Hi there, Philip!
How wonderful to be planning a Disneyland Resort vacation with your family. I’m sure you will have an experience to remember.
Having raised some special-needs teens ourselves, we have really appreciated the level of accommodation and magical touches made available at the Disneyland Resort. The Cast Members you will encounter are trained to help out with guests of various types of
disabilities, including
cognitive disabilities.
Our kiddos are picky eaters as well. But they certainly have never starved at the Disneyland Resort. Our experience has been that most
restaurants will allow adults and teens to order from the children’s menu. In some cases, a
table service restaurant may charge extra and bring out a larger portion. In the case of
La Brea Bakery Cafe, the restaurant may not provide a beverage that might otherwise be included for a child. Note that
buffet restaurants will always charge the rate appropriate for each guest’s actual age. But the important thing is that the guest will be able to request an entree that he enjoys in each case!
Tony’s Tip: I’ve found that sometimes with special-needs children, waiting in lines can be challenging. We have discovered that a new feature in the
Disneyland app has helped tremendously with avoiding certain lines. It’s
Mobile Food and Beverage Ordering, available at
most Quick Service dining locations. In the app, just tap the "+" and select "Order Food” to begin an order. You choose an available time to arrive at the restaurant when your order will be sent to the kitchen. Moments later, your food is available to enjoy. To a famished teenager, it’s Disneyland Resort magic!
Thanks for coming by the Disney Parks Moms Panel, Philip. If you have any more questions, we would love to hEAR from you!
~Tony