Hi, Theresa! Thanks for bringing your question to the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
Like you, I am also the parent of a child with autism, so I can understand your concerns about traveling with your kiddo. However, I am happy to tell you that the
Walt Disney World Resort goes above and beyond to make the magic accessible to everyone. I think you and your son are going to have an amazing vacation and make memories to treasure for a lifetime!
February is a lovely time to visit the Walt Disney World Resort. In fact, I am currently planning a visit for next February with my own family. In the past, when I have visited the Walt Disney World Resort in February, I have found the weather to be quite comfortable and the crowds to be fairly light. While there really is no way to know for sure what crowd levels will be like during any given week, some guests like to search online for crowd calendars that predict Walt Disney World attendance levels.
I can tell you that the
Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend is scheduled for February 20-23, 2020.
runDisney race weekends tend to be busy times to visit, so you may want to avoid that particular weekend. President's Day is on February 17, 2020 this year, and many schools will be closed on this date. For this reason, you may see slightly higher crowds around this date as families take advantage of the long holiday weekend. If I were you, I would probably look at planning my vacation for the early part of February.
As you begin planning for your magical vacation, be sure to familiarize yourself with the Walt Disney World Resort's
Services for Guests with Disabilities. When I visit the Walt Disney World Resort with my son, we utilize
Disability Access Service which is meant to assist guests whose disability prevents them from waiting in a traditional queue environment. Disability Access Service has been a wonderful way to keep my family's stress levels low and our fun levels high.
Before our first visit to the Walt Disney World Resort, I showed my son lots of pictures and videos of the
theme parks and
attractions so that he would have an idea of what to expect. You can find lots of great
planning information online that might help you and your son prepare for your trip. The Walt Disney World Resort also has an amazing
guide for guests with cognitive disabilities that you may find helpful.
Theresa, if we can help you out with anything else as you get ready for this adventure, please don't hesitate to ask. See ya real soon!
Samantha