Hi, Heather! Welcome to planDisney!
Like you, I am also the parent of a child who has 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.
There are a variety of services and accommodations available to meet the needs of Guests with all kinds of special needs, including
cognitive disabilities. When I visit the Walt Disney World theme parks with my son, we use
Disability Access Service (DAS). This is an accommodation intended for Guests who, due to a disability, cannot wait in a typical queue environment. If your worries about your son's experience in the parks are mostly about his ability to wait in long
attraction queues, then DAS could be an option for your family.
Since every individual with a disability has their own unique needs, I would recommend reaching out to a Disability Services Cast Member. You can explain your specific concerns about your son to them, and they will be able to make some recommendations as to which accommodations could help him better enjoy his visit to Walt Disney World Resort. Telephone and email contact information for Disability Services can be found on this
Services for Guests with Disabilities webpage.
As you get ready for your vacation, I recommend taking a look at this
Guide for Guests with Cognitive Disabilities. It contains lots of great tips for navigating the Walt Disney World Resort with a Guest who has special needs. Heather, please feel free to
stop by planDisney again with any additional questions that you might have. My fellow panelists and I would love to help you and your family have the most magical vacation ever!
See ya real soon!
Samantha