectations: A Mindset for Success

5/16/2016 • Walt Disney World • Planning a trip to a Disney destination is VERY exciting. Many, including myself, have idealistic visions of walking into the Magic Kingdom, and strolling hand in hand along Main Street. Your senses are bombarded with wonderful music, amazing smells, and Cinderella’s beautiful castle is in your sight! The family photo is a “MUST DO” with the castle in the background! It sounds magical, but in my family not always realistic. My family is not typical, and that is our reality. My oldest son was born with Fragile X Syndrome, the leading cause of inherited intellectual disability and the leading known genetic cause of Autism. I also have 2 typically developing children. Obtaining what many may think is a “simple” task, typically involves significant planning, prompting and encouragement. We are pleased if we get a photo with all 5 of us looking at the photographer, and if we were all smiling, […]

Why We CHOOSE to Visit Walt Disney World with a Special Needs Child

10/12/2015 • Walt Disney World • I am a parent of a child born with Fragile X Syndrome.  My son has challenges in all aspects of his life, and easily becomes overwhelmed by his environment.  That can lead to difficulty with communication and the dreaded behavioral meltdown.   He was born with Disney loving parents who are determined to make our Disney trips a consistent part of our lives.  Are we nuts?  Perhaps.   I tend to think of my family as goal oriented, determined, hopeful, persistent and perhaps, at times, incredibly brave.   We were blessed with 2 additional  “typically developing” children.   We CHOOSE to live as “typical” of a family life as we possibly can.  Why would we knowingly bring a child who has such strong sensory (especially auditory) processing challenges to an environment with an overwhelming amount of input?  As I mentioned above, when we became engaged at Walt Disney World, and my fiance’ (husband now) […]