Hi Devonnie,
How exciting that you're planning your family's very first visit to the most magical place on earth! You are going to have a BLAST and make memories together that you'll cherish forever!
As the mama of a Mouseketeer on the autism spectrum, I completely understand wanting to prepare your kiddos before a visit to anywhere new, let along somewhere as magical as the Walt Disney World Resort. Your princesses' eyes are going to light up when they see their favorite characters, and having a plan in place beforehand for these exciting moments sounds like a great idea. First things first, the characters are going to be SO excited to meet your girls and they will do everything they can to help them feel comfortable, so please don't worry. They'll be happy to give hugs, pose for photos, and even sign autographs! The main thing I like to let my son know ahead of time is that we need to make sure we wait our turn to visit with them, but once it's our turn, he can feel free to chat with them and share big Disney hugs. I'd encourage you to keep your video camera rolling through the entire experience. Some of my favorite Disney memories are interactions that my kiddos have had with the characters, and the moments before and after the posed photos are some of the
very best!
Let me reassure you that Cast Members strive to do everything they can to make sure that
every Guest is having a magical experience, so I'd definitely encourage you to look through some of the amazing
resources for Guests traveling with special needs. I'd also suggest stopping by a Guest Relations location inside one of the theme parks once you arrive and they'll be happy to share helpful tips, too.
Thanks so much for visiting us at the Disney Parks Moms Panel, Devonnie, and please let us know if you have any other questions. Have a truly magical vacation!
Missy