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  • On Nov 26, 2024
    Susan from NJ Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    I am also a teacher in NJ. This trip was not on my radar but I need to go to help my daughter who has two autistic children. Any additional help you could provide would be awesome!

    Susan, I am touched you reached out directly to me. I can tell you must be an incredible teacher, mother, and grandmother, just by how far you'll go to ensure everything goes smoothly for your family's trip to the Walt Disney World Resort. Let's figure this out together!

    I have a bunch of different suggestions for you to ensure that this trip is the best it can be for your family!  Let's not delay and get right to it:

    • Look into the Disability Access Service (DAS). Your daughter can engage in a virtual call with a friendly Cast Member up to 30 days in advance of their park visit. If her children qualify, she'll be able to request ride reservations, one at a time, once they've scanned into the parks. This will allow the Guest with the disability and up to 3 additional party members to wait somewhere else besides the general standby queue. The Cast Member will let her know the specifics of your travel party.
    • Consider purchasing Lightning Lanes. Whether or not your grandchildren qualify for DAS, it may be helpful to look into Lightning Lane Single Pass and Lightning Lane Multi Pass, where you can pay to gain access to the Lightning Lanes, which would be a shorter wait time than the general standby queue. If you are staying at a Disney Resorts Collection Hotel, you can make your reservations up to 7 days in advance of your check-in date. If not, you can begin to make your reservations up to 3 days in advance of your park visit. Either way, reservations can be booked at 7 a.m. EST. And don't worry, you can pick and choose which days you'll use it and which services you'll purchase.
    • If your grandchildren use a portable device to communicate or just entertain themselves, it's important to bring it with them. No matter how short or long, there will be some waiting involved at the resort, so if these items help them to feel comfortable and keep them entertained (or help them communicate), bring them.
    • If they have comfort objects, like a stuffed animal or sensory object, and it's easily transportable, consider packing it.
    • If loud noises can be bothersome for them, look into purchasing headphones before you arrive to cancel out some of the noise.
    • Consider having them watch some ride-through videos to see which attractions they'd like to experience. It may help them (and you) decide which ones are most appealing and which are better to be skipped!
    • Check out the menus of the restaurants ahead of time. Which ones have food that they are excited to eat? Theming? Characters?
    • Check out the Accessibility Planning Guide & Recommendations. It is full of extremely good tips and suggestions.
    • This may sound simple, but it's so important to have in mind: that everyone visiting the Walt Disney World Resort is, well, themselves. And if they get cranky without a break at home (like me), they will likely get cranky without a break at the resort. If explosions bother someone when they experience the 4th of July fireworks in their hometown, they will likely bother them at the resort. If they only eat chicken nuggets at home, they will only want chicken nuggets at the resort. Consider their (and your) unique needs and keep that at the heart of all of your decisions.
    Susan, your dedication to your family (and undoubtedly your students) makes me confident that this is going to be an amazing trip. I'm here for any other questions you may have.

    To all who come to this happy place: welcome,
    Matt
thumbnail image for Matt

Meet the Panelist: Matt, New Jersey

Well hello there! I'm Matt and I'm a Disney-loving husband, teacher, and uncle from New Jersey. You can often find me tasting my way around an EPCOT festival, rope-dropping Magic Kingdom Park, or conquering all of the Disney Mountains. I can't wait to help you reach out and find your happily ever after on your next Walt Disney World Resort vacation! Learn More About Matt

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