Hi, Amanda! Welcome to planDisney!
Like you, I am also the parent of a child with special needs. My teenage son is on the autism spectrum, and we have been bringing him to
Walt Disney World Resort since he was a preschooler. One of the reasons why my family returns to Walt Disney World Resort year after year is that they truly go above and beyond to make the magic
accessible to everyone. Let's chat about some of the accommodations and services that are available to help your family have the best vacation ever.
If your daughter does not meet the height requirement for an attraction or simply does not wish to experience an attraction with the rest of the family, you can speak to a Cast Member at the attraction entrance about using the
Rider Switch service. Rider Switch allows an adult to wait with the child or children who are not riding while the rest of the party experiences an attraction. When those Guests return, the waiting adult may then access the attraction without waiting in the standby line.
If your family will be using the
Disney Genie+ service during your visit to the theme park, you will not need to book a
Lightning Lane for your daughter for an attraction that she will not be riding. However, if you would like to use the Disney Genie+ service for attractions that your daughter will be experiencing with the rest of the family, you should purchase the service for her as well as the rest of your group members.
If your daughter's disability makes it difficult for her to wait in a traditional queue environment, then I would recommend also looking into using
Disability Access Service (DAS) during your visit. Guests who are registered for DAS can use their
My Disney Experience mobile app to request a ride return time for an attraction they would like to experience. The return time will be based on the current standby wait time. While you're waiting, you're free to do other things in the park. Then any time after the given return time, you can come back and access the attraction without waiting in the standby line. Once you've redeemed your first return time, you can use the app to request another.
If you think that DAS might be a good fit for your daughter, you can speak to a Cast Member to see if she qualifies for this accommodation. Once it gets closer to the date of your trip, you can
preregister for DAS via a live video chat with a Cast Member. You can request a video chat 2-30 days before your visit to the Walt Disney World theme parks. You can also register for DAS in person once you arrive at one of the theme parks by visiting
Guest Relations.
Amanda, I hope this information is helpful. If you have other questions about visiting Walt Disney World Resort with a child who has special needs, or any other aspect of your vacation, please don't hesitate to ask. Have a magical day!
Samantha