Walt Disney World With Kids (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [50]
A dad of three, including a special-needs 8-year-old, wrote, “We heard how Disney cast members go out of their way to accommodate special children. We found this to be absolutely true. For any ride that William could go on, we got front-of-line privileges. We also were escorted to special viewing areas for shows and parades.”
A mom from Connecticut wrote, “We informed our hotel (the Contemporary), in advance, of our daughter’s health problems and when we checked in, we were delighted to learn that our family had been invited to ride in the first car of the afternoon parade at the Magic Kingdom. The cast member told us that there is no way to guarantee such an invitation, but that if they know a special-needs child is visiting, they try to offer some treats. Riding in the convertible and waving to the crowd was the highlight of our daughter’s week.”
“My 6-year-old daughter has some usable vision but is legally blind,” wrote another mom. “We knew she wouldn’t be able to enjoy most of the shows, so we stopped by Guest Relations, and they gave us a Guest Assistance Card. Any time we approached a show, she held out the card and a cast member would escort us to special front seating. This meant the world to all of us. She was able to actually see Belle dancing with the Prince.”
Tips for Pregnant Guests
I’ve personally toured Disney World twice while pregnant and not only lived to tell the tale but honestly enjoyed both trips. However, a few precautions are in order.
Make regular meal stops. Instead of buying a turkey leg from a vendor, get out of the sun and off your feet at a sit-down restaurant.
If you aren’t accustomed to walking as much as 7 miles a day, begin getting in shape a couple of months before the trip by taking 30- to 40-minute walks at home.
Dehydration is a real danger. Keep water in your tote bag and sip frequently. You can refill your bottle at water fountains throughout the parks.
Consider staying on-site so that you can return to your room in the afternoon to rest.
Mothers-to-be are welcome to rest in the rocking chairs inside Baby Services.
Standing stock-still can be more tiring than walking when you’re pregnant, so let your husband stand in line for rides. You and the kids can join him as he’s about to enter the final turn of the line.
Helpful Hint
The most important tip of all if you’re pregnant: check out restroom locations in advance.
Tips for Grandparents
Orlando can be the ultimate multigenerational destination for grandparents traveling with their grandchildren, but if possible avoid summers, since the Florida heat and humidity can be very taxing on older adults, and make sure you build in adequate rest stops. Services such as Fastpass, which reduce the time you spend standing in line, are especially helpful to older guests.
There’s no shame in wheelchair or ECV rental (see Tips for Guests with Disabilities, above), even if the older members of the party are mobile. The average amount you walk in a Disney day is 7 miles, and that’s a lot for anyone.
Grandparents rarely have their grandkids full time and thus might be more likely than parents to “cave,” that is, let them skip naps, eat sugary treats, and buy way too many souvenirs. So the overwhelm factor that comes into play at a high-stimulation place like Disney World is even more likely to happen with grandparents. Even the best-behaved kids can have a meltdown if they’re given too much leeway, so set ground rules in advance and try not to let their eating and sleeping