Hello Jennifer!
You have some fantastic questions here as you plan a memorable vacation for your entire family! As Walt Disney himself said on the opening day of Disneyland, "To all who come to this happy place, welcome!"
Walt Disney World Resort has been working (and continues to work) toward making each and every one of its Guests feel included and valued throughout their vacation. It is certainly a place where you know the well-trained Cast Members will go out of their way to accommodate any special needs that you or a member of your party may have.
While you may have concerns visiting such a bustling place, Walt Disney World Resort has so many helpful resources to allow you to plan a magical trip. When making your plans and reservations you may find this resource for
Guests with Cognitive Disabilities including Autism Spectrum Disorder useful, as it has MUCH more detailed information than I can include here!
When it comes to specifics like anxiety upon waiting in lines, Walt Disney World has a plan for that too!
Disability Access Service (DAS) is a great way to keep line-anxiety at bay while also getting to ride your favorite attractions! Before you even leave home you and your son can chat with a Walt Disney World Cast Member to
pre-register for DAS. Just make sure your son is available and you're logged in to your
My Disney Experience account. If you want to wait to register in the parks, that is also an option, just make sure your entire party stops by Guest Relations, located near the main entrance of all four theme parks. After registering you'll be able to stop at the attractions you're interested in or use your My Disney Experience account to receive a time to return and enjoy the attraction without waiting in the standby queue. After you return to your first attraction, you'll be able to book another, allowing you and your party to take in the wonder of the parks and still enjoy every ride and show.
Your mother must be a very strong woman to have gone through her experience and be ready to join you on vacation, and I bet you can't wait to share these magical moments with her.
Wheelchair rentals are available at all four theme parks on a first-come, first-served basis. You may also want to look into renting from an outside company in Orlando if you think you'll need use of the wheelchair outside of the theme parks.
Jennifer, I sincerely hope this information will help you plan an amazing trip for your entire family. If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us again or contact Disability Services at (407) 560-2547 or disability.services@disneyparks.com
Ashley M